FI113715B - Hardware monitoring system - Google Patents

Description

113715

Hardware monitoring system

The invention relates to an apparatus monitoring system in which the condition of the apparatus is continuously monitored at various points thereof by a plurality of sensors in one or more monitoring units, the derived actual signals are compared with the hold signals stored in the hold value memory and an alarm condition is signaled and / or the hardware or hardware components shut down.

DE-PS 37 26 585 has become a prior art method for locating and detecting leakage noise in a pipeline through which medium flows. Such pipelines are equipped with microphones near critical points, whose output signals are compared with reference signals and, when certain criteria are met, an alarm or fault message is issued. However, it is often the case that such alarm or fault messages also occur when there is no fault in the monitored equipment, but external alarm signals and other effects cause such alarm or fault indication.

Due to this uncertainty in the automatic identification of fault conditions, in many cases monitoring by experienced personnel of the equipment is used instead of automatic monitoring. This leads in individual cases to a more reliable identification of the state of the equipment, but the drawback is that it is virtually impossible to control complex parts of the equipment which can extend over a large area, since the attentiveness and ability of control personnel cannot be maintained. .

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It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a hardware monitoring system which also enables the monitoring of larger and more complex equipment to be more reliable and reliable.

3 0 This task is solved by a hardware monitoring system according to the species specification initially provided by continuously storing the actual signals in the first memory in a multichannel mode and, in the event of an alarm condition, transmitting the actual alarms associated with the alarm state to the second memory and performing a detailed and manual examination. the first memory is a capacity-limited memory in which the actual signals are stored for a limited time period, whereby they are continuously overwritten by new actual signals. The system of the invention is based on the principle that in the first step 5 coarse monitoring is performed by automated monitoring means and in the second stage monitoring by human or at least one or more operators to start and verify the result, allowing the users to determine the condition of the equipment by examining the stored sensor signals.

10 If the monitoring equipment includes, for example, a pipeline monitoring system for, for example, gas distribution equipment, the sensors are preferably air or frame sound sensors located at appropriate locations within the equipment. However, such acoustic sensors can also monitor the smooth operation of machine parts such as pumps and compressors. When acoustic sensors are used to detect noise in the equipment, a subsequent manual examination by the controller 15 is performed by listening to appropriately recorded acoustic signals.

Since the storage of a plurality of complex state signals requires a relatively large memory space, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the first memory is preferably a memory with limited capacity in which the actual signal is stored for a limited time and constantly overwriting new state signals. The second memory .. t then receives the actual signals transmitted from the first memory and stores them permanently for • i manual evaluation. The operator then retrieves and examines the '*' actual signals transferred to another memory; the operator can also retrieve corresponding hold signals and compare * · '·' 25 with the actual signals.

For complex monitoring, complex systems are preferably equipped with sensors to monitor various physical quantities in the system, and the actual values of these sensors are then compared to their corresponding stored hold values in the alarm condition.

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; 3 0 to identify. Thus, for example, it is conceivable that, in addition to monitoring the apparatus, acoustic sensors may also be equipped with sensors for monitoring other physical quantities, such as optical sensors, thermal sensors, or the like.

· * In this case, the alarm status of each type of physical quantity is reported '. appropriately separately, and the actual signals are stored at 3,117,155 in separate portions of the first memory, respectively. When an alarm condition occurs, one type of physical quantity estimation may result in the transfer of actual values of this type and / or different types of physical quantities to one or more memories. Thus, when automatically transmitting an alarm signal based on the parameter monitored by the acoustic sensors, it is not only necessary to transfer the actual acoustic values and their subsequent manual evaluation, but in the case of an alarm, the optical conditions can also be transferred to the corresponding other memory.

Especially when the individual components are widely distributed in the hardware, the output signals of the sensors are appropriately converted by A / D converters to digital signals and then transmitted, evaluated and stored digitally. The digital signals of the plurality of sensors are conveniently assembled by a multiplexer and transferred to a monitoring unit. It is then possible to group the proximity sensors in groups and thus save on the transmission paths.

In addition to holding values representative of the normal state of the equipment, the holding value memory may also store holding values representing specific failure states, which are then used for comparison with actual values. In this way, it is possible to quickly identify frequently occurring failure states, allowing for a reliable evaluation. In the training phase, the information obtained from the detailed testing of •, · '* the meaning of the various actual signals, i.e. fault state: · or non-fault state, can also be stored in the control system hold value memory and used for subsequent comparisons. In this way it is possible. *: Collect such experience values in the newly installed new monitoring system and '<·' 25 store them in a hold value memory, which thus generates an incremental | 'A sequence that reports either a normal state or a specific failure state.

