METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR IDENTIFYING FAULTS FOR A TECHNICAL SYSTEM

Abstract

A method and an apparatus for identifying faults in a computer-aided manner for a technical system including a switch and a switch drive is provided. A fault or a disruption in the switch and/or in the switch drive is detected by capturing a temporal profile of a measurement variable of the switch drive. A simulation model is provided for the technical system and a fault situation is set by means of setting values of the simulation model, wherein the setting values are assigned to the fault situation. The technical system is simulated by means of the simulation model, wherein a simulated temporal profile of the measurement variable is captured. The simulated temporal profile is compared with the temporal profile of the measurement variable of the switch drive, wherein the fault situation is assigned to the detected fault on the basis of the comparison.

Claims

1. A method for identifying faults in a computer-aided manner for a technical system comprising a switch and a switch drive, the method comprising: detecting a fault in the switch and/or in the switch drive by capturing a temporal profile of a measurement variable of the switch drive; providing a simulation model for the technical system and setting a fault situation by means of setting values of the simulation model, wherein the setting values are assigned to the fault situation; simulating the technical system by means of the simulation model, wherein a simulated temporal profile of the measurement variable is captured; comparing the simulated temporal profile of the measurement variable with the temporal profile of the measurement variable of the switch drive, wherein the fault situation is assigned to the detected fault on a basis of a comparison result; identifying a cause of the detected fault on the basis of the setting values of the simulation model and on the basis of the comparison result; and outputting the identified cause of the fault.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the simulation model represents an electronic and/or a mechanical component of the switch and of the switch drive.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein more than one fault situation is set and the simulated temporal profile of the measurement variable is respectively captured and, on the basis of the comparison with the temporal profile of the measurement variable of the switch drive in each case, that simulated temporal profile with the smallest deviation is selected.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein a faulty component of the technical system is determined on the basis of the simulated temporal profile of the measurement variable and the identified cause of the fault.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein sensor data are captured and evaluated as measurement variables of the technical system by means of a detection module.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the simulation model is created and/or calibrated on the basis of a configuration and/or on the basis of conditions of use and/or environmental data and/or sensor data of the technical system.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein measures for rectifying the fault in the switch and/or in the switch drive are determined and initiated by outputting the identified cause of the fault.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the identified cause of the fault is stored in a database and/or in a storage unit.

9. An apparatus for identifying faults in a computer-aided manner for a technical system comprising a switch and a switch drive, the apparatus comprising: a detection module for detecting a fault in the switch and/or in the switch drive by capturing a temporal profile of a measurement variable of the switch drive; a simulation module for providing a simulation model for the technical system and for setting a fault situation by means of setting values of the simulation model, wherein the setting values are assigned to the fault situation, and for simulating the technical system by means of the simulation model, wherein a simulated temporal profile of the measurement variable is captured; a comparison module for comparing the simulated temporal profile of the measurement variable with the temporal profile of the measurement variable of the switch drive, wherein the fault situation is assigned to the detected fault on the basis of the comparison result; an identification module for identifying a cause of the detected fault on the basis of the setting values of the simulation model and on the basis of the comparison result; and an output module for outputting the identified cause of the fault.

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9, comprising sensors for capturing sensor data of the technical system.

11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the simulation module is set up to create and/or calibrate the simulation model on the basis of a configuration and/or on the basis of conditions of use and/or environmental data and/or sensor data of the technical system.

12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 8, further comprising a storage unit and/or a database for storing an identified cause of the fault.

13. A computer program product, comprising a computer readable hardware storage device having computer readable program code stored therein, said program code executable by a processor of a computer system to implement a method as claimed in claim 1.

14. A computer-readable storage medium having a computer program product as claimed in claim 13.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

[0047] Some of the embodiments will be described in detail, with references to the following Figures, wherein like designations denote like members, wherein:

[0048] FIG. 1 shows, in the form of a flowchart, one exemplary embodiment of the method according to embodiments of the invention for identifying faults in a computer-aided manner for a technical system;

[0049] FIG. 2 shows, in the form of a flowchart, another exemplary embodiment of the method according to embodiments of the invention for identifying faults in a computer-aided manner for a technical system; and

[0050] FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of the apparatus according to embodiments of the invention for identifying faults in a computer-aided manner for a technical system.

[0051] Mutually corresponding objects are provided with the same reference signs in all figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0052] FIG. 1 shows, in the form of a flowchart, one exemplary embodiment of the steps of the method according to embodiments of the invention. The exemplary embodiment relates to a rail system comprising a switch and a switch drive. In step S1, a fault or a disruption in the system is captured by means of a detection module. For example, the fault may cause a failure of the switch controller, with the result that sensors on the switch drive detect a fall in the temporal profile of the power consumption. The detected fault comprises the failure of the switch system, for example. The sensors can also capture, for example, temperature, pressure, acceleration or voltage.

