EP1586010A2

EP1586010A2 - Method and device for processing data stored in different data memories

Info

Publication number: EP1586010A2
Application number: EP04703391A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Hans-Joachim Beck
Original assignee: Siemens AG
Current assignee: Siemens AG
Priority date: 2003-01-20
Filing date: 2004-01-20
Publication date: 2005-10-19
Also published as: WO2004066054A3; WO2004066054A2; DE10301937A1

Abstract

The aim of the invention is to carry out a particularly simple, reliable and consistent output of data for a process state. To this end, the invention provides a method for processing data (D) of a technical installation, which contains a number of automation levels (E1 to E3) in a hierarchical manner, said data being stored in different data memories (2). For a predetermined process state, the data (D) representing this process state are generated from a dynamic data element and from a static data element in one of the automation levels (E1 to E3). This data is generated in such a manner that, starting from the relevant automation level (E1 to E3), the immediately following data memory (2) is determined in a sequence (R), that is predetermined in a hierarchical and/or user-specific manner, and the data (D) are combined and output by using this data memory.

Description

description

Method and device for processing data stored in various data memories

The invention relates to a method for processing data stored in different data memories of a technical system comprising several automation levels, in particular a power plant system or a chemical system. Furthermore, the invention relates to a device for processing data. In this context, different data storage means in particular different databases or data blocks, which may be based on different operating systems.

A technical system, e.g. B. a power plant, is usually both controlled and monitored by means of a so-called operational management system. The management system is divided into a number of data processing units, e.g. B. servers, computers, which are often hierarchically structured in various process levels representing automation levels due to the complexity of such systems. In order to display process and / or system-relevant data on all hierarchy levels, the respective data processing unit has what is known as

Text libraries assigned in the form of data blocks or databases. Such text libraries include as data both a character code, in particular a numerical code as an index for a process value, and a description of the process value in the form of character strings. At the time of the display, e.g. B. to represent the current process status, the numerical code is used to determine the associated process value to be displayed and to link it with the process value and output it.

With regard to processing and storage, the data processing units that are generated in the respective data processing unit Data stored in a dedicated data memory. Frequently, in the individual hierarchy levels and / or the individual data processing units, special hardware systems and software systems that differ in their performance are used, which meet the respective requirements. To display compressed data or information in a higher hierarchy level or in another data processing unit, it is often necessary to convert the data of the lower hierarchy level or the data processing unit. This is particularly time-consuming and, due to the complexity of such systems, also very expensive. In addition, a complex representation of data from all relevant data processing units, including all hierarchical levels, is not possible. Rather, the different data memories of the data processing units must be called up individually. Furthermore, when changing data used several times in the same way in different data processing units, extensive and time-consuming adaptation is required in all of the individual data memories concerned.

The invention is therefore based on the object of specifying a method for processing data stored in different data memories, in which the data can be output and changed in all hierarchy levels with particularly little effort. Furthermore, a device is to be specified which is particularly suitable for carrying out the method.

The first-mentioned object is achieved according to the invention in that for the processing of data stored in various data memories of a technical system comprising a plurality of automation levels for a given process state, the data representing these are generated in one of the automation levels in such a way that starting from the relevant automation level in one hierarchically and / or user-specific Sequence of the next following data storage is determined, on the basis of which the data are assembled and output.

The invention is based on the consideration that by means of an operating or process control system based on a plurality of different hardware and / or software systems, current, dynamic process data for a process state as well as static data describing this process data or other static data Plant data can be processed, filtered, compressed and / or structured specifically for the plant, process, user and / or project. For a particularly reliable and inherently consistent structure and for consistent process monitoring of the technical system, in particular a data processing network, a power plant system or a chemical system, faulty or redundant generation and output of data or of linked data should be avoided as far as possible. Therefore, the process data should only be used once, e.g. B. for a specification, for a change or for an initialization to be entered and stored regardless of location. For unambiguous identification and / or selection of data relevant for a given process state, the data storage, on the basis of which the relevant data are assembled and output, is therefore preferably determined in a hierarchical and / or user-specific order, starting from the automation level associated with the process state.

