OSIsoft Process Book
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| ProcessBook | |
 A typical ProcessBook display page |
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| Developer: | OSIsoft |
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| Latest release: | 3.0.15.7 PR1 for Microsoft Windows / ??? |
| OS: | Microsoft Windows |
| Use: | Display |
| License: | Proprietary EULA |
| Website: | OSIsoft |
Contents |
[edit] Overview
Numerous companies in manufacturing, distribution, research and development, utilities and even academia have integrated their processes with OSIsoft's online, real-time operational data monitoring system called The PI System. The graphical user interface to The PI System is dubbed PI ProcessBook and has revolutionized the monitoring of process data.
ProcessBook is a visual representation of PI System (process information) data. The PI System stores data in a time series database which can be hosted on multiple platforms (though most of the market today is Microsoft Windows-based) and its data are accessible through Windows-based client applications such as ProcessBook. ProcessBook users can have access to current values, archived data and many display and trending options, which may be used in custom datasets. Use of the interface is simple and refined. Users can extend ProcessBook's functionality by using Visual Basic for Applications (basic knowledge of visual basic programming language is helpful).
[edit] Delivery system
In order for process data to be delivered to the computer interface, sensors must be implemented into the equipment being monitored. The sensors send data to control systems (such as DCS, SCADA, or other digital information systems) which are monitored by real-time interfaces. These interfaces collect and send the data to the PI System.
Examples of data delivered include pressure differentials, pH values of a tank, flowrates in a piping system, pump amperes, reel speed on a paper machine, or even chemical makeup of a reactor via gas chromatography.
[edit] Options
PI ProcessBook displays can use PI tags in a similar fashion to spreadsheets, which can implement equations and generate functions of variables for virtually any task. ProcessBook is an automation server, which allows peripherally located programs to automate or control OLE objects within the process book server. Examples are Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications and Microsoft Excel. ProcessBook also accommodates ActiveX controls, allowing for use of objects not generated in the PI data library.
[edit] Archives
Data in the PI System are stored as a time-series indexed database in a network server, and can easily be queried into a spreadsheet add-in for Microsoft Excel (called PI DataLink) for manipulation or analysis. This is extremely useful for production supervisors, engineers, technicians or anyone interested in trends of process data during regular operation, process trials or even troubled activity due to power outages or equipment failure.
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