=Paper=
{{Paper
|id=Vol-2744/short34
|storemode=property
|title=Design Features of the User Interface of the Pipeline Pressure Control Monitoring System (short paper)
|pdfUrl=https://ceur-ws.org/Vol-2744/short34.pdf
|volume=Vol-2744
|authors=Elena Afonina,Marina Levaya,Igor Levyy
}}
==Design Features of the User Interface of the Pipeline Pressure Control Monitoring System (short paper)==
https://ceur-ws.org/Vol-2744/short34.pdf
Design Features of the User Interface of the Pipeline
Pressure Control Monitoring System
Elena Afonina1[0000-0002-3560-8054], Marina Levaya1[0000-0003-2977-6200],
Igor Levyy2[0000-0003-2169-4761]
1 Bryansk State Technical University, Bryansk, Russia
2 ET LLC “Tsirobs”, Moscow, Russia
cvetelena@rambler.ru|mlevaya@mail.ru|i-levyy@mail.ru
Abstract. For control and regulation of hydraulic systems, especially, oil pump-
ing stations, automatic pressure control systems (APCS) are used. Using it, the
monitoring, controlling, and adjusting the operation of technological equipment,
optimization of modes, and other tasks that require direct human participation
become possible. The operator (or dispatcher) interacts with the system via a hu-
man-machine interface. The monitoring system includes programs for collecting,
processing, displaying, and archiving information about the object of observation
and control. Well-suited and being put to the right user interface design promotes
not only the effective interaction of the operator with the system in normal con-
ditions but also prevents errors and helps to find a solution in a dangerous or
emergency swiftly. This paper presents a software package designed for real-time
monitoring and regulation of pipeline operation. A system simulation model is
provided for the teaching and training of site personnel.
Keywords: Automatic Control system, Computer Modeling, Visualization of
Work, Design, User Interface.
1 Introduction
Automatic pressure control systems are software and technical systems for automatic
pressure control at the reception and outlet of oil pumping stations (NPS). Automated
systems allow operators (dispatchers) of oil pumping stations to monitor in real-time the
change of pressure in the oil pipeline, and in case of emergencies to take appropriate ac-
tions [1, 3]. Comprehensive monitoring of the state of the main pipelines is carried out to
solve a wide range of problems. High-tech complexes are created to prevent fire hazard
situations, monitor temperature and pressure in the hydraulic system, determine the safety
margin and evaluate the stress-strain state of the pipeline structure in various climatic
Copyright © 2020 for this paper by its authors. Use permitted under Creative Commons License
Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0).
* Publication is supported by RFBR grant № 19-07-00844.
2 E. Afonina, M. Levay, I. Levyy
conditions, etc. High-pressure systems transporting hazardous liquids and gases require
both continuous and periodic evaluation of the operation. The development and improve-
ment of control systems are constantly in the field of view of both domestic and foreign
specialists developing full-scale software complexes covering the maximum number of
technological operations. To date, the level of import dependence of Russian companies
in terms of software and APCS in the segment of transportation and storage of petroleum
products is about 80% [13]. The development of domestic software for the oil and gas
sector in modern conditions becomes relevant and becomes the key to ensuring the safety
of the industry [12, 13].
The reliability and safety of the NPS depend on many components - high-quality
equipment, high-tech software and technical complexes, workplace automation, as well
as personnel qualifications. To create and maintain the correct and reliable management
skills in regular, emergency and emergencies, the system interface should reflect the es-
sence of regulated processes, clarify the task and make decisions. At the moment, the
issue of developing an automated system for monitoring and regulating pressure in the oil
pipeline, taking into account the human and intellectual factor of users, is relevant.
The task is to develop a convenient and functional interface of the control complex
for effective human-machine interaction, to include a simulation mode of operation.
2 Setting goals and implementation methods
In the process of designing the software package, research and solution search were
carried out in the following areas:
- selection of the SCADA package taking into account the requirements for the
software package;
- use of a mathematical model of oil pipeline pressure control by flow throttling
method;
- creation of a control algorithm for the automatic pressure control system taking
into account the non-linear nature of the load;
- development of a software system model;
- development of the stand of the visual control of work of a system including the
interface, forms and algorithms for work of operators;
- testing and debugging of the system taking into account the inclusion of training
and training opportunities for personnel.
Operating conditions in different regions may differ both in the capacity of the NPS,
the level of automation of the station infrastructure, the structural features of the equip-
ment in operation, and in the range of tasks that are the responsibility of the operators.
Interactive control should not be a source of stress or psychological discomfort for the
operator. The screen type should be familiar, that is, take into account the traditional
approach to designing the user interface in the industry [7, 9, 16]. The automated system
should take into account possible changes in the applied hardware and have, among
others, a simulation model for use as a training complex [5, 11].
