ENG_673267.XML
The basic function of an alarm system is to notify the operator of abnormal process states or equipment malfunctions. The alarm system integrated in SIMATIC PCS neo detects process alarms, operator input messages and local events, saves them in archives and shows the alarms/messages in categorized alarm or message lists:
- Alarm Summary Display: Unacknowledged alarms; acknowledged alarms that are still pending; alarms that are unacknowledged but have already gone again
- Alarm Log: Long-term archive for alarm records
- Operation Log: Operator messages
- Shelved Alarms: All manually suppressed alarms
- Hidden Alarms: Manually suppressed alarms that would otherwise be currently pending
S_PCS7_XX_00246
Alarm system
For fast identification of faults and their resolution, the operator can go directly from the selected alarm to the process display with the problematic process object (loop-in-alarm). The operator can use the color-coded process tag to open the associated faceplate and trigger the necessary operator action there. The faceplate window can be anchored so that it remains visible even when the display is changed.
The alarm bar integrated in the overview of the M&C system provides an overview of all plant alarms and is visible at all times in Monitoring & Control mode. It contains alarm indicators for process alarms and for diagnostics alarms, categorized according to alarm priorities in each case, and function keys for calling alarm lists and switching off a horn. The most recent process alarms are displayed at all times in the alarm banner.
Group displays in the process display hierarchy visually signal the pending alarms. They also have a loop-in-alarm function.
An online language selector permits the operator to change the display language during runtime.
In addition to optical indicators, audible indicators also inform the operator about the occurrence of an alarm. The operator can switch off the acoustic alarm directly or indirectly with an alarm acknowledgment.
Separate group displays, alarm lists and diagnostic views keep the operator informed of the current state of system diagnostics at all times.
Reducing the workload on the operator
In the case of large quantity structures with a high volume of messages, the following measures can improve transparency and significantly relieve the workload on operating personnel:
- The alarm system (based on alarm priorities) identifies the importance of the alarms and implicitly suggests a processing order to the operator when there is an accumulation of many alarms
- Manual shelving (suppression) of visual and audible alarms, irrelevant messages (with complete logging and archiving) e.g. for safe and interruption-free operation of the plant:
- For a limited period
- Until the operator ends shelving again
- Due to the settings in the central user management and the resulting access rights, the operator is only provided with the relevant alarm information for which the operator has the corresponding right. This prevents information overflow by design.