DE102015113979A1 - Method and system for commissioning a field device in a new automation technology application - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention describes a method and a system for starting up at least one new field device (F ') for at least one new application (A ₄ ) of the process automation, at least comprising
A database (1) for storing application information of a plurality of field devices (F ') and for storing diagnostic data and calibration parameters of the plurality of field devices (F);
- An electronic processing unit (2) accessing the remote database (1) and evaluates the data stored there, wherein the electronic processing unit (2) by a user (4) can be controlled by a network.

Description

The invention relates to a method and a system for starting up a field device for at least one new application of process automation, which comprises at least one remotely located database for storing application information of a plurality of field devices and for storing diagnostic data and calibration parameters of the plurality of field devices, and an electronic processing unit , which accesses the remote database and evaluates the data stored there, wherein the electronic processing unit can be controlled by a user through a network includes.

Field devices are already known from the prior art, which are used in industrial plants. In automation technology, in particular process automation and factory automation technology, field devices are often used. In principle, field devices are all devices that are used close to the process and that provide or process process-relevant information. For example, field devices are used to detect and / or influence process variables. Measuring devices or sensors are used to record process variables. These are used, for example, for pressure and temperature measurement, conductivity measurement, flow measurement, level measurement, etc., and record the corresponding process variables pressure, temperature, conductivity, pH value, level, flow etc. Actuators are used to influence process variables. These are, for example, pumps or valves that can influence the flow of a liquid in a pipe or the level in a container. In addition to the measuring devices and actuators mentioned above, field devices are also understood as remote I / Os, radio adapters or general devices which are arranged at the field level.

A large number of such field devices are produced and sold by the Endress + Hauser Group.

Field devices that are integrated into a new application of a process plant or replacement field devices that replace an outdated or defective field device of an application must be adapted specifically to the respective application. For this, these field devices are configured and parameterized during or after production. The configuration describes, on the one hand, the hardware-side configuration, for example the flange material of a flowmeter, as well as the software-side configuration. Parameterization refers to the definition and definition of parameters with the aid of which the operation of the field device is set to the respective features of the application, for example the measuring medium. As an application here is an application within the process plant or a process station of the process plant referred to, for example, flow measurement of a medium.

From the DE 10 2006 060 441 A1 a method for ordering a measuring device or measuring system is known, with the help of which suitable for an application measuring device or measuring system is selected in a database. For this purpose, a user inputs process-specific data into a software mask and compares it with the database, whereupon the user is offered one or more suitable measuring devices or measuring systems.

The disadvantage of the known method can be seen in the fact that it defines only the measuring task of the device to be selected for the application. There is thus no systematic consideration of the actual application. Furthermore, the method offers only one configuration, but no application-specific parameterization of the meter to be selected. In addition, the data stored in the database are entered manually and do not provide any indication of the application experience of a meter to be selected.

The invention is therefore based on the object to provide a method and a system to take a field device application-specific in operation

