Towards a formal engineering framework for process automation

This paper describes an attempt towards a formal modelling framework for process automation aiming at facing the reusability of the engineering studies on industrial systems. As hypotheses, we consider that such a framework should be based on concepts issued from the system theory to master the functional, structural and behavioural studies carried out in process automation. Formalisation of the basic elements involved in these system views and their interaction should lead to a formal design pattern for process system automation. This work is a first step towards such a formal design pattern using the set-based B method according to generic guidelines issued from the system theory. The feasibility of the approach is demonstrated using an industrial case study: a thermal power plant. Benefits are shown in terms of reusability of system formal specifications for control design.