Method for monitoring a technical device

• US 7,027,960 B2
• Filed: 11/18/2004
• Issued: 04/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Bode, Andreas
• Primary Examiner(s): WACHSMAN, HAL D
• Application Number:
  US10/992,189
• Publication Number:
  US 20050107983A1
• Time in Patent Office: 509 Days
• Field of Search: 702/188, 702/179, 702 60- 62, 702/79, 702/182, 702/183, 702/187, 702/177, 702/189, 700 32- 34, 700/56, 700/108, 700/174, 700/286, 700/291, 700/256, 700295-297, 324/142
• US Class Current: 702/188
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4184 characterised by fault tolerance, reliability of production system
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31483 Verify monitored data if valid or not by comparing with reference value
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0235 based on a comparison with predetermined threshold or range, e.g. "classical methods", carried out during normal operation; threshold adaptation or choice; when or how to compare with the threshold
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

With the method in accordance with the invention at least one monitoring limit value is defined in advance for an operating variable to be monitored of the technical device. During the operation of the technical device the current value of the operating variable to be monitored is recorded at least twice at least within a finite time interval, and within the time interval a current monitoring reference value is determined by means of an interpolation between the monitoring limit value and the current value of the operating variable to be monitored. The monitoring of the operating variable is possible immediately after the technical device has gone into operation for the first time and that the quality of the monitoring is refined as a kind of learning process as operation proceeds.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring a technical device, comprising:

pre-defining a monitoring limit value for an operating variable of the technical device to be monitored;

recording the current value of the operating variable to be monitored more than once and within a finite time interval during operation of the technical device;

determining a current monitoring reference value by an interpolation between the monitoring limit value and the current value of the operating variable to be monitored, within the finite time interval; and

using the current monitoring reference value to monitor the technical device.

2. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the current monitoring reference value is determined more than once and a previous monitoring reference value becomes the monitoring limit value once the previous monitoring reference value has been determined.

3. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the start of the finite time interval coincides with the start of operation of the technical device.

4. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the current value of the operating variable to be monitored is determined continuously.

5. The method in accordance with claim 4, wherein the current value of the operating variable to be monitored is determined at fixed intervals within the finite time interval.

6. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the current monitoring reference value is determined continuously and a previous monitoring reference value is used as the current monitoring limit value after the previous monitoring reference value has been determined more than once.

7. The method in accordance with claim 6, wherein the current monitoring reference value is determined at fixed time intervals and a previous monitoring reference value is used as the current monitoring limit value after the previous monitoring reference value has been determined more than once.

8. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the end point of the finite time interval is defined in advance.

9. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the end point of the finite time interval is determined by the current value of the operating variable to be monitored and of the monitoring reference value.

10. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the interpolation is performed by a mathematical function.

11. The method in accordance with claim 10, wherein the interpolation method is selected from the group consisting of:

linear interpolation, quadratic interpolation, cubic interpolation, and interpolation by spline functions.

12. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein a violation of the current monitoring reference value is detected by monitoring the current value of the operating variable.

13. The method in accordance with claim 12, wherein the violation comprises an overshoot or undershoot of the current monitoring reference value.

14. The method in accordance with claim 13, wherein the detection of the violation is undertaken as from the start of operation of the technical device.

15. The method in accordance with claim 12, wherein the violation comprises an entry of the current value of the operating variable into a tolerance band near in value to the current monitoring reference value.

16. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the current monitoring reference value is not changed after the completion of the finite time interval.

17. A method for monitoring a power station, comprising:

pre-defining a monitoring limit value for an operating variable of the power station to be monitored;

recording the current value of the operating variable to be monitored more than once and during a finite time interval while the power station is operating;

determining a current monitoring reference value by interpolating between the monitoring limit value and the current value of the operating variable to be monitored during the finite time interval; and

using the current monitoring reference value to monitor the power station.

18. The method in accordance with claim 17, wherein the current monitoring reference value is determined more than once and a previous monitoring reference value becomes the monitoring limit value once the previous monitoring reference value has been determined.