MEASUREMENT VALUE STANDARDIZATION

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for controlling and / or monitoring a compressor system comprising several components, namely one or more compressors and one or more peripheral devices, as well as a control / monitoring unit, wherein the compressors and peripheral devices are arranged or connected in a specific configuration, according to the features of claim 1, and to a compressor system according to claim 15.

[0002] Compressor systems consist of a multitude of compressors and peripheral devices of various types, which are interconnected via an air piping network and, when heat recovery systems are used, a water piping network. Generally, compressor systems are designed individually for the specific on-site conditions. A universally applicable structure for compressor systems does not exist. Therefore, the behavior of a specific compressor system can only be analyzed and evaluated to a limited extent without knowledge of the compressor system's structure.

[0003] In the field of compressed air technology, it is possible to equip compressor systems with a control / monitoring unit. The control / monitoring unit's functions can, for example, be – cumulatively or alternatively – to: to control the compressors and peripheral devices of the compressor system in such a way that the required compressed air is generated and / or processed using as little electrical energy as possible, to monitor the compressors and peripheral devices of the compressor system and to react to errors if necessary, for example by no longer using faulty or failed compressors and / or peripheral devices for compressed air generation and / or compressed air processing, but by using other compressors and / or peripheral devices instead and / or by identifying errors or failures of compressors and / or peripheral devices as a fault or

[0004] Warning can be reported to people or other technical systems, for example via SMS, email, network message, message window on a display, etc.

[0005] The control / monitoring unit can also be responsible for collecting measured values generated in the compressor system and storing them as time series or with a time stamp for later evaluation in the control / monitoring unit or in other technical systems. It can be particularly interesting if a large number of different measured values are collected from within or outside the compressor system in order to create analyses and subsequently draw conclusions, particularly by establishing correlations, etc.

[0006] The document DE 198 26 169 A1 relates to an electronic control system for compressed air or vacuum generation units, with programmable electronic circuits for the control, regulation and monitoring of the technical function of such units, in particular the functions of the compressed air generator or vacuum pump and the associated drives as well as the compressed air treatment.In order to create a control system which, despite the variety of types of different units and the different operating conditions, allows simple construction (design), manufacture, assembly, commissioning, maintenance, troubleshooting and repair, the document DE 198 26 169 A1 proposes that the electronic control system is designed as a standardised control system for use in a large number of different units for generating air pressure and / or vacuum and has an industrial PC or industrial microcomputer with one or more microprocessors monitored and controlled by an operating system and with a central data memory which contains at least control and regulation software and a large number of unit-specific data profiles, each of which is intended for a specific unit type and can be called up separately.

[0007] The document DE 10 2008 064491 A1 relates to a control or regulation of a compressed air station, which comprises at least a plurality of interconnected compressors, in particular of different technical specifications, and optionally further devices of compressed air technology, which can, in particular in control cycles, initiate both switching strategies via an electronic system control to influence a quantity of a compressed fluid in the compressed air station that is available at any time for one or more users of the compressed air station, and can also adapt the quantity of compressed fluid that is available at any time for one or more users of the compressed air station to future operating conditions of the compressed air station to the amount of compressed fluid withdrawn from the compressed air station,Wherein, before initiating a switching strategy, various switching strategies are checked in a pre-simulation procedure based on a model of the compressed air station, and from the checked switching strategies, the relatively most advantageous switching strategy is selected based on at least one specified quality criterion, and the selected switching strategy is forwarded to the system control for initiation in the compressed air station.

[0008] Document DE 10 2011 079732 A1 describes a method for controlling / regulating a fluid conveyor for conveying a fluid within a fluid line, the method comprising: obtaining information about a target flow rate of the fluid within the fluid line; determining an energy consumption of the fluid conveyor during operation within a working range of the fluid conveyor; controlling the fluid conveyor with respect to a generated flow of the fluid based on the information about the target flow rate of the fluid within the fluid line such that the target flow rate of the fluid is achieved and the energy consumption required for this is minimized, taking into account that the working range of the fluid conveyor is limited by a non-linear boundary. Furthermore, a corresponding device is described.

[0009] However, one problem is that, although a large number of measured values can be generated or have already been recorded, these measured values are often not sufficiently standardized to allow valid conclusions to be drawn. In particular, these measured values are not amenable to automatic evaluation / processing.

[0010] With regard to the standardization of measured values in a compressor system, the following challenges often arise, which are by no means exhaustive: Every compressor system has an individual configuration, i.e. an individual configuration of the compressors and peripheral devices. In addition, the sensors installed in the compressor system are also individual (both in terms of quantity and wiring) and are therefore not standardized in any way. Compressors and peripheral devices in a compressor system usually come from different manufacturers and therefore have manufacturer-specific (or control hardware-specific) formats for the recorded measured values. Even compressors or peripheral devices of the same type sometimes provide different measured values, for example because the compressors or peripheral devices of the same type are connected to the control / monitoring unit using different technologies (e.g. discrete wiring vs.Use of a bus system) and therefore differ in the amount of measured values provided, or the compressors or peripheral devices of the same type are equipped with different sensors and therefore differ in the composition of the measured values provided, or a mixture of both of the above-mentioned circumstances exists.

