JP3468979B2 - Plant monitoring equipment - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a plant monitoring device having a communication function via a public line.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, in a plant monitoring device, when an abnormality occurs, an alarm buzzer is generated in an operator console installed in a control center, and an abnormality is displayed on the screen of a monitoring CRT to notify the operator. The operator CRs the cause of the abnormality
The buzzer is stopped when confirmation is made on the T monitoring screen display and an abnormality confirmation operation is performed.

Further, there is known a plant monitoring device provided with a function of automatically making a notification through a communication line to a place registered in advance when an abnormality is detected, such as a fire alarm which detects a fire and automatically notifies the fire department. ing.

[0004]

However, such a conventional plant monitoring device has the following problems. First of all, in the case of a plant monitoring device having a function of automatically sounding the buzzer of the control center and displaying the contents of abnormality on the monitoring CRT of the operator console, if the operator is not always sitting in front of the operator console, or at least a buzzer alarm is issued. If you are not in a place where you can hear, you cannot immediately recognize the occurrence of an abnormality.Therefore, it is necessary for the operator to be stationed at the operation center, which requires a large amount of labor and sustains tension. Has a big problem.

Further, in the case of a plant monitoring device having a function of automatically reporting to a predetermined place when an abnormality occurs, it is possible to report that an abnormality has occurred, but it is not possible to notify detailed contents of the abnormality, The operator who receives the notification has to rush to the operator console to check the contents of the abnormality by looking at the CRT monitor screen, which may delay the response to the serious accident.

The present invention has been made in view of such conventional problems. Even if the operator is not in front of the operator console or at the operation center, the abnormality is notified through the public line and the abnormality is confirmed. In addition, the confirmation operation for abnormalities can be performed,
An object of the present invention is to provide a plant monitoring device that can reduce the labor burden on an operator.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a plant monitoring apparatus which monitors a plant state, outputs character information indicating an abnormality content when an abnormality is determined, and inputs the information during the abnormality. Monitoring control means for stopping the abnormality notification operation by the abnormality confirmation signal, and character information representing the abnormality content output from the monitoring control means, which is connected to the monitoring control means, is input, converted into a voice signal, and externalized. The dial tone signal input from the outside, which is connected to the character-to-speech conversion means for outputting to the monitor control means, is collated with a predetermined dial tone signal for abnormality confirmation, and the abnormality confirmation signal is sent when they match. Tone confirmation means for outputting to the monitor control means, and auto dial means connected to the monitor control means for automatically dialing a predetermined telephone number when an abnormality occurs, Connected to a public line, send a dial signal by the auto-dial means, output the voice signal converted by the text-to-speech conversion means to the public line when the line is established, and connect the line after transmitting the voice signal. And a line connection means for outputting a dial tone signal sent through the public line to the tone confirmation means.

In the plant monitoring apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention, when the monitoring control means detects the occurrence of an abnormality, the character information representing the content of the abnormality is output to the character-speech conversion means, and the occurrence of the abnormality is output to the auto dial means. To do. Therefore, the auto-dial means automatically dials the remote telephone having a predetermined telephone number, and when the public line is established, the voice signal corresponding to the abnormal character information converted by the character-to-speech conversion means is transmitted to the remote telephone through the public line.

If it is necessary for the operator who picks up the remote telephone to hear the voice signal corresponding to the abnormal character information sent from the center side to confirm the abnormality content and make a confirmation operation, a predetermined push button of the remote telephone is set. The dial tone signal is transmitted to the center side by pressing the number.

On the operation center side, the dial tone signal sent from the remote telephone through the public line is passed to the tone confirming means. If the dial tone signal sent from the remote telephone corresponds to a predetermined number, it is abnormal. The confirmation control signal is passed to the monitoring control means, and the monitoring control means stops the abnormality notification operation on the assumption that the operator has confirmed the abnormality.

Thus, according to the plant monitoring apparatus of the invention of claim 1, even if the operator is away from the operation center, for example, an office, a dormitory, or a home, if an abnormality occurs, it is registered in advance. Call the operator by auto-dialing the remote telephone with the specified telephone number, notify the operator of the abnormality content by voice through the remote telephone, and send the abnormality confirmation signal from the operator side to the center side by a predetermined push button operation. Will be able to.

