US3636331A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and system for the automatic control of chemical plants with parallel-connected computer backup system
Assignee: Huels AG
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Filing: 1968-06-14
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Granted: 1972-01-18
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Expires: 1988-06-14
Abstract
Abstract A method and system for the automatic control and regulation of chemical processes in chemical plants using digital process computers which comprises operating at least two identical computers in parallel, each equipped with an operating core storage means (principal memory means) and a mass storage means (secondary memory means), the computers being connected in parallel to each other and connected with a chemical plant by means of a data flow bus wherein one computer, designated as the control computer, actively controls and regulates the chemical process whereas the other computer, designated as the backup computer, follows the progression of the chemical process by a transmittal of the data from the control computer, and continues the chemical process without interruption when the control computer becomes inoperative.
Inventors
- 👤 Hermann Amrehn
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 21:53
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F11/00; G06F11/07; G06F11/16; G06F11/20; B; B01; B01J; B01J19/00; B01J19/0006; G05; G05B; G05B15/00; G05B15/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
177 words
A method for the automatic control and regulation of chemical processes consisting of a number of operating steps by the use of digital data processing equipment, comprising the steps of organizing the process into a plurality of operating phases each including several steps with the first step of a phase being relatively more important than the last step thereof, each phase being repeatable without endangering the process; operating two substantially identical computers in parallel in accordance with the programmed process with one computer, which forms the control computer, normally actively controlling and regulating the process whereas the other computer, forming a backup computer, follows the progression of the chemical process by the transmission of data including program phase changes from the control computer; continuously monitoring the control computer for its correct operation, and continuing the chemical process without interruption and loss of control effectiveness in case of failure of the control computer by repeating with the backup computer the last program phase controlled by the control computer and thereafter continuing the programmed process by the backup computer.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
177 words
A method for the automatic control and regulation of chemical processes consisting of a number of operating steps by the use of digital data processing equipment, comprising the steps of organizing the process into a plurality of operating phases each including several steps with the first step of a phase being relatively more important than the last step thereof, each phase being repeatable without endangering the process; operating two substantially identical computers in parallel in accordance with the programmed process with one computer, which forms the control computer, normally actively controlling and regulating the process whereas the other computer, forming a backup computer, follows the progression of the chemical process by the transmission of data including program phase changes from the control computer; continuously monitoring the control computer for its correct operation, and continuing the chemical process without interruption and loss of control effectiveness in case of failure of the control computer by repeating with the backup computer the last program phase controlled by the control computer and thereafter continuing the programmed process by the backup computer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
77 words
The method according to claim 1, in which the control computer selectively controls a data flow gate in such a manner that the commands and information are transmitted from the control computer to the chemical plant or to a control room by way of data channels connected by the data flow gate, and in which revertive signals mEasuring data and other information travel to and from the chemical plant and the control room to the control computer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 2, wherein when the control computer is fully operational, the data flow gate does not establish a direct connection from the chemical plant and the control room to the backup computer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
72 words
The method of claim 1, wherein when a disturbance occurs in the control computer, a system check module carrying out the monitoring function communicates with the backup computer through data channels connected to each other in the data flow gate such that the backup computer now becomes fully active as the operating computer and takes over the regulations and controls the entire chemical plant and the tasks of optimizing and storing data.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the backup computer via data channels follows the progress of the chemical process by the continuous transmission of information from the control computer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the computers store the important processing data in their mass storage means and print the data with printing devices in predetermined chronological intervals or upon request.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the progression of the chemical process is subdivided into individual phases where the total sum of the phases is called the operating program which is stored in the mass storage device.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
65 words
The method of claim 7, wherein the control computer transfers by means of an appropriate readout interrogative command a phase from the mass storage means into the working storage means, processes this phase, returns it to the mass storage means, takes up the next phase from the mass storage means and transfers the same into the working storage means in order to process this phase.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
105 words
The method of claim 7, wherein after the control computer has finished processing a phase in an operating step, it transmits this information to the backup computer which in turn transfers this phase, just newly processed by the control computer, from its working storage zone back to its mass storage means and transfers the next phase into the working storage zone and when this is accomplished the backup computer signals this fact to the control computer which transfers the processed phase into its mass storage means and takes over the next phase into its working storage zone and proceeds immediately with processing this next phase.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
The process of claim 7, wherein the phase can be repeated from any of its operating steps, the last operating step of the phase being of minor importance.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method of claim 7, wherein when the control computer fails during the processing of the phase at any operating step, a system check module switches the data flow gate over so that now the backup computer actively controls and regulates the entire chemical plant, said backup computer commencing at the beginning of the respective phases.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
