Patents by Inventor Volkmar Sterzing

Volkmar Sterzing has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20180364653
    Abstract: In order to determine a power output by a first energy producer, wherein the first energy producer is coupled to a second energy producer, a first soft sensor which is trained to determine an individual mode power value of the first energy producer is queried. In a mode combining the first and second energy producers, an individual mode power value determined for the first energy producer by the first soft sensor is read in here. Furthermore, a second soft sensor determines a first power value for the first energy producer and a second power value for the second energy producer. In addition, a total power of the energy producers is determined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2016
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventors: HANS-GERD BRUMMEL, KAI HEESCHE, ALEXANDER HENTSCHEL, VOLKMAR STERZING
  • Patent number: 10036328
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for the computerized control and/or regulation of a technical system (T). Within the context of the method according to the invention, there is implemented in a preset regulating process (CO1, CO2) an exploration rule (EP) by means of which new, as yet unknown, states (x) of the technical system (T) are started, a simulation model (SM) of the technical system (T) checking whether the actions (a2) of the exploration rule (EP) lead to sequential states (x?) lying within predetermined thresholds. Only in that case is the corresponding action (a2) performed according to the exploration rule (EP) on the technical system. The method according to the invention enables new states to be explored within the framework of the operation of a technical system, it being ensured through checking of appropriate thresholds that the exploration is carried out imperceptibly and does not lead to incorrect operation of the technical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Hans-Gerd Brummel, Siegmund Düll, Jatinder P. Singh, Volkmar Sterzing, Steffen Udluft
  • Publication number: 20170160706
    Abstract: An interactive assistance system and method for computer-aided control optimization for a technical system is provided. For example, a gas or wind turbine, in particular for optimizing the action sequence or the control variables of the plant (e.g. gas supply, compression), wherein an input terminal is provided for reading at least one status parameter providing a first system status of the technical system, and at least one setting parameter for adapting a reward function. A simulation module having a pre-trained neuronal network, simulating the plant, serves to simulate an action sequence on the technical system, starting from the first system status and to the prediction of the resulting statuses of the technical system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2015
    Publication date: June 8, 2017
    Inventors: SIEGMUND DÜLL, ALEXANDER HENTSCHEL, JATINDER P. SINGH, VOLKMAR STERZING, STEFFEN UDLUFT
  • Patent number: 9466032
    Abstract: A method for the computer-supported generation of a data-driven model of a technical system, in particular of a gas turbine or wind turbine, based on training data is disclosed. The data-driven model is preferably learned in regions of training data having a low data density. According to the invention, it is thus ensured that the data-driven model is generated for information-relevant regions of the training data. The data-driven model generated is used in a particularly preferred embodiment for calculating a suitable control and/or regulation model or monitoring model for the technical system. By determining optimization criteria, such as low pollutant emissions or low combustion dynamics of a gas turbine, the service life of the technical system in operation can be extended. The data model generated by the method according to the invention can furthermore be determined quickly and using low computing resources, since not all training data is used for learning the data-driven model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Siegmund Düll, Alexander Hentschel, Volkmar Sterzing, Steffen Udluft
  • Publication number: 20160040602
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for the computerized control and/or regulation of a technical system (T). Within the context of the method according to the invention, there is implemented in a preset regulating process (CO1, CO2) an exploration rule (EP) by means of which new, as yet unknown, states (x) of the technical system (T) are started, a simulation model (SM) of the technical system (T) checking whether the actions (a2) of the exploration rule (EP) lead to sequential states (x?) lying within predetermined thresholds. Only in that case is the corresponding action (a2) performed according to the exploration rule (EP) on the technical system. The method according to the invention enables new states to be explored within the framework of the operation of a technical system, it being ensured through checking of appropriate thresholds that the exploration is carried out imperceptibly and does not lead to incorrect operation of the technical system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2014
    Publication date: February 11, 2016
    Inventors: Hans-Gerd Brummel, Siegmund Düll, Jatinder P. Singh, Volkmar Sterzing, Steffen Udluft
  • Patent number: 9194369
    Abstract: A wind turbine rotor blade is equipped with an air chamber and equipped via the air chamber to route a modulation beam out of the rotor blade such that the air current along the rotor blade is changed. Thereby the laminar current is changed into a turbulent current on the one hand and its detachment and on the other hand its recreation is achieved in order to produce the laminar current. The control may occur via electrostatic actuators via a learnable control strategy based on neural forecasts, which take the complexity of the non-linear system into account and allow for the plurality of influencing factors. The stress on the rotor blades may be reduced, resulting in longer service life and reduced maintenance costs, a higher level of efficiency or quieter operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Kristian Robert Dixon, Siegmund Düll, Per Egedal, Thomas Esbensen, Volkmar Sterzing
  • Patent number: 9141915
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for deriving diagnostic data about a technical system utilizing learning metrics gained by at least one data driven learning process while generating and updating soft sensor models of said technical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Jose L. Alonso, Dieter Bogdoll, Siegmund Dull, Glenn E. Sancewich, Volkmar Sterzing
  • Publication number: 20150241304
    Abstract: A method for computer-assisted monitoring of an electrical energy-generating installation, in which output variables (y(t)) of the installation are prognosticated using a data-driven model (NN) based on corresponding input variables (x(t)). A confidence measurement (C(t)) is determined for respective input variables (x(t)), using one or more density estimators (DE), this measurement being higher, the greater the similarity of the input variables (x(t)) to known input variables from training data with which the data-driven model (NN) and the density estimator (DE) are taught. Based thereon, an average weighted deviation (E(t)) is determined between the prognosticated output variables (y(t)) and the output variables (y0(t)) actually occurring. If the average weighted deviation (y(t)) exceeds a predetermined threshold (ETh) successive times, an error in operation is detected and an alarm is issued.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2013
    Publication date: August 27, 2015
    Inventors: Hans-Gerd Brummel, Kai Heesche, Uwe Pfeifer, Volkmar Sterzing
  • Patent number: 9043254
    Abstract: A method for computer-aided closed and/or open-loop control of a technical system is provided. A first value of an output quantity is predicted on a data-based model at a current point in time. A second value of the output quantity is determined from an analytical model. The state of the technical system at the current point is assigned a confidence score in the correctness of prediction of the data-based model. A third value of the output quantity is determined from the first and second value as a function of the confidence score for controlling the technical system. A suitable value for the output quantity can be derived from the analytical model even for regions of the technical system in which the quality of prediction of the data-based model is low because of a small set of training data. The technical systems can be turbines, such as gas turbines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Volkmar Sterzing, Steffen Udluft, Jatinder Singh, Hans-Gerd Brummel, Glenn E. Sancewich
  • Publication number: 20150019276
    Abstract: A method for computer-assisted determination of usage of electrical energy produced by a power generation plant such as a renewable power generation plant is provided. The method uses a plurality of neural networks having a different structure or being learned differently for calculating future energy amounts produced by a power generation plant. To do so, the energy outputs of the power generation plant forecasted by the plurality of the neural networks are used to build histograms. Based on the histograms, energy amounts for different confidence levels describing the likelihood of the availability of the energy amount are determined, and different uses are assigned to different energy amounts. Energy amounts having a higher likelihood of availability in the future are sold at higher prices than other energy amounts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Inventors: Per Egedal, Ralph Grothmann, Thomas Runkler, Volkmar Sterzing
  • Publication number: 20140214733
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for deriving diagnostic data about a technical system utilizing learning metrics gained by at least one data driven learning process while generating and updating soft sensor models of said technical system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Inventors: Jose L. Alonso, Dieter Bogdoll, Siegmund Dull, Glenn E. Sancewich, Volkmar Sterzing
  • Publication number: 20140100703
    Abstract: A method for the computer-supported generation of a data-driven model of a technical system, in particular of a gas turbine or wind turbine, based on training data is disclosed. The data-driven model is preferably learned in regions of training data having a low data density. According to the invention, it is thus ensured that the data-driven model is generated for information-relevant regions of the training data. The data-driven model generated is used in a particularly preferred embodiment for calculating a suitable control and/or regulation model or monitoring model for the technical system. By determining optimization criteria, such as low pollutant emissions or low combustion dynamics of a gas turbine, the service life of the technical system in operation can be extended. The data model generated by the method according to the invention can furthermore be determined quickly and using low computing resources, since not all training data is used for learning the data-driven model.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2012
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Inventors: Siegmund Düll, Alexander Hentschel, Volkmar Sterzing, Steffen Udluft
  • Publication number: 20130204812
    Abstract: A method for computer-aided closed and/or open-loop control of a technical system is provided. A first value of an output quantity is predicted on a data-based model at a current point in time. A second value of the output quantity is determined from an analytical model. The state of the technical system at the current point is assigned a confidence score in the correctness of prediction of the data-based model. A third value of the output quantity is determined from the first and second value as a function of the confidence score for controlling the technical system. A suitable value for the output quantity can be derived from the analytical model even for regions of the technical system in which the quality of prediction of the data-based model is low because of a small set of training data. The technical systems can be turbines, such as gas turbines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2010
