Production method for a gas-analysis device, computer-program product, gas-analysis device, simulation method and simulation-program product

Abstract

The invention relates to a method (100) for producing a gas-analysis device (10) which has at least one separating device (12) and a plurality of pneumatic modules (20). The method (100) comprises a first step (110), in which at least one target parameter (62) for the gas-analysis device (10) to be produced is prescribed and a plurality of basic pneumatic structures (35) are provided. In a second step (120), a plurality of continuous and discrete parameters (42, 44) of the basic pneumatic structures (35) are provided. Basic configurations (50) are created from the basic pneumatic structures (35), determined by varying (55) the discrete parameters (42). In the third step (130) of the method (100), candidate pneumatic structures (60) are determined from one basic configuration (50) each, with in each case at least one continuous parameter (44) of the basic configuration (50) being varied by means of an optimization algorithm (72). Furthermore, in the fourth step (140), a candidate pneumatic structure (60) is selected on the basis of a setpoint value (64) of the target parameter (62) and is output to a user and / or a data interface. Furthermore, the gas-analysis device (10) is produced on the basis of the selected candidate pneumatic structure (66). The invention also relates to a corresponding computer-program product (70), to a gas-analysis device (10), to a simulation method (200) and to a simulation-program product (80).

Description

[0001] Description

[0002] Manufacturing method for a gas analysis device, computer program product, gas analysis device, simulation method and simulation program product

[0003] The invention relates to a method for producing a gas analysis device and to a computer program product designed to carry out the method. The invention also relates to a corresponding gas analysis device. Furthermore, the invention relates to a simulation method for such a gas analysis device and a corresponding simulation program product.

[0004] Patent EP 2 828 653 B2 discloses a simulation of a chromatographic run on a chromatograph. The chromatographic run uses a mobile phase comprising a mixture of at least two eluent components with different chromatographic properties.

[0005] Gas analysis devices are used in a wide variety of applications that require individual adaptation to meet specific needs. Due to the physical and chemical complexity of gas analysis devices, such adaptation is complex, time-consuming, and error-prone. At the same time, a cost-effective design of gas analysis devices is desired. There is a need to accelerate and simplify the manufacture of gas analysis devices, particularly application-specifically adapted gas analysis devices. The invention is based on the object of providing a possibility that offers an improvement in at least one of the aspects outlined.

[0006] The problem is solved by a method according to the invention for producing a gas analysis device. The gas analysis device to be produced has at least one separation device and a plurality of pneumatic modules. The separation device can, for example, be a separation column which, due to its filling and / or internal coating, is suitable for separating a substance sample into its components as it flows through. The pneumatic modules can, for example, be designed as pressure regulators, valves, throttles, detectors and / or lines. The pneumatic modules can differ in their physical design and / or in the control algorithms used therein.

[0007] The method comprises a first step in which at least one target parameter for the gas analysis device to be manufactured is specified, for example by a user. The target parameter can be a technical variable of the gas analysis device, for example a separation performance parameter of the separation device or a maximum duration for the concentration analysis of a predeterminable substance sample. Alternatively or additionally, the target parameter can also be a non-technical variable, for example an energy requirement, a CO2 footprint or production costs. Furthermore, in the first step, a plurality of basic pneumatic assemblies are provided, each of which comprises virtual representations of the separation device and the pneumatic modules. For this purpose, the basic pneumatic assemblies can be stored in a database, for example, and selected by the user and / or an artificial intelligence.The basic pneumatic assemblies are to be understood as the pneumatic counterpart to a circuit diagram and each specify a possible structure of a manufacturable gas analysis device. The basic pneumatic assemblies themselves are thus virtual representations of manufacturable gas analysis devices. The basic pneumatic assemblies represent a starting point for the further method steps. In addition, the claimed method comprises a second step in which a plurality of continuous and discrete parameters of the basic pneumatic assemblies are provided. For this purpose, the continuous and discrete parameters are identified in the basic pneumatic assemblies as corresponding parameter types and a compilation comprising these is provided in machine-readable form. A continuous parameter can essentially assume any numerically possible value within a value spectrum.For example, the length of a pipe or the temperature of a material sample are continuous parameters. Coefficients that adjust a pneumatic module's control algorithm are also continuous parameters. A discrete parameter can only assume a limited number of predefined values. A discrete parameter is, for example, information about a material used, selected from a list of possible materials, or information about a detector type used, selected from a list of possible types. The continuous and discrete parameters provided can therefore be differentiated from one another in their categorization as discrete or continuous through the second step.

