A rule is defined as a boolean logical Value, beeing either TRUE (1) or FALSE (0). Rules are therefore the central component of active funtional specifications. With the help of rules funtions of facilities at each time step is defined. If every rule applies correctly, then the operation meets the designed specification. The result of a rule is available as a virtual Sensor in the PTB.

Each Rule (or Function) will be opened and defined in its own editor window. The desired sensors can directly be connected from the work space via drag & drop. Each sensor is then allocated with a reference variable ( I1, I2,…). These variable is used within the mathematical description. If you are within a stage of a project where no data is connected to a sensor  you can already include identifiers by clicking „add“. The rule will only be calculated as soon as all data points are connected to the every used identifier within each rule. For the defintion of each rule the following language is used. Furthermore each rule can contain Functions, Constants, Characterisics, Time Routines and Metrics can be used but each term within a rule must result in eaither TRUE or FALSE.

It should be noticed that each term has to have one component which contains a time-stamp.

 

Example 1

The time routine timeroutine_1 is defined.

I1 in this example is the outdoor air temperatur, which also could be any other data point.

The rule shoud result in a TRUE value as long as the time routine is valid. Here the definition is:

 

 path.xyz.timeroutine_1 && I1 == I1

This rule is always TRUE because I1 is equal to TRUE if the time routine is valid.

Example 2

 

In this example the rule should be defined as a check if the desired value of a volume flow is correct. The sensor will be connected with drag & drop within the editor section of the identifier. Automatically this sensor will be assigned with a reference variable I1. Now the rule can be defined in the upper section „rule specification“. The desired value of the volume flow should be 24 m³/h with a dead band of +/- 3 m³/h. The term will be written as:

I1 > 21 && I1 < 27

RULE

Before each rule will be evaluated it needs to be saved within the editor window. Afterwards the rule will be displayed as a virtual sensor in the section „Data Points“. Also each rule can now be visualized for example as a carpet plot by a right click on the rule within the „Specification“ window. The result of the rule will be shown in green coulour (TRUE) and red (false).

RULE_CARPETPLOT

Comments:

Parts of the function can be commented out as follows.

  1. Block-comment: ‘/*’ and ‘*/’ (also over several lines)
  2. Row-cmment: ‘//’

The F3 key can be used to comment out or comment in a selected area. The entire line is commented in or out by placing the cursor in the desired line.

/*This is an example of

of a multi-line comment.*/

I1 > 21 && I1 < 27 /*< 30*/

/* I1 > 15 && I1 < 20 */