SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OPTIMIZED DECISION-MAKING IN WATER SUPPLY NETWORKS AND/OR WATER SUPPLY OPERATIONS

• US 20110264282A1
• Filed: 05/13/2011
• Published: 10/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG (ABB Limited)
• Original Assignee: ABB Technology AG (ABB Limited)
• Inventors: SCHREYER, Heinrich-Martin, BLANK, Frederik, GAUDER, Markus, LAUXTERMANN, Stefan
• Granted Patent: US 8,958,922 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/282
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0318 Processes

Abstract

A system and method are provided for optimized decision-making in water supply networks and/or water supply operations. The system includes at least one central data processing device and a control system having at least one integration device. The system also includes at least one functional unit for identifying and/or processing status information affecting the respective network or operation. The functionality of the at least one functional unit can be integrated and/or incorporated into the control system by means of the integration device such that the control system functionality is expanded by the functionality of the respective functional unit and/or control system, and the at least one function unit cooperates such that individual functions and/or the functionality of the respective functional unit can be called up and/or executed and/or utilized via the integration unit and/or the control system, and resulting additional status information can be obtained and provided for decision-making, for example, relating to a technical task or technical problem.

Claims

1. A system for optimized decision-making for water supply grids and/or water supply operations, the system comprising:

at least one central data processing device;

a control system having at least one integration device; and

at least one functional unit configured to at least one of determine and process state information concerning at least one of the grids and operations, respectively;

wherein the integration device is configured to prompt at least one of integration and incorporation of the functionality of the at least one functional unit into the control system such that at least one of (i) functionality of the control system is extended by functionality of the respective functional unit and (ii) the control system and the at least one functional unit interact such that individual functions and/or the functionality of the respective functional unit is at least one of called, executed and used by means of at least one of the integration device, the control system at least one further functional unit, and

wherein the integration device is configured to enable, through integration with the control system and the at least one functional unit, state information to be obtained and provided for decision-making concerning at least one of a technical task and a technical problem.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the integration device is configured to make functions of the control system and functions of the at least one functional unit linked thereto and/or connected thereto available to a respective linked or connected functional unit for use therefor.

3. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the integration device comprises an integration unit configured to interact with the at least one functional unit to enable the at least one functional unit to be at least one of called and handled via the integration unit.

4. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the integration device is configured to operate as at least one of a connection interface and a linking interface between the respective process to enable planning, maintenance and provision of the functional units necessary for the operation and/or additional functional units and the functionalities thereof.

5. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one functional unit and the functionality thereof comprise at least one of (i) a module for action planning and control of pumping stations, (ii) a module for pressure regulation, (iii) a module for simulating water supply grids, (iv) a module for consumption forecasting, (vi) a module for alarm management, (vii) a module for recognizing and localizing leaks, (viii) a module for decision-making, (ix) a module for manual or automatic troubleshooting, (x) a scenario management module, (xi) a module for maintenance planning, and a visual display module.

6. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the integration device is configured to integrate various applications and functional units of the system to enable the respective integrated applications to access at least one of data and information, functions, calculations, and simulations of other integrated applications and modules.

7. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control system comprises at least one of an information management function and an information management tool.

8. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the integration device, in interaction with the control system, comprises an integration function and functions for data capture or information capture, monitoring and control of the respective process.

9. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the information comprises events including at least one of customer queries, interruption reports, and work orders, and

wherein the information management system is configured to store the information.

10. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein applications and functional units are at least one of connected and communicate with each other by means of at least one of standard interfaces and proprietary interfaces.

11. The system as claimed in claim 1, comprising a visual display unit configured to at least one of communicate with the respective functional unit and/or the application thereof, to forward or transmits selections by the respective user to the application and responses and/or results or outcomes from the respective application to the user, and to visually display temporally and locally conditioned information and data.

12. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the integration device comprises an integration unit configured to incorporate and access operator interfaces or operator elements of the functional units and applications, to provide a direct view of the respective application and/or functional unit from the integration device for processing directly in the respective application and/or functional unit.

13. The system as claimed in claim 1, comprising a series of functional units and associated applications which relate to at least one of power management, pressure management, leak management and decision support.

15. The system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the integration device comprises an integration unit configured to interact with the at least one functional unit to enable the at least one functional unit to be at least one of called and handled via the integration unit.

16. The system as claimed in claim 15, wherein the integration device is configured to operate as at least one of a connection interface and a linking interface between the respective process to enable planning, maintenance and provision of the functional units necessary for the operation and/or additional functional units and the functionalities thereof.

17. The system as claimed in claim 16, wherein at least one functional unit and the functionality thereof comprise at least one of (i) a module for action planning and control of pumping stations, (ii) a module for pressure regulation, (iii) a module for simulating water supply grids, (iv) a module for consumption forecasting, (vi) a module for alarm management, (vii) a module for recognizing and localizing leaks, (viii) a module for decision-making, (ix) a module for manual or automatic troubleshooting, (x) a scenario management module, (xi) a module for maintenance planning, and a visual display module.

18. The system as claimed in claim 17, wherein the integration device is configured to integrate various applications and functional units of the system to enable the respective integrated applications to access at least one of data and information, functions, calculations, and simulations of other integrated applications and modules.

19. The system as claimed in claim 18, wherein the control system comprises at least one of an information management function and an information management tool.

20. The system as claimed in claim 19, wherein the integration device, in interaction with the control system, comprises an integration function and functions for data capture or information capture, monitoring and control of the respective process.

21. The system as claimed in claim 19, wherein the information comprises events including at least one of customer queries, interruption reports, and work orders, and

wherein the information management system is configured to store the information.

22. The system as claimed in claim 21, wherein applications and functional units are at least one of connected and communicate with each other by means of at least one of standard interfaces and proprietary interfaces.

23. The system as claimed in claim 22, comprising a visual display unit configured to at least one of communicate with the respective functional unit and/or the application thereof, to forward or transmits selections by the respective user to the application and responses and/or results or outcomes from the respective application to the user, and to visually display temporally and locally conditioned information and data.

24. The system as claimed in claim 23, wherein the integration device comprises an integration unit configured to incorporate and access operator interfaces or operator elements of the functional units and applications, to provide a direct view of the respective application and/or functional unit from the integration device for processing directly in the respective application and/or functional unit.

25. The system as claimed in claim 24, comprising a series of functional units and associated applications which relate to at least one of power management, pressure management, leak management and decision support.

14. A method for optimized decision-making for water supply grids and/or water supply operations, the method comprising:

in at least one integration device in interaction with a control system and at least one functional unit having at least one functionality, using the functionality of the at least one functional unit to at least one of determine and process state information concerning the respective grid or the operation;

integrating, in the at least one functional device, the functionality of the at least one functional unit into the control system such that functionality of the control system functionality is extended by the functionality of the respective functional unit; and

integrating, in the at least one functional device, the functionality of the at least one functional unit into the control system such that at least one of individual functions and the functionality of the respective functional unit are at least one of called, executed and used by means of the at least one of the integration device, the control system and at least one further functional unit, such that additional state information is obtained and provided for decision-making concerning at least one of a technical task and a technical problem.