METHOD FOR MONITORING A PROCESS ENGINEERING INSTALLATION, AND PROCESS ENGINEERING INSTALLATION

Abstract

The invention relates to: a method for monitoring a process engineering installation, in which a model of the process engineering installation is used to ascertain values of at least one performance parameter of the process engineering installation from actual values of at least one operating parameter of the process engineering installation that occur during operation of the process engineering installation, wherein the model is used to ascertain comparison values of the at least one performance parameter of the process engineering installation from setpoint values of the at least one operating parameter, and wherein mutually corresponding values and comparison values of the at least one performance parameter are taken as a basis for ascertaining at least one performance gap in the operation of the process engineering installation and to a process engineering installation.

Claims

1-12. (canceled)

13. A method for monitoring a process engineering installation, with which method values of at least one performance parameter of the process engineering installation are determined, using a model of the process engineering installation, from actual values of at least one operating parameter of the process engineering installation occurring during the operation of the process engineering installation, wherein comparative values of the at least one performance parameter of the process engineering installation are determined, using the model, from setpoint values of the at least one operating parameter, and wherein at least one performance gap of the operation of the process engineering installation is determined based on mutually corresponding values and comparative values of the at least one performance parameter.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the values and the comparative values of the at least one performance parameter are determined at regular time intervals and/or given predetermined operating states of the process engineering installation.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein a statistical relevance of the at least one performance gap is determined using a plurality of mutually corresponding values and comparative values of the at least one performance parameter.

16. The method according to claim 13, wherein an improvement measure is determined for the at least one performance gap.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the improvement measure is determined on the basis of static significance indicators.

18. The method according to claim 16, wherein the improvement measure is determined based on dynamic significance indicators.

19. The method according to claim 13, wherein the at least one operating parameter is selected from a flow of a medium in the process engineering installation; a temperature of a component of the process engineering installation; a temperature of a medium in the process engineering installation; a pressure of a medium in the process engineering installation; and a composition of a medium in the process engineering installation.

20. The method according to claim 13, wherein the at least one performance parameter is selected from a power consumption of a component of the process engineering installation; a power consumption of the process engineering installation; a recovery rate of a medium in the process engineering installation; a degree of efficiency of a component of the process engineering installation; and a degree of efficiency of the process engineering installation.

21. The method according to claim 13, wherein the at least one performance gap and/or, wherein an improvement measure is determined for the at least one performance gap, the improvement measure is provided via a communication means.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein an air separation installation or a carbon dioxide liquefaction installation is used as the process engineering installation.

23. A computing system for monitoring a process engineering installation, which is configured to implement a method according to claim 13.

24. A process engineering installation, in particular a gas-treating process engineering installation, having a computing system according to claim 23.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0029] FIG. 1 schematically shows a workflow of a method according to the invention, in a preferred embodiment.

[0030] FIG. 2 schematically shows a representation of performance gaps in a method according to the invention, in a preferred embodiment.

[0031] FIG. 3 schematically shows a representation of performance gaps in a method according to the invention, in a further preferred embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0032] FIG. 1 schematically shows a workflow of a method according to the invention, in a preferred embodiment. For this purpose, a process engineering installation 100, for example an air separation installation, is shown roughly schematically.

[0033] By way of example, an operating parameter 110 and a performance parameter 120 are indicated for this purpose, wherein the latter is influenced by the former. As already mentioned, the operating parameter can, for example, be a flow of a medium or a temperature; the performance parameter can, for example, be a power consumption of the process engineering installation or a recovery rate of a medium. It is understood that a plurality of different operating parameters and a plurality of different performance parameters are present in a typical process engineering installation.

[0034] Furthermore, a computing system 300 is shown, for example a computer, at which the proposed method for monitoring the process engineering installation 100 can be implemented. For this purpose, for example within the scope of a suitable program, a model 200 of the process engineering installation 100 is used, with which the process engineering installation is mapped as realistically as possible. By way of example, an operating parameter 210 and a performance parameter 220 that correspond to the operating parameter 110 or the performance parameter 120 are also provided for this purpose.