[0011] The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a method for controlling and / or monitoring a compressor system according to which measured values can be standardized.

[0012] This object is achieved from a process engineering perspective with a method for controlling and / or monitoring a compressor system according to the features of claim 1, and from a device engineering perspective with a compressor system according to the features of claim 15. Advantageous further developments are specified in the subclaims.

[0013] A core concept of the present invention is based on the following guiding principle: In order to be able to further process the recorded measured values that are relevant to the compressor system in various situations, it is essential that the meaning of the measured values is defined and known at the latest at the time of evaluation. It can also be advantageous for the measured values with a defined and known meaning to be prepared in advance, during, or as a result of the process in such a way that they can be further processed in the control / monitoring unit or in other technical systems.

[0014] This processing can be considered as measured value standardization. This also offers the advantage that measured values from different compressor systems can be processed without requiring compressor-specific adjustments to the routines intended for measured value processing.

[0015] According to a very specific aspect of the present invention, the measured value standardization is carried out by assigning context information to the measured value itself, so that the context of the measured value is defined at the latest at the time of evaluation of the measured value.

[0016] The context of the measured value can directly or indirectly define the location of the measured value acquisition and / or the medium (e.g. oil, compressed air, ambient air, cooling water, etc.) to which the measured value refers.

[0017] In exceptional cases, indirect context information can also be provided via a name definition, namely when the name is sufficiently unambiguous. The following example may illustrate this: If, for example, the manufacturer KAESER has specified that p N always refers to the machine outlet pressure, this convention indirectly specifies the location of the measured value acquisition, and thus the context for the measured value pressure. However, it should be noted that a name definition only provides a very soft definition of the meaning of a measured value, as it is very likely that the name definition will be applied or interpreted differently by different people, so that a clear context for the measured value cannot necessarily be guaranteed via a name definition.Furthermore, a measured value can have multiple, not necessarily contradictory, meanings, which can vary depending on the compressor system or component. Preferred context information directly determines the location of the measured value acquisition, for example, by using a model of the component or compressor system.

[0018] A control, monitoring, diagnostic or evaluation routine should generally be understood to mean different control tasks, monitoring tasks, diagnostic tasks or evaluation tasks.

[0019] Whenever it is stated that the compressors and peripheral devices are arranged or connected in a predetermined configuration, this should be understood to include multiple alternating states, for example, an alternative configuration achievable by switching a valve or switch. A predetermined configuration is therefore the set of all conceivable configurations that the compressor system can assume in different operating states.

[0020] A configuration can, for example, be defined in the form of a P&I diagram and thus capture the functional relationships of the compressors and peripheral devices or the elements of a component from different viewing angles or in different domains. For the implementation of the invention, capturing the functional relationships in one domain, from one perspective, is naturally sufficient. A possible domain orPossible perspectives to consider include, for example but not exclusively, the compressed air-related interactions that can be represented in a P&I diagram in the narrower sense, in particular a compressed air P&I diagram, the heat recovery-related interactions that can be represented in a P&I diagram in the narrower sense, in particular a heat recovery P&I diagram, the cooling water circuit-related interactions that can be represented in a P&I diagram in the narrower sense, in particular a cooling water circuit P&I diagram, and the power supply-related interactions that can be represented in an electrical circuit diagram.

[0021] Furthermore, a P&ID diagram within the meaning of the present invention can be abstracted and limited to the basic causal relationships viewed from one perspective / from one domain and therefore does not have to include all the details of a possibly otherwise conventional P&ID diagram. Instead of the term P&ID diagram, a graphical representation of the causal relationships from a specific perspective / in a specific domain can also be understood, such as a graphical representation of the compressed air-related causal relationships or a graphical representation of the heat recovery-related causal relationships. In this respect, it is a flow diagram that represents the flow of energy and / or operating resources and / or compressed air between the individual compressors and the individual peripheral devices or between the individual elements of a component.

[0022] The P&I diagram or partial information of a P&I diagram, namely which components or elements are involved, which links or interconnections are there between at least some of the components or at least some of the elements and where are predefined measuring points located, can be made available by the manufacturer of the components or elements and / or the plant manufacturer and / or the plant operator, for example via a file.

[0023] In one possible embodiment, the measured value acquisition step can comprise the direct measurement of a measured value and / or the recourse to existing, particularly stored, measured values. The existing, stored measured values can be measured values from the compressor system in question or external measured values. External measured values can be comparison data from other compressor systems or environmental data, such as humidity, outside air temperature, or ambient air temperature.

[0024] In a likewise preferred embodiment, the measured value acquisition step comprises, in addition to the direct metrological acquisition of the measured values, also the storage of these measured values in an associated database, which can be implemented in one or more components, in the compressor system or externally.

[0025] According to the invention, the standardization of the measured value by assigning context information specifically includes the unambiguous assignment of the location of a measured value acquisition.

