Method for determining and providing a recycling value for a field device

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for determining and providing a recycling value for a field device used in an industrial environment, wherein the field device is composed of several components made of different materials, wherein the field device is assigned information about the mass of the materials used in the field device or in the components of the field device, wherein current daily raw material prices of the materials used in the field device or in the components of the field device are determined, and whereby a recycling value is provided to a user based on the mass specifications and the current daily raw material prices of the materials, which corresponds to the current monetary value of the field device or the current monetary value of a component of the field device in the case of recycling.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for determining and providing a recycling value for a field device.

[0002] Various field devices are known from the prior art and are used in industrial automation systems – both in process automation and in manufacturing automation. For the purposes of this invention, field devices are defined as all devices used close to the process that provide and / or process process-relevant information. Depending on their application, field devices detect and / or influence physical, chemical, or biological process parameters of at least one medium.

[0003] Measuring devices, consisting of at least one sensor unit – also known as a transducer – and a transmitter unit, are used to record process variables of a medium. The sensor unit provides measured values ​​that are typically digitally processed in one or more measurement channels of the transmitter unit. This process is usually referred to as preprocessing the measured values. Raw measured values ​​are available at the output of the measurement channels and are further processed by a processing unit to determine the actual process variable. For example, if the measuring devices are used for pressure and temperature measurement, conductivity measurement, flow measurement, pH value, or level measurement, they provide information about the determined process variables: pressure, temperature, conductivity, flow rate, pH value, or level of a medium contained in a container.A large number of such measuring instruments are developed, manufactured and distributed by the Endress+Hauser Group.

[0004] Actuators such as pumps or valves are used to influence process variables, for example to determine or monitor the flow rate of a fluid medium in a pipeline or the fill level of a medium in a container.

[0005] In the context of this invention, the term "field device" also refers to a gateway or edge device used in an automation system. While a gateway enables communication between the field devices of an automation network and a computing unit not integrated into the automation system, an edge device in IIoT environments acts as a node between a fieldbus network of the automation technology and an external server unit or—more generally speaking—the cloud. Depending on the requirements, an edge device provides various interfaces to wired and wireless transmission technologies and communication standards, such as Ethernet, WLAN, or mobile networks like LTE (4G), 5G, etc.

[0006] Each field device is uniquely identified by a manufacturer's serial number. This unique serial number allows specific information to be assigned to a field device, information that pertains only to that particular field device.

[0007] Field equipment typically consists of a variety of different materials and / or raw materials. Raw materials are not available in unlimited quantities. Supply bottlenecks occur repeatedly due to raw material shortages. A bottleneck regularly arises when current demand exceeds the availability of the raw material. Raw materials that become scarce inevitably become more expensive.

[0008] Field instruments consist of various materials and / or raw materials, some of which—quite apart from the previously described raw material shortages—have considerable intrinsic material value. For example, platinum and gold coatings are used in the manufacture of pH electrodes and printed circuit boards. The measuring tubes of some Coriolis flowmeters are made of titanium. Large quantities of stainless steel are used in standard flowmeters with large nominal diameters. Flowmeters based on the MID principle incorporate magnets and / or electrodes containing tantalum or gold.

[0009] Field devices have a limited lifespan. Especially for safety reasons in industrial environments, it is advisable to replace a field device before it ceases to function properly or at all. If only one component of the field device is defective, such as the transmitter unit, the sensor unit, or another module, it is possible to replace only the defective component. Furthermore, replacement can also be considered if a successor device offers improved measurement and / or monitoring capabilities.

[0010] The simplest way for field equipment users to dispose of an old device is to recycle it as electronic waste. What happens to the field equipment after that is beyond the control of the former user. Given the limited resources available, as described above, it is important to raise and promote environmental awareness among field equipment users.

[0011] The invention proposes a solution for how field device manufacturers or suppliers can also contribute to environmental protection in this context.

[0012] The invention is based on the objective of proposing a method by which the awareness of a field device user for recycling a discarded field device is increased.

[0013] The problem is solved by the features of claim 1.

[0014] The method according to the invention relates to determining and providing a recycling value for a field device used in an industrial environment, wherein the field device is composed of several components, which are typically made of different materials. The method comprises the following process steps: - The field device is assigned information about the mass of the materials used in the field device or its components – preferably this step is carried out by the field device manufacturer. This information can either be stored directly in the field device or downloaded from a server, e.g., that of the field device manufacturer / supplier. - Current, preferably daily updated, raw material prices of the materials used in the field device or in a component of the field device are determined, - A field device user is provided with a recycling value based on the mass specifications and the current / daily raw material prices of the materials used, which corresponds to the current monetary value of the field device or the current monetary value of the component of the field device in the case of recycling.

[0015] Additionally or alternatively, a trend value can also be specified for the recycling value, which provides the field device user with information on whether it makes sense to recycle the field device immediately or to wait a little longer.

[0016] The advantage of the solution according to the invention lies in providing the field device user with reliable information about the residual value of a discarded field device, thereby raising awareness of appropriate recycling of the field device instead of the previously common practice of disposing of it as electronic waste. In addition to contributing to environmental protection, the invention also offers the field device user the potential for profit.

