Interactive feedback for variable equation specifications

Abstract

Software instructions stored on a memory device and executable by a processor generate a plurality of models to simulate a process entity. The models include equations that mathematically represent the functionality of the process. Moreover, the models are configured to accurately represent the functionality of the process. Instructions determine whether the equations of the models are solvable after each change made to the models and indicate the result of the determination of solvability of the equations. Changes to the plurality of models are suggested that may render the equations solvable if the equations are determined to be unsolvable.

1 - 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . A system for modeling an industrial process and determining inefficiencies in the industrial process comprising:
 one or more computers comprising one or more processors and one or more non-transitory computer readable media, the one or more non-transitory computer readable media comprising instructions stored thereon that when executed cause the one or more computers to:
 generate, by the one or more processors, a repository, 
 generate, by the one or more processors, a simulation canvas, 
 generate, by the one or more processors, a plurality of models; and 
 solve, by the one or more processors, one or more equations associated with one or more of the plurality of models; 
   wherein the repository is configured to store one or more of model libraries, simulations, and units of measure slates;   wherein the simulation canvas is configured to enable users to build a visual representation of a simulation of at least a portion of the industrial process by enabling an importing of one or more of the plurality of models stored in the repository to a flowsheet;   wherein each of the plurality of models is configured to enable a user to input the one or more equations to define mathematical relationships of one or more variables within each of the plurality of models; and   wherein solving the one or more equations enables the system to accurately simulate a physical behavior, a functionality, or a characteristic of an element within the industrial process and identify at least one inefficiency in the industrial process.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 ,
 the one or more non-transitory computer readable media comprising further instructions stored thereon that when executed cause the one or more computers to:
 analyze, by the one or more processors, a modification to the flowsheet immediately to determine if the modification renders the one or more equations solvable. 
   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 ,
 wherein if the one or more equations are solvable, the system is configured to solve all of the one or more equations in the flowsheet and wait for a new modification to the flowsheet.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14 ,
 wherein if the one or more equations are not solvable, the system is configured to determine if a subset of the one or more equations are solvable.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 14 ,
 wherein if the one or more equations are not solvable, the system is configured to recommend variables in the system that the user should fix.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 14 ,
 wherein if the one or more equations are not solvable, the system is configured to recommend variables in the system that the user should free.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 14 ,
 wherein immediately analyzing the modification to the flowsheet prevents the user from making more than one change at a time to the flowsheet.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 14 ,
 wherein immediately analyzing the modification to the flowsheet guides the user to free or fix one variable at a time until all of the one or more equations are solvable.   
     
     
         21 . A system for modeling an industrial process and determining inefficiencies in the industrial process comprising:
 one or more computers comprising one or more processors and one or more non-transitory computer readable media, the one or more non-transitory computer readable media comprising instructions stored thereon that when executed cause the one or more computers to:
 generate, by the one or more processors, a repository, 
 generate, by the one or more processors, a simulation canvas, 
 generate, by the one or more processors, a plurality of models; and 
 solve, by the one or more processors, one or more equations associated with one or more of the plurality of models; 
   wherein the repository is configured to store one or more of model libraries, simulations, and units of measure slates;   wherein the simulation canvas is configured to enable users to build a visual representation of a simulation of at least a portion of the industrial process by enabling an importing of one or more of the plurality of models stored in the repository to a flowsheet;   wherein each of the plurality of models is configured to enable a user to input the one or more equations to define mathematical relationships of one or more variables within each of the plurality of models;   wherein solving the one or more equations enables the system to accurately simulate a physical behavior, a functionality, or a characteristic of an element within the industrial process and identify at least one inefficiency; and   wherein the system is configured to prevent the user from making more than one change at a time to the flowsheet.   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 ,
 the one or more non-transitory computer readable media comprising further instructions stored thereon that when executed cause the one or more computers to:
 analyze, by the one or more processors, a modification to the flowsheet immediately to determine if the modification renders the one or more equations as solvable; 
   wherein if the one or more equations are solvable, the system is configured to solve all of the one or more equations in the flowsheet and wait for a new modification to the flowsheet.   
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22 ,
 wherein if the one or more equations are not solvable, the system is configured to determine if a subset of the one or more equations are solvable; and   wherein if the one or more equations are not solvable, the system is configured to recommend variables in the system that the user should fix.   
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 23 ,
 wherein if the one or more equations are not solvable, the system is configured to recommend variables in the system that the user should free.   
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 21 ,
 wherein the repository is configured to store snapshots of the simulation.   
     
     
         26 . A system for modeling an industrial process and determining inefficiencies in the industrial process comprising:
 one or more computers comprising one or more processors and one or more non-transitory computer readable media, the one or more non-transitory computer readable media comprising instructions stored thereon that when executed cause the one or more computers to:
 generate, by the one or more processors, a repository, 
 generate, by the one or more processors, a simulation canvas, 
 generate, by the one or more processors, a plurality of models; and 
 solve, by the one or more processors, one or more equations associated with one or more of the plurality of models; 
   wherein the repository is configured to store one or more of model libraries, simulations, and units of measure slates;   wherein the simulation canvas is configured to enable users to build a visual representation of a simulation of at least a portion of the industrial process by enabling an importing of one or more of the plurality of models stored in the repository to a flowsheet;   wherein each of the plurality of models is configured to enable a user to input the one or more equations to define mathematical relationships of one or more variables within each of the plurality of models; and   wherein the system is configured to enable the user to free or fix only one of the one or more variables at a time.   
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 26 ,
 the one or more non-transitory computer readable media comprising further instructions stored thereon that when executed cause the one or more computers to:
 generate, by the one or more processors, a port editor, 
   wherein the port editor is configured to create and edit one or more port types which define how each of the plurality of models can be connected to each other on the simulation canvas; and   wherein defining variables in the one or more port types defines information to be transferred between models connected on the simulation canvas.   
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 27 ,
 wherein the system is configured to only allow connections between models with a same port type.   
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 26 ,
 the one or more non-transitory computer readable media comprising further instructions stored thereon that when executed cause the one or more computers to:
 analyze, by the one or more processors, a modification to the flowsheet immediately to determine if the modification renders the one or more equations solvable. 
   
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 29 ,
 wherein if the one or more equations are solvable, the system is configured to solve all of the one or more equations in the flowsheet and wait for a new modification to the flowsheet; and   wherein if the one or more equations are not solvable, the system is configured to determine if a subset of the one or more equations are solvable.   
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 30 ,
 wherein if the one or more equations are not solvable, the system is configured to recommend variables in the system that the user should fix.   
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 14 ,
 wherein if the one or more equations are not solvable, the system is configured to recommend variables in the system that the user should free.   
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 14 ,
 wherein immediately analyzing the modification to the flowsheet prevents the user from making more than one change at a time to the flowsheet.