A plant monitoring apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention monitors a plant state, outputs character information indicating an abnormality content when an abnormality is determined, and receives character information indicating an abnormality confirmation signal during the abnormality occurrence. And a character connected to the monitoring control means for inputting character information representing the content of the abnormality output from the monitoring control means, converted into an e-mail signal, and output. Connected to the data conversion means and the monitoring control means,
An auto-dial means for transmitting the electronic mail signal to a predetermined terminal device when an abnormality occurs, and an externally input electronic mail signal which is connected to the monitor control means and is converted to character information to the monitor control means. The mail signal converting means for outputting and the public line are connected, the electronic mail signal from the auto dial means is outputted to the public line, and the electronic mail signal sent through the public line is converted into the mail signal. Center side line connecting means for outputting to the means.

According to another aspect of the plant monitoring apparatus of the present invention, when the monitoring control means detects an abnormality in the plant,
The details of the abnormality are automatically sent to the terminal device having a telephone number registered in advance as an electronic mail. Then, the operator confirms the content of the abnormality by reading the e-mail of the terminal device, sends a confirmation command to the operation center side as an e-mail, and the mail conversion means on the center side confirms whether the e-mail is a predetermined one. If it is an e-mail having a predetermined content, an abnormality confirmation signal is passed to the monitoring control means, and the monitoring control means determines that the operator has confirmed the abnormality and stops the abnormality notification operation.

Thus, according to the plant monitoring apparatus of the invention of claim 2, when an abnormality occurs in the plant, the contents of the abnormality are automatically notified to the operator who is away from the operation center by using the electronic mail function. The operator will be able to make a notification and perform an abnormality confirmation operation by e-mail.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the plant monitoring device according to the first or second aspect, when the monitoring control means determines that an abnormality has occurred, an alarm for notifying the abnormality has occurred,
The automatic dial means has a timer for performing an automatic dial operation when a confirmation operation signal is not input within a predetermined time.

In the plant monitoring apparatus according to the third aspect of the present invention, it is assumed that the operator is not at the operation center if the abnormality control operation is not performed even if the monitoring control means issues an alarm in the operation center by the alarm means. , The remote telephone is automatically dialed to inform the abnormality content by voice or by e-mail, and the confirmation operation can be performed to improve the convenience.

[0017]

[0018]

[0019]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a system configuration of one embodiment of the present invention. A plant monitoring apparatus of this embodiment includes a supervisory control computer 2 for performing supervisory control of a plant 1 and a supervisory CRT 3 connected to the supervisory control computer 2. When,
A buzzer 4 that sounds when an abnormality occurs and a push button 5 that performs an abnormality confirmation operation are provided. It is possible that the telephone 7 connected to the supervisory control computer 2 through a public line 6 such as a telephone line is in a required place, for example, when the operator is not in the operation center such as a rest room, a living room, or a business room. It is installed in a highly reliable place.

Explaining the internal configuration of the supervisory control computer 2, the necessary control signals are output to the plant 1, and measurement signals and state signals are input from various sensors and switches of the plant 1 to determine the state of the plant. A supervisory control arithmetic processing unit 2a that performs supervisory control and determines whether or not an abnormality has occurred, and character information representing the abnormality content output when the supervisory control arithmetic processing unit 2a determines that some abnormality has occurred in the plant 1 is converted into a voice signal. A character-to-speech conversion processing unit 2b for performing a voice synthesis process for conversion, an auto-dial unit 2c for generating a dial signal of a predetermined telephone number when an abnormality occurs, and a dial tone signal sent from the remote side for a predetermined abnormality confirmation signal. And the tone confirmation unit 2d that outputs an abnormality confirmation signal to the supervisory control calculation processing unit 2a when the agreement is established.
And a line connection device 2f for connecting the supervisory control computer 2 to the public line 6 and a timer 2e for starting time measurement for a fixed time when an abnormality occurs.

