EP1791094A1 - Système de maintenance automatique d'une installation technique - Google Patents

Abstract

The system (1) has an evaluation module (7) connected to a monitoring module (5) for receiving statistical data and designed to evaluate the data with respect to a state of the system and output the data in the form of state data. A maintenance module (9) is connected to the module (7) for receiving state data, and is designed so that the module (9) creates maintenance instructions based on state data and outputs the state data to an output unit (11).

Description

The present invention relates to an apparatus for automatically servicing a technical installation, for example a gas turbine installation.

Technical installations, in particular large-scale installations such as gas turbine installations, today have a complexity which necessitates frequent maintenance of the installation. To service the system, this is usually examined by maintenance personnel for their functionality and transferred in the presence of errors or vulnerabilities back to a perfect condition. Failure to perform maintenance work that is too late or inadequately performed can result in significant overhead in restoring the faultless condition of the equipment, and can also affect the life and performance of the equipment.

Object of the present invention is to provide a device for servicing a technical system available, with which the labor-intensive and costly maintenance can be reduced.

This object is achieved by a device for automatic maintenance of a technical system according to claim 1. The dependent claims contain advantageous embodiments of the invention.

An inventive device for the automatic maintenance of a technical system comprises at least one monitoring module, an evaluation module, a maintenance module and an output unit. The monitoring module is designed to monitor the maintenance of relevant system data and to form and output statistical data related to the system data. The evaluation module is connected to the monitoring module for receiving the statistical data. It is designed to, the To evaluate statistical data with regard to the condition of the plant and output it in the form of status data. The maintenance module is connected to the evaluation module for receiving the condition data and configured to generate maintenance instructions on the basis of the condition data. To issue the maintenance instructions, the maintenance module is connected to the output unit.

The device according to the invention makes it possible to automate a large number of maintenance operations up to the creation of maintenance instructions. This automation can go so far that not only the condition of the system is monitored and prompted for maintenance if necessary, but even the maintenance is carried out fully automatically, as far as no human intervention is necessary. The latter is conceivable in particular in the case of maintenance of software and firmware of the system or of automation components of the system. If the maintenance requires the reprocessing, repair or replacement of components, appropriate instructions are issued in the form of messages. Basically, all types of messages are possible here, which can provide maintenance instructions to the maintenance personnel. For example, this can be done in the form of a flashing signal lamp or in the form of a text output on a computer monitor. But also messages in the form of an e-mail, an automated voice output or pictograms are possible. It is also possible to combine different types of message, such as a text message and a pictogram or other graphical representation.

With the device according to the invention, at least part of the checking of the system by humans can be omitted, whereby working time and costs can be saved. At least part of the inspection work required during maintenance operations can be performed by measuring sensors which monitor the condition of the machine at regular intervals or continuously.

The maintenance module can advantageously comprise a data input via which status data of further technical systems, in particular of the same series, can be received. In this case, the evaluation module is designed such that the status data of the other technical systems are taken into account when creating the maintenance instructions. In this way, the status data of several identical technical systems can be compared with each other to create the maintenance instructions. This comparison can provide important information about possible vulnerabilities in a plant design. For example, if the same error always occurs in a large number of installations of the same installation type, it may be appropriate to subject the corresponding component to maintenance, even if this error has not yet appeared in the system to be maintained. For example, such preventive maintenance may be performed as part of a maintenance for another component of the plant, so that a maintenance step, which will occur with a certain probability, can be avoided. In addition, the comparison of the condition data of the different installations of the same type can provide conclusions about the performance of the installation and performance-enhancing measures can be carried out by comparison with installations whose current capacity is higher than those of the system to be maintained. Such measures may concern, for example, the updating of software or firmware as well as the replacement or reworking of components of the system.

