【Haichuan – Insights from Others】One-click switching of device alarm settings based on operating conditions

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Recently, the second high-pressure polyethylene unit at Yanshan Petrochemical’s synthetic resin plant switched from producing ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) resins to producing low-density polyethylene (LDPE) products. In response to this change in operating conditions, the on-duty operators used the mouse to easily adjust the alarm settings of the unit to those appropriate for LDPE production. 　　“During the daily production process of the equipment, various production scenarios arise, such as changes in operating conditions, loads, and product grades. By employing an intelligent ‘real-time optimization method’, unnecessary alarms are eliminated, allowing for one-click adjustment of the alarm thresholds related to product grade changes. ”Zeng Yu, the head of the Process Technology Management Section in the Research and Technology Department of Yanshan Petrochemical, explained. 　　Yanshan Petrochemical adheres to real-time optimization in the management of plant alarms, has established a dynamic management mechanism for alarm thresholds, and adopted an intelligent management approach that involves revising settings for each specific scenario, with alarm values necessarily being adjusted whenever there are changes in those scenarios. In the event of alarms caused by equipment failures or incorrect meter readings, they address the issue by promptly replacing the equipment or using technical methods to correct the discrepancies, thereby suppressing such alarms at their source and eliminating false alarms. 　　In addition, they have established a 24-hour alarm system. Alarms are classified into three levels: normal, important, and urgent; the colors used for these alerts are set to yellow, red, and dark red respectively, while the sound frequencies are set to low, medium, and high respectively. The more urgent an alarm is, the more striking the color and the more piercing the sound, thereby reminding the personnel on duty to handle the alert information accurately and promptly. At the same time, the TOP10 alarm points and alarm types are dynamically updated hourly on the large screens in the control rooms of each production plant, serving as a reminder for production technicians and on-duty staff to pay immediate attention to the operating status of the equipment and to promptly address urgent and critical alarms.