Method of Operating Metering Devices

Abstract

The present invention concerns a method of operating at least one metering device. To provide a method of operating metering devices, which can be flexibly adapted, it is proposed according to the invention that the method has the steps of providing a server, providing at least one metering device, providing a closed-loop control device, transmitting data, providing a case database, calculating improved further operating data and providing the improved further operating data for the control device.

Claims

1. A method of operating at least one metering device (1), wherein the method comprises the steps: A) providing a server (2), B) providing at least one metering device (1) having a metering chamber in which a displacement element is arranged moveably in such a way that it is reciprocable between two positions, wherein the volume of the metering chamber in the one position is greater than in the other position, wherein the metering device (1) further has: an actuator for driving the displacement element, which has an actuator input for an electrical actuation signal and is so constructed that an electrical actuation signal at the actuator input is converted into a mechanical movement, a first sensor for detecting a physical or chemical measurement value which has a sensor output for an electrical measurement signal and is so adapted that it detects the physical or chemical measurement value, converts it into an electrical measurement signal and makes same available at the sensor output, a communication interface, by way of which the metering device (1) can communicate with the server (2), C) providing a closed-loop control device which receives the electrical measurement signal provided at the sensor output, compares it to a predetermined target value and in dependence on the comparison result and further operating data generates an electrical actuation signal and outputs it to the actuator input, D) transmitting data which contain the electrical measurement signal or were calculated on the basis of the electrical measurement signal, from the metering device (1) to the server (2) by way of the communication interface, E) providing a case database (6) having reference data, F) calculating improved further operating data from the transmitted data and the reference data, and G) providing the improved further operating data for the control device.

2. A method according to claim 1 characterised in that the transmitted data are entered as further reference data into the case database (6).

3. A method according to claim 1 characterised in that the control device is provided on the server (2).

4. A method according to claim 1 characterised in that in step B) at least two metering devices (1) are provided.

5. A method according to claim 1 characterised in that the metering device (1) has a second sensor for detecting a second physical or chemical measurement value, which has a sensor output for a second electrical measurement signal and is so adapted that it detects the second physical or chemical measurement value, converts it into a second electrical measurement signal and makes same available at the sensor output, wherein in step D) data which in addition contain the second electrical measurement signal or were calculated on the basis of the second electrical measurement signal are transmitted from the metering device (1) to the server (2) by way of the communication interface.

6. A method according to claim 1 characterised in that a differential equation based on a physical model is set up for the displacement element, the first sensor measures at least the position of the displacement element and a physical variable of the displacement pump is determined on the server (2) by means of the differential equation.

7. A method according to claim 6 characterised in that the given physical variable is compared to a target value curve and if the given physical variable deviates from the target value curve by more than a predetermined tolerance value an alarm device is activated or the metering device (1) is shut down.

8. A method according to claim 1 characterised in that a magnetic coil is provided as the actuator and the current through the magnetic coil is detected with the first or the second sensor.

9. A method according to claim 1 characterised in that the first sensor has an operational signal input and the control device has an operating signal generating device for the first sensor or is connected thereto and in step F) the further operating data improved values for operational signals for the first and second sensor are calculated and same are provided for the control device in step G).

10. A method according to claim 1 characterised in that the first sensor has an activation signal input and the control device has an activation signal generating device for the first and/or second sensor or is connected thereto and in step F) the further operating data improved values for activation signals for the first sensor are calculated and provided in step G) for the control device.

11. A method according to claim 1 characterised in that the transmitted data together with at least a part of the further operating data are entered as further reference data into the case database (6).

12. A method according to claim 1 characterised in that the transmitted data together with the data calculated from the transmitted data are entered as further reference data into the case database (6).

13. A method according to claim 1 characterised in that the transmitted data together with at least a part of the further operating data and from at least a part of the further operating data are entered as further reference data into the case database (6).

14. A method according to claim 1 characterised in that the transmitted data together with data calculated from the transmitted data and from at least a part of the further operating data are entered as further reference data into the case database (6).

15. A method according to claim 1 characterised in that in step B) at least ten metering devices (1) are provided.

16. A method according to claim 1 characterised in that in step B) at least 100 metering devices (1) are provided.

Description

[0054] Further advantages, features and possible uses of the present invention will be clearly apparent from the description hereinafter of an embodiment according to the invention and the accompanying FIGURE in which:

[0055] FIG. 1 shows a diagrammatic view of a system according to the invention.

[0056] FIG. 1 shows a diagrammatic view of a system according to the invention. In the illustrated embodiment the metering device 1 only comprises the conveyor unit with the corresponding drive including actuator and at least one sensor and a communication interface. The metering device 1 is connected to a server 2 which can also be completely virtualised. The server is in communication with a display device 3 which can be for example a PC, a smartphone or a tablet computer, by way of which it is possible to have access by means of remote access to the server 2 and by way of the server 2 to the metering device.

[0057] The server 2 takes over all tasks which are necessary for regular operation of the metering device. Besides the provision of computing power this is inter alia the closed-loop control function, that is to say the server 2 which is arranged at any remote location receives the measurement parameters necessary for control by way of the communication interface from the metering device 1 and outputs a corresponding actuation signal for the actuator, which in turn is transmitted to the metering device 1.

[0058] The server 2 has access to a case database 6 with reference data. The server can look up in that case database whether suitable operating data for the control device are already stored there, for comparable application cases. If same are present they can be transmitted to the control device. Optionally corresponding operating data can be interpolated or extrapolated from a plurality of data.

[0059] Particularly when no suitable reference data are available the control parameters of the control device can be entered into the case database in order to have access to the corresponding reference data in the event of a future similarly occurring case.

[0060] The corresponding data transmitted from the metering device are analysed in the server continuously or at regular intervals. If in that case it turns out that individual measurement values are outside a predetermined value, then an emergency shutdown can be initiated or an alarm device 5 can be activated, which passes a suitable warning message to the user for example by way of SMS, e-mail or Twitter.

[0061] In addition differential equations can be stored in the server on the basis of physical models, the coefficients of which equations describe physical properties of the system. Those coefficients should usually remain constant in normal operation, but in the course of operation if it turns out that the values for the coefficients alter significantly, that is a sign of material fatigue so that the corresponding service 4 can be informed that suitable maintenance of the metering device 1 is necessary.

LIST OF REFERENCES

[0062] 1 metering device [0063] 2 server [0064] 3 display device [0065] 4 service [0066] 5 alarm device [0067] 6 case database