eDB Historian The eDBÔ Historian (eDB) is the latest descendent in a long history of process data historians from Emerson Process Management. It is the result of decades of Emerson historian product development experience and the latest in database and computing technologies.
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Detailed collection of point value and status Provides data analysis tools and applications with a high resolution view of the process activity Leverages the benefits of a robust and mature database management system¾optimized for the process control environment Provides state-of-the-art solutions for retrieval and queries, fault tolerance, backup, reporting, and interfacing to process control applications and enterprise systems Supports distributed sources and users of the historical data with varying network architectures and throughput capabilities Creates summary tables containing averages and other mathematically processed values for use in reports and upstream analyses Collects histories of alarm conditions, operator actions, and sequence-of-event messages Collects third-party data via OPC and custom interfaces Interfaces with Ovation and WDPF WEStation historical client applications Supports desktop retrieval, analysis and reporting via the eDB Desktop Suite Provides a secure data source that is available for external applications by storing information into standard Oracle database tables
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Implemented on the Oracle8iÔ relational database platform, the eDB design leverages the powerful features of the Oracle environment to provide unparalleled data reliability and stateof-the-art database management capabilities. The eDB is tightly integrated with Emerson’s Ovation and WDPF control systems for the collection of process values and management of alarm messages, sequence-of-events (SOE) data, and operator actions. Process values may also be collected from OPC (OLE for Process Control) Servers, providing the ability to manage data from a variety of non-Emerson systems. The primary purpose of the eDB is to organize vast amounts of real-time process data; to perform the continuous calculation of summary values; to support on-line storage and off-line archival activities; and to present meaningful information to operators, engineers, and maintenance personnel. Since it is an Oracle database, the eDB also easily interfaces with other business databases and applications with SQL and ODBC (Open Database
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eDB Historian standard aggregation period is set up to be 10 minutes. Point Attribute Scanners collect the static, explanatory data associated with the points processed by the Point Value Scanners. This information includes point descriptions, engineering units, scaling parameters and alarm limits.
Connectivity) data retrieval technologies. The bundled reporting software provides viewing, sorting, and data analysis tools with output available to printers, files, web servers, desktop displays, and authorized users throughout the company’s enterprise network. Designed as a distributed application, the eDB can be used to store process data collected from one local DCS network or from single or multiple systems located remotely across a wide area network. By distributing the data collection process across multiple stations within the network, the local computing resources are dedicated to the storage and retrieval functions of the Oracle DBMS application.
Point-based Scanners Scanner Type Point Value
Scan Rate
Comments
Up to 1 second 10 minutes
Exception-based sampling Periodic calculations of averages, max, min, tmax, tmin and run-times Point descriptions, engineering units, alarm limits, etc.
Historian Architecture Attributes
Distributed Data Collection To support wide-area operation and to minimize the load on the eDB processor, the data scanning/sample collection process has been moved from the historian host and distributed among multiple data sources in the control system(s).
Various process messages are produced by a Westinghouse Ovation or WDPF system and this type of data is may be sent along to the eDB Historian as well. Message scanners are available for the collection and subsequent transfer of process alarms, sequence-of-events messages and operator events.
The use of dispersed scanners provides the flexibility to support a variety of system architectures. Consequently, the eDB does not require a direct interface to the DCS process network, and it may be used to manage process data from more than one site. Scanners for the Ovation, WDPF WEStation and OPC platforms will execute in the operating environment that is appropriate (e.g. Solaris, MS Windows). To survive brief communication outages, each scanner stores its data samples locally – to be sent when the link is restored.
Message-based Scanners Scanner Type Alarms
Sequence of Events (SOE)
Multiple scanner types are available to support the collection of the various kinds of process information that exists in a Westinghouse control system. Point Value Scanners watch its list of process points up to every second to see if a significant change in value or status has occurred, and transmits time-stamped samples to the eDB database server. The times are stored in Universal Coordinated Time (UTC) so that the data from multiple time zones may be managed properly.
