Method for configuring an electrical installation and corresponding configuration device

• US 20040049772A1
• Filed: 05/14/2002
• Published: 03/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Pantenburg, Norbert, Stutzer, Thomas-M
• Granted Patent: US 7,096,165 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/176
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2113/16 Cables, cable trees or wire harnesses
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2119/06 Power analysis or power optimisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/00 Computer-aided design [CAD]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/00 Circuit arrangements for ac mains or ac distribution networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/00 Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/20 Information technology specific aspects, e.g. CAD, simulation, modelling, system security

Abstract

A network map is determined, either in the operating direction from the feed circuit to the load in the load circuit, or backward on the basis of the loads in the load circuit to the data for the feed circuit. The feed circuit and the load circuit are coupled to a virtual interface, at which secondary distribution panels can be interconnected. The schematic procedure, in conjunction with appropriate computation rules and visualization in a network map that is obtained, allows the configuration process to be carried out even by those who are unskilled.

Claims

1. (Amended) A method for configuring an electrical installation having a network which extends from a feed side to a load side, comprising:

determining a network map by at least one of, determining a feed circuit based upon presets for at least one electrical device, available power and circuit length, and determining a load circuit based upon presets for an intended load and the circuit length, and determining a load circuit based upon presets for an intended load and the circuit length, determining a feed circuit based upon the circuit length, and using the results from algorithms and the presets for the load circuit, wherein the feed circuit and the load circuit are coupled to a virtual interface.

2. (Amended) The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein a secondary distribution panel is connected in-between at the virtual interface, with an input for the circuit length of the secondary distribution panel being provided for at least one of the presets and the results relating to the feed circuit.

3. (Amended) The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the following steps are carried out for each circuit, and for at last one of parallel branches in the feed circuit and in the load circuit, based on the sum of the loads as far as the circuit under consideration:

a) determining at least one of devices and protective measures for obtaining overload safety on the basis of the total load and predeternined tables and algorithms, and on the basis of selection tables for establishing suitable appliances;

b) determining at least one of devices and protective measures for obtaining short-circuit protection for short-circuit currents which are obtained on the basis of algorithms from the results according to a);

c) determining at least one of devices and measures for protection of life against electric shocks in the case of indirect contact, on the basis of the results from a) and b) and on the basis of tables and/or of algorithms, d) determining at least one of power cross section and of parallel conductors on the basis of the assessment of cable lengths on the basis of the results according to a) to c) from a cable point under consideration to a load under consideration using the consideration measure that a voltage for correct operation of the load is present across the load, on the basis of the voltage drop, e) determining, for the situation where two or more protective devices are provided in series, devices which have a selective response with respect to one another, on the basis of the results according to a) to d) and on the basis of selection tables, if the protective switching devices have not satisfied the selectivity requirements, f) producing the network map on the basis of the accumulated results according to a) to e).

4. (Amended) The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

producing an envelope curve for protective devices which are connected in series upstream or downstream of at least two parallel-arranged protective devices, around the tripping curves of the parallel-arranged protective devices, wherein these curves are visualized.

5. (Amended) The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein setting parameters for the protective devices are changed on the basis of values which can be predetermined, and wherein the resultant tripping curves are visualized online.

6. (Amended) The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the setting parameters for the protective devices are produced at an interface for an output to the respective protective devices.

7. (Amended) The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the network map is visualized in the form of a tree structure.

8. (Amended) The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein, in order to obtain housings for secondary distribution panels for accommodating determined appliances and devices, space is subdivided into space for main connecting rails, accessories, functional modules for each appliance, comprising an installation kit, in order to allow a specific appliance to be installed, with terminals and intermediate rails, and the housing.

9. (Amended) The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein, for determined appliances and devices, the associated determined space is split into fields in the form of at least one of distribution panels and switchgear cabinets.

10. (Amended) A configuration apparatus for carrying out the method as claimed in claim 1, comprising:

a computer;

a display;

an input device;

a memory, in which a plurality of virtual devices, appliances and protective devices are stored with their characteristic data in tables; and

a generator which uses the determined devices, appliances and protective devices to produce the network map.

Please add the following new claims;

11. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the network map is visualized in the form of a tree structure.

12. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the network map is visualized in the form of a tree structure.

13. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the network map is visualized in the form of a tree structure.

14. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the network map is visualized in the form of a tree structure.

15. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the network map is visualized in the form of a tree structure.

16. A configuration apparatus for carrying out the method as claimed in claim 2, comprising:

a computer;

a display;

an input device;

a memory, in which a plurality of virtual devices, appliances and protective devices are stored with their characteristic data in tables; and

a generator which uses the determined devices, appliances and protective devices to produce the network map.

17. A configuration apparatus for carrying out the method as claimed in claim 3, comprising:

a computer;

a display;

an input device;

a memory, in which a plurality of virtual devices, appliances and protective devices are stored with their characteristic data in tables; and

a generator which uses the determined devices, appliances and protective devices to produce the network map.

18. A configuration apparatus for carrying out the method as claimed in claim 4, comprising:

a computer;

a display;

an input device;

a memory, in which a plurality of virtual devices, appliances and protective devices are stored with their characteristic data in tables; and

a generator which uses the determined devices, appliances and protective devices to produce the network map.

19. A configuration apparatus for carrying out the method as claimed in claim 8, comprising:

a computer;

a display;

an input device;

a memory, in which a plurality of virtual devices, appliances and protective devices are stored with their characteristic data in tables; and

a generator which uses the determined devices, appliances and protective devices to produce the network map.

20. A configuration apparatus for carrying out the method as claimed in claim 9, comprising:

a computer;

a display;

an input device;

a memory, in which a plurality of virtual devices, appliances and protective devices are stored with their characteristic data in tables; and

a generator which uses the determined devices, appliances and protective devices to produce the network map.-