Next, the operation of the plant monitoring device having the above configuration will be described. In the supervisory control computer 2, the supervisory control arithmetic processing unit 2a performs operation control / state monitoring of the plant. When it is determined that an abnormality has occurred, the timer 2e is started, the information of the abnormality content is displayed in characters on the monitoring CRT 3, and the buzzer 4 is rung.

If the operator is in front of the monitoring CRT and confirms an abnormality and operates the abnormality confirmation push button 5 before the timer 2e times out, the buzzer 2e stops ringing.

However, when the operator is not at the operation center and does not immediately notice the occurrence of the abnormality and the buzzer 4 continues to ring, the monitoring control arithmetic processing unit 2a causes the auto dial unit 2a to operate when the timer 2e times out.
Auto dial command is issued to c, and auto dial section 2c
Automatically dials the telephone 7 having a telephone number registered in advance.

When the operator picks up the telephone 7 and the line is established, the supervisory control processing section 2a passes the character information of the abnormal content to the character-to-speech conversion processing section 2b for voice conversion.
A voice signal notifying the details of the abnormality is transmitted to the telephone 7 through the public line 6.

When the operator picking up the telephone set 7 confirms the content of the abnormality by listening to the voice signal notifying the content of the abnormality, the operator performs an abnormality confirmation operation of pushing a dial number that has been agreed in advance.

By this abnormality confirmation operation, a dial tone signal is sent to the supervisory control computer 2 side through the public line 6, and the tone confirmation signal 2d is received by the tone confirmation unit 2d and a tone indicating the abnormality confirmation registered in advance. If they match, the abnormality confirmation signal is passed to the supervisory control calculation processing section 2a.

In response to this abnormality confirmation signal, the supervisory control calculation processing section 2a performs the same processing as when the abnormality confirmation push button 5 is pressed, and stops the ringing of the buzzer 4.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the plant monitoring control computer 2 is activated when an abnormality occurs in the plant.
Even if the buzzer 4 sounds the abnormality, but there is no operator at the operation center and the abnormality confirmation operation is not performed, if that state continues for a predetermined time, the telephone 7 registered in advance is automatically dialed. Then, the operator is called, the contents of the abnormality are reported by voice, and if the operator hears and confirms the contents of the abnormality, the operator can confirm the abnormality by pressing the dial button of the predetermined number. Even if the user is not always in front of the monitoring CRT, it is possible to reliably notify the abnormality occurrence and confirm the abnormality, and it is possible to reduce the labor burden on the operator.

In the above-described embodiment, the remote telephone 7 is automatically dialed when the abnormality confirmation operation is not performed even after the elapse of a predetermined time by the timer 2e. However, the timer 2e is adopted as necessary. However, if it is unnecessary for the sake of system simplification, it is not adopted, and it is possible to adopt a configuration in which an abnormality is immediately notified to the remote telephone 7 when an abnormality occurs.

If a mobile telephone is used as the remote telephone 7, the operator can call the telephone wherever he / she is, the convenience is further increased, and the degree of freedom of the operator is also increased.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In this second embodiment,
As shown in FIG. 2, on the supervisory control computer 2 side that performs supervisory control of the plant 1, a supervisory CRT 3 connected to the computer 2, a buzzer 4 that sounds when an abnormality occurs,
A push button 5 for performing an abnormality confirmation operation is provided.
As shown in FIG. 3, on the terminal device 8 side connected to the supervisory control computer 2 through a public line 6 such as a telephone line, a line connection device 9 for the public line 6, a modem 10, and an electronic mail signal are sent. A character data conversion processing unit 11 for performing mutual conversion with character information is provided, and a buzzer 12 for notifying occurrence of an abnormality is also connected.

The internal configuration of the monitoring control computer 2 shown in FIG. 2 will be described. The monitoring control arithmetic processing unit 2 which performs the state monitoring control of the plant 1 and determines whether or not an abnormality has occurred.
a and the character information representing the content of the abnormality output when the monitoring control calculation processing unit 2a determines that some abnormality has occurred in the plant 1 is converted into an electronic mail signal, and the electronic mail signal sent from the terminal device 8 side. Character data conversion processing unit 2 which converts the data into character information and gives it to the monitoring control calculation processing unit 2a
g, an auto-dial unit 2c that generates a dial signal of a predetermined telephone number when an abnormality occurs, a timer 2e that starts time measurement for a certain period of time when an abnormality occurs, a modem 2h, and a public line 6. And a line connection device 2f for connecting to each other.