[0026] In a further preferred embodiment, the standardization of the measured value by assigning context information specifically comprises the unambiguous assignment of the location of a measured value acquisition and / or the medium to which the measured value refers (e.g. oil, compressed air, ambient air, cooling water, etc.) to a measured value within an assignment step according to the invention. In the context of the present application, the location of the measured value acquisition is always to be understood as the actual location at which a measured value is acquired, whereas the term measuring point is always intended to mean the location of this actual location within an initial model. If reference is made to the assignment of the location of a measured value acquisition, this can be understood to mean that the measured value can be assigned to a specific location, but also to two or more locations.Likewise, the assignment of the medium to which the measured value refers means that both a single medium and two or more media can be assigned to a measured value as context information.

[0027] In a particularly specific further development, the location of the measured value acquisition is defined by one or more initial models of the specific compressor system or comparable compressor systems and / or one or more initial models of the specific components or comparable components.

[0028] These initial models can, for example, be defined by the aforementioned P&I diagrams of the compressor system or the aforementioned P&I diagrams of the corresponding components.

[0029] In a further preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, it is provided that at the latest immediately before or for the utilization step the measured value itself, the assignment of the measured value to a context information or a measuring point and the initial model on the basis of which the context information or the measuring point is defined, are known and are therefore taken into account in the subsequent control, monitoring, diagnostic or evaluation routine.

[0030] In this respect, for a valid interpretation of standardized measured values, it is necessary not only to know the measured value itself and the assignment of the measured value to a piece of context information or a measuring point, but also to know the referenced initial model in which the measuring point or on the basis of which the context information is defined. In concrete embodiments, for example, all three components (measured value, assignment and model) could be stored in a control / monitoring unit, with the evaluation or the subsequent utilization step also taking place in this control / monitoring unit. Alternatively, the three components (measured value, assignment, model) can be read out from the control / monitoring unit in order to use the standardized measured values in external systems, which do not have to be under the control of the control / monitoring unit, with monitoring routines (diagnosis, prediction of a maintenance date orPredictive Maintenance, etc.).

[0031] Preferably, several alternatives for determining the location of the measured value acquisition are conceivable. In a first conceivable variant, the measured value is assigned a preconfigured measuring point on a component or on an element of a component, whereby a link between the component and other components or a link between the elements and other elements is not taken into account. In a second variant, in contrast to the definition according to the first variant, it is additionally permitted for the measuring point on a component or on an element of a component to be freely configurable, whereby a link between the component and other components or a link between the component and other components is also not taken into account here. In a third variant, the interconnection of the components is known via an initial model of the compressor system or the interconnection of the elements is known via an initial model of the component.In this third variant, the measured value is assigned a preconfigured measuring point in this source model. Finally, in a fourth variant, the measured value can be assigned a freely configurable measuring point in the source model, which takes into account the interconnected components or elements. The assignment of context information to a measured value can preferably be done using an assignment table.

[0032] The assignment via an assignment table can generally be understood in such a way that the list or set of assignments does not have to be in exact tabular form, such as in an Excel table, but can also be represented in formats such as XML or JSON.

[0033] By specifying the measuring point to which a measured value refers in the form of the associated context information and by knowing the model underlying the context information, the standardized measured value can be correctly evaluated or analyzed in subsequent evaluation routines or analysis steps and used as a basis for further routines.

[0034] Components of the initial model of a compressor system are a) at least one component, b) if applicable, links or interconnections between at least some of the components (there may also be components without links) and c) if applicable, measuring points.

[0035] With regard to defining the model, it should be noted that both a), b), or c) can be predetermined / specified, but can also be defined in whole or in part before, during, or after commissioning of the compressor system. Reference is made purely to EP 13159618 as an example. There, it is proposed, among other things, that a model of the compressor system be defined by the user / system designer entering the given P&ID into the control / monitoring unit via an editor during commissioning.

[0036] Regarding the initial model of a component, the following should be noted: The components of the initial model of a component include a) at least one element, b) if applicable, links or interconnections between at least some of the elements (there may also be elements without links) and c) if applicable, measuring points.

[0037] The initial model of a component can be predetermined / specified with regard to a), b) or c), but it can also be defined in whole or in part during or after commissioning of the compressor system. A concrete example could be as follows: General component models (i.e., component models that are suitable for many applications) are stored in the control / monitoring unit. The operator of the compressor system can modify the component models by adding or removing Elements, links / interconnections, measuring points adapt so that they are relevant / applicable for the specific components in the compressor system.

[0038] Regardless of whether the assignment of context information is done via an assignment table or otherwise, it should be noted that various variants are conceivable for the concrete determination of the assignment of context information to a measured value, especially based on an initial model. The following conceivable variants are by no means exhaustive, but are examples: The operator of a compressor system manually assigns the context information for measured values. This could happen, for example, during commissioning. The context information is provided by the system manufacturer (or component manufacturer), for example, via a file. A component, such as a compressor or a peripheral device, transmits the context assignment (and, if necessary, the output model in which the context information is defined) to the control / monitoring unit, in addition to the measured values.

[0039] The measured values recorded in the measured value recording step can include physical or logical quantities, for example values recorded by sensors within the compressor system or within the components and / or values recorded by sensors outside the compressor system (e.g. public climate database, weather station, ambient air thermometer, measured values provided by other compressor systems, etc.) and / or actuator positions and / or standby states of machines and / or operating states and / or controlled variables.

