Automation System Power Reduced Break Operation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current automation systems cannot efficiently reduce power consumption during operational breaks due to limitations in controlling system components to energy-saving modes, particularly with PROFIenergy devices, where central control is restricted and components independently decide on energy-saving states without coordinated target states.
Innovation Solution
A method where a control device sends component-specific pause times via a data network to synchronize system components, allowing them to automatically change to target states that minimize power consumption, with the control device specifying the target state and ensuring dependent components are in the required operating state.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by stationary object
If system components independently decide on energy-saving states without central coordination, then device complexity is reduced and ease of operation is improved, but power consumption cannot be minimized effectively because target states are not coordinated
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides control responsibilities by sending component-specific pause times to individual system components via the data network, allowing each component to independently determine its target state based on the pause time received, while the control device coordinates the overall energy-saving strategy without direct control of individual states
Solution Approach 2:
The control device sends pause time data to system components in advance before the break period begins, enabling components to pre-coordinate their target states and ensure dependent components are in required operating states before transitioning to energy-saving modes
2Use of energy by stationary object
If component-specific pause times are sent to synchronize system components, then power consumption is minimized through coordinated target states, but data network communication overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements local optimization by sending individualized pause times to each system component based on its specific energy-saving characteristics and operational dependencies, allowing each component to optimize its own power consumption while contributing to overall system energy efficiency
3Use of energy by stationary object
If system components transition to energy-saving modes during breaks, then power consumption is reduced, but system readiness for resumption may be compromised without proper wake-up coordination
Solution Approach 1:
System components transmit wake-up time data back to the control device after receiving pause time instructions, creating a feedback loop that allows the control device to track component states and send appropriately timed wake-up commands to ensure all components are ready for resumption of operations
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for operating an automation system (10) to reduce the power consumption of system components (14, 16) of the automation system (10) during an operating break. A control device (12) sends break time data to the system components (14, 16) via a data network (18) to initiate the operating break. Each system component (14, 16) automatically switches to a specific target state (32, 34, 36, 38) if the received break time data indicates a break time required for this target state (32, 34, 36, 38) and if at least one other system component (14, 16) has a respective operating state (50) required for this target state (32, 34, 36, 38). The object of the invention is to establish a power-consumption-minimized state combination for the system components (14, 16).According to the invention, the control device (12) sends a component-specific pause time (20) to each of the system components (14, 16) as pause time data, which differs from at least one pause time (20) sent to another of the system components (14, 16). This allows the component states to be coordinated with each other.