Method for identifying the drive type of an actuator (II)

Abstract

Method for identifying the drive type of an actuator with a position controller for operating an actuating element, wherein the position controller has control electronics which receive one or more input signals by means of a microcontroller and outputs control signals for venting or aerating the chambers of a single- or double-acting pneumatic actuator, wherein the pressure in at least one pressure medium supply to the chambers of the actuator is monitored and wherein the position of the actuating element is reported to the position controller by means of a rotary measuring system, characterized in that - that the actuator is moved over a predefinable distance within its working range during commissioning, - that the pressure in at least one pressure medium supply to the chambers of the actuator is monitored and recorded, - that the angular positions reported by the position feedback sensors are recorded corresponding to the respective pressures, - that the drive volumes and the behavior of the drive volumes as a function of the position signal are determined from the reported angular positions and the associated pressures and compared with transmission characteristics of known drive types and - that if the transmission characteristic defined by the behavior of the drive volumes as a function of the position signal of the given actuator matches one of the transmission characteristics of the known drive types, the drive type found is assigned to the given actuator.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for detecting the drive type of an actuator, in particular a pneumatic actuator, with a position controller for operating an actuator in a process plant.

[0002] The term "digital positioner" used in this disclosure refers to a mechatronic system that controls the auxiliary power of a pneumatic actuator according to one or more input signals to move the actuator to a specific position. To function, the digital pneumatic positioner requires pressurized gas as auxiliary power and electrical energy.

[0003] The generic digital pneumatic positioner comprises at least the core components described in more detail below. A pneumatic system is used to selectively pressurize or vent the chambers of a single- or double-acting pneumatic actuator depending on one or more input signals. Position feedback sensors represent the movements and positions of the actuator as one or more signals. Furthermore, control electronics are provided, which includes a microcontroller and receives one or more input signals. The firmware in the control electronics processes the input signals and the signals from the position feedback sensors into output signals, which serve as input signals for the pneumatic system.

[0004] The firmware of the digital positioner implements a function that analyzes the dynamic characteristics of the connected actuator. During commissioning, the actuator's travel range is traversed once during an initialization process, and the initial and final values ​​of the travel range are recorded.

[0005] Actuators are divided into part-turn and linear actuators. With linear actuators, the linear movement of the actuator's output is transmitted directly to a linearly actuated control element. In contrast, with part-turn actuators, the linear movement of the actuator's output is converted into a rotary movement using suitable means.

[0006] The actuator and the digital positioner are connected using an attachment kit. The attachment kit includes components that transmit the actuator's movement and position to the position feedback sensors of the positioner.

[0007] The known measuring systems for position feedback sensors measure either linearly or rotary, as described in DE 42 39 635 A1. If the effective direction of the actuator differs from the effective direction of the measuring system, the measurement must be linearized to ensure sufficiently accurate positioning behavior. However, this requires knowledge of the actuator type in question, whether it is a rotary or linear actuator. For the known positioner, this requires the operator to perform a manual adjustment during commissioning, which is prone to errors.

[0008] The invention is therefore based on the object of independently identifying the actuator type for use with the same digital positioner without manual intervention.

[0009] According to the invention, this object is achieved by the means of the patent claim.

[0010] The invention is based on the known actuator, which is connected to the positioner by means of an attachment kit. The positioner has control electronics that, with the aid of a microcontroller, receives one or more input signals and outputs control signals for venting or venting the chambers of a single- or double-acting pneumatic actuator. The pressure in at least one pressure medium supply to the chambers of the actuator is monitored. The position feedback sensor system is equipped with a rotary measuring system.

[0011] According to the invention, during commissioning, the actuator is moved over a predefined distance within its operating range. The pressure in at least one pressure medium supply to the actuator chambers is monitored and recorded. Furthermore, the angular positions reported by the position feedback sensors are recorded in accordance with the respective pressures.

[0012] From the reported angular positions and the associated pressures, the actuator volumes and their behavior as a function of the position signal are determined. The value pairs consisting of the actuator volume and the associated angular position of a given actuator are compared with the transfer characteristics of the known actuator types. If the transfer characteristic defined by the value pairs of the given actuator matches one of the transfer characteristics of the known actuator types, the determined actuator type is assigned to the given actuator.

