Semantic Modular Plant Automation for Pipeline Engineering

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current modular automation systems for industrial plants lack comprehensive support during the automation engineering phase and control engineering phase, particularly in real plant environments, and do not effectively address operational and production planning needs.

Innovation Solution

A modular automation support system that includes a computing device configured to perform computer-implemented methods, utilizing a semantic data model to provide abstract representations of modules and pipelines, with components such as a module library, pipeline generation engine, and optimization components to support automation engineering and control engineering, enabling efficient planning, configuration, and operation of modular plants.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If modular automation systems use prefabricated modules for automation engineering, then the ease of manufacture and assembly is improved, but comprehensive support for real plant environments and control engineering phase is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of assemblyVSAvoidcomprehensive support capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides multi-functional support across automation engineering, control engineering, and operational phases through a unified platform that combines module library management, pipeline generation, simulation, and optimization capabilities, making the system adaptable to diverse plant environments and engineering needs

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

2Adaptability or versatility

If the system provides comprehensive support for automation engineering and control engineering phases, then the versatility and support capability is improved, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomprehensive support capabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system is divided into distinct functional modules including module library management, pipeline generation engine, simulation component, and optimization component, each handling specific tasks independently while contributing to comprehensive plant engineering support, thereby managing complexity through modular architecture

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Manufacturing precision

If the system uses detailed semantic data models for module representation, then the manufacturing precision and module selection accuracy is improved, but the device complexity and data processing requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemodule selection accuracyVSAvoiddata model complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system transforms detailed module specifications into standardized semantic parameters and attributes that can be systematically processed and compared, enabling accurate module selection and pipeline generation while managing data complexity through structured parameter representation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4134765A1Modular automation support system
Publication Date: 2023.02.15 ABB (SCHWEIZ) AG
  • EP4134765A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4134765A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4134765A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

There is provided a modular automation support system for modular plants. The system comprises an engineering support system (150) comprising a control and execution engine (152) configured to: receive data from a monitoring infrastructure of a modular plant and convert that data into semantic data which conforms to a semantic data model; use one or more semantic rules or mechanisms relating the semantic data received from the monitoring infrastructure to services provided by modules of a pipeline of the modular plant to control the pipeline in executing a process.