61 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the working program for the computers is subdivided into program phases in correspondence with the phases of the chemical process, and when the control computer becomes inoperative and its active function is transferred to the backup computer, the respective phase being processed at that time is again processed starting with the beginning of the phase.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
114 words
The method of claim 1, wherein after a repaired computer which had failed is reconnected to the system, it interrogates the active computer transferring the information of the phase just being processed in the active computer into all zones of the working storage means of said repaired computer, and has transmitted to it all important information which are stored in the active computer and, in turn, stores this information which are stored in the active computer, and in turn, stores this information in respective locations in its working as well as mass storage means, thereby giving the repaired computer a complete picture of the processes and other procedures taking place in the chemiCal plant.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 13, wherein when the repaired computer is the control computer, it takes over the active control of the process and switches the backup computer back into its backup state.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 13, wherein where the repaired computer is the backup computer, it reverts to its backup state after obtaining a complete picture of the processes in the chemical plant, and then follows the progression of the processes in the backup state.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
161 words
A system for the automatic control and regulation of chemical processes in a chemical plant using digital process computers which comprises at least two identical computers connected in parallel to each other each computer being equipped with a mass storage means and an operating storage means, and means operatively connecting said computers to each other and to a chemical process plant by means of a data flow gate means in such a manner that the control computer, actively controls and regulates normally the entire chemical process where as the other computer, designated the backup computer, normally merely follows the progression of the chemical process by a transmittal of the data by data channels from the control computer to the backup computer, and continues the chemical process without interruption or loss of control effectiveness when the control computer becomes inoperative, by taking over the entire control and regulation from said one computer, restarting the same from a predetermined point in the process.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
161 words
A system for the automatic control and regulation of chemical processes in a chemical plant using digital process computers which comprises at least two identical computers connected in parallel to each other each computer being equipped with a mass storage means and an operating storage means, and means operatively connecting said computers to each other and to a chemical process plant by means of a data flow gate means in such a manner that the control computer, actively controls and regulates normally the entire chemical process where as the other computer, designated the backup computer, normally merely follows the progression of the chemical process by a transmittal of the data by data channels from the control computer to the backup computer, and continues the chemical process without interruption or loss of control effectiveness when the control computer becomes inoperative, by taking over the entire control and regulation from said one computer, restarting the same from a predetermined point in the process.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 16, wherein data channels connect the computers with their mass storage means and connect both computers and mass storage means with the data flow means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system of claim 17, wherein data channels connect the data flow gate means with a control room, with a chemical process plant, and the control room with the chemical process plant.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
81 words
The system of claim 18, wherein the data channel connected to the chemical process plant is subdivided into a branch leading to an indicator and operating panel in the control room, a branch leading to the readout printing unit, more than one branch providing inputs for analog measuring values, for revertive signals regarding valve positions and for measuring the pulses of volume meters, a branch providing input and output for direct digital control, and additional branches providing outputs for valve control.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
54 words
The system of claim 16, wherein both computers contain in their mass storage means the complete operating program and both operating storage means of the two computers contain in their partial sections the same operating program portions from the mass storage means and have also received the measuring values necessary for a control operation.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
79 words
The system of claim 16, comprising a chemical plant comprising several parallel-operated plant units, each with several reactors which operate independently of one another wherein the working storage means of each computer are subdivided into operating zones corresponding to the number of reactors and into zones corresponding to the respective predominant stages, each operating zone controlling and regulating the progression of the process in the reactor or part of the plant assigned thereto, independent of the other storage zones.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
121 words
A method for controlling the temperature of an exothermic reaction in the liquid phase with a high starting temperature according to claim 1, wherein the control computer commences the reaction by supplying heating medium for heating the reactor until the vapor pressure of the reactants correspond to the desired reaction temperature, at which time the supply of the heating medium is throttled and the control computer partially supplies a cooling medium to the reactor and after the desired reaction temperature has been reached in the interior of the reactor, the control computer maintains this temperature constant in the manner of a cascade regulator by further throttling the supply of the heating medium and correspondinglY increasing the supply of the cooling medium.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
328 words