[0053] In step S2, a simulation model of the technical system comprising the switch and the associated switch drive is provided. The simulation model can be set on the basis of a configuration and/or on the basis of conditions of use and/or environmental data and/or sensor data of the technical system. In other words, setting values of the simulation model can be adapted to the system to be simulated. In particular, a simulation model can be adapted to a particular switch/switch drive system, for example with special environmental conditions or a particular maintenance state.

[0054] A fault situation is predefined and is set up by setting the setting values of the simulation model. The technical system is simulated by means of the simulation model in which the fault situation has been set. For example, an operation of actuating a switch can be simulated, wherein the fault situation comprises an obstacle in the switch. Consequently, the simulation is carried out in step S3 taking into account the obstacle and a simulated temporal profile of a measurement variable, for example power consumption, is captured.

[0055] In step S4, the simulated temporal profile of the measurement variable is compared with the measured temporal profile which is continuously provided by a sensor, for example. A fault situation can be assigned to a detected fault if a deviation between the two temporal profiles falls within a predefined tolerance range. In other words, in the case of a particular similarity of the temporal profiles, the detected fault can be declared with a particular degree of probability with the simulated fault situation.

[0056] If the comparison reveals that the predefined fault situation results in a simulated temporal profile which can reproduce the measured temporal profile, at least one cause of a fault can be determined from the fault situation. For this purpose, it is determined in step S5, on the basis of the comparison, that the fault situation is the cause of the detected fault, for example with a statement of the probability, and the at least one cause of the fault can be identified on the basis of the setting values.

[0057] The identified cause of the fault is output in step S6. Measures for rectifying the fault can then be initiated. In particular, individual faulty components of the technical system can be determined on the basis of the comparison, with the result that measures can be derived and implemented only for this component.

[0058] The method according to embodiments of the invention can also be used, for example, for early fault detection if, for example, an abnormal temporal profile of a measurement variable is captured by a sensor, but a fault is not detected in this case. For example, a change in the temporal profile of a measurement variable can already indicate a future fault. Causes of faults can be determined by means of comparison with a simulated temporal profile according to a predefined fault situation before serious disruptions, for example operational failures, occur.

[0059] FIG. 2 shows, in the form of a flowchart, another exemplary embodiment of the method according to embodiments of the invention. The individual method steps are similar to the steps described in FIG. 1. After comparing the simulated temporal profile with the measured temporal profile of a measurement variable, see step S4, a fault situation can be predefined again and the simulation can be carried out, see steps S2 and S3. For example, the comparison may reveal that the selected fault situation results in a simulated temporal profile which cannot reproduce the measured temporal profile within a tolerance range. To optimize the identification of faults, steps S2 to S4 can be repeated as often as desired with different fault situations. It is therefore possible to determine that fault situation whose simulation can reproduce the detected fault in such a manner that the deviation between the simulated temporal profile and the measured temporal profile of the measurement variable is smallest.

[0060] In other words, that fault situation for which the simulated temporal profile exhibits the smallest deviation from the measured temporal profile of the corresponding measurement variable is selected.

[0061] For example, determined fault situations can be stored in a database and/or a storage unit and can be used for an analysis, in particular a subsequent analysis, of a detected fault.

[0062] FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of the apparatus (100) according to embodiments of the invention. The apparatus (100) comprises a detection module (101), a simulation module (102), a comparison module (103), an identification module (104), an output module (105) and a storage unit (106) or a database (107). The apparatus comprises a processor (108) for carrying out at least one step of the method according to embodiments of the invention. The individual modules are connected to one another in a wired or wireless manner. The apparatus is connected to the actual switch/switch drive system and/or to sensors of the system via a communication connection C.

[0063] The apparatus may comprise, in particular, sensors for monitoring measurement variables in the technical system. A fault can be detected on the basis of a measured temporal profile of a measurement variable by means of the detection module (101).

[0064] The simulation module (102) is set up to provide a simulation model of the mechanics of the technical system, in particular of the components of the switch and of the switch drive, and therefore to simulate the system. A simulated temporal profile of a measurement variable can be determined on the basis of the simulation.

[0065] The comparison module (103) determines the deviation of the simulated temporal profile from the measured temporal profile of a measurement variable and outputs a degree of correspondence or a probability value, for example. The deviation of the two temporal profiles can be investigated using statistical methods, for example.

[0066] On the basis of the comparison result, the identification module (104) outputs a fault situation as the cause of the detected fault. One or more causes of faults can be identified on the basis of the setting values of the simulation model which are assigned to the fault situation.

[0067] The output module (105) outputs the one or more identified causes of faults. For example, the causes of faults are stored in the storage unit (106) and/or the database (107). Measures for rectifying faults can be derived on the basis of the causes of faults.

[0068] Although the present invention has been disclosed in the form of preferred embodiments and variations thereon, it will be understood that numerous additional modifications and variations could be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0069] For the sake of clarity, it is to be understood that the use of a or an throughout this application does not exclude a plurality, and comprising does not exclude other steps or elements.