DE102007061283A1 - Device and method for parameterizing field devices - Google Patents

Abstract

In order to enable continuous diagnostics of systems and devices operating in automation technology, messages from field devices (1, 2, 3, 4) are classified by assigning a respective state. According to the invention, the states that can be used for this purpose are taken from one of two lists with predefined states contained therein, the states (eg "condensed state") in the one list of subdivisions of the states (eg according to NAMUR NE107) form another list and wherein, responsive to an input command, the tables containing the messages from the one list to the assigned states of the other list are automatically changed on the basis of a table containing a unique assignment of the states from one list to the states of the other list.

Description

The The invention relates to a device for parameterizing field devices of Automation technology.

The The invention further relates to a corresponding method.

In Automation systems for technical or industrial equipment, eg. The process industry, Production and manufacturing industry, building technology or network technology, to lead locally in the relevant facility Distributed, distributed field devices (Process equipment) predefined functions in the context of plant automation and exchange process, plant and / or equipment-relevant ones Information if necessary with each other, but always with parent Components of the automation system, in particular its control or engineering system, from. The field devices include u. a. Transmitter for pressure, Temperature, flow, level etc., analyzers for gas or fluid analysis, Weighing Systems, Actuators, Positioners for Valves, other decentralized controllers and frequency converters for electromotive Drives.

With a consistent Diagnosis of plants and the devices working in them can help with Operation, maintenance and repair achieved significant savings become. So-called intelligent field devices provide good conditions for this, because, in addition to process variables (measuring and manipulated variables) as well device type, technology and manufacturer-specific status and diagnostic information in the form of Deliver messages that z. B. plausibility of the measurements and Statements about the wear or Allow maintenance.

The VDI / VDE guideline 2650 and the identical NAMUR recommendation NE107 request a classification of the messages into the following four states (status, Status signals):

Maintenance requirement (M):

The Device can its function still (limited) fulfill, a maintenance requirement or above average Wear was but stated.

Outside the specification (S):

The Device becomes outside its specified range (eg: exceeding the measuring range).

Failure (F):

The Device is dysfunctional and can not fulfill his duties; Output signals are invalid.

Function check (C):

At the Device Testing or calibration procedures performed; the device can be temporary do not fulfill his duties.

Around the messages in dependence by the application and the various users, such as plant control, Plant operators, maintenance staff and service personnel, better use to be able to can the standardized NAMUR status signals with more detailed manufacturer-specific states combined, with the new states available therewith subdivisions represent the NAMUR status signals. This is PROFIBUS for the fieldbus standard PA provided such an extension of diagnostic functionality, being the available states be referred to as "condensed status". By parameterization of the device can the one from the device Available messages are classified by the available new states be assigned to. In this way receives during operation of the system the operator or plant operator information about availability or validity of process values or for the derivation of a need for action and the maintenance engineer information about the urgency of interventions or possible causes of faults.

The classification of the messages of a field device either according to the NAMUR recommendation or according to another guideline based on the NAMUR recommendation can be made by the manufacturer, or the user is left to classify or reclassify by parameterization of the device.

Of the Invention is based on the object, the classification or a Reclassification for to facilitate the user.

According to the invention The object is achieved by the device specified in claim 1 or the method specified in claim 4 solved.

advantageous Further developments of the device according to the invention and of the method according to the invention are the dependent claims refer to.

reports the field devices are classified by assigning each one state, where the applicable states taken from one of two lists with predetermined states contained therein become. Which contains a list z. For example, the "Condensed Status "according to PROFIBUS PA and the other list z. B. the NAMUR status signals. Because the states ("Condensed Status") in the one list Subdivisions of States (NAMUR status signals) of the other list is a unique one Assignment of states from one list to the other list. This assignment is stored in a table. Are the messages of the field device, eg. B. Manufacturer side, with the conditions ("Condensed Status") from the one list classified, a reclassification into the states (NAMUR status signals) the other list to a simple input command, where the reclassification is done automatically based on the table.

There the assignment of the states from the other list (NAMUR status signals) to the states ("Condensed Status") of a list is not unique, the table can not be used if the reclassification reversed shall be. For This case is therefore provided that the messages from the a list of assigned states ("Condensed Status") in a memory be stored temporarily and on another input command restored access to the memory earlier classification becomes.

The Classification of the messages can be done via the device parameterization at any time individually made or changed become. This is always only one of the two lists with the therein contained states (either "Condensed Status "or NAMUR status signals) z. B. in the form of a drop-down list provided, wherein on the an input command towards the other list and to the next input command the one list selected becomes.

to further explanation The invention will be referred to below with reference to the figures of the drawing taken; in detail show:

1 a block diagram of an automation system with contained field devices,

2 an example of a user interface to classify messages of the field devices with manufacturer-specific states "Condensed Status",

3 an example of a user interface for reclassification to the states according to the NAMUR recommendation NE107 and

4 an example of a user interface for classifying the messages of the field devices with states according to the NAMUR recommendation NE107.