Next, the operation of the plant monitoring device having the above configuration will be described. When the supervisory control arithmetic processing unit 2a in the supervisory control computer 2 detects the occurrence of an abnormality, the timer 2e is activated, and the contents of the abnormality are displayed in characters on the monitor CRT 3 and the buzzer 4 is rung. If the operator is in front of the monitoring CRT 3 and confirms an abnormality and operates the abnormality confirmation push button 5 before the timer 2e times out, the buzzer 2e stops ringing.

When the operator is not at the operation center and does not immediately notice the occurrence of an abnormality and the buzzer 4 continues to ring, the monitoring control arithmetic processing section 2a issues an auto dial command to the auto dial section 2c when the timer 2e times out. Then, the auto dial unit 2c auto dials the terminal device 8 having the telephone number registered in advance.

When the terminal device 8 detects the arrival of the dial signal and performs the line connection process, the monitor control processing unit 2a passes the character information of the abnormal content to the character data conversion processing unit 2g to convert it to an electronic mail signal. It is converted into an analog signal by the modem 2h, and an electronic mail signal notifying the contents of the abnormality is transmitted to the terminal device 8 through the public line 6.

On the side of the terminal device 8, the incoming electronic mail signal is converted into a digital signal by the modem 10, and the electronic mail signal is converted into character information by the character data conversion processing section 11,
In the terminal device 8, a character display is displayed on the display to inform the operator of the abnormality, and at the same time, a buzzer 12 is sounded to inform the operator of the occurrence of the abnormality.

When the operator hears that the buzzer 12 sounds and knows that an abnormality has occurred, the operator reads and confirms the content of the abnormality displayed on the display of the terminal device 8 and confirms the necessary confirmation operation of the terminal device 8. Input using the keyboard.

By this abnormality confirmation operation, the character data conversion processing unit 11 converts the character information input by the key into an electronic mail signal, sends it through the modem 10 to the public line 6, and sends it to the supervisory control computer 2 side. .

On the supervisory control computer 2 side, the electronic mail signal sent from the terminal device 8 is converted into character information by the character data conversion processing unit 2h, and the supervisory control arithmetic processing unit 2a.
When the supervisory control arithmetic processing unit 2a determines that the character information corresponds to an abnormality confirmation signal, the monitoring control arithmetic processing unit 2a performs the same processing as when the abnormality confirmation push button 5 is pressed, and causes the buzzer 4 to ring. Stop.

Thus, according to the second embodiment, even if an abnormality occurs in the plant and the plant monitoring control computer 2 sounds the buzzer 4 to notify the occurrence of the abnormality, there is no operator at the operation center. If an abnormality confirmation operation is not performed, and if the state continues for a predetermined time, an automatic notification is sent to the pre-registered terminal device 8 to send an e-mail notifying the content of the abnormality, and the operator displays the display on the terminal device 8. If the operator confirms the content of the abnormality and inputs a predetermined abnormality confirmation signal using the keyboard, it can be transmitted to the supervisory control computer 2 side in the form of e-mail and the abnormality confirmation processing can be performed. Even if you are not in front of the monitoring CRT, you can surely report the occurrence of an abnormality and confirm the abnormality. It is possible to reduce the power burden.

Also in the second embodiment described above, when the timer 2e does not perform an abnormality confirmation operation even after a certain period of time, the terminal device 8 is automatically dialed to send an e-mail. However, this timer 2e can be adopted as needed, and for simplicity of the system, if it is not necessary, it is not adopted, and when an abnormality occurs, the terminal device 8 is immediately notified of the abnormality by e-mail. It can also be configured.