[0008] Furthermore, the second step involves determining a plurality of basic configurations based on the basic pneumatic assemblies. The basic configurations are determined by varying the discrete parameters in the basic pneumatic assemblies. Consequently, a plurality of basic configurations are determined for each basic pneumatic assemblie by varying, in particular systematically varying, the discrete parameters. The determined basic configurations are stored, at least temporarily, for further processing. The basic configurations thus correspond to basic pneumatic assemblies that are specified with regard to the discrete parameters. With regard to the continuous parameters, the basic configurations remain undefined in the second step. The second step can be carried out automatically, i.e., without any input from the user.

[0009] The method further comprises a third step in which candidate pneumatic assemblies are determined based on the basic configurations from the second step. For each basic configuration, a plurality of candidate pneumatic assemblies is determined. The candidate pneumatic assemblies are determined by varying the continuous parameters from the basic configurations. The candidate pneumatic assemblies are thus made more specific than the basic configurations, also with regard to the continuous parameters. The continuous parameters are varied using an optimization algorithm. The determined candidate pneumatic assemblies are to be understood as descriptions of gas analysis devices that are made specific to such an extent that they can essentially be manufactured in principle without further input from a user.The third step can also be carried out automatically, i.e. without any input from the user.

[0010] The method according to the invention further comprises a fourth step in which one of the candidate pneumatic assemblies is selected. For this purpose, the target parameter for the respective candidate pneumatic assemblies is determined. This is done, for example, by simulating the candidate pneumatic assemblies and their operating behavior. The operating behavior can comprise a transient behavior of the corresponding candidate pneumatic assemblies or of at least one of its pneumatic modules. For example, the transient behavior can be a pressure change on or in one of the pneumatic modules, in particular downstream of an actuated valve. Transient behavior is understood here to be an operating behavior that cannot be realistically represented as stationary or quasi-stationary operating behavior. The selection is made based on a setpoint value that is specified for the target parameter.The setpoint can be predefined, for example, by the user, a table, or an algorithm, or it can be dynamic. A dynamic setpoint can, for example, consist of determining the candidate pneumatic setup for which the target parameter corresponds to a maximum or minimum value. The candidate pneumatic setup selected in the fourth step corresponds to the setpoint with respect to the target parameter and is determined automatically. The selected candidate pneumatic setup is then output to the user and / or a data interface.

[0011] Furthermore, in the method according to the invention, the gas analysis device is manufactured based on the candidate pneumatic structure selected in the fourth step. For this purpose, at least one control command can be issued to a manufacturing device, for example an assembly robot or an autonomous industrial truck. Alternatively or additionally, in the fourth step, a parameterization can be determined which belongs to the selected candidate pneumatic structure and transmitted to the corresponding component of the gas analysis device, in particular to at least one corresponding pneumatic module. The parameterization can, for example, comprise coefficients by means of which a control algorithm of the corresponding pneumatic module can be set. Further alternatively or additionally, a parts list for manufacturing the gas analysis device can be generated and output based on the selected candidate pneumatic structure.

[0012] The method according to the invention is based, among other things, on the surprising discovery that the order in which the discrete and continuous parameters of a basic pneumatic setup or basic configuration are varied can result in a considerable reduction in the necessary computational effort. Because the discrete parameters of gas analysis devices only assume a relatively small number of values, the method according to the invention results in a relatively small number of basic configurations. This also reduces the number of optimization runs that have to be carried out by varying the continuous parameters. Using suitable optimization algorithms, these optimization runs can be carried out just as quickly and with economical use of data. Furthermore, optimization algorithms with termination routines that can be used in the third step exist.Such a termination routine makes it automatically and early on possible that a candidate pneumatic setup that meets the requirements cannot be expected even by further varying the continuous parameters. Accordingly, further variation of the continuous parameters for a basic configuration can be aborted early on, thereby saving computational effort. The method according to the invention thus makes it possible to automatically reduce a theoretically large, but in fact incalculable, number of possible candidate pneumatic setups to a manageable number of candidate pneumatic setups and to evaluate these. This means that gas analysis devices can be manufactured quickly which are specially adapted to a desired application and are also cost-effective. Because the method according to the invention requires a minimum of input from the user, it is less susceptible to errors.This makes the production of gas analysis devices more efficient overall.

[0013] In one embodiment of the claimed method, a virtual representation of the material sample in the separation device is simulated at least in the third step in a sliding window simulation. By simulating this in the sliding window simulation, for example, the target parameter for the respective candidate pneumatic structure is determined. The material sample, i.e. its virtual representation, comprises at least two material components which are subjected to retention effects of varying strengths by the separation device. For each material component, the retention effect exerted by the separation device is simulated in a separate simulation window which follows the respective material component as it flows through the separation device. The sliding window simulation can, for example, be carried out based on a Crank-Nicholson method.The invention is based, among other things, on the surprising discovery that a sliding window simulation allows a particularly fast and, at the same time, precise simulation of the flow of a substance sample through a separation device. Because the sliding window simulation offers such high speed, varying continuous parameters for the separation device becomes practical in terms of computing power requirements and thus time requirements. In particular, fine-tuning of the separation device is possible by varying the continuous parameters. The claimed method thus allows available computing power to be specifically directed towards a computing-intensive optimization which is nevertheless promising. The technical advantages of the underlying method are thus further increased. Alternatively or additionally, the third step can be carried out by a replacement model designed as artificial intelligence.The surrogate model is designed to replicate the behavior of a simulation, particularly a sliding window simulation, in its mode of operation. The surrogate model therefore does not represent a structural imitation of the corresponding candidate pneumatic setup.

[0014] In addition, the discrete parameters can include a type specification for a detector, a material specification for a separation material and / or a type specification for an injector. These discrete parameters can only assume a relatively small number of values, i.e. they contain information, and already define relatively precisely the capabilities of a gas analysis device with a corresponding basic configuration. Consequently, even with a small number of discrete parameters it is possible to determine whether the target parameter can even reach its setpoint based on a basic configuration. In particular, the second step can include such a determination. If a basic configuration is identified that is unsuitable for the target parameter to reach its setpoint, it is excluded from the further process and therefore ignored in the third step.Alternatively, an unsuitable basic configuration can be quickly identified as unsuitable in the third step by the optimization algorithm. This applies in particular to the detector type information in conjunction with information about the material sample to be analyzed and to the separation material information in conjunction with the information about the material sample to be analyzed. In a further embodiment of the claimed method, the continuous parameters can include a temperature of the material sample, a delivery pressure, a line length of the separation device, a separation device diameter and / or a throat ratio of a throttle. These parameters can essentially be adjusted with any desired accuracy when determining the target parameter.Design-related continuous parameters, i.e. those which define the dimensions of a component during manufacture of the gas analysis device, can be manufactured with high precision on the gas analysis device to be manufactured. For example, the line length of the separation device, i.e. the distance through which a substance sample flows in the separation device during operation, can be adjusted particularly precisely during production. With the claimed method, the precision achievable in the course of a simulation, in particular a sliding window simulation, can be transferred into precise and therefore needs-based dimensioning of components of the gas analysis device. The technical potential in the manufacture of the components of the gas analysis device is thus exploited more effectively.

[0015] Furthermore, in the claimed method, the at least one target parameter can relate to at least one substance sample. This is a substance sample which has a predetermined composition and which is to be analyzed using the gas analysis device to be manufactured. For example, the target parameter can be a separation performance parameter for one or more different substance samples. The gas analysis device to be manufactured can be designed and / or optimized using the claimed method for operation with a single substance sample or several different substance samples. As a result, a gas analysis device can be quickly manufactured using the claimed method which can be adjusted as needed to a predeterminable group of substance samples. For example, a gas analysis device can be manufactured in this way which is specialized for the analysis of different natural gas mixtures or natural gas-hydrogen mixtures.The claimed method thus simplifies and accelerates the production of application-specific gas analysis devices.

[0016] Furthermore, in the claimed method the second and / or third step can be carried out taking into account a predeterminable operating condition and / or a design condition. The design condition is predetermined by the corresponding basic pneumatic structure or the corresponding basic configuration on the basis of which the second or third step is carried out. The predeterminable operating condition can be, for example, a maximum permissible temperature of the material sample. The maximum permissible temperature of the material sample can be defined by its chemical stability, for example its ignition temperature or a temperature at which another chemical reaction takes place in the material sample. In particular the second and / or third step can be defined for the associated basic configuration orthe associated candidate pneumatic setup can be aborted if the predefined operating condition is violated. This prevents further computational evaluation of technically unfeasible candidate pneumatic setups and frees up computing capacity for other candidate pneumatic setups. The design condition, in turn, can be, for example, the internal dimensions of a housing to be used for the gas analysis device to be manufactured. This makes it possible to increase the degree of common part use in the gas analysis devices to be manufactured, which in turn leads to increased cost efficiency. Corresponding to the predefined operating condition, the second and / or third step can be aborted for those basic configurations or candidate pneumatic setups that violate the design condition.This also saves computing capacity and makes it available for more promising candidate pneumatic structures.