According to an embodiment of the invention, it is advantageous to construct a monitoring system in such a way that the sensors of the equipment are connected to a local monitoring unit, where; 'There is both a rough assessment of the signals to identify the alarm condition and a detailed automatic and / or manual examination. The control unit is then connected to a control center located at a different location on the remote transmission road, where the control officer performs control and supervision at a distance from the local control unit. This system is particularly suitable when the equipment is equipped with a plurality of local monitoring units due to the localization of its individual measuring points, which are then connected to the same monitoring center by several remote transmission paths. In such a structure of the monitoring system, the remote transmission paths are suitably telephone connections, in particular ISDN telephone connections. In order to improve the transmission quality, the transmitted signals can be encoded by the MPEG method, whereby also a connection with a small bandwidth enables the signal to be transmitted without interference.

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Other preferred embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the dependent claims.

The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying block diagram of the hardware monitoring system.

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The block diagram shows, for example, acoustic sensors 1-5, which are air and / or body sound sensors or microphones. These sensors 1-5 are located at various locations within the apparatus, at appropriate locations. If the equipment is handling explosive materials, such as gas distribution equipment, an explosion-proof amplifier 12 and an analog / digital converter (A / D) 13 are connected to each of the sensors 1-5, then the digital output signals from the individual sensors 1-5 to the multiplexer 17 are output. , and assembled • J: the signals are transmitted from there through input 14 to the local monitoring unit 20a.

* ·:, ': While the signals of the sensors 1 -3 after being assembled are transferred from the multiplexer · ... * 25 to the input 14 of the local monitoring unit 20a, the block diagram also shows that' 'the other two sensors 4 and 5 are connected via input 14 to '· * · * to another local control unit 20b. The division of the sensors into groups 1-3 and 4 and 5 and their connection to two separate local monitoring units 20a and 20b is due to the fact that the sensors 4 and 5 are located, for example, at a more distant part of the equipment than the sensors 1-3. In such a case, due to the greater distance, it is convenient to arrange the monitoring units 20a and 20b apart and in different locations.

5, 113715

Next, the signal analysis of the sensors 1-3 will be described.

The actual input signal to the monitoring unit 20a is compared in comparator 22 to a hold signal stored in the hold value 23. If this comparison results in a specific 5 result, e.g., a deviation from the hold signal, a memory 24 having a limited storage capacity. It is specifically structured as a so-called FIFO memory or ring memory, which stores a limited number of actual values that can be retrieved if necessary.

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If the comparator 22 now signals to the computer 18 the occurrence of an alarm or failure condition, the computer 18 causes the entire contents of the first memory 24, or at least the stored actual values, which are temporally near the alarm time, to be stored in a second memory 25, e.g. This re-recording can then further investigate these actual signals.

The examination of the actual signals re-stored in the second memory 25 is initiated by presenting them through the loudspeaker 27 to the control officer 30 for listening. This supervisor may also decide to perform this multiple listening of the stored 20 O signals, select specific fragments, or retrieve the corresponding hold signals from the hold memory 23 for comparison, and input them into the exchange. '·': Via the switch 26 to the speaker 27. The system operates in the same way in the case of the local monitoring unit 20b in connection with the sensors 4 and 5.

Thus, in practice, the hardware monitoring system operates in two stages. In the first step, based on a rough evaluation of the actual values obtained from the sensors 1-5, a so-called preliminary alarm signal is received, which draws the attention of a supervisor in the control center. This can now, by retrieving stored actual values in the immediate vicinity of the alarm time '', further investigate the state of the equipment ·; · '3 0 and determine whether the actual signals that led to the alarm are due to an abnormal state of the equipment or.

• .. · The operator may also cause that the specified actual signals 6113715 encountered in such ex-post evaluation are added as new hold values to hold value memory 23, i.e., perform a training procedure in the control system to improve the content of the signal library (hold memory 23).

5 When the sensors 1-5 of the previous embodiment are sound sensors, it is expedient that after the alarm, when these audio signals are compared with the hold values of the hold memory 23 in the comparator 22, the supervisor also listens for control purposes to these acoustic signals which are first stored in 25. However, it is also possible to measure the other physical parameters 10 with corresponding sensors in the monitored equipment and to process them in the other evaluation section of the monitoring unit 20a or 20b, to temporarily store them and then transfer them to another memory.

If, therefore, an alarm condition 15 is detected during monitoring of another physical parameter, this alarm condition can be reported to external computer 9 via computer input 18 and the supervisor may perform a manual evaluation procedure. In other words, if an alarm condition based on monitoring optical signals, for example, is reported, it may result in the corresponding acoustic signals initially stored in the first memory 24 being transmitted to a second, permanent memory 25 20 for listening and evaluating acoustic conditions.

v: In addition, the control system described is further provided with a return channel 28 through which the control person can transmit the return signals to the individual control points of the system. In the present case, for example, a loudspeaker 10 is provided in a monitoring position "2 5 with sensors 1-3 and a loudspeaker 11 in a monitoring position 4 and 5 which is connected to the return channel 28 through an explosion-proof amplifier 16 and a D / A converter 15. The output signal of the audio source 19 is thus transmitted to the speaker 10 or 11. The audio source is supplied with audio signals either by microphone 31, e.g., provided by the user, or by computer 18 to provide specific audio signals to test the effect of these audio signals .

