Operator guidance system for industrial plant supervision

Abstract

In this paper we present monitoring, diagnosis and optimization in the Ash Control Model (AshMod), a knowledge-based operator guidance system (OGS) in the coal washing domain. AshMod assists the operator in monitoring the plant, performing fault diagnosis, and in plant optimization. It assists the operators in maximizing clean coal yield while keeping ash (impurity) content within acceptable limits. AshMod performs deep reasoning through the use of knowledge models that capture purpose, function, structure, behaviour and heuristics. Knowledge validation and maintenance is facilitated through the use of graphical object-oriented knowledge models. AshMod has been developed for the B&C coal washing plants operated by Broken Hill Proprietary Limited (BHP) at Port Kembla, Australia (The Broken Hill Proprietary Company Limited, Home Page, http://www bhp.com.au/; BHP, 1995) Owing to our focus on generality and reuse during the development of this OGS, we expect that much of AshMod can be reused in future OGS developments in BHP operated coal washeries, sinter plants, blast furnaces, coke ovens etc. AshMod is currently undergoing of line testing at the coal washing plants.