DE102016125169A1 - Device and system for monitoring a plant of automation technology - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention comprises a device (1) for use in a plant of automation technology, the plant having a plurality of field devices (F1, ..., F7), the device (1) a radio interface (1.1), an Ethernet interface (1.2), via which the device (1) is connected to a wired Ethernet communication network, and comprises protocol conversion electronics (1.3), and wherein the device (1) is designed to be connected to at least one of the field devices by means of the radio interface (1.1). F1, ..., F7) and to read data available on the field device (F1, ..., F7) or generated by the field device (F1, ..., F7), the data read out by means of the protocol conversion electronics (1.3 ) to convert into an Ethernet protocol compliant data format, and provide the converted data via the Ethernet interface (1.2) to at least one other participant of the Ethernet communication network, as well as a system for Monitoring a process automation system comprising a device (1) according to the invention.

Description

The invention relates to a device for use in a plant of automation technology. Furthermore, the invention relates to a system for monitoring a plant of automation technology, which system comprises the device according to the invention.

Field devices are already known from the prior art, which are used in industrial plants. Field devices are often used in process automation as well as in factory automation. In principle, field devices are all devices that are used close to the process and that provide or process process-relevant information. For example, field devices are used to detect and / or influence process variables. Measuring devices or sensors are used to record process variables. These are used, for example, for pressure and temperature measurement, conductivity measurement, flow measurement, pH measurement, level measurement, etc. and record the corresponding process variables pressure, temperature, conductivity, pH value, level, flow etc. Actuators are used to influence process variables. These are, for example, pumps or valves that can influence the flow of a liquid in a pipe or the level in a container. In addition to the measuring devices and actuators mentioned above, field devices are also understood as remote I / Os, radio adapters or general devices which are arranged at the field level.

A large number of such field devices are produced and sold by the Endress + Hauser Group.

In modern industrial plants, field devices are generally connected to higher-level units via communication networks, such as fieldbuses (Profibus®, Foundation® Fieldbus, HART®, etc.). The higher-level units are control units, such as a PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) or a PLC (Programmable Logic Controller). Among other things, the higher-level units are used for process control and commissioning of the field devices. The measured values acquired by the field devices, in particular by sensors, are transmitted via the respective bus system to one (or possibly several) higher-level unit (s) which, if appropriate, further process the measured values and forward them to the control console of the system. The control station is used for process visualization, process monitoring and process control via the higher-level units. In addition, a data transmission from the higher-level unit via the bus system to the field devices is required, in particular for the configuration and parameterization of field devices and for the control of actuators.

In the course of the progressive digitization with regard to the keywords "Internet of Things (loT)" and "Industry 4.0", which also does not stop at components of process plants, there is an increased demand, data from field devices, in particular measurement data, diagnostic data, parameter values, etc. to make it available at a central location and to create added value from these data (buzzwords are "Big Data Analysis", "Predictive Maintenance", etc.). The central office often refers to a database which can be contacted via the Internet, in particular a so-called cloud-capable database.

In the future, it is envisaged that the majority of field devices available on the market will have an Ethernet interface. By means of Ethernet, an easy communication of the field devices with the Internet is possible. However, the majority of field devices still in use today and / or available on the market do not yet have such an Ethernet interface, ie no possibility of direct connection to the Internet. Subsequent installation of an Ethernet interface is either expensive and expensive or, depending on the field device model, not possible at all (due to incompatibilities of both the hardware and the software). However, a large number of field devices now have a Bluetooth interface, which is used in particular for configuration and diagnosis.

Based on this problem, the invention has for its object to provide a device and a system which make it possible to make data from field devices of a system of process automation in a central location, without having to extensively retrofit the field devices.

The object is achieved by a device for use in a system of automation technology, wherein the system has a plurality of field devices, wherein the device has a radio interface, an Ethernet interface, via which the device is connected to a wired Ethernet network, and a Protocol conversion electronics includes, and wherein the device is configured to access by means of the radio interface to at least one of the field devices and read on the field device available or generated by the field device data to convert the read data by means of the protocol conversion electronics in an Ethernet protocol compliant data format, and provide the converted data via the Ethernet interface to at least one other subscriber of the Ethernet network.