[0013] The invention is explained in more detail below using an exemplary embodiment. In the single figure, a fragmentarily indicated pipeline 1 of a process plant (not shown in detail) contains a process valve 2 as an actuating element. The process valve 2 has a closing body 4 inside it, which interacts with a valve seat 3 to control the amount of process medium 5 passing through. The closing body 4 is actuated linearly by a pneumatic actuator 6 via a lifting rod 7. The actuator 6 is connected to the process valve 2 via a yoke 8. A digital position controller 9 is attached to the yoke 8. The stroke of the lifting rod 7 is reported to the position controller 9 via a position sensor 10. The detected stroke is compared with the setpoint supplied via a communication interface 11 in control electronics 18, and the actuator 6 is controlled depending on the determined control deviation.The control electronics 18 of the positioner 9 operates an I / P converter to convert an electrical control deviation into an appropriate control pressure. The I / P converter of the positioner 9 is connected to the actuator 6 via a pressure medium supply 19.

[0014] The position sensor 10 is connected to the rotary axis of a potentiometer in the position controller 9 and has an eye into which a driver on the lifting rod 7 engages.

[0015] During commissioning, the actuator 6 is moved within its operating range over a predefined distance. The pressure in at least one pressure medium supply 19 to the chambers of the actuator 6 is monitored and recorded. Furthermore, the angular positions reported by the position sensor 10 are recorded corresponding to the respective pressures.

[0016] From the reported angular positions and the associated pressures, the drive volumes and the behavior of the drive volumes as a function of the position signal are determined.

[0017] For the drive type shown in the figure, the drive volume V is the product of the effective piston area A of the actuator 6 and the stroke h of the stroke rod 7. V=A*h

[0018] For the drive type shown in the figure, the angular positions f that can be picked up from the potentiometer depend on the distance L of the rotational axis of the potentiometer from the lifting rod 7 and the stroke h of the lifting rod 7. h=L*tan f

[0019] This means that the drive volume V and the angular positions f are linked to each other via a construction constant K = A * L via the tangent function. V=K*tan f

[0020] The value pairs consisting of drive volume V and corresponding angular position f of a given actuator 6 therefore follow a tangent function.

[0021] Other drive types with a different structural design each have a different transfer function of the drive volume V over the angular position f, for example a linear transfer function, a sine function or a root function as well as combinations thereof.

[0022] The value pairs consisting of the drive volume V and the corresponding angular position f are compared with the transfer characteristics of the known drive types. If the transfer characteristic defined by the value pairs of the given actuator 6 matches one of the transfer characteristics of the known drive types, the found drive type is assigned to the given actuator 6. A given actuator 6, whose value pairs follow a tangent function, is assigned the drive type shown in the figure. List of reference symbols 1 pipeline 2 process valve 3 Valve seat 4 locking bodies 5 Process medium 6 Actuator 7 Valve rod 8 yoke 9 Positioner 10 position sensors 11 Communication interface 18 Control electronics 19 Pressure medium supply

Claims

[] Method for detecting the actuator type of an actuator with a positioner for operating an actuator, wherein the positioner has control electronics which, with the aid of a microcontroller, receives one or more input signals and outputs control signals for ventilating or de-aerating the chambers of a single-acting or double-acting pneumatic actuator, wherein the pressure in at least one pressure medium supply to the chambers of the actuator is monitored and wherein the position of the actuator is reported to the positioner by means of a rotary measuring system, characterized by , - that the actuator is moved over a predefined distance within its working range during commissioning, - that the pressure in at least one pressure medium supply to the actuator chambers is monitored and recorded, - that the angular positions reported by the position feedback sensors are recorded corresponding to the respective pressures, - that the drive volumes and the behavior of the drive volumes are determined from the reported angular positions and the associated pressures as a function of the position signal and compared with transmission characteristics of known drive types and - that if the transfer characteristic defined by the behavior of the drive volumes as a function of the position signal of the given actuator matches one of the transfer characteristics of the known actuator types, the found actuator type is assigned to the given actuator.

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