ESTOMAD - energy management tool
In order to make use of an energy management tool in an accessible way, it has been decided to implement such a tool in an already existing industrial framework. The energy dedicated tool will be embedded in a software tool with the energy modelling methodology developed within ESTOMAD. This approach aims to reach the following two objectives: first, to ensure sufficient flexibility and second, to guarantee robust usage.
The process for implementing the energy model tool in the software platform is split mainly in two phases: (i) the implementation of the energy design methodology and (ii) the development of users interface and functionalities.
Given that a system consists of various subsystems, which are themselves composed of various components, the manufacturing support methodology will be implemented at all these levels in order to allow any manufacturers to design their machines in an energy efficient manner.
At component level, new energy simulation blocks will be developed. These building blocks will be integrated at a subsystem level such as compressors, pneumatic loads, cooling and lubrication circuits, transmission parts and power hydraulics. At system level, the new software modulus will focus on energy simulation and optimization of the integration of the subsystems.
This capability will enable machine designers:
to better understand the interplay between subsystems (i.e. where energy is consumed during a cycle),to be able to assess different system architectures (i.e. better integration of components, cost reductions, etc.),to customize the control strategies, andto explore many scenarios in a quick and cost effective way (in comparison with testing).It is known that system integration is a huge challenge that industrial manufacturers have to cope with. The use of a single tool that gathers in a unique interface the overall energy balance of a system as well as the various energy flows within individual components (i.e. by taking into account the ensemble of all constitutive subsystems and their interactions) should enable machine designers to ensure an efficient use of energy. This capability will be achieved by mapping the whole system in different operational conditions.
This energy management solution will be based on a corpus of physics libraries (e.g. thermal, thermal fluid) and application libraries.
As a result, the set of functionalities will be improved in order to provide a comprehensive energy decision support tool to machine designers.
Source: ESTOMAD – Description of Work