• – Erhebung von Applikationsinformationen von einer Vielzahl von Feldgeräten und Speichern der Applikationsinformationen in einer Datenbank;
• – Erhebung von Konfigurationsdaten und Parametersätzen der Vielzahl von Feldgeräten, Speichern der Konfigurationsdaten und Parametersätze in der Datenbank und Zuordnen der Konfigurationsdaten und Parametersätze zu den jeweiligen Applikationsinformationen;
• – Erhebung und Speicherung der Diagnose- und Kalibrierungsdaten von der Vielzahl der Feldgeräte während des Betriebs in der Datenbank zur Erstellung einer Wartungshistorie über zumindest einen Teilbereich des Lebenszyklus‘ der Feldgeräte;
• – Berechnung eines Gesundheitsindexes, der eine Korrelation der Betriebskosten eines jeden Feldgeräts mit dessen Wartungshistorie darstellt, für jedes der Vielzahl von Feldgeräten anhand der in der Datenbank gespeicherten Diagnose- und Kalibrierungsdaten mittels einer Recheneinheit, die auf die Datenbank zugreift, und Speicherung der berechneten Gesundheitsindizes in der Datenbank;
• – Nutzerbasierte Eingabe von Applikationsinformationen der neuen Applikation in die Recheneinheit;
• – Vergleich der nutzerbasierten Eingabe der Applikationsinformationen mit den gespeicherten Applikationsinformationen und den zu diesen Applikationsinformationen zugeordneten Konfigurationsdaten und Parametersätzen unter Berücksichtigung der in der Datenbank gespeicherten Gesundheitsindizes;
• – Ermittlung einer optimalen Konfiguration und/oder zumindest einem optimalen Parametersatz für das Feldgerät, die/der zumindest näherungsweise die größte Übereinstimmung mit den gespeicherten Applikationsinformationen aufweisen/aufweist;
• – Konfiguration und/oder Parametrierung des Feldgeräts anhand der optimalen Konfiguration und/oder des optimalen Parametersatzes.

The invention is achieved by a method for starting up a field device in a new application of automation technology, which comprises the following steps:

• - collecting application information from a plurality of field devices and storing the application information in a database;
• - Collection of configuration data and parameter sets of the plurality of field devices, storing the configuration data and parameter sets in the database and associating the configuration data and parameter sets to the respective application information;
• - collecting and storing the diagnostic and calibration data from the plurality of field devices during operation in the database to create a maintenance history over at least a portion of the life cycle of the field devices;
• Calculating a health index representing a correlation of the operating costs of each field device with its maintenance history for each of the plurality of field devices based on the diagnostic and calibration data stored in the database by means of a computing unit accessing the database, and Storing the calculated health indexes in the database;
• - User-based input of application information of the new application in the arithmetic unit;
• Comparison of the user-based input of the application information with the stored application information and the configuration data and parameter sets assigned to this application information taking into account the health indexes stored in the database;
• - Determining an optimal configuration and / or at least one optimal parameter set for the field device, the / at least approximately the largest match with the stored application information / has;
• - Configuration and / or parameterization of the field device based on the optimal configuration and / or the optimal parameter set.

The advantage of the method according to the invention is that a field device is offered which is configured and parameterized specifically for the respective application or a future field device for similar applications. By virtue of the fact that each field device stores data in the form of application information, diagnostic data, calibration parameters, configuration data and parameter sets on the database over at least a portion of its life cycle, a high level of knowledge arises regarding the reliability of the application of a particular field device in various applications.

The parameterization of the field device can be done as a pre-parameterization before the delivery of the field device, after delivery as on-site parameterization or after delivery as service parameterization.

An advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention provides that the evaluation of the user-based input of the application information of the new application takes place weighted. This allows the user when entering the application information of the new application to determine which of the entered application information in his eyes the greatest importance. For example, if the user wants a pressure gauge for a tank in a corrosive process environment, he can assign the highest weighting to the corrosive property, whereupon he is preferably offered pressure gauges that are in similar environmental conditions in use and have, for example, a non-corrosive housing.

In a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, dynamic parameters are automatically added to the optimum parameter set by the user-based input of the application information of the new application. This eliminates the need for a user sometimes complicated and tedious input of the dynamic parameters of the application, such as the tank size.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention, the application information, diagnostic data and calibration data stored in the database are subjected to a current correlation analysis. This always ensures that the stored data is up to date, free of errors and associated with each other. In addition, this is a continuous improvement in the reliability statement of the stored data.

An advantageous development of the method according to the invention provides that the user-based input of the application information of the new application takes place in an electronic distribution platform which is stored on the arithmetic unit. The consultation can be automated, which saves time for the user and the distribution on both sides.

In a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention takes place in the selection of the new field device, an accurate calculation of the expected operating costs of the new field device, wherein the calculation is made available to the user. These operating costs can also be divided into a base price and service prices. The user can thereby estimate the financial advantage of certain proposed field devices in advance.

