JPH08193965A - Sensor system for monitoring ocean environment and its controlling method - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To prevent living things from adhering to a sensor detection part without contaminating the environment of hydrosphere and to prevent seawater intake port from being blocked in a sensor system for monitoring ocean environment. CONSTITUTION: Detection parts 8a and 8b of a sensor are housed in a chamber body 1 and a pump 2 incorporated into the chamber body 1 is driven to circulate seawater in the interior of the chamber body 1. Filters 11 and 12 are provided near seawater entrance/exit ports 9 and 10 of the chamber body 1 and electrodes 13 and 14 are provided outside them and a DC power supply device 3 is driven, thus performing the electrolysis of seawater by electrodes 13a, 13b, 14a, and 14b and generating contamination-preventing substance and hence preventing living things from adhering to sensors 3a and 3b. Further, by changing the circulation direction of seawater for a short time in the direction of an arrow or the opposite direction, the blocking of the seawater intake ports 9 and 10 can be prevented.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a technique for preventing organisms from adhering to a sensor system for monitoring marine environment.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a system for a marine environment monitoring sensor for preventing biofouling by utilizing an antifouling substance generated by electrolysis of seawater, the Japanese Utility Model Publication 58-1033.
There is a seawater quality monitoring device equipped with a mechanism for preventing the attachment of marine organisms such as those listed in 45. Here, an electrode for electrolysis is provided near the water sampling port of the measuring device or the measuring sensor. However, such a method has the following problems. (1) Since the antifouling substance is constantly generated, power consumption and electrode deterioration are fast, and since the antifouling substance is always present near the sensor, an error occurs in the sensor affected by the antifouling substance. (2) In the case of a device in which seawater easily flows, the antifouling substance is diluted and the antifouling efficiency is poor. On the contrary, in the case of a device in which the antifouling substance is difficult to be diluted, the seawater to be measured also stays. As a result, there is a possibility that the nature of the seawater may be different from that of the surrounding seawater.

Therefore, the present inventor has previously mentioned that Japanese Patent Application No. 6-16
In the 2241 application specification “Marine environment monitoring sensor system and its control method”, a system as shown in FIG. 4 was proposed to solve the problems (1) and (2).

The sensor system for monitoring the marine environment shown in FIG.
A sensor chamber 5 including a chamber body 1, a pump 2, a DC power supply device 3, a polarity switching device 15 and a system control device 4, a converter 6 and a data processing device 7.
Consists of The system has four sensors 8a, 8
b, an antifouling substance concentration meter 18, and a water temperature meter 19, the detection part of the sensor is housed inside the chamber body 1, and the measurement data is transmitted to the data processing unit 7 via the converter 6. The chamber body 1 has a seawater inlet 16 and a seawater outlet 17, and the seawater can be circulated inside by driving the pump 2 installed on the seawater outlet 17 side. Further, the filter 11 is provided on the side of the seawater inlet 16 and the electrode 13 is provided outside thereof. By driving the DC power supply device 3, seawater is electrolyzed at the electrode 13, chlorine,
Antifouling substances such as hypochlorous acid are generated. By driving the pump 2, the antifouling substance generated at the electrode 13 is supplied to the filter 11, the chamber main body 1, and the detection portion of the sensor 8 installed inside the chamber main body 1 and the like to prevent biological attachment to the portion. Can be suppressed. Also, filter 1
Objects having a size of 1 mesh or more are removed by the filter 11. By the action of the antifouling substance and the filter 11, the sensor system can be continuously operated for a long period of time and highly reliable data can be acquired. Further, by driving the DC power supply device 3 only when the antifouling effect is reduced, the power consumption can be reduced, and when the antifouling substance affects the measurement, the electrolysis of seawater is temporarily stopped, The measurement was carried out by circulating seawater.

[0005]

[Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application No. 6-1
The system of No. 62241 was found to have the following problems. (1) In a sea area where a large amount of dust is floating in the seawater or mud is flying, the dust and mud accumulate in the filters and electrodes at the seawater inlet and block the seawater flow rate. (2) Since spores and larvae of organisms are contained in dust and mud, when dust and mud accumulate, they lead to the collection of organisms, and the effect of preventing organism attachment decreases.

The present invention addresses the above-mentioned problems of the prior art. The object of the present invention is to prevent the seawater inlet from being blocked even when there is much dust or mud in the seawater, and to measure the sensor measured value over a long period of time. An object of the present invention is to provide a marine environment monitoring sensor system and a control method thereof, in which a biofouling prevention measure of the sensor system is taken so that an error does not occur.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, the first invention is a sensor system for monitoring the marine environment, which comprises at least one sensor, and the detection part of the sensor is housed inside the sensor chamber. The sensor chamber has a chamber body, an electrode for electrolyzing seawater to generate an antifouling substance, a power supply device for supplying an electric current to the electrode, and a chamber body for taking in and discharging seawater. At least two seawater gateways A and B
And a pump for circulating seawater inside the chamber body, and the direction of seawater circulation is A → B and B →
The sensor system for monitoring the marine environment is characterized by being switched to the A direction.

A second aspect of the invention is the sensor system for monitoring the marine environment according to the first aspect of the invention, characterized in that the circulation direction of seawater is switched between A → B and B → A directions by the pump.

In a third aspect of the invention, the chamber body has a dogleg shape, the two seawater inlets and outlets A and B are provided at the end of the chamber body, and the seawater is circulated inside the chamber body. The marine environment according to the second aspect of the invention is characterized in that, as the pump for switching the direction to the A → B direction and the B → A direction, rotary vanes are attached to portions of the chamber body facing the respective seawater inlets / outlets. It is a monitoring sensor system.

In a fourth aspect of the present invention, one of the two seawater inlets / outlets installed in the chamber body is attached at a position lower than the other seawater inlet / outlet B.
Utilizing the pumping of seawater and the height difference between the seawater inlets and outlets A and B, the seawater flow direction is changed from A to B and B to A.
It is the sensor system for monitoring the marine environment according to the first invention, characterized in that the sensor system is switched to the direction.

A fifth aspect of the invention is characterized in that an electrode is installed at least on the inlet side of the seawater inlet / outlet, and the antifouling substance generated at the electrode can be introduced into the entire sensor chamber by circulating the seawater. The sensor system for monitoring marine environment according to