METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MAINTAINING A MEASURING POINT IN A PLANT OF PROCESS AUTOMATION

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and to a system for maintaining a measuring point in a plant of process automation, comprising at least one plurality of field devices, which are located in a storage area, a database for storing a product type of each of the plurality of field devices and associated device features of the plurality of field devices, and a computing unit, in which a substitution matrix is implemented, and which can access the database and there read out, store and/or associate data, and which calculates a suitability evaluation for each of the plurality of field devices.

Claims

1-6. (canceled)

7. A method for maintaining a measuring point in a plant of process automation, comprising: registering a product type of each of a plurality of field devices located in a storage area and storing the plurality of product types in a database; collecting device features of each of the plurality of field devices, the device features including a discrete representation of performance characteristics of each of the plurality of field devices, and associating the device features with the product type of the respective field device stored in the database; collecting a product type and device features of a field device to be replaced at the measuring point; comparing the product type and the device features of the field device to be replaced with the product types stored in the database and the device features associated with each product type; calculating a suitability evaluation for each of the plurality of field devices, wherein the suitability evaluation represents a degree of agreement of the device features of the respective field device with the device features of the field device to be replaced, and wherein the suitability evaluation is based on a substitution matrix representing rules for mutual substitution of various device features; publishing the suitability evaluation for each of the plurality of field devices; and selecting a replacement field device from the plurality of field devices based on the suitability evaluations, wherein a higher suitability evaluation represents a higher degree of agreement of the device features.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7, further comprising: displaying differences of the device features of the field device to be replaced with the device features of each of the plurality of field devices.

9. The method as claimed claim 7, further comprising: when none of the plurality of field devices has the same product type as the field device to be replaced: compiling a measuring point specification of the measuring point, the measuring point specification including a specification of technical properties, a specification of performance characteristics, or a description of permitted operating ranges; translating the measuring point specification into required device features; comparing the required device features with the associated device features of each of the plurality of field devices stored in the database and calculating a suitability evaluation for each of the plurality of field devices; and selecting from the plurality of field devices the field device having the highest suitability evaluation in the form of the highest degree of agreement of the device features with the required device features.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the method steps of registering the product type, collecting the device features, collecting the product type, comparing, calculating, and publishing and the method steps of compiling a measuring point specification, translating, and comparing are performed in parallel.

11. A system for maintaining a measuring point in a plant of process automation, which system is suitable for performing the method as claimed in one of claims 1 to 4, comprising a plurality of field devices located in a storage area; a database configured to store a product type of each of the plurality of field devices and associated device features of each of the plurality of field devices; a substitution matrix including rules for mutual substitution of various device features; a computing unit in which the substitution matrix is implemented and which can access the database including reading out data, storing data, and/or associating data, the computing unit configured to calculate a suitability evaluation for each of the plurality of field devices.

12. The system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the database is reachable by means of cloud computing web services.

Description

[0031] The invention will now be explained in greater detail based on the appended drawing, the sole FIGURE of which show as follows:

[0032] FIG. 1 an embodiment of the method of the invention for maintaining a measuring point in a plant of process automation.

[0033] FIG. 1 displays an embodiment of the method of the invention for maintaining a measuring point in a plant of process automation. Located at a measuring point M of a plant of process automation of a customer 4 is a field device 2, which is to be replaced because of a defect or age.

[0034] Located in a storage area 1 of the customer are a plurality of field devices F.sub.1, F.sub.2, F.sub.3. In order to check suitability as a replacement field device in the case of each one of the plurality of field devices F.sub.1, F.sub.2, F.sub.3, the product type P.sub.1, P.sub.2 and the device features DF.sub.1, DF.sub.2, DF.sub.3, DF.sub.4 of each of the plurality of field devices F.sub.1, F.sub.2, F.sub.3 are registered. The registering can occur manually, in which case the customer 4 inputs the product types P.sub.1, P.sub.2 and the device features F.sub.1, F.sub.2, F.sub.3 into a computing unit CU. Since an individual field device can have about 60-80 different device features DF.sub.1, DF.sub.2, DF.sub.3, DF.sub.4, the registration process can be complicated and tedious. Therefore, it is alternatively possible to provide ordering codes of the field devices F.sub.1, F.sub.2, F.sub.3, which are automatically converted into the device features DF.sub.1, DF.sub.2, DF.sub.3, DF.sub.4.

[0035] The following presents an example of an ordering code, Profibus PA, of one of the plurality of field devices F.sub.1, F.sub.2, F.sub.3, more exactly a pressure difference measuring device, with device features DF.sub.1, DF.sub.2, DF.sub.3, DF.sub.4 converted therefrom:

TABLE-US-00001 ordering code Profibus PA device features DF.sub.1: parametering >remote servicing via software FieldCare DF.sub.2: electrical >screw terminals connection DF.sub.3: type of supply >two-conductor DF.sub.4: protocol type >Profibus PA

[0036] Profibus PA is, in such case, the ordering code for the communication. Other field devices F.sub.1, F.sub.2, F.sub.3 located in the storage area can, in given cases, have other ordering codes for communication, for example, according to a fieldbus protocol, HART, Foundation Fieldbus, etc., and, as a result, have different device features.

[0037] The registered product types P.sub.1, P.sub.2 of the plurality of field devices F.sub.1, F.sub.2, F.sub.3. and the registered/converted device features DF.sub.1, DF.sub.2, DF.sub.3, DF.sub.4 are associated with one another and stored in a database DB. The database (DB) is reachable by means of cloud computing web services.

[0038] Furthermore, the product type P.sub.x of the field device to be replaced and its device features DF.sub.x are registered.

[0039] Then, with a search method S, a search for a replacement field device of the plurality of field devices F.sub.1, F.sub.2, F.sub.3 is begun. For this, first, the product type P.sub.x of the field device 2 to be replaced is compared with the product types P.sub.1, P.sub.2 of the plurality of field devices F.sub.1, F.sub.2, F.sub.3. Then, the device features DF.sub.x are compared with the device features DF.sub.1, DF.sub.2, DF.sub.3, DF.sub.4 of the plurality of field devices F.sub.1, F.sub.2, F.sub.3. A logic algorithm in the form of a substitution matrix creates a suitability evaluation for each of the plurality of field devices F.sub.1, F.sub.2, F.sub.3. A suitability evaluation displays a degree of agreement of device features between the field device 2 to be replaced and a potential replacement field device of the plurality of field devices F.sub.1, F.sub.2, F.sub.3. The greater the agreement of the device features DF.sub.1, DF.sub.2, DF.sub.3, DF.sub.4, DF.sub.x, the higher is the suitability evaluation.

[0040] In order to be able to select a replacement field device F.sub.1, F.sub.2, F.sub.3, which differs in the device features DF.sub.x compared to the device features DF.sub.1, DF.sub.2, DF.sub.3, DF.sub.4 of the field device 2 to be replaced, the device features DF.sub.x of the replacement field device F.sub.1, F.sub.2, F.sub.3 must be able to substitute for those of the field device 2 to be replaced. For example, an option is to replace a field device 2 to be replaced, which has as device feature DF.sub.1, DF.sub.2, DF.sub.3, DF.sub.4 not Ex-certified, with a replacement field device, which has as device feature DF.sub.1, DF.sub.2, DF.sub.3, DF.sub.4 Ex-certified. On the other hand, this is not possible in the reverse direction. In the above example of the pressure difference device, for example, a replacement of the device feature DF.sub.2, electrical connection, is possible, while a replacement of the device feature DF.sub.4 protocol type is not possible. The substitution matrix has at all times the necessary information, in order to be able to provide a unique statement concerning a substitution possibility of a device feature DF.sub.1, DF.sub.2, DF.sub.3, DF.sub.4. For example, the substitution matrix can make use of a database with possible substitutions. Preferably, this database is regularly updated with the newest information.

[0041] After calculating the suitability evaluation for each of the plurality of field devices F.sub.1, F.sub.2, F.sub.3, these suitability evaluations are provided to the customer, wherein it is suggested to the customer 4 to select one of the field devices F.sub.1, F.sub.2, F.sub.3 with the highest suitability evaluation. Moreover, the customer can be shown the differences between the device features DF.sub.x of the field device 2 to be replaced and the device features DF.sub.1, DF.sub.2, DF.sub.3, DF.sub.4 of the field devices F.sub.1, F.sub.2, F.sub.3 located in the storage area 1, whereby the customer can make a more knowing decision for a replacement field device F.sub.1, F.sub.2, F.sub.3. In this example of an embodiment, the replacement field device is field device F.sub.2.

[0042] In case none of the plurality of field devices F.sub.1, F.sub.2, F.sub.3 are of the same product type P.sub.1, P.sub.2 as the field device 2 to be exchanged at the measuring point M, a measuring point specification 3 of the measuring point M of the plant is compiled, wherein the measuring point specification 3 is a specification of technical properties or a specification of performance characteristics or a description of permitted operating ranges. The measuring point specification 3 of the measuring point M of the plant is then translated into required device features DF.sub.y. Thereupon, such as above described, a search method S is begun for a replacement field device from the plurality of field devices F.sub.1, F.sub.2, F.sub.3. For this, also here, suitability evaluations are created for each of the plurality of field devices F.sub.1, F.sub.2, F.sub.3, wherein it is suggested to the customer 4 that one of the field devices F.sub.1, F.sub.2, F.sub.3 with the highest suitability evaluation be selected. In this example of an embodiment, this is field device F.sub.2.

[0043] An advantage of this variant of the method of the invention is that potential replacement field devices can be found from the plurality of field devices F.sub.1, F.sub.2, F.sub.3, when no replacement field device of the plurality of field devices F.sub.1, F.sub.2, F.sub.3 with fitting product type is in the storage area. For example, an option is to replace a magneto inductive flow measuring device with a flow measuring device of some other type, when the agreement of the device features DF.sub.1, DF.sub.2, DF.sub.3, DF.sub.4, DF.sub.y is high enough

[0044] In an additional variation, the customer 4 can perform the two described methods in parallel mode PL, whereby the customer obtains an essentially higher selection possibility for a replacement field device from the plurality of field devices F.sub.1, F.sub.2, F.sub.3.

LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS

[0045] DB database [0046] DF.sub.1, DF.sub.2, DF.sub.3, DF.sub.4 device features of the field devices of storage area [0047] DF.sub.x device features of the field device to be replaced [0048] DF.sub.y device features of the measuring point specification [0049] P.sub.1, P.sub.2 product types of the field devices of storage area [0050] P.sub.x product type of the field device to be replaced [0051] PL parallel method execution [0052] CU computing unit [0053] S search method [0054] F.sub.1, F.sub.2, F.sub.3 plurality of field devices [0055] 1 storage area [0056] 2 field device to be replaced [0057] 3 measuring point specification [0058] 4 customer