Patent Application
20120296450
Many machines are amenable to or require control of their operation by a control system. Such control systems may monitor or directly control various operating parameters or conditions in order to improve the efficiency of the machine. The more complex the machine, the greater the number of parameters or conditions involved and the more complex their interactions and interdependence.
For example, the operation of turbines, including gas and steam turbines, typically includes the use of a control system for monitoring and/or controlling such things as rotational speed, fuel delivery rate(s), combustion temperature, exhaust temperature, vibration, etc. Monitoring and/or controlling such parameters or conditions typically requires the use of a plurality of apparatuses, devices, or systems, each of which is connected to a network, which often includes a central or host computer for receiving and processing data from the various apparatuses, devices, or systems. In some cases, operation of the machine may be monitored and/or controlled by a remotely-located host computer.
In such systems, where apparatuses, devices, or systems are part of a network for monitoring and/or controlling a machine, the failure of any particular apparatus, device, or machine must be remedied as quickly and efficiently as possible in order to minimize downtime or unmonitored/uncontrolled operation of the machine. As such, many apparatuses, devices, or systems in such control systems are designed with redundancy in mind, such that a failed device may be quickly replaced by a new device capable of performing the same functions.
Properly identifying and configuring such replacement devices within the control system is often difficult and time-consuming, however. For example, some devices may require manual configuration by personnel knowledgeable of their functions and operation.
Other devices may be configurable by the control system but require that they be properly identified on the control system network before they can be so configured. Where devices include or are connected to an identifier for the device, proper identification of a new device may require entry of its identifier into the network or that the identifier of a failed device be inserted into or connected to the new device.
Embodiments of the invention provide systems, methods, and devices for a machine.
In one embodiment, the invention provides a system for a machine, the system comprising: a device including: a module adapted to perform a support function associated with a machine; and a power cable for connecting the module to an electrical supply, the power cable including an identifier operable to be read by the device; and a host computer operable to: receive from the device a request for a network identifier for the device, the request including information from the identifier; and obtain the network identifier using the information from the identifier.
In another embodiment, the invention provides a power cable for powering an apparatus, the power cable comprising: an electrically conductive material between and connected to each of a first end and a second end thereof; and an identifier connected to the electrically conductive material, wherein the identifier is adapted to be read by the apparatus and information from the identifier used to generate a network identifier for the apparatus.
In yet another embodiment, the invention provides a method of identifying an apparatus in a system for controlling a machine, the method comprising: connecting the apparatus to a power cable; connecting the power cable to an electrical supply; reading an identifier within the power cable; and requesting from a host computer a network identifier for the apparatus based on the identifier.
In still another embodiment, the invention provides a device for use in a system for controlling a machine, the device comprising: an apparatus adapted to perform at least one function selected from a group consisting of: monitoring the machine, controlling the machine, monitoring at least one condition under which the machine operates, and controlling at least one condition under which the machine operates; and a power cable for connecting the apparatus to an electrical supply, the power cable including an identifier operable to be read by the device, whereby the identifier, once ready by the device, is used to generate a network identifier for the device.
These and other features of this invention will be more readily understood from the following detailed description of the various aspects of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings that depict various embodiments of the invention, in which:
It is noted that the drawings of the invention are not to scale. The drawings are intended to depict only typical aspects of the invention, and therefore should not be considered as limiting the scope of the invention. In the drawings, like numbering represents like elements among the drawings.
Turning now to the drawings,
A pair of apparatuses or modules 20, 22 are also connected to network 14 and perform one or more support functions of machine 40, such as monitoring and/or controlling one or more parameters or conditions of machine 40. A pair of control computers 24, 30 are also connected to network 14. Similar to modules 20, 22, control computer 24 performs one or more support of machine 40. Control computer 30, on the other hand, is connected to or in communication with a plurality of modules 32, 34, 36, which perform support functions of machine 40 and deliver data to and receive data from control computer 30.