In order to enable the software of the system to be updated, for example if software errors are to be corrected or new software versions have appeared, the device can be equipped with an updating unit which is connected to the monitoring module and / or the evaluation module and / or the maintenance module. In this way, not only updates of the plant software can be made, but in particular the maintenance routines are updated so that the maintenance process itself can be improved.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the device may comprise a maintenance account in which it is stored how many services a specific installation should undergo. This maintenance account makes it possible, for example, to supply a predefined number of maintenance services when purchasing a system so that it can be ensured that the system will receive the prescribed maintenance in the prescribed manner over a certain period of time. This can be achieved that the system unfolds and maintains its full line level at least over this period. In addition, the maintenance account allows you to pre-purchase maintenance services for a specific period of time, with the maintenance required during this period stored in the maintenance account. The maintenance account reduces operator maintenance because it no longer needs to monitor when, if and how maintenance is to be performed for the period for which it has purchased the maintenance. Overall, this can reduce the rate of inadequate, late, or no maintenance performed. Overall, this can maintain or even increase the performance of the machine over a long period of time and, if necessary, extend its life.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the device according to the invention also comprises a protocol unit for logging the status data and / or executed maintenance steps and / or issued maintenance instructions. The logging unit makes it possible to check at any time which maintenance steps have been performed, which maintenance instructions have been issued or what the system status was. A comparison of the maintenance instructions with later evaluation data may enable a check as to whether the maintenance instructions have actually been carried out and whether they have been carried out properly, in particular if the maintenance is to be performed by external maintenance personnel. In this way, errors in maintenance can be detected later.

In an embodiment of the invention, an evaluation unit is provided. The evaluation unit communicates with the evaluation module for receiving the current status data and the protocol module for receiving the logged data. It determines the technical condition of the system to be maintained on the basis of the status data and checks the maintenance performed on the basis of the logged status data and / or maintenance steps and / or maintenance instructions. In addition, it may also be associated with the maintenance account to update the maintenance account based on the maintenance performed. In this way, for example, with regular and properly performed maintenance bonuses in the form of an extension of the agreed pre-paid maintenance period or a discount on the acquisition of a subsequent maintenance period granted. If, on the other hand, the evaluation unit determines that the technical condition of the installation has deteriorated due to late or not followed maintenance instructions (in the case of non-automated maintenance operations), the evaluation unit offers the possibility to inform the system operator accordingly. If necessary, this may also result in the plant operator being charged an increased amount when purchasing a follow-up maintenance period.

An embodiment of the device according to the invention is shown in the single figure of the application.

The figure shows an inventive device for servicing a technical system using the example of a maintenance device for a gas turbine plant.

The gas turbine plant 1, which is shown only schematically, is equipped with a plurality of measurement and monitoring sensors, which detect the necessary parameters for determining the technical condition of the system. These parameters are forwarded to the maintenance device 3.

The maintenance device 3 comprises a monitoring module 5, an evaluation module 7, a maintenance module 9, a display 11 as an output unit, which can be, for example, a monitor, a protocol module 13, an evaluation unit 15, and a maintenance account 17. The monitoring module 5 is connected to the evaluation module 7 and receives from the monitoring and measuring sensors of the gas turbine plant 1, the measured parameters. On the basis of these parameters or system data, the monitoring module 5 forms statistical data which include statistics for the individual parameters. These statistics are forwarded to the evaluation module 7, where they are evaluated with regard to the state of the gas turbine plant 1. The evaluated statistics are output by the evaluation module 7 in the form of status data both to the maintenance module 9 and to the protocol module 13 and to the evaluation unit 15, which are all in communication with the evaluation module 7.

In the maintenance module 9, maintenance instructions are determined on the basis of the received status data and output to the monitor or the display 11. In addition, the maintenance instructions are output to the protocol module 13, which, like the monitor or the display 11, is connected to the maintenance module 9. In the simplest case, the selection of the maintenance instructions can take place, for example, in the form of a look-up table. Certain states can trigger certain maintenance instructions according to the table. Preferably, however, an expert system is used to create the maintenance instructions. Thus, it is possible, for example, to supply the status data to a neural network, which then determines appropriate maintenance measures on the basis of this status data and outputs the corresponding maintenance instructions.

In the present exemplary embodiment, all modules and units are connected to a data interface 19, via which data can be entered from the outside into the maintenance device 3. For example, status data about more construction or similar gas turbine plants are entered into the maintenance module 9. This can then compare these data with the status data of the gas turbine plant 1 to be serviced and draw conclusions about possible weak points of the plant or on improvements of the plant leading to improvements. Likewise, the interface 19 can be used to output data of the maintenance device 3. In particular, the status data of the gas turbine plant 1 can be output for reception by other maintenance devices. In addition, updates of the data and software present in the individual modules can be made via the interface 19, so that the work of the maintenance device 3 itself can be improved. In principle, the interface 19 also allows the maintenance device 3 to undertake remote maintenance of other machines.

