WO2017029087A1

WO2017029087A1 - Method for automatically creating a process model and device for performing the method

Info

Publication number: WO2017029087A1
Application number: PCT/EP2016/067871
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jörg GADINGER; Hans-Dieter Humpert; Dieter Kleyer; Torsten Olthoff
Original assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
Priority date: 2015-08-19
Filing date: 2016-07-27
Publication date: 2017-02-23
Also published as: DE102015215828A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and to a computer system, such as a control system, working in accordance with the method, for producing a process model (20) of a technical process, wherein the process model (20) is automatically produced on the basis of at least one plant image (10) of the technical process and the data comprised thereby.

Description

description

Method for automatically creating a process model and device for carrying out the method

The invention relates to the creation of process models. Process models are used in the simulation (or for the engineering of automation or the testing of automation) of technical processes and describe the respective technical process or the technical process and parts of the automation hardware.

Before a delivery of an automation control solution for commissioning on a plant, in particular a power plant, a complete test of the technical ^¬ technical functions is required. In specialist terminology, such a test is sometimes referred to as the Factory Acceptance Test (FAT). So far, the real automation hardware has been installed to perform such a test. This is very costly, especially in large plants, where often more than one hundred automation devices are used, namely automation devices with their own processing ^¬ tion functionality, ie, for example, programmable logic controllers or the like. Using the real hardware, ie the respective automation device and connected

Input / output modules (IO modules) make it possible to run the automation solution according to the configuration and to test at least some of the functions in an at least limited extent. A direct relation to the real plant and to the real technical process, in particular a power plant process, is however not given.

In order to be able to carry out a comprehensive test of the entire process control automation solution, a process model is created for selected systems, especially for large and very large systems, and used for testing. The test is then performed with the process model and the real car ^¬ matisierungshardware or the process model and an emulation of real automation hardware. On the basis of such a process model, as it were, a virtual commissioning of the respective plant, so for example a power plant. The physical process of the respective plant is simulated and the control technology, ie the automation hardware, is emulated.

During the emulation of the automation hardware automatically from the corresponding data of the automation solution

(Engineering data), the process model has to be created on the basis of documents for the respective plant, for example a Piping and Instrumentation Diagram (P & ID). This is extremely expensive and ver ^¬ ursacht high costs. The costs also increase significantly depending on the accuracy of the resulting process model.

An overall simulation consisting of emulation and process model is currently used primarily for training purposes, but also increasingly for testing and commissioning purposes. However, widespread use for test and commissioning purposes is currently failing due to the high costs involved in creating the respective process model.

An object of the present invention, based on the situation outlined above, is to specify an efficient possibility for generating a process model.

This object is achieved by means of a method for automatically generating a process model with the features of claim 1 by the process model is automatically generated based on at least one plant image of the technical process and the data included therefrom.

According to the approach proposed here, it is accordingly provided that at least one so-called HMI image (HMI = human machine interface), which is created as part of the development of an automation solution, is used for an automatic generation of a process model, wherein usually a plurality of such Plant pictures forms the basis for the automatic generation of the process model.

Such automatic generation of a process model is based on such plant images and supplementary process engineering data. Basically, it can be assumed that the plant pictures contain all data relevant for the creation of a process model. In fact, all process engineering components, for example, boilers, piping, containers, etc. are shown in the plant pictures. In addition, the plant images include as additional process engineering elements also provided for in the technical process units, for example, pumps, valves and the like. The units are connected to the process engineering components via, for example, pipelines, so that the system pictures also show how the components relate to the units and vice versa. These plant images are - as well as the automation software - for each technical system, in particular every power plant, at the end of a so-called engineering phase and thus to use for a possible test of the automation solution.

The advantage of the invention is that the creation of the process model can be created automatically from essentially already available data, namely the plant images and additional process-technical information. Such automatic creation of the Pro ^¬ zessmodells is significantly less expensive than a previous "ma ^¬ Nuelle" creation of a process model by an expert. In addition, in a recent creation of a process model error, for example due to decreasing concentration of the arranger, quite common. This is Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the subclaims, wherein used back references point to the further development of the subject of the main claim by the features of the respective subclaim - to understand the relevant protection for the feature combinations of the dependent claims. Furthermore, with a view to an interpretation of the claims in a closer specification of a feature in a subordinate claim, it is to be assumed that such a restriction does not exist in the respective preceding claims. Finally, it should be noted that the method specified here can also be ^{weiterge ¬} forms according to the dependent device ^claims and vice versa.

