Engineering

I. INTRODUCTION
A DCS (Distributed Control System) can generate a very
high number of alarms and events. Control engineers or
control room operators often cannot deal effectively with
this number of alarms.
When alarms proliferate their collective value as a tool
for diagnosis and preventing problems declines so the
overall effectiveness of the alarms system suffers with
risk of incidents and/or relevant economics losses.
Today for many advanced control systems it is becoming
essential to have a system to identify and eliminate all
nuisance alarms generated by a DCS, a system that allow
to manage the alarms and to enhance its reliability.
One useful method for alarm improvement activity is Six-
Sigma methodology based on teamwork. The Six-Sigma
approach includes the following phases:
· Define: Identify opportunities and Project scope
· Measure: Analyze current process and define
desired outcomes
· Analyze: ID root causes and proposed solutions
· Improve: Prioritize, plan & test proposed
solutions. Refine and implement solutions
· Control: Measure progress and hold the gains.
Recognize team & communicate results.
Statistical tools provided by Six-Sigma methodology and
a suitable system to detect all nuisance alarms generated
by DCS represent a useful guide and support to fix
existing alarm system and to establish a well managed
system that provides to the process controllers with the
appropriate information in a timely manner. In this way it
would be possible to easily identify cause of abnormal
process conditions and restore the plant to its normal
operations.
Scope to establish a well alarm management system
should be:
· Enable and empower operating teams to manage
their plant.
· Maximize the safety avoiding hazardous
situations.
· Minimize environmental impact avoiding
release in ambient.
· Push the processes to their optimal limits.
· Avoid equipment failure decreasing
maintenance costs.
II The Termoli Momentive...