METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MONITORING THE OPERATION OF AT LEAST ONE DRIVE COMPONENT

Abstract

The speed and security of the monitoring the operation of a drive component is improved by transferring data relating to the drive component and/or to the operation of the drive component to a central IT infrastructure. Within the central IT infrastructure, the transferred data are associated with a first model of the drive component, and with a second model of at least one virtual component associated with the first model. An operating state of the drive component is determined from a correlation of the first and second models.

Claims

1.-24. (canceled)

25. A method for monitoring an operation of at least one drive component, comprising: transferring data relating to the at least one drive component and/or to an operation of the at least one drive component to a central IT infrastructure, assigning the transferred data within the central IT infrastructure to a first model of the at least one drive component, assigning to the first model a second model of at least one virtual component, with the second model simulating a technical behavior of a component that is electrically or mechanically connected to the at least one drive component, and determining an operating state of the at least one drive component from a correlation of the first and second models.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the data relating to the at least one drive component comprise an individual product identification.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising automatically assigning the first model based on the individual product identification.

28. The method of claim 25, further comprising determining the operating state of the drive component from at least one characteristic curve.

29. The method of claim 25, further comprising determining at least some of the data relating to the operation of the at least one drive component with at least one sensor.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the data relating to the operation of the at least one drive component comprise a temperature, a vibration or a magnetic field, or a combination thereof.

31. The method of claim 29, further comprising: determining from the data of the at least one sensor an actual value for at least one operating parameter, determining a target value for the at least one operating parameter based on a correlation of the first and second models, and determining an operating state of the drive component from the target value and the actual value of the at least one operating parameter.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the operating state of the drive component is determined by at least one comparison operation.

33. The method of claim 25, wherein the at least one drive component is an electrical rotating machine, and wherein the data relating to the operation of the electrical rotating machine comprises data selected a rotation speed and a torque.

34. The method of claim 26, wherein the at least one drive component is an inverter, and wherein the data relating to the operation of the inverter comprises data selected from a DC-link voltage and an input current of the inverter.

35. The method of claim 25, wherein the data are read at least partially from an optically readable code.

36. The method of claim 25, wherein the data is transferred at least partially via a network interface to the central IT infrastructure.

37. The method of claim 25, further comprising graphically displaying at least one variable characterizing the operating state of the drive component.

38. A system for monitoring an operation of at least one drive component, comprising: a device configured to transfer data relating to the at least one drive component and/or to an operation of the at least one drive component to a central IT infrastructure, a first model of the at least one drive component within the central IT infrastructure, with the transferred data of the at least one drive component being assigned to the first model, a second model of at least one virtual component, with the second model being assigned to the first model and simulating a technical behavior of a component which is electrically or mechanically connected to the at least one drive component, and an evaluation unit configured to determine an operating state of the at least one drive component from a correlation of the first and second models.

39. The system of claim 38, wherein the data relating to the at least one drive component comprise an individual product identification.

40. The system of claim 38, wherein at least one of the first and second models comprises a characteristic curve.

41. The system of claim 38, comprising at least one sensor for determining at least some of the data relating to the operation of the at least one drive component.

42. The system of claim 41, wherein the at least one sensor is a temperature sensor, a vibration sensor or as a magnetic field sensor, or a combination thereof.

43. The system of claim 38, wherein the at least one drive component is an electrical rotating machine, and wherein the data relating to the operation of the electrical rotating machine comprises data selected a rotation speed and a torque.

44. The system of claim 38, wherein the at least one drive component is an inverter, and wherein the data relating to the operation of the inverter comprises data selected from a DC-link voltage and an input current of the inverter.

45. The system of claim 38, wherein the at least one drive component comprises an optically readable code which contains at least some of the transferable data.

46. The system of claim 38, further comprising a network interface configured to transfer at least some of the data to the central IT infrastructure.

47. A computer program embodied in a non-transitory computer readable medium, wherein the computer program, when loaded into a central IT infrastructure and executed by the central IT infrastructure, causes the central IT infrastructure to perform a method as set forth in claim 25.

