Alarm reduction in industrial process control

The proper handling of alarms is crucial to automated process control. In practice, many alarms are only distractive and do not represent a fault situation. Here, a toolbox is proposed that aims to reduce the occurrence of the so called nuisance alarms. It is a general computerized tool that takes advantage of the control system's built-in functions, and is a first step to an enhanced overall alarm situation. In the first prototype, a significant reduction of the alarms in a biofueled district heating plant has been achieved.