[0035] It is understood that those operating parameters or performance parameters with regard to which the monitoring is to take place are mapped in the model 200. The real correlation between operating parameter and performance parameter can be represented in the model 200, for example by suitable equations.

[0036] The model 200 is thereby be supplied with input values and there are corresponding output values, and in fact as would (ideally) also be the case during the operation of the installation 100 itself. For the operating parameters 110 or 210 (this then applies accordingly in the event of a plurality of operating parameters), idealized assumptions or values—i.e., setpoint values—are hereby determined, with which the installation runs optimally (insofar as is possible) in accordance with specifications or also based on empirical values; i.e., it also has corresponding optimal values (insofar as is possible) for the performance parameter(s). Such a setpoint value is shown by way of example with 211.

[0037] Given the proposed method, the actual or measured or estimated values 111 of the operating parameter 110 or 210 are now used in order to determine a corresponding value 121 of the associated performance parameter 120 or 220 with the model 200. At the same time or in parallel, the corresponding value, here referred to as comparative value 221, is also determined or calculated by means of the model 221 from the idealized value or setpoint value 211. Using the model 200, the values for the performance parameters are thus determined once from the idealized specifications and once from the (current) actually present values of the operating parameters.

[0038] A performance gap 230 of the operation of the process engineering installation 100 is then determined based on the mutually corresponding values 121 and comparative values 221 of the performance parameter 120 or 220, thus in particular pairs of respectively a value and a corresponding comparative value corresponding to the same operating state or the same point in time. For this purpose, in the simplest instance, a difference is calculated between value 121 and comparative value 221.

[0039] The term “performance gap” is hereby to be understood—as has already been noted—to mean, for example, a gap or difference between the actually present and the theoretically or ideally achievable power consumption. The performance gap 230 determined in this way thus indicates a certain savings or improvement potential for the operation of the process engineering installation 100.

[0040] Based on data accruing over time relating to performance, a statistical relevance of the performance gap 230 can now be determined for a current value of a performance gap, for example within the scope of a statistical analysis 240. Furthermore, an improvement measure 250 can additionally or alternatively be determined, which indicates how the potential present on the basis of the detected performance gap can be better utilized for more efficient operation of the process engineering installation 100. Both the performance gap and the improvement measure can then be provided via a communication means 310. The communication means can, for example, be a (digital) display means, or an e-mail that is then correspondingly sent to relevant persons.

[0041] FIG. 2 schematically shows a representation of performance gaps in a method according to the invention, in a preferred embodiment. For this purpose, a display means 400 is shown by way of example as a communication means with a corresponding content.

[0042] There, four different performance parameters are listed by way of example on the left in a column, one above another, one of which is designated with 420. Next to this to the right, the performance gaps 430 associated with the performance parameters or the corresponding values or amounts are shown in the form of a bar with uncertainty. By way of example, one of the performance gaps is designated with 430, the associated uncertainty with 431. Such a representation of performance gaps can provide corresponding persons with a quick overview of where savings possibilities or efficiency increases are possible.

[0043] FIG. 3 schematically shows a representation of performance gaps in a method according to the invention, in a further preferred embodiment. For this purpose, an e-mail 500 is shown by way of example as a communication means with a corresponding content.

[0044] Different performance gaps with corresponding values are shown there by way of example on the left, one atop another, using which a total savings potential can be detected. By way of example, one of the performance gaps is designated with 530; 535 indicates a legend using which, for example, the individual bars can be associated to the left of the performance parameters.

[0045] Three different performance parameters are listed in the area at the top right, one of which is designated with 520. Shown to the right of this are the improvement measures associated with the performance parameters, if applicable determined analytically, one of which is designated with 550. Such a representation of performance gaps and improvement measures can provide corresponding persons with a quick overview of how savings possibilities or efficiency increases are possible or can be achieved simply and quickly. It is also conceivable that the content of the e-mail shown by way of example is designed to be interactive.

[0046] Overall, a particularly simple, fast, and efficient improvement of an operation of a process engineering installation can be achieved with the proposed method explained using examples, in that, in particular, automated savings possibilities are demonstrated and improvement measures are proposed.