In one embodiment of the method of this to ^¬ least comprises the following steps: First, at least one plant screen for the visualization of technical process is created using a dedicated software tool. The min- least one system screen includes, as a representative of a Kom ^¬ component or of an assembly of the technical process as a respective Anlagenbildobj ect designated hereinafter element. Each such element is a software object. All elements include parameter data for their parameterization as well as an equation for describing their or their dynamic behavior or a reference to such an equation with respect to the respectively represented component or the represented aggregate. After the at least one plant image has been created by means of such elements, which is the case at the latest at the conclusion of the engineering phase, an automatic extraction of the data contained in the at least one plant image and the elements comprised thereof is carried out by means of a software tool designated for this purpose and referred to below as an extractor. The extractor then automatically on the basis of the extracted data generates a designated hereinafter as structural information machine readable data ^¬ basis. Finally, in order to generate the process model, an automatic instantiation of one each takes place by means of a software tool designated for this purpose and referred to below as a generator on the basis of the structure information

Process model object for one element at a time. The entirety of the process model objects and their data created in this way form the process model. In a particular embodiment of the method, each element of a plant image is an instance of an object type that can be selected from a first library when the at least one plant image is created. Furthermore, each process model object is an instance of an object type that can be selected from a second library when the process model is automatically generated. The object type underlying a respective process model object is automatically selected for instantiation of the process model object on the basis of the data covered by the structure information for the underlying element. The use of object types simplifies the implementation of the approach presented here in software. The use of object types as the basis for the elements of the at least one plant image ensures that each element can be assigned the data necessary for the later automatic generation of the process model and the individual process model objects comprised thereof. The object type underlying an element is carried along as a date within the structure information, for example in the form of or as part of a designator of the respective element. By evaluating this

On the basis of the structural information, the generator can automatically generate a process model object matching the respective element and assign the data contained in the structure information to the underlying element based on the basic data structure common to all process model objects (based on an underlying object type).

In yet another embodiment of the method, each element comprises, via the parameter data and the equation or the reference to the equation, one or more connection points hereinafter also referred to as ports. To connect two elements, for example, to represent a coupled via a pipe to a boiler valve, these are connected by means of their connection points. The data of the ports of an element are extracted ^¬ auto matically by means of the extractor and incorporated in the structure information. At the level of the at least one plant screen, the ports represent the functional relationship of individual elements and these b

Connection also remains - by assumption of the appropriate

Data in the structure information - obtained for the generation of the process model. In a particular embodiment of the method for automatically generating a process model, which the is based at least one contact image on elements which have mutually ports Ver ^¬ bonds, occurs automatically when connecting two elements, a type of examination with respect to a compound used in bonding and the connection points at which this attacks. Such a type test only allows meaningful connections between elements of a plant picture or several plant pictures. This facilitates troubleshooting and excludes a variety of possible errors from the outset.

If, on the basis of two or more elements connected via their connection points, connections between the process model objects automatically instantiated based on these elements are automatically generated when the process model is generated, it is ensured that at least the

Connections between the resulting process model objects are meaningful.

