Automation facility and method for operating the automation facility

1. A method for operating an automation facility having a simulation server which includes a simulation framework for simulation of a process behavior of at least one of (i) sensors and (ii) actuators in accordance with a simulation model, a plurality of simulation models being stored in the simulation server and being loadable into the simulation framework, which includes a simulation interface for simulating communication behavior of at least one of (i) the sensors and (ii) the actuators and for connecting a modelled process behavior to a programmable logic controller, and includes an operator system for process control and process operation, the simulation interface transmitting simulated process input values of the programmable logic controller which generates process output values for the actuators from the simulated process input values and the generated process output values being transmitted via the simulation interface to the simulation framework, the method comprising:

transmitting one of (i) metadata and (ii) a test value derived from the metadata to a service unit of the operator system, the metadata being stored on the simulation server for at least some of the simulation models and containing simulation-specific information for each respective simulation model;

loading metadata associated with one of the simulation models or the test value into a function block of the programmable logic controller, the metadata or the test value being supplied by the simulation framework via the simulation interface to the programmable logic controller;

storing the metadata loaded into the function block or the test value in a process image of the operator system;

comparing the metadata transmitted by the simulation server or the test value with the metadata stored in the process image via the service unit of the operator system to validate accuracy of the simulation module provided for implementation during a factory acceptance test of the automation facility; and

conducting the factory acceptance test of the automation facility based on the validated simulation module.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:

signing the one simulation model by a first private key;

storing a simulation model certificate for the one simulation model, transmitted by the simulation server and created by a trusted certification authority, in the service unit, the simulation model certificate comprising, as a test value, a hash value of the metadata and a first public key consistent with the first private key;

performing a signature verification of the simulation model certificate by the service unit via a second public key stored in a certification storage device of the operator system; and

performing a signature verification is performed by the service unit via the first public key.

3. An automation facility comprising:

a simulation server including a simulation framework for simulation of a process behavior of at least one of (i) sensors and (ii) actuators in accordance with a simulation model, a plurality of simulation models being stored in the simulation server and being loadable into the simulation framework,

a simulation interface for simulating communication behavior of at least one of (i) the sensors and (ii) the actuators and for connecting a modelled process behavior to a programmable logic controller, the simulation interface transmitting simulated process input values of the programmable logic controller which generates process output values for the actuators from the simulated process input values and the generated process output values being transmitted via the simulation interface to the simulation framework; and

an operator system for process control and process operation;

wherein metadata is stored on the simulation server for at least some of the simulation models, the metadata including simulation-specific information for each respective simulation model;

wherein the operator system includes a service unit for storing one of (i) the meta data and (ii) a test value derived from the meta data;

wherein the programmable logic controller includes a function block for storing metadata associated with one of the simulation models, or the test value, which the simulation framework supplies via the simulation interface to the programmable logic controller;

wherein a process image of the operator system has a data structure for loading the metadata stored in the function block, or the test value;

wherein the service unit of the operator system is configured to compare one of (i) the metadata transmitted by the simulation server and (ii) the test value transmitted by the simulation server with one of (i) the metadata and (ii) the test value of that stored in the process image via the service unit of the operator system to validate accuracy of the simulation module provided for implementation during a factory acceptance test of the automation facility; and

wherein the factory acceptance test of the automation facility is conducted based on the validated simulation module.

4. The automation facility as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the metadata comprises a signature relating to the one simulation model;

wherein the one simulation model is signed by a first private key;

wherein a simulation model certificate for the one simulation model is stored in the service unit, transmitted by the simulation server and created by a trusted certification authority comprising, as a test value, a hash value of the metadata and a first public key consistent with the first private key;

wherein a second public key for signature verification of the simulation model certificate is stored in a certification storage device of the operator system; and

wherein the service unit is configured to perform a signature verification via the first public key.