PUMP SYSTEM

Abstract

Pump system with at least one pump, in particular a vacuum pump or a compressor, a controller connected to the at least one pump, wherein the controller comprises: a first processing unit directly connected to the at least one pump for providing low level services to the at least one pump, and a second processing unit connected to the first processing unit to provide high level services to the pump system, wherein the second processing unit is connectable to an external network.

Claims

1. A pump system with at least one pump, in particular a vacuum pump or a compressor, a controller connected to the at least one pump, wherein the controller comprises: a first processing unit directly connected to the at least one pump for providing low level services to the at least one pump, and a second processing unit connected to the first processing unit to provide high level services to the pump system, wherein the second processing unit is connectable to an external network.

2. The pump system according to claim 1, characterized in that the second processing unit not directly connected to the at least one pump and the first processing unit is not directly connectable to the external network.

3. The pump system according to claim 1, characterized in that the first processing unit is configured to provide low level services by exchanging control signals with the at least one pump.

4. The pump system according to claim 1, characterized in that the first processing unit is configured as deterministic processing unit, providing responses between 90 ms and 110 ms, preferably between 99 ms and 101 ms and most preferably 100 ms.

5. The pump system according to claim 1, characterized in that the second processing unit is configured to provide one or more of data exchange with a cloud, an interface for controlling the pump system, security access, optimization calculation, update handling of the first processing unit as well as the second processing unit as high level services.

6. The pump system according to claim 1, characterized in that the first processing unit is configured to reboot the second processing unit in case of failure of the second processing unit.

7. The pump system according to claim 1, characterized in that the second processing unit is configured to reboot the first processing unit in case of failure of the first processing unit.

8. The pump system according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one pump comprises a sensor, wherein the sensor is directly connected to the first processing unit to transmit sensor data to the first processing unit.

9. The pump system according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one pump comprises a sensor, wherein the sensor is directly connected to the second processing unit to transmit sensor data to the second processing unit.

10. The pump system according to claim 1, characterized by a fieldbus unit connected to the first processing unit or the second processing unit to provide fieldbus communication.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] In the following the present invention is described in more detail with reference to the accompanied drawing.

[0019] It is shown:

[0020] FIG. 1 is an exemplified structure of the pump system in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] In the embodiment of the present invention, the pump system comprises pumps 12 which can be built as vacuum pumps or compressors. In the example of the present embodiment, the pump system comprises three vacuum pumps 12. However, the number of pumps is not limited and can be adapted to the specific task to be performed by the pump system. All pumps 12 are connected to the common controller 14. The controller comprises a first processing unit 16 and a second processing unit 18. Therein, the first processing unit 16 is directly connected to the pumps 12 wherein between the pumps 12 and the first processing unit a fieldbus unit 20 may be disposed in order to handle and provide fieldbus communication between the pumps 12 and the first processing unit 16. Therein one fieldbus unit 20 can be provided for each of the pumps 12 individually or a common fieldbus unit 20 can be provided for all pumps 12 in the pump system.

[0022] Therein, the first processing unit 16 is configured to provide low level services to the pumps 12 including but not limited to controlling of operation of the pumps 12 by exchange of control signals between the first processing unit and the pumps 12 or by controlling actuators of valves or the like. Therein, the first processing unit takes care of all critical, low level talks, which are mandatory for operating the pump system.

[0023] The second processing unit 18 provides high level services to the pump system. Therein, the processing unit is connectable to an external network 23, for example the Internet, in order to facilitate data exchange with cloud servers or central data processing units of the customer or manufacturer. Therein, the high level services provided by the second processing unit 18 are for example data exchange with a cloud server 24 in order to monitor operation of each of the pumps 12 of the pump system by the customer or manufacturer of the pumps 12 for monitoring quality of operation or the like. Further, by the second processing unit 18 an interface may be provided in particular as web interface for external control of the pump system or more convenient visualization of the operation and condition of the pump system. Further, the second processing unit may provide security access and certificate handling between the external user for external data access. Thus, access verification of a user is enabled in order to control the operation of the pump system. Further, by the second processing unit 18 updated handling can be provided either for updating the first processing unit 16 by receiving an update from an update server 26 from the manufacturer and installing this update on the first processing unit or by receiving an update from an update server 26 and installing this update on the second processing unit. Therein, the update alternatively can be provided from the provider of a third party application installed on the second processor unit. Furthermore, by providing a second processing unit 18 complex analytic algorithms and pattern recognition can be carried out on the basis of sensor data collected from the pump system in order to optimize operation of the pump system.