Operator Events
Point Value Scanners also compute periodic summary calculations such as averages, runtimes, maximum and minimum values before sending them to the eDB database server. The
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Data Type High / low alarms and returns as presented to the Ovation or WDPF Operator Station. High resolution (msec level) data originated from system wide SOE inputs. Message records that indicate operator actions such as set point and scan status changes, and manually entered values.
Relational Database Platform At the core of the eDB is the powerful Oracle8i database management system, optimized for the acquisition and storage of real-time process
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eDB Historian data. The eDB database application is designed to operate on the Microsoft Windows NT operating system. The Oracle platform leads the world in supporting database-computing solutions and its users benefit from advanced functionality and a stable, reliable operating environment. Oracle provides state-of-the-art database management, scaleable deployment, secure and open data access, backup and recovery, a selection of development tools and a web-based applications architecture. Point-related Database Tables Compressed samples received from the distributed historical Point Value Scanners are processed and quickly stored into the eDB Detailed Data Table. The periodically computed samples from the Point Value Scanners are received for storage into the Aggregate Data Table.
The data from these process message database tables is accessed by the eDB Report System, the Ovation and WEStation Historical Review programs, by the eDB Add-in for Microsoft Excel and by third-party database analysis and reporting software. Because the message records are resident in an Oracle database, SQL queries can filter, sort and merge information to support flexible and powerful data queries. This gives users the ability to analyze multiple data types around the time of a plant event to better understand the cause and response to that incident.
The Ovation Historical Trend uses the point values stored within the Detailed Data Table to support user requests for line graph analysis. A desktop version of this program is available for office users in the Microsoft Windows environment. In addition, the eDB also supports historical data requests from native WDPF WEStation operator trends.
Data Storage Management eDB data tables are maintained on a local hard disk system and, if desired, periodically migrated to an external RAID storage system. This on-line archive system may be extended using up to 16 large-capacity RAID storage arrays to provide access to a sizable library of historical data – without requiring the pre-loading of previously removed archived information.
Both the Detailed Data and the Aggregate Data tables are available for supporting queries from the eDB Report System and other SQL/ODBCcompliant client applications to provide easy access to historical records for reporting and data analysis.
The eDB also includes a high-capacity tape drive used to perform a database recovery, should it become necessary. The periodic background backup operation occurs automatically.
Message-based Database Tables The message-based process data are received from the various message scanners and stored into eDB relational database tables. This includes alarms, operator actions, and sequence-of-events messages. The Alarm History table receives and stores alarms sent by the alarm scanner(s) deployed on one or more Ovation and/or WDPF systems. Operator actions are received from scanners and recorded into the eDB database. Each alarm and operator event message is stored along with associated fields such as time stamp, message type code and scanner source ID.
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Sequence of Events messages are generated by special Ovation or WDPF I/O hardware that is capable of detecting digital state changes at a fine time resolution (within 1 millisecond). These time-tagged messages are passed on to the eDB by SOE scanners for storage into the SOE message table. An automatically generated SOE log can be triggered to print under certain userconfigured scenarios.
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Fault Tolerance In addition to tape backup/recovery of the Oracle database, the eDB incorporates built-in features and leverages other widely available technological options to offer increasing levels of resistance to failures causing downtime. As mentioned above, each eDB scanner includes a small data buffer to manage brief interruptions in the network. By utilizing server-grade computers to host the eDB software, users gain the benefit of redundant, hot-plugable components such as disk drives, fans, and power supplies. OV-SYS-XY-118 [11] Proprietary
eDB Historian Standard eDB hosts are configured to utilize a RAID 5 disk storage array for additional faulttolerance. In this mode, any single drive failure will not interrupt the storage of historical data, and the data reconstruction will occur automatically to the “hot spare” drive (if so equipped).
Reporting System The bundled eDB Reporting System provides a combination of traditional DCS data logging features along with state-of-the-art “enterprise” reporting capabilities. Plant operations typically require some form of hard copy record of plant activity. The eDB reporting system allows users to easily acquire relevant historical data and present this information in various formats. Predefined templates may be selected for common reporting tasks or custom reports may be created for more complex data analyses. The eDB Report System is developed around Crystal Decisions’ Crystal ReportsÒ, a powerful report creation and generation package.
