Title of Invention	"A SYSTEM HAVING A FIELD DEVICE AND A CONVERTER DEVICE AND METHOD FOR OPERATION"
Abstract	The invention relates to an arrangement (10) with at least one field device, in particular a protective device (20, 30), and at least one converter device (50) connected to the at least one field device, which is suitable for connecting to an energy transmission line. The inventio proposes that the field device and converter device be connected through a closed data transmission ring (40).

Full Text

Description Arrangement having a field device and a converter device, and method for their operation The invention relates to an arrangement having at least one field device, in particular a protective device and having at least one converter device which is connected to the field device and is suitable for connection to a power transmission line. Protective devices for power transmission systems are marketed, for example, by Siemens AG under the product name SIPROTEC. The method of operation of the SIPROTEC protective device can be adjusted from the outside via a network or data bus connection before commissioning, by a process of configuring the device. During operation of the protective device, digital sample data is fed into the protective device, and is evaluated. If the protective device finds during this evaluation that the sample data indicates a fault, a fault signal or alarm signal is produced. The invention is based on the object of further developing an arrangement of the type mentioned initially such that the serviceability of the protective device can be tested particularly easily. According to the invention, this object is achieved by the characterizing features of claim 1. Advantageous refinements of the arrangement according to the invention are specified in dependent claims. The invention accordingly provides for the field device and converter device to be connected to one another via a closed data transmission ring. One major advantage of the arrangement according to the invention is that the field device can be tested within the arrangement without any interruption occurring in the data communication between the field device and the converter device. This is because the data transmission ring which s provided according to the invention makes it possible to ensure that a test device can be connected from the outside to the arrangement and thus to the field device without having to disconnect the data connection between the field device and the converter device for this purpose. This is because the ring structure of a data transmission ring means that t here are always two data transmission paths between the field device and the converter device, as a result of which one of the two data transmission paths can be disconnected in order to connect a. test device to the data transmission ring; the data connection between the field device and the converter device is nevertheless maintained in this case because the other data transmission path in each case will still remain for the connection between the field device and the converter device. In summary, the connection, which is provided according to the invention, is in the form of a ring and is therefore redundant, between the field device and the converter device thus allows a test device to be connected while the arrangement is being operated, without any need to disconnect the devices or interrupt the data connection for this purpose. In order to ensure that a test device can be connected particularly quickly and easily to the data transmission ring, it is considered to be advantageous for an additional switching device to be connected to the data transmission ring, whicn additional switching device is suitable for use as an interface for connection of a test device and can be used in a corresponding manner. With regard to particularly high data transmission rates, it is considered to be advantageous for the data transmission ring to be formed by an optically operating ring; this is because optically operating data transmission rings allow data packets to be transmitted up to the Gigabit range. The data transmission ring is preferably an Ethernet ring, so that it is possible to make use of the Ethernet technology that is known in the field of data transmission. For example, the IEC61850 Standard is used for transmission of communication protocols, preferably based on the real-time Ethernet process and the IEC61784-2 Standard. It is particularly preferable tor the data transmission ring to operate in what is referred to as real time, for example based on the Profinet-i_RTE Standard. The already mentioned switching device as an additional component of the data transmission ring is preferably formed by an Ethernet switch in the form of a 3-port switch, for example as is described in German laid-open specification DE 102 60 806 A1. 3-port switches such as these are preferably formed by monolithically integrated components, in particular based on FPGA or ASIC. If it is intended to save an additional switching device for connection of a test device, the test device can also be connected directly to the data transmission ring; this is because, as already mentioned initially, the data transmission ring can be disconnected for connection of the test device without any possibility of data being lost since one transmission path in the data transmission ring is always available for communication. Apart from this, it is also possible to accommodate the test device in the converter device in order to allow the field device to be tested with the converter device. It is particularly preferable for the field device to be designed such that it produces a copy of its field device application - that is to say in the specialist ,anguage the software for controlling the operation of the field device - in the form of an application copy during test operation. The field device can then continue to operate without any change during the device test by the test device: for example he application copy is tested during the device test; alternatively, the fieic device application can also be tested during the device test, in which case the field device continues to operate on the basis of the application copy. It is particularly preferable for the field device to be designed such that it can switch backwards and forwards between the field device application and the application copy in order to allow both the field device application and the application copy to be checked. In this case, field device operation is therefore maintained on the basis of the application copy at times and on the basis of the field device application at times; in a corresponding manner, the field device application is tested at times and the application copy is tested at times, to be precise for example until both the field device application and the application copy have been completely tested. The backward and forward switching between the field device application and the application copy for device operation and test operation preferably takes place "on the fly", that is to say without any interruption, thus allowing a complete device test, and also a repeat device test, during normal device operation. The