A method for the automatic control and regulation of chemical processes in a chemical plant by the use of digital data processing equipment including digital process computers, each equipped with a mass storage means and with an operating storage means, said computers being connected in parallel with each other and with a chemical plant by means of a data flow gate, each computer having the same operating and control program for the chemical plant stored in its storage means which corresponds to the chemical process divided into program phases, wherein the chemical process is itself divided into working steps, a number of working steps are combined into operating phases, and a relatively more important working step is located at the beginning of an operational phase and each operational phase is capable of repetition from its beginning without endangering the chemical process, the total sum of the operational phases constituting the chemical process, and wherein each working step and operational phase of the chemical process is coded into computer language so that for each working step of the actual process a program step is generated and each operational phase of the process has its equivalent program phase and all program phases constitute the operational and control program of the chemical process which is stored into the storage means of both computers, comprising the steps of operating two substantially identical computers in parallel with one computer constituting the control computer normally actively controlling and regulating the process whereas the the other computer, forming a backup computer, follows the progression of the chemical process by the transmission of data including program phase changes from the control computer, continuously monitoring the control computer for its correct operation, and continuing the chemical process without interruption and loss of control effectiveness in case of failure of the control computer by repeating with the backup computer the last program phase controlled by the control computer by starting to repeat said phase from the beginning thereof.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
328 words
A method for the automatic control and regulation of chemical processes in a chemical plant by the use of digital data processing equipment including digital process computers, each equipped with a mass storage means and with an operating storage means, said computers being connected in parallel with each other and with a chemical plant by means of a data flow gate, each computer having the same operating and control program for the chemical plant stored in its storage means which corresponds to the chemical process divided into program phases, wherein the chemical process is itself divided into working steps, a number of working steps are combined into operating phases, and a relatively more important working step is located at the beginning of an operational phase and each operational phase is capable of repetition from its beginning without endangering the chemical process, the total sum of the operational phases constituting the chemical process, and wherein each working step and operational phase of the chemical process is coded into computer language so that for each working step of the actual process a program step is generated and each operational phase of the process has its equivalent program phase and all program phases constitute the operational and control program of the chemical process which is stored into the storage means of both computers, comprising the steps of operating two substantially identical computers in parallel with one computer constituting the control computer normally actively controlling and regulating the process whereas the the other computer, forming a backup computer, follows the progression of the chemical process by the transmission of data including program phase changes from the control computer, continuously monitoring the control computer for its correct operation, and continuing the chemical process without interruption and loss of control effectiveness in case of failure of the control computer by repeating with the backup computer the last program phase controlled by the control computer by starting to repeat said phase from the beginning thereof.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
229 words
A system for the automatic control and regulation of chemical process plants, comprising two computers each having its own storage means having the same operating and control program for the chemical plant stored in the storage means thereof, said program being divided into a plurality of program phases each including several working steps with a relatively more important working step located at the beginning of an operational phase and each operational phase being capable of repetition from its beginning without endangering the chemical process, and connecting means interconnecting said two computers in parallel with each other and with a plant in such a manner that the plant is normally controlled by one of said computers with the other computer constituting a backup computer including means for normally transmitting information from said one computer to the other computer as regards progress of the chemical process so that the other computer follows said one computer phase by phase, a system check means for continuously checking the system for proper operation of said one computer, and means for switching control of the plant from said one computer to said other computer in case of improper operation of said one computer as determined by said system check means including means for starting the control by said other computer with the beginning the phase under progress by said one computer when the latter fails.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
229 words
A system for the automatic control and regulation of chemical process plants, comprising two computers each having its own storage means having the same operating and control program for the chemical plant stored in the storage means thereof, said program being divided into a plurality of program phases each including several working steps with a relatively more important working step located at the beginning of an operational phase and each operational phase being capable of repetition from its beginning without endangering the chemical process, and connecting means interconnecting said two computers in parallel with each other and with a plant in such a manner that the plant is normally controlled by one of said computers with the other computer constituting a backup computer including means for normally transmitting information from said one computer to the other computer as regards progress of the chemical process so that the other computer follows said one computer phase by phase, a system check means for continuously checking the system for proper operation of said one computer, and means for switching control of the plant from said one computer to said other computer in case of improper operation of said one computer as determined by said system check means including means for starting the control by said other computer with the beginning the phase under progress by said one computer when the latter fails.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
137 words
A system according to claim 24, wherein said storage means includes a mass storage device and a core storage device, and wherein said connecting means transmits from said one computer a signal to the other computer indicating the completion of a phase, whereupon said other computer returns the corresponding phase from its transient area of the core storage to its mass storage, takes the next phase froM its mass storage to its transient area core storage, transmits a signal to the one computer of the completion of the phase change, whereafter said one computer proceeds to return the just completed phase from its core storage to the mass storage and transfers the next phase from its mass storage to its transient area core storage, and thereafter proceeds with the control and regulation according to the next phase.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-01-17 | 1975-07-19 | 1976-01-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-01-17 | 1979-07-19 | 1980-01-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-01-17 | 1983-07-19 | 1984-01-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |