Device Variables
Device Variables
This page explains the concepts of Device Status and Device Event, two key abstractions used by the system to work with device data independently of the underlying technology.
Why abstractions?
Devices monitored by the system (wind turbines, inverters, etc.) come from different manufacturers and use different communication technologies. Each device type has its own set of variables, naming conventions, and data formats.
To provide a unified and consistent experience, the system uses abstractions:
- Device Event: a standardized representation of machine events
- Device Status: a standardized representation of machine operational state
These abstractions allow the system to process and display device information in a uniform way, regardless of the specific technology or manufacturer.
Device Event
A Device Event is an abstraction that allows the system to work with machine events independently of the device technology.
The system reads raw variables from the device and transforms them into standardized Device Events. The specific variables used to generate these events vary based on:
- Device technology (e.g., Modbus, OPC-UA, proprietary protocols)
- Device manufacturer
- Device model
This abstraction enables:
- Consistent event visualization across different device types
- Unified filtering and analysis
- Technology-agnostic reporting
Device Status
Device Status is the abstraction representing the operational state of a machine. Like Device Event, it is calculated from device-specific variables that vary depending on the technology and manufacturer.
Standard device states
The system defines 8 standard device states, grouped into four categories:
1. Device available
The device is operational and produces or is ready to produce.
| State | Description |
|---|---|
| Run | The device is in production, actively generating energy |
| Ready | The device is ready to produce but not currently producing |
2. Device unavailable
The device is not available for production due to planned or unplanned conditions.
| State | Description |
|---|---|
| Manual Stop | The device has been manually stopped by an operator |
| Maintenance | The device is under scheduled maintenance |
| Automatic Stop | The device has been automatically stopped (e.g., cable untwist for wind turbines) |
| Faulted | The device is stopped due to an error or fault condition |
3. Communication error
| State | Description |
|---|---|
| Communication Error | The system cannot communicate with the device. Data may be unavailable or unreliable |
4. Limited operation
| State | Description |
|---|---|
| Limited | The device is operating but with reduced capacity or restrictions |