How to link dashboard data to a 3D model of production equipment consisting of multiple modules.

Abstract

This document describes a computer implementation method for linking dashboard data to a 3D model of production equipment consisting of multiple modules, and a system for performing this method.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] For example, recent production facilities such as continuous casting facilities in the steel industry consist of a number of individual facilities or modules to which a large number of sensors and actuators are attached. These production facilities can have a considerable extent (Ausdehnung) and a complex structure or complex facility arrangement (Anlagengeometrie). Furthermore, a large number of process parameters need to be set or considered during the operation of the facility.

[0002] Therefore, in order to evaluate, for example, the single information of a temperature sensor (strand surface) in a continuous casting facility, additional information from (other sources), that is - process parameters (casting speed, steel quality, secondary cooling water volume, etc.), - facility arrangement (strand guide (segment roller and segment bearing), secondary cooling installation concept (nozzle position and nozzle type, control circuit) etc. need to be taken into account.

[0003] This has so far generally been done by "manual" (analog) calling and linking of data from scattered individual data sources where the user has to know the exact name. Such an approach is inaccurate, error-prone, labor-intensive, human-dependent, and time-consuming.

[0004] Therefore, the present invention is based on the problem of enabling the integration of data from various sources (design, process engineering, process control, automation, external data sources, etc.) and enabling them to be stored and linked in an intuitive and unified way.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0005] [Figure 1] It is a diagram showing a three-dimensional model of a continuous casting facility consisting of a module model having a first indicator as a slider through the module model. [Figure 2] This is a diagram showing a dashboard display of production equipment data that depends on the second indicator. [Figure 3] This is a two-dimensional cross-sectional view of the modular model shown in Figure 1, including the position of the first indicator. [Figure 4] Figures 1, 2, and 3 show additional dashboard displays. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0006] The present invention is defined by the subject matter of the appended claims.

[0007] A computer implementation method for linking dashboard data to a 3D model of production equipment consisting of multiple modules, - To provide and display a 3D model of production equipment, which includes a 3D modular model, where each of the 3D modular models corresponds to a module of the production equipment. - To detect data from production equipment modules of production equipment, and to display the detected production equipment data as dashboard data, - To provide a first indicator that is movable by the user, wherein the displaceable position of the first indicator is within a three-dimensional model and is displayed together with the three-dimensional model, A computer implementation method is disclosed which includes displaying a second indicator in dashboard data, wherein the position of the second indicator marks the data of the dashboard data corresponding to a model module marked by the first indicator.

[0008] The displayed 3D model allows observers to easily determine their position within the production facility and select areas relevant to them.

[0009] These dashboards display existing 2D data about production equipment modules. Multiple (at least 2, 3, 4, or 5 or more) dashboard data charts can be displayed.

[0010] In this case, all existing data sources for the production equipment can be displayed simultaneously as a two-dimensional dashboard arranged side-by-side, making it possible to directly associate or link specific locations within the production equipment with relevant data.

[0011] Depending on the first indicator, only regions or modules relevant to the observer are selected. Then, for this module, the module-related data assigned to and available for this module is automatically displayed on the dashboard data by the second indicator. For example, the first indicator could be a visually displayed, partitioned (e.g., rectangular) plane that can be moved through the 3D model. This allows the observer to easily identify where information is needed. The second indicator could be a line in a 2D data plot, where the position of the first indicator in the 3D model corresponds to the position of the second indicator on one of the axes of the 2D data plot (e.g., the x-axis of the 2D data plot). This makes it immediately clear to the observer which data values ​​from the 2D data plot are assigned to a module, and at the same time, what values ​​the data for other modules have.

[0012] Production equipment has a production direction, which means that a series of modules process a product from its initial state to its final state. This production direction is similarly reflected in the 3D model.

[0013] However, production equipment may also have a lateral orientation, meaning that each module may have different characteristics and devices (e.g., sensors and actuators) oriented laterally to the production direction.

[0014] Each 2D data plot can have an x-axis, where the points correspond to the points of production equipment in the production direction. Therefore, the y-axis shows the value of each point.

[0015] Additionally, it is possible to display a two-dimensional data plot with an x-axis, in which case the points on the x-axis correspond to points in the lateral direction of the production equipment. Thus, values ​​for the cross-section of the module are shown in the two-dimensional data plot. For example, the temperature value or leakage rate of the module or a point on the module can be displayed laterally. The cross-section is selected depending on the position of the first indicator.

[0016] This enables the rapid and efficient generation of action instructions regarding hardware technical changes to production equipment (e.g., maintenance instructions) or changes to the operating parameters of production equipment. For example, if a displayed value deviates significantly from the value of an adjacent module, it can be easily recognized and addressed.