The great advantage of the device according to the invention is that with the aid of the device data from field devices can be read out via a separate communication channel and can be converted directly by means of the device and sent via an Ethernet communication network. It is not necessary to upgrade the field devices with additional Ethernet communication interfaces.

The field devices are usually connected via a field bus with higher-level units and exchange with this data. Since the field devices additionally have a radio unit, either integrated in the field electronics or by additional adapters, the device according to the invention can read the data without loading the fieldbus.

The device according to the invention can be realized in particular as a gateway or as a bridge.

In particular, it may be provided that the Ethernet communication network enables Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) according to the IEEE standard 802.3. In this case, the data lines, that is to say the physical cables of the Ethernet communication network, are designed as a two-wire line, via which both the data exchanged via the Ethernet communication network and the power supply of the device according to the invention take place. In this case, the device according to the invention does not require a separate power supply.

Field devices which are mentioned in connection with the device according to the invention have already been mentioned by way of example in the introductory part of the description.

According to a preferred embodiment, the device is configured to be operated in the Ex area. For a hazardous area, so a hazardous area of a system, there are special safety requirements for the device. Thus, this requires a housing which does not allow ambient media, such as gases, to enter the interior of the device. Furthermore, the device must only require a small amount of electrical power for its operation in order to eliminate the risk of a short circuit due to heat generation or due to the electrical supply lines. In the event that the device according to the invention obtains its power required for operation from the Ethernet communication network (by means of PoE), the data lines must not transmit more than 100 mA current intensity.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention, the radio interface is a Bluetooth radio interface. In particular, the "Bluetooth Low Energy" protocol is used for radio transmission. Alternatively, the radio interface may be a radio interface with any conventional radio protocol and physical layer, in particular ZigBee, WLAN, etc. Of course, the field devices to the radio interface of the device must have corresponding radio interfaces.

In an advantageous embodiment of the device according to the invention, it is provided that the Ethernet protocol is either an Industrial Ethernet protocol, for example Profinet, Ethernet / IP or HART-IP, or an Ethernet TCP / IP protocol. However, any other Ethernet protocol can also be used.

An advantageous development of the device according to the invention provides that the device has a memory unit which temporarily stores the read-out data before transmission via the Ethernet interface. Depending on requirements, the data can be provided with additional information, for example a time stamp or the identification of the field device (for example the tag of the field device), before it is transmitted.

A preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention provides that the device is configured to encrypt the data read, or to transmit digitally signed. For example, an SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) or TSL (Transport Layer Security) encryption protocol is used for this purpose. Additionally or alternatively, the components involved, ie the device according to the invention and the further subscriber are integrated into a virtual private network (VPN) via which the data is transmitted.

An advantageous embodiment of the device according to the invention provides that the data are static device data, in particular parameter values and / or configuration data, and / or dynamic device data, in particular measured values and / or diagnostic values.

• - Eine Vorrichtung gemäß einem der vorherigen Ansprüche;
• - Ein Ethernet-Kommunikationsnetzwerk; und
• - Eine Versorgungseinheit, welche mit dem Ethernet-Kommunikationsnetzwerk verbunden ist und welche dazu ausgestaltet ist, zumindest die Vorrichtung über das Ethernet-Kommunikationsnetzwerk mit ihrer zum Betrieb benötigen elektrischen Energie zu versorgen.

Furthermore, the object is achieved by a system for monitoring a plant of automation technology, which system comprises:

• - A device according to one of the preceding claims;
• - An Ethernet communication network; and
• A supply unit connected to the Ethernet communication network and which is designed to supply at least the device via the Ethernet communication network with its need for operation electrical energy.

The supply unit is, for example, a power supply which is connected to an Ethernet switch. The Ethernet router distributes the electrical power provided by the power supply over the Ethernet communication network.

