JP4148654B2 - Remote monitoring system - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a remote monitoring system for an air conditioner such as an absorption chiller / heater, a gas heat pump air conditioner, and a packaged air conditioner, a refrigeration showcase, and a refrigerator such as a refrigerator. More specifically, a refrigeration apparatus such as a plurality of air conditioners, a refrigerated showcase, a refrigerator, etc., a remote monitoring apparatus that periodically reads the operation information from the refrigeration apparatus via a communication line and remotely monitors the operation information, The present invention relates to a remote monitoring system including a host computer that receives the operation information from a remote monitoring device via a communication line.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In the conventional remote monitoring system of this type, when the operation information of the refrigeration apparatus in real time is continuously read by the host computer, the remote monitoring apparatus and the host computer uniformly read the operation information of all the refrigeration apparatuses.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
For this reason, there has been a problem that traffic on the communication line between the refrigeration apparatus and the remote monitoring apparatus increases, reading at a practical speed cannot be performed, and communication costs between the remote monitoring apparatus and the host computer are increased. Moreover, since it is often the case that the operation status of the refrigeration system is monitored by continuously reading the operation information, unnecessary information is also received at the monitoring center, and extraction of necessary information, Work such as elimination of unnecessary information increases.
[0004]
On the other hand, continuous operation information needs to be collected in real time when there is a refrigeration system that is expected to cause anomalies in the near future or when technical investigation or analysis is required. There is a case.
[0005]
Therefore, the present invention reduces the traffic for communication with the refrigeration apparatus, reduces the communication cost for communication with the host computer, further reduces the work of selecting data and eliminating excess data, and more information. The purpose of this is to make it easier to grasp the trend of the operating state of the refrigeration system.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
For this reason, the first invention is a remote system that reads a plurality of air conditioners, refrigerated showcases, refrigerators, and other refrigeration devices, and remotely reads the operation information from the refrigeration devices at predetermined intervals via a communication line. A remote monitoring system comprising a monitoring device and a host computer that receives the operation information from the remote monitoring device via a communication line,
When receiving the designation of the system of the refrigeration device from the host computer via the communication line , the remote monitoring device stops reading the operation information performed at the cycle of the predetermined interval and designates the specified refrigeration device. The operation information of only the system is transmitted to the host computer via the communication line 3 at a cycle shorter than the predetermined cycle .
[0007]
In addition, the second invention is a remote monitoring in which a plurality of systems such as air conditioners, refrigerated showcases, refrigerators, and the like, and remote monitoring by reading operation information from the refrigeration apparatus at a predetermined interval via a communication line. A remote monitoring system comprising a device and a host computer that receives the operation information from the remote monitoring device via a communication line,
The remote monitoring device receives a main control unit, a clock circuit for periodically reading the operation information of the refrigeration apparatus, a memory for storing the operation information of the refrigeration apparatus, and received from the host computer via the communication line A temporary memory for storing operation information of only the specified specific system based on the specification of the system of the refrigeration apparatus ,
Normally, the main control unit reads the operation information from the refrigeration apparatus and stores it in the memory and transmits it to the host computer at a predetermined interval based on the time measuring circuit,
When the system of the refrigeration apparatus is designated from the host computer, the main control unit stops reading at the cycle of the predetermined interval and the operation information of the designated specific system at an interval shorter than the cycle of the predetermined interval. It is controlled to read in a cycle , store it in the temporary memory, and send it to the host computer.
[0009]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments applied to an air conditioner among refrigeration apparatuses such as an air conditioner, a refrigerated showcase, and a refrigerator will be described with reference to the drawings. First, the system configuration diagram of the remote monitoring system in FIG. 1 and the remote monitoring device 1 in FIG. 2 will be described. This remote monitoring device 1 is one of a plurality of refrigeration systems, for example, connected to an outdoor unit 2 of a gas heat pump air conditioner that is a plurality of (two in this embodiment) air conditioners that harmonize the air in each room. In addition, it is connected via a public communication line 3 to a host computer 4 in a remote monitoring center. Reference numeral 5 denotes an indoor unit of a gas heat pump air conditioner. There are four indoor units 5 corresponding to the left outdoor unit 2 in FIG. 1, and there are two indoor units 5 corresponding to the right outdoor unit 2. The remote monitoring device 1 and the outdoor unit 2 are connected to each other by a communication line 6.