1 shows in simplified schematic representation an example of a process automation system with field devices 1 . 2 . 3 . 4 who perform predetermined measurement, control and regulation functions in a process to be controlled and / or regulated and thereby via a communication system 5 Exchange process, function and / or device-relevant data with the process automation system. These are the field devices 1 . 2 . 3 . 4 over a fieldbus 6 , z. B. to the PROFIBUS standard, to automation devices 7 and 8th , z. B. programmable logic controllers (PLC), connected, which in turn via a central plant bus 9 with a higher-level control and engineering system 10 . 11 are connected. The control and engineering system 10 . 11 has a data management 12 on, among other things, the behavior and characteristics of the field devices 1 . 2 . 3 . 4 z. B. in the form of electronic device descriptions (Electronic Device Description) is stored. Such an automation system can basically have a different number of automation levels, in which the individual components of the automatization are arranged and communicate with each other via a communication system consisting of different communication paths.

For the following Example is a field device, here z. B. an operating according to the pulse-echo principle ultrasonic or radar level gauge which supports the "Condensed Status" specified in the PROFIBUS PA profile. Of the User wants this device install in an automation system that complies with the NAMUR recommendation NE107 "self-monitoring and diagnostics of field devices ".

The engineering system 10 . 11 provides a feature that allows the field device to be switched to NE107 compatible "with one click". The engineering system 10 . 11 has the implied knowledge of how the device must be parameterized in order to achieve the standard-compliant behavior.

• – Good
• – Good: maintenance requested
• – Good: maintenance demanded
• – Uncertain: maintenance demanded
• – Bad: maintenance alarm
• – Uncertain: process related
• – Bad: process related
• – Bad: function check
• – Good: function check

2 shows one of the engineering system 10 . 11 provided user interface to classify the error message "Loss of Echo" by assigning each a state from the "Condensed Status". The following states are offered via a drop-down list:

• - Good
• - Good: maintenance requested
• - Good: maintenance demanded
• - Uncertain: maintenance demanded
• - Bath: maintenance alarm
• - Uncertain: process related
• - Bad: process related
• - Bath: function check
• - Good: function check

Now the user switches by means of the in 3 shown mask in the NE107-compatible mode.

The engineering system 10 . 11 maps, according to the following table, the states "Condensed Status" assigned to the error message "Loss of Echo" and other messages into uniquely assigned states according to NAMUR Recommendation NE107. Condensed status Value NE107 Good 0 - Good: maintenance requested 1 Maintenance (M) Good: maintenance demanded 2 Maintenance (M) Uncertain: maintenance demanded 3 Maintenance (M) Bath: maintenance alarm 4 Failure (F) Uncertain: process related 5 Out of Specification (S) Bad: process related 6 Out of Specification (S) Bad: function check 7 Check (C) Good: function check 8th Check (C)

The user now gets in the in 4 view offered the NE107-compatible setting options.

• – Failure (F)
• – Check (C)
• – Out of Specification (S)
• – Maintenance (M)

The following settings are now possible via a drop-down list:

• - Failure (F)
• - Check (C)
• - Out of Specification (S)
• - Maintenance (M)

Claims (6)

Device for parameterizing field devices ( 1 . 2 . 3 . 4 ) of the automation technology with means for transmitting messages of the field devices ( 1 . 2 . 3 . 4 ) by assigning a respective state, the states which can be used being taken from one of two lists with predetermined states contained therein and the states in the one list forming subdivisions of the states of the other list, and wherein the means include a table with a unique assignment of the states from the one list to the states of the other list and are adapted, in response to an input command, automatically assign the states assigned to the messages from the one list to the states associated therewith according to the table to change the other list. Device according to claim 1, characterized that means a memory for caching the messages contained in a list of assigned states and designed to upon another input command under access to the memory the change was made the assigned states to reverse do. Device according to claim 2, characterized that the means are adapted for the assignment of the states to the Messages to provide only one of the two lists, and that on the an input command to the other list and to the next input command The list is available is provided. Method for parameterizing field devices ( 1 . 2 . 3 . 4 ) of automation technology, in which messages from the field devices ( 1 . 2 . 3 . 4 ) can be classified by assigning a respective state, the states that can be used being taken from one of two lists with predefined states contained therein and the states in one list forming subdivisions of the states of the other list, and automatically based on an input command an unambiguous assignment of the states from the table containing one list to the states of the other list which change the messages from the one list of assigned states to the assigned states of the other list. Method according to claim 4, characterized in that that the messages from the list of assigned states in one Memory will be cached and upon another input command Under access to the memory, the change made to the assigned states can be reversed is. Method according to claim 5, characterized in that that for the assignment of the states to the messages only one of the two lists provided is, with respect to the one input command, the other list and on the further input command the one list made available becomes.