48. A computer program product embodied on a computer-readable non-transitory medium and comprising program code, which when loaded to a central IT infrastructure and executed by a processor of the central IT infrastructure, causes the central IT infrastructure to monitor an operation of at least one drive component by transferring data relating to the at least one drive component and/or to an operation of the at least one drive component to the central IT infrastructure, assigning the transferred data within the central IT infrastructure to a first model of the at least one drive component, assigning to the first model a second model of at least one virtual component, with the second model simulating a technical behavior of a component that is electrically or mechanically connected to the drive component, and determining an operating state of the drive component from a correlation of the first and second models.

Description

[0031] In the figures:

[0032] FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a first embodiment of a system for monitoring the operation of a drive component and

[0033] FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of a second embodiment of a system for monitoring the operation of a drive component.

[0034] The exemplary embodiments explained below are preferred embodiments of the invention. In the exemplary embodiments, the described components of the embodiments each represent individual features of the invention which are to be considered independently of each other and which each develop the invention independently of each other also and should therewith also be regarded individually or in a combination other than that shown as an integral part of the invention. Furthermore, the described embodiments can also be supplemented by further features of the invention already described.

[0035] Identical reference numerals have an identical meaning in the various figures.

[0036] FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a system 2 for monitoring the operation of a drive component 4. The drive component 4 is designed as a motor, connected to a load device 6 which is designed as a pump and is used for driving the load device 6.

[0037] The drive component 4 has a device 8 which transfers data relating to the drive component 4 and/or an operation of the drive component 4 to a central IT infrastructure 10. A device 8 of this kind is, for example, a sensor box which provides data acquired by the sensor box, in particular of the central IT infrastructure 10, via a communications interface. The central IT infrastructure 10 is, for example, at least one local computer system and/or at least one, in particular cloud-based open, IoT system. The central IT infrastructure 10 provides storage space, computing power and/or application software. Storage space, computing power and/or application software are provided as a service via the Internet in an IoT system. Data relating to the drive component 4 comprises an individual product identification, for example a serial number. In addition, data relating to an operation of the drive component 4 comprises sensor data which is determined by at least one sensor 12. The sensor 12 is designed as a temperature sensor, a vibration sensor and/or as a magnetic field sensor. In particular, a vibration sensor detects a vibration which contains frequency components dependent on a rotor speed, so, for example, a rotor speed can be determined with the aid of the vibration data. A magnetic field sensor detects, for example, a stator frequency and/or a slip frequency.

[0038] The data is transferred at least partially via a network interface N to the central IT infrastructure 10. For example, the data is transferred by means of an Ethernet interface or wirelessly via WiFi. Optionally, at least some of the data, for example the serial number of the drive component 4, is read via a reader from an optically readable code. An optically readable code is, for example, a barcode, a OR code or a data matrix code, wherein a reader is, for example, a smartphone or a tablet with a camera. Optionally, the optically readable code comprises at least some of the sensor data and varies dynamically so some of the sensor data of the optically readable code is transferred via the reader to the central IT infrastructure 10. A dynamically variable code can be represented on a display or an ePaper.

[0039] In the central IT infrastructure 10, a model 14 is assigned, in particular automatically, to the drive component 4 on the basis of the transmitted serial number, with the serial number defining an individual model 14. An individual model 14 of the drive component 4 is a model 14 which is assigned to this specific serial number and has at least one individualized technical parameter, such as a range of an operating performance.

[0040] A model 16 of a virtual component is assigned to the model 14 of the drive component 4, with the virtual component mapping technical properties of the bad device 6. The models 14, 16 are stored in a model database 18 in the central IT infrastructure 10 and can be retrieved from there. For example, the model 16 of the virtual component comprises at least one pump characteristic curve of the load device 6 designed as a pump. The model 16 of the virtual component optionally comprises a tolerance band assigned to the at least one pump characteristic curve. The virtual component is assigned, for example, manually by a user or automatically, for example on the basis of data relating to the serial number stored in the central IT infrastructure 10.