It should be noted at this point that the input of the measurement and monitoring data of the gas turbine plant 1 can also take place via the interface 19. In addition, the maintenance instructions can also be output to automated maintenance devices of the gas turbine plant 1 via the interface 19. In the present embodiment, the output of the automated maintenance instructions, however, takes place via a direct connection of the monitoring module with the gas turbine plant 1.

Apart from the interface 19 or the display 11, the maintenance instructions are also output to the protocol module 13 connected to the maintenance module 9, which records these. In addition, the protocol module 13 receives the status data of the system from the evaluation module 7, with which it is also in communication. The protocol module 13 serves to store the system state and the maintenance instructions over a certain period of time and to keep them ready for viewing. The protocol module 13 is also connected to the evaluation unit 15 in order to be able to output the protocol data to the evaluation unit.

The evaluation unit 15 is connected, in addition to the protocol module 13, also to the evaluation module 7, in order at all times to determine the current system state, i. the status data to be able to receive. On the basis of a comparison of the protocol data and the current state data of the gas turbine installation 1, the evaluation unit 15 determines an evaluation parameter which indicates to what extent the current system status is related to the maintenance performed so far. For example, a poor, later or not performed maintenance can lead to a deteriorated condition. Such a relationship can be determined with the evaluation unit 15. Based on previous status data and the maintenance instructions associated with these status data, the condition of the equipment after maintenance can be predicted. If the evaluation unit 15 has performed such a prognosis, it can compare the status data resulting from the prognosis with the actual status data from the evaluation module 7. In case of deviations of the actual state data from the predicted state data, the evaluation unit 15 checks whether the deviation is due to poor maintenance. This can be done, for example, by checking whether the actual status data deviating from the predicted status data relate to plant parts which should have been exchanged during a previous maintenance. If now the current state data show that they correspond to the state data before the maintenance instruction for the replacement of the component, then this is an indication that the maintenance instruction has been executed poorly or not at all.

The maintenance account 17 of the maintenance device 3 contains information about how long the maintenance device 3 should wait for the machine. This makes it possible, for example, to pre-purchase maintenance for a specific maintenance period. After this maintenance period maintenance can then be purchased for a subsequent maintenance period.

The maintenance account 17 is in communication with the maintenance module 9 and outputs an enable signal to the maintenance module 9 over the duration of the maintenance period. If the maintenance period is over, the automated maintenance of the gas turbine plant may be halted until a new maintenance period has been purchased. Alternatively, it is also possible, for example, to continue the maintenance, in which case each maintenance is invoiced individually.

The maintenance account 17 in the present embodiment also communicates with the evaluation unit 15 to keep from the evaluation unit 15 information about whether the maintenance instructions have been regularly followed properly. This makes it possible, for example, to extend the duration of the maintenance period as a bonus by a certain period if such maintenance instructions, which are not carried out automatically, have always been carried out promptly and correctly.

It should be noted at this point that the maintenance device 3 has been described only by way of example with reference to the servicing of a gas turbine plant 1 and the maintenance device 3 can also be used for other plants, in particular large-scale plants.

Claims (7)

Device (3) for the automatic maintenance of a technical installation (1) with: - a monitoring module (5), which is designed for monitoring maintenance-relevant system data, for forming statistics relating to the system data and for outputting the statistical data; - an evaluation module (7) connected to the monitoring module (5) for receiving the statistical data, which is designed to evaluate the statistics data with regard to the state of the installation (1) and to output them in the form of status data; - A maintenance module (9), which is connected to the evaluation module (7) for receiving the state data and is configured such that it creates on the basis of the state data maintenance instructions and outputs to an output unit (11). Device (3) according to claim 1, which comprises a data input (19) connected to the maintenance module (9), via which state data for further technical installations are to be received, and in which the maintenance module (9) is configured to display the status data of the further technical installations when creating the maintenance instructions. Device (3) according to Claim 1 or 2, having a data input (19) connected at least to the monitoring module (5) and / or the evaluation module (7) and / or the maintenance module. Device (3) according to one of the preceding claims, which comprises a maintenance account (17) in which is stored, how many maintenance the technical installation (1) should experience. Apparatus (3) according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a logging unit (13) for logging the status data and / or performed maintenance steps and / or issued maintenance instructions. Apparatus (3) according to claim 5, comprising an evaluation unit (15) in communication with the evaluation module (7) and the protocol module (13) and configured to perform the performed maintenance on the basis of the condition data and the logged data evaluate. Device (3) according to claim 4 and claim 6, in which the evaluation unit (15) is also in communication with the maintenance account (17).

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