Automation system and method for controlling a production process in a production plant in the metal production industry, the non-ferrous industry or the steel industry for producing semi-finished products or finished products

Abstract

An automation system (1) for controlling a production process in a production plant (2) in the metal production industry, the non-ferrous industry or the steel industry for producing semi-finished products or finished products comprising a plurality of plant parts (3) for carrying out separate production steps comprises, for each plant part (3), a separate control unit (4) for controlling actuators (5) and/or sensors (6) of the respective plant part (3) for the purpose of automating the production step in the respective plant part (3). The separate control units (4) of the automation system (1) comprise wireless communication means (7) for wirelessly communicating with one another.

Claims

1.-12. (canceled)

13. An automation system (1) for controlling a production process in a production plant (2) in the metal production industry, the non-ferrous industry or the steel industry for producing semi-finished products or finished products, wherein the production plant (2) comprises a plurality of plant parts (3) for carrying out separate production steps, wherein the automation system (1) comprises, for each plant part (3), a separate control unit (4) for controlling actuators (5) and/or sensors (6) of the respective plant part (3) for the purpose of automating the respective production step in the respective plant part (3), and wherein the separate control units (4) of the automation system (1) comprise wireless communication means (7) for wirelessly communicating with one another.

14. The automation system (1) according to claim 13, further comprising a central control system (8), wherein the separate control units (4) communicate with the central control system (8) by means of the wireless communication means (7).

15. The automation system (1) according to claim 13, wherein each of the separate control units (4) comprises a computing device (9).

16. The automation system (1) according to claim 13, wherein the separate control units (4) comprise a power cable (10) and/or an accumulator as a power supply.

17. The automation system (1) according to claim 13, wherein the separate control units (4) at least partially comprise a protective housing (11).

18. The automation system (1) according to claim 13, wherein the separate control units (4) at least partially store information on adjacent plant parts (3) and/or information on the entire production plant (2) and its plant parts (3).

19. The automation system (1) according to claim 18, wherein the automation system (1) is formed to be self-configuring and self-networking.

20. A method for controlling a production process in a production plant (2) in the metal production industry, the non-ferrous industry or the steel industry for producing semi-finished products or finished products, wherein the production plant (2) comprises a plurality of plant parts (3) for carrying out separate production steps, comprising the steps of: controlling an automation of the production step in the plant parts (3) by separate control units (4), in particular controlling actuators (5) and/or sensors (6) of the respective plant part (3); and exchanging data between the separate control units (4) via wireless communication means (7).

21. The method according to claim 20, further comprising the step of exchanging data between the separate control units (4) and a central control system (8).

22. The method according to claim 20, wherein the data relevant for control are processed locally in the separate control units (4).

23. The method according to claim 20, wherein the separate control units (4) at least partially store information on adjacent plant parts (3) and/or information on the entire production plant (2) and its plant parts (3).

24. The method according to claim 23, wherein the separate control units (4) configure themselves and network themselves independently with one another.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of an embodiment of an automation system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of an exemplary embodiment of an automation system 1 for controlling a production process in a production plant 2 in the metal production industry, the non-ferrous industry or the steel industry for producing semi-finished products or finished products. In general, the production plant 2 comprises a plurality of plant parts 3 for carrying out separate production steps. In accordance with the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the production plant 2 comprises a total of three plant parts 3, which sequentially carry out separate production steps. The sequential order is shown by the arrows between the plant parts 3.

[0029] The automation system 1 comprises a separate control unit 4 for each plant part 3. The control unit 4 is formed to control actuators 5 and/or sensors 6 of the respective plant part 3 for the purpose of automating the production step in the respective plant part 3.

[0030] Each of the separate control units 4 of the automation system 1 comprises wireless communication means 7 for wirelessly communicating with one another. Wireless communication is symbolized by the dashed line in FIG. 1.

[0031] In accordance with the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the automation system 1 or the production plant 2, as the case may be, comprises a central control system 8. The separate control units 4 may communicate with the central control system 8 by means of the wireless communication means 7, as also symbolized by the dashed line.

[0032] Furthermore, each of the separate control units 4 in accordance with the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1 comprises a computing device 9. The computing device 9 is, for example, a microcontroller, programmable logic controller (PLC) or the like.

[0033] The separate control units 4 comprise a power cable 10 for power supply. Alternatively or additionally, the separate control units 4 may comprise an accumulator for power supply or as emergency power supply, as the case may be.

[0034] The separate control units 4 further comprise protective housings 11 in order to protect the components of the separate control units 4 from external influences. As a result, the separate control units 4 are formed to be appropriate for smelters and are suitable for production plants 2 in the metal production industry, the non-ferrous industry or the steel industry.

[0035] The separate control units 4 store, at least in part, information on adjacent plant parts 3 and/or information on the entire production plant 2 and its plant parts 3. This information enables, for example, the automation system 1 to be formed to be self-configuring, in particular self-networking.

[0036] The production process in a production plant 2 in the metal production industry, the non-ferrous industry or the steel industry for producing semi-finished products or finished products is controlled in that the separate control units 4 locally control the particular automations of the production steps in the plant parts 3. The separate control units 4 control in particular the respective actuators 5 and/or sensors 6 in the plant parts 3. Data may be exchanged between the separate control units 4 via the wireless communication means 7.

[0037] Via the wireless communication means 7, the separate control units 3 in accordance with the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1 may also exchange data with the central control system 8.

[0038] The data relevant for control is preferably and as far as possible carried out locally in the particular separate control units 4. This is done, for example, by the particular computing device 9.

[0039] To control the production step in the particular plant part 3, corresponding information about the associated plant part 3 is stored in the separate control units 4. In particular, the separate control units 4 store, at least in part, information on adjacent plant parts 3 and/or information on the entire production plant 2 and its plant parts 3. With this stored information, the automation system 1 can configure itself and, in particular, the separate control units 4 can network themselves independently with one another.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0040] 1 Automation system [0041] 2 Production plant [0042] 3 Plant part [0043] 4 Control unit [0044] 5 Actuator [0045] 6 Sensor [0046] 7 Wireless communication means [0047] 8 Central control system [0048] 9 Computing device [0049] 10 Power cable/accumulator [0050] 11 Housing