In an advantageous variant of the method according to the invention, a list of preferred field device types of the user is additionally taken into account for selecting the new field device. If the user has experience with specific field device types or has already installed certain field device types in the system, then he can, if desired, determine the same field device types or a field device type similar to those that the new field device should have.

• – eine entfernt angeordnete Datenbank zum Speichern von Applikationsinformationen einer Vielzahl von Feldgeräten und zum Speichern von Diagnosedaten und Kalibrierungsparametern der Vielzahl von Feldgeräten;
• – eine elektronische Recheneinheit, die auf die entfernt angeordnete Datenbank zugreift und die dort gespeicherten Daten auswertet, wobei die elektronische Recheneinheit von einem Nutzer durch ein Netzwerk angesteuert werden kann.

Furthermore, the object is achieved by a system for starting up at least one new field device for at least one new application of process automation, which is suitable for carrying out the method according to the invention, at least comprising

• A remote database for storing application information of a plurality of field devices and for storing diagnostic data and calibration parameters of the plurality of field devices;
• - An electronic processing unit that accesses the remote database and evaluates the data stored there, the electronic processing unit can be controlled by a user through a network.

An advantageous embodiment of the system according to the invention provides that the application information of the plurality of field devices is their process unit, its environmental conditions, its measurement tasks and / or its measurement medium. Generally speaking, application information represents that information that a field device adequately describes with respect to its application.

A particularly advantageous variant of the system according to the invention provides that the remote database can be reached by means of cloud computing. Cloud computing in this case describes the storage of data in a remote data center, in this case in a remote database. The advantage is that the databases are centralized since each field device stores its data in the form of application information, diagnostic data, calibration parameters, configuration data and parameter sets on this database.

In a preferred development of the system according to the invention, an electronic distribution platform is stored on the arithmetic unit.

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the following figure. It shows

1 : An embodiment of the method according to the invention for starting up a field device in a new application.

1 shows an embodiment of the method according to the invention for starting up a field device in a new application. A plurality of field devices F is used in a plurality of existing systems An ₁ , An ₂ in applications A ₁ , A ₂ , A ₃ . The applications A ₁ , A ₂ , A _{3 of} the field devices F differ, for example, with respect to the respective process unit, the respective environmental conditions, the respective measurement tasks and / or the respective measurement media.

The large number of field devices F send their application information to a remote database, which can be reached via cloud computing. In the systems A ₁ , A ₂ , the respective field devices F are connected to each other via communication networks N and to other components not shown here, such as higher-level units, etc. The communication networks are connected to the remote database via another network, for example the Internet, whereby the data exchange between the plurality of field devices F and the database 1 via these network structures. Alternatively, each field device itself may have an Internet connection and be connected via this to the database.

In addition, the plurality of field devices F send their configuration data and parameter sets to the database 1 where they are assigned to the already stored application information.

In order to make a statement about a health index for each of the plurality of field devices F, diagnostic and calibration data are collected and stored by each field device F. This collection and storage takes place continuously, advantageously over the entire life cycle of the respective field device F, whereby a maintenance history is created. The health index for each field device F is now created based on its maintenance history in combination with the operating costs of the respective field device F. By means of this calculated health index, a statement can be made as to how reliable, ie free of failures and / or malfunctions, the respective field device F can be operated in its application. The calculation of the respective health indices takes place via a computing unit 3 that is connected to the database via a network, such as the Internet.

For the integration of a new field device F 'in a new application A ₄ a plant to ₃ is a user 4 in an order process, the application data of the new application A ₄ in an electronic distribution platform 3 one. This electronic distribution platform 3 is on the electronic processing unit 2 stored and can by the user 4 be contacted by means of a network-enabled device, such as a PC. The arithmetic unit 2 compares the user-based input of the application information with that in the database 1 stored application information and the configuration data and parameter sets assigned to this application information taking into account in the database 1 stored health indices and determines therefrom an optimal configuration and / or at least one optimal parameter set for the field device F, the / at least approximately the largest match with the stored application information / has.

It is also possible for the user 4 several variants of the field device F ' in terms of various configurations and parameterization sets.

If the user decides for one of the proposed variants of the field device F ', the field device F' is configured and parameterized on the basis of the determined configuration and the optimal parameter set. The parameterization of the field device F 'can take place as pre-parameterization before delivery, after delivery as on-site parameterization or after delivery as service parameterization.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

A ₁ , A ₂ , A ₃

 existing applications

A ₄

 new application

To ₁ , To ₂ , To ₃

 process equipment

F

 Variety of field devices

F '

new field device

N

 Communication network

1

 remote database

2

 electronic processing unit

3

 electronic distribution platform

4

 user

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 102006060441 A1 [0005]

Claims (11)

Method for starting up a field device (F ') in a new application (A ₄ ) of automation technology, comprising the following steps: - Collecting application information from a plurality of field devices (F) and storing the application information in a database ( 1 ); - Collection of configuration data and parameter sets of the plurality of field devices (F), storage of the configuration data and parameter sets in the database ( 1 ) and assigning the configuration data and parameter sets to the respective application information; - Collection and storage of the diagnostic and calibration data from the plurality of field devices (F) during operation in the database ( 1 ) for establishing a maintenance history over at least a portion of the life cycle of the field devices (F); Calculation of a health index, which represents a correlation of the operating costs of each field device (F) with its maintenance history, for each of the plurality of field devices (F) on the basis of those in the database ( 1 ) stored diagnostic and calibration data by means of a computing unit ( 3 ) on the database ( 1 ) and storing the calculated health indexes in the database ( 1 ); User-based input of application information of the new application (A ₄ ) into the arithmetic unit ( 3 ); Comparison of the user-based input of the application information with the stored application information and the configuration data and parameter sets assigned to this application information, taking into account the data stored in the database ( 1 ) stored health indices; - Determining an optimal configuration and / or at least one optimal parameter set for the field device (F '), the / at least approximately the largest match with the stored application information / has; - Configuration and / or parameterization of the field device (F ') based on the optimal configuration and / or the optimal parameter set. The method of claim 1, wherein the evaluation of the user-based input of the application information of the new application (A ₄ ) is carried out weighted. Method according to one of claims 1 or 2, wherein dynamic parameters are automatically added by the user-based input of the application information of the new application (A ₄ ) to the optimal parameter set. Method according to one of the preceding claims, in which the data stored in the database ( 1 ), application information, diagnostic data and calibration data are subjected to a current correlation analysis. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the user-based input of the application information of the new application (A ₄ ) in an electronic distribution platform ( 3 ), which are on the arithmetic unit ( 4 ) is stored. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein in the selection of the new field device (F ') an accurate calculation of the expected operating costs of the new field device (F') takes place and the calculation is made available to the customer. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein for selection of the new field device (F ') additionally a list of preferred field device types of the customer is taken into account. System for commissioning at least one new field device (F ') for at least one new application (A ₄ ) of the process automation, which is suitable for carrying out the method according to at least one of claims 1 to 7, at least comprising - a database ( 1 ) for storing application information of a plurality of field devices (F ') and for storing diagnostic data and calibration parameters of the plurality of field devices (F); An electronic processing unit ( 2 ) located on the remote database ( 1 ) and evaluates the data stored there, wherein the electronic processing unit ( 2 ) by a user ( 4 ) can be controlled by a network. The system according to claim 8, wherein the application information of the plurality of field devices (F) is their process unit, their environmental conditions, their measurement tasks and / or their measurement medium. System according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the database ( 1 ) is writable and readable by means of cloud computing. System according to one of claims 8 to 10, wherein on the arithmetic unit ( 2 ) an electronic distribution platform ( 3 ) is stored.

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