[0040] Although this is by no means mandatory and may even be disadvantageous from a data-technical perspective, it is certainly possible to store the measured value itself and the associated context information together as a data pair. However, it might be much more elegant to combine the measured values and associated context information only during the evaluation, analysis, etc. step, i.e., when there is a specific requirement for the measured values to be used.

[0041] In one possible embodiment, it is conceivable that the higher-level state of the compressor system and / or individual components at the time of data acquisition can also be assigned to the respective measured value(s) as additional context information. This ensures that measured values of a compressor during start-up behavior are not indiscriminately compared with measured values of a compressor in stable operating mode without these different boundary conditions also being taken into account in such a comparison. The higher-level state of the compressor system can, for example, also be taken into account by assigning one or more other measured values of the compressor system at this time to the measured value(s) as additional context information, from which the state of the compressor system or a partial state of the compressor system can be derived. If this additional measured value or valuesIf, for example, these additional measured values are provided with a time stamp, the assignment of this additional measured value(s) to the measured value under consideration can also be carried out at a later point in time, since measured values with the same or comparable time stamp can then be taken into account and assigned to the measured value under consideration.

[0042] While it was described above that multiple pieces of context information can be assigned to a measured value within a (single) model, it is also conceivable in another possible embodiment that a measured value can be assigned a context in multiple output models simultaneously. For example, one could imagine that for a stationary, oil-injected screw compressor, one output model (component output model) for the pure air circuit and one output model (component output model) for the pure oil circuit exist simultaneously. To standardize the measured value of the discharge end temperature (VET), the same measured value would then be assigned to the context "temperature on the discharge side of the compressor block" in both output models.

[0043] In a specifically preferred embodiment, the measured value also includes a timestamp. Linking it to a timestamp or continuously recording it over time allows for conclusions to be drawn about the development of individual measured values, the relevant components, or even the entire compressor system.

[0044] In a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, it can further be provided that in an initial processing step of the measured value, it is checked whether the measured value is recorded including the type of quantity and (physical) unit and, if not, the type of quantity and unit are assigned to the measured value in this first processing step, in particular on a stored initial model, manually or automatically by means of an assignment table.

[0045] Furthermore, it is considered a preferred embodiment of the method if, in particular, a history of output models and / or a history of context assignments is also stored by the control / monitoring unit in order to record which output models or context assignments were valid at a given point in time. In this way, for each measured value recorded with a specific timestamp, it is possible to determine what meaning or context information must be assigned to a measured value based on a combination of the output model valid for this timestamp with the context assignments valid for this timestamp.

[0046] The invention further relates to a compressor system comprising several components, namely one or more compressors and one or more peripheral devices, as well as a control / monitoring unit, wherein the compressors and peripheral devices are arranged or connected in a predetermined configuration, wherein the control / monitoring unit has a measured value acquisition unit or interacts with a measured value acquisition unit which is designed to acquire measured values within the compressor system or the components, wherein the control / monitoring unit further comprises an assignment unit or interacts with an assignment unit which is designed to assign context information to the acquired measured values in order to standardise the measured values and wherein the control / monitoring unit comprises an interface in order to forward the measured values standardised by the context information or to use them themselves in subsequent control, monitoring, diagnostic or evaluation routines.

[0047] The invention will be explained in more detail below with regard to further features and advantages based on the description of exemplary embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings. Herein: Figure 1 shows an exemplary configuration of a compressor system that interacts with the control / monitoring unit according to the invention. Figure 2 shows an initial model that represents the compressor system in its specific configuration in the form of a P&I diagram. Figure 3 shows a representation illustrating an indirectly defined location for measured value acquisition via a name definition. Figure 4 shows an initial model for determining the context information for a stationary, oil-injected screw compressor according to a first variant. Figure 5 shows an illustration of the assignment of measured values to configured measuring points of a component, as shown in Figure 4Figure 6 shows an initial model for defining the context information for a stationary, oil-injected screw compressor according to a second variant. Figure 7 shows a simplified P&I diagram as an initial model of a stationary, oil-injected screw compressor without an attached dryer. Figure 8 shows a simplified P&I diagram as an initial model of a stationary, oil-injected screw compressor with an attached dryer.

[0048] In Figure 1An exemplary configuration of a compressor system that interacts with a control / monitoring unit is illustrated. The exemplary compressor system comprises three compressors 11, 12, 13 arranged in parallel. Each compressor 11, 12, 13 is uniquely assigned a filter 14, 15, 16, which is arranged downstream of the associated compressor 11, 12, 13. Two dryers 19, 20 are connected downstream of the filters 14, 15, 16. The compressed air downstream of the first filter should always flow through the first dryer 19. The compressed air downstream of the second filter can be directed via two valves 17, 18 either through the first dryer 19 or through the second dryer 20. The two valves 17, 18 are designed or controlled in such a way that they are never opened at the same time, i.e. when the first valve 17 is opened, the second valve 18 remains closed.when the second valve 18 is opened, the first valve 17 remains closed.

[0049] A compressed air reservoir 21 is arranged downstream of the two dryers 19, 20. A pressure sensor 28 is arranged downstream of the compressed air reservoir 21 to detect the operating pressure there.

