SWITCHGEAR CABINET CONFIGURATION SYSTEM

Abstract

A computer-aided switchgear cabinet configuration system, set up for configuring a switchgear cabinet which comprises a modular switchgear cabinet equipment which is composed in an application-specific manner of a plurality of electrical and/or electronic built-in modules and further optional components, having a computing unit with a classification device and an evaluation and simulation unit for generating a bundle of different switchgear cabinet concepts with in each case different layouts, a subsequent selection of a specific layout and a corresponding control of a switchgear cabinet production line.

Claims

1. A computer-aided switchgear cabinet configuration system, adapted to configure a switchgear cabinet which comprises a modular switchgear cabinet equipment which is composed, in an application-specific manner, of a plurality of electrical and/or electronic installation modules and further optional components, including: a computing unit with a classification device; a database; wherein the classification device is adapted to identify one or more switchgear cabinet configurations for a plant to be regulated, taking into account a framework condition data set, by selecting suitable configurations from a historical stock data set stored in the database; wherein an evaluation and simulation unit is adapted to adapt the switchgear cabinet configurations identified taking into account the framework condition data set within a parameter space spanned by different parameters, which comprise manufacturing depth and space requirement, so that a bundle of different switchgear cabinet concepts with different layouts in each case is generated, wherein a decision device is adapted to select a switch cabinet concept from the bundle of different switch cabinet concepts by user input or automated selection via the user or autonomously, respectively.

2. The computer-aided switchgear cabinet configuration system according to claim 1, wherein the evaluation and simulation unit is adapted to calculate and graphically output deviations from the framework conditions defined in the framework condition data set and, if applicable, the objectives resulting therefrom for each switchgear cabinet concept of the bundle, wherein the objectives comprise a manufacturing time of the switchgear cabinet.

3. The computer-aided switchgear cabinet configuration system according to claim 1, wherein the framework condition data set comprises a desired specification of the switchgear cabinet.

4. (canceled)

5. The computer-aided switchgear cabinet configuration system according to claim 1, wherein the switchgear cabinet configuration system is arranged to generate the framework condition data set by means of a first electronic selection form.

6. The computer-aided switchgear cabinet configuration system according to claim 1, further comprising: a pattern recognition unit which uses the classification device to identify the one or more switchgear cabinet configurations by means of pattern recognition.

7. The computer-aided switchgear cabinet configuration system according to claim 6, wherein the pattern recognition unit uses fuzzy logic, artificial intelligence or neural networks for pattern recognition.

8. The computer-aided switchgear cabinet configuration system according to claim 1, wherein the evaluation and simulation unit is arranged to generate the parameters of the parameter space by means of a second electronic selection form.

9-10. (canceled)

11. The computer-aided switchgear cabinet configuration system according to claim 1, adapted to store the switchgear cabinet configuration of the selected switchgear cabinet concept in the database.

12. The computer-aided switchgear cabinet configuration system according to claim 1, wherein the evaluation and simulation unit comprises a modification algorithm implemented therein or associated therewith for generating at least one alternative switchgear cabinet concept, wherein the modification algorithm for modifying the switchgear cabinet concept into the alternative switchgear cabinet concept determines values of a quality function and optimizes the modification in such a way that the quality function assumes an extremum, wherein the transformation algorithm includes a parameterizable quality function having at least one predetermined layout optimization parameter of a layout optimization parameter set.

13. (canceled)

14. The computer-aided switchgear cabinet configuration system according to claim 12, wherein the layout optimization parameter set comprises a space utilization factor of the available switchgear cabinet volume in relation to geometric dimensions of the electrical and/or electronic installation modules to be installed therein.

15. The computer-aided switchgear cabinet configuration system according to claim 12, wherein the layout optimization parameter set comprises a thermal load factor taking into account the waste heat generated by the built-in modules, the ambient heat of the switchgear cabinet housing and the heat dissipation capacity of an optional fan/air conditioning unit.

16. The computer-aided switchgear cabinet configuration system according to claim 12, wherein the layout optimization parameter set comprises an electrical power consumption level taking into account at least the electrical power consumption of the built-in modules.

17. The computer-aided switchgear cabinet configuration system according to claim 12, wherein the layout optimization parameter set comprises an EMC degree which takes into account the electromagnetic emission of the built-in modules.

18. The computer-aided switchgear cabinet configuration system according to claim 12, wherein the layout optimization parameter set comprises a wiring length degree in order to take into account specifications regarding minimum or maximum cable lengths when arranging the built-in modules in the switchgear cabinet housing.

19. A switchgear cabinet manufacturing system, adapted to manufacture a switchgear cabinet, comprising: a computer-aided switchgear cabinet configuration system according to claim 1; and an at least partially automated production line, set up for at least partially automated assembly of the switchgear cabinet in accordance with a switchgear cabinet concept generated by the switchgear cabinet configuration system.

