MONITORING AND EVALUATING THE PRODUCTION OF A CONVERSION FACILITY
The disclosure provides a system and method for monitoring and evaluating a conversion facility. The method includes storing values for quantitative variables and/or cost variables associated with processes performed at the conversion facility. The method includes receives a syncing frame, wherein the syncing frame embraces values for the quantitative variables and/or the cost variables stored less than thirty days prior to receiving the syncing time frame. The method includes determining, from the stored values for at least one set of values for at least one of the variables that are within the syncing frame. The method also includes calculating a cost of processing a commodity processed at the conversion facility for the syncing frame using the first and second set of values.
1 . A system configured to generate conversion facility production data utilizing quantitative variables and cost variables and utilizing one or more modules describing relationships between the variables, wherein the modules further describe the relationships if the variables are modified to include the variables in a received syncing frame, the system comprising:
a data storage device storing
measured values for quantitative variables describing quantitative aspects of the conversion facility, wherein the quantitative variables are received from a plurality of sources associated with conversion processes performed at the conversion facility,
determined values for cost variables describing cost aspects of the conversion facility, wherein the cost variables are received from a plurality of sources associated with conversion processes performed at the conversion facility, and
a syncing frame, wherein the syncing frame embraces measured values for the quantitative variables and determined values for the cost variables stored less than thirty days prior to receiving the syncing time frame;
a processor receiving a request for
a first set of values, determined from the stored values for the quantitative variables, for at least one of the quantitative variables that are within the syncing frame, and
a second set of values, determined from the stored values for the cost variables, for at least one of the cost variables that are within the syncing frame; and
the processor calculates a cost of processing a commodity processed at the conversion facility for the syncing frame using the first and second set of values.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein one of the processes performed at the conversion facility includes a nonreactive material transfer through a processing subunit, and the quantitative variables include an input mass, an output mass, and an accumulation mass.
3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the processor calculates a cost of processing a commodity using:
a set of values determined for the input mass from the first set of values;
a set of values determined for the output mass from the first set of values;
a set of values determined for the accumulation mass from first set of values; and
the cost of processing the commodity is calculated using the set of values for the input mass, the output mass and the accumulation mass.
4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein one of the processes performed at the conversion facility includes a reactive material transfer through a processing subunit, and the quantitative variables include an input mass, an output mass, an accumulation mass, a generation mass and a consumption mass.
5 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the processor calculates a cost of processing a commodity using:
a set of values determined for the input mass from the first set of values;
a set of values determined for the output mass from the first set of values;
a set of values determined for the accumulation mass from first set of values;
a set of values determined for the generation mass from the first set of values;
a set of values determined for the consumption mass from the first set of values; and
the cost of processing the commodity is calculated using the set of values for the input mass, the output mass, the accumulation mass, the generation mass and the consumption mass.
6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of sources for the quantitative variables includes a sensor in the conversion facility and the values in the quantitative variables include values measured by the sensor.
7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the processor calculates a control amount to vary an actuator at the conversion facility associated with the sensor based on the values measured by the sensor that are in the syncing frame.
8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the time period for the syncing frame is less than or equal to a week.
9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the values for the at least one quantitative variable are measured daily or less than daily.
10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the conversion facility comprises at least one of an oil refinery, coal refinery, natural gas refinery, power generation plant, recycling plant and a food processing plant.
11 . A method for monitoring and evaluating a conversion facility, the method comprising:
storing measured values for quantitative variables describing quantitative aspects of the conversion facility, wherein the quantitative variables are received from a plurality of sources associated with conversion processes performed at the conversion facility;
storing values for cost variables describing cost aspects of the conversion facility, wherein the cost variables are received from a plurality of sources associated with conversion processes performed at the conversion facility;
receiving a syncing frame identifying a time period less than thirty days from prior to receiving the syncing time frame;
determining, from the stored measured values for the quantitative variables, a first set of values for at least one of the quantitative variables that are within the syncing frame;
determining, from the stored values for the cost variables, a second set of values for at least one of the cost variables that are within the synching frame; and
calculating a cost of processing a commodity processed at the conversion facility for the syncing frame using the first and second set of values.