Another special and fundamentally optional embodiment of the method is characterized in that each element comprises at least the parameter data and the equation or the reference to the equation in selectable hierarchy levels and that a selection of a particular hierarchy level is taken into account in the automatic extraction of the structure information becomes. The selection of a hierarchical level leads to the automatic extraction of the structure information, the respective element is considered as if this only include the data of the respective hierarchy level. With the possibility of taking into account such hierarchy levels, the complexity and / or the accuracy of the respectively automatically generated process model can be influenced in an advantageous manner. Finally, in a particular variant of the approach described here, it is optionally provided that, in order to produce a process model depicting part of the technical process, break-off parts are inserted as additional elements when the at least one plant image is created. In terms of data technology, these abort parts are treated like other elements of the at least one system image, and accordingly their data thus also get into the structure information. On the basis of a Prozessmodellobj can by means of the generator to each such element is a respective termination portions simulating Pro ^¬ zessmodellobjekt, for example ect that simulates a defined fluid supply in a pipeline, are generated. By means of such demolition parts, process models of a part of the technical process referred to below as process model modules can also be generated. The data for such process model modules, ie at least one plant picture and elements covered by it, are already partly available at an early stage of the engineering process. The test of the automation solution can be carried out relatively early and parallel to progression of the engineering process then already, so that knowledge can be incorporated directly into the Engi ^¬ neering from such tests.

The above object is also achieved by means of a device, namely a computer system, here specifically a control system. The control system includes at least one processing ^¬ unit and a memory. Into memory at least a computer program with program code means for performing all steps of the method described hereinafter is loaded and this is carried out during operation of the control system for au ^¬ matic generation of a process model by the processing unit, ie, a microprocessor or the like. The above-mentioned and referred to as the extractor software tool as well as the software tool designated as a generator either in each case a separate Compu ^¬ terprogramm, or a partial function of a single computer program. In the memory of the control system are therefore either independent computer programs for

Implementation of the functionality of the extractor and the Functionality of the generator or a single computer ^¬ program, which includes both functionalities, loaded and executed during operation of the control system for automatically generating a process model. On the one hand, the invention is thus also a computer program with program code instructions executable by a computer and, on the other hand, a storage medium with such a computer program, ie a computer program product with program code means, and finally also a computer system in general, or a control system in the technology environment described here, in its memory Means for performing the method and its embodiments such a computer program is loaded or loadable. Advantageous embodiments of the computer system or of the guidance system result from an implementation of one or more features of the independent method claim and the claims based thereon.

An embodiment of the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the drawing. Corresponding objects or elements are provided in all figures with the same reference numerals.

1 shows an example of a plant image, as is customary for operating a technical process and for visualizing at least part of the technical process, FIG. 2 shows a schematic representation of the approach proposed here for the automatic generation of a process model, FIG.

3 shows an overview representation for explaining a

Supplying the process model with data,

4 shows an illustration of one in a plant picture

usable plant image object, FIG. 5 shows two system image objects connected to one another, an exemplary representation of a machine-readable structure information that arises when extracting the data from at least one system image

7 shows an overview representation to illustrate a

Sequence of a method for automatically creating a process model according to the approach proposed here.

The illustration in FIG. 1 shows an example of a plant image 10 of the type mentioned at the outset. This conventionally comprises a representation of various components 12 of the respective (not shown) technical process, in particular of a power plant process, namely, for example, a representation of a boiler , A representation of pipelines, a representation of valves, etc., wherein in the illustration in Figure 1, only individual such components are designated by way of example.

Required for the automatic creation of a process model ^¬ 20 (Figure 2) are determined relevant information from such a system image 10 and possibly further plant pictures 10th

For this purpose, the representation in FIG. 2 shows in a schematically simplified manner a basic procedure for automatically creating a process model 20: From a plant image 10 or several plant images 10, the data relevant for the process model 20 are extracted by means of a computer program functioning as an extractor 22. As part of this data extraction, an automatically generated and subsequently as