[0050] To control and / or monitor the compressor system, a control / monitoring unit 22 is provided, which is operatively connected to the compressors 11, 12, 13, as well as the filters 14, 15, 16, the valves 17, 18, the dryers 19, 20, the compressed air reservoir 21, and the pressure sensor 28. The filters 14, 15, 16, the valves 17, 18, the dryers 19, 20, the compressed air reservoir 21, and the pressure sensor 28 constitute peripheral devices of the compressor system. Together with the compressors 11, 12, 13, these peripheral devices constitute the components of the compressor system.

[0051] The control / monitoring unit 22 is also operatively connected to a memory section 24 and an editor 23. However, the memory section 24 and / or the editor 23 can also be an integral part of the control / monitoring unit 22. The control / monitoring unit 22 can perform control functions, monitoring functions, or both control and monitoring functions.

[0052] In this case, monitoring is understood to mean any form of evaluation, i.e. in addition to monitoring for malfunctions, unusual operating conditions, alarm situations, etc., it also includes a diagnosis, particularly in the case of an existing error message, an analysis or evaluation, for example with a view to optimization or an evaluation to forecast the next maintenance appointment (predictive maintenance).

[0053] In the present exemplary embodiment, the control / monitoring unit 22 comprises a measured value acquisition unit 25 and an allocation unit 26, both of which are components of the control / monitoring unit 22. However, in other exemplary embodiments, it is also possible to provide the measured value acquisition unit 25 entirely or partially separate from the control / monitoring unit 22. Furthermore, it is also possible to provide the allocation unit 26 entirely or at least partially separate from the control / monitoring unit 22.

[0054] In the present embodiment, the control / monitoring unit 22 records measured values within the compressor system or within the components during operation of the compressor system or during operation of the components, during start-up and / or shutdown phases, or in idle states. Various data can be considered as measured values, namely physical quantities or quantities derived therefrom or also logical quantities, for example values recorded by sensors within the compressor system or within the components and / or values recorded by sensors outside the compressor system (e.g. public climate database, ambient air thermometer, measured values from other compressor systems, measured values transmitted by compressed air consumption units, etc.) and / or actuator positions and / or standby states of machines and / or operating states and / or controlled variables.

[0055] Using the measured value acquisition unit 25, the control / monitoring unit 22 acquires such measured values, whether through actual measurements within the compressor system or through transmission from the components to the control / monitoring unit, whether through targeted queries at individual components within the compressor system, or through targeted queries of measured values, for example, in databases external to the compressor system or in databases assigned to the compressor system. However, the measured value as such is unusable for subsequent control, monitoring, diagnostic, or evaluation routines unless its measured value meaning is established, i.e., unless context information can be assigned to the measured value. For this reason, the context information is assigned to a measured value in the assignment unit 26 in order to standardize this measured value.

[0056] Such an assignment in an assignment step can be performed beforehand, simultaneously with or after the measured value acquisition. By marking the measured value with context information, this data pair can be considered as a standardized measured value in subsequent control, monitoring, diagnostic, or evaluation routines. The context information defines an assignment of the location of a measured value acquisition and / or the medium to which the measured value refers.

[0057] In a specific preferred embodiment, one or more initial models of the specific compressor system or comparable compressor systems are taken into account when assigning the location of the measured value acquisition and / or the medium to which the measured value refers. Only if the context in which the measured value was determined is known can the obtained measured value be meaningfully handled.

[0058] The compressor system according to Figure 1can be shown, for example, in a P&I diagram according to Figure 2 The P&I diagram according to Figure 2 This creates a base model for the compressor system Figure 1 by defining the causal relationships within the compressor system. If measured value recording is carried out within such a model, as is the case with the P&I diagram according to Figure 2 defined, located, the context information of the measured value is clear and thus the meaning of the measured value is determined.

[0059] Although a starting model in the form of a P&I diagram, as in Figure 2 for the compressor system according to Figure 1If the model defined is particularly suitable for providing the most precise context information possible for a measured value, weaker context information encoding the location of the measured value acquisition is also conceivable and useful. A first possible coding could be achieved through a name definition, but only if this name definition is sufficiently unambiguous.

[0060] This will be explained below with reference to Figure 3 be explained. For example, if the manufacturer KAESER has specified that p N should always refer to the machine outlet pressure, this name definition indirectly specifies the location of the measured value acquisition, thus defining the context for the measured pressure.

[0061] In Figure 3However, two variants for compressors are illustrated, both of which initially have an inlet valve 29, a compressor block 30 with a screw compressor, and downstream of the compressor block 30 an oil separator 31, which carries the heated compressed air to an air cooler 32. In an oil circuit 33, oil is supplied to cool the compressor block 30 and to ensure a lubricating film on the screw in the compressor block, whereby the oil mixed with the compressed air generated under pressure is discharged again in the aforementioned oil separator 31 and returned to the compressor block 30, whereby a partial flow, adjustable via a thermal valve 34, can be guided via an oil cooler 35 to reduce the oil temperature. The two in Figure 3However, the compressors illustrated using a P&I diagram differ in that the compressor shown above is equipped without an internal add-on dryer 36 (variant A), while the compressor shown below is equipped with an internal add-on dryer 36 (variant B).