[0017] A further development of the inventive method aims in the same direction: The carbon footprint of the field device or of at least one of its components is determined. The carbon footprint indicates how much carbon dioxide is released when the masses of materials used in the field device or its component have to be broken down anew. With this embodiment, a field device user can potentially improve their carbon footprint.

[0018] Furthermore, it is planned that the field device user will be provided with at least one exploded view of the field device, graphically depicting the individual components of the field device or the individual components of a field device component. The individual components of the field device or a field device component will be labeled with current recycling values. Additionally or alternatively, the individual components of the field device or a field device component will be labeled with a carbon footprint. The display will be shown on a mobile or stationary device. The stationary device could be, for example, a higher-level control unit or a display integrated into the field device. A virtual three-dimensional representation can be provided via an AR lens.

[0019] Alternatively, the serial number and associated information about the material composition and mass of the materials used in the field device can be read from the device via an interface. This interface could be, for example, a QR code or an RFID chip. Using a mobile device, such as a smartphone, the material value of the individual components of the field device is determined based on current raw material prices; subsequently, a recycling value is provided for the field device or for individual components. The SmartBlue app offers an advantageous alternative in this context. The SmartBlue app is a tool based on Bluetooth wireless technology. It allows the necessary information to be read from a field device in real time from a distance of up to approximately 20 meters.This allows access to the data of a field device even if the device is installed in a difficult-to-reach location. Furthermore, the Smart-Blue app has the advantage of being suitable for use in potentially explosive atmospheres.

[0020] Similarly, the carbon footprint of the field device or individual components of the field device can be determined. If the field device itself is internet-enabled, a recycling value and / or a carbon footprint for the field device or for individual components of the field device can be read directly via the interface.

[0021] The invention is described in the following Fig. 1 explained in more detail.

[0022] After the process is started (process step 1), process step 2 provides a list of the masses of different materials used in a field device and / or in at least one component of a field device. This list is preferably provided by the device manufacturer, as this information is readily available to them.

[0023] In process step 3, the list of installed material quantities is added to the serial number of the field device or to the corresponding field device component. Preferably, the information is stored in the field device and can be displayed there, for example, on a display unit connected to the field device. Alternatively, the information is read from the field device and displayed on an external display unit of any kind.

[0024] In process step 4, current raw material prices are assigned to the materials used in the field device or its components. Based on the available information, a current recycling value is determined for the field device or its individual components (process step 5). This recycling value corresponds to the current material value / market value of the field device or its component. In process step 6, the determined recycling value(s) are output and made available to the user / owner of the field device.

[0025] In this context, it is considered advantageous if the field device is displayed in an exploded view and the individual components of the field device are labeled with their current recycling value and / or that of the entire field device. Additionally or alternatively, a carbon footprint value can be assigned to the components of the field device or to the field device itself (process step 6). This gives the user / customer a sense of the residual value of the field device.

[0026] An alternative way to read the data is offered by the SmartBlue app provided by E+H, which offers convenient and secure access to field devices. The SmartBlue app is a tool based on Bluetooth® wireless technology. It allows users to read the required information from a field device in real time from a distance of up to approximately 20 meters. This makes it possible to access the data from a field device even if the device is installed in a difficult-to-reach location. Furthermore, the SmartBlue app has the advantage of being suitable for use in potentially explosive atmospheres.

Claims

[1] Method for determining and providing a recycling value for a field device used in an industrial environment, wherein the field device is composed of several components made of different materials, where the field device is assigned information about the mass of the materials used in the field device or in at least one component of the field device, where current daily raw material prices of the materials used in the field device or in the component of the field device are determined, and wherein a recycling value is provided to a field device user based on the mass values ​​and the current daily raw material prices of the materials, which corresponds to the current monetary value of the field device or the current monetary value of the component of the field device in the case of recycling. [2] Method according to claim 1, wherein the carbon footprint of the field device or of at least one component of the field device is determined, wherein the carbon footprint indicates how much carbon dioxide is released when the masses of materials used in the field device or in the component of the field device are newly degraded. [3] Method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein at least one exploded view of the device is provided, graphically representing the individual components of the field device. [4] Method according to claim 3, wherein the field device and / or at least essential components of the field device are provided with a current recycling value and / or a carbon footprint. [5] Method according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the recycling value of the field device or the recycling values ​​of individual components of the field device is / are read out from the field device via an interface. [6] Method according to one or more of claims 1-4, wherein the information regarding the mass of the individual materials installed in the field device is read out as basic information from the field device and is linked with the current daily raw material prices to form the corresponding recycling value of the field device or the corresponding recycling values ​​of the components of the field device. [7] Method according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the basic information and / or the current recycling value and / or the carbon footprint in conjunction with the unique serial number of the field device or the component of the field device is read by means of a QR code or an RFID chip. [8] Method according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the basic information and / or the determined recycling value and / or the determined carbon footprint is / are visualized via augmented reality on an internet-enabled mobile device, in particular a smartphone or by means of an AR lens. [9] Method according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein, in the event that the field device has a display unit, the base value and / or the recycling value and / or the carbon footprint is / are displayed on the display unit of the field device. [10] Method according to one or more of claims 1-8, wherein, in the event that the field device is connected to a higher-level control unit, the base value and / or the recycling value and / or the carbon footprint is made visible on a display unit of the higher-level control unit.

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