Method and apparatus for identifying faults for a technical system

Abstract

A method and an apparatus for identifying faults in a computer-aided manner for a technical system including a switch and a switch drive is provided. A fault or a disruption in the switch and/or in the switch drive is detected by capturing a temporal profile of a measurement variable of the switch drive. A simulation model is provided for the technical system and a fault situation is set by means of setting values of the simulation model, wherein the setting values are assigned to the fault situation. The technical system is simulated by means of the simulation model, wherein a simulated temporal profile of the measurement variable is captured. The simulated temporal profile is compared with the temporal profile of the measurement variable of the switch drive, wherein the fault situation is assigned to the detected fault on the basis of the comparison.

1 . A method for identifying faults in a computer-aided manner for a technical system comprising a switch and a switch drive, the method comprising:
 detecting a fault in the switch and/or in the switch drive by capturing a temporal profile of a measurement variable of the switch drive;   providing a simulation model for the technical system and setting a fault situation by means of setting values of the simulation model, wherein the setting values are assigned to the fault situation;   simulating the technical system by means of the simulation model, wherein a simulated temporal profile of the measurement variable is captured;   comparing the simulated temporal profile of the measurement variable with the temporal profile of the measurement variable of the switch drive, wherein the fault situation is assigned to the detected fault on a basis of a comparison result;   identifying a cause of the detected fault on the basis of the setting values of the simulation model and on the basis of the comparison result; and   outputting the identified cause of the fault.   
     
     
         2 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the simulation model represents an electronic and/or a mechanical component of the switch and of the switch drive. 
     
     
         3 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein more than one fault situation is set and the simulated temporal profile of the measurement variable is respectively captured and, on the basis of the comparison with the temporal profile of the measurement variable of the switch drive in each case, that simulated temporal profile with the smallest deviation is selected. 
     
     
         4 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a faulty component of the technical system is determined on the basis of the simulated temporal profile of the measurement variable and the identified cause of the fault. 
     
     
         5 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein sensor data are captured and evaluated as measurement variables of the technical system by means of a detection module. 
     
     
         6 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the simulation model is created and/or calibrated on the basis of a configuration and/or on the basis of conditions of use and/or environmental data and/or sensor data of the technical system. 
     
     
         7 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein measures for rectifying the fault in the switch and/or in the switch drive are determined and initiated by outputting the identified cause of the fault. 
     
     
         8 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the identified cause of the fault is stored in a database and/or in a storage unit. 
     
     
         9 . An apparatus for identifying faults in a computer-aided manner for a technical system comprising a switch and a switch drive, the apparatus comprising:
 a detection module for detecting a fault in the switch and/or in the switch drive by capturing a temporal profile of a measurement variable of the switch drive;   a simulation module for providing a simulation model for the technical system and for setting a fault situation by means of setting values of the simulation model, wherein the setting values are assigned to the fault situation, and for simulating the technical system by means of the simulation model, wherein a simulated temporal profile of the measurement variable is captured;   a comparison module for comparing the simulated temporal profile of the measurement variable with the temporal profile of the measurement variable of the switch drive, wherein the fault situation is assigned to the detected fault on the basis of the comparison result;   an identification module for identifying a cause of the detected fault on the basis of the setting values of the simulation model and on the basis of the comparison result; and   an output module for outputting the identified cause of the fault.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 9 , comprising sensors for capturing sensor data of the technical system. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the simulation module is set up to create and/or calibrate the simulation model on the basis of a configuration and/or on the basis of conditions of use and/or environmental data and/or sensor data of the technical system. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 8 , further comprising a storage unit and/or a database for storing an identified cause of the fault. 
     
     
         13 . A computer program product, comprising a computer readable hardware storage device having computer readable program code stored therein, said program code executable by a processor of a computer system to implement a method as claimed in  claim 1 . 
     
     
         14 . A computer-readable storage medium having a computer program product as claimed in  claim 13 .