[0062] Although the naming convention now specifies that p N denotes the machine outlet pressure, it cannot be determined from this naming convention whether the compressed air was previously passed through an attached dryer 36 of the compressor (variant B) or not (variant A).

[0063] In this respect, it is useful to also encode the P&I diagram of the compressor - at least in broad terms - in more precise context information of the measured value recorded at the pressure sensor 28, so that this model-based context information makes it clear whether the pressure recorded at the pressure sensor 28 measures compressed air that has flowed through an attached dryer 36 (variant B) or is output by the compressor without an attached dryer 36 (variant A).

[0064] In Figure 4A simplified model for defining context information for a stationary, oil-injected screw compressor is illustrated, whereby the causal relationships between the individual elements compressor block 30, oil separator 31, air cooler 32, inlet 37, and outlet 38 are not defined here. With respect to the compressor block 30 element, pressure and temperature can be recorded on both the suction side and the pressure side (T suction , p suction , VET, p pressure ). For the oil separator 31, however, only the recording of a pressure (pi ) is provided, but not, for example, the recording of a temperature.

[0065] The standardization of the meaning of measured values is now done by assigning one or more measuring points to a measured value in the model for standardizing the meaning of measured values.

[0066] The basic principle is explained by Figure 5illustrated. The measured values recorded for a component have – at the latest after an initial measurement value processing – received a standardization with regard to the content, so that the physical quantity type (pressure, temperature, ...) and the unit (Pa, K, ...) are also known. The measured values Pressure 1, Pressure 2, Temperature 1 thus processed in a first step are now to be assigned context information. For this purpose, the initial model of a component, specifically the stationary, oil-injected screw compressor according to Figure 4 , which basically defines which measuring points are predefined for this component, namely a stationary, oil-injected screw compressor without an attached dryer. These are each in Figure 5 in the "Context Information" field. The measured value(s), specifically Pressure 1, Pressure 2, Temperature 1, is then assigned to a value defined in the initial model of the component according to Figure 4 predefined measuring point, whereby this assignment is specifically made by a connecting line between the respective measured value and the context information. By assigning the measured value to a designated measuring point in the initial model, the meaning of the measured value with respect to the context is defined.

[0067] It should be noted that a measured value can also be assigned to two measuring points (illustrated here using the example of "Pressure 2"). When a measured value is assigned multiple times to measuring points, a partial meaning is assigned to each measured value (here specifically: "Pressure downstream of the air cooler" and "Machine outlet pressure"). This is often necessary for this type of context information, since in reality a measuring point can also be located between two components (and thus be related to both components). However, if an initial model is created according to Figure 4the causal relationships between the components are not modeled.

[0068] The Figure 4 However, the procedure for standardizing the meaning of measured values explained above has the limitation that only measuring points that are Figure 4 were preconceived (size type at a specific connection of a component) can be used to standardize the meaning of measured values. To mitigate this limitation, the procedure can further provide for the definition of separate measuring points in initial models of components in order to use them to standardize the meaning of measured values. With this definition of context information, it should also be noted that the components are predefined and the connection between the components is not taken into account.

[0069] In an improvement of the standardization of the measured values, an initial model for a component according to Figure 6 In this model, not only the individual elements of the component itself are defined, but also the connection between the individual elements. As a concrete example of a corresponding starting model, a stationary, oil-injected screw compressor without an attached dryer was used.

[0070] Again, the predefined measuring points are marked in the initial model. The measuring points correspond to the measuring points in Figure 4 However, the initial model, which now also encodes the causal relationships of the individual elements, already contains the information that p cold = p N and thus p cold can be omitted as a preconfigured measuring point. The assignment step for individual measured values can then be carried out as follows: Figure 5 in connection with the initial model according to Figure 4described.

[0071] In a further expansion stage of the initial model according to Figure 5 it is possible to freely configure the measuring points for a type of quantity at specific connections of an element.

[0072] The definition of a measuring point and the assignment of recorded measured values to a measuring point based on a starting model were explained above using the example of a stationary, oil-injected screw compressor without an attached dryer. It goes without saying that this procedure can also be applied to any other component of a compressor system or to the compressor system itself. If the starting model is applied according to Figure 4For a single component to the entire compressor system, essential or all components of a compressor system would be defined without their specific causal relationships. Preconfigured measuring points would be defined at the individual components for various measured variables. Context information could then be assigned to each measured value in the same way. Of course, it is also possible, in a modification, to not only provide preconfigured measuring points at the individual components of a compressor system, but also to allow the corresponding measuring points to be freely configured.

[0073] In a modified embodiment, not only the essential or all components are defined for a compressor system, but also the functional connections between the components are known, for example using a P&I diagram, as shown in an exemplary compressor system according to Figure 2illustrated. In this case, too, preconfigured measuring points can be defined in a corresponding initial model. In a further variation, however, it is also possible for such measuring points to be freely configured within the initial model. The crucial point is that specific context information can be assigned to each recorded measured value based on such initial models.

