Uninterruptible Power Supply Fieldbus Shutdown Coordination
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In electrical systems with multiple consumers, existing uninterruptible power supply (UPS) units fail to manage shutdowns effectively, leading to data loss, undefined system states, and potential damage due to uncoordinated shutdowns, especially in complex industrial processes with various dependencies.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a master-slave communication protocol via a fieldbus, where software modules on electrical consumers coordinate a controlled shutdown process with configurable synchronization levels, allowing each consumer to maintain or change its energy state based on predefined plans, ensuring a coordinated and safe shutdown.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the uninterruptible power supply unit switches off its power output after a fixed configured time, then the buffer voltage is provided for a predetermined duration, but the electrical consumers cannot prepare for shutdown leading to data loss and undefined system states
Solution Approach 1:
The system sends a preliminary shutdown signal to all electrical consumers via the fieldbus before actually switching off the power output. This allows consumers to save data, close applications, and transition to a safe state before power is removed, preventing data loss while maintaining the predetermined buffer duration.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where electrical consumers report their shutdown status and readiness to the uninterruptible power supply unit. This feedback loop ensures that the system can coordinate shutdown actions and verify that all consumers have properly prepared before power is removed.
2Reliability
If the uninterruptible power supply unit implements special shutdown management using special function modules, then shutdown control is improved, but complicated dependencies among participants cannot be fully resolved leading to inconsistencies and data loss
Solution Approach 1:
The fieldbus serves as an intermediary communication medium that connects the uninterruptible power supply unit with all electrical consumers. It enables centralized coordination of shutdown sequences, allowing the system to manage complex dependencies between multiple participants without requiring direct point-to-point connections or additional control hardware at each consumer location.
Solution Approach 2:
The fieldbus communication interface provides multi-functional capabilities, handling both normal operational data exchange and shutdown coordination functions through a single communication infrastructure. This universal interface reduces device complexity by eliminating the need for separate specialized shutdown control hardware while still managing complex system dependencies.
3Duration of action of moving object
If the uninterruptible power supply unit provides buffer voltage for a fixed duration, then the system can operate during voltage disruption, but the system cannot continue to be operated properly if the voltage returns in buffer mode leading to downtime
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically monitors the status of the basic supply voltage during the buffer phase and can adaptively transition between different operational modes. If the basic voltage returns, the system can seamlessly switch from buffer mode back to normal operation, minimizing downtime and maintaining productivity throughout the disruption and recovery cycle.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to an electrically operated system (50) and an associated method with several electrical consumers (1, 2, 3, 4). In the event of a failure of the basic supply voltage (6), the electrical consumers (1, 2, 3, 4) are supplied by a buffer voltage (7).According to the invention, it is provided that: - a power supply unit (5) exchanges data via a fieldbus (8) with several consumers (1, 2, 3, 4), - the consumers (1, 2, 3, 4) each have a software module (11, 12, 13, 14) for communication via the fieldbus (8), - a software module (15) of one consumer (1) is configured as the master (M) and the software modules (11, 12, 13, 14) of the other consumers (1, 2, 3, 4) are configured as slaves (S), - the power supply unit (5), as the communication partner of the master (M), controls a controlled shutdown of the consumers (1, 2, 3, 4), - the power supply unit (5) notifies the master (M) of a failure of the basic supply voltage (6) via the fieldbus (8), - the master (M) and the software modules (11, 12, 13, 14) of the consumers (1,2,3,4) perform the shutdown process in configurable synchronization stages.