METHOD FOR AUTOMATICALLY DISPLAYING MEASUREMENT VALUES

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for automatically displaying measurement values, having the method steps of transmitting a number of measurement value groups detected by a sensor system, wherein each measurement value group has n variables; ascertaining an optical value range for the display of the n-th variables; transforming the values of the n-th variables of the measurement value groups into optical values from the optical value range; displaying variables 1 to n−1 of the measurement value groups in a coordinate system with n−1 dimensions; and displaying the points of the measurement value groups in the optical values assigned to the n-th variables of the measurement value groups.

Claims

1. A method for automatically displaying measurement values (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7), which has the following method steps: transmitting a number of measurement value groups (100) detected by a sensor system, wherein each measurement value group has n variables, wherein each of the n variables represents a different physical quantity with respectively different physical units; specifying an optical value range for the display of the n-th variables (200); transforming the values of the n-th variables of the measurement value groups into optical values from the optical value range (300); displaying variables 1 to n−1 of the measurement value groups in a coordinate system (20) with n−1 dimensions (400); displaying the points of the measurement value groups in the optical values assigned to the n-th variable of the measurement value group (500).

2. The method for automatically displaying measurement values (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) according to claim 1, characterized in that the sensor system comprises n sensors, wherein each of the n sensors detects one of the n variables and/or a measurement value, from which one of the n variables is determined.

3. The method for automatically displaying measurement values (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) according to claim 1, characterized in that n>=3.

4. The method for automatically displaying measurement values (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) according to claim 1, characterized in that the optical value range is a color coding and/or a brightness coding.

5. The method for automatically displaying measurement values (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) according to claim 1, characterized in that the optical value range comprises at least two values.

6. The method for automatically displaying measurement values (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) according to claim 5, characterized in that the optical value range comprises a continuous spectrum of optical values.

7. The method for automatically displaying measurement values (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) according to claim 1, characterized in that a legend (30) is displayed for the assignment of the values of the n-th variables of the measurement value group to values of the optical value range.

8. The method for automatically displaying measurement values (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) according to claim 1, characterized in that n>=4.

9. The method for automatically displaying measurement values (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) according to claim 8, characterized in that variables 1 to n−1 of the measurement value groups are displayed in a three-dimensional coordinate system (20), wherein the perspective of the display of the three-dimensional coordinate system (20) is changed according to a user input.

10. The method for automatically displaying measurement values (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) according to claim 7, characterized in that the display of the respective two-dimensional value pairs is projected onto the corresponding surfaces formed by the coordinate axes in the three-dimensional coordinate system (20).

11. The method for automatically displaying measurement values (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) according to claim 10, characterized in that the points of the measurement value groups are displayed on the surfaces formed by the coordinate axes in the optical values assigned to the n-th variables of the measurement value groups.

12. The method for automatically displaying measurement values (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) according to claim 1, characterized in that the deviation of a measurement value group from a comparison value (10) is determined.

13. The method for automatically displaying measurement values (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) according to claim 12, characterized in that the n-th variable represents the deviation from comparison values (10).

14. The method for automatically displaying measurement values (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) according to claim 12, characterized in that the comparison values (10) are displayed in the coordinate system (20), wherein the comparison values (10) are displayed as lines and/or surfaces in the coordinate system (20).

15. The method for automatically displaying measurement values (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) according to claim 12, characterized in that the deviation is determined in relation to one of variables 1 to n−1 of the measurement value group.

16. The method for automatically displaying measurement values (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) according to claim 13, characterized in that the deviation is determined in relation to one of variables 1 to n−1 of the measurement value group.

17. The method for automatically displaying measurement values (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) according to claim 14, characterized in that the deviation is determined in relation to one of variables 1 to n−1 of the measurement value group.

Description

[0028] An embodiment of the invention will be described in greater detail in the following using drawings. The following is shown:

[0029] FIG. 1a) two-dimensional coordinate system, measurement values as a function of two variables (x,y), assumed threshold value;

[0030] FIG. 1b) two-dimensional coordinate system, measurement values as a function of three variables (x,y,w) in grayscale, threshold values;

[0031] FIG. 2a) Cartesian coordinate system, measurement values as a function of four variables (x,y,z,w) in grayscale with a comparison value surface (threshold value) in a time grid of 7 days—view 1;

[0032] FIG. 2b) Cartesian coordinate system, measurement values as a function of four variables (x,y,z,w) in grayscale with a comparison value surface (threshold value) in a time grid of 7 days—view 2;

[0033] FIG. 3a) Cartesian coordinate system, measurement values as a function of four variables (x,y,z,w) in grayscale with a comparison value surface (threshold value) in a time grid of 3 hours—view 1;