[0017] Therefore, local dashboard data is moved into a larger global context within the 3D model, thereby enabling more advanced analysis of the data.

[0018] This method makes it possible to create a common knowledge base for discussions and work related to the corresponding equipment among the discussion participants in the shortest possible time.

[0019] Furthermore, it is possible to quickly and intuitively evaluate individual pieces of information displayed in context with other information (from other data sources), such as the validation of engineering data, the interpretation of process data, the interpretation of equipment sensor data, and the interpretation of actual wear data from equipment. Therefore, the method as a whole contributes to faster decision-making.

[0020] The first indicator can be designed so that the direction of movement is specified along the 3D model.

[0021] Therefore, the first indicator is designed as a slider. Therefore, the user can only move the first indicator along the specified moving direction, thereby simplifying the operation of the method.

[0022] Furthermore, it is also possible to provide a "jump-to-object" function. The modules can be continuously identified by numbers. The display of these numbers that can identify the modules can be provided in the display of the 3D model, thereby enabling the numbers of the target modules to be easily read in the display. The "jump-to-object" function is a function including an input window that enables the input of numbers by the user. When a number is input into the "jump-to-object" function, this function moves the first indicator to the position that identifies the number. Therefore, there is no need to manually move the first indicator.

[0023] Furthermore, it is also possible to contemplate a display ("tree view") that hierarchically shows the structure of the production equipment as a tree structure. Using the so-called "tree view", the individual modules of the continuous casting machine and its sub-modules can be identified. Using the tree structure, the individual sub-modules can be assigned to the upper-level modules respectively. The sub-modules lower than this module can also be directly recognized. By marking the module or sub-module in the tree structure, the module or sub-module can be visually emphasized in the 3D module.

[0024] The displayed dashboard data can be 2D data plots, particularly line graphs and bar graphs.

[0025] By linking the easily interpretable data plots to the 3D model, the analysis of the output data by those skilled in the art becomes easy.

[0026] The data of the production equipment module can include sensor data, process parameters, data regarding the equipment arrangement, and wear data.

[0027] Therefore, data from various sources can be clearly displayed in one location or on a single screen.

[0028] The displayed 3D modular model may also include a display of the subunits of the modular model, particularly the position and / or extent of sensors and actuators.

[0029] This allows observers to recognize in a 3D image where these elements are assigned, making it easier to interpret the data displayed on the dashboard.

[0030] The computer implementation method may further include a display that depends on the position of a first indicator in a two-dimensional cross-sectional view of the module model, and in the cross-sectional view, the display includes the position and / or extent of subunits of the module model, in particular sensors and actuators.

[0031] The 2D cross-sectional view of the modular model, in addition to the 3D model and dashboard, represents a third level of observation or link between the production equipment data and the 3D shape of the production equipment.

[0032] The cutting plane and 3D model show, for example, where a sensor or actuator is located within the module. This allows the observer to recognize in the cutting plane which location (module) it is assigned to, making it easier to interpret the data displayed on the dashboard.

[0033] Subunits of a modular model, or modular models with selectable characteristics, parameters, or values ​​within a parameter range, can be visually highlighted in the displayed 3D model.

[0034] This makes it possible, for example, to display or highlight sensors or actuators in a 3D model.

[0035] Multiple subunits with common selectable characteristics, particularly subunits of a modular model, can be visually highlighted. Such subunits may include control circuit subunits. This enables the filtering functionality described further below.

[0036] This makes it possible, for example, to simultaneously display or highlight sensors or actuators present in a control circuit in a 3D model, and / or to simultaneously display data for all sensors and / or actuators in this control circuit on a dashboard. Therefore, this method is equipped with a filtering function to display sensors and / or actuators with the same characteristics (e.g., control circuit, nozzle type, roller body with the same characteristic (rotatability)). The control circuit consists of sensors and / or actuators that are controlled together.

[0037] For example, the amount of water supplied to a control circuit by its nozzles can be displayed on a dashboard plot. From the 3D model display, it's possible to identify the location and number of nozzles in this control circuit, specifically which modules or combinations of modules contain the nozzles, or even the arrangement of the nozzles (actuators). The nozzle type can also be identified. Simultaneously, it's possible to identify which other control circuits are nearby or which interact with the aforementioned control circuit. Nozzles are just one example; other subunits of the module model can also be displayed accordingly.

[0038] The production equipment can be a continuous casting machine.

[0039] A module in a continuous casting machine can be a roller unit in a continuous casting machine.

[0040] Furthermore, a data carrier containing instructions that cause a computer system to perform the above-described method is disclosed.

[0041] Furthermore, a computer system is disclosed that includes the above-mentioned data carrier, wherein instructions on the data carrier cause the computer system to perform the above-mentioned method.

[0042] Furthermore, it is a system, - A production facility including multiple modules, A system comprising the above-described computer system is disclosed.

[0043] In the system described above, the production equipment is a continuous casting machine, and the modules of the continuous casting machine can be the roller units of the continuous casting machine.

[0044] The features and sub-features of various embodiments of the present invention can be freely combined. For example, a preferred embodiment of a computer or computer device can be configured to include a function corresponding to one or more preferred features of the method.

[0045] The present invention can be implemented in computer hardware, firmware, software, or a combination thereof. Embodiments can be implemented as a computer program or computer program product, that is, as a computer program specifically embodied in an information carrier, such as a non-temporary machine-readable storage medium or a transmitted signal, to be executed by one or more hardware modules or to control the operation of these modules.

[0046] Computer programs can exist in the form of one or more computer programs, can be written in any form of programming language, including compiled languages ​​and interpreted languages, and can be used in any form, including as libraries, standalone programs, or as modules, components, subprograms, or other units suitable for use in a data processing environment.

[0047] The method steps of the present invention can be performed by a programmable processor that executes a computer program to perform the functions of the present invention by processing input data and generating output.

[0048] Accordingly, a computer program product suitable for performing one of the described methods and / or a data carrier containing a computer program product are also disclosed.

[0049] A computer is also disclosed that includes one of the above-described computer program products or data carriers and is suitable for performing one of the above-described methods.

[0050] Detailed explanation of the diagram Figure 1 shows a schematic diagram of a production facility, in this case a continuous casting facility. The right portion of the figure shows a plan view of continuous (module) modules 2 arranged in the production direction x, which have further subunits 4. The horizontal direction is indicated by y. The left portion of the figure shows a cross-section of the production facility. Different points xl and x2 of the production facility are shown, which are continuous in the production direction. The position of the first indicator 3 can be, for example, at height x1 or x2.

[0051] Figure 2 shows a dashboard display 6 with a second indicator 7. The positions of the production equipment along the production direction are plotted on the x-axis. The values ​​f(x) on the y-axis correspond to the detected values ​​for each point along the production equipment in the production direction. The second indicator 7 is displayed, and its position xl depends on the position of the first indicator in the 3D model.

[0052] Figure 2 below shows the dashboard display 6. The positions of the production equipment along the lateral direction y are plotted on the x-axis. The value g(y) on the y-axis corresponds to the value detected for each point along the lateral direction of production.

[0053] Figure 3 shows a three-dimensional model 1 of a continuous casting equipment consisting of a modular model 2 having a first indicator 3 as a slider passing through the modular model 2, and Figure 4 shows a dashboard display 6 of production equipment data and a second indicator 7, the position of the second indicator depending on the position of the first indicator in the display of the three-dimensional model 1. In Figure 3, a roller is shown as a modular model for the three-dimensional model of the continuous casting equipment.

[0054] Furthermore, Figure 3 also shows other subunits (4, 5) of the module model, which are sensors and / or actuators.

[0055] The vertical line in Figure 4 (second indicator, 7) marks the same position as Level 3 (second indicator) in the 3D environment. This makes it possible to directly assign information in the 2D plot 6 to the geometry of the 3D model 1. This allows for direct and intuitive evaluation of information (Figures 3 and 4) combined with local information (Figure 3, sensor measurement position, which segment, which roller in the segment, segment transitions, relationship with other local subunit nozzles).

[0056] Figure 5 shows a two-dimensional cross-sectional view 8 of the modular model shown in Figure 3.

[0057] The cutting plane view 8 allows for a detailed view of the corresponding cutting plane information, which can be intuitively moved from roller to roller using a slider from the 3D model display.

[0058] For example, in a cross-sectional plan view, sensor points 4, 5, and 9 of a measuring instrument are displayed. In addition to the precise location, the type of measuring sensor can be indicated by different colors or the selection of corresponding symbols. Sensor points of the same color or design are of the same sensor type.

[0059] Actuators such as nozzles can also be displayed in the cross-sectional view. In the cross-sectional view, nozzle data can be intuitively evaluated for each nozzle level. The correct positioning of nozzles can be evaluated based solely on the displayed nozzle pattern, without having to observe a single numerical value. This is particularly true when evaluating consecutive rows of nozzles that are typically offset by half the nozzle spacing (not shown). Here again, verification is possible based solely on the nozzle pattern.

[0060] Figure 6 shows the displays of Figures 3, 4, and 5 together, and allows for the display of an additional dashboard 6. This is the display that will be provided to the user. For clarity, the use of reference numerals has been omitted.

[0061] Moving the slider (right) in the display of 3D Model 1 moves the second indicator (left) along the data in all data dashboards selected for the 3D model. Simultaneously, the cutting plane is adjusted by the module (center).