Structure information 24 designated database. This is processed by means of a generator 26, namely a computer program which functions as a process model generator. By means of the generator 26, the process model 20 is automatically generated. As a generator 26, for example, a computer program with a functionality comes into consideration, as is basically known from the Simulation Framework (SIMIT) of the Applicant. The illustration in FIG. 3 shows very greatly simplified the use of the automatically generated process model 20 for testing an automation solution 28 provided for automation of the respective technical process. The automation solution 28 comprises at least one control program that can be loaded into a memory of an automation device and by the automation device in FIG in a known manner executable. The automation solution 28 in a broader sense also includes the automation hardware, namely the automation devices provided for the automation of the respective technical process and their networking with one another. The automation solution 28 is either loaded onto the specific automation hardware and executed there and / or executed by means of an emulation of the automation hardware or a part of the automation hardware. In the illustration in FIG. 3, an emulation of the automation hardware is assumed, and the automation solution 28 is executed accordingly in the context of the emulation. To operate the technical process, a basically known per se HMI component is provided which, among other things, displays the at least one plant image 10, usually a plurality of plant images 10. Operator actions of a user in relation to a system image 10 will give ^¬ weiterge by means of the HMI component to the emulation. The operator's action, for example, aims at emptying a boiler in the technical process, for example by opening a valve or starting a pump. A control of such an actuator finds its ent speaking ^¬ in the emulation of the automation solution 28, for example by a control signal is generated there, which causes the opening of a valve or starting a pump in a real technical process. These changes also affect the process model 20 of the technical process by simulating, for example, that the boiler is emptying and with which dynamic properties / effects (discharge rate, temperature change, etc.) this is connected. Such changes in the process model 20 of the technical Processes usually also have repercussions on the emulation, in which a fill level monitoring of the boiler takes place in a real technical process, for example by means of a sensor, and predetermined measures take place when a limit value is reached (for example, close valve, stop pump, etc.). In addition, such changes in the process model 20 of the technical process or resulting changes in the emulation also affect the representation of the plant images 10, for example, by a color change or the like, the completed emptying of the boiler is visualized.

The process model 20 is therefore supplied with data at least from the emulation or a partially emulated and partly real automation hardware and vice versa also returns data at least to the emulation or a partially emulated and partly real automation hardware. The operation of the (emulated or real) automation hardware and the process model 20 takes place by means of the plant images 10 and the HMI component responsible for their representation and for the recognition of operator actions in relation thereto.

The plant images 10 and the structural information 24 automatically generated therefrom include representations of the process-technical components, the aggregates provided in the process, and information about their interconnection. In addition, the plant pictures 10 include representations of process control components, such as measurements, controls and regulations. The representations of the process and process control components and the aggregates are referred to below generally as an element (process engineering element) 30. A schematically simplified representation of such an element 30 in the form of a software object is shown in FIG. Each element 30 is a representative of a process or process control component of the respective technical process or an aggregate in the technical process.

According to the known state of the art, the data for such elements 30 in the plant images 10 are limited to those for the Graphical representation used shapes and images (Figure 32), so that, for example, a representation of boilers, containers, etc. results. In the known prior art, ge ^¬ certain extent the graphics data 32 are the only data of one member shown in the system screens 10 30. At least include the data for such elements 30 in the known prior art, no logical details, especially no information about connections of individual elements 30 with each other, for example via a pipeline, as they are created and edited, for example, in a basically comparable manner by means of a function plan editor in the form of connections between so-called function blocks.

Comprised by the plant pictures 10 elements 30 face in an automatic processing of the plant displays 10 by means of the extractor 22 as separately identifiable objects (software objects). From the so-called parameter masks the plant images 10, 30 re ^¬-relevant data for the respective element to be extracted. A part of the parameters 34 required for the process model 20 is contained by default in the plant images 10 and the respective parameter masks assigned to one element 30 each.

According to the approach presented here is intended that each element comprises an additional 30 in a plant screen 10 relevant to the au ^¬ matic generation of a process model 20 and / or its configuration data. For this purpose, the respective element 30 - and its correspondence in the automatically generated structure information 24 - can be identified on the basis of a unique identifier 36. This identifier 36 is already assigned to the respective element 30 as an attribute during the creation of the system images 10 or the current system image 10, namely during the instantiation of a corresponding software object. The identifier 36 also allows an unambiguous assignment of data in the structure information 24 when one and the same element 30 occurs several times in different plant images 10. In addition, each element 30 comprises the already mentioned graphic data 32 for displaying the element 30 in at least one plant image 10. Likewise, each element 30 comprises parameters 34, as previously classified in the already mentioned parameter mask to an element 30 shown in at least one plant image 10 ^¬ become.

Finally, in the embodiment shown, ports 30 are provided for each element 30, namely at least one port 38, often several ports 38. Such ports 38 allow, for example, the connection of pipelines for water and steam or a connection of conveyor belts or a connection electrical signals to the respective element 30. In this way, logical connections between individual elements 30 can be represented.