20. The use of a computer-aided switchgear cabinet configuration system according to claim 1 for fully automated production of a switchgear cabinet.

21. A computer-implemented method for configuring a switchgear cabinet which comprises a modular switchgear cabinet equipment which is assembled in an application-specific manner from a plurality of electrical and/or electronic built-in modules and further optional components, having the steps: Identifying, taking into account a framework condition data set, one or more switchgear cabinet configurations for a plant to be controlled by selecting suitable configurations from a historical stock data set stored in a database; Adapting the switchgear cabinet configurations identified in consideration of the framework condition data set within a parameter space spanned by different parameters, which comprise manufacturing depth and space requirement, so that a bundle of different switchgear cabinet configurations each with different layouts is generated; via user input or automated selection of a control cabinet concept with a layout via the user or independently, from the bundle of different switchgear cabinet concepts.

22. A computer program product having program code means for performing the method of claim 21, when the computer program product runs on a computing unit of a switchgear cabinet manufacturing system.

Description

DRAWINGS

[0041] The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only of selected embodiments and not all possible implementations, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

[0042] Further embodiments are shown in more detail below with reference to the figures. Therein:

[0043] FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a computer-aided switchgear cabinet configuration system for configuring a switchgear cabinet;

[0044] FIG. 2 shows a schematic representation of a switchgear cabinet manufacturing system;

[0045] FIG. 3 shows a flow diagram of the process performed by the system for the optimizable configuration of a switchgear cabinet;

[0046] FIG. 4 shows a more detailed schematic representation of a computer-aided switchgear cabinet configuration system for configuring a switchgear cabinet.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0047] Example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0048] FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a computer-aided switchgear cabinet configuration system 1 for configuring a switchgear cabinet. The switchgear cabinet configuration system 1, hereinafter also referred to as “configuration tool”, comprises as essential components a classification device 10 and an evaluation unit/simulation unit 18.

[0049] By means of the switchgear cabinet configuration system 1, a switchgear cabinet concept 100 for a plant to be controlled is created from framework conditions 2, which comprise a desired specification of the switchgear cabinet, for example a desired functionality or a control task, and the objectives resulting therefrom, which describe the economic parameters of the project, for example the costs or the throughput times. In doing so, the switchgear cabinet concept 100 of a concretely executable configuration with the resulting objectives is described, so that there is no longer any need to further detail or interpret the information output by the switchgear cabinet configuration system, e.g. the selection of components from different manufacturers.

[0050] The framework condition data set 2 is configured, for example, by means of a first electronic selection form, wherein the information necessary for describing the framework conditions is stored in a database partition 11, for example, about the system to be controlled (energy consumption, location of use, etc.), about the environmental conditions (temperature, etc.), about the geometrical parameters (size/arrangement of the air-conditioning unit, etc.), component preferences (manufacturer/design).

[0051] The framework condition data set 2, which generally comprises a number of individual data, is transferred to a classification device 10. The classification device 10 determines from the framework conditions by means of a pattern recognition unit 20 at least one switchgear cabinet configuration 30 with the framework conditions anchored in the framework condition data set 2, by selecting suitable concepts/configurations from a stored, historical stock. These concepts are stored in a database (partition) 12.

[0052] The pattern recognition unit 20 makes use of pattern recognition and/or fuzzy logic and/or neural network technologies and methods.

[0053] The switchgear cabinet configuration 30 identified in this way is adapted by means of the evaluation unit/simulation unit 18 within a parameter space spanned by different parameters. These different parameter sets are stored in a database (partition) 13. For example, the parameter space contains parameter sets relating to the different manufacturing variants, in particular information on the automation depth of the manufacturing variants and the resulting effects on the framework conditions, such as space requirements and the effects on the objectives, as well as higher-level changeable objectives, such as the maximum cost budget. The individual parameters of the parameter sets are selected, for example, by means of a second electronic selection form. The evaluation unit/simulation unit 18 simulates, for example by numerical simulation, a bundle of switchgear cabinet concepts 100 based on at least one switchgear cabinet configuration 30 defined by the framework conditions 2 and the parameter space defined by the selected parameter sets.

[0054] The evaluation unit/simulation unit 18 may be arranged to calculate and graphically output the deviations from the required framework conditions of the framework conditions data set 2 and the objectives for each switchgear cabinet concept of the bundle. The selection of the switchgear cabinet configuration to be manufactured is made by means of the decision device 40.

[0055] The design and production of switchgear cabinets is an extremely complex matter, which can be broken down into different dimensions.

Dimension of the Value Chain:

[0056] The design/production of switchgear cabinets can be divided into several value creation stages (engineering, work preparation, order planning and implementation), whereby each of these value creation stages has a large number of degrees of freedom and is usually provided by several participants in the ecosystem.

Lot Size Dimension:

[0057] Each switchgear cabinet can be considered as a unique piece, since for each set of conditions and objectives a variety of planning options are possible in the engineering, these can differ e.g. in the form of the electrical design or the component selection.

[0058] Once the switchgear cabinet is configured, it can be manufactured in different ways, e.g. different automation depths. The manufacturing variant has a direct impact on the engineering phase, e.g. automatic assembly limits the packing density.

Framework Dimension:

[0059] Framework conditions are understood to be specifications, e.g. of a geometric nature, preferred components of different manufacturers or the functional scope, of the customer. These framework conditions can lead to the fact that, for example, certain production variants are not feasible.

Dimension of the Objectives:

[0060] Objectives can be understood as business parameters (preferences), these describe the dominant aspects that influence individual decisions across all stages of the value chain.

Dimension of the Production Variants:

[0061] Different manufacturing partners have different manufacturing infrastructures, which are essentially differentiated by different levels of automation (see Lot Size Manufacturing Variants).

[0062] The switchgear cabinet configuration system, which provides information across all value-added stages and, if necessary, allows access to past projects, can significantly reduce the planning effort and identify optimization approaches.

[0063] The customer benefits addressed here are largely dependent on the content of the optimization approaches to be determined. In general, the following customer benefits are served: [0064] 1) Ease of Use: The system suggests different switchgear cabinet configurations for each stage of the value chain, depending on the situation, and displays the respective consequences for the downstream steps, e.g. feasibility of automatic wiring. [0065] 2) Planning reliability: By linking business parameters, e.g. costs or resources, the profitability of the overall project can be simulated, for example. [0066] 3) Flexibility: Based on the engineering results, the way of implementation can be simulated individually in each stage of the value chain.

[0067] A switchgear cabinet configuration system is provided, which makes it possible to propose an ideal configuration of a switchgear cabinet depending on several parameters, whereby the system:

[0068] has a database with different partitions,

[0069] where in a partition the general conditions (customer specifications),

[0070] in a partition the objectives (preferences),

[0071] in a partition, the production variants (preferences),

[0072] already implemented configurations are stored in a partition;

[0073] had linking provisions that linked the framework conditions to the objectives in an appropriate way;

[0074] has linking rules that link the configuration to different production variants;

[0075] has a pattern recognition unit which recognizes similar known configurations for predefined framework conditions and objectives in a predefinable deviation interval and outputs configuration suggestions;

[0076] has a simulation unit, which simulates possible (virtual) production variants, electrical constructions for different configurations;

[0077] has an evaluation unit which evaluates the results of the respective simulations in relation to the various objectives and presents the result and is adaptable in the respective value creation stages, e.g. adaptation of the proposed manufacturing variant to the real manufacturing infrastructure.

[0078] FIG. 2 shows a switchgear cabinet manufacturing system 200 comprising a switchgear cabinet configuration system 1 described above, which is connected to the fully or partially automated manufacturing line 201 and thus controls the robots of the manufacturing line.

[0079] FIG. 3 shows a flow diagram of a method for configuring a switchgear cabinet, in which in step 301, as described further above, one or more switchgear cabinet configurations are identified, in step 302, as described above, a bundle of different switchgear cabinet concepts is generated, in step 303 a selection of a switchgear cabinet concept with a layout for a switchgear cabinet to be manufactured is selected from the bundle of different switchgear cabinet concepts. If the system determines that the selected switchgear cabinet concept does not meet the predetermined requirements, it may be returned to the evaluation and simulation unit, which then generates a new bundle of switchgear cabinet concepts therefrom, taking into account any changed parameters. This control loop may be run several times until the switchgear cabinet concept is optimized. In step 304, the switchgear cabinet is then manufactured according to the selected final switchgear cabinet concept. In step 305, the selected switchgear cabinet concept (see also dashed lower arrow in FIG. 4) is stored in the database 12 for later use by the classification device. In particular, the system may thus be structured as a self-learning system that continuously increases its “knowledge”. In particular, the circuit diagram configurations stored in the database 12 can be used to create switchgear cabinet concepts for future customers which are characterized, for example, by low material and tooling usage, low weight, low energy consumption, low heat generation and small dimensions.

[0080] FIG. 4 is a more detailed schematic representation of a computer-aided switchgear cabinet configuration system for configuring a switchgear cabinet.

[0081] Supplementally, it should be noted that “including” and “comprising” do not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite articles “a” or “an” do not exclude a plurality. It should further be noted that features or steps that have been described with reference to any of the above embodiments may also be used in combination with other features or steps of other embodiments described above. Reference signs in the claims are not to be regarded as limitations.

[0082] The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure. Individual elements or features of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, where applicable, are interchangeable and can be used in a selected embodiment, even if not specifically shown or described. The same may also be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the disclosure, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure.