Integrated design environment for process control

An integration strategy for designing an interactive computer-aided control system design environment for chemical processes, in which several independently developed subprograms are coordinated by a metasystem, is presented. In this approach, each subprogram can be easily modified without affecting other subprograms. It also allows other subprograms to be added to the system easily. Individual subprograms can be executed separately as a stand-alone system. The interactive graphics software package, PCET, has a hierarchical structure of several independently developed subprograms which are integrated by a metasystem. In PCET, the metasystem serves as an interface mechanism to communicate individual software programs, and to build a man-machine interface. It also makes it possible to transfer data between subprograms more easily. The software can be used to design control systems