Each element 30 in a plant picture 10 is the instance of an underlying object type, for example, and all ver ^¬ reversible object types to go back to a common base object type. This basic object type acts as a template for derived object types (an object type for a boiler, an object type for a valve, etc.) and ensures that each instance of such an object type, ie each element 30, a unique identifier 36, graphics data 32 for its representation, Parameter 34 and ports 38 can be assigned.

Ports 38 can be assigned by the user basically any (type and number) an element 30. Individual ports 38 have different depending on the underlying connection type (pipe, conveyor belt, electrical connection, etc.)

Properties. This is mapped by means of different object types for the ports 38.

Individual elements 30 that can be used in the system images 10 optionally already have an underlying basis

Object type individual ports 38 on. For example, a valve can be connected on both sides to pipelines (two ports 38 for pipelines) and can be actuated by means of at least one control signal for opening or closing (a port 38 for a Signal line). For a large number of further elements 30, for example a pump, this applies accordingly. For example, for other elements 30, for example a boiler, at the level of the object type it is not yet possible to determine how many inflows and / or outflows the boiler comprises. For this purpose, it is provided that the user can add the respectively required ports 38 to an element 30.

By means of the ports 38, a consistency check can be carried out when creating a system image 10. Each port 38 within an element 30 shown in a plant image 10 is an instance of an underlying object type. A port 38 for a connection of a pipeline is thus distinguishable from a port 38 for connection of an electrical signal on the basis of the underlying object type. On this basis, when connecting, for example, a representation of a pipeline to a representation of a valve, it can be recognized whether or not the connection made in the graphical representation of the respective system image 10 is permissible. For this purpose, the object to be connected 30 underlying object type

(Pipe; "pipe object type") and the port 38 of the element 30, to which the connection is to be made (valve port, "port object type") considered and accepted connections only accept ^¬ accepted.

5 shows an interconnection of two elements 30 (the same principle applies to more than two elements 30). The interconnection of the two elements 30, for example a boiler and a valve, is in the form of connections 44, which are connected to the ports 38. In the form of ports 38 of each member 30 has at least one connecting ^¬ possibility, usually a plurality of Anschlussmög ^¬ possibilities, so that at least one connection 44 can be connected or a plurality of connections 44 can be connected.

As a further innovation, each element 30, for example, based on a basic object type underlying all elements 30, is referred to below as Equation 42 (FIG. 4) for short associated mathematical or other description, for example in the form of a reference 40 to a corresponding software function 42 with an implementation of the respective description, in particular an implementation of the respective mathematical description. This equation 42 is for

Simulation of the groups represented by the respective element 30 component (component, assembly, function) of the technical process in the process model 20. Typically, in such an equation 42 to a respective component and its dynamic characteristics descriptive differential ^¬ equation and accordingly when the software function 42 is an implementation of such a differential equation.

The automatic processing of the at least one system screen 10 included elements 30 with the above-be ^¬ signed properties (data) by means of the extractor 22 leads to the above-mentioned structure information 24. In the structure information 24, there is a machine-readable representation of the Elements 30 of the at least one plant image 10 comprised data. The representation in FIG. 6 shows an example of an excerpt from such structure information 24, here exemplarily in an XML format. In the example shown, the extractor 22 is used to automatically process the at least one plant image 10 and the elements 30 included therein for each element 30 a section enclosed by the <COMP> and </ COMP> tags. Therein, the respective unique identifier 36 of the underlying element 30 and further information about the respective element 30, for example to its ports 38 (a section enclosed by the tags <PORT> and </ PORT>) and connections 44 (< CONNETCION SOURCE = ... />).

