1 Scope

This document provides a comprehensive overview of the information model structure of conveyor systems defined in this OPC UA Companion Specification Mining. As mentioned in OPC 40560, this machine and system-level document contain type definitions for a specific type of machine, equipment, system or service - the conveyor system in this case.

2 Normative references

The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments and errata) applies

OPC 10000-1, OPC Unified Architecture - Part 1: Overview and Concepts

http://www.opcfoundation.org/documents/10000-1/

OPC 10000-2, OPC Unified Architecture - Part 2: Security Model

http://www.opcfoundation.org/documents/10000-2/

OPC 10000-3, OPC Unified Architecture - Part 3: Address Space Model

http://www.opcfoundation.org/documents/10000-3/

OPC 10000-4, OPC Unified Architecture - Part 4: Services

http://www.opcfoundation.org/documents/10000-4/

OPC 10000-5, OPC Unified Architecture - Part 5: Information Model

http://www.opcfoundation.org/documents/10000-5/

OPC 10000-6, OPC Unified Architecture - Part 6: Mappings

http://www.opcfoundation.org/documents/10000-6/

OPC 10000-7, OPC Unified Architecture - Part 7: Profiles

http://www.opcfoundation.org/documents/10000-7/

OPC 10000-8, OPC Unified Architecture - Part 8: Data Access

http://www.opcfoundation.org/documents/10000-8/

OPC 10000-100, OPC Unified Architecture - Part 100: Devices

http://www.opcfoundation.org/documents/10000-100/

OPC 40001-1, OPC UA for Machinery - Part 1: Basic Building Blocks

http://www.opcfoundation.org/documents/40001-1/

OPC 40560, OPC UA Mining General

http://www.opcfoundation.org/documents/40560/

OPC 40569-5, OPC UA for Mining - Application and Use Cases Part 5: Conveying

http://www.opcfoundation.org/documents/40569-5/

3 Terms, definitions and conventions

3.1 Overview

It is assumed that basic concepts of OPC UA information modelling OPC 10000-1, OPC 10000-100 and OPC 40001-1 are understood in this document. This document will use these concepts to describe the OPC 40563-3 Information Model. For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in the documents referenced in the OPC Core documents, OPC 10000-1, OPC 10000-100, OPC 40001-1, OPC 40560 and OPC 40563-1 apply.

3.2 Conventions used in this document

The conventions and definitions described in the OPC Core documents, OPC 10000-1, OPC 10000-100, OPC 40001-1, OPC 40560 and OPC 40563-1 apply.

4 General information to Mining Transport Dumping - Conveying

For general information on the OPC UA Companion Specification Mining and OPC UA in general, please refer to OPC 40560.

As explained in OPC 40560, the machine and system category-level documents serve as an abstraction layer for the types of machinery with similar functionalities. Consequently, this machine and system-level document may also rely on models defined in OPC 40563-1.

The systems under discussion in this document are those designed for the continuous transport of bulk materials.
This Companion Specification delineates the characteristics of belt systems and their components, as well as the data exchanged between them during processes. These components include, but are not limited to, belt drives, drums, rollers, belt scales, belt cleaning systems, weather stations, belts, and other components and systems of the conveyor system.

5 Use cases

The use cases that are covered by the present information models can be found in OPC UA for Mining - Application and Use Cases Part 5: Conveying (OPC 40569-5).

6 OPC UA for Mining Transport Dumping - Conveying Information Model overview

This section provides an overview of the OPC UA information model for a belt conveyor in the mining context. The BeltConveyorType instance is the entry point to the OPC UA server of a belt conveyor.

This specification is based on two fundamental specifications that have a strong influence on the model. These are OPC 40001-1 UA for Machinery - Basic Building Blocks and OPC 40560 UA for Mining General. These two companion specifications are therefore very visible in the appearance of the information model for belt conveyors.

Firstly, each belt conveyor has an instance of MiningEquipmentIdentificationType from OPC 40560. This provides general identification features as well as those specific to the mining industry.

All plant components provided in this Companion Specification are located within the instance of the MachineComponentsType of OPC 40001-1. These respective ObjectTypes are defined later in this document.

All parameters of the entire belt conveyor system that are to be monitored should be found in the MonitoringType of OPC 40001-1. The parameters of the individual system components that are to be monitored can be found within the respective objects of the components.

In this specification, MachineryItemState_StateMachineType was also expanded to reflect the specific characteristics of belt conveyors in the mining industry. This led to the creation of the BeltConveyorStateMachine.

The Object MachineryBuildingBlocks is always implemented when using individual building blocks of OPC 40001-1. This object is used to refer to all objects derived from OPC 40001-1 in an OPC UA server. This allows a client that is not familiar with the current standard but is familiar with OPC 40001-1 to read the relevant information from it.

7 OPC UA ObjectTypes

7.1 BeltConveyorType ObjectType Definition

7.1.1 Overview

The BeltConveyorType describes the entry point into the information model of a belt conveyor. It is defined in Table 1.

MiningEquipmentIdentification represents numerous identification features of a mining equipment. It is a subtype of the 4:MachineIdentificationType.