An advantageous development of the system according to the invention is provided at least one further participant of the Ethernet network, wherein the further participants for receiving data transmitted to the device is configured.

According to a preferred embodiment of the system according to the invention, the further subscriber is a control unit or a workstation PC. This is preferably located near the plant.

In an advantageous embodiment of the system according to the invention, it is provided that the further subscriber is a database, in particular in the case that the Ethernet network is connected to the Internet, to a database embedded in a contactable via the Internet cloud environment database , acts.

According to a particularly advantageous development of the system according to the invention, it is provided that the Ethernet communication network has data lines for the transmission of data and electrical energy, wherein the data lines are configured as two-conductor data lines in accordance with the IEEE standard 802.3.

• 1: einen schematischen Überblick über ein Anwendungsbeispiel der erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung.

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the following figures. Show it

• 1 : A schematic overview of an application example of the device according to the invention.

1 shows a schematic overview of an application example of the device according to the invention.

In a plant of process automation are a variety of field devices F1 . .. ., Implemented F7. Examples and functions of such field devices F1 . .. ., F7 have already been described by way of example in the introductory part of the description. The field devices F1,..., F7 are connected to one another and to at least one higher-order unit by means of a fieldbus (not shown) and transmit the current process values and / or, in the event of an error, diagnostic data.

For certain applications, such as "Predictive Maintenance", that is, predicting a failure of one of the field devices F1 . .. ., F7, it is necessary data of the field devices F1 . .. ., To collect, store and analyze F7 over a long period of time. Often the infrastructure of the plant is not suitable for this purpose. Especially if an older plant instead of a fieldbus 4 -20 mA current loops, only the primary variables are those of the field devices F1 . .. ., F7 ascertained process values.

As an additional means of communication have the field devices F1 . .. ., F7 Bluetooth Communication Interfaces. By means of these are the data of the field devices F1 . .. ., F7 of a device 1 available. In the device 1 it is in particular a gateway, a router or a Bluetooth bridge. The device 1 has itself a Bluetooth communication interface 1.1 by means of which the device said data of the field devices F1 . .. ., F7 via a Bluetooth wireless connection can read. In this case, it can be determined in advance in which regularity the device 1 the data of the field devices F1 . .. ., F7 reads out. For example, for each field device F1 . .. ., F7 the reading at defined time intervals are initiated, or triggered instantaneously by a user. In addition, it is possible to specify which specific data of a particular field device F1 . .. ., F7 are read out.

The read data becomes a protocol conversion unit 1.3 fed. This converts the data read into an Ethernet protocol compliant format. Subsequently, the data can be stored in a memory unit 1.4 be cached the device. In addition, the data can be further preprocessed. The term preprocessing means, for example, that the data is filtered, or that further information, such as time stamp or identification information of those field device F1, ..., F7, from which the data originate, are added to this data.

Via an Ethernet interface 1.2 is the device 1 with an Ethernet communication network 2 connected. The read or cached data becomes another participant 4 of the Ethernet communication network 2 made available. In 1 represents a database 4 this other participant 4 The data are from the device 1 over the Ethernet communication network 2 to the other participant 4 transmitted. It can be provided here that the device 1 the data to the other party 4, or the database 4 but also that the other participant 4 , or the database 4 retrieves the provided data. The device 1 In this case, it can be configured such that the transmission of the data takes place at defined times. Alternatively, the data can also be transmitted by a user's command.

Database 4 is embedded in a cloud environment and can be contacted by a user via the internet. The on the database 4 stored data can be viewed by the user, or downloaded and further processed. It can also be provided that this database 4 provides the ability to run application applications. An application application can do this on the database 4 be loaded and executed by this. For example, such an application is "predictive maintenance" calculations or big data analysis methods.

For security reasons, the transmission of the data from the device 1 to the other participant 3 For example, use a Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) or Transport Layer Security (TSL) encryption protocol. Additionally or alternatively, the components involved, ie the device 1 and the other participant 3 integrated into a virtual private network (VPN), via which the data is transmitted.