Report System Features ·
Includes a library of predefined report formats that can be easily applied for quick and simple report creation.
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Existing formats may be modified to extend their capabilities; custom report layouts can be designed via the bundled Report Designer by Crystal Reports.
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ExpressCalc reports make template building easy and provide users with powerful calculation elements to create most typical DCS-style reports.
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The eDB Report Manager is used for the scheduling of reports, programming of event trigger conditions, and assigning of process point names to build a "report definition".
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Message-based report formats provide logging of alarms, operation events, and SOE data.
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Allows for the combination of historic point value and message records in flexible, freeformat layouts to provide comprehensive reporting of related data.
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Prints or saves reports as a file in several popular file formats such as commaseparated ASCII, MS Excel spreadsheets, MS Word documents and HTML. Resultant report files may also be set up to be delivered to users via the company email system.
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Designed as a client application to provide reporting capability wherever needed¾at an Ovation Windows Operator Station or at any data user's desktop.
The Report System provides the framework for defining and generating various types of system reports including: · ·
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Scheduled Reports—Report execution scheduled in periodic intervals. Event Triggered Reports—Summarizes activity of user defined data occurring during an event triggered by one or more process conditions. Trip Reports—Provides information prior to and following a trip event. Operator Requested Reports—Generates reports based on an operator’s request.
Report Designer The Report Designer is a Crystal Reports product used to define the format of a report. This powerful program creates the physical layout of the titles, rows, and/or columns of data, graphs, and charts, as well as the fonts and colors to be used.
Flexibility in design allows the Report System to be packaged with the eDB Historian or to be loaded onto another PC client. This could be an Ovation (MS Windows) Operator or Engineer Station or a personal computer located in the user's office. The Report System may be deployed with or without the report design features to give basic users the functionality needed to request predefined reports and provide power users the tools they need to generate custom reports.
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Most report fields are capable of being programmatically controlled to provide different representations depending on the conditions specified. For example, the color of a point value may be black when it has good quality and red when otherwise. This package has been extended with the eDB “ExpressCalc” report system, which uses specialized report elements and functions to 4
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eDB Historian simplify the building of typical DCS-style reports. ExpressCalc reports easily provide mathematically processed results for the userspecified point list and time ranges. The Report Designer can be used to modify existing report formats or to design unique custom reports. The reports can be built to interface with the Report Manager so that the user can specify data query criteria such as point names, or query selection parameters that can be programmed and saved within the report format file.
the time interval to be covered are assigned to the selected format template. Additional report definitions may be created using that same format template, but with different points and titles to allow quick and easy creation of multiple reports that will have a consistent appearance. Users may also specify the "destination" of the resultant report. The output may be printed, displayed within a Crystal Report viewer window, or exported to a file. File types to be supported include comma-separated values, Microsoft Excel and Word, rich-text-format and HTML. Report output files may also be configured to be sent to users via email by interfacing with an external email server. Report definitions may then be assigned to timebased or conditionally triggered execution events. Timed events are user specified and are typically set up to be hourly, daily, and weekly periods. Shift events are also available to be used. Triggered events are initiated by satisfying the logical point value conditions when they occur in the eDB process database. The eDB Report Generator, running within the Report System, constructs a report using the report format defined by the Report Designer and the corresponding report definition configured by the user. The report scheduler initiates report generation when specified via an operator request, conditional trigger, or timed event. The embedded Crystal Report generation engine processes the report format and issues a data query to the eDB Historian.
Custom reports may be designed to present process values, process messages (alarms, etc.) or a combination of eDB data types. The Report Designer provides the ability to specify report and page headers and footers, as well as grouping sections for producing hourly and daily summaries of the data values that are returned from the historical data query. A Westinghouse-supplied library provides specialized routines for managing UTC (GMT) to local time conversions, point quality decoding, and other commonly used functions. Report Manager The eDB Report Manager packages tools to configure, schedule, and generate the various reports required by the user. "Report definitions" are configured to assign runtime parameters to be applied to a specified report format. Specific point names, titles, and Emerson Process Management
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After report generation, output is sent to a window, report printer, or saved as a file in the user's pre-specified format. The status of report scheduling and generation is available for viewing within the eDB Report Manager application.