[0010]
The remote monitoring device 1 is provided, for example, near the outdoor unit 2 of the gas heat pump air conditioner. Usually, the operation information is periodically read from the gas heat pump air conditioner to remotely monitor the operation information through the public communication line 3. Operation data is periodically collected from the host computer 4 to check the operation state. When an alarm is issued, the outdoor unit 2 sends a warning and alarm data (alarm) to the host computer 4 in principle. Content data) is transmitted (after calling, i.e., calling and then transmitted), and the outdoor unit 2 transmits maintenance prediction / inspection information and information transmission data to the host computer 4.
[0011]
The above remote monitoring system monitors the operating status of the gas heat pump air conditioner, which is an air conditioner, on a 365-day, 24-hour basis, and can respond promptly and appropriately based on the alarm and alarm data.
[0012]
Next, the remote monitoring device 1 will be described in detail. A microcomputer (hereinafter referred to as “microcomputer”) 10 as a main control unit includes a CPU 11 for overall control, a RAM 12 for storing various data, and a ROM 13 for storing program data. ing. The microcomputer 10 is connected to the host computer 4 through the public communication line 3 through the communication modem 14 and is connected to the outdoor units 2 through the interface 15. The use of the modem 14 for communicating with the host computer 4 is not limited. Depending on the communication means, for example, wireless communication, Ethernet communication, etc. can be considered.
[0013]
The remote monitoring device 1 includes a setting switch 16 connected to the microcomputer 10, a non-volatile memory 17 in which stored contents are not lost even if the power is turned off, a static RAM 18 for data storage, and the gas heat pump air conditioner periodically. The timer circuit 19 for taking in the operation information is incorporated, and the static RAM 18 and the timer circuit 19 are connected to a battery charging circuit and a battery switching circuit 20 connected to the battery 21. Accordingly, during energization, the battery 21 is charged by the battery charging circuit, and during the power failure, the battery 21 enables the clock circuit 19 and the static RAM 18 to operate for a certain period of time. The battery switching circuit switches to the battery 21.
[0014]
The battery 21 may be a primary battery that cannot be charged. In that case, the battery charging circuit becomes unnecessary.
[0015]
Then, the microcomputer 10 of the remote monitoring device 1 uses the timing circuit 19 to read two periodic information from the gas heat pump air conditioner via the communication line 6 and store the information in the static RAM 18 to detect the abnormality. When it is detected, it is transmitted to the host computer 4 when necessary. First, the first is monitoring information on the occurrence of abnormality in the gas heat pump air conditioner. This is done at intervals as short as possible (for example, every 10 seconds) in order to monitor the occurrence of abnormalities in the gas heat pump air conditioner. The information includes on / off information of each part of the gas heat pump air conditioner and abnormalities related to abnormal conditions. There are codes.
[0016]
The second is a trend record of operation information of the gas heat pump air conditioner. This is recorded when the air conditioner is abnormally stopped by detecting the occurrence of an abnormality of the gas heat pump air conditioner, in order to consider the operating state up to that point, or for technical interest and verification. The information includes physical information such as temperature and pressure of each part of the gas heat pump air conditioner.
[0017]
The former abnormality monitoring is shorter in reading interval (for example, every 10 seconds), and the latter trend recording is longer (for example, every minute). This is because the physical information read for trending has few rapid changes, but monitoring of abnormalities needs to be done as early as possible, so the information used for the former abnormal monitoring is less in volume and the latter Because there is a difference that there is more trend record information, there is a difference from the balance of communication traffic of the gas heat pump air conditioner.
[0018]
As shown in FIG. 3, normally, the remote monitoring device 1 periodically reads the two pieces of information described above, and stores the data in the memory portion of the monitoring information on the occurrence of abnormality in the static RAM 18 (in FIG. 3). (Not shown) and the physical information in the trend recording memory unit 18A. In this case, the trend recording memory unit 18A stores a certain number (for example, the past one hour) of operation information of the gas heat pump air conditioner, and, as described above, when necessary, such as when an abnormality is detected, the host computer 4 To send to.
