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The basic idea of the approach is to combine all different views in a single entity and thus to modularize the engineering data analogous to the real entities in the plant (physical decomposition, see [2]). The entities are called “technological components” [7] (other notions are e.g. “planning objects”). They represent a kind of data container, where the several engineering aspects are integrated and associated. Based on this component approach for the integration of engineering data the different views, their interrelations and the engineering processes as well as workflow can be supported. Fig. 2 illustrates the idea of data integration into technological components.
 The technological components are the starting point for a higher-level engineering view on the plant’s automation system. They represent a hierarchical structuring of the plant from an abstract technological perspective (e.g. mechanical assembly, location). Technological components represent mechanical or process elements (valve, pump), electronic elements (switch, contactor), automation hardware (PLC, I/O-card) or even automation software [7]. In the example in Fig. 3 on the right a project is designed with a boiler, consisting of a valve and a pump. Attached to the technological components are their particular views and the views they are part of. The example shows the boiler‘s operating graph and the function block diagram of the pump.
Fig. 3 on the left shows the principle of a engineering with technological components. It represents a higher abstraction level of engineering on a component-based level. The engineering process for a particular automation project now is done by the creation of a system model of the automation system by instantiation, composition and parameterization of predefined ‘empty’ technological components from a library. Different technological structures (e.g. the mechanical assembly view) can be created and combined to an overall structure, whereas in every view different connections are established. For example in a control diagram the same elements are connected in another way than in a wiring diagram or in a operating graph. This concept generally advances the engineering process in three main points: 1. Integration of engineering data in a high-level technological view with associated aspects: basis for integrated workflow and the reuse of solutions - of predefined library components as well as of created model (parts).
2. Support of engineering processes by creation of system model by component selection, instantiation, composition and parameterization.
3. Technology independent reuse by abstraction of the created system model from the target automation system technology (e.g. Siemens S7), partly generation of automation system software possible (depends on tool).
Examples of tools are Innotec Comos PT, ABB Industrial IT, Intergraph Smart- Plant, Eplan PPE. They offer extensive engineering functionality (see Fig. 3) to support the various facets of the engineering process. They provide methods and functions to meet the prevailing challenges and problems, the engineer has to cope when designing a plant’s automation system in a component-based way. Examples are: - Management of components’ dependencies. There are a lot of different types of complex associations between components, e.g. type-instance associations (library and planning project), associations and inheritance in technological hierarchy, or connections (like motor and wires). Associations depend on particular views. When changes are made in the model, conflicts have to be recognized and solved.
- Model consistency. E.g. ensuring data consistency between particular views.
- Mass data changes. E.g. when a parameter of a certain valve type has to be changed in a large number of valves. This requires support for search, selection of components and propagation of changes. Here also conflicts have to be recognized.
- Reuse of engineering solutions. Reuse addresses a wide range of problems, e.g. in what way reuse is possible (project internal or between projects), granularity of reusable solutions, intelligent management of components’ dependencies, data reuse vs. know-how reuse (design decisions and patterns).
- Support for different users and access rights
- Configuration management and deviation management
- Diagnosis of engineering errors
The next Section discusses the constraints of modern engineering tools regarding theses challenges. An agent-oriented view leads to a basically improved approach. Page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
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