[0017] In the claimed method, the target parameter can be a separation performance parameter of the separation device. A separation performance parameter can be used to quantify the quality of the operation of the separation device. The separation performance parameter can be, for example, a retention time, a peak width, a retention factor, a selectivity and / or a number of theoretical separation stages. The separation performance of the separation device is decisive for a large number of substance samples in that it determines whether a certain detector, in particular a certain type of detector, is suitable for distinguishing between two components of the substance sample with sufficient accuracy and for determining their concentration with sufficient accuracy. The separation performance parameter, which is present when the gas analysis device is in good condition, also determines the period over which sufficient measurement accuracy can be expected.The separation performance parameter therefore indicates how far the separation device can degrade before it requires maintenance. This makes it possible, among other things, to quantify the expected maintenance-free operating period of the gas analysis device. Separation performance parameters allow a broad range of operational aspects of the gas analysis device to be predicted with confidence. The claimed method thus makes it possible to quickly and cost-effectively provide gas analysis devices that are particularly advantageous for the intended application.

[0018] Furthermore, in the claimed method, the candidate pneumatic structure selected in the fourth step can be provided as the basis for a basic pneumatic structure for repeating the outlined method. For this purpose, the candidate pneumatic structure is stored in a database. The claimed method is suitable for adding selected candidate pneumatic structures to a training data set with which an artificial intelligence, for example a neural network, can be trained. By means of the artificial intelligence, for example, the first, second, third and / or fourth step of the method can be carried out or the optimization algorithm can be set. The claimed method is therefore suitable for automatic further development.Furthermore, in the claimed method, at least the third step can be carried out by means of artificial intelligence trained by unsupervised machine learning. For this purpose, the claimed method is carried out in several passes so that a plurality of candidate pneumatic assemblies is determined. The invention is based, among other things, on the surprising finding that candidate pneumatic assemblies of gas analysis devices to be manufactured are particularly suitable for using artificial intelligence, for example a neural network, to optimize the gas analysis devices. As a result, an increased degree of optimization for the gas analysis devices can be achieved with the claimed method.

[0019] The underlying problem is also solved by a computer program product according to the invention. The computer program product is designed to determine and select a candidate pneumatic structure on the basis of which a gas analysis device can be produced. In detail, the computer program product is designed to determine a plurality of candidate pneumatic structures from basic pneumatic structures, taking into account at least one target parameter from a plurality of basic pneumatic structures. According to the invention, the computer program product is designed to at least partially implement a method according to at least one of the embodiments outlined above. The computer program product can be designed entirely as software or hard-wired, for example as a chip, integrated circuit or as an FPGA. The computer program product can also be designed as a combination thereof.Furthermore, the computer program product can be monolithic, meaning it can be stored and executed on a single hardware platform. Alternatively, the computer program product can be modular and comprise a plurality of subprograms that interact via a communicative data connection to provide the functionality of the underlying method. The modular computer program product can, for example, be executed on a computer cloud.

[0020] In one embodiment of the claimed computer program product, it can be designed to output a control command for at least one manufacturing device with which the gas analysis device is manufactured, for example a robot or a machine tool, based on the selected candidate pneumatic structure. For this purpose, the computer program product can have at least one data interface that is capable of communication with the manufacturing device. Likewise, the computer program product can comprise an algorithm that selects a component of the gas analysis device to be manufactured in the candidate pneumatic structure and converts it into a machine-readable manufacturing instruction. This can be, for example, a CAD model for a component to be manufactured or an assembly instruction, in particular for the robot. As a result, the manufacture of the gas analysis device can be further automated and consequently accelerated.Alternatively or additionally, the computer program product can be designed to output a parameterization of at least one pneumatic module, which corresponds to the selected candidate pneumatic structure, to the pneumatic module.

[0021] The underlying problem is also solved by a gas analysis device according to the invention. The gas analysis device comprises at least one separating device and a plurality of pneumatic modules which are connected to one another. According to the invention, the gas analysis device is produced according to one of the methods described above. The gas analysis device is therefore particularly adapted to its intended use and can be produced at an increased speed. This results in increased economic efficiency of the gas analysis device overall. Furthermore, the problem described at the outset is solved by a simulation method according to the invention which is designed to simulate the operating behavior of a gas analysis device. The simulation method comprises a first step in which a data set is provided with which the functioning of the gas analysis device can be at least partially reproduced.The data set can, for example, be embodied as a model of at least one section of the gas analysis device. In particular, the data set can be used to simulate at least the functioning of a separation device of the gas analysis device.

[0022] The simulation method further comprises a second step in which at least one operating parameter is specified, by which the operating behavior to be simulated is defined. The operating parameter can, for example, comprise a composition of a substance sample which is fed to the gas analysis device during operation to be simulated, its temperature, pressure and / or flow rate. The operating parameter can be specified by a user. The simulation method further comprises a third step in which a performance parameter of the gas analysis device is determined using the data set according to the first step and the operating parameter according to the second step. The performance parameter is determined using a simulation program product which is executed in the third step and to which the data set and the at least one operating parameter are fed as input.The performance parameter can be, for example, a separation performance parameter of the separation device or a duration for carrying out an analysis of the substance sample, i.e. its virtual representation, which is fed to the simulated gas analysis device.

