Control Module Simulation for Faster Process Control Testing

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing methods for testing plant control systems in process plants are complex and time-consuming, requiring manual adaptation of simulation models to the specific characteristics of the plant components, which increases the risk of errors and reduces efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A method and device that integrate component-specific simulation models into preconfigured control modules, allowing these models to be adapted during the planning or development phase, eliminating the need for later manual adjustments and enhancing the simulation's accuracy and efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If simulation models are manually adapted to specific plant component characteristics, then the accuracy of the simulation is improved, but the complexity and time required for the testing process increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesimulation accuracyVSAvoidtesting process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring control modules with integrated simulation models during the planning or development phase. This allows the simulation models to be adapted to specific plant component characteristics before the actual testing process begins, eliminating the need for manual adaptation during testing and thereby reducing testing complexity while maintaining simulation accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the simulation model and the control module into a single integrated unit. By combining these previously separate components, the system eliminates the need for separate manual adaptation processes, reducing testing complexity while preserving the accuracy benefits of component-specific simulation models.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Measurement precision

If simulation models are manually adapted to specific plant component characteristics, then the accuracy of the simulation is improved, but the time required for the testing process increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesimulation accuracyVSAvoidtesting time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring control modules with integrated simulation models during the planning or development phase. This allows the simulation models to be adapted to specific plant component characteristics before the actual testing process begins, eliminating the need for manual adaptation during testing and thereby reducing testing time while maintaining simulation accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Measurement precision

If separate simulation models are provided for each plant component, then the accuracy of the simulation is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesimulation accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the simulation model and the control module into a single integrated unit. By combining these previously separate components, the system eliminates the need to manage multiple separate simulation models, thereby reducing system complexity while preserving the accuracy benefits of component-specific simulation models.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a universal control module structure that can accommodate different plant component types through configuration rather than through separate dedicated models. This multi-functional approach reduces system complexity by providing a single framework that handles various components while maintaining the accuracy of component-specific simulations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3931644B1Method for testing of a system control and simulation device
Publication Date: 2025.08.27 SIEMENS AG
  • EP3931644B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2

AI summary

The present invention relates to a method (100) for virtually testing a system control process (1) for a process engineering system and to a simulation device for virtually testing such a system control process (1). In this case, at least one preconfigured control module (2) for controlling a component of the system is provided (S1a, S1b) and the system control process (1) is generated (S2) on the basis of this control module (2). The control of the process engineering system is additionally simulated (S3) by the generated system control process (1), wherein at least one value of an input parameter (E) of the system control process (1) is predefined by a component-specific simulation model (3), wherein the component-specific simulation model (3) is contained in the preconfigured control module (2).