Method for checking load circuits in a technical installation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11940472-B2
Application number	US-202017638581-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 25, 2020
Priority date	Aug 29, 2019
Publication date	Mar 26, 2024
Grant date	Mar 26, 2024

Abstract

Method for checking load circuits of a control system in an installation, wherein the system includes load circuits with a load unit, a control unit and a clocked power supply that supplies the load circuits with a supply voltage or a supply current via output channels activated by control signals from the control unit, where reference values for currents or voltages are initially determined for predefined installation states in which an output channel is activated and an associated load circuit is supplied with predefined voltage values of the supply voltage or predefined current values of the supply current, reference values determined for the predefined installation states are stored, during a self-test present current values or voltage values on the activated output channel are subsequently measured, and a check is performed, and the corresponding associated load circuit is indicated if a deviation from a tolerance range exists.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for checking load circuits of a control system of an installation, the method comprising:
ascertaining reference current values at predefined voltage values of supply voltage or reference voltage values at predefined current values of a supply current for respectively predefined installation states, in a predefined installation state, at least one output channel being activated and a respectively associated load circuit being supplied with the predefined voltage values by the supply voltage or with the predefined current values by the supply current;
storing the reference current values ascertained for the predefined installation states or the reference voltage values ascertained for the predefined installation states;
measuring present current values at the respectively predefined voltage values of the supply voltage or present voltage values at the respectively predefined current values of the supply current on the at least one activated output channel for the respectively predefined installation states during a self-testing phase;
checking whether, in one of the predefined installation states, a departure from a predefined tolerance range occurs, when comparing the respectively presently measured current values with the respectively corresponding stored reference current values, by at least one of the predefined voltage values of the supply voltage or whether, in one of the predefined installation states, a departure from a predefined tolerance range occurs, when comparing the respectively presently measured voltage values with the respectively corresponding stored reference voltage values, by at least one of the predefined current values of the supply current; and
displaying the corresponding load circuit when, in one of the predefined installation states, a departure from the predefined tolerance range by at least one of the predefined voltage values of the supply voltage or by at least one of the predefined current values of the supply current is identified;
wherein the control system comprises at least two load circuits, at least one control unit and a clocked power supply via which the at least two load circuits, each having at least one load unit, are supplied with at least one of the supply voltage and the supply current via at least two output channels, control signals being made available by the control unit to actuate the at least two output channels.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein reference voltage values are furthermore ascertained and stored for at least any output channels which are deactivated in the respectively predefined installation state for respectively predefined installation states;
wherein present voltage values for the output channels which are deactivated in the respectively present installation state are measured during the self-testing phase;
wherein the measured voltage values are compared with the reference voltage values for the respective installation state; and
wherein the respective load circuit in which there is a departure from a predefined tolerance range when comparing between measured voltage values and respectively corresponding stored reference voltage values is displayed.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein reference current values are furthermore ascertained and stored for at least any output channels that are deactivated in the respectively predefined installation state for respectively predefined installation states;
wherein present current values for any output channels which are deactivated in the respective installation state are measured during the self-testing phase;
wherein the measured current values are compared with the corresponding reference current values for the respective installation state; and
wherein the respective load circuit in which there is a departure from a predefined tolerance range when comparing between measured current values and respectively corresponding stored reference current values is displayed.

4. The method as claimed in claim 2 , wherein reference current values are furthermore ascertained and stored for at least any output channels that are deactivated in the respectively predefined installation state for respectively predefined installation states;
wherein present current values for any output channels which are deactivated in the respective installation state are measured during the self-testing phase;
wherein the measured current values are compared with the corresponding reference current values for the respective installation state; and
wherein the respective load circuit in which there is a departure from a predefined tolerance range when comparing between measured current values and respectively corresponding stored reference current values is displayed.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the reference current values and the reference voltage values for the respective installation states are ascertained by way of a reference installation.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the reference current values and the reference voltage values for the respective installation states are ascertained during a commissioning phase of the installation to be checked or are derived from current values and voltage values measured on the respective output channels during ongoing operation.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein reference values of at least one of parameters and signals are acquired at inputs of the control unit and stored for respectively predefined installation states, that present values of at least one of the parameters and signals are queried at the inputs of the control unit and compared with the corresponding reference values during the self-testing phase for the respectively predefined installation states; and
wherein the respective load circuit in which there is a departure from a predefined tolerance range when comparing between present values of at least one of the parameters and signals and the respectively corresponding stored reference values is displayed.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the predefined tolerance range is adapted for at least one of (i) the comparison of the present current values with the corresponding reference current values and (ii) the comparison of the present voltage values with the corresponding reference voltage values.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the respective installation states and thus the respectively activated and deactivated output channels and the voltage values for the supply voltage of the respective output channels or the current values for the supply current of the respective output channels are predefined by the control unit.

10. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a predefinable waiting time occurs between changing the predefined voltage value of the supply voltage or the predefined current value of the supply current in the respectively predefined installation state and ascertaining the present current measured value for this predefined voltage value of the supply voltage.

11. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the predefined voltage values for the supply voltage are raised in predefined voltage increments from a starting supply voltage up to a predefined rated voltage or up to an operating limit of the at least one load unit connected to the respective load circuit.

12. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the predefined voltage values for the supply voltage are raised as a linear voltage ramp with a predefinable gradient from a starting supply voltage up to a predefined rated voltage or up to an operating limit of the at least one load unit connected to the respective load circuit.

Assignees

• Siemens Ag

Inventors

• Schweigert Harald

Classifications

• G01R19/1659 Primary

  to indicate that the value is within or outside a predetermined range of values (window) (G01R19/16514, G01R19/16519, G01R19/16528 and G01R19/16533 take precedence) · CPC title

• G01R19/165 Primary

  Indicating that current or voltage is either above or below a predetermined value or within or outside a predetermined range of values · CPC title

• G01R19/16538

  in AC or DC supplies (G01R19/16519 and G01R19/16528 take precedence) · CPC title

• G01R31/00

  Arrangements for testing electric properties; Arrangements for locating electric faults; Arrangements for electrical testing characterised by what is being tested not provided for elsewhere ({measuring superconductive properties G01R33/1238;} testing line transmission systems H04B3/46; testing or measuring semiconductors or solid state devices during manufacture {H10P74/00}) · CPC title

• G01R31/55

  Testing for incorrect line connections · CPC title