U.S. patent application number 13/764447 was filed with the patent office on 2013-06-27 for method and apparatus for chemical data repository.
This patent application is currently assigned to NALCO COMPANY. The applicant listed for this patent is Nalco Company. Invention is credited to William R. Esposito, John A. Schlitt.
Application Number | 20130166608 13/764447 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 45925847 |
Filed Date | 2013-06-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130166608 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Schlitt; John A. ; et
al. |
June 27, 2013 |
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CHEMICAL DATA REPOSITORY
Abstract
Methods for chemical management, observing the effectiveness of
an industrial facility, or of organizing the assets of a business
organization. The method is computerized and may involve receiving
specification data for pieces of equipment and organizing the
equipment into data structures of templates. The templates may be
organized in a hierarchical structure where the lowest levels
correspond to templates for a single piece of equipment and higher
levels correspond to categories of pieces of equipment.
Inventors: |
Schlitt; John A.; (Missouri
City, TX) ; Esposito; William R.; (Warrenville,
IL) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Nalco Company; |
Naperville |
IL |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
NALCO COMPANY
Naperville
IL
|
Family ID: |
45925847 |
Appl. No.: |
13/764447 |
Filed: |
February 11, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
12899250 |
Oct 6, 2010 |
|
|
|
13764447 |
|
|
|
|
PCT/US2011/055017 |
Oct 6, 2011 |
|
|
|
12899250 |
|
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
707/803 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 16/22 20190101;
G06Q 10/06312 20130101; G06Q 10/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
707/803 |
International
Class: |
G06F 17/30 20060101
G06F017/30 |
Claims
1. A computer-implemented chemical management method comprising:
receiving, by a computer, specification data collected from a
plurality of assets associated with a business organization,
wherein each asset of the plurality of assets is a piece of
equipment; inputting for each asset of the plurality of assets, by
the computer, received specification data into a data structure of
a template, wherein templates for the plurality of assets are
organized into a hierarchy, the hierarchy including templates for
single assets at a lowest level of the hierarchy and templates for
categories of assets at a higher level of the hierarchy, wherein
different templates at the lowest level of the hierarchy are
defined for different types of equipment; and determining, by the
computer, an aggregate specification value for a category of assets
associated with a template at a higher level of the hierarchy, the
aggregate specification value being based on specification values
for individual assets within the category of assets for the
template at the higher level of the hierarchy.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the business organization is a
corporation having multiple oil refineries.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the plurality of assets include a
plurality of distillation columns.
4. The method of claim 2, wherein a single asset at the lowest
level of the hierarchy is a distillation column at one particular
oil refinery and a category of assets at the higher level of the
hierarchy includes multiple distillation columns at multiple oil
refineries.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of assets include
one or more of a boiler, a heat exchanger, a cooling tower, a
conduit pipe, a reaction vessel, a mill, a storage tank, a mixing
tank, a pump, and a valve.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein the specification data include
one or more of temperature, pressure, pH, voltage, density,
viscosity, and concentration of one or more materials of
interest.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the hierarchy is selected from
the group consisting of asset category, geographic location, unit
of ownership, time of operation, cost of operation, and
combinations thereof.
8. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining, by the
computer, a score for each asset of the plurality of assets based
on specification data collected from each asset.
9. A computer-implemented method for observing the effectiveness of
an industrial facility, the method comprising: providing, by a
computer, a plurality of templates arranged in a hierarchy, wherein
the plurality of templates include a plurality of templates at a
lowest level of the hierarchy and a plurality of templates at a
higher level of the hierarchy, wherein the plurality of templates
at the lowest level of the hierarchy define data structures
receiving specification data collected from a plurality of assets
associated with a business organization, each asset of the
plurality of assets being a piece of equipment, and wherein the
plurality of templates at the higher level of the hierarchy define
data structures for categories of assets; receiving, by the
computer, specification data collected from the plurality of assets
so as to provide collected specification data; inputting, by the
computer, the collected specification data into the plurality of
templates at the lowest level of the hierarchy; determining, by the
computer, an aggregate specification value for a category of assets
associated with the plurality of templates at the higher level of
the hierarchy, the aggregate specification value being based on
collected specification data for individual assets within the
category of assets for a template at the higher level of the
hierarchy; and displaying, by the computer, data associated with
the plurality of assets in the hierarchy so that a user can compare
data at different levels of the hierarchy.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein the plurality of assets include
a plurality of distillation columns.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein a single asset at the lowest
level of the hierarchy is a distillation column at one particular
oil refinery and a category of assets at the higher level of the
hierarchy includes multiple distillation columns at multiple oil
refineries.
12. The method of claim 9, wherein the plurality of assets include
one or more of a boiler, a heat exchanger, a cooling tower, a
conduit pipe, a reaction vessel, a mill, a storage tank, a mixing
tank, a pump, and a valve.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein the collected specification
data include one or more of temperature, pressure, pH, voltage,
density, viscosity, and concentration of one or more materials of
interest.
14. The method of claim 9, wherein receiving specification data
comprises receiving specification data from a process
historian.
15. The method of claim 9, wherein the hierarchy is selected from
the group consisting of asset category, geographic location, unit
of ownership, time of operation, cost of operation, and
combinations thereof.
16. A computer-implemented method, comprising: identifying a
plurality of assets associated with a business organization,
wherein each asset of the plurality of assets is a piece of
equipment from which specification data is collected; providing a
plurality of lower-hierarchy templates, each lower-hierarchy
template defining a data structure for a given type of asset, the
data structure being configured to receive data that includes
specification data collected from the given type of asset;
providing a plurality of higher-hierarchy templates, each
higher-hierarchy template defining a data structure for a given
category of assets; and organizing, by a computer, the plurality of
lower-hierarchy templates and the plurality of higher-hierarchy
templates into a hierarchy for the plurality of assets associated
with the business organization, wherein the hierarchy defines a
sequential relationship from a smaller unit of organization to a
larger unit of organization for the plurality of assets of the
business organization.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein the plurality of
lower-hierarchy templates are configured to determine a score for
the given type of asset, the score indicating whether specification
data collected from an assets is within an acceptable margin.
18. The method of claim 16, wherein the plurality of
higher-hierarchy templates are configured to determine a composite
specification, the composite specification being a weighted
valuation of multiple specification data collected from the
plurality of assets.
19. The method of claim 16, wherein the hierarchy is selected from
the group consisting of asset category, geographic location, unit
of ownership, time of operation, cost of operation, and
combinations thereof.
20. The method of claim 16, wherein the plurality of assets include
one or more of a boiler, a heat exchanger, a cooling tower, a
conduit pipe, a reaction vessel, a mill, a storage tank, a mixing
tank, a pump, and a valve.
Description
PRIORITY CLAIM
[0001] The present application is a continuation of co-pending U.S.
Patent Application Ser. No. 12/899,250, filed Oct. 6, 2010, the
disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its
entirety.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Certain embodiments of the invention relate generally to a
system and method for the collection analysis and application of
data in a chemical plant. Chemical and industrial facilities
utilize a variety of complex equipment, which are often subject to
harsh chemical and physical conditions. As such, a number of
technologies have been developed to monitor the condition,
efficiency, and expected lifespan of the equipment. Such
technologies include historian systems, which collect and archive
data from various sources within the chemical plant.
[0003] Monitoring equipment typically involves a system in which a
variety of process variables are measured and recorded. One such
system is described in US Published Patent Application 2009/0149981
A1. Such systems however often produce massive amounts of data of
which only a small portion of which is usefully tracked to detect
abnormal conditions and the information gleaned from those systems
is of limited practical use.
[0004] Thus there is clear need and utility for system and method
for the collection, analysis, and application of data in a chemical
plant. The art described in this section is not intended to
constitute an admission that any patent, publication or other
information referred to herein is "prior art" with respect to this
invention, unless specifically designated as such. In addition,
this section should not be construed to mean that a search has been
made or that no other pertinent information as defined in 37 CFR
.sctn.1.56(a) exists.
BRIEF SUMMARY
[0005] Certain embodiments of the invention are directed towards a
computer-implemented chemical management method. The method
includes receiving, by a computer, specification data collected
from multiple assets associated with a business organization. Each
asset corresponds to a piece of equipment. The method also includes
inputting, for each asset, the received specification data into a
data structure of a template. The templates for the assets are
organized into a hierarchy. The hierarchy includes templates for
single assets at a lowest level of the hierarchy and templates for
categories of assets at a higher level of the hierarchy. The
different templates at the lowest level of the hierarchy are
defined for different types of equipment. The method also includes
determining an aggregate specification value for a category of
assets associated with a template at a higher level of the
hierarchy. The aggregate specification value is based on
specification values for individual assets within the category of
assets for the template at the higher level of the hierarchy.
[0006] Certain embodiments of the invention are directed towards a
computer-implemented method for observing the effectiveness of an
industrial facility. The method includes providing, by a computer,
multiple templates arranged in a hierarchy. The multiple templates
include multiple templates at a lowest level of the hierarchy and
multiple templates at a higher level of the hierarchy. The multiple
templates at the lowest level of the hierarchy define data
structures receiving specification data collected from multiple
assets associated with a business organization. Each of the assets
corresponds to a piece of equipment. The multiple templates at the
higher level of the hierarchy define data structures for categories
of assets. The method also includes receiving the specification
data collected from the multiple assets so as to provide collected
specification data. The method includes inputting the collected
specification data into the plurality of templates at the lowest
level of the hierarchy. The method also includes determining an
aggregate specification value for a category of assets associated
with the multiple templates at the higher level of the hierarchy.
The aggregate specification value being based on collected
specification data for individual assets within the category of
assets for a template at the higher level of the hierarchy. The
method includes displaying data associated with the plurality of
assets in the hierarchy so that a user can compare data at
different levels of the hierarchy.
[0007] Certain embodiments of the invention are directed towards a
computer-implemented method. The method includes identifying
multiple assets associated with a business organization. Each asset
is a piece of equipment from which specification data is collected.
The method includes providing multiple lower-hierarchy templates,
where each lower-hierarchy template defines a data structure for a
given type of asset. The data structure is configured to receive
data that includes specification data collected from the given type
of asset. The method also includes providing multiple
higher-hierarchy templates, where each higher-hierarchy template
defines a data structure for a given category of assets. The method
includes organizing the multiple lower-hierarchy templates and the
multiple higher-hierarchy templates into a hierarchy for the
multiple assets associated with the business organization. The
hierarchy defines a sequential relationship from a smaller unit of
organization to a larger unit of organization for the multiple
assets of the business organization.
[0008] At least one embodiment of the invention is directed towards
a method for efficiently observing the effectiveness of an
industrial facility. The method comprises: inputting one or more
specs from one or more data sources relating to the physical
attributes of two or more assets into a computer, organizing the
assets according to a hierarchy, and displaying the data in a
format allowing the user to compare the specs by asset type, spec
type, or position within the hierarchy.
[0009] The spec may be spec is selected from the list consisting
of: pH, temperature, voltage, age, viscosity, density, weight,
salinity, concentration of a particular composition of matter, or
any combination thereof. The hierarchy may be selected from the
list consisting of: asset category, geographic location, unit of
ownership, time of operation, cost of operation, and any
combination thereof. The method may further comprise the steps of:
scoring at least one spec by determining if they fall within an
acceptable range of values, aggregating at least some of the specs
of at least one asset and determining if the aggregate spec falls
within an acceptable range of values, providing an unequal weight
to certain specs, and/or determining an overall rating by
aggregating the specs of multiple assets.
[0010] The operation of at least one asset may involve at least two
specs, altering the value of each spec directly causes a specific
change in the cost of operating or maintaining the asset, and
altering one spec mitigates the costs associated with altering
another spec, wherein the method further comprises the step of
displaying the associated costs of various possible alterations of
one or more of the specs. The asset may be operated in accordance
with the maintenance of the specs in conformance with the lowest
possible cost combination. At least one asset may be selected from
the list consisting of: boilers, heat exchangers, cooling towers,
conduit pipes, crude oil refinery units, reaction vessels, mills,
storage tanks, mixing tanks, pumps, valves, water treatment
facilities, and any combination thereof.
[0011] The changes in the costs of operating or maintaining the
asset may be the change in cost of an item selected from the list
consisting of: energy, feedwater, industrial chemicals, scale
control chemicals, corrosion mitigating chemicals, waste consuming
microorganisms, time offline, repair costs, component replacement
costs, lost sales, opportunity cost, and any combination thereof.
The display may include the revenue to be earned from operating at
least one asset according to the displayed specs.
[0012] The method may further comprise implementing at least two
specs in at least one asset based on rationally selecting a desired
ratio of costs to revenue. The implementation may be accomplished
according to one item selected from the list consisting of: a
manual human operation, an automated response by process control
equipment receiving the data, and any combination thereof.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] A detailed description of the invention is hereafter
described with specific reference being made to the drawings in
which:
[0014] FIG. 1 is a flowchart illustrating at least one embodiment
of the inventive method.
[0015] FIG. 2 is a diagram of hierarchy logic in at least one
embodiment of the inventive method.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0016] In at least one embodiment, a chemical management system is
provided which comprises at least one computer and at least one
source of data, which is input into the computer. The data source
comprises at least one source of raw data related to the item(s)
under management selected from: control systems output, wet
chemistry test results, manual observation data, data collected by
handheld equipment, laboratory management systems (LIMS), gauges,
transmitters, statistical process control, statistical quality
control, inventory management software, and any combination
thereof. This information is stored by the computer and indexed by
time. The data sources may also include information collected by a
process historian such as but not limited to that described by US
2009/0149981.
[0017] The collected data is various readings of various
specifications (or specs) of relevance various assets. Collected
specs include but are not limited to temperature, pressure, pH,
voltage, density, viscosity, and concentration of one or more
materials of interest. The specs are collected from various
"assets" including but not limited to specific boilers, heat
exchangers, cooling towers, conduit pipes, reaction vessels, mills,
storage tanks, mixing tanks, pumps, valves, and the like, and any
combination thereof. Each spec for each asset is recorded at a
specific time. A data quantum containing a spec, an asset, and a
time is referred to as raw data. Calculations are then performed on
the raw data to rate it relative to known performance parameters of
the particular asset. The parameters are acceptable measurements
for given assets based on industry standards, determined best
practice, or proprietary information. FIG. 1 illustrates at least
one example of collecting specs for various assets.
[0018] The raw data is allocated to a template. For purposes of
this application the definition of "template" is a commonly defined
data structure for a given type of equipment in which the
definition is such that it encompasses all examples of that
equipment irrespective of such variables as location, construction,
and customer, without having to modify the data structure.
[0019] In at least one embodiment the template corresponds to a
client specific hierarchy. For purposes of this application the
definition of "hierarchy" is the sequential relationship from a
smaller or more local unit of organization (such as a single asset)
to increasingly larger units of organization (such as all of a
particular asset of a large corporation or government, or all
facilities of an industry in a continent). Templates can be
organized within data structures such as arrays, queues, link
lists, object-oriented programming structures, or any other form
suitable for of data organization. In at least one embodiment, the
hierarchy comprises various units measuring time-specs within
assets, assets within areas, and areas within industries. The
template contains at least one hierarchy defining data item (such
as a single asset or a category of assets) and at least one spec
for that item (such as pH in that asset). Templates and assets can
also be limited to only those pieces of equipment designated for
particular tasks or involved in producing particular products.
[0020] For example, a corporation having multiple oil refineries in
various locations could have a low in the hierarchy template
corresponding to one or more specs for a single distillation column
in one particular refinery. It could also have various intermediate
in the hierarchy templates referring one or more specs for some or
all of the distillation columns in its various facilities. It could
have a highest-level in the hierarchy template referring to one or
more specs for every distillation column (or even every asset) in
all of its facilities. The templates can be organized at least
according to: asset type, location, problem the asset(s) addresses,
problem the asset(s) face, and time.
[0021] In at least one embodiment a score is provided to one or
more of the various specs of a template. The score can be a
determination if one or more specs of the template are within an
acceptable margin or not, and if not by how large the deviation
is.
[0022] In at least one embodiment a user can obtain useful
knowledge by "rolling" up or down the hierarchy. When rolling, a
user selects one or more specs and then observes templates that are
higher or lower in the hierarchy and compares the changes in
spec(s) between the templates. The specs for
higher-in-the-hierarchy templates are aggregate values of the
individual assets within that template's definition. This method
allows a user to determine if one particular asset is exceptionally
over or under performing relative to the user's business
organization as a whole. This method is also useful in observing
and predicting organization wide trends and can be used to initiate
pre-emptive or other countermeasures.
[0023] FIG. 2 illustrates a possible hierarchy for a user. The
Customer template includes specs for all the user's Sites. Each
Site in turn contains specs for that Site's Process Areas. The
Process Areas contain specs for particular Units. The Units contain
specs for the various pieces of equipment for that unit such as
Boilers or Cooling Towers. Rolling up and down this hierarchy
allows the user to modulate between useful global views and
technically specific local views.
[0024] In at least one embodiment a user can obtain useful
knowledge by observing one or more composite specs. A composite
spec is a weighted valuation of multiple specs, which may or may
not be directly related (such as for example scale deposit,
leakage, and pH). Composite specs are useful for determining if an
overall maintenance or reliability problem exists or if quality
standards as a whole are being observed. High hierarchy composite
specs can provide insights into company wide quality success or
failures and can be used over time to gauge organization wide
changes in quality.
[0025] In at least one embodiment process control equipment is
constructed and arranged to respond to a message indicating a low
scoring specs in one or more assets by initiating a countermeasure.
The response can be automated, a manually enacted human response,
or any combination thereof. In at least one embodiment the process
control equipment includes chemical feeding and mixing apparatus
such as those described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,550,060.
[0026] In at least one embodiment the invention utilizes the
benchmarking methods and algorithms disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.
7,233,910 and/or US published patent application 2008/0201181 A1.
In at least one embodiment target variables, first principle
characteristics, usable characteristics are all determined and
organized for the asset level and at various higher and lower
hierarchical levels. Furthermore analysis models, developed
characteristics, constraints, and equivalency factors are made to
glean information at various different hierarchical levels.
[0027] In at least one embodiment a data display or "dashboard"
utilizes the collected information to display the various costs and
benefits of alternative uses of assets and templates. For example,
the system can collect and display the current degree of corrosion
in one or more assets. It can utilize information to extrapolate
the rate and effects of further corrosion, in particular the
inefficiencies the corrosion causes, the costs of corrosion
mitigating chemicals, and the reduction in quality of resulting
product. The system can also obtain information regarding cost of
repairs and replacements at the present time or at one or more
future times loss due to repairs. The system can compare that
information with data regarding the profit that can be generated
from producing a particular product with one or more of the assets.
The display would them show a user the real time actual cost of
deferring repairs versus the benefits of continuing production and
allow the user to make up to date actual business decisions using
information at the asset level.
[0028] In at least one embodiment a production "sweet spot" can be
determined. In general more profit can be obtained by continually
producing a valuable product. At the same time however, if one or
more of the production assets are impaired (for example by
corrosion issues), more costs are also incurred because ever
greater amounts of remediation strategies (such as corrosion
compensating chemicals) must be applied, the system must be taken
offline longer to effect more comprehensive repairs, and/or one or
more components of the system may become irreparably damaged and
must ultimately be replaced. This can vary by product because
different products impose different degrees impairment on their
production facilities.
[0029] The sweet spot is the degree of production just before a
point of diminishing return exists where even highly profitable
products display shrinking profit margins due to compounded
impairment costs. For example it might be profitable to run
production for a particular product until just before a key
component fails because the cost of corrosion remediation chemicals
is outweighed by the product's market value but the market value
does not outweigh the cost of replacing that component. In at least
one embodiment the data is used to assure that production is run up
until a particular reduction in profit is about to manifest and no
further.
[0030] This ability to correlate the factors needed to make
rational business decisions allows the user to recognize the
opportunity costs of various decisions. For example if doubling or
tripling production would double or triple revenues but would only
increase corrosion costs by a lesser amount, increasing production
makes sense. If however corrosion mediation costs increase at a
rate greater than the increase in revenues of increased production,
but corrosion costs decrease by an even greater amount by
decreasing production, continuing production at a reduced rate
makes sense. By allowing the user to see in real time the true
costs of various production options and the financial consequences
of those options, useful decisions can be made. In at least one
embodiment the costs of corrosion remediation includes at least in
part the costs of using the methods and compositions disclosed in
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,326,482 and 5,252,524.
[0031] In at least one embodiment the cost of continuing production
includes but is not limited to the cost of scale reducing chemicals
used, the cost of scale removal, and the energy cost due to reduced
efficiency in the asset. These costs themselves can vary by asset
due to the utility (water, electricity, gas, waste disposal),
labor, raw material, transportation, and climate based costs due to
the specific location of an asset. These costs can also vary by
asset based on age of an asset or the particular technology used by
that asset. In at least one embodiment the asset-by-asset analysis
of cost versus benefit is displayed or generated in a data format
and determines which assets should continue production, which
should increase and which should decrease and/or cease production.
In at least one embodiment the data is used to determine
opportunity costs of various production options for crude oil
refinery units.
[0032] In at least one embodiment the system is constructed and
arranged to determine the opportunity costs of various options of
operating industrial boilers. Boilers operate under various
constraints. At low cycle levels large amounts of feedwater are
used and wear and tear on the system is reduced but feedwater costs
increase. At high cycle levels, as the same water is cycled again
and again through the system, less feedwater is used but the water
in the system becomes increasingly harsh and scale or corrosion is
more likely to result and scale or corrosion chemicals must be
used. Furthermore the temperature that the water is maintained at
determines which of either corrosion or scale build up is more
likely to occur. The particular temperature at which either scale
or corrosion occurs however is unique for each asset. Furthermore
temperature changes also involve different energy costs. In at
least one embodiment the system is constructed and arranged to
determine what the cost of feedwater is, the cost of scale control,
and the cost of corrosion remediation and to display such
information. In at least one embodiment the user adjusts the cycle
level and boiler temperature to utilize the lowest possible cost
combination of feedwater, scale control chemicals, and corrosion
control chemicals.
[0033] In at least one embodiment the system is constructed and
arranged to determine the opportunity costs of various options of
operating cooling towers. Similar to boilers, cooling towers have
the constraints of controlling for feedwater cycle costs and
corrosion and scale costs. In addition cooling towers utilize fill
packing to increase the surface area of the water to better cool
it. Fill packing however over time becomes damaged and losses
efficiency. To compensate fans must blow longer to achieve equal
amounts of cooling thereby greater energy costs are incurred. In at
least one embodiment the system is constructed and arranged to keep
track of the fill packing efficiency and to use that information to
compute the energy costs of fan use. The system then displays the
various costs of changing feedwater cycles, corrosion remediation
rates, scale remediation rates, and fan energy use to determine the
opportunity costs of various settings for the cooling tower. The
system can also display the cost differential for continuing to
operate the cooling tower as-is or to take the tower offline and
replace damaged fill packing.
[0034] In at least one embodiment the system is constructed and
arranged to determine the opportunity costs of various options of
operating heat exchangers. With heat exchangers typically a cost
benefit decision needs to be made comparing the cost of taking an
exchanger offline to re-tube or otherwise repair it or to operate
it at a less efficient manner and thereby incur additional energy
costs. In at least one embodiment the system displays the
comparative opportunity costs of continuing to operate a heat
exchanger versus re-tubing or otherwise repairing it.
[0035] In at least one embodiment the system is constructed and
arranged to determine the opportunity costs of various options of
operating a wastewater facility. Wastewater facilities often
utilize various microorganisms to break down waste products in
water and then discharge the water. Adding particularly hot liquids
to the wastewater facility kills at least some of the
microorganisms. As a result conflicting costs constrains involving
how vital the microorganisms are (how large or healthy is the
population of microorganisms and how much added heat can that
population handle before it is impaired or even completely killed
off), the cost of replacing the microorganisms, and the cost of
storing and diverting water needing treatment until the water
either cools enough or the microorganisms are vital enough to
process the water. In at least one embodiment the system displays
the costs of admitting various amounts of waster into a treatments
facility and/or a diversionary storage facility.
[0036] In at least one embodiment the system is constructed and
arranged to display the costs of operating one or more assets
according to the methods and procedures in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,448,230
and 6,957,153.
[0037] In at least one embodiment the system is constructed and
arranged to display the opportunity costs and opportunity benefits
of idling, operating (at one or more possible capacities producing
one or more products), remediating, and/or repairing one or more or
all of one or more kinds of assets within the hierarchy versus the
opportunity costs. For purposes of this application "remediating"
means adding chemicals to an asset specifically for the purpose of
limiting, mitigating, or counteracting a phenomenon occurring
during its operation which is harmful or damaging to some or all of
one or more assets. Examples of remediation are scale control,
corrosion control, acid neutralization, base neutralization,
microbial control, microbial preservation, and any combination
thereof. Products include but are not limited to chemicals, fuel,
oil, petroleum, diesel fuel, hydrocarbon products, refined goods,
manufactured goods, processed commodities, and any other industrial
product subject to fluctuating prices in some market. Costs include
but are not limited to solid, liquid or gas pollution costs and
damages, carbon taxes, raw materials costs, utility costs,
transportation costs, loss of time, loss of market share, labor
costs, safety costs, and any combination thereof.
[0038] While this invention may be embodied in many different
forms, there are shown in the drawings and described in detail
herein specific preferred embodiments of the invention. The present
disclosure is an exemplification of the principles of the invention
and is not intended to limit the invention to the particular
embodiments illustrated. All patents, patent applications,
scientific papers, and any other referenced materials mentioned
herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety.
Furthermore, the invention encompasses any possible combination of
some or all of the various embodiments described herein and
incorporated herein.
[0039] The above disclosure is intended to be illustrative and not
exhaustive. This description will suggest many variations and
alternatives to one of ordinary skill in this art. All these
alternatives and variations are intended to be included within the
scope of the claims where the term "comprising" means "including,
but not limited to". Those familiar with the art may recognize
other equivalents to the specific embodiments described herein
which equivalents are also intended to be encompassed by the
claims.
[0040] All ranges and parameters disclosed herein are understood to
encompass any and all subranges subsumed therein, and every number
between the endpoints. For example, a stated range of "1 to 10"
should be considered to include any and all subranges between (and
inclusive of) the minimum value of 1 and the maximum value of 10;
that is, all subranges beginning with a minimum value of 1 or more,
(e.g. 1 to 6.1), and ending with a maximum value of 10 or less,
(e.g. 2.3 to 9.4, 3 to 8, 4 to 7), and finally to each number 1, 2,
3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 contained within the range.
[0041] As noted above, embodiments of a chemical management system
may be implemented via a computer that is adapted to store and
perform calculations on raw data. Accordingly, it is therefore
known and understood that the techniques described in this
disclosure may be implemented, at least in part, in hardware,
software, firmware or any combination thereof. For example, various
aspects of the described techniques may be implemented within one
or more processors, including one or more microprocessors, digital
signal processors (DSPs), application specific integrated circuits
(ASICs), field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), or any other
equivalent integrated or discrete logic circuitry, as well as any
combinations of such components. The term "processor" may generally
refer to any of the foregoing logic circuitry, alone or in
combination with other logic circuitry, or any other equivalent
circuitry.
[0042] Such hardware, software, and firmware may be implemented
within the same device or within separate devices to support the
various operations and functions described in this disclosure. In
addition, any of the described units, modules or components may be
implemented together or separately as discrete but interoperable
logic devices. Depiction of different features as modules or units
is intended to highlight different functional aspects and does not
necessarily imply that such modules or units must be realized by
separate hardware or software components. Rather, functionality
associated with one or more modules or units may be performed by
separate hardware or software components, or integrated within
common or separate hardware or software components.
[0043] The techniques described in this disclosure may also be
embodied or encoded in a non-transitory computer-readable medium,
such as a computer-readable storage medium, containing
instructions. Instructions embedded or encoded in a
computer-readable storage medium may cause a programmable
processor, or other processor, to perform the method, e.g., when
the instructions are executed. Non-transitory computer readable
storage media may include volatile and/or non-volatile memory forms
including, e.g., random access memory (RAM), read only memory
(ROM), programmable read only memory (PROM), erasable programmable
read only memory (EPROM), electronically erasable programmable read
only memory (EEPROM), flash memory, a hard disk, a CD-ROM, a floppy
disk, a cassette, magnetic media, optical media, or other computer
readable media.
[0044] This completes the description of the preferred and
alternate embodiments of the invention. Those skilled in the art
may recognize other equivalents to the specific embodiment
described herein which equivalents are intended to be encompassed
by the claims attached hereto.
* * * * *