Re: [foxboro] ***SPAM***Re: Alarm Tracking software
- From: "Bill Walters" <BillW@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <foxboro@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 20 Oct 2003 15:16:03 -0600
I tackled the problem of analyzing alarms a little differently. We =
purchased FoxAMI with our system to historize alarms instead of printing =
them. For awhile, everyday I used FoxAMI to run a report (to file) on =
all of the alarms in the previous 24 hours. I then have a Microsoft =
Access database that automatically imports this file. Various queries =
generate different reports on this data. The most popular query is one =
that lists alarms that occur 10 or more times in 24 hours and breaks =
them down to process unit. These reports are then e-mailed to the Unit =
Supervisors for what ever action they care to take. This has been very =
effective at reducing the number of nuisance alarms. I now only run =
these reports about once a week to be sure alarms are still under =
control.
The biggest problem with nuisance alarms still occurs during unit =
shutdown and startups. I don't know if there is an elegant way to =
address this. But if someone has an idea, I am listening.
Bill Walters
Chief Engineer
Sinclair Oil Corporation
307.328.3525
307.328.3574 FAX
307.320.6771 CELL
BillW@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
-----Original Message-----
From: john_campbell@xxxxxxxxxx [mailto:john_campbell@xxxxxxxxxx]=20
Sent: Monday, October 20, 2003 2:29 PM
To: foxboro@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: ***SPAM***Re: [foxboro] Alarm Tracking software
Like Tom we also use AlarmAnalyst within a number of our plants to help =
=3D
manage the influx of alarms our operators see each day. It is a great =
=3D
product and one I would recommend to anyone. Some features that Tom did =
=3D
not expound on include:=3D20
a) the ability to set up user views to allow you to recall pre-define =
=3D
views
b) automatic pareato charts that you can click on to provide detailed =
=3D
alarm diagnostics
c) Screens to assist with recognizing alarm patterns
d) sequence of alarm events
This has allowed us to centre maintenance efforts to eliminate the =3D
frequency of alarms. We took a look at some of the other offerings, but =
=3D
we found that most of them acted as data loggers that only listed the =
=3D
alarms as they came in. This package actually tries to provide =3D
analytical tools to eliminate or understand the alarms that are =3D
occurring. =3D20
Unlike Tom we are not currently looking for a web based form as we try =
=3D
to keep our focus of our alarming problems down to the critical few =3D
people who really need it (this package does this). It is their job to =
=3D
provide the proper reports that are handed to our =3D
operational/maintenance staff. Having a static web based package for =
=3D
information would be great, but having a dynamic update is another =3D
question (what are you really going to get out of it). I've been =3D
involved with another project where we tried to have a dynamic update of =
=3D
data (with the operator being able to modify screens). It is not easy, =
=3D
and in the end we came to realize that it wasn't worth the effort (no =
=3D
return on the investment). i.e. web based HTML screens are not operator =
=3D
screens. What we have done when there has been a need, is to use =3D
SNAG-IT to dump the screen images in html and send them out as emails =
=3D
(static images).
John Campbell
EMT Control Systems
Dofasco
Hamilton Ontario
-----Original Message-----
From: Schaff, Alan J. [mailto:Alan.Schaff@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
Sent: Thursday, October 16, 2003 7:06 AM
To: 'foxboro@xxxxxxxxxxxxx'
Subject: Re: [foxboro] Alarm Tracking software
Robert,
We too use the package from Real Time solutions (the one from the web =
=3D
site) and have been totally pleased with it's
functionality. We have a stripped down version but I would suggest that =
=3D
you check out the=3D20
full version. It's possible it has the functionality to accomplish your =
=3D
objective.
Thanks,
Alan Schaff
Honeywell Nylon
-----Original Message-----
From: tom.vandewater@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:tom.vandewater@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx]
Sent: Wednesday, October 15, 2003 5:41 PM
To: foxboro@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [foxboro] Alarm Tracking software
Robert,
I, too, am looking for an alarm collection and analyst tool that
uses a browser as the HMI and a server that automatically receives =3D
alarms
from the Fox IA system and stores them in an SQL database for use in =3D
short
or long term analysis. I am currently working with a company based in
Toronto, Canada called Machine Automation. I am using their current
offering, (AlarmAnalyst Ver. 2.2.4) which is not Web served or browser =
=3D
HMI
compatible. They are working with me to develop the web interface but
aren't sure when they will complete it. Their current application does =
=3D
a
lot of the things I want but I don't want to load client side software =
=3D
on
every machine wanting to look at the data or serve the application to =
=3D
each
client. In short, I won't buy any product that isn't web served. The =
=3D
HMI
must be a standard browser window that allows anyone wanting to look at =
=3D
and
query the data, easy access from their desktop, anywhere in our =3D
corporation.
If you are interested in previewing their current offering, (which is =
=3D
not
web served/browser based HMI), contact:
Luke McEachern, Sales
Machine Automation Inc.