Currently, SCADA systems (or SCADA technologies), which are multi-functional soft-
ware packages, are used to develop automated systems for visualizing work and moni-
toring complex dynamic processes. The main functions of SCADA systems are
Design Features of the User Interface of the Pipeline Pressure Control Monitoring System 3
dispatch control, alarm in case of non-standard situations, event logging, documenta-
tion and archiving of data [12, 14]. When analyzing the main groups of indicators (tech-
nical characteristics, cost, operability) of several SCADA systems, it was determined
that the best is the domestic system TraceMode.
Regulation of liquid flow at oil pumping stations is involved in maintaining the spec-
ified parameters at standard, as well as the occurrence of abnormal and emergency sit-
uations. Pressure surges can occur as a result of seasonal fluctuations in production,
changes in the physical parameters of pumped oil and the appearance of other transient
processes in oil pipelines. In some cases, these changes may lead to the shutdown, re-
pair of the NTC and other adverse situations, accompanied by economic losses. The
means of regulating the pressure in the hydraulic system, which performs equipment
protection and system operation as a whole, is the flow throttling method. The control
mechanism is the dampers rotating by a certain angle depending on the pressure value
in the pipeline.
The mathematical model for calculating the nonlinear mechanical characteristic of the
flow load, as well as the automatic reconfiguration of the pressure regulator, should take
into account several parameters: viscosity and density of the medium, geometric charac-
teristics of the shutter (diameter, length, cross-section area), flow rate, average calculated
fluid flow rate. When constructing a hydrodynamic flow model, in works devoted to the
study of the dependence of the liquid pressure in the oil pipeline on the angle of rotation
of the control flap [3, 4, 14], specific zones with a characteristic flow in the pipeline were
identified: a zone of uniform flow, a zone of sharp expansion, a zone of slow constriction,
a zone of sharp constriction. Mathematical dependencies that allow calculating the pres-
sure level on the shutter depending on the angle of rotation formed the basis for the con-
struction of the pressure stabilization algorithm [3, 14].
The algorithm is designed so that data from the controller enters the system that
performs the processing and calculation of parameters. If the pressure value exceeds
the permissible limits, the angle of shutter rotation is calculated. The operator can adjust
the pressure in the manual mode by setting the rotation angle through the control system
interface.
3 Building a User Interface
When designing the interface, it was decided to adhere to the following principles.
- Display of control functions shall satisfy standard graphics diagrams [1, 2, 16].
Industry standards for the development of process equipment automation systems spec-
ify the types, layout and colour policy of screen forms [16, 17]. The ergonomics of
human-machine interaction must be present in the interface elements, without violating
the mandatory requirements [9].
- Consistency. The interface should help the operator to develop familiar actions and
prevent erroneous ones, therefore, when interacting with elements of the same appear-
ance, the same actions should occur. Each elementary action on the screen must be per-
formed as much as possible in the same way (via menu buttons, or keyboard shortcuts, or
response to a request, etc.). The monotonicity of the interface will reduce the time for
4 E. Afonina, M. Levay, I. Levyy
training the operator and will allow you to not waste time in an emergency to think about
the usual actions [8, 15].
- Flexibility. The use of terms, symbols and graphic information should take into
account different skill levels and different intellectual capabilities of the user. This will
make it possible to use the system both in real conditions and as a simulator.
- Friendships. The set of commands (questions, symbols) should prevent situations that
may end in errors. The opening of dialogue boxes, menu sections, messages that appear
should be phased. Therefore, the algorithm for their appearance should provide such an or-
ganization of information as is necessary to perform only the next step [9, 10].
- Feedback principle. Through the interface, the operator must understand how the
system responds to a particular action, feel interaction with the actuators of the entire
complex [11, 19].
- Taking into account the psychophysiological state of the operator. In addition to
the carefully developed visual model of the control object, the level of correspondence
of the skills and skills of the operator of the complexity of the task it solves is important.
Studies show that if a task is too difficult (with an irrational distribution of functions
between a person and a software complex), the operator will be constantly in an alarm
state. If the actions are overly simple and monotonous (for example, repeated dialogue
boxes, limited capabilities in the decision-making process), attention is reduced, which
can lead to erroneous actions [15].
4 Results
At the stage of sketch design, several screen reactors were developed. All of them take
into account the above principles, as well as some specific requirements for the system.
Shape, colour and location of mnemonic signs on the screen are indicators of processes
(Fig. 1). The buttons of the upper navigation panel for the requirements of industry
standards should be grey and include (as a requirement) the following information:
modes, settings, log, diagnostics, date/time [6, 7, 16].
Fig. 1. Diagram of the main window of the pressure monitoring system
Design Features of the User Interface of the Pipeline Pressure Control Monitoring System 5
The mnemonic field is a changeable display element. In the centre of the screen, it
is proposed to locate the main controlled parameters of the system, built-in real-time
graphics, system messages. The operator's constant attention should be located in a cer-
tain area of the screen, where the current state of the system will be reflected, as well
as ways of acting on it.
The navigation bar displayed at the top of the screen should allow you to display the
desired queries. The traditional colours of dispatcher monitors, saturated mainly with
steel grey colour, it was decided to soften somewhat, without changing the general col-
our concept. GOST 14202-69 prescribes the colour of the pipeline for the combustible
liquid to be painted brown, and for screen forms the image of the pipeline through
which oil and oil products move, the industry-standard recommends painting in black
shades [7, 16, 17]. Signal colours remain generally accepted: danger (error or abnormal
situation) - red colour, safety or neutrality - green.
You must log in and enter your name and password before you begin ( Fig. 2). After
completing the authorization (or checking the entered parameters in the database for
the registered user), the operator enters the main window of the system, where his name
is indicated.
Fig. 2. The registration window of the operator
Multiple screen forms are provided for setting the initial parameters of the system,
setting the input and allowable pressure. At the level of interaction, "operator - moni-
toring system" of the automatic monitoring system, values of measured parameters
(pressure, the position of control gates, messages about system events and accidents)
are continuously recorded in archive arrays, and trends of monitored parameters are
output to the graphical terminal. The interval of trend output, as well as their recording
in the archive, is 2 seconds. Archive program is developed for viewing and printing of
archive arrays, which allows displaying archival trends and messages for any day, to
scale trends, to set time interval for displaying values on the screen, to select measured
parameters for display [14].
The user should interact with the system by direct manipulation - working with objects
(mnemonic signs or menu buttons) on the screen. Therefore, the appearance of the
screen, visual images of tasks and objects require simple and understandable images.
Excludes multi-word, complex characters, or graphics. All user data - operator results
- must be saved. The dialogue boxes are designed with a save request.
6 E. Afonina, M. Levay, I. Levyy
To view reports, the operator can go to the Report page through the main menu of the
system (Fig. 3). The mouse navigates between dialogue boxes and graphs.
Fig. 3. The report window
To start operation in simulation mode, the system includes the required volume of
training functions, as well as the possibility of technical implementation of several sce-
narios. Not only the rotation angle graph of the adjustment mechanism are displayed,
but also graphs showing the change in pressure in the system. This makes it possible to
visually interact the operator with the controlled system, which is especially important
for the trainee [19, 20]. When starting the program pressure monitoring system, the user
- the operator of the oil refining station - gets to the main window, the main information
about the system operation is displayed on the counter (Fig. 4). In the manual docu-
ments on one of the screen forms, the location of the pressure control controllers is
given. In this interface, only a fragment of this section is given with emphasis on the
regulator operating element - shutter. The main window of the system displays graphs
of dependencies between the pressure level in the flow and the rotation angle of the fur-
bottom pressure control.
To verify that the product meets the specified requirements, it was necessary to carry
out some tests according to the following plan:
− operator registration (system response to input of unregistered user data);
− check of operation with the settings table, data entry;
− construction and display of graphs;
− saving of message history, checking of message log operation;
− checking the creation and preservation of reports, archiving of reports;
− system response to adjustment mechanism position change;
− emergency warning operation; debugging the operator's scenario of operation with
the interface in an emergency to eliminate errors in the state of psychological load;
− check of simulation mode operation.
Design Features of the User Interface of the Pipeline Pressure Control Monitoring System 7
Fig. 4. The main window of the program pressure monitoring system
The main purpose of the testing was to verify the operation of the software, evaluate
the ergonomic and functional qualities of the human-machine interface.
5 Conclusions
In this work, the original interface of the automatic pressure control system in the
pipelines of oil pumping stations was developed. The designed software system is de-
signed for real-time monitoring, collection, processing, sampling and archiving of in-
formation about the monitoring and control object. The developed system allows oper-
ators to monitor the state of the oil pipeline in real-time and, if necessary, take appro-
priate actions. In the design of the interface, it was important to combine a traditional
approach to designing screen forms of automated workplaces with the usability and
visibility of the presented data. Particular attention is paid to visualizing the relationship
between the pressure level in the pipeline and the operation of the adjustment mecha-
nism. Special settings of the simulation mode allow you to use this system as a training
tool for NTC operators.
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