Machine Tool Operating Point Selection for System-Level Energy Savings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for determining energy-efficient operating points in machine tool systems focus on individual machines rather than their integration within a system, neglecting potential energy savings from coordinated operation among multiple machine tools.
Innovation Solution
A method to determine an energy-efficient operating point for machine tools within a system by using an energy requirement characteristic function that accounts for machine cycle time-dependent energy requirements over system cycle time, allowing for optimization of energy use across the entire machine tool system without altering other tools' operating points.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If individual machine tools are optimized for energy efficiency independently, then each machine's energy consumption is reduced, but the overall system energy efficiency is not maximized due to lack of coordination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the energy optimization of multiple machine tools into a unified system-level approach. Instead of optimizing each machine tool independently, the system evaluates and coordinates the operating points of all machine tools together, considering their interdependencies and the overall system cycle time, thereby maximizing total energy efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from the machine cycle times and energy consumption data of individual machine tools to adjust and coordinate their operating points. By continuously monitoring and adjusting based on system-wide performance, the system achieves optimal energy efficiency while maintaining production requirements.
2Loss of energy
If the operating point of a machine tool is reduced to save energy, then energy consumption decreases, but the machine cycle time increases which may affect system productivity
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the operating points of machine tools based on real-time conditions and system requirements. Rather than using fixed operating points, the system can adaptively change parameters to balance energy consumption and cycle time, optimizing the trade-off between energy efficiency and productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operating parameters of machine tools to achieve optimal energy efficiency. By adjusting parameters such as speed, feed rate, and power consumption within acceptable ranges, the system reduces energy consumption while maintaining machine cycle times that satisfy overall system productivity requirements.
3Power
If machine cycle time is extended to reduce power consumption during operation, then instantaneous energy demand decreases, but total energy consumption over system cycle time may increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs periodic operation patterns where machine tools are coordinated to operate in cycles that align with the system cycle time. By synchronizing start and stop times of different machine tools, the system reduces peak power demands while ensuring that total energy consumption over the complete system cycle is minimized through optimal operating point selection.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for determining an energy-efficient operating point (31, 44, 45, 46) of a machine tool (2, 3, 4) of a machine tool system (1), wherein: identical workpieces (5) for processing can be chronologically supplied to the machine tool (2, 3, 4); the machine tool (2, 3, 4) has an operating point-dependent machine cycle time and an operating point-dependent power requirement; the machine-tool system comprises at least two machine tools (2, 3, 4) and has a system cycle time (t1); and the machine cycle time is less than the system cycle time (t1). The claimed method is characterised in that the energy-efficient operating point (31, 44, 45, 46) is determined according to an energy requirement characteristic function of the machine tool (2, 3, 4), wherein the energy requirement characteristic function represents a machine cycle time-dependent energy requirement of the machine tool (2, 3, 4) over the system cycle time (1). The invention further relates to a corresponding device (9, 24) and to a machine tool system (1).