invention also relates to a method for testing a field device which is arranged in an arrangement - as described initially. According to the invention, provision is made in this context for a test device which is connected to the data transmission ring to produce test frequencies which are transmitted via the data transmission ring to the field device. Advantageous refinements of the method according to the invention are specified in dependent claims. With regard to the advantages of the method according to the invention, reference should be made to the above statements relating to the arrangement according to the invention. Apart from this, it should be mentioned that the refinement or the field device as described above is regarded as an autonomous invention. Specifically, it is therefore likewise regarded as an invention to design a field device such that it produces a copy of its field device application in the form of an application copy for test operation and maintains field device operation during the device test by a test device, irrespective of whether this is on the basis of the field device application or on the basis of the application copy. This refinement of the field device is therefore regarded as an invention irrespective of whether the field device is or is nor connected to a converter device via a closed data transmission ring or in some other manner, for example an already known manner. A test method in which a field device is tested while it is operating by accessing an application copy, irrespective of whether this is for test operation or for device operation, is also regarded as an autonomous invention, to be precise irrespective of whether the field device is or is not connected to a converter device via a closed data transmi ssion ring or in some other manner, for example an already known manner. The invention will be explained in more detail in the following text with reference to exemplary embodiments; in this case, by way of example: figure 1 shows one exemplary embodiment of an arrangement according to the invention in which a test device is connected via an additional switching device to a data transmission ring, figure 2 shows a second exemplary embodiment of an arrangement according to the invention, in which a test device is connected directly to a data transmission ring, and figure 3 shows a third exemplary embodiment of an arrangement according to the invention, in which a test device for testing a field device is contained in a converter device. For the sake of clarity, the same reference symbols are always used for identical or comparable components in figures 1 to 3. Figure 1 shows an arrangement 10 with a protective device 20 and a bay controller 30, which are connected to one another and to a converter device 50 via a closed dat.a transmission ring 40 in the form of a real-time Ethernet ring. In addition, an additional switching device 60, which is an Ethernet switch in the form of a 3-port switch, is connected to the data transmission ring 40. By way of example, the Ethernet switch 60 may be formed by a 3-port switch as is described in German laid-open specification DE 102 60 806 A1. Figure 1 furthermore shows that a test device 70, by means of which the protective device 20 or the bay controller 30 can be tested can be connected to that Ethernet switch 60. By way of example, the following text is based on the assumption that the protective device 20 is intended to be subjected to a test. Current transformers and voltage transformers, which are annotated with the reference symbol 80, are connected to the converter device 50. These current and voltage transformers 80 are connected to a power transmission line, which is not illustrated any further in figure 1 for clarity reasons, and detect current and voltage values which are detected by the converter device 50 and are transmitted in the form of Ethernet data packets to the protective device 20 and the bay controller 30. The arrangement 10 shown in figure 1 can be operated, for example, as follows: When it is intended to subject the protective device 20 to a device test, then the test device 70 is, for example, connected to the Ethernet switch 60 without this leading to an interruption in the data connection between the protective device 20 and the converter device 50. Data interruption is precluded because the Ethernet switch 60 is already a component of the data transmission ring 40, ana because the data transmission ring 40 has a total of two transmission paths between the protective device 20 and the converter device 50, specifically a first transmission path 100 on the left in figure 1 and a transmission path 110 on the right in figure 1. A connection between the protective device 20 and the converter device 50 is therefore also maintained when one of the two transmission paths 100 or 110 is briefly interrupted. After connection of the test device 70 to the transmission ring 40, test sequences or test message sequences are produced by the test device 70 and are transmitted to the protective device 20 via the data transmission ring 40. In order now to make it possible for the protective device 20 to maintain its protective function without any interruption even during a device test such as this, the protective device 20 as shown in figure 1 is designed such that it makes a copy of its protective device application for a device test, and this is available as an application copy. The existence of this application copy makes it possible not only to operate the protective device 20 in the normal protective device mode - also referred to as normal operation in the following text - but also to test it in parallel with this. This test mode can be carried out, for example, on the basis of the application copy, since the application copy represents a preferably 1:1 copy of the field device application, and is therefore preferably identical to it. The field device 20 can continue to operate normally during a test mode such as this on the basis of its field device application, and can process the converter data of the converter device 50 further. Alternatively, it is possible to maintain normal operation of the protective device 20 on the basis of the application copy and to process the data of the converter device 50 further with the aid of the application copy in the protective device 20; in this procedure, the device test is therefore carried out on the basis of the original field device application. Furthermore, it is also possible to test both the field device application and the application copy; a complete test such as this can in this case be carried out by testing the field device application first of all and then testing the application copy - or vice versa; alternatively, a "parallel" test can be carried out instead of this. By way of example, a parallel test such as this can be carried out by regularly switching backwards and forwards between the field device application and the application copy, as a result of which the field device application and the application copy are tested alternately in parts, and normal operation is carried out in a correspondingly switched manner alternately on the basis of the application copy and of the field