Semantic Module Libraries for Automated Modular Plant Pipelines

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current modular plants require significant engineering effort for integrating modules, ensuring input and output flow compatibility, and managing process parameters, which is time-consuming and prone to errors.

Innovation Solution

A resource management system utilizing a database with a module library of semantic modules, providing abstract data beyond standard descriptions, enabling improved usability, automatic pipeline generation, and optimization for modular plants.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If modules are integrated manually by plant engineers, then input and output flow compatibility can be ensured, but significant engineering effort and time are required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinput and output flow compatibilityVSAvoidengineering effort

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables automatic self-integration of modules through semantic descriptions and automated compatibility checking, eliminating the need for manual engineering efforts while ensuring input and output flow compatibility between modules

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Manual mechanical integration processes are replaced by automated software-based semantic matching and compatibility verification systems that automatically ensure input and output flow compatibility without human intervention

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If modules are integrated manually, then proper management of alarms and parameters can be achieved, but the process is prone to errors

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvealarm and parameter managementVSAvoiderrors

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The automated system performs self-verification of alarm and parameter configurations through semantic descriptions, eliminating manual errors while ensuring proper management of alarms and process parameters

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements automated feedback loops that verify alarm and parameter configurations against semantic module descriptions, detecting and correcting errors automatically without human intervention

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Adaptability or versatility

If standard description files are used for modules, then interoperability is simplified, but additional attributes needed for optimization are not captured

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveinteroperabilityVSAvoidmodule attributes

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The module description is segmented into two layers: standard description files for basic interoperability and semantic descriptions for advanced attributes, allowing both simplicity and comprehensiveness to coexist

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system adds a semantic dimension to module descriptions that supplements standard description files, capturing additional attributes without compromising the basic interoperability provided by standard files

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS20220164725A1Resource management for modular plants

Publication Date: 2022.05.26 ABB (SCHWEIZ) AG

AI summary

A resource management system for modular plants includes a database providing a module library of semantic modules representing respective modules in a module pool. At least one of the semantic modules includes a semantic description of the respective module, where the semantic description includes abstract data according to a semantic data model, and where the abstract data describes attributes of the respective module not found in a standard description file for the module. Based thereon, the system facilitates automated generation and optimization of module pipelines.