CISA OCS© Expert System

This description of OCS© software is for information purpose only and does not form a contractual engagement. Metso Minerals Cisa reserves the right to modify OCS© features at any time without notice.

From the start, the development of OCS© software is driven by the idea that in order to operate a processing plant at peak performance at any time, it's necessary to supplement the DCS or PLC based conventional control system with several online "artificial intelligence" modules which reflect different approaches, working together seamlessly.

OCS© real time process control software embeds a number of modules, based on artificial intelligence techniques, in a remarkably easy-to-use single structure:

· a Fuzzy Expert module: in fact a real time expert system, with an inference engine, built-in crisp and fuzzy logic reasoning and a knowledge base, which is the core of most OCS© applications,

· a Soft Sensor module with one (or several) adaptive predictive model(s), which comprise adaptive dynamic process models, a filter estimator for on-line self-tuning of the models and may be supplemented by an optimizer. The user may develop new models in Visual Basic.

· an Optimizer module, with a powerful constrained SQP algorithm,

· a Neural Network module,

· A Vision Module which already embeds numerous algorithms: VisioFroth for froth flotation plants, VisioRock for SAG and AG milling or crushing and screening plants, VisioPellet for pelletizing plants, and VisioBall to count grinding balls added to a SAG mill,

The environment of the Artificial Intelligence modules comprises:

· a Process Display module, which is easily configured for each application in order to provide one or several user interface(s), such as flow diagrams, animated flowcharts, data entry forms. The user may animate and develop new interfaces in Visual Basic,

· a Tag Statistics module, which generates on-line statistical information about the process, and may be used for evaluation of plant performance, and also allows SPC.

· a Generic module, which allows seamless addition of specific algorithms when valuable.

Both the soft sensor modeling module(s) and the neural network module(s) are "learning" modules, which continuously and automatically adapt their behavior on the basis of new plant data.

With the completely visual approach of OCS©, process engineers learn to setup an OCS© application in a few hours, e.g.:

· Create or change expert system rules with drag and drop

· Use the Smart Setup Wizard to add a fuzzy controller

· Handle new I/O signals with drag and drop

· Use the inference tree to check the control strategy

· Manage interactions between model, expert system, neural net, etc

· Have access to and visualize model parameters through real-time trends

· Easy configuration of voice messages with text-to-speech engine

OCS© control strategies and models can be supplied for most types of mineral processing plants, with crushing, grinding, flotation and other circuits. Hydro- and pyro- metallurgical and other applications are also available. OCS© is designed to allow process engineers who are not computers or AI specialists build a fully operational optimizing control application.

Hardware

OCS© is usually hosted by one (or several) dedicated PC computers, connected to the plant instrumentation, usually through a DCS or PLCs, or alternatively through a SCADA or HMI software.

The normal operating system for OCS© is Microsoft Windows XP Pro. OCS© may run under older versions of Microsoft Windows but in general for demonstration or training purpose only.

OCS© reads process data by OPC (OLE for Process Control), ODBC or DDE (Dynamic Data Exchange) or DAO (data access objects), through an OPC or a DDE server, or from a Microsoft jet database, or from ODBC compliant data bases.

· sent to the DCS or PLC level by OPC or DDE through the OPC or DDE I/O server (set points for control only),

· available to third party client software (e.g. Wonderware InTouch™ HMI, Microsoft Excel, etc) installed on networked PCs, with the OCS© software acting as a data server.

Top