Scenario Design for the Evaluation of Human–Machine Interaction in Modular Process Plants

• Published in: Chemical engineering & technology Vol. 47; no. 12
• Main Authors: Miesen, Felix, Lorenz, Julius, Klose, Anselm, Pelzer, Florian, Narciss, Susanne, Urbas, Leon
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Frankfurt Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01-12-2024
• Subjects: Chemical reactions; Control tasks; Digitization; Modular process plants; Modularization; Neutralization process; Operators; Process control; Process controls; Scenario design; Task complexity
• ISSN: 0930-7516; 1521-4125
• DOI: 10.1002/ceat.202400015

Operators in modular process plants face new demands due to features like increasing automation and digitalization combined with an architecture allowing for reconfigurations in short time spans. However, operators must be able to master process control tasks at all times. For research purposes on topics like supporting operators in their performance in process control of modular process plants, this article aims at developing scenarios of such plants. Based on three conceptual levels describing the relation of chemical processes and their modularized realization and a neutralization process as use case, four scenarios were developed. Having the common task to increase the throughput, the scenarios differ in terms of complexity and constraints that need to be considered for process control.
This article deals with the step‐by‐step development of scenarios of modular process plants in the light of new requirements and challenges that operators face when working in and with such systems. The development includes considerations at the process, role, and equipment levels. The developed scenarios can be used for research related to process control in modular process plants.