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein one of the processes performed at the conversion facility includes a nonreactive material transfer through a processing subunit, and the quantitative variables include an input mass, an output mass, and an accumulation mass.
13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein calculating a cost of processing a commodity comprises:
determining values for the input mass from the first set of values;
determining values for the output mass from the first set of values;
determining values for the accumulation mass from first set of values; and
calculating the cost of processing the commodity using the set of values for the input mass, the output mass and the accumulation mass.
14 . The method of claim 11 , wherein one of the processes performed at the conversion facility includes a reactive material transfer through a processing subunit, and the quantitative variables include an input mass, an output mass, an accumulation mass, a generation mass and a consumption mass.
15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein calculating a cost of processing a commodity comprises:
determining values for the input mass from the first set of values;
determining values for the output mass from the first set of values;
determining values for the accumulation mass from first set of values;
determining values for the generation mass from the first set of values;
determining values for the consumption mass from the first set of values; and
calculating the cost of processing the commodity using the set of values for the input mass, the output mass, the accumulation mass, the generation mass and the consumption mass.
16 . The method of claim 11 , said method further comprising:
calculating a cost of goods manufactured of a commodity processed at the facility for the syncing frame time period using the first and second set of values.
17 . The method of claim 11 , wherein at least one of the quantitative variables or at least one the cost variables includes at least one of a) an initial intake of material or energy from a source external to the conversion facility; b) an intermediate intake of material or energy from an inventory associated with the conversion facility; c) a measurement of a change in an energy balance from an energy transfer at the conversion facility; d) a purchase of material or equipment associated with the operations of the conversion facility; e) an inventory measurement of an inventory directly associated with the conversion facility; and f) an expenditure directly or indirectly associated with the operations of the conversion facility.
18 . The method according to claim 11 , wherein the time period for the syncing frame is less than or equal to a week.
19 . The method according to claim 11 , wherein the values for the at least one quantitative variable are measured daily or less than daily.
20 . The method according to claim 11 , wherein the conversion facility comprises at least one of an oil refinery, coal refinery, natural gas refinery, power generation plant, recycling plant and a food processing plant.
21 . A computer readable medium comprising instructions executable on at least one processor for:
storing measured values for quantitative variables describing quantitative aspects of the conversion facility, wherein the quantitative variables are received from a plurality of sources associated with conversion processes performed at the conversion facility;
storing values for cost variables describing cost aspects of the conversion facility, wherein the cost variables are received from a plurality of sources associated with conversion processes performed at the conversion facility;
receiving a syncing frame identifying a time period less than thirty days from prior to receiving the syncing time frame;
determining, from the stored measured values for the quantitative variables, a first set of values for at least one of the quantitative variables that are within the syncing frame;
determining, from the stored values for the cost variables, a second set of values for at least one of the cost variables that are within the synching frame; and
calculating a cost of processing a commodity processed at the conversion facility for the syncing frame using the first and second set of values.
22 . The computer readable medium of claim 21 , wherein one of the processes performed at the conversion facility includes a nonreactive material transfer through a processing subunit, and the quantitative variables include an input mass, an output mass, and an accumulation mass.
23 . The computer readable medium of claim 22 , wherein calculating a cost of processing a commodity comprises:
determining values for the input mass from the first set of values;
determining values for the output mass from the first set of values;
determining values for the accumulation mass from first set of values; and
calculating the cost of processing the commodity using the set of values for the input mass, the output mass and the accumulation mass.
24 . The computer readable medium of claim 21 , wherein one of the processes performed at the conversion facility includes a reactive material transfer through a processing subunit, and the quantitative variables include an input mass, an output mass, an accumulation mass, a generation mass and a consumption mass.
25 . The computer readable medium according to claim 21 , wherein the time period for the syncing frame is less than or equal to a week.
26 . The computer readable medium according to claim 21 , wherein the values for the at least one quantitative variable are measured daily or less than daily.
27 . The computer readable medium according to claim 31 , wherein the conversion facility comprises at least one of an oil refinery, coal refinery, natural gas refinery, power generation plant, recycling plant and a food processing plant.