[0074] The application of standardized data is fundamentally diverse. Standardized measurement data can, for example, be used to to be able to specify an initial value for the first simulation step in simulation models, to compare real measurement data with data derived from a model during a diagnostic routine, to carry out analyses of the reliability of individual components or of the entire compressor system, for example with regard to energy consumption, to create a forecast for the implementation of the next maintenance measures using the most accurate measurement data from the past, etc.

[0075] Overall, for the case-independent analysis of measurement data recorded in the field (sensor values, key figures, etc.), it is prerequisite that each piece of data is assigned a well-defined meaning and, if applicable, a well-defined unit (e.g., temperature in °C or pressure in Pa). If the meaning and / or unit of a piece of data is unknown, analysis is fundamentally impossible, apart from statistical analyses. In particular, analysis results cannot be interpreted. By applying domain-specific models, it is possible to assign a well-defined meaning to measurement data with regard to one or more aspects. This is done by defining the location of the measured value recording using a domain-specific model. By analyzing the domain-specific model, the meaning of a piece of data can then be deduced.

[0076] This becomes clear when you look at the P&I diagram of a stationary, oil-injected screw compressor without an attached dryer (see Figure 7 ) with the P&I diagram of a stationary, oil-injected screw compressor with attached dryer (cf. Figure 8 ). Both compressors contain the same number of sensors. The sensors also have the same names. However, no meaning can be derived from the sensor names alone. This is evident in the sensor that provides the measured value T Out. In a compressor without an attached dryer, the sensor has the meaning "temperature downstream of the air cooler" and "temperature at the compressor outlet." In a compressor with an attached dryer, the sensor has the meaning "temperature downstream of the dryer" and "temperature at the compressor outlet." This difference in meaning is relevant for the analysis. Assigning the corresponding context information via a defined output model is crucial in order to be able to meaningfully use recorded measured values in further control, monitoring, diagnostic, or evaluation routines.

[0077] As described above, it is important to know the meaning of the measured values at the latest when analyzing them. However, for many applications, it is not necessary to know the meaning of a measured value at the time of data acquisition. the temporal value progression of a measured value and the meaning of a measured value

[0078] can be recorded and stored separately. "Separate" can be understood both temporally and spatially (alternatively and cumulatively). The following scenarios are examples: Using an initial model of the compressor system based on a P&ID diagram and several initial models of the compressor system components based on P&ID diagrams, the measured value meaning or the context information of the measured values recorded by the control / monitoring unit is stored in the control / monitoring unit or externally, for example, in a memory section 24. The context information (measured value meanings) is stored, for example, during commissioning of the compressor system or during commissioning of the control / monitoring unit. The context information (measured value meanings) can be stored, for example, in the form of a table in the control / monitoring unit.

[0079] The measured values acquired by the control / monitoring unit are typically stored in the control / monitoring unit as a process image (current values) and as process data history (historical values). Storage can (but does not have to) occur without context information (information about the measured value meaning), since the context information is available in the control / monitoring unit at any time and can be assigned to the measured values at a desired time. In one possible embodiment, the assignment of context information to a measured value is done via an assignment table. The assignment table stores which context information is assigned to the measured values. One and the same measured value can have multiple (consistent) meanings simultaneously, and one and the same meaning can, of course, be associated with multiple measured values.

[0080] Dual assignment of measured value meanings can be useful if the reliability or accuracy of measured value acquisition is to be increased. For example, if one of two sensors fails to acquire measured values, the measured value from the other sensor can be used for further processing. If measured values from both sensors, which ultimately produce measured values with the same measured value meaning, are available, the accuracy of measured value acquisition can be increased by calculation (averaging, maximum value calculation, minimum value calculation).

[0081] Before processing measured values, if not already done during storage, measured values and context information (measurement value meanings) are combined. Combining measured values and context information enables automatic evaluation using the models used to define the context information. Analysis routines are used for the evaluation.

[0082] If the analysis routines run in the control and monitoring unit, or if the system that executes the analysis routines is connected to the control and monitoring unit via data technology, automatic evaluation is also possible in real time.

[0083] Regarding the development of initial models for compressor systems, reference is made to EP 13159618.1. At the same time, the data standardized according to the present invention can also contribute to further refining the definition of causal relationships between components of a compressor system in the form of a P&I diagram described in EP 13159618.1.

[0084] The data standardized according to the present invention can also be taken into account in the development of derived models as described in EP 13159616.5, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

[0085] Although the invention has been described using a compressor system, i.e. for overpressure, all principles can be transferred to a vacuum system in which pumps work together instead of compressors. List of reference symbols

[0086] 11, 12, 13 Compressors 14, 15, 16 Filters 17, 18 Valves 19, 20 Dryers 21 Compressed air reservoir 22 Control / monitoring unit 23 Editor 24 Storage section 25 Data acquisition unit 26 Allocation unit 27 Interface 28 Pressure sensor 29 Inlet valve 30 Compressor block 31 Oil separator 32 Air cooler 33 Oil circuit 34 Thermal valve 35 Oil cooler 36 Attachment dryer 37 Inlet 38 Outlet