[0023] Furthermore, the simulation process includes a fourth step in which the performance parameter determined in the third step is output to the user and / or a data interface. The data interface can be configured to output, in addition to the performance parameter, the data set and / or the at least one operating parameter to another simulation-oriented computer program and / or an optimization algorithm.

[0024] In the simulation method according to the invention, the simulated gas analysis device, i.e. its virtual representation, is designed according to a candidate pneumatic structure that is produced by a manufacturing method according to one of the embodiments outlined above. The simulation method according to the invention is suitable for monitoring the operation of the gas analysis device that is produced according to the designated candidate pneumatic structure, during operation. In particular, this makes it easy to detect an existing or impending failure of a component of the gas analysis device. The invention is based, among other things, on the finding that the gas analysis device produced using the underlying manufacturing method is itself particularly simulation-friendly and can therefore be monitored realistically by simulation.

[0025] Furthermore, the problem outlined above is solved by a simulation program product according to the invention, which is designed to simulate the operating behavior of a gas analysis device. The operating behavior can be described, for example, by at least one performance parameter of the gas analysis device or its virtual representation. According to the invention, the simulation program product is designed to carry out a simulation method according to one of the embodiments outlined above.

[0026] The simulation program product can comprise a physics module which is designed to determine a predeterminable performance parameter of the gas analysis device or its virtual representation based on a data set in which the functioning of the gas analysis device can be at least partially reproduced, and an operating parameter. The virtual representation of the gas analysis device corresponds to the data set in which its functioning can be at least partially reproduced. The simulation program product can be designed as a digital twin of the underlying gas analysis device or at least its separation device. In particular, the simulation program product can be designed as a digital twin according to the document US 2017 / 286572 A1. The disclosure content of US 2017 / 286572 A1 is incorporated into the present application by reference.Alternatively or additionally, the data set underlying the simulation program product, the selected candidate pneumatic structure, can be designed according to the underlying manufacturing process.

[0027] The invention is based, among other things, on the finding that a gas analysis device manufactured using the claimed manufacturing method is particularly simulation-friendly and can be reproduced with increased realism by the simulation program product. The simulation program product can be designed to monitor the operation of the gas analysis device manufactured using the claimed manufacturing method.

[0028] The invention is explained in more detail below using individual embodiments in the figures. The figures are to be read as complementary to one another in that identical reference numerals in different figures have the same technical meaning. Furthermore, the individual features of the embodiments shown in the figures can also be combined with one another and with the features outlined above. They show in detail:

[0029] FIG 1 shows a schematic sequence of a first embodiment of the claimed method in a first stage;

[0030] FIG 2 shows a schematic sequence of the first embodiment of the claimed method in a second stage;

[0031] FIG 3 shows a schematic sequence of the first embodiment of the claimed method in a third stage; FIG 4 shows a schematic sequence of a second embodiment of the claimed method.

[0032] FIG. 1 schematically shows a first embodiment of a first embodiment of the claimed method 100 for producing a gas analysis device 10 in a first stage. The gas analysis device 10 to be produced is intended to analyze a composition 16 of a supplied substance sample 15. The gas analysis device 10 to be produced is based on a basic pneumatic structure 35, which is a virtual representation 37 of the gas analysis device 10 to be produced, which also includes virtual representations 37 of its components. The following designations of the components therefore refer analogously to their virtual representations 37.

[0033] The gas analysis device 10 to be manufactured comprises as components at least one separation device 12, which is designed as a separation column, and a plurality of pneumatic modules 20. The pneumatic modules 20 are designed to act on a fluid flow, which can comprise the substance sample 15 and / or a carrier gas 20. In detail, the pneumatic modules 20 can comprise lines 24, throttles 26, valves 27, detectors 30, fluid inlets 31 and / or fluid outlets 32. The separation device 12 and the pneumatic modules 20 are connected to one another in the basic pneumatic structure 35 via couplings 33. The couplings 33 represent interfaces, so that the pneumatic modules 20 in the basic pneumatic structure 35, i.e., the virtual representation 37, are interchangeable. In particular, the pneumatic modules 20 can be separated at the couplings 33, and by inserting other pneumatic modules 20, other basic pneumatic structures 35 can be created.Lines 24 are each described in terms of their structure 29, which represents the distribution of the fluid, and a line resistance 35 is described. The structure 29 can be used, for example, to show whether the line 24 is branched or unbranched. The line resistance 25, in turn, is described at least by an indication of the respective line length 46, its inner diameter, and / or its surface roughness on its inner wall.

[0034] The method 100 begins with a first step 110 in which at least one target parameter 62 is specified, which is embodied as a performance parameter 40 of the separation device 12. The target performance parameter 62 is a separation performance parameter 13, which quantifies the separation of substance components 21, 22, 23 of the substance sample 15 in a chromatogram 36. Specifically, the separation performance parameter 13 according to FIG. 1 is a separation distance between the first substance component 21 and the third substance component 23. Alternatively or additionally, any other variable that represents a separation between the first, second, and third substance components 21, 22, 23 by the separation device 12 can serve as the separation performance parameter 13. The target parameter 62 specifies the respect in which the gas analysis device 10 to be manufactured is to be optimized. In the first step 110, a plurality of basic pneumatic assemblies 35 are provided as shown in FIG 1.The basic pneumatic assemblies 35 differ in that they comprise different pneumatic modules 20 in different arrangements. In addition to the basic pneumatic assemblies 35, the substance sample 15 to be analyzed, in particular its composition 16 with the first, second, and third components 21, 22, 23, is also specified.

[0035] Furthermore, the method 100 comprises a second step 120 in which a plurality of discrete parameters 42 and continuous parameters 44 of the basic pneumatic assemblies 35 are provided. The discrete parameters 42 include, among others, a type specification 43 for a valve 27, a material specification 41 for a separating material of the separating device 12, in particular for its inner coating and / or filling, a substance specification 49 for the carrier gas 20, and a type specification 43 for the detector 30. The discrete parameters 42 are designed to be able to have a countable number of values. The continuous parameters 44 are designed to be able to assume essentially any value within a predeterminable interval.The continuous parameters 44 include, among other things, a line length 46 of a line 24 and / or the separating device 12, a constriction ratio 47 of a throttle 26, a delivery pressure 48 of the substance sample 15 and / or the carrier gas 20. In the second step 120, the discrete parameters 42 are varied and thus a plurality of basic configurations 50 are created for the gas analysis device 10 to be manufactured. The variation 50 is symbolized in FIG. 1 by a downward-pointing arrow. A basic configuration 50 thus corresponds to a basic pneumatic structure 35 which is specified by specifying its discrete parameters 42. The continuous parameters 44 remain undetermined in the second step 120. The basic configurations 50 of the gas analysis device 10 to be manufactured created in the second step 120 are provided for a subsequent second stage, which is shown in more detail in FIG. 2.The first stage shown in FIG 1 is carried out using a computer program product 70.

[0036] A second stage of the claimed method 100 is shown schematically in FIG 2. The second stage follows the first stage, which is shown by way of example in FIG 1. FIG 2 therefore assumes that the first and second steps 110, 120 of the claimed method 100 have been carried out as intended. In the second stage, a third step 130 of the method 100 takes place, in which a plurality of candidate pneumatic structures 60 are created. The basic configurations 50 created in the second step 120 are each forwarded to the third step 130 by a transfer 52. In the third step 130, a plurality of continuous parameters 44 are varied. The variation 56 of the continuous parameters 44 takes place here by means of an optimization algorithm 72.The varied continuous parameters 44 include, among others, line lengths 46 of lines 24 and / or the separating device 12, the constriction ratio 47 of a throttle 26 and the delivery pressure 48 of the material sample 15. The variation 56 is symbolized by a striped arrow in FIG. 2. By assigning values ​​for the continuous parameters 44, a basic configuration 50 becomes a candidate pneumatic structure 60. A candidate pneumatic structure 60 thus corresponds to a concrete basic configuration 50 in which each discrete parameter 42 and each continuous parameter 44 has a value and which can in principle be produced. The optimization algorithm 72 varies the continuous parameters 44 such that the predetermined target parameter 62, i.e. a separation performance parameter 13 of the separation device 12, approaches an optimum, for example a maximum.In order to determine the separation performance parameter 13, the separation device 12 and its operation are simulated using a sliding window simulation. The value of the target parameter 62 is determined for each of the generated candidate pneumatic assemblies 60 and stored in conjunction with them. The generated candidate pneumatic assemblies 60 are stored at least temporarily in a memory from the third step 130 by a transfer 52. For each basic configuration 50, a plurality of candidate pneumatic assemblies 60 are thus determined in the third step. For this purpose, the basic configurations 50 are processed in a loop 54. The candidate pneumatic assemblies 60 are each data sets that at least partially describe the functioning of a manufacturable gas analysis device 10. A correspondingly manufactured gas analysis device 10 can be reproduced in terms of operating behavior by the corresponding candidate pneumatic structure 60.The candidate pneumatic structures 60 are thus each digital twins 75 of at least one manufacturable gas analysis device 10. The second stage, shown in FIG. 2, is carried out by means of a computer program product 70, which also includes the optimization algorithm 72.