(FIG 7 process model ^¬ object 50) as a result of the subsequent automatic processing of the structure information 24 by the generator 26 due to each such section (<COMP>, </ COMP>) an object (software object) in the process model 20 is produced. Based on the respective unique identifier 36, the process model object 50 to be generated results underlying respective object type. In the representation in FIG. 6, several such identifiers 36 are given by way of example, here in the form of a composite identifier (UID = "..." NAME = "..."), UID indicating the object type and NAME the name of the respective element 30 , In this way, for example, due to a "valve element" 30 and an underlying object type in a plant image 10 (in the example shown in FIG 6 in the structure information 24 means

UID = "f_00074w_3pddj 765" coded) a "valve object" in the process model 20 and by means of the generator 26 takes place au ^¬ automatically processing the structure information 24 an automatic instantiation of the respective process model objects 50. Due to the information covered by each element 30 information A possible interconnection with another element 30 is carried out by means of the generator 26 when processing the structural ^¬ information 24 also an automatic connection of the generated process model objects 50 with each other.

In the automatic generation of the process model 20, a system of equations, typically one, arises due to the interconnection of the underlying elements 30 by means of interconnections 44, the corresponding interconnection of the resulting process model objects 50 and the equations 42 associated with the elements 30 and thus also included by the resulting process model objects 50 System of differential equations. This enables a descrip ^¬ bung of the dynamic behavior of the underlying technical process, and thus a replica of the technical process by means of the process model 20th

In order to solve the equation system is as a solver fun ^¬ yaw software component is available as in principle for example, from the aforementioned simulation framework (SIMIT) is known to the applicant. Such a software component is able to solve such a system of equations in real time, typically 100 ms. The solution of the system of equations and thus the operation of the process model 20 expressly no longer belong to the automatic creation of a process model 20 that is in the foreground here Rather, the solution of the equation system belongs to the later operation of the process model 20 automatically generated according to the approach presented here (see the representation in FIG. 3 and the explanations in this context).

The illustration in FIG 7 shows the principle of the approach proposed here is based in the form of a schematically simplified overview representation: On the left side of the separated by the vertical dashed line upper loading of illustration Reich creating at least an on ^¬ position image shown 10th On the right side, the creation of a process model 20 is shown. When creating a Appendices ^¬ genbilds 10, a user selects by means of a dedicated software tool 52 from a library as acting 54 first database for a to be displayed in a plant picture element 10 30 has a respective object type. By repeatedly selecting each of such object type, and placement of a due to an instantiation of a such object type re ^¬ sulting member 30 in a system Figure 10, finally, a graphical representation of the process-technical components of the respective industrial process and at least individual encompassed by the process aggregates formed. By connecting individual such elements 30 to each other by means of dedicated connections 44 (as a result of instantiation of corresponding object types of the library 54), the interconnection of the elements 30 encompassed by the at least one system image 10 is also achieved by means of a software tool (extractor 22) not shown in FIG 2), the at least one system image 10 is automatically evaluated. At this time, the data of the elements 30 included therein is extracted. The result is a machine-readable database, here and hereinafter referred to as structure information 24. This is evaluated by means of the generator 26. For a better understanding of the operation of the generator 26 is considered previously, as in the prior art so far (ie not automatically), a process model 20 has been created. The creation of a process model 20 with a corresponding simplification is quite comparable to the Creation of the at least one plant image 10. Namely, to create a process model 20, a user selects an object type from a second database acting as a library 58 by means of a software tool 56 provided therefor, in order to generate a process model object 50 as part of the process model 20 on the basis thereof (The element 30 of a plant picture 10 can accordingly also be regarded accordingly as a plant picture object 30). The process of manually selecting an object type on the one hand and instantiating a process model object 50 on the basis thereof and as part of the process model 20 on the other hand is automated according to the approach proposed here. For this purpose, the software tool functioning as a generator 26 performs a sequential processing of the structure information 24 obtained from the at least one plant image 10. For each element 30 of the fixed image 10, the structural information (54 library) comprises 24 ent ^¬ speaking data, ie data relating to the at least for ^¬ nally underlying object type. Based on this information, a suitable object type for the instantiation of an appropriate process model object 50 may be selected in the process model 20 by means of the generator 26 au tomatically ^¬ from the library 58th The further data covered by the structure information 24 for an element 30 of the plant image 10 are used by means of the generator 26 to parameterize the process model object 50 newly instantiated as part of the process model 20.