Claims

1. Method for controlling and / or monitoring a compressor system comprising a plurality of components, specifically one or more compressors (11, 12, 13) and one or more peripheral devices (14 to 21), as well as a control / monitoring unit (22), wherein the compressors (11, 12, 13) and peripheral devices (14 to 21) are arranged or interconnected in a specific configuration, - wherein, in a measured value acquisition step, measured values are acquired within the compressor system or the components, - wherein, in an assignment step, context information is assigned in each case to the measured value or values before, simultaneously or after the measured values are acquired in order to standardize the measured values, - wherein the standardization of the measured value by assigning context information specifically comprises the unique assignment of the location of a measured value acquisition, - wherein the determination of the location of the measured value acquisition is carried out in such a way that the measured value is assigned a preconfigured measuring point on a component or on an element of a component, wherein a link between the component and other components or a link between the elements and other elements is not taken into account, and - wherein, in an evaluation step, the measured value or values standardized by the context information are taken into account in a control, monitoring, diagnostic, or evaluation routine.

2. Method for controlling and / or monitoring a compressor system comprising a plurality of components, specifically one or more compressors (11, 12, 13) and one or more peripheral devices (14 to 21), as well as a control / monitoring unit (22), wherein the compressors (11, 12, 13) and peripheral devices (14 to 21) are arranged or interconnected in a specific configuration, - wherein, in a measured value acquisition step, measured values are acquired within the compressor system or the components, - wherein, in an assignment step, context information is assigned in each case to the measured value or values before, simultaneously or after the measured values are acquired in order to standardize the measured values, - wherein the standardization of the measured value by assigning context information specifically comprises the unique assignment of the location of a measured value acquisition, - wherein the determination of the location of the measured value acquisition is carried out in such a way that the measuring point on a component or on an element of a component is freely configurable, wherein a link between the component and other components is not taken into account, and - wherein, in an evaluation step, the measured value or values standardized by the context information are taken into account in a control, monitoring, diagnostic, or evaluation routine.

3. Method according to one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that the measured value acquisition step comprises the acquisition of a measured value acquired directly by measurement and / or the use of stored measured values.

4. Method according to claim 3, characterized in that, in the measured value acquisition step, the measured values acquired directly by measurement are stored in an assigned database, which may be implemented within the components, in the compressor system or externally.

5. Method according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the standardization of the measured value by assigning context information specifically comprises the unique assignment of the location of a measured value acquisition and / or the medium to which the measured value relates.

6. Method according to claim 5, characterized in that one or more initial models of the specific compressor system or comparable compressor systems and / or one or more initial models of the specific components or comparable components are taken into account for assigning the location of the measured value acquisition and / or the medium to which the measured value relates.

7. Method according to claim 6, characterized in that, at the latest immediately before or for the utilization step, - the measured value itself, - the assignment of the measured value to context information or a measuring point, and - the initial model used to define the context information or the measuring point are known and are taken into account in the subsequent control, monitoring, diagnostic or evaluation routine.

8. Method according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the location of the measured value acquisition is defined in an initial model of the compressor system, - in which predefined measuring points are defined on individual components that are not linked to one another, or - in which freely configurable measuring points can be defined on individual components that are not linked to one another, or - in which predefined measuring points are defined on components that are linked to one another to form a compressor system, or - in which freely configurable measuring points can be defined within components that are linked to form a compressor system.

9. Method according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the components of the compressor system each comprise a plurality of elements (29 to 36) in operative connection, characterized in that the location of the measured value acquisition is defined in an initial model of the component(s), - in which predefined measuring points are defined on individual elements that are not linked to one another, or - in which freely configurable measuring points can be defined on individual elements that are not linked to one another, or - in which predefined measuring points are defined on elements that are linked to one another to form a compressor system, or - in which freely configurable measuring points can be defined within elements that are linked to form a compressor system.

10. Method according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the assignment of context information to a measured value is carried out via an assignment table.

11. Method according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the measured values recorded in the measured value acquisition step are physical and / or logical variables, for example - values recorded by sensors within the compressor system or within the components and / or - values recorded by sensors outside the compressor system (e.g., public climate database, weather station, ambient air thermometer, or similar) and / or - actuator positions and / or - ready states of machines and / or - operating states and / or - control variables.

12. Method according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that measured value and assigned context information are stored together as data pairs.

13. Method according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the higherlevel status of the compressor system and / or individual components at the time of data acquisition can also be assigned to the measured value(s) as further context information.

14. Method according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the measured value also comprises a time stamp.

15. Compressor system comprising a plurality of components, specifically one or more compressors and one or more peripheral devices, as well as a control / monitoring unit, wherein the compressors (11, 12, 13) and peripheral devices (14 to 21) are arranged or interconnected in a predetermined configuration, - wherein the control / monitoring unit (22) has a measured value acquisition unit (25) or cooperates with a measured value acquisition unit (25) which is designed to acquire measured values within the compressor system or the components, - wherein the control / monitoring unit (22) further comprises an assignment unit (26) or cooperates with an assignment unit (26) which is designed to assign context information to the acquired measured values in order to standardize the measured values, - wherein the control / monitoring unit (22) comprises an interface (27) for passing on the measured values standardized by the context information or for using them itself in subsequent control, monitoring, diagnostic or evaluation routines, and - wherein the assignment unit (26) is designed and determined to carry out the method according to one of claims 1 to 14.