For fast and economical monitoring of the technical system on different working or hierarchical levels, the data generated by means of different data processing units of an individual automation level are expediently stored in a data memory belonging to a higher-level automation level. Such a higher-level storage of process-relevant and / or plant-relevant data can simultaneously tig be used by several, in particular by all subordinate automation levels and their data processing units. In addition, a change, e.g. B. a change in the physical value on which the process value is based or its designation can only be carried out once in the data store of the higher-level automation level. The adjustments in the higher-level data store thus reliably avoid local adjustments in the data stores of subordinate data processing units.

In addition, the data is stored in a data memory corresponding to the automation level of the relevant process status. For example, for accurate, fast, secure and economical storage of the data, only those data are stored locally that are only used and output locally according to their application. These data are then only changed locally in the data memory of the relevant automation level and / or in the data memory of the relevant data processing unit; all other higher-level, e.g. B. project- or system-relevant data, which are stored in particular in a higher-level data memory, are retained and are unchanged, as described above, determined and output.

For a quick and reliable and location-independent display of both user-specific and project or system-relevant data, the data is output in predetermined automation levels regardless of the hierarchical position of the associated data memory. In other words: for outputting information about the plant status of another process unit at another data processing unit, the data are determined accordingly and read and output from the associated higher and / or lower data store. For example, the data processing units are used to control and regulate various sub-processes of the technical system, e.g. B. one of the data processing units serves to control and regulate development of a boiler and another data processing unit for the control and regulation of a steam turbine, which are components of a power plant. To display the boiler status in the process system or in the data processing unit of the steam turbine or vice versa, the data in question are stored, for example, in a higher-level, system-relevant data memory and, if necessary, are determined by the respective requesting and subordinate data processing unit and output locally. The locally output data or information can thus be managed centrally, ie generated, deleted and / or changed.

For a clear output of system-specific information with regard to the system, the data which represent the same process status and are stored in hierarchically different data memories are determined and output with priority, which are stored in the hierarchically subordinate data memory. This ensures that, for example, security-relevant data, which must be generated and output as securely and accurately as possible and with sufficient speed and are therefore stored locally on the relevant security-relevant data processing unit, have priority over centrally stored and generateable data, or vice versa.

The object mentioned with regard to the device for processing the data stored in various data memories of a technical installation comprising a hierarchical level of automation levels is achieved according to the invention by assigning at least one data processing unit to the respective automation level, which is connected to the data processing units of adjacent automation levels by means of a data transmission unit, one of which Data processing units and / or one of the automation levels are each assigned a data memory in which, for a given process state, the data representing them, including a dynamic one Data element and a static data element are stored, an analysis module for generating and outputting the data in one of the automation levels based on the determination of the relevant data memory starting from the relevant automation level in a hierarchical and / or user-specific order.

The advantages achieved by the invention are, in particular, that by dividing and / or storing the user-specific, project-specific and / or plant-specific data into a few hierarchically structured data memories which, for example, B. each represent a process section, a plant function and / or a project function, a high degree of data or information compression is achieved on a few, to be maintained data storage. In addition, regardless of the data processing unit used in each case, the data in each automation level on each data processing unit, i. H. can be determined and output at the relevant work station or at an operator station. In other words: Both on an operator station of a higher-level system, e.g. B. management or maintenance systems, as well as on an operator station of a subordinate and often more powerful process control system, e.g. B. a control and

Control system of a boiler or a steam turbine, both the own local and the central, as well as the local data of other systems can be determined and output. This means that the entire system process can be controlled and monitored by just one person from each operating location in each operating phase. In addition, the entire database can be managed by any operating station, i. H. may be changed, updated and / or maintained.

Embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail with reference to a drawing. The figure schematically shows a device 1 for processing data store 2 stored data D of a hierarchical technical system comprising several automation levels E1 to E3, with the respective automation level E1 to E3 being assigned at least one data processing unit 4 which is connected to the data processing units 4 of adjacent automation levels E1 to E3 by means of a data transmission unit 6.

Depending on the type and design of the device 1 and the underlying technical system, for. B. a power plant or a data processing network, the data processing units 4 represent, for example, automation units of an automation system, based on which measured values and / or signal signals of the technical system are preprocessed and converted into process data or values (hereinafter referred to as data D). The data D are used for process monitoring, for example, on a screen (not shown) or another output unit, e.g. B. a printer. For process control and control, the data D are converted into control signals and output. For example, in a power plant, a boiler is monitored using data D using one of data processing units 4, and the boiler is controlled and / or regulated using control signals resulting from the processing of data D via the same or a data processing unit 4 assigned to the boiler heating system. The data processing unit 4 can in particular be a personal computer, a programmable logic controller or another data processing unit. Due to the complexity of the plant process and, if necessary, measures that can be triggered quickly in the event of a malfunction, the data processing units 4 can also be constructed, for example, from rapidly responding programmable logic controllers or from powerful workstations. Due to the complexity of today's large-scale technical systems and due to today's common remote maintenance and / or remote diagnostics, depending on the specification, one of the data processing units 4 and / or one of the automation levels E1 to E3 is assigned a data memory 2 in which, for a given process state, e.g. B. for a boiler status or heating status, these data D are stored. For process monitoring, the data D is determined event-based or cyclically and output and output. The data D include a dynamic data element and a static data element. For the textual representation of the process values on which the data D is based, an index or a number for the process value in question is stored as a static data element, on the basis of which a character string (= dynamic data element) describing the state of the process value is determined and output.

For example, the boiler status and / or the heating status is determined in the form of binary and / or analog measured values by means of the data processing unit 4. To output these binary and / or analog measured values, e.g. B. heating status signal = 0, underlying data D in the form of a textual description is based on the static data element formed as an index or number, z. B. "@ 2B" or "Q1B", the character string describing the state of the measured value, z. B. "Heating status: heating is: OFF", determined and output. Depending on the type and design of the automation system on which the data processing units 4 are based, several such text messages can be in the form of

Data D are generated and output in parallel and / or in series on one or more data processing units 4 of a single and / or several levels E1 to E3.

For this purpose, the data D are stored several times in different data memories 2, depending on the application and specification. For a system and / or cross-process consistency of the data D In all automation levels E1 to E3, one of the automation levels E1 to E3, based on the relevant automation level E1, E2 or E3, is determined in a hierarchical and / or user-specific order R for a given process state in the retrieving data processing unit 4 using the next following data store 2 of which the data D are assembled and output. In other words: In complex systems, projects and / or processes, displays and messages for states and / or events should be output consistently. For this purpose, the data D, comprising the static and dynamic data element, is stored in superordinate, subordinate and / or locally in at least one associated data memory 2, also called a text library. I.e. , The data storage 2 are either on local data processing units 4 of the automation level E3, z. B. to control the boiler or the turbine, at a so-called station-forming data processing unit 4 of the automation level E2, z. B. to combine several system functions, and / or on a central data processing unit 4 of the automation level El, z. B. for plant monitoring or project management, aggregatable.

Based on the location where the event is triggered, e.g. B. for a boiler or heating status of the data processing unit 4 for controlling the boiler or the heating, the next data memory 2 or the next text library is identified in a predetermined order R and used to generate and output the data D describing the event in question. There is an analysis module for this

8 is provided, which determines and outputs the relevant data D, for example on the basis of a comparison of the index associated with the process value with the indexes stored in the data memory 2. Depending on the type and design of the device 1, the analysis module 8 can be integrated centrally and / or locally in one of the data processing units 4 in the manner of a software module. Using the analysis module 8, the data memories 2 in question are identified in accordance with the predetermined sequence R and the indices are used to check whether the relevant data D are contained or not. I.e. For example, if the data D is stored globally for an event or a state, ie in a higher-level automation level E1, this data D can be automatically determined, assembled and output locally by all subordinate data processing units 4 of the automation levels E2 to E3 ^' as described above. The predetermined order R is determined by the hierarchy of the storage of the data D, depending on the specification. Alternatively, the order R can also be specified by other hierarchical and / or user-specific criteria. The order R of the identification of the relevant data memory 2 can run horizontally and / or vertically within one or more automation levels E1 to E3.