[0034] FIG. 3b) Cartesian coordinate system, measurement values as a function of four variables (x,y,z,w) in grayscale with a comparison value surface (threshold value) in a time grid of 3 hours—view 2;

[0035] FIG. 4a) Cartesian coordinate system, measurement values as a function of four variables (x,y,z,w) in grayscale with a comparison value surface (threshold value) in a time grid of 1 hour with projection of the measurement values onto the surfaces of the coordinate axes—view 1;

[0036] FIG. 4b) Cartesian coordinate system, measurement values as a function of four variables (x,y,z,w) in grayscale with a comparison value surface (threshold value) in a time grid of 1 hour with projection of the measurement values onto the surfaces of the coordinate axes—view 2;

[0037] FIG. 5 Sequence of the method according to the invention.

[0038] FIG. 1 shows a schematic exemplary embodiment of the method according to the invention, the measurement values 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 of the sensor system being shown in a two-dimensional coordinate system 20.

[0039] In this exemplary embodiment, the sensor system with three sensors, which sensor system monitors the installation, provides measurement values 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, which are displayed as points in the two-dimensional coordinate system 20. In this exemplary embodiment, a measurement value 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 consists of the three variables (Y,X,Z). The coordinate axes are denoted as Y (x-axis) and X (y-axis) and only serve to illustrate the general principle of the invention in this exemplary embodiment. In addition, the curve of a comparison value 10 is shown in the coordinate system 20. This comparison value 10 can, for example, be a characteristic curve specified by the manufacturer of the monitored installation. The curve of the comparison value 10 is a one-dimensional curve, a continuous function X=f(Y) in this exemplary embodiment.

[0040] In the first method step 100 of the method according to the invention, the sensor data are transmitted to an evaluation unit. The measurement values 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 are automatically transformed into the appropriate value range in the coordinate system 20 in order to be displayed. This transformation can also be carried out at any time and also subsequently by a user in order to adapt the display size of the coordinate system 20 for reasons of clarity. The optical value range of variable Z is defined in the second method step 200 of the method according to the invention, and variable Z is transformed into this optical value range in the third method step 300. In this exemplary embodiment, variable Z represents the deviation of the individual measurement value 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 from the comparison value 10. The optical value range can also be defined automatically and/or by a user and changed for reasons of clarity; for example, color coding is possible. In the fourth method step 400, the measurement values 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 are each displayed as a symbol depending on Y and X in a two-dimensional coordinate system 20. In the fifth method step 500, the symbols of the measurement values 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 are displayed with the respective associated optical value.

[0041] In FIG. 1a, deviation Z of a measurement value 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 from the comparison value 10 is shown using two colors: measurement values 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 in which the values of deviation Z from the comparison value 10 are less than or equal to 0 are shown in white; measurement values 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 in which deviation Z is greater than 0 are displayed in black. In addition, a legend 30 is shown, which allows the measurement values to be assigned to the color coding of measurement values 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or the symbolic representation thereof.

[0042] FIG. 1b shows deviation Z of a measurement value 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 from the comparison value 10 in grayscale. Measurement values 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 which show the values of deviation Z from the comparison value 10 equal to (−5) are also shown in white; measurement values 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 the deviation Z of which is equal to 5 are shown in black. The values 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 between these two extreme values are displayed in grayscale. The legend 30 allows the assignment of the measurement values 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 to the color coding of variable Z.

[0043] FIG. 2 shows an exemplary embodiment of the method according to the invention using an underground storage facility for natural gas. These storage facilities are used to compensate for imbalances between supply or production and demand or consumption and to increase the reliability of supply. Since the gas in the underground storage facility usually has a higher pressure than the long-distance gas pipeline, the gas is compressed with a compressor in order to supply it.

[0044] In this exemplary embodiment, the sensor system that monitors the installation provides sensor data on the feed rate of the natural gas into the storage facility (variable 1, x-axis), on the compression ratio of the compressed natural gas (variable 2, y-axis), and on the relative energy consumption (variable 3, z-axis). In addition, the sensor system provides variable 4, namely a comparison value for energy efficiency, i.e. the amount of energy required per volume of gas fed into the storage facility, which is especially relevant for a user of the installation. A plurality of sensors are required to determine the respective measurement values in order to determine the respective measurement values from the raw data of the sensors. In this exemplary embodiment, the number of sensors and the measurement values therefrom is greater than the number of variables shown in the graphic representation.

[0045] In addition, the curve of a comparison value 10 is shown in the coordinate system 20. The comparison values 10 are typically provided by the manufacturer of the monitored installation and are functions of the feed rate, compression ratio, and relative energy consumption. The curve of the comparison value 10 is a two-dimensional surface in this three-dimensional coordinate system 20.