1005 Skyview Drive, Suite 303
Burlington, Ontario, L7P 5B1
Phone: (905) 331-5168 x102
Fax: (905) 331-5166
Web: http://www.MachineAutomation.Org
Email: LukeM@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I have previewed their current application while waiting for them to
develop the web version. Their current application is pretty good and =
=3D
it
was easy for me to setup their Alarm Server Task Scheduler which
automatically ftp's the Foxboro Alarm historian database files located =
=3D
at:
/usr/hstorian/almhist on each historian hosting AW to their server,
(currently running on my PC). It can be scheduled to automatically ftp =
=3D
and
import into their database format on a regular basis as fast as every
minute, (I scheduled it once every two hours) In our case the ftp is =
=3D
using
the 2nd ethernet port of the AW and right now putting it on my PC where =
=3D
I
have their application running. In the future I want them to pump it =
=3D
right
into an SQL database server and create a browser interface to query and
display the data. The almhist file is the same one that is used by the
Alarm Manager when you select the Alarm History screen and by default =
=3D
stores
only 5000 of the most recent alarms. For this reason, you want to ftp =
=3D
the
file often enough so as not to lose any of the alarms. On the Foxboro =
=3D
side,
alarms must be directed from the Compound Group Device to the =3D
appropriate
alarm historian for this to work. The almhist file does include the =3D
alarm
priority whereas the serial files streamed through Comm ports does not, =
=3D
as
Alex Johnson mentioned in his previous note. Alarm Analyst allows the =
=3D
user
to create and save custom views of the database, which is basically =3D
saving
database queries that are important to each user. Current query =3D
parameters
include Compound, Block, .ANM, Priority, and all of the Foxboro alarm =
=3D
types
BADIO, HIABS,LOABS,HIDEV...etc...
You may also find this information helpful when trying to sort your
alarms by equipment or line. I wanted to do something similar. If all =
=3D
of
your blocks for the line or equipment are in a single compound you can
search for that compound and get the information, but our processes are
large enough that they take more than one CP and thus more than one
compound. I started using the .ANM, .MEASNM, and .OUTNM parameters to
indicate the process or line that the alarm is associated with. Each of
those parameter values gets passed with the alarm message and can thus =
=3D
be
searched for in a query. Notice the alarm messages below which I have
copied directly out of AlarmAnalyst and pasted into this message. In =
=3D
the
first one, C2004B is the Cmpd, CSH4221 is the Blk, and A02 is whatever I
type in .ANM of that block.(In this case the name of one of our =3D
processes)
It could just as easily have been LINE01. I have also insisted that the
...DESCRP parameter always have the EQ # at the beginning as you can =
see.
Using this structure makes it possible for me to do a search in Alarm
Analyst and obtain alarm information about specific processes or =3D
equipment.
By default, Alarm Analyst shows a graph of the alarms in the order of
highest to lowest frequency over a one day or one week period. I also =
=3D
want
it by one month or one year but right now you can use a calendar to =3D
select
the start day and it will either compile the data for that day or week =
=3D
only.
It does continue to archive data so you can go back in time as long as =
=3D
you
continue to store the archive data files.
03-10-14 17:01:32 C2004B:CSH4221.A02 3576 CONDENSATE CONDUCTIVITY
2STATE
HIGH CONDUCTIVITY (OP SET)
ALM
-------------------------------------------------------------------------=
=3D
---
---------
03-10-14 17:02:23 C1705D:TI6713.A01 1127 OVERHEAD VAPOR =3D
TEMPERATURE
4HIABS
80.02 DEG C ( 80.00) HIGH TEMPERATURE (OP =
=3D
SET)
ALM
I hope this is helpful and if you contact Luke McEachern from
Machine Automation tell him that I pointed you in his direction, but =3D
tell
him you won't buy his product unless it is web served and browser based =
=3D
and
the data is stored in an SQL database. That might hurry his developers
along.
Tom VandeWater
Control Systems Developer/Analyst
Dow Corning Corp.
Carrollton, KY USA
-----Original Message-----
From: Balmer, Robert D. [mailto:rbalmer@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]
Sent: Wednesday, October 15, 2003 11:07 AM
To: 'Foxboro DCS Mail List'
Subject: [foxboro] Alarm Tracking software
I was wondering what brands of software the Foxboro users have =3D
incorporated
into their systems to track, sort and manage alarms.
I have the Erus software at the moment and it does work well for just
collecting the alarms. However, it has fallen upon my back to find a
software that will do much more. The powers that be here want to know, =
=3D
by
plant area the alarms that have repeatedly been in the on state the =3D
previous
day, week, so on. They want to be able to sort the alarms by equipment =
=3D
or
line should they choose.
I would like to find a software that would perhaps have a web like
connection so one computer can run the software and anyone in the =3D
several
control room could access the information.
Thank You
Robert Balmer
Climax Molybdenum Co.
Applications Analyst/Programmer
Fort Madison Iowa
319 463 2206
=3D20
=3D20
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This mailing list is neither sponsored nor endorsed by Invensys Process
Systems (formerly The Foxboro Company). Use the info you obtain here at
your own risks. Read http://www.thecassandraproject.org/disclaimer.html
=3D20
foxboro mailing list: //www.freelists.org/list/foxboro
to subscribe: =3D
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_______________________________________________________________________
This mailing list is neither sponsored nor endorsed by Invensys Process
Systems (formerly The Foxboro Company). Use the info you obtain here at
your own risks. Read http://www.thecassandraproject.org/disclaimer.html
=20
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_______________________________________________________________________
This mailing list is neither sponsored nor endorsed by Invensys Process
Systems (formerly The Foxboro Company). Use the info you obtain here at
your own risks. Read http://www.thecassandraproject.org/disclaimer.html
foxboro mailing list: //www.freelists.org/list/foxboro
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