Method For Energy Demand Management In A Production Flow Line

• US 20150227138A1
• Filed: 08/23/2013
• Published: 08/13/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Siemens Corp. (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Corp. (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Wei, Dong, Lu, Yan, Gultekin, Halil Ibrahim, Jafari, Mohsen A.
• Application Number:
  US14/426,170
• Publication Number:
  US 20150227138A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/41885 characterised by modeling, simulation of the manufacturing system
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/39407 Power metrics, energy efficiency
• 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: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 80/10 Efficient use of energy, e.g. using compressed air or pressurized fluid as energy carrier
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/82 Energy audits or management systems therefor

Abstract

A method for energy demand management in a production flow line having a plurality of stations. The method includes calculating a slack time for the production flow line or a selected station and determining an option of operation mode flexibility. In addition the method includes performing a feasibility analysis of the option and providing a solution based on an elasticity measure. The method is supported by a mean value analysis technique and discrete event simulation. The method provides an automated energy auditing and analysis tool in a production system.

Claims

1. A method for energy demand management in a production flow line having a plurality of stations, comprising the steps of:

calculating a slack time for the production flow line or a selected station;

determining an option for operation mode flexibility;

performing a feasibility analysis of the option; and

providing a solution based on an elasticity measure.

2. The method according to claim 1 further including the step of:

determining whether the production line is balanced with respect to average station cycle times.

3. The method according to claim 1 further including the step of:

determining whether there is significant process variability between the stations.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein operation mode flexibility includes a control flexibility option and a scheduling flexibility option.

5. The method according to claim 4 wherein the control flexibility option includes a shutdown option or a sleep mode option.

6. The method according to claim 4 further including the step of:

performing a feasibility analysis of the scheduling flexibility option.

7. The method according to claim 1 wherein a control option is utilized on a selected station if the slack time for the production flow line is not significantly greater than zero.

8. A method for energy demand management in a balanced production flow line having a plurality of stations wherein at least of the stations is a bottleneck, comprising the steps of:

determining whether there is significant process variability between the stations;

calculating a slack time for the production flow line or a selected station;

determining an option for operation mode flexibility;

performing a feasibility analysis of the option; and

providing a solution based on an elasticity to load shift measure or an elasticity to energy efficiency measure if significant process variability does not exist between the stations, a slack time is not significantly greater than zero and an operation mode flexibility option exists that is economically feasible.

9. The method according to claim 8 wherein the operation mode flexibility option includes speeding up a bottleneck station.

10. The method according to claim 8 wherein operation mode flexibility includes a control flexibility option and a scheduling flexibility option when significant process variability exists between the stations.

11. The method according to claim 10 wherein the control flexibility option includes a shutdown option or a sleep mode option.

12. The method according to claim 10 further including the step of:

performing a feasibility analysis of the scheduling flexibility option.

13. The method according to claim 10 wherein a control option is utilized on a selected station if the slack time for the production flow line is not significantly greater than zero.

14. A method for energy demand management in a production flow line having a plurality of stations, comprising the steps of:

providing production invariants;

determining whether the production line is balanced with respect to average station cycle times;

determining whether there is significant process variability between the stations;

calculating a slack time for the production flow line or a selected station;

determining an option for operation mode flexibility;

performing a feasibility analysis of the option; and

providing a solution based on an elasticity measure.

15. The method according to claim 14 wherein the production invariants include a time interval during which a number of units must be released from the production line.

16. The method according to claim 14 wherein the slack time is calculated by:

Slack_time_i=T−

T_i−

E(ε

_i)×

E(Θ

_i)

17. The method according to claim 14 wherein the slack time is calculated by:

Slack_time_overall( )=T−

γ

_b×

( θ

_b+ ω

_b+ η

_b)−

M−

B

18. The method according to claim 14 wherein operation mode flexibility includes a control flexibility option and a scheduling flexibility option.

19. The method according to claim 18 wherein the control flexibility option includes a shutdown option or a sleep mode option.

20. The method according to claim 18 further including the step of:

performing a feasibility analysis of the scheduling flexibility option.