[0041] An actual value for at least one operating parameter of the drive component 4 is determined with the aid of the sensor data. For example, a rotation speed of the drive component 4 designed as a motor, and a torque are determined from vibration data determined by a vibration sensor and from field data determined by a magnetic field sensor.

[0042] Furthermore, a target value is determined from a correlation of the model 14 of the drive component 4 and the model 16 of the virtual component for the at least one operating parameter of the drive component 4. For example, the necessary torque of a pump is correlated as a function of a rotation speed with the rotation speed torque characteristic curve of a motor in order to obtain a target value for an operating point.

[0043] In an evaluation unit 20, an operating state is determined from the actual value and target value of the at least one operating parameter of the drive component 4. The operating state is determined, for example, with the aid of at least one comparison operation. The operating state is output at an output unit 22. An output unit 22 is, for example, a display. For example, an output is made as to whether the motor is operating in an operating state permissible for the pump. If not, an error message is output. Optionally, at least one variable characterizing the operating state of the drive component 4 is graphically represented. For example, a course of a torque and/or a rotation speed is graphically represented on a display. In addition or alternatively, the operating state is represented acoustically or in a color coded manner by way of at least one LED.

[0044] FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of a second embodiment of a system 2 for monitoring the operation of a drive component 4, wherein the drive component 4 is designed as an inverter which is fed via a mains transformer 24 and is used for powering the load device 6. The load device is, for example, a motor. The drive component 4 designed as an inverter has, as in FIG. 1, a device 8 which transfers data relating to the drive component 4 and/or an operation of the drive component 4 to a central IT infrastructure 10. Data relating to the drive component 4 comprises an individual product identification, for example a serial number. In addition, data relating to an operation of the drive component 4 comprises sensor data which is determined by at least one sensor 12. The sensor 12 is designed as a voltage measurement device and/or as a frequency measurement device. As in FIG. 1 the data is transferred at least partially via a network interface N to the central IT infrastructure 10.

[0045] In the central IT infrastructure 10 a model 14 of the inverter is assigned, in particular automatically, on the basis of the transmitted serial number, with an individual model 14 being defined by the serial number.

[0046] A model 16 of a virtual component is assigned to the model 14 of the inverter, with the virtual component mapping technical parameters of the mains transformer 24, such as a transmission ratio, in particular a complex one, and/or an efficiency, in particular dependent on the output current. The virtual component is assigned, for example, manually by a user or automatically, for example on the basis of data relating to the serial number stored in the central IT infrastructure 10.

[0047] An actual value for at least one operating parameter of the drive component 4 designed as an inverter is determined with the aid of the sensor data. For example, an actual value for at least one load point is determined from a DC-link voltage and an input current of the inverter.

[0048] Furthermore, a target value is determined from a correlation of the model 14 of the drive component 4 and the model 16 of the virtual component for the at least one operating parameter of the drive component 4 designed as an inverter. For example, a target value for the at least one load point is determined on the basis of model parameters of the model 14 of the inverter and the model 16 of the mains transformer 24.

[0049] In an evaluation unit 20, an operating state is determined from the actual value and the target value. The operating state is output at an output unit 22. For example, an output is made as to whether the inverter is operating incorrectly and/or whether there is an anomaly of the mains transformer 24 present. If this is the case, an error message, for example, is output. The further embodiment of the system 2 in FIG. 2 corresponds to that in FIG. 1.

[0050] To summarize, the invention relates to a method for monitoring the operation of at least one drive component 4. In order to improve the speed and security of the monitoring it is being proposed that data relating to at least one drive component 4 and/or one operation of the at least one drive component 4 is transferred to a central IT infrastructure 10, wherein the transferred data within the central IT infrastructure 10 is assigned to a model 14 of the at least one drive component 4, wherein a model 16 of at least one virtual component is assigned to the model 14 of the at least one drive component 14, wherein an operating state of the drive component 4 is determined with the aid of a correlation of the models 14, 16.