SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR CONTINUOUS, ONLINE MONITORING OF A CHEMICAL PLANT OR REFINERY

摘要

A near real-time system and method for continuous online monitoring of a pluralityof operations in a continuous chemical process facility is described. The methodof monitoring the operations is based on a multivariate statistical model developedusing off-line, selected process-specific historical process data. Such amodel is used by an online monitoring system to monitor the continual operationof a chemical manufacturing facility or refinery in real-time from a remote location.Such real-time monitoring allows for determination of whether one or more ofthe plurality of operations are operating within their normal operational parameters.This real-time, continuous monitoring system can further be used to predictimpending failures or trouble-spots within the continuous production process,or to minimize catastrophic process failures which may occur in a continuouschemical manufacturing process. Process variables, or "tags",that are most likely related to predicted process failures can be identifiedby the model system, such that appropriate control actions can be taken to preventan actual process failure occurrence, which can lead to costly production downtimes.