Components represents a collection of all identifiable components contained below this Object.

Monitoring represents a collection of ObjectTypes and VariableTypes, representing the current state of the process, that are not assigned to a component but to this Object.

MachineryBuildingBlocks is representing a folder that directly references all those building blocks of the OPC UA for Machinery (OPC 40001-1, OPC 40001-3) which are implemented as an add-in.

The components of the BeltConveyorType have additional references which are defined in Table 2.

The components of the BeltConveyorType have additional subcomponents which are defined in Table 3.

DriveController is responsible for managing the operation of drive components, such as motors, brakes and fluid couplings, to start, stop, and regulate the speed and tension of the conveyor.

ConveyorDrive is a representation of the drive of the conveyor belt and all its associated data.

ConveyorBrake is a representation of the brake of the conveyor belt and all its associated data.

Belt is a representation of the whole belt in the conveyor involving all sections and splices.

Pulley is a rotating component that drives or redirects the belt, typically at the head or tail of the conveyor.

BeltScale is a weighing system used for the continuous measurement and recording of the mass flow of bulk materials on a conveyor belt. 

WeatherStation is a sensor system that monitors environmental conditions such as temperature, wind, and precipitation near the conveyor.

Scraper is a cleaning device that removes bulk material from conveyor belts and prevents buildup on the belt.

Idler is a representation of in idler, which has at least one ConveyorRoll that supports and guides the belt.

BeltConveyorStateMachine is used to define the different states of the conveyor system which can occur during operation.

7.1.2 Extension of MachineryItemState for belt conveyor machines

For this specification the MachineryItemState defined in OPC 40001-1 UA for Machinery is extended by a SubStateMachine for the State OutOfService, NotExecuting and Executing. An exemplary illustration can be found in Figure 7.

For this, the BeltConveyorMachineryItemState_StateMachineType is defined in Table 4.

The InstanceDeclaration of the BeltConveyorMachineryItemState_StateMachineType has additional Attributes defined in Table 5.

The States OutOfService, NotExecuting and Executing are overriden in the BeltConveyorMachineryItemState_StateMachineType to get the additional reference defined in Table 6.

7.1.3 BeltConveyorOutOfServiceSubState_StateMachineType ObjectType Definition

The BeltConveyorOutOfServiceSubState_StateMachineType is used for a SubStateMachine which divides the OutOfServices State into Booting and NoClearance. This SubStateMachine is not active if the parent State OutOfService is not active. In this case the CurrentState and LastTransition Variables of the BeltConveyorOutOfServiceSubState state machine shall have a status equal to Bad_StateNotActive.

The BeltConveyorOutOfServiceSubState_StateMachineType is formally defined in Table 7.

The InstanceDeclaration of the BeltConveyorOutOfServiceSubState_StateMachineType has additional Attributes defined in Table 8.

The components of the BeltConveyorOutOfServiceSubState_StateMachineType have additional references which are defined in Table 9.

7.1.4 BeltConveyorNotExecutingSubState_StateMachineType ObjectType Definition

The BeltConveyorNotExecutingSubState_StateMachineType is used for a SubStateMachine which divides the NotExecuting State into BrakeClosed, IsStopped, Ready and AlertSignal. This SubStateMachine is not active if the parent State NotExecuting is not active. In this case the CurrentState and LastTransition Variables of the BeltConveyorNotExecutingSubState state machine shall have a status equal to Bad_StateNotActive.

The BeltConveyorNotExecutingSubState_StateMachineType is formally defined in Table 23.

The InstanceDeclaration of the BeltConveyorNotExecutingSubState_StateMachineType has additional Attributes defined in Table 24.

The components of the BeltConveyorNotExecutingSubState_StateMachineType have additional references which are defined inTable 9 Table 25.

7.1.5 BeltConveyorExecutingSubState_StateMachineType ObjectType Definition

The BeltConveyorExecutingSubState_StateMachineType is used for a SubStateMachine which divides the Executing State into ReverseRunning, ForwardRunning and InitialStopping. This SubStateMachine is not active if the parent State Executing is not active. In this case the CurrentState and LastTransition Variables of the BeltConveyorExecutingSubState state machine shall have a status equal to Bad_StateNotActive.

The BeltConveyorExecutingSubState_StateMachineType is formally defined in Table 26.

The InstanceDeclaration of the BeltConveyorExecutingSubState_StateMachineType has additional Attributes defined in Table 27.

The components of the BeltConveyorExecutingSubState_StateMachineType have additional references which are defined in Table 9 28.

7.2 DriveControllerType ObjectType Definition

7.2.1 Overview

The DriveControllerType provides all the data required for a drive controller of a conveyor belt system that is needed to fulfil the defined use cases. It is formally defined in Table 16.

MiningEquipmentIdentification represents numerous identification features of a mining equipment. It is a subtype of the 4:MachineIdentificationType.

MethodSet is representing a collection of Methods that can be triggered by this Object.

Monitoring represents a collection of ObjectTypes and VariableTypes, representing the current state of the process, that are not assigned to a component but to this Object.