[0042]

As described above, according to the invention of claim 1,
When the monitoring control means detects an abnormality, it automatically dials the remote telephone with the specified telephone number, converts the content of the abnormality into voice, and sends it. Also, the operator picking up the remote telephone sends an abnormality from the center side. When confirming the abnormality by listening to the voice that expresses the content, the operator can confirm the abnormality by pressing the specified number on the push button of the remote telephone and transmitting the dial tone signal to the center side. Even if the operator is away from the operation center, he / she can know the details when an abnormality occurs and can confirm the abnormality, and the operator is always in front of the operator console and does not have to monitor the plant. It is possible to reduce labor burden and stress.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when the supervisory control means detects an abnormality in the plant, the abnormality content is automatically transmitted to the terminal device having a telephone number registered in advance by e-mail, and the terminal is also automatically transmitted. When the operator confirms the details of the abnormality by reading the e-mail of the device and sends an abnormality confirmation signal to the center side as an e-mail, the center side processes the abnormality confirmation, so the operator leaves the operation center. Even if you are in the place, you can know the contents when an abnormality occurs and you can also check the abnormality, so that the operator does not have to always be in front of the operator console and monitor the plant, The burden and stress can be reduced.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the operator is not at the operation center unless an abnormality confirmation operation is performed within a predetermined time even if the monitoring control means gives an alarm in the operation center by the alarm means. In order to confirm the abnormality by voice dialing the details of the abnormality by auto dialing the remote telephone or terminal device, or by e-mail,
When the operator is packed in the operation center and can respond quickly, there is no need to automatically report to the remote telephone or terminal device, which improves convenience.

[0045]

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a system configuration on a supervisory control computer side according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the system configuration of the terminal device side of the second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 plant 2 supervisory control computer 2a Monitoring control arithmetic processing unit 2b Text-to-speech conversion processing unit 2c Auto dial section 2d tone confirmation section 2e timer 2f line connection device 2g Character data conversion processing unit 2h modem 3 monitoring CRT 4 buzzer 5 Abnormality confirmation push button 6 public line 7 Remote telephone 8 terminal devices 9 line connection device 10 modem 11 Character data conversion processing unit 12 buzzers

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (58) Fields surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G05B 23/00-23/02 G08B 23/00-31/00 H04Q 9/00

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A plant condition is monitored to determine occurrence of an abnormality.
When the error occurs, the character information that indicates the content of the error is output, and the error
Anomaly notification operation is stopped by an anomaly confirmation signal input during life
Monitoring control means for stopping, and the monitoring control means connected to the monitoring control means
The character-to-speech conversion means for inputting the character information representing the above-mentioned abnormality content output by the above , converting it to a sound signal and outputting the sound signal to the outside, and the dial tone signal inputted from the outside connected to the monitoring control means are abnormal. Predetermined dial to confirm
Tone signal checking means for outputting the abnormality confirmation signal to the supervisory control means when they match, and for automatically dialing a predetermined telephone number when an abnormality occurs, which is connected to the supervisory control means. The dial means and the public line are connected to each other, the dial signal by the auto-dial means is transmitted, and the voice signal converted by the character-to-speech conversion means when the line is established is output to the public line.
After transmitting the audio signal, pass the public line while the line is connected.
A plant monitoring device comprising: a line connection means for outputting a dial tone signal sent to the tone confirmation means. 2. A plant condition is monitored to determine occurrence of an abnormality.
When the error occurs, the character information that indicates the content of the error is output, and the error
Abnormal when receiving character information indicating an abnormality confirmation signal during life
Monitor control means for stopping the reporting operation, and character data conversion means connected to the monitor control means for inputting character information representing the content of abnormality output by the monitor control means and converting the information into an e-mail signal for output. And an auto-dial means connected to the monitoring control means for transmitting the electronic mail signal to a predetermined terminal device when an abnormality occurs, and an electronic mail signal input from the outside connected to the monitoring control means Is converted into character information and output to the monitor control means, and a mail signal conversion means connected to the public line and connected to the auto dial means .
Outputting said e-mail signal al to the public line, the
A plant monitoring device comprising: a center side line connecting means for outputting an electronic mail signal sent through a public line to the mail signal converting means. 3. The monitoring control means has a timer for issuing an alarm notifying the occurrence of an abnormality when it is determined that an abnormality has occurred, and for causing the autodial means to perform an automatic dial operation when a confirmation operation signal is not input within a predetermined time. The plant monitoring device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: