SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DYNAMIC MULTI-OBJECTIVE OPTIMIZATION OF MACHINE SELECTION, INTEGRATION AND UTILIZATION

• US 20090204267A1
• Filed: 09/30/2008
• Published: 08/13/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated (Allen-Bradley Co., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated (Allen-Bradley Co., Inc.)
• Inventors: Funderburk, Mark, Lin, Ka-Hing, Sugars, Michael Eugene, Snyder, Ric, Theron, John Christopher, Baier, John J., Sustaeta, Angel, Discenzo, Frederick M.
• Granted Patent: US 9,729,639 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/291
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 13/024 in which a parameter or coefficient is automatically adjusted to optimise the performance
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 13/0285 using neural networks and fuzzy logic
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/04 Forecasting or optimisation specially adapted for administrative or management purposes, e.g. linear programming or "cutting stock problem" market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities G06Q30/0202
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/82 Energy audits or management systems therefor

Abstract

The invention provides control systems and methodologies for controlling a process having computer-controlled equipment, which provide for optimized process performance according to one or more performance criteria, such as efficiency, component life expectancy, safety, emissions, noise, vibration, operational cost, or the like. More particularly, the subject invention provides for employing machine diagnostic and/or prognostic information in connection with optimizing an overall business operation over a time horizon.

Claims

1. An apparatus operable in an industrial automation environment, the apparatus comprising:

a processor, configured for;

constructing a production facility'"'"'s energy-supply model based at least in part on variable costs associated with a plurality of energy-generating assets included within the production facility;

building the production facility'"'"'s energy-demand model based at least in part on at least one of a sub-model of production, a user defined time horizon, or a predicted energy demand; and

combining the production facility'"'"'s energy-supply model and the production facility'"'"'s energy-demand model to create the production facility'"'"'s energy optimization model; and

a memory coupled to the processor for persisting data.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, the constructing further comprising building one or more economic sub-models for each of the plurality of energy-generating assets included within the production facility.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, based at least in part on each of the plurality of energy-generating assets respective generating capacity, efficiency curves, or operating costs, the one or more economic sub-models for each of the plurality of energy-generating assets utilized to determine each of the plurality of energy-generating assets financial profile.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, the one or more economic sub-models for each of the plurality of energy-generating assets included within the production facility consolidated to construct the production facility'"'"'s energy-supply model.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, the building further comprising utilizing at least one of prognostics or optimization to construct the sub-model of production.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, the combining further comprising utilizing a modeling framework to solve for an economic supply optimum or expose a most cost-effective energy-generating asset included in the plurality of energy-generating assets included within the production facility.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, the combining further comprising joining the energy-supply model and the energy demand model in one or more of in series, in parallel, nested, or in a networked structure to achieve a most efficient solution of an economic problem.

8. A machine readable medium having stored thereon machine-executable instructions for:

constructing a production facility'"'"'s energy-supply model based at least in part on variable costs associated with a plurality of energy-generating assets included within the production facility;

building the production facility'"'"'s energy-demand model based at least in part on at least one of a sub-model of production, a user defined time horizon, or a predicted energy demand; and

combining the production facility'"'"'s energy-supply model and the production facility'"'"'s energy-demand model to create the production facility'"'"'s energy optimization model.

9. The machine readable medium of claim 8, the constructing further comprising building one or more economic sub-models for each of the plurality of energy-generating assets included within the production facility.

10. The machine readable medium of claim 9, based at least in part on each of the plurality of energy-generating assets respective generating capacity, efficiency curves, or operating costs, the one or more economic sub-models for each of the plurality of energy-generating assets utilized to determine each of the plurality of energy-generating assets financial profile.

11. The machine readable medium of claim 9, the one or more economic sub-models for each of the plurality of energy-generating assets included within the production facility consolidated to construct the production facility'"'"'s energy-supply model.

12. The machine readable medium of claim 8, the building further comprising utilizing at least one of prognostics or optimization to construct the sub-model of production.

13. The machine readable medium of claim 8, the combining further comprising utilizing a modeling framework to solve for an economic supply optimum or expose a most cost-effective energy-generating asset included in the plurality of energy-generating assets included within the production facility.

14. The machine readable medium of claim 8, the combining further comprising joining the energy-supply model and the energy demand model in one or more of in series, in parallel, nested, or in a networked structure to achieve a most efficient solution of an economic problem.

15. A system operable in an industrial automation environment, comprising:

means for constructing a production facility'"'"'s energy-supply model based at least in part on variable costs associated with a plurality of energy-generating assets included within the production facility;

means for building the production facility'"'"'s energy-demand model based at least in part on at least one of a sub-model of production, a user defined time horizon, or a predicted energy demand; and

means for combining the production facility'"'"'s energy-supply model and the production facility'"'"'s energy-demand model to create the production facility'"'"'s energy optimization model.

16. The system of claim 15, the means for constructing further comprising means for building one or more economic sub-models for each of the plurality of energy-generating assets included within the production facility.

17. The system of claim 16, based at least in part on each of the plurality of energy-generating assets respective generating capacity, efficiency curves, or operating costs, the one or more economic sub-models for each of the plurality of energy-generating assets utilized to determine each of the plurality of energy-generating assets financial profile.

18. The system of claim 15, the means for building further comprising means for utilizing at least one of prognostics or optimization to construct the sub-model of production.

19. The system of claim 15, the means for combining further comprising means for utilizing a modeling framework to solve for an economic supply optimum or expose a most cost-effective energy-generating asset included in the plurality of energy-generating assets included within the production facility.

20. The system of claim 15, the means for combining further comprising means for utilizing a modeling framework to solve for an economic supply optimum or expose a most cost-effective energy-generating asset included in the plurality of energy-generating assets included within the production facility.

21. The system of claim 15, further comprising means for optimizing economic return over a planning horizon, the means for optimizing further including means for scheduling a series of different production levels in response to a change that occurs over the planning horizon.