[0024] Therein the first processing unit 16 is built as deterministic processing unit providing reliable and deterministic handling of data with response times between 90 ms and 110 ms and preferably between 99 ms and 101 ms in order to be able to quickly react and reliably control the pumps 12 of the pump system. On the contrary, the complexity of the tasks carried out by the first processing unit 16 is relatively low compared to the complexity of the tasks carried out by the second processing unit 18. Consequently, the demands on the first processing unit 16 are fast and efficient processing of less complex data crucial for operating the pumps 12 in the pump system. Contrary, the tasks of the second processing unit 18 are not time critical but have an increased complexity. By separating the different tasks into the first processing unit 16 and the second processing unit 18, it is not necessary to provide a processing unit being able to handle high demands on the complexity of the task within almost real time in a reliable and deterministic manner. By the solution of the present invention, time critical and crucial tasks with low complexity are carried out by the first processing unit while other tasks are carried out by the second processing unit, thereby reducing the overall demands on each of the first processing unit and the second processing unit.

[0025] Further, due to having two processing units within the controller 14, the reliability is enhanced due to the given redundancy. In this regard, the first processing unit 16 acts as a watchdog over the functionality of the second processing unit 18. In case of failure of the second processing unit 18, the first processing unit 16 is configured to initiate reboot of the second processing unit 18. Similar, the second processing unit 18 acts as watchdog over the correct operation of the first processing unit 16 and in case of failure may initiate reboot of the first processing unit 16. Thereby, in case of failure of the second processing unit 18, operation of the pumps 12 in the pump system may not be interrupted since all crucial processes in order to operate the pump system are carried out by the first processing unit 16. After reboot of the second processing unit 18 high level services provided by the second processing unit 18 are again accessible.

[0026] In particular, applications from third parties may be installed on the second processing unit 18. However, for the manufacturer of the controller 14 there is no possibility to ensure complete reliability of these third party applications. Thus, by separating the third party applications from the crucial process in order to operate the pump system by the first processing unit 16, the reliability of the controller is enhanced. Upon failure of the third party applications installed on the second processing unit 18, operation of the pump system can be ensured by the first processing unit 16. Simultaneously, updates of the third party applications on the second processing unit 18 provided by an update server 26 can be installed on the second processing unit 18 without interrupting operation of the pumps system.

[0027] In particular the second processing unit has a Docker engine running for the containerization of the high level services. Therein all communication between the containers happen through a medium broker which acts as a publish/subscribe elements server which might be provided by the MQTTS-protocol.

[0028] Further, one or more of the pumps 12 may comprise sensors 28. As depicted in the figure, the sensor 28 is directly connected to the first processing unit 16. Between the sensor 28 and the first processing unit 16 the fieldbus unit is positioned in order to enable fieldbus communication between the first processing unit 16 and the sensor 28. In particular, all sensors of the pump system may be directly connected to the first processing unit 16. Since the first processing unit 16 is built as deterministic processing unit, fast and reliable handling of the acquired sensor data is enabled. Therein, the fieldbus may provide communication via one of the known fieldbuses, such as CANopen, Mod bus, EtherCAT, PROFINET, EtherNet/IP, OPC UA or the like.

[0029] Thus, by the present invention certain tasks in order to proper operate a pump system are separated and carried out by specific processing units. Therein, a first processing unit is 16 provided for low level services, i. e. direct control of the pumps in the pump system and handling sensor data from sensors 28. Additionally, higher level services are provided by a second processing unit 18 enabling further services for the customer or manufacturer of the pumps such as data exchange via an external network, update handling and other security features. Therein, there is no direct communication between the second processing unit providing the higher level services and the pumps 12 in the pump system. Communication is enabled only via the first processing unit. Thus, the second processing unit acts as a security gate for access for control of the pumps 12 in the pump system from the outside. Simultaneously, due to the two processing units in the controller 14 of the pump system, reliability of operation is enhanced due to redundancy.

[0030] Although elements have been shown or described as separate embodiments above, portions of each embodiment may be combined with all or part of other embodiments described above.

[0031] Although the subject matter has been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are described as example forms of implementing the claims.