Growing operational requirements demand more and more information and complex visualisation methods increase the demands placed on screen generation, all of which increases the effort required to model technical networks. Only a consistent data modelling approach at a central point in the system can reduce time-consuming efforts during initial date input and maintenance. In contrast to list-oriented methods, KISTERS AG supplies an object-oriented, automated solution. Characterisation is the key to automating data model input. This ensures the greatest possible degree of reusability of structurally similar data, and forms the basis for extensive data consistency and for verified operational reliability.
Objects suitable for characterisation in the supply network:
Detectors, measured values, commands
Isolators, circuit breakers, slide valves, pumps
Bays, bus bars
Sections, substations, telecontrol lines
Networks (electricity, gas), telecontrol installations, control system components
Typical characteristics of such objects are:
Name
Algorithmic processing
Event processing
Fault processing
Topological characteristics
Graphic presentation
Operating responses
Parameters for optimisation and network safety calculations
Due to the diversity of object characteristics, a simple default value method is not sufficient to permit reusability of structures. This is why the following design principles are applied to structure data models during input:
- Definition of general and specific characteristics of technological objects
- Summary of all the characteristics of an object, such as graphic presentation, operation, processing, etc.
- Simple design for variants
- Reusable allocation of graphic presentation and its dynamic links to technological objects.
Characterisation and structuring allow different electricity, gas, district heating and water networks and data models with different structures to all be defined in parallel, e.g. the telecontrol configuration, the process or the system hardware configuration.
Object library
The experience gathered over many projects has been compiled into object libraries for the electricity, gas, water and district heating supply areas. These libraries offer a proven base platform where project-specific requirements can be incorporated by varying and redefining types. Advantages for the user include:
A project-proven base point for the data model
The flexibility to adapt the model to the given requirements
The use of uniform, proven tools
With these object libraries, KISTERS AG offers operators a tool based on proven network structures that enables fast and accurate process modelling.
Transferring existing data models
A further contribution towards rationalisation is the option to partially transfer existing data models – insofar as this makes sense and is possible from a technological point of view. This applies in particular to initial data input during the replacement of existing control systems, where transferring tested data implies considerable savings.
Another, often more important, aspect is security. Because existing data is already part of a tested data record, it can be transferred directly into the new system. Preconditions for loading are:
Availability of data in relationally structured form;
Type pre-structuring in the control system.
This also holds for the integration of ControlStar in a company-wide information network during data input for objects from areas such as network planning or maintenance, for example. Special significance must be attached to the exchange of data with existing geographic information systems (GIS) as a tool for generating screens or for uniform data maintenance.
The technique of typification
Typification is the key to automating data model input. This ensures the greatest possible degree of reusability of structurally similar data, and forms the basis for extensive data consistency.
Thanks to typification and structuring, different networks from the fields of electricity, gas, district heating and water and data models with different structures can all be defined in parallel, e.g. the telecontrol configuration, the process or the system hardware configuration.
Objects suitable for typification in the supply network:
Detectors, measured values, commands, ...
Isolators, circuit breakers, slide valves, pumps
Bays, bus bars
Sections, substations, telecontrol lines
Networks (electricity, gas, ..), telecontrol installations, components of the control system
Typical characteristics of such objects are:
Name
Algorithmic processing
Event processing
Fault processing
Topological characteristics
Graphic presentation
Operating responses
Parameters for optimization and network safety calculations
Due to the diversity of object characteristics, a simple default value method would not be sufficient in order to permit the reusability of structures. This is why the following design principles are applied to structuring during input of the data model:
Definition of general and specific characteristics of technological objects
Summary of all the characteristics of one object, such as graphic presentation, operation, processing, etc.
Simple design for variants
Reusable allocation of graphic presentation and its dynamic links to technological objects.