7, 113715

Although the present invention has been described above in connection with acoustic sensors 1-5 and for generating corresponding acoustic signals, sensors 1-6 may, of course, also be of other types and may also monitor other physical quantities. The block diagram also shows that both the local control units 20a and 5 20b and any other control units with correspondingly connected sensors (not shown) are connected to the control center by remote transmission roads 32. This control center has at least one control person communicating with corresponding control elements (not shown) 27 through local control units 20a and 20b, etc. The control center 30 is locally separate from the individual control units 10a, 20b, and data transmission over long distances can take place on remote transmissions 32. In this example, these transmissions 32 are ISDN telephone lines connected to ISDN units 21 and 29. Also for long transmissions and narrow bandwidths. such as the telephone connections normally have, in order to achieve a smooth and high quality connection, the transmitted signals which are digital are encoded by the known MPEG encoding method.

Claims (21)

1. Monitoring system for an installation, in which the condition of the installation is continuously monitored at its various locations by a plurality of sensors (1 -5) in one or more monitoring units (20a, 20b), the derived signal signals being compared with in a setpoint memory (23) stores stock exchange signals and when a deviation occurs, an alarm condition is signaled and / or the system or parts of the system are stopped or decoupled, characterized in that the signal signals are continuously stored remarkably in a first memory (24), and then an alarm condition. When ignited, the timing signals associated with the alarm state are transmitted to a second memory (25) and an operator performs a detailed automatic examination and / or manual examination thereof, and the first memory (24) is a memory with; limited capacity, in which signals from a limited time interval are stored, whereby they 'are continuously overwritten with new honor signals. ,: 30 I Monitoring system according to claim 1, characterized in that the sensors (1-5) are air and / or silent sound sensors, which are located at different points in the system. 12 113715 Monitoring system according to claim 2, characterized in that the manual examination is performed by listening to saved signals. Monitoring system according to any of claims 1-3, 10, characterized in that in the second memory (25) they are permanently stored from the first memory (249) transmitted. Monitoring system according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that the operator searches and examines the transmitted signal signals transmitted in the second memory (25), and that, if necessary, the corresponding setpoints are searched and they are compared with the requested signal signals. Monitoring system according to any one of claims 1-4, - characterized in that the system is provided with sensors (1-5) for monitoring; '' 20 different types of physical quantities in the plant, and the actual values of these sensors are compared *., * With corresponding saved setpoints to identify an alarm condition. , ·. t Monitoring system according to claim 6, characterized in that the alarm condition for each type of physical quantity is notified separately and the signal signals are stored in each individual case in different parts of the first memory (24). A monitoring system according to claim 7, characterized in that when an alarm condition arises as a result of the assessment of the physical quantity of a type, the set value of the physical types and / or different types of physical is transmitted. To the other memory (s) (25). i3 113715 9. Monitoring system according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the output signals of the sensors (1-6) are converted with A / D converters into digital signals and then transmitted, evaluated and saved in digital form. 5 Monitoring system according to claim 9, characterized in that the digital signals Hn several sensors (1-5) are collected in a multiplexer (17) and transmitted to the monitoring unit (20a, 20b). Monitoring system according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the setpoint memory (23), both setpoints representing the normal state of the plant and setpoints representing determined error conditions are used in the comparison with the actual values. 12. Monitoring system according to claim 11, characterized in that in the set-value memory (23), the information received on the significance of different signal signals received during the monitoring system during the detailed examination is stored, in other words, on the condition of error or non-error condition. comparisons. '·' 20 13. Monitoring system according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the stock signals are stored in the set value memory (23) as time signals. It 1 Monitoring system according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the stock signals are stored in the setpoint memory (23) as parameters: ''; descriptive time signals. t Monitoring system according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that a return channel (28) is arranged from the monitoring unit (20a, 20b) to the individual locations of the system to transmit certain signals via loudspeakers (10, 11) for test or control purposes. Monitoring system according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the system sensors (1-5) are connected to a local monitoring unit (20a, 20b), where a rough assessment of the signal is made to detect an alarm condition and a subsequent detailed automatic and / or manual examination, and that the monitoring unit (20a, 20b) is connected via a remote transmission path (21,29,32) to a monitoring center (30), where an operator performs a monitoring and monitoring. Monitoring system according to claim 15 or 16, characterized in that the return channel directs the fin monitoring center (30) via the remote transmission path (21,29, 32) and the local monitoring unit (20a, 20b) to the different locations of the plant 15. Monitoring system according to claim 16 or 17, characterized in that a plurality of local monitoring units (20a, 20b) are connected to the monitoring center (30) via the remote transmission paths (21, * 29, 32). 2 0 19. Monitoring system according to any of claims 16-18, characterized in that the remote transmission paths (21,29, 32) are ISDN telephone connection; . " looks. 2 5 20. Monitoring system according to any of claims 16-19, characterized in that the signals of the remote transmission path are encoded by the MPEG method. : 21. Monitoring system according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is planned for monitoring gas-conducting plants and 3. that the sensors (1-5) are explosion protected.