Multi-core processor for performing energy-related operations in an industrial automation system using energy information determined with an organizational model of the industrial automation system

• US 9,501,804 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Issued: 11/22/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated (Allen-Bradley Co., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated (Allen-Bradley Co., Inc.)
• Inventors: Kaufman, Philip J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ali, Mohammad
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pan, Yuhui R
• Application Number:
  US13/843,364
• Publication Number:
  US 20140277793A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,348 Days
• Field of Search: 700/291
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 90/82 Energy audits or management systems therefor

Abstract

A system may include a multi-core processor that may include a first core configured to determine structured energy data associated with one or more assets in an automation system, wherein the structured energy data comprises a logical grouping of assets in the automation system, a second core configured to control the one or more assets based on the structured energy data, a third core configured to manage security operations in the automation system, and a fourth core configured to manage safety operations in the automation system.

Claims

1. A multi-core processor, comprising:

a first core configured to;

receive energy data associated with one or more assets in an automation system;

receive organizational model data associated with the automation system, wherein the organizational model data comprises a hierarchical structure of a plurality of production processes associated with the automation system, wherein the one or more assets of the automation system are represented within the hierarchical structure according to a functional view with respect to the plurality of production processes; and

generate one or more energy reports based on a relationship between the energy data and the organizational model data, wherein the one or more energy reports comprise structured energy data comprising a logical grouping of the one or more assets in the automation system with respect to the organizational model data;

determine peak energy demand for each logical grouping of the one or more assets based on structured energy; and

a second core configured to;

receive the structured energy data and the peak energy demand from the first core;

identify one or more idle periods of the one or more assets during the period of time based on the structured energy data;

send a first set of commands to the one or more assets to adjust operations of the one or more assets based on the peak energy demand; and

send a second set of commands to the one or more assets to enter a reduced power consumption mode during the idle periods;

a third core configured to;

receive the structured energy data from the first core;

determine an asset that should be powered down due to a safety reason;

determine a device that provides energy to the asset that should be powered down based on the structured energy data;

send commands to the device to power down;

wherein the processes of the cores are performed in parallel.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the structured energy data is determined based on energy data received from the assets and the organizational model.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the assets comprise one or more power meters, one or more drives, one or more motors, one or more capacitor banks, one or more air compressors, one or more refrigerator units, one or more turbines, one or more generators, one or more energy storage devices, one or more photovoltaic cells, one or more robots, one or more reactors, or any combinations thereof.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the second set of commands is configured to coordinate when the one or more assets enter the reduced power consumption mode with respect to the logical grouping.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the organizational model data comprises the logical grouping of the assets with respect to one or more functionalities of the automation system.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the organizational model data comprises one work areas, one or more work cells, one or more work units, or any combination thereof.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the organizational model data comprises one or more cells, one or more lines, one or more sites, one or more enterprises, or any combination thereof.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the organizational model data comprises one or more batches, one or more continuous processes, one or more discrete manufacturing processes, or any combination thereof.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the organizational model data comprises infrastructure, one or more manufacturing support systems, one or more sub-assembly/batch systems, one or more core manufacturing systems, or any combination thereof.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the organizational model data comprises one or more energy profiles that correspond to the assets, wherein the energy profiles define energy consumption characteristics of the assets or energy production characteristics of the assets.

11. A multi-core processor, comprising:

a first core configured to;

determine structured energy data associated with one or more assets in an automation system, wherein the structured energy data comprises a logical grouping of assets in the automation system, wherein the structured energy data is determined based on energy data received from the assets and an organizational model comprising a hierarchical structure of a plurality of production processes associated with the automation system, wherein the one or more assets of the automation system are represented within the hierarchical structure according to a functional view with respect to the plurality of production processes; and

determine peak energy demand for each logical grouping of the assets based on structured energy;

a second core configured to;

control the one or more assets based on the structured energy data and the peak energy demand received via the first core;

identify one or more idle periods of the one or more assets during the period of time based on the structured energy data;

send a set of commands to the one or more assets to enter a reduced power consumption mode during the idle periods;

a third core configured to manage security operations in the automation system; and

a fourth core configured to;

receive the structured enemy data from the first core;

determine an asset that should be powered down due to a safety reason;

determine a device that provides energy to the asset that should be powered down based on the structured enemy data;

send commands to the device to power down;

wherein the processes of the cores are performed in parallel.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the assets comprise one or more power meters, one or more drives, one or more motors, one or more capacitor banks, one or more air compressors, one or more refrigerator units, one or more turbines, one or more generators, one or more energy storage devices, one or more photovoltaic cells, one or more robots, one or more reactors, or any combinations thereof.