Development and Production Environments:

Accord solutions are fully object based – equipment, programs, simulations, recipes, plans are all setup using objects and drop-downs, without tagging, coding or scripting. This is a unique approach which really saves on engineering time.

The Development Environment is for offline work, where systems (Process Models for PLC and HMI screens) can be initially developed and tested using Emulator and Simulator, and Process Design and Test documents can be automatically generated. These documents will accurately describe the installed system and can be used as a basis for formal validation.

Configured Process Models are downloaded to PLCs for plant operation in a Production Environment. The data service automatically provides data for HMI, logging, reporting, management services and other requirements. Engineering changes can still be carried out.

List of Modules in Environment:

Area	Module		Brief Description	Development Environment ?	Production Environment ?
Designer	Designer		Configure Process Models and HMI Clients	Yes	Yes
	Emulator		Running Models on PC as if on PLC, for testing and training.	Yes
	Simulator		Simulation of Plant values for Testing in Emulation.	Yes
Service	Server		Data Management and services for all modules.	Yes	Yes
	Redundancy		Hot Standby Auto Switchover server setup		Yes
	Relay		Transfer Values between PLCs		Yes
PLC	Library		Auto Implementation of Process Model in Controller.		Yes
Operation	HMI Client		PC HMI client application, interacting with Server module.	Yes	Yes
Manager	Recipe		Configuration of Recipes for Setpoints, Step Times and Selections.	Yes	Yes
	MES/Plan		Sequencing of Programs, or Plans, with Recipe selection.	Yes	Yes
	Process Audit		Query of logged status and activity; configurable using selections / drop down.	Yes	Yes
	Security Audit		Listings of previous commands and actions from HMI; by operator, or from Module.	Yes	Yes
	Custom Reports		User Configurable reports, with embedded program information and trends	Yes	Yes

Please also See Installation for note on Development and Production Environments

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Setup Stages:

This is a brief introduction summary for the method and setup.

Design of Process Models and HMI:

Equipment objects (Valves, Instruments) are configured in Units and Programs are set up as lists of steps and elements such as comparisons and alarms. Item selections, e.g. for activations, are made using drop-downs. HMI applications are built by placing devices and list objects onto the screens and the setup and the system can be tested using PC emulator.

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Implementation in a PLC:

After testing the Process Model is downloaded to a PLC where the Accord PLC Runtime library implements the model as control system. All objects and links are implemented automatically without any additional coding. The PLC Runtime Library is usually copied into the overall PLC project (containing hardware layout etc) using standard PLC Editor.

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Data and User Management:

The Server module assigns the addresses to PLC data and automatically makes relevant data available for HMI and other modules with correct read/write properties and limits for any value settings. Server also manages security so that only relevant settings are available for users.

The module communication is carried out using fast, secure MS WCF software. Audit entries for every operator action and also for selected (logged selection) process value or event are stored automatically.

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Visualisation:

The HMI client is just a client of Server, and can easily be installed on a networked PC. The configuration of the HMI screens is stored in Server database and is transferred to the client PC when the HMI software is started. All limits, states and security functions are automatically up-to-date on every client PC.

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Managing Recipes & Automatic Program Execution:

These modules are also clients of the Server, and can be installed separately on client PC’s, with just configuration required for the instance they are being used for.

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Auditing Historical Information:

The Process and Security audits provide the ability to examine any past status or event. Again, they are clients of server and in effect perform large configurable queries of the process database, converting the settings to SQL Query and returning the data into the framed tables.

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Putting in a Hot Standby:

A second PC can act as a hot-standby (auto-switchover) backup for the Server PC. The selection of the functions as Primary and Partner and the linking is carried out using a drop-down and search, once the two PC’s are on same network. If the Primary fails the Partner will automatically poll PLC’s and provide information for the clients. The Partner PC updates historical data in the Primary PC when it restarts.

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Quick Screenshot type introduction :

please use the arrows ->

Advantages of Object Control:

A good resource for study of the principles: https://www.academia.edu/4312062/Object_oriented_models_for_advanced_automation_engineering

Operations Advantages:

Operations generally starts as a handover during commissioning. Accord uses well designed faceplates with built-in security so the system can be accessed from day 1. The object explorer attached to each faceplate allows access to any device from any screen and list controls automatically update any relevant device changes so commissioning changes are often just graphical and users expect to find relevant items easily in the list controls.

Accord comes with built-in Audit applications which are very valuable for checking plant operations history, both for process events and changes to parameters or states. The audits are available, without setup or scripting, from time of installation and this is a huge benefit.

Accord can check all the settings in PLC at regular intervals and report on any settings that have changed without authorisation, enhancing system security far beyond normal actions.

Parameters, times and selections, are easy to change in Recipes, with all changes being stored and auditable, for peace of mind.

Perhaps the biggest advantage is in the Plan/MES module which allows operations managers to configure campaigns of programs to be carried out, freeing up operations personnel from having to start or continuously monitor individual programs.

The built in KPI/Query control allows operations personnel to ask for numbers, maximums, other limits and averages of any readings at any time.

Technology Advantages:

The ability to configure a control system without any tagging or scripting is a big improvement from usual tag based programming. It is faster and more transparent than any manual programming method, which means that technical personnel can understand the system much more easily.

The Accord PLC Runtime Library is 1 single library which has been developed by a small team with a common goal and style, and has been rigourously tested post-development. Once installed, the library is transparent to the user and again this is much better as there are no incompatible parts, or styles differences within the development team.

The Runtime library is normally Siemens S7, but has also been written for other PLC brands.

The facility to generate matching design and test documentation (to Word, for easy customisation) saves many days of work on every project.