MachineryBuildingBlocks is representing a folder that directly references all those building blocks of the OPC UA for Machinery (OPC 40001-1, OPC 40001-3) which are implemented as an add-in.

The components of the DriveControllerType have additional references which are defined in Table 17.

The components of the DriveControllerType have additional subcomponents which are defined in Table 18.

7.2.2 ConveyorStart

The Method ConveyorStart enables the conveyor to be started. The signature of this Method is specified below. Table 19 and Table 20 specify the Arguments and AddressSpace representation, respectively.

Signature

	ConveyorStart (
		[in]	0:Double	SavedTorque,
		[in]	0:EUInformation	EUSavedTorque,
		[in]	0:Double	TargetSpeed,
		[in]	0:EUInformation	EUTargetSpeed,
		[out]	0:Boolean	TargetSpeedReached
	);

7.2.3 AdjustTorque

The Method AdjustTorque enables to change the torque value of the drive during the conveyor belt is running. The signature of this Method is specified below. Table 32 and Table 33 specify the Arguments and AddressSpace representation, respectively.

Signature

	AdjustTorque (
		[in]	0:DateTime	TerminationTime,
		[in]	0:Double	TargetTorque,
		[in]	0:EUInformation	EUTargetTorque,
		[out]	0:Boolean	TargetTorqueReached
	);

7.2.4 ConveyorStop

The Method ConveyorStop enables the conveyor to be stopped. The signature of this Method is specified below. Table 23 and Table 24 specify the Arguments and AddressSpace representation, respectively.

Signature

	ConveyorStop (
		[in]	0:DateTime	TerminationTime,
		[out]	0:Double	SavedTorque
		);

7.2.5 CloseBrake

The Method CloseBrake enables to close the brakes of the conveyor. The signature of this Method is specified below.

Signature

	CloseBrake (
	);

7.2.6 OpenBrake

The Method OpenBrake enables to open the brake of the conveyor . The signature of this Method is specified below.

Signature

	OpenBrake (
	);
	

7.3 ConveyorDriveType ObjectType Definition

The ConveyorDriveType provides all the data required for a drive of a conveyor belt system that is needed to fulfil the defined use cases. It is formally defined in Table 25.

MiningEquipmentIdentification represents numerous identification features of a mining equipment. It is a subtype of the 4:MachineIdentificationType.

Monitoring represents a collection of ObjectTypes and VariableTypes, representing the current state of the process, that are not assigned to a component but to this Object.

MachineryBuildingBlocks is representing a folder that directly references all those building blocks of the OPC UA for Machinery (OPC 40001-1, OPC 40001-3) which are implemented as an add-in.

The components of the ConveyorDriveType have additional references which are defined in Table 26.

The components of the ConveyorDriveType have additional subcomponents which are defined in Table 27.

MachineryItemState is used as defined in OPC 40001-1. It represents a StateMachine that shows the current machine state.

BeltRunningDirection is direction in which the material is conveyed forward or backward.

SavedTorqueReached is a Boolean variable which turns True when the current torque is higher or equal to the saved torque.

TargetSpeedReached is a Boolean variable which turns True when the current speed reaches the set point speed.

ConveyorStopped is a Boolean variable which turns true when the conveyor drives don't move.

AcknowledgeStart is the signal with the information that the conveyor is in the start-up phase.

ConveyorStarted is the state in which the conveyor reached the target speed after the phase AcknowledgeStart.

Torque is the measured value of the drive torque for one drive.

BeltSpeed is the linear velocity at which the conveyor belt is moving.

MotorSpeed is the rotational speed of the motor driving the conveyor.

MotorPower is the electrical drive power of one motor.

MotorCurrent is the electrical current of the motor.

SavedTorque is the last measured torque of the motor that is stored in system.

The component Variables of the ConveyorDriveType have additional Attributes defined in Table 28.

7.4 ConveyorBrakeType ObjectType Definition

The ConveyorBrakeType provides all the data required for a brake of a conveyor belt system that is needed to fulfil the defined use cases. It is formally defined in Table 29.

MiningEquipmentIdentification represents numerous identification features of a mining equipment. It is a subtype of the 4:MachineIdentificationType.

Monitoring represents a collection of ObjectTypes and VariableTypes, representing the current state of the process, that are not assigned to a component but to this Object.

MachineryBuildingBlocks is representing a folder that directly references all those building blocks of the OPC UA for Machinery (OPC 40001-1, OPC 40001-3) which are implemented as an add-in.

The components of the ConveyorBrakeType have additional references which are defined in Table 30.

The components of the ConveyorBrakeType have additional subcomponents which are defined in Table 31.

MachineryItemState is used as defined in OPC 40001-1. It represents a StateMachine that shows the current machine state.

BrakeReleased is the state in which the brake is opened and doesn't provide any braking torque.

ReleaseTime is the time taken from the brake release signal to the full disengagement of the brake.

BrakingTorque is the nominal or measured torque of one brake.

7.5 BeltType ObjectType Definition

The BeltType provides all the data required for a belt of a conveyor belt system that is needed to fulfil the defined use cases. It is formally defined in Table 32.