Method for controlling a technical apparatus

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for controlling a technical apparatus in which a time profile (E(t)) for a power requirement (E) for the technical apparatus is ascertained over at least one period and an operating state of the technical apparatus is matched to the ascertained power requirement (E) on the basis of time.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a technical apparatus operating within a manufacturing plant, comprising: determining a time profile (E(t)) of an energy demand (E) of the technical apparatus operating within the manufacturing plant as a function of time from at least one time period, the time profile (E(t)) of the energy demand (E) comprising an energy usage fluctuation over a specific period of time during which the technical apparatus is in operation; adapting an operating state of the technical apparatus operating within the manufacturing plant to the determined energy demand (E) as the function of time; establishing an energy demand interval (E) and assigning a specific operating state of the technical apparatus operating within the manufacturing plant during the energy demand interval (E); determining at least one regularly recurring time interval (t) in which the determined energy demand (E) is permanently within the prescribed energy demand interval (E); and automatically placing the technical apparatus operating within the manufacturing plant into that operating state which is assigned to the respective energy demand interval (E) at a beginning of the time interval (t).

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein an energy-saving operation of the technical apparatus operating within the manufacturing plant is assigned to the energy demand interval (E) as the operating state.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein a shutdown state of the technical apparatus operating within the manufacturing plant is assigned to the energy demand interval (E) as the operating state.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: assigning an operating state to be set to an event; monitoring whether the event occurs; and automatically placing the technical apparatus operating within the manufacturing plant into the operating state assigned to the event upon the occurrence of the event.

5. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the event is a varying energy consumption of a device connected to the technical apparatus operating within the manufacturing plant.

6. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the event is reception of a prescribed signal which is transmitted via a communication system.

7. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the event is an energy consumption of the technical apparatus operating within the manufacturing plant that is constant over a prescribed duration.

8. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the event is assigned an energy-saving operation or a shutdown state of the technical apparatus operating within the manufacturing plant as the operating state to be set.

9. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the event is assigned a shutdown state operating within the technical apparatus of the manufacturing plant as the operating state to be set.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The above described characteristics, features and advantages of this invention, and the way in which the said are achieved become more clear and more clearly comprehensible in conjunction with the following description of an exemplary embodiment which is explained in more detail in conjunction with a drawing, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a graphical plot of a time profile of an energy demand of a technical apparatus, and time intervals of an energy-saving operation of the technical apparatus; and

(3) FIG. 2 is a flowchart of the method in accordance with the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(4) As for the technical apparatus, it can, by way of example, in this case be a pump, for example a coolant or hydraulic pump, or a compressor. The specific type and design of the technical apparatus is in fact, however, largely irrelevant in terms of the inventive method. However, the method enjoys particularly advantageous applications to slave apparatuses of larger technical systems because, in contrast to the larger systems, the slave apparatuses are frequently operated permanently in an unchanged operating state with a view to permanent availability, i.e., they are not shut down nor are they put into an energy-saving operation.

(5) FIG. 1 shows a time profile E(t) of an energy demand E of the technical apparatus as a function of time t during three consecutive days.

(6) There is also illustrated a corresponding shift pattern of work shifts S1, S2, S3 in a plant in which the technical apparatus is used. In this case, S1 denotes a night shift, S2 an early shift and S3 a late shift.

(7) On a first day, the late shift S3 ends at a first instant t.sub.1, at which the night shift S1 following thereupon begins. This night shift S1 is followed at a fourth instant t.sub.4 by the early shift S2 of a second day. This early shift S2 is followed at a fifth instant t.sub.5 by the late shift S3 of the second day, whereupon a night shift S1 then follows again at a sixth instant t.sub.6, and so on.

(8) During the early shifts S2 and the late shifts S3, the energy demand E fluctuates as a function of time t as a consequence of the changing requirements placed on the technical apparatus. In particular, during the early shifts S2 and the late shifts S3, the energy demand E, respectively repeatedly leaves an energy demand interval E that is limited by a first interval limit E.sub.1 and a second interval limit E.sub.2.

(9) During the night shifts S1, the energy demand E of the technical apparatus is constant, because the technical apparatus is then not being used. Consequently, during the night shifts S1, in accordance with the invention the technical apparatus is automatically placed by a first operating state change A into an energy-saving operation in which the energy demand E sinks to a minimum demand E.sub.3. Before the end of each night shift S1, the technical apparatus is woken up from the energy-saving operation by a second operating state change B such that it is once again fully ready for operation. Its energy demand E is thereby raised again. The second operating state change B can be initiated automatically or manually in this case. Likewise, the instants t.sub.3, t.sub.8 at which the second operating state change B is respectively undertaken can be determined automatically or manually.

(10) In accordance with the invention, the energy-saving option is detected in this case during the night shifts S1 by determining and evaluating a time profile E(t) of the energy demand E of the technical apparatus over a period of several days. For the purpose of the evaluation, the energy demand interval E is prescribed, and it is assigned the energy-saving operation as the operating state of the technical apparatus. It is detected in the evaluation that the energy demand E is always within the energy demand interval E during a regularly recurring time interval t in the night shifts S1. It may concluded therefrom that the technical apparatus can be placed into the energy-saving operation during this time interval t. Consequently, the technical apparatus is respectively placed into the energy-saving mode at instants t.sub.2, t.sub.7 at the beginning of the time interval t.

(11) Although the invention has been illustrated and described in more detail by a preferred exemplary embodiment, the invention is not restricted by the disclosed examples, and other variations can be derived herefrom by the person skilled in the art without departing from the protective scope of the invention.

(12) FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a method for controlling a technical apparatus. The method comprises determining a time profile (E(t)) of an energy demand (E) of the technical apparatus from at least one period, as indicated in step 210. Next, an operating state of the technical apparatus is adapted to the determined energy demand (E) as a function of time, as indicated in step 220.

(13) While there have been shown, described, and pointed out fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the methods described and illustrated, and in their operation, may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, it is expressly intended that all combinations of those method steps which perform substantially the same function in substantially the same way to achieve the same results are within the scope of the invention. Moreover, it should be recognized that method steps shown and/or described in connection with any disclosed form or embodiment of the invention may be incorporated in any other disclosed or described or suggested form or embodiment as a general matter of design choice. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the claims appended hereto.