[0046] In the first method step 100 of the method according to the invention, the sensor data are transmitted to an evaluation unit. The measurement values 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 are automatically transformed into the appropriate value range in the coordinate system 20 in order to be displayed. This transformation can also be carried out at any time and also subsequently by a user in order to adapt the display size of the coordinate system 20 for reasons of clarity. The optical value range of variable 4 (comparison value of the energy efficiency) is defined in the second method step 200 of the method according to the invention, and variable 4 is transformed into this optical value range in the third method step 300. The optical value range can also be defined automatically and/or by a user and changed for reasons of clarity. In the fourth method step 400, the measurement values 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 are each displayed as a symbol in a three-dimensional coordinate system 20. In the fifth method step 500, the measurement values 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 are displayed with the respective associated optical value. The optical value range is shown in a legend 30 for the assignment of the measurement values 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 to the color coding of the measurement values 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or the symbolic representation thereof. In this exemplary embodiment, the optical value range is displayed in grayscale. Measurement values 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 which have an especially high comparison value of energy efficiency (>126%) are shown in black; measurement values 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 with a low comparison value of energy efficiency (<90%) are shown in white. Measurement values 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 which have comparison values of energy efficiency between the extreme values mentioned are shown in grayscale with different shades corresponding to the respective values of the energy efficiency comparison values (FIG. 3a).

[0047] In terms of the invention, the coordinate system 20 is not limited to a Cartesian coordinate system 20; oblique coordinate systems 20 or spherical coordinates 20 are also conceivable. According to the invention, the display of the measurement values 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 in the coordinate system 20 is designed such that a user can change the perspective of the display at any time. It is possible, for example, to rotate the display (FIG. 3b) and/or to enlarge or reduce (zoom) the display in order to highlight specific regions of the display that are of interest to the user.

[0048] FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the method according to the invention using an underground storage facility for natural gas, in which the method is configured by a user so that the measurement values 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 transmitted by the sensor system are continually updated, or new measurement values 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 are entered into the coordinate system 20 without a noticeable time delay and are displayed in this way. Thus, this exemplary embodiment shows significantly more measurement values 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 than the previous exemplary embodiment.

[0049] The method according to the invention therefore makes it possible to optically prepare measurement values 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 of a sensor system for a user in such a way that the user is continually informed about the status of the monitored system, particularly if the user changes one of the variables by making more energy available to the compressor in this exemplary embodiment, for example. The effects of the change can be seen without any noticeable time delay.

[0050] The sensor system that monitors the installation provides sensor data on the feed rate of the natural gas into the storage facility (variable 1, x-axis), on the compression ratio of the compressed natural gas (variable 2, y-axis), and on the relative energy consumption (variable 3, z-axis). In addition, the sensor system provides variable 4, namely a comparison value for energy efficiency, i.e. the amount of energy required per volume of gas fed into the storage facility, which is especially relevant for a user of the installation.

[0051] In addition, the curve of a comparison value 10 is shown in the coordinate system 20. The comparison values 10 are typically provided by the manufacturer of the monitored installation and are functions of the feed rate, compression ratio, and relative energy consumption. The curve of the comparison value 10 is a two-dimensional surface in this three-dimensional coordinate system 20.

[0052] In the first method step 100 of the method according to the invention, the sensor data are transmitted to an evaluation unit. The measurement values 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 are automatically transformed into the appropriate value range in the coordinate system 20 in order to be displayed. This transformation can also be carried out at any time and also subsequently by a user in order to adapt the display size of the coordinate system 20 for reasons of clarity. The optical value range of variable 4 (comparison value of the energy efficiency) is defined in the second method step 200 of the method according to the invention, and variable 4 is transformed into this optical value range in the third method step 300. The optical value range can also be defined automatically and/or by a user and changed for reasons of clarity. In the fourth method step 400, the measurement values 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 are each displayed as a symbol in a three-dimensional coordinate system 20. In the fifth method step 500, the measurement values 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 are displayed with the respective associated optical value. The optical value range is shown in a legend 30 for the assignment of the measurement values 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 to the color coding of the measurement values 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or the symbolic representation thereof. In this exemplary embodiment, the optical value range is displayed in grayscale. Measurement values 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 which have an especially high comparison value of energy efficiency (>126%) are shown in black; measurement values 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 with a low comparison value of energy efficiency (<90%) are shown in white. Measurement values 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 which have comparison values of energy efficiency between the extreme values mentioned are shown in grayscale with different shades corresponding to the respective values of the energy efficiency comparison values (FIG. 3a).

[0053] According to the invention, the measurement values 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 are displayed in the coordinate system 20 in such a way that a user can change the perspective of the display at any time. It is possible, for example, to rotate the display (FIG. 3b) and/or to zoom in the display in order to highlight specific areas of the display that are of interest to the user.

[0054] FIG. 4 shows an exemplary embodiment of the method according to the invention using an underground storage facility for natural gas, in which the three-dimensional value triples of the measurement values 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 are projected onto the corresponding surfaces formed by the coordinate axes.

[0055] The sensor system that monitors the installation provides sensor data on the feed rate of the natural gas into the storage facility (variable 1, x-axis), on the compression ratio of the compressed natural gas (variable 2, y-axis), and on the relative energy consumption (variable 3, z-axis). In addition, the sensor system provides variable 4, which is especially relevant for a user of the installation, namely a comparison value for energy efficiency, i.e. the amount of energy required per volume of gas fed into the storage facility.

[0056] In addition, the curve of a comparison value 10 is shown in the coordinate system 20. The comparison values 10 are typically provided by the manufacturer of the monitored installation and are functions of the feed rate, compression ratio, and relative energy consumption. The curve of the comparison value 10 is a two-dimensional surface in this three-dimensional coordinate system 20.

[0057] In the first method step 100 of the method according to the invention, the sensor data are transmitted to an evaluation unit. The measurement values 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 are automatically transformed into the appropriate value range in the coordinate system 20 in order to be displayed. This transformation can also be carried out at any time and also subsequently by a user in order to adapt the display size of the coordinate system 20 for reasons of clarity. The optical value range of variable 4 (comparison value of the energy efficiency) is defined in the second method step 200 of the method according to the invention, and variable 4 is transformed into this optical value range in the third method step 300. The optical value range can also be defined automatically and/or by a user and changed for reasons of clarity. In the fourth method step 400, the measurement values 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 are each displayed as a symbol in a three-dimensional coordinate system 20. In the fifth method step 500, the measurement values 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 are displayed with the respective associated optical value. The optical value range is shown in a legend 30 for the assignment of the measurement values 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 to the color coding of the measurement values 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or the symbolic representation thereof. In this exemplary embodiment, the optical value range is displayed in grayscale. Measurement values 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 which have an especially high comparison value of energy efficiency (>126%) are shown in black; measurement values 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 with a low comparison value of energy efficiency (<90%) are shown in white. Measurement values 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 which have comparison values of energy efficiency between the extreme values mentioned are shown in grayscale gradients corresponding to their values of the comparison values of energy efficiency (FIG. 4a).

[0058] A user can also change the perspective of the display at any time (FIG. 4b); for example, the display can be rotated and/or zoomed in order to highlight specific areas of the display that are of interest to the user.

[0059] In the same way, a user can display the two-dimensional value pairs associated with each measurement value 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 by a projection 1′, 2′, 3′, 4′, 5′, 6′, 7′ onto the corresponding coordinate planes. In the present exemplary embodiment, a user can determine the dependency of the standard volume of the storage gas on the compression ratio by projecting onto the xy-plane, determine the compression ratio as a function of the relative energy consumption by projecting onto the yz-plane, and determine the standard volume of the storage gas as a function of the relative energy consumption by projecting onto the xz-plane.

[0060] FIG. 5 schematically shows the flowchart of the method according to the invention. In the first method step 100, the sensor data are transmitted to an evaluation unit. The measurement values are automatically transformed into the appropriate value range in the coordinate system 20 in order to be displayed. This transformation can also be carried out at any time and also subsequently by a user in order to adapt the display size of the coordinate system 20 for reasons of clarity. The optical value range of variable Z is defined in the second method step 200 of the method according to the invention, and variable Z is transformed into this optical value range in the third method step 300. The optical value range can also be defined automatically and/or by a user and changed for reasons of clarity; for example, color coding is possible. In the fourth method step 400, the measurement values are each displayed as a symbol with dependency on Y and X in a two-dimensional coordinate system 20. In the fifth method step 500, the symbols of the measurement values are displayed with the respective associated optical value.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0061] 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 Measurement value group [0062] 10 Comparison value [0063] 20 Coordinate system [0064] 30 Legend [0065] Measurement value group projected onto a coordinate [0066] 1′, 2′, 3′, 4′, 5′, 6′, 7′ surface [0067] 100 Transmission of the measurement values [0068] 200 Definition of the optical value range of the n-th variables Transformation of the values of the n-th variables into the [0069] 300 optical values [0070] Representation of variables 1 to n−1 in a coordinate [0071] 400 system [0072] Representation of the optical values of the measurement [0073] 500 values