device application. The bay controller 30 can also be tested in a corresponding manner by the test device 70. The data transmission ring 40 preferably operates on the basis of communication protocols according to IEC Standard 61850, preferably based on the real-time Ethernet draft IEC Standard 61784.2, or similar draft standards based on optical data transmission. By way of example, the converter device 50 can be formed by a converter electronics unit which comprises secondary current and voltage transformers and/or processes current and voltage measured values further in the form of digital data. In order to transmit the digital converter data that is produced by the converter device 50 to the protective device 20 or to the oay controller 30, this data is mapped onto real-time Ethernet channels and is transmitted via the data transmission ring 40 to the protective device 20 or to the Day controller 30. The data transmission ring 40 preferably forms a redundant, deterministic communication system with a real-time capability, so that any interruption in the communication ring cannot lead to a failure of the protective function of the protective device 20 or of the bay controller 30. Figure 2 illustrates a second exemplary embodiment of an arrangement. This shows a protective device 20, a bay controller 30 and a converter device 50, which are connected to one another via a data transmission ring 40. In contrast to the first exemplary embodiment shown in figure 1, the test device 7 0 is not connected via the Ethernet switch 60 to the data transmission ring 40, but by disconnection of the transmission path 110 and connection of the test device 70 in between. The transmission path 110 is in this case briefly interrupted in order to allow the test device 70 to be integrated in the data transmission ring 40. However, this does not lead to an interruption in data transmission between the protective device 20, the bay controller 30 and the converter device 50 because the transmission path 100 is still available, without any interruption. In this case, the Ethernet switch 60 can be used for connection of other devices; alternatively, the Ethernet switch 60 can also be saved if it is not required for connection of further components. Figure 3 shows a third exemplary embodiment, of an arrangement. This once again shows a data transmission ring 40 to which a protective device 20, a bay controller 30 and a converter device 50 are connected. In order to test the protective device 20 and/or the bay controller 30, a test device 70 is integrated within the converter device 50 and forms an integral component of the converter electronics of the converter device 50. The converter device 50 is therefore able to transmit test; sequences to the protective device 20 and/or to the bay controller 30 in order to test it. In the exemplary embodiment shown in figure 3, the Ethernet switch 60 for connection of further components can also be used or omitted. The protective device 20 and the bay controller 30 preferably each contain a microprocessor device with a memory in which an application copy, which has been made by the microprocessor device, of the field device application can be stored for the device test. Patent Claims 1. An arrangement (10) having at least one field device, in particular a protective device (20, 30) and having at least one converter device (50) which is connected to the at least one field device and is suitable for connection to a power transmission line, characterized in that the field device and the converter device are connected via a closed data transmission ring (40). 2. The arrangement as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that an additional switching device (60) is connected to the data transmission ring and is suitable for use as an interface for connection of a test device (70) for testing the field device. 3. The arrangement as claimed in one of the preceding claims 1-2, characterized in that the switching device is formed by an Ethernet switch, in particular a 3-port switch. 4. The arrangement as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the converter device contains a test device for testing the field device. 5. The arrangement as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the field device is designed such that, for a device rest, it produces a copy of its field device application in the form of an application copy, and in that the field device continues to operate during the device test. 6. The arrangement as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the field device is designed such that the application copy car be tested during the device test. 7. The arrangement as claimed in claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the field device is designed such that the field device application can be tested during the device test. 8. The arrangement as claimed in one of the preceding claims 5 to 7, characterized in that the field device is designed such that, during the device test, the field device is operated on the basis of the field aevice application at times and on the basis of the application copy at times, and in that both the field device application and the application copy are tested during the device test. 9. The arrangement as claimed in one of the precedinq claims 5 to 8, characterized in that the field device is designed such that the field device continues to operate without interruption during the device test. 10. A method for testing a field device (20, 30) of an arrangement (10) as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a test device (70) which is connected to the data transmission ring (40) produces test sequences which are transmitted via the data transmission ring to the field device. 11. The method as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that a copy of the field device application of the field device is produced in the form of an application copy for test operation, and in that the field device continues to operate during the device test. 12. The method as claimed in claim 11, characterized in that the application copy is tested during the device test. 13. The method as claimed in claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the field device application is tested during the device test. 14. The method as claimed in one of the preceding claims 11 to 13, characterized in that, during the device test, the field device is operated on the basis of the field device application at times and on the basis of the application copy at times, and in that both the field device application and the application copy are tested during the device test. 15. The method as claimed in one of the preceding claims 11 to 14, characterized in that characterized in that the field device continues to operate without interruption during the device test. The invention relates to an arrangement (10) with at least one field device, in particular a protective device (20, 30), and at least one converter device (50) connected to the at least one field device, which is suitable for connecting to an energy transmission line. The inventio proposes that the field device and converter device be connected through a closed data transmission ring (40).