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Inventors: Volkmar Sterzing, Steffen Udluft, Jatinder Singh, Hans-Gerd Brummel, Glenn E. Sancewich
  • Patent number: 8494980
    Abstract: A method for the computer-assisted exploration of states of a technical system is provided. The states of the technical system are run by carrying out an action in a respective state of the technical system, the action leading to a new state. A safety function and a feedback rule are used to ensure that a large volume of data of states and actions is run during exploration and that at the same time no inadmissible actions occur which could lead directly or indirectly to the technical system being damaged or to a defective operating state. The method allows a large number of states and actions relating to the technical system to be collected and may be used for any technical system, especially the exploration of states in a gas turbine. The method may be used both in the real operation and during simulation of the operation of a technical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Alexander Hans, Daniel Schneegaβ, Anton Maximilian Schäfer, Volkmar Sterzing, Steffen Udluft
  • Patent number: 8396689
    Abstract: A method for analyzing the operation of a gas turbine is provided. A neural network based upon a normal operation of the gas turbine is learned. A dynamic pressure signal is read by a pressure sensor in or on the compressor of the turbine, and an operating parameter is read by a further sensor. The dynamic pressure signal is subjected to a frequency analysis, a parameter of a frequency spectrum of the pressure signal being determined. Based upon the measured operating parameter and the parameter of the frequency spectrum of the pressure signal, the neural network is learned. The measured operating parameter and the parameter of the frequency spectrum are input parameters, and a diagnostic characteristic value representing a probability of a presence of normal operation of the gas turbine as a function of the input parameters is output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Uwe Pfeifer, Volkmar Sterzing
  • Publication number: 20130022464
    Abstract: A wind turbine rotor blade is equipped with an air chamber and equipped via the air chamber to route a modulation beam out of the rotor blade such that the air current along the rotor blade is changed. Thereby the laminar current is changed into a turbulent current on the one hand and its detachment and on the other hand its recreation is achieved in order to produce the laminar current. The control may occur via electrostatic actuators via a learnable control strategy based on neural forecasts, which take the complexity of the non-linear system into account and allow for the plurality of influencing factors. The stress on the rotor blades may be reduced, resulting in longer service life and reduced maintenance costs, a higher level of efficiency or quieter operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2012
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Inventors: Kristian Robert Dixon, Siegmund Düll, Per Egedal, Thomas Esbensen, Volkmar Sterzing
  • Publication number: 20130013543
    Abstract: A method for the computer-aided control of a technical system is provided. A recurrent neuronal network is used for modeling the dynamic behaviour of the technical system, the input layer of which contains states of the technical system and actions carried out on the technical system, which are supplied to a recurrent hidden layer. The output layer of the recurrent neuronal network is represented by an evaluation signal which reproduces the dynamics of technical system. The hidden states generated using the recurrent neural network are used to control the technical system on the basis of a learning and/or optimization method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2011
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Inventors: Siegmund Düll, Volkmar Sterzing, Steffen Udluft
  • Patent number: 8160978
    Abstract: A method for computer-aided control of any technical system is provided. The method includes two steps, the learning of the dynamic with historical data based on a recurrent neural network and a subsequent learning of an optimal regulation by coupling the recurrent neural network to a further neural network. The recurrent neural network has a hidden layer comprising a first and a second hidden state at a respective time point. The first hidden state is coupled to the second hidden state using a matrix to be learned. This allows a bottleneck structure to be created, in that the dimension of the first hidden state is smaller than the dimension of the second hidden state or vice versa. The autonomous dynamic is taken into account during the learning of the network, thereby improving the approximation capacity of the network. The technical system includes a gas turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Anton Maximilian Schäfer, Volkmar Sterzing, Steffen Udluft
  • Patent number: 8099181
    Abstract: A method for the computer-aided regulation and/or control of a technical system is provided. In the method, first a simulation model of the technical system is created, to which subsequently a plurality of learning and/or optimization methods are applied. Based on the results of these methods, the method best suited for the technical system is selected. The selected learning and/or optimization method is then used to regulate the technical system. Based on the simulation model, the method can thus be used to train an initial controller, which can be used as an intelligent controller, and is not modified during further regulation of the technical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Volkmar Sterzing, Steffen Udluft
  • Patent number: 7945523
    Abstract: The invention relates to sensitivity analysis of variables influencing a combustion process. A trainable, statistical model is trained in such a way that it describes the combustion process in the combustion chamber. The trained statistical model is used to determine the influence of the variables on said combustion process in the combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Reimar Hofmann, Volkmar Sterzing