The power supply of the device 1 takes place in particular via the Ethernet communication network 2 itself. The Ethernet communication network 2 enables Power over Ethernet (PoE) according to the IEEE standard 802.3. In this case, the data lines, ie the physical cables of the Ethernet communication network 2, are designed as a two-wire line, via which both the transmission of the data, as well as the power supply of the device according to the invention 1 he follows. A supply unit 3 supplies the required electrical energy. At the supply unit 3 For example, it is a power supply connected to an Ethernet switch. The Ethernet switch distributes those from the power supply 3 Provided electrical energy over the Ethernet communication network 2 ,

In a first case, in 1 referred to as a), the device is located 1 in a non-critical part of the plant. The device 1 does not require any security-related design and can with a relatively high electrical energy over the Ethernet communication network 2 operate.

In a second case, in 1 referred to as b), the device is located 1 in a potentially explosive part of the system.

For a hazardous area, ie a potentially explosive area of a plant, special safety requirements, an explosion-proof, to the device 1 posed. So this requires a housing through which no surrounding media, such as gases, can get into the interior of the device. Furthermore, explosion protection requires low operating performance of the device 1 in order to exclude the risk of a short circuit due to heat generation or due to the electrical supply lines. For example, the data lines must not exceed 100 mA of current to the device 1 to transfer.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

Device, Bluetooth bridge

1.1

(Bluetooth) radio interface

1.2

Ethernet interface

1.3

Protocol conversion electronics

1.4

storage unit

2

Ethernet communication network

3

supply unit

4

Another participant

F1, ..., F7

field devices

Claims (12)

Device (1) for use in a plant of automation technology, wherein the plant has a plurality of field devices (F1, ..., F7), wherein the device (1) comprises a radio interface (1.1), an Ethernet interface (1.2) via which the device (1) is connected to a wired Ethernet communication network (2), and protocol conversion electronics (1.3), and wherein the device (1) is configured to access at least one of the field devices (F1, ..., F7) by means of the radio interface (1.1) and to be available on the field device (F1, ..., F7) or from the field device (F1, ..., F7) generated data to convert the read data by means of the protocol conversion electronics (1.3) in an Ethernet protocol compliant data format, and the converted data via the Ethernet interface (1.2) at least one other participant ( 4) of the Ethernet communication network (2). Device (1) according to Claim 1 , which is designed to be operated in hazardous areas. Device (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the radio interface (1.1) is a Bluetooth radio interface. Device (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the Ethernet protocol is either an Industrial Ethernet protocol, for example Profinet, Ethernet / IP or HART-IP, or an Ethernet TCP / IP protocol , Device (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the device (1) comprises a memory unit (1.4), which stores the read-out data prior to transmission via the Ethernet interface (1.2). Device (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the device (1) is configured to encrypt the read-out data, or to transmit digitally signed. Device (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the data are static device data, in particular parameter values and / or configuration data, and / or dynamic device data, in particular measured values and / or diagnostic values. System for monitoring a plant of automation technology, comprising - A device (1) according to one of the preceding claims; An Ethernet communication network (2); and - A supply unit (3), which is connected to the Ethernet communication network (2) and which is adapted to supply at least the device (1) via the Ethernet communication network (2) with its required for operation electrical energy. System after Claim 6 comprising at least one further subscriber (4) of the Ethernet communication network, wherein the further subscriber (4) is designed to receive data transmitted to the device (1). System according to at least one of Claims 6 or 7 , wherein the further participant (4) is a control unit or a workstation PC. System according to at least one of Claims 6 or 7 in which the further subscriber (4) is a database, in particular in the case that the Ethernet communication network is connected to the Internet, is a database embedded in a cloud-contactable environment via the Internet. System according to at least one of Claims 6 to 9 in which the Ethernet communication network (2) has data lines for the transmission of data and electrical energy, the data lines being designed as two-wire data lines in accordance with the IEEE standard 802.3.

Images