Alarm Management

2011 July

Presentation Goals

Brief Introduction

Alarm Management Review

Alarm Management Solution

About ProSys

ProSys is a leading global provider of process control engineering services and software solutions

Value to Customer

ProSys focuses on helping our customers operate their processes safely, reliably and efficiently.

Areas of focus

• We focus on Process Control to help companies experience:

• Increased Production

• Reduced Risk

• Greater Operator Ease-of-use

• Increased Operator Efficiency

• Stable Plant Operations

• Reduced Unplanned Events

Engineering Services & Software Solutions

Basic & Advanced Control

APC Software

Control Dynamics

Alarm Management

Dynamic Configuration Software

Special Alarm Management Software

AgileOps Software Suite

Human-Machine Interface

Interface Dynamics

Other Engineering Services

History of Alarm Management

ProSys introduced the first commercially available alarm management solution in 1990. Selective Alarm Suppression

History of Alarm Management

Dynamic Configuration Software (DCS) in 1995. First Automatic Dynamic Alarm Management software

Special Alarm Management (SAM), was introduced in 1997. First commercial alarm shelving tool.

History of Alarm Management

DCSv3.0 and SAMv2.1 in 1998 with Windows Interface

History of Alarm Management

Dynamic Rationalization Toolkit in 1998

History of Alarm Management

History of Alarm Management

History of Alarm Management

Allowed us to dynamically rationalize all alarms

Typically dynamically managed 400-700 alarms per board operator

Largest install base for any dynamic alarm management application

History of Alarm Management

History of Alarm Management

Objective of Alarm Management

• The objective of alarm management is to provide operators a consistent and reliable action event notification interface that supports their efforts to safely and efficiently operate the process

What is a Quality Alarm?

• An annunciated process condition to which the operator can and must take corrective action in order to return the process to normal and safe operation

Alarm?

What is a Quality Alarm?

• Every alarm should:

• be clear and relevant to the operator

• indicate an abnormal process condition that has consequences of inaction and a defined response

• be unique

Alarm?

Normal and Abnormal

• Normal - That which is both planned and expected• Startup

• Shutdown

• Mode switching

• Equipment swapping

• Other planned operating procedures

• Abnormal - That which is unplanned or unexpected• Emergency shutdown

• Equipment failures

• Upstream problems

• Downstream problems

• Other unplanned process transitions

Alarm Philosophy

• A good alarm philosophy

• Is based on solid principles

• Is time tested

• Recognizes all plant states (especially S/U & S/D)

• Defines work process and methods for continual improvement and maintenance

Alarm

Philosophy

Alarm Performance Metrics

• Measures of alarm performance

• Average number of alarms per hour, < 6

• Peak alarm rate, < 10 alarms / 10 min

• Percentage of time in flood, < 1%

• Number of alarms presented to the operator not requiring a response

• Number of important alarms missed

Assessment &

Analysis

Alarm Performance Metrics

• Measuring up

• Do not go overboard with alarm metrics. Focus on providing a reliable and consistent interface for the operator.

Metrics do not replace Alarm System Design

Assessment &

Analysis

Alarm System Design

Alarm System

Design

• Maintain alarm system documentation including Causes, Consequences, and Actions

• Revise alarm settings and add dynamic capabilities

Achieving Goals

• To achieve consistency

•Review all points

• What is alarmed? What should be alarmed?

• Alarm Priorities, Trip Points, Digital Alarm States

• To achieve reliability

•Add dynamic behavior

• During upsets, shutdowns, and startups alarm system will continue to perform

• Implement Alarm Shelving Tool

• Maintain alarm system integrity by allowing operators to shelve and remind alarms effectively without affecting critical alarms

Alarm Summary Transformation

Dynamic Alarm Management

!@#$%&*D

%&*!@#$S

$%&*#@B

1. …

2. …

3. …

4. …

5. …

Alarm & Status Information

Action Item List

TI213

LI010

AC013

PC022

Dynamic Alarming

• Without dynamic alarming

• Each alarm is stand alone and does not have knowledge of current plant status

• Normal and abnormal conditions alarmed

LI010

PVLO

AC013

PVHI

TI213

PVLO

PC022

PVLOWithout Dynamics

Implementation &

Execution

Heater

S/D

Dynamic Alarming

• With dynamic alarming

• Change of process state is managed

• Only abnormal conditions alarmed

TI213

LI010

AC013

PC022

LI010

PVLO

AC013

PVHI

TI213

PVLO

PC022

PVLO

With Dynamics

Implementation &

Execution

Heater

S/D

Dynamic Alarming on a Fired Reboiler

w/o

w/Number

of Total

Alarms

Contact Information

Telephone: +1-225-291-9591

Website: http://www.prosys.com

2010 July

Questions?