[0037] FIG 3 shows a third stage of the claimed method 100, which follows the second stage, as shown in FIG 2. The third stage assumes that the first, second and third steps 110, 120, 130 of the method 100 have been carried out as intended. In the third stage, a fourth step 140 is carried out in which the candidate pneumatic structures 60 created in the third step 130 are evaluated. In this step, the values ​​stored in connection with the candidate pneumatic structures 60 for the target parameter 62, as the separation performance parameter 13 as the performance parameter 40, are compared with one another. For this purpose, the candidate pneumatic structures 60 are systematically queried in a loop 54. Based on a predeterminable setpoint 64, the candidate pneumatic structure 60 is selected in which the target parameter 62 has a maximum.The candidate pneumatic structure 66 selected in this way is provided and used as a specification in order to manufacture the gas analysis device 10 based thereon. For the manufacture 65 of the gas analysis device 10, in a fifth step 150 at least one control command 67 for a production device 68 is determined and output based on the selected candidate pneumatic structure 66. This takes place via a data interface (not shown in detail). The production device 67 is designed as a robot. Once the manufacture 65 has been carried out, the desired gas analysis device 10 is available. Likewise, in the fifth step 150 the selected candidate pneumatic structure 66 is provided as a digital twin 75 of the gas analysis device 10 to be manufactured or manufactured based thereon. This also takes place via a data interface (not shown in detail).The digital twin 75 belongs to a simulation program product 80 which is designed to carry out a simulation method 200. The operating behavior of the manufactured gas analysis device 10 can be monitored by means of the simulation method 200. The digital twin 75 is connected to the gas analysis device 10 via a feedback interface 77 for monitoring the latter. Via the feedback interface 77, the existing operating behavior of the gas analysis device 10 can be compared with the operating behavior determined by the digital twin 75 and can thus be checked for plausibility and / or analyzed for diagnostic purposes. The third stage shown in FIG. 3 is also carried out by the claimed computer program product 70. A second embodiment of the claimed method 100 is shown schematically in FIG. 4.The method 100 is carried out by means of a claimed computer program product 70 and is designed to produce a gas analysis device 10. In a first step 110, a plurality of basic pneumatic assemblies 35 are provided which have virtual representations 37 of their components. These components include at least one separating device 12 and a plurality of pneumatic modules 20. Likewise, a target parameter 62 is specified, with respect to which the gas analysis device 10 to be produced is to be optimized. The first step 110 is followed by a second step 120, in which discrete parameters 42 of the respective basic pneumatic assemblies 35 are varied. By varying 55, basic configurations 60 are generated in the second step 120 and are provided for the third step 130.The basic configurations 60 are determined in a loop 54, so that a plurality of basic configurations 50 are generated for each basic pneumatic structure 35. This is followed by the third step 130, in which the basic configurations 50 are further processed. In a plurality of the basic configurations 50, their continuous parameters 44 are varied. The variation 56 of the continuous parameters 44 takes place by means of an optimization algorithm 72, which is part of the computer program product 70. The optimization algorithm 72 is designed to optimize the value of the target parameter 62 towards a predefinable target, for example a maximum or minimum. A basic configuration 50 in which the continuous parameters 44 are provided with a value represents a candidate pneumatic structure 60.In the third step 130, a plurality of candidate pneumatic structures 60 are thus determined for each basic configuration 50, and the value of the target parameter 62 is determined for each candidate pneumatic structure 60.

[0038] The third step 130 is followed by a branch 135 of the claimed method 100. In this step, at least one of the determined candidate pneumatic assemblies 60 is compared with at least one design condition 74 and / or one operating condition 76 of the gas analysis device 10 to be manufactured. If the at least one candidate pneumatic assembly 60 violates the design condition 74 and / or the operating condition 76, the corresponding candidate pneumatic assembly 60 is discarded and the method 100 is returned to the third step 130 via a return path 136. If the candidate pneumatic assembly 60 checked at branch 135 corresponds to the design condition 74 and / or the operating condition 76, it is forwarded to the fourth step 140.

[0039] In the fourth step 140, a plurality of candidate pneumatic assemblies 60 are tested against a predeterminable target value 64. The value of the target parameter 62 in the candidate pneumatic assemblies 60 is compared with a target value 64. Based on this, a candidate pneumatic assembly 60 is selected. The candidate pneumatic assembly 66 thus selected is subsequently transferred to a fifth method step 150.