Host computer 10 is also connected to or in communication with a configuration database 12 including configuration data for modules 20, 22, 32, 34, 36 and control computers 24, 30. As will be explained below, upon connecting a module to network 14, configuration data contained within configuration database 12 may be delivered to the module, such that a replacement module may be automatically configured upon being identified.
The arrangement in control system 100 of host computer 10, configuration database 12, modules 20, 22, 32, 34, 36, and host computers 24, 30 and their connections to network 14 shown in
As noted above, modules 20, 22, 32, 34, 36 and control computers 24, 30 may be employed to monitor and/or control one or more parameter or condition of machine 40, including operational parameters and conditions. In the case that machine 40 includes a gas turbine, such parameters and conditions may include, for example, rotational speed, fuel delivery rate(s), combustion temperature, exhaust temperature, and vibration. Other parameters and conditions will, of course, be apparent to one skilled in the art and are within the scope of the various embodiments of the invention.
In order to monitor and/or control such parameters and conditions, modules 20, 22, 32, 34, 36 and control computers 24, 30 may include any number of devices, including, for example, sensing devices, thermocouples, resistance temperature detectors, scanning devices, servo devices, current sensors, speed sensors, valve actuators, air flow regulators, positioners, flame detectors, gas flow meters, and fuel ignition devices.
Machines other than a turbine may similarly be monitored and/or controlled. Such machines include, for example, a distributed control system, a distributed control device, and a network-controlled array of devices. These systems and devices may comprise stand-alone systems and devices or may include the systems and devices employed in operating another machine, such as a turbine.
In order to more efficiently add a module to network 14, particularly where the module is being added to replace a failed module, embodiments of the invention include the incorporation of an identifier for the module in a power cable used to connect the module to an electrical supply. For example,
As shown in
Electrically conductive material 230 may further include a second positive wire 242 and a second negative wire 244 for powering an identifier 250, 252 within power cable 200. First positive wire 232, first negative wire 234, second positive wire 242, and second negative wire 244 are surrounded by a conventional insulating material 238.
One skilled in the art will recognize that additional components may be provided within or connected to power cable 200. For example, devices may be included to alter the current and/or voltage supplied to identifier 250, 252 and/or the module to which power cable 200 will be connected, depending, for example, on the particular power requirements of each.
The wiring scheme shown in
In
According to embodiments of the invention, where an identifier 250, 252, 354, 456 is included in power cable 200, 300 or external device 400, respectively, a failed module to which power cable 200, 300 is connected may be replaced with a new module. Upon connection of the new module to the electrical supply, the new module reads identifier 250, 252, 354, 456 and requests from host computer 10 (
Because identifier 250, 252, 354, 456 is the same for both the failed module and the new module, host computer 10 may deliver to the new module the same network identifier used to identify the failed module. In such case, where control system 100 (
At S4, an identifier 250, 252, 354, 456 within power cable 200 or to which power cable 200 is connected is read by the new apparatus. That is, information stored within identifier 250, 252, 354, 456 is accessed and/or retrieved by the new apparatus. As noted above, the particular method or mechanism by which identifier 250, 252, 354, 456 is read by the new apparatus will depend, in part, on the features of identifier 250, 252, 354, 456. In some embodiments, identifier 250, 252, 354, 456 may be read automatically upon connection of power cable 200 to both the new apparatus and the electrical supply.
At S5, it is determined whether the new apparatus is connected to network 14. If not (i.e., No at S5), the new apparatus is connected to network 14 at S6 and a network identifier based on identifier 250, 252, 354, 456 is requested from host computer 10 at S7. If the new apparatus is already connected to network 14 (i.e., Yes at S5), the request for the network identifier is made at S7.
At S8, the network identifier requested at S7 is received by the new apparatus. Optionally, configuration data may be received by the new apparatus from host computer 10 at S9 and the new apparatus may be configured using the configuration data at S10.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any related or incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal language of the claims.