Historical Retrieval Applications Since the eDB’s historical data is stored into Oracle database tables, access to this information from third-party applications is possible via ODBC / SQL queries. Programs such as Microsoft Excel provide tools for end users to link to databases and to form queries to extract the desired information. Although this is a very powerful capability, it requires the end
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eDB Historian user to understand the underlying table structure of the eDB.
The DCS applications that interface to the eDB Historian are listed below.
To complement the SQL data access, the eDB supports data retrieval requests from specialized applications for historical trending and data analysis. These programs are simpler to use and provide the tools typically required for searching and filtering process control data. These are described below.
Ovation for Windows
Ovation Both the Windows and Solaris versions of Ovation are equipped with historical trend and review applications.
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Trend Historical Reviews (point, alarm, SOE, Operator Event and combined)
Ovation for Solaris and WDPF WEStation · · · · ·
Trend Historical Point Review Historical Alarm Review Historical SOE Review Historical Operator Event Review
The trend program allows the user to specify a list of points to depict for a specified time period in a variety of graphical formats.
Historical reviews perform specific filtered queries of data from one or more historical data tables. For example, historical alarm data can be filtered by time and specific alarm types to help identify the underlying cause of a plant event.
eDB Desktop Suite Special versions of the Ovation Historical Trend and Historical Review programs can deployed onto desktop PCs located on the company network. All that is required is TCP/IP connectivity to the eDB Historian server and a PC running the Microsoft Windows NT, 2000 or XP operating system. The Historical Trend and Review are part of a suite of applications, which also includes an “add-in” for Microsoft Excel. The eDB Excel Addin populates the Excel toolbar with a special menu for eDB data queries. Users can easily choose the eDB data fields, time range and spreadsheet destination for the historical data. The resultant query may be saved for re-use at a later time.
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eDB Historian eDB as a Local DCS Historian The eDB has the built-in features to function as a typical DCS historian, collecting the data necessary to support the local operations personnel’s trend analyses, regulatory reporting and fault isolation. As such, the eDB is offered as the historian on all Ovation for Windows systems; and it is also available as a historian for the Solaris-based Ovation and WDPF DCS platforms. eDB as a Plant-wide or Enterprise Data Integrator By connecting the eDB to multiple control systems, it can serve as a centralized database for process data. The central server may have a subset of data points or different collect rates than that the local eDB. Since the data scanners and client applications interface with the eDB over a network, the systems may be deployed in a variety of valid configurations. The systems may be contained within the same site or actually located thousands of miles from one another.
Each of these functions includes the ability to select from a list of multiple eDB servers and to search / browse the points they have configured for collection. Desktop Application Historical Trend
Historical Reviews
Excel Add-in
Description
Allows graphical trending of points from selected eDB server. Plot values may be snapshot, average, max, min, integration, run time and state transition counts
Before transmission to the eDB server, the distributed data scanners mark the process values with Universal Coordinated Time (UTC) so that the time stored into the database is in a uniform format. This allows data from different time zones to co-exist within the same eDB historical database.
Provides user with data filter and time range selections pertaining to the type of historical data to be recalled. Data types include point value & status, alarm messages, sequence of events messages, operator event messages and combined data review. Entry fields to easily build query from eDB database tables. Can return exception-based or aggregate point values, point attributes or messages such as alarms, SOE or operator events.
Historian Deployment Because the eDB does not have a proprietary layer of software surrounding the Oracle8i database, the user has the flexibility to apply the eDB in many ways to accommodate process data integration needs.
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eDB as a Process Data Warehouse Since client applications do not need a proprietary API to access the data tables within the Oracle database, countless third-party tools are available for the purposes of developing business intelligence applications for decision support, online analytical processing, forecasting, performance analysis and data mining. These applications allow authorized users to extract aggregate (e.g. averages, max/min) data values for summary reporting or to drill-down to the high-resolution events for indepth analyses.
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