[0040] In the fifth step 150, the gas analysis device 10 is manufactured according to the selected candidate pneumatic assembly 62. Likewise, the selected candidate pneumatic assembly 66 is provided as a digital twin 75, with which the gas analysis device 10 to be manufactured or already manufactured can be monitored. For this purpose, the digital twin 75 is connected to the gas analysis device 10 via a feedback interface 77. The claimed method 100 is thereby completed and reaches its final state 190.

Claims

Patent claims 1. A method (100) for producing a gas analysis device (10) which has at least one separation device (12) and a plurality of pneumatic modules (20), comprising the steps of: a) specifying at least one target parameter (62) for the gas analysis device (10) to be produced and providing a plurality of basic pneumatic structures (35), each comprising virtual representations (37) of the separation device (12) and the pneumatic modules (20); b) providing a plurality of continuous and discrete parameters (42, 44) of the basic pneumatic structures (35) and generating basic configurations (50) based on the basic pneumatic structures (35), which are determined by varying (55) the discrete parameters (42); c) determining candidate pneumatic structures (60) based on a basic configuration (50), wherein at least one continuous parameter (44) of the basic configuration (50) is varied by means of an optimization algorithm (72);d) selecting a candidate pneumatic structure (60) based on a desired value (64) of the target parameter (62) and outputting the selected candidate pneumatic structure (66) to a user and / or a data interface; wherein the gas analysis device (10) is manufactured based on the selected candidate pneumatic structure (66).

2. Method (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that in step d) at least one of the candidate pneumatic structures (60) and its operating behavior is simulated, wherein the operating behavior comprises a transient behavior.

3. Method (100) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a virtual representation (37) of a material sample (15) in the separating device (12) is simulated in a sliding window simulation at least in step c).

4. Method (100) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the discrete parameters (42) comprise a type specification (43) for a detector (30), material specification (41) for a separation material, a carrier gas and / or a type specification (43) for an injector.

5. Method (100) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the continuous parameters (44) comprise a temperature of the material sample (15), a delivery pressure (48), a line length (46) of the separating device (12), a separating device diameter, a pneumatic resistance of the separating device (12), a pneumatic resistance of the line (24) and / or a constriction ratio (47).

6. Method (100) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the at least one target parameter (62) is related to at least one substance sample (15) with a predetermined composition (16) which is to be analyzed with the gas analysis device (10) to be produced.

7. Method (100) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that steps b) and / or c) are carried out taking into account a predeterminable operating condition (76) and / or a design condition (74) which is predetermined by the corresponding basic pneumatic structure (35).

8. The method (100) according to claim 7, characterized in that step c) for a basic configuration (50) is aborted if the predeterminable operating condition (76) or the design condition (74) is violated by a candidate pneumatic structure (60).

9. Method (100) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the target parameter (62) is a separation performance parameter (13) of the separation device (12).

10. Method (100) according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the candidate pneumatic structure (66) selected in step d) is stored in a database as a basis for a basic pneumatic structure (35) for a renewed execution of the method (100).

11. Method (100) according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that at least step c) is carried out by means of an artificial intelligence trained by unsupervised machine learning.

12. Computer program product (70) for determining and selecting a candidate pneumatic structure (66) for producing a gas analysis device (10), which is designed to determine candidate pneumatic structures (60) from basic pneumatic structures (35) taking into account at least one target parameter (62), characterized in that the computer program product (70) is designed to at least partially implement a method (100) according to one of claims 1 to 11.

13. Computer program product (70) according to claim 12, characterized in that the computer program product (70) is designed to output a control command (67) for at least one manufacturing device (68) based on the selected candidate pneumatic structure (66) and / or to output a parameterization for at least one pneumatic module (20) based on the selected candidate pneumatic structure (66).

14. Gas analysis device (10) comprising at least one separating device (12) and a plurality of pneumatic modules (20), characterized in that the gas analysis device (10) is manufactured by a method (100) according to one of claims 1 to 11.

15. Simulation method (200) for simulating an operating behavior of a gas analysis device (10), comprising the steps of: a) providing a data set with which the functioning of the gas analysis device (10) can be at least partially reproduced; b) specifying at least one operating parameter by which the operating behavior to be simulated is defined; c) determining a performance parameter (40) of the gas analysis device (10) based on the data set and the operating parameter by means of a simulation program product (80); d) outputting the performance parameter (40) to a user and / or a data interface; characterized in that the gas analysis device (10) is designed according to a candidate pneumatic structure (60, 66) which is created by a method (100) according to one of claims 1 to 11.

16. Simulation program product (80) for simulating an operating behavior of a gas analysis device (10), characterized in that the simulation program product (80) is designed to carry out a simulation method (200) according to claim 15.

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