[0062] What is noticeable in the left diagram (position of the vertical line, second indicator, 7) is that detailed information about the relevant objects (right), such as the selected roller body (cutting plane view, center), can be faded in, allowing for a more detailed evaluation here.

[0063] Figure 7 schematically illustrates another evaluability provided by this method. The detected dashboard data may include data containing various groups of subunits of a modular model. For example, this may be specific data for various control circuits. In the 3D model, one or more groups of subunits can be selected by user input. One or more of these groups can be highlighted in the 3D model. Simultaneously, the detected data for this group(s) is displayed on the dashboard. On the right of Figure 7, a control circuit 10 containing multiple subunits of different modular models is highlighted. On the left of Figure 7, values ​​for various groups, in this case control circuits, and specifically for the cooling circuit GL, are plotted as bar graphs along the x-axis. The relevant bars in the 3D model display are highlighted with dashboard data. On the y-axis, the determined value h(CL) for each control circuit is plotted.

[0064] In some cases, various embodiments of this disclosure can be implemented in hardware, software, firmware, or a combination thereof. In some cases, various hardware components, software components, and / or firmware components can be combined to form composite components. Where this is possible, the various hardware components, software components, and / or firmware components described herein can be divided into subcomponents including software, firmware, hardware, or all of them. Furthermore, it is conceivable that software components be implemented as hardware components, and vice versa.

[0065] The application software described herein, such as computer programs, can be stored on one or more computer-readable media. The application software described herein can also be networked using one or more general-purpose or dedicated computers and / or computer systems, and / or implemented in other ways. In some cases, the order of the various processes described herein can be changed, combined into complex processes, and / or divided into partial processes in order to provide the features described herein.

[0066] While embodiments of the Disclosure have been described, these embodiments are illustrative of the Disclosure and not limiting it. The embodiments of the Disclosure are not limited to these embodiments, and a number of modifications and variations consistent with the principles of the Disclosure can be made by those skilled in the art, and these should be understood to be included in the spirit and scope of the Disclosure as claimed below. [Explanation of symbols]

[0067] 1:3D model 2: Model Module 3: First indicator, indicator level, slider 4: Model module subunits, sensors, actuators 5: Model module subunits, sensors, actuators 6: Dashboard display 7: Second indicator, indicator line 8: Cross-sectional view of model module, sensor, and actuator 9: Display of 3D models, cross-sections, and 2D plots. 10: Cooling circuit (CL)

Claims

1. A computer implementation method for linking dashboard data to a 3D model of production equipment consisting of multiple modules, - To provide and display a three-dimensional model of production equipment, which includes a three-dimensional modular model, where each of the three-dimensional modular models corresponds to a module of the production equipment. - To detect data from production equipment modules of production equipment, and to display the detected production equipment data as dashboard data, - To provide a first indicator that is movable by the user, wherein the displaceable position of the first indicator is within a three-dimensional model and is displayed together with the three-dimensional model, A computer implementation method comprising: displaying a second indicator in dashboard data, wherein the position of the second indicator marks the data of the dashboard data corresponding to a model module marked by the first indicator.

2. The computer implementation method according to claim 1, wherein the displayed dashboard data is a two-dimensional data plot, particularly a line graph and a bar graph.

3. The computer implementation method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the data of the production equipment module includes sensor data, process parameters, and data relating to the equipment arrangement.

4. The computer implementation method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the displayed three-dimensional module model also includes displaying the positions and / or extents of subunits of the module model, particularly sensors and actuators.

5. - The computer implementation method according to claim 4, further comprising displaying a two-dimensional cross-sectional view of the module model depending on the first indicator, wherein the cross-sectional view includes displaying the positions and / or extents of the subunits of the module model, in particular sensors and actuators.

6. The computer implementation method according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the subunit of the module model, or a module model having selected characteristics, parameters, or values ​​within a parameter range, is visually highlighted in the displayed three-dimensional model.

7. The computer implementation method according to claim 6, wherein a plurality of subunits having commonly selectable characteristics, particularly control circuit subunits, are visually highlighted.

8. The computer implementation method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the production equipment is a continuous casting machine.

9. The computer implementation method according to claim 8, wherein the module of the continuous casting machine is a roller unit of the continuous casting machine.

10. A data carrier, comprising an instruction causing a computer system to perform the method described in any one of claims 1 to 9.

11. A computer system comprising a data carrier as described in claim 10, wherein an instruction on the data carrier causes the computer system to perform the method according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

12. It is a system, - Production equipment including multiple modules, - The computer system described in claim 11 and A system equipped with these features.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein the production equipment is a continuous casting machine, and the module of the continuous casting machine is a roller unit of the continuous casting machine.

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