ABB provides batch management and execution functions for the Windows NT environment with AdvaBatch.
Adhering to relevant international standards, it operates in a distributed client/server architecture and provides component-oriented ActiveX display.
AdvaBatch is designed to help manufacturers in the batch processing industries to improve productivity through better recipe management, reduced engineering effort and better visibility into the run-time status of plant operations.
AdvaBatch combines ABB's decades of batch automation experience with the latest international standards and Microsoft Windows-oriented technology to provide a new approach to batch management.
It is a scalable product that can be applied to small, single unit or pilot scale applications, and then expand as needs expand. AdvaBatch provides recipe management, batch scheduling, batch execution and sequential control all in one convenient package.
The package speeds navigation through the batch sequences by providing a procedural hierarchy of four or more layers as recommended by both the ISA S88.01 standard and the guidelines of the German chemical industry group, NAMUR.
Providing greater visibility into the batch sequence while it executes, it answers common operator questions such as:
* Where am I in the sequence?
* What is happening now?
* What is the sequence waiting for?
* What will the sequence do next?
Customers who require frequent recipe changes or have a high product recipe turnover will benefit from the graphical Sequential Function Chart programming language and component-based recipe structure of AdvaBatch. This approach allows process engineers or operations personnel to quickly and easily modify existing recipes or create new ones from existing components without having to rely on programming experts.
AdvaBatch will help batch manufacturers who:
* Want to manage their batch manufacturing operations from a Windows NT environment.
* Have a large number of product recipes or high product recipe turnover.
* Need to make product recipe changes quickly without relying on programming experts.
* Need the ability to supervise process controllers and PLCs from a variety of different vendors.
Scalable system architecture
The software was designed to be a component of an open system environment. Integration with a host control system may be achieved via DDE or OLE for process control (OPC). AdvaBatch reads and writes the information it needs to and from the underlying control systems using one or both of these protocols.
Features:
* Attention to standards
AdvaBatch adheres to the relevant standards and guidelines set forth by the international community for batch models, terminology, and sequential programming. The procedural aspects of batch operations and engineering are presented in a graphical sequential function chart (SFC) format, based upon the IEC 1131 standard.
* Intuitive graphical user interface
Anyone familiar with the Windows environment of a personal computer will quickly feel at ease with AdvaBatch. It provides an intuitive graphical user interface, allowing users to point-and-click their way through hierarchical trees common to Windows.
* Procedure editor
The AdvaBatch procedure editor provides a generic interface to controller or PLC resident sequence logic (equipment phases) that allows you to pass process parameters to these sequences as well as start and stop them from within AdvaBatch procedures. Once a library of these equipment phases is created, the AdvaBatch SFC language allows you to link them together in an infinite number of ways to create product-specific sequences.
This approach eliminates the need to change controller or PLC programming in order to make changes in, or create new recipes. The controller or PLC logic is written and tested once, and all further changes are performed within the AdvaBatch SFC language.
* Recipe management
Recipes are structured in accordance with the ISA S88.01 five part model consisting of header information, formula, procedure, equipment specifications, and other information. Recipes are component-based, meaning that one overall batch procedure may be shared among an entire product family. This allows users to modify or enhance the procedure for an entire product family with a one-time edit of the common procedure component.
* Batch scheduling
The AdvaBatch scheduler is organised by equipment resource, allowing an operator to view what is happening within each plant resource, and to schedule new batches to a specific resource or process cell within the plant. Selection of both resources and recipes is performed via familiar Windows' pick lists. Batches may be scheduled to begin immediately, or to begin at a specific time.
* Operator message board
The AdvaBatch SFC language provides operator messages as a way to prompt the operator to take action or simply to advise routine process events are occurring. Similar to the schedule display, the message board is organised by equipment resource, allowing the operator to focus in on specific plant areas or batches in progress. The operator uses the message board to either acknowledge routine messages or to reply to a message where the procedure requires operator input.
Benefits
* Intuitive user interface
Easy to learn and use, graphical and intuitive user interface reduces training requirements and engineering effort with only one tool to learn and maintain for all recipe management needs. Simple icons and pulldown menus in a Windows NT environment provide easy point-and-click operation.
* Single Window approach
Seamless integration with traditional operator graphics allows a single window approach to batch operations and management.
* Flexibility in recipe changes
Graphical development of sequences, using proven control components, reduces dependency on process control experts to make recipe changes.
* Reduced life-cycle costs
Component-oriented recipes promote component re-use and reduces life-cycle costs.
* Flexible scalability
Scalability provides the ability to run small, single unit, pilot scale, or full-scale manufacturing applications.
* Intranet/Internet access
Ability to selectively publish live production information via a corporate intranet or the Internet.
* Integrated environment
Open access to third-party controllers, PLCs and HMIs allows integration of a heterogeneous process control environment into a cohesive batch manufacturing strategy.
* Historical information
Ability to automatically collect batch event data.
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