[0019]
Further, when the administrator designates the system of the gas heat pump air conditioner from the host computer 4 of the monitoring center (designates the system 2 in this embodiment), and there is an instruction to continuously read the information of the gas heat pump air conditioner, FIG. As shown, among the two periodic information readings, reading for trend recording by the latter microcomputer 10 is stopped.
[0020]
At this time, the physical information is read from the gas heat pump air conditioner of the system 2 through the communication line 6 at an interval shorter than the reading interval of the normal trend record (for example, every 10 seconds) and stored in the temporary memory unit 18B of the static RAM 18. To do. Therefore, since normal reading is stopped and the system is limited to one system, reading can be performed at a shorter interval than before, and traffic on the communication line 6 is reduced.
[0021]
Then, the host computer 4 in the monitoring center continuously receives and reads the operation information of the designated system stored in the temporary memory unit 18B via the public communication line 3 to achieve the intended purpose. Since the trend memory unit 18A stores and saves the information so far, the operation information can be continuously recorded when the continuous information reading is completed.
[0022]
Further, by instructing another system, the system can be read as described above. However, this instruction is not limited to one system, and may be several systems less than the entire system.
[0023]
Therefore, when the remote monitoring device 1 performs continuous reading in addition to normal periodic reading, the traffic on the communication line 6 increases. However, if the above is performed, the traffic on the communication line 6 is reduced. .
[0024]
Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, various alternatives, modifications, and variations can be made by those skilled in the art based on the above description, and the various alternatives described above are within the scope of the present invention. , Including modifications or variations.
[0025]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the present invention stops reading the operation information of the refrigeration apparatus at a normal cycle of a predetermined interval and reads the operation information only for the designated system, so that traffic can be suppressed with respect to communication with the refrigeration apparatus. it can. In addition, since the operation information is read only for the specified system, communication information for communication with the host computer is reduced, the communication cost can be reduced, and the work of selecting data and eliminating extra data can be reduced. Further, since the operation information of only the specified system is read at an interval shorter than the normal operation information read interval, more information can be collected, and the tendency of the operation state of the refrigeration apparatus can be easily grasped.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 shows a system configuration diagram of a remote monitoring system.
FIG. 2 shows a configuration diagram of a remote monitoring device.
FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining normal periodic reading.
FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining reading of one system.
FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining reading of all conventional systems.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Remote monitoring apparatus 2 Outdoor unit 3 Public communication line 4 Host computer 5 Indoor unit 6 Communication line 10 Microcomputer 11 CPU
18 Static RAM
19 Timing circuit

Claims (2)

Refrigeration apparatus such as a plurality of air conditioners, refrigerated showcases, refrigerators, etc., a remote monitoring apparatus that reads the operation information from the refrigeration apparatus at a predetermined interval through a communication line and remotely monitors the apparatus, and the remote monitoring apparatus A remote monitoring system comprising a host computer for receiving the operation information from a communication line,
When receiving the designation of the system of the refrigeration device from the host computer via the communication line , the remote monitoring device stops reading the operation information performed at the cycle of the predetermined interval and designates the specified refrigeration device. The remote monitoring system , wherein operation information of only the system is transmitted to the host computer via the communication line 3 at intervals shorter than the predetermined interval . Refrigeration apparatus such as a plurality of air conditioners, refrigerated showcases, refrigerators, etc., a remote monitoring apparatus that reads the operation information from the refrigeration apparatus at a predetermined interval through a communication line and remotely monitors the apparatus, and the remote monitoring apparatus A remote monitoring system comprising a host computer for receiving the operation information from a communication line,
The remote monitoring device receives a main control unit, a clock circuit for periodically reading the operation information of the refrigeration apparatus, a memory for storing the operation information of the refrigeration apparatus, and received from the host computer via the communication line A temporary memory for storing operation information of only the specified specific system based on the specification of the system of the refrigeration apparatus ,
Normally, the main control unit reads the operation information from the refrigeration apparatus and stores it in the memory and transmits it to the host computer at a predetermined interval based on the time measuring circuit,
When the system of the refrigeration apparatus is designated from the host computer, the main control unit stops reading at the cycle of the predetermined interval and the operation information of the designated specific system at an interval shorter than the cycle of the predetermined interval. A remote monitoring system for controlling to read in a cycle , store in the temporary memory, and transmit to the host computer.

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