In basically the same way, connections 44 encompassed by the at least one system image 10 are evaluated. Each connection 44 is based on a corresponding object type (library 54). The structure information 24 automatically generated by the extractor 22 contains information relating to each connection 44. On this basis, by means of the generator 26, an automatic automatic processing of the structure information 24 from the library 58 selects a corresponding object type for instantiating a further process model object 50 functioning as a connection between two or more process model objects 50 and as part of the process model 20 be instantiated. The information which the process ^¬ model 20 comprised process model objects 50 are actually connected to ^¬ each other, resulting from the data of the underlying connection 44 in the structure information 24 by an automatic analysis of this data by means of the generator 26, and a corresponding parameter of either the the Ver ^¬ bond representing process model object 50 and / or connected by means of the connection process model objects 50 takes place, the automatic preparation of the compound in the process model 20th

This instantiation of process model objects 50 and their parameterization takes place until the structure information 24 has been completely processed by means of the generator 26. After that, the automatically generated process model 20 is present.

(On the far described principle generating elements 30 in at least one system screen 10 with a clearly he ^¬ identifiable origin, for example in the form of an underlying object type, automatic extraction of the data so far a system image 10 contained in the to ^¬ minimum; generation of the process model 20 by means of a generator 26 based on the extracted data) is also based on the automatic creation of process models 20 for a part of the respective technical process. Such a process model 20 can also be interpreted as pro ^¬ zessmodellmodul 20 and is for testing individual functions or functional areas of the respective automation solution makes sense. In order to enable the creation of such a process model module 20, interfaces (termination points) must be made available for the part of the technical process to be described by the process model module 20, that is to say in a part of the plant images 10 captured by the process model module 20 or a part of a plant image 10 , These termination points are more or less representative of "feeding functions" or "extracting functions". For example, break points provide a defined inflow or remove specified or predefinable quantities. An abort point is created (based on an underlying object type) as an element 30 in a corresponding plant image 10 and is optionally not visible there. As equation 42 or instead of an equation 42, the element 30 acting as a representative of the demolition parts comprises a description of the respective function, for example the inflow or outflow of liquid. In the same way, for the functional areas to be tested in the control system, signals and the like which originate from parts of the technical process not covered by the respective process model module 20 and / or from the automation solution are generated for the respective process model module 20.

Hand valves or the like are not taken into account either for the process model 20 or for the emulation of the automation ^hardware . An exception are manual valves or the like with a feedback signal. This signal is required for the process model 20, and accordingly at least one plant image 10 comprises an object (element 30) as a basis for data generated in the extraction within the structure information 24, wherein the element 30 in the manner of an abort point - as described above - includes a function (equation 42) for simulating the feedback signal and thus acts as a representative of such a manual influence on the technical process.

Both for the automatic generation of a process model 20 and for the automatic generation of process model modules 20 is provided with a supplement to the approach presented here that depending on the required accuracy of the process model 20 (process model module 20) in the extraction only individual parameters are taken into account. For example, for the simulation of a pump either a parameter indicating a mass flow or a differential pressure between input and output of the pump can be taken into account. In the same way, it can be provided that all available parameters are taken into account during the extraction, and later, when generating the process model 20 on the basis of the structure information 24, only individual parameters are taken into account.

This is done in the context of the structural information 24 as the basis for the process model 20 underlying elements 30 in the form of a Hierarchy taken into account, as shown for illustrative purposes already in the illustration in FIG 4. Thereafter, each element 30 comprises a basically arbitrary plurality of graphics data 32, parameters 34, ports 38 and equations 42. One set of graphics data 32, parameters 34, ports 38 and equations 42 is assigned to a hierarchy level. If during the creation of the process model 20 and the previous extraction of the data of the elements 30 of the at least one plant image 10 is selected a particular hierarchical level of the elements 30, resulting in a process model 20 on the basis of (in this hierarchy level before ^¬ existing data parameter 34, ports 38 , Equations 42). A selection of another hierarchy level can lead to a simplified process model 20 in the case of a renewed automatic generation of the process model 20, for example because connections 44 between certain elements 30 and interactions represented thereby are not taken into account and / or because equations 42 are low-order differential equations or ordinary equations be taken into account.

Although the invention has been illustrated and described in detail by the embodiment, it is not limited by the disclosed examples, and other variations can be derived therefrom by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention

To leave the scope of the invention.

Individual foregrounding aspects of the description submitted here can be summarized as follows: On the one hand a method and on the other hand a computer system as operating according to the method device, such as a control system, each for generating a process model 20 of a technical process, the Pro ^¬ zessmodell 20 automatically generated based on at least one plant image 10 of the technical process and the data included. Reference sign list

10 Plant picture

12 component (of a technical process), e.g. Boiler, valve etc.

14-18 (free)

20 process model

22 extractor

24 Structure information

26 generator

28 automation solution

30 element / plant picture object

32 graphic data

34 parameters

36 identifiers

38 port / connection point

40 reference to an equation

42 equation

44 connection

46-48 (free)

50 process model object

52 software tool

54 Library

56 software tool

58 library

Claims

claims

1. A method for generating a process model (20) of a technical process, characterized in that the process model (20) is automatically generated on the basis of at least one Anla ^¬ genbilds (10) of the technical process and the data included.

A method of automatically generating a process model (20) according to claim 1, said method comprising the steps of:

a. ) Creating at least one plant image (10) for visualizing the technical process,

wherein the at least one system image (10) as a representative of a component (12) or an aggregate of the technical process each comprises an element (30),

wherein each element (30) is a software object and all elements (30) are related to the respective represented component (12) or the aggregate represented

Parameter data (34) for their parameterization as well as

an equation (42) for describing its dynamic behavior or a reference (40) to such an equation (42)

include,

b. ) Automatically extracting the in the at least one system screen (10) and comprised of which elements (30) ent ^¬ preserved data and generating structure information (24) on the base and

c.) automatically generating the process model (20) on the basis of the structure information (24) in the form of an automatic instantiation of in each case one process model object (50) in each case to one element (30).

3. The method according to claim 2,

wherein each element (30) is an instance of an underlying object type selectable from a first library (54) when creating the at least one asset image (10),

wherein each process model object (50) is an instance of the and automatically generating the process model (20) from a second library (58) of selectable underlying object type

wherein the object type underlying a respective process model object (50) is automatically selected for instantiation of the process model object (50) on the basis of the data on the underlying element (30) included in the structure information (24).

4. The method according to claim 2 or 3,

wherein each element (30) via the parameter data (34) and the equation (42) or the reference (40) on the equation (42) comprises one or more connection points (38) and wherein for linking two elements (30) this means their connection points (38).

5. The method according to claim 4,

wherein, when connecting two elements (30), a type check is automatically carried out with respect to a connection (44) used in the connection and the connection points (38) at which it engages.

6. The method according to claim 4 or 5,

wherein connections between the process model objects (50) automatically instantiated on the basis of these elements (30) are automatically generated on the basis of two or more elements (30) connected by means of their connection points (38) when the process model (20) is generated.

7. The method according to any one of claims 2 to 6,

wherein each element (30) comprises at least the parameter data (34) and the equation (42) or the reference (40) to the equation (42) in selectable hierarchy levels and wherein a selection of a particular hierarchy level takes into account in the automatic extraction of the structure information (24) becomes.

8. The method according to any one of claims 2 to 7,

wherein for generating a part of the technical process mapping process model (20) when creating the at least a plant picture (10) in this as additional elements (30) Abbruchsteilen be inserted.

9. Use of the at least one plant picture (10) for visualizing a technical process or part of the technical process data included as a basis for automatic generation of a process model (20).

A computer program comprising program code means for performing all the steps of any one of claims 1 to 8 when the computer program is executed on a computer system for automatically generating a process model (20).

11. A digital storage medium with electronically readable control signals, which can cooperate with a computer system for automatically generating a process model (20) that a method according to any one of claims 1 to 8 is executed.

12. control system with a processing unit and a

Memory in which a computer program is loaded according to claim 10, which is executed during operation of the control system by the processing ^¬ unit for automatically generating a process model (20).