Documents:

3949-KOLNP-2008-(07-03-2014)-PETITION UNDR RULE 137.pdf

4570-KOLNP-2008-(06-03-2014)-ABSTRACT.pdf

4570-KOLNP-2008-(06-03-2014)-ANNEXURE TO FORM 3.pdf

4570-KOLNP-2008-(06-03-2014)-CLAIMS.pdf

4570-KOLNP-2008-(06-03-2014)-CORRESPONDENCE.pdf

4570-KOLNP-2008-(06-03-2014)-DRAWINGS.pdf

4570-KOLNP-2008-(06-03-2014)-FORM-1.pdf

4570-KOLNP-2008-(06-03-2014)-FORM-2.pdf

4570-KOLNP-2008-(06-03-2014)-FORM-3.pdf

4570-KOLNP-2008-(06-03-2014)-FORM-5.pdf

4570-KOLNP-2008-(06-03-2014)-OTHERS.pdf

4570-kolnp-2008-abstract.pdf

4570-kolnp-2008-claims.pdf

4570-KOLNP-2008-CORRESPONDENCE-1.1.pdf

4570-kolnp-2008-correspondence.pdf

4570-kolnp-2008-description (complete).pdf

4570-kolnp-2008-drawings.pdf

4570-kolnp-2008-form 1.pdf

4570-kolnp-2008-form 2.pdf

4570-kolnp-2008-form 3.pdf

4570-kolnp-2008-form 5.pdf

4570-kolnp-2008-form-18.pdf

4570-kolnp-2008-gpa.pdf

4570-kolnp-2008-international publication.pdf

4570-kolnp-2008-international search report.pdf

4570-KOLNP-2008-OTHERS.pdf

4570-kolnp-2008-pct request form.pdf

4570-kolnp-2008-specification.pdf

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