Changes to centrally stored data D are thus automatically adopted by all subordinate data processing units 4 by searching for the relevant data memory 2. In contrast, in the case of local changes or modifications to data D, these are carried out in the relevant automation level E1, E2 or E3 and stored accordingly. These are therefore only for the local concerned

Data processing unit 4 is effective, the centrally stored data D are further generated and output locally and / or centrally by means of the analysis module 8.

For example, for an event or for a process state, it can be stored centrally in a higher-level data memory 2 (also called a text library) that this is output or signaled as a dynamic element with the text “boiler too cold”.

All data processing units 4 which are assigned to this data memory 2 or which reference this text library. If the same process status is also stored in a hierarchically subordinate (= local) data memory 2, the text for the heating or boiler status is overwritten by the text "boiler has Target temperature not reached ", the text" boiler has not reached target temperature "is output in the associated subordinate data processing unit 4 for the same event or process state. In all other data processing units 4 the text" boiler too cold "of the higher-level data memory 2 is output output.

In the event that the locally stored text is deleted, the text “boiler too cold” of the higher-level data memory 2 is output in all data processing units 4.

Depending on the type and design, the respective data processing unit 4, in the manner of an operator station, can have a suitable surface or selection mask for an associated screen, on the basis of which the data memories 2, in particular their content, location and / or assignment to the respective data processing unit 4 and / or for the respective automation level E1 to E3, can be displayed and / or changed. As a result, new data memories 2 can be generated and allocated locally and / or centrally; Existing data storage 2 can be changed and / or deleted, for example to allow and / or to override local overwrites by a central data storage or vice versa.

Claims

claims

1. A method for processing data (D) stored in different data memories (2) of a hierarchical technical system comprising several automation levels (E1 to E3), in which, for a given process state, the data (D) representing them in one of the automation levels (El to E3) are generated so that, starting from the relevant automation level (E1 to E3), the next following data memory (2) is determined in a hierarchical and / or user-specific order (R), on the basis of which the data (D) are assembled and output ,

2. The method according to claim 1, in which the data (D) generated by means of various data processing units (4) of an associated automation level (E1 to E3) are stored in a data memory (2) belonging to a higher-level automation level (E1 to E3).

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which the data (D) are stored in a data memory (2) corresponding to the automation level (E1 to E3) of the relevant process state.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the data (D) are output regardless of the hierarchical position of the associated data memory (2) in predetermined automation levels (E1 to E3).

5. The method as claimed in one of claims 1 to 4, in which, in the case of data (D) which represents the same process state and is stored in hierarchically different data memories (2), the data (D) stored in the hierarchically subordinate data memory (2) takes precedence over those in the hierarchy next data memory (2) stored data (D) are output.

6. Device (1) for processing data (D) stored in different data memories (2) of a hierarchical technical system comprising several automation levels (E1 to E3), at least one data processing unit (4) being assigned to the respective automation level (E1 to E3) , which is connected to the data processing units (4) of adjacent automation levels (E1 to E3) by means of a data transmission unit (6), one of the data processing units (4) and / or one of the automation levels (E1 to E3) each having a data memory (2) in which the data (D) representing them, including a dynamic data element and a static data element, are stored for a given process state, an analysis module (8) for generating and outputting the data (D) in one of the automation levels (El to E3) on the basis of the determination of the relevant data memory (2) starting from the relevant one Automation level (E1 to E3) is provided in a hierarchical and / or user-specific order (R).