Operator System

Innovations 2013

Operator station extended with a "flat system configuration" for customized solutions for small and medium-sized plants with up to 8 single-station systems
User-configurable message class system with six message classes based on importance that can be changed by the user and have a user-specific color scheme – i.e. better overview and less stress for the operator as well as faster response to faults
New OS client based on IPC427C – the compact and robust system makes operating channel extension unnecessary due to on-site mounting
More options for virtualization through enabling of the OS server as well – i.e. reduced maintenance costs, improved flexibility and increased hardware efficiency due to optimally utilized resources

Area of application

The interface between human and machine plays a crucial part in the automation of industrial plants. The complexity of managing the process, increases proportionately with the growing complexity of automation engineering and its increasing merging with information technology. At the same time an intuitive and fault-free operation is becoming more and more important in view of the growing cost pressure and in order to allow the operating personnel to work efficiently and to minimize downtimes and service outages.

The Operator System of the SIMATIC PCS 7 process control system makes it easy for the operator to manage the process safely. Various views are available to the operator for monitoring the process and if necessary, intervening in the control of the process. The architecture of the operator system is very varied and can easily be tailored to different plant sizes and customer requirements. Perfectly coordinated operator stations for single-user and multi-user systems provide this flexibility.

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Benefits

High operative efficiency: Fast fault diagnosis in critical process situations, improved message analysis, fast, precise recognition of process deviations
Maximum operating comfort combined with minimum engineering outlay
High operational reliability
reduces work load of the operating personnel
Flexible, modular architecture with scalable hardware and software components
Central user administration, access control, electronic signature

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Design and functions

Architecture

The operator system can be either single-user or multi-user type.

In single-user systems, the entire operating and monitoring functionality for a project (plant/plant section) is concentrated in one station.

A multi-user system is made up of operator terminals (OS clients), which can be supplied via a terminal bus with data (project data, process values, archives, alarms and messages) from one or more OS servers. The OS server can also be operated in a redundant mode if increased availability is a requirement.

Operator stations

All operator stations are based on modern SIMATIC PCS 7 industrial workstations, which are optimized for use as OS single station, OS client or OS server and can be used in an office or industrial environment.

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Examples of the OS process management, with movable faceplates and trend window

Operating and monitoring system

The predefined user interface of the Operator System features all the typical characteristics of a control system. It is multilingual, clearly structured, ergonomic and easy to understand. The operator has an extensive view of the process and can navigate quickly between plant views.

The Operator System's system software give a representative and functional display of the plant with a high-quality, modern design. Depending on the configuration of graphic controller and process monitor, the display is available in 4:3/5:4 screen formats and 16:9/16:10 wide-screen formats.

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Modern operating and visualization concepts with Advanced Process Graphics

Plant operators today have to deal with a steadily increasing degree of complexity in the processes to be monitored, and must also come to terms with the heterogeneous system environment to be found in control rooms.

With our Advanced Process Graphics concept (formerly HMIplus), based on the SIMATIC PCS 7 process control system, we take care when planning process plants and designing plant control rooms to integrate user-oriented process visualization features right from the start.

Advanced Process Graphics, the user-oriented human-machine interface makes a great contribution here. Uniform operating elements and so-called hybrid displays make it simple to monitor quality-relevant process parameters, both in operative process control and predictive plant management. In this way the concept of Advanced Process Graphics ensures optimized operating sequences and improved operator and plant efficiency over the entire life-cycle of the process control system.

Message system

The operator system’s integrated message system, records process messages and local events and saves them in message archives and also displays them by means of the freely-configurable AlarmControl function (message view/window).

Operators can individually adapt the AlarmControl function during runtime by filtering, selecting or sorting the display according to the content of the individual message blocks e.g. chronologically according to message priority or fault location, and then save the settings globally or user-specific. It is also possible to integrate exported archive databases online.

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Trend view

The operator can have the archived process values displayed in relation to time or in relation to another value (function window). Predefined TrendControls can be individually adapted during runtime. The settings are stored globally or user-specific. During runtime, the operator is able to change the data connection and access other data, for example, external archive databases.

Central user administration, access control and electronic signature

The Operator System features all the functions required to comply with provisions of 21 CFR Part 11. Central user administration with access control is implemented via the integrated SIMATIC login. Users are administered in groups within the system and receive specific rights when they login. SIMATIC ElectronicSignature is used to generate electronic signatures and implement these in the Operator System.

Archive system

A high-performance archiving system for short-term archiving is an integral part of the OS software. It is used to record process data and messages/events in cyclic archives. Process data, reports, batch data can be swapped out, based on time and event, from short-term archiving to permanent archiving in a central long-term archive. The central archive server can also be redundant. This increases the availability of the long-term data.

Reporting and logging system

Whereas the reporting system is provided to document the project during its configuration, the logging system is used to print out the data recorded during operation in a clear manner. Various predefined log types are available for this:

Message sequence log
Message and archive log
Measured value log
Operation log
System message log
User log

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Operating and monitoring via World Wide Web

SIMATIC PCS 7 Web server offers the option of operating and monitoring a plant via Intranet/Internet. The plant can be operated in the same way using a Web client, as it can by using an OS client. The input by the operator on the Web client is also recorded in the OS operation log.
Suitable protective measures (among others IT-Security, e.g. network segmentation) have to be taken up to ensure a safe operation of the plant. You find further information about the topic of Industrial Security on the Internet under www.siemens.com/industrialsecurity.

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Visualization of sequencers (SFC visualization)

The SFC visualization of the Operator System allow the sequential controls configured with the SFC editor to be displayed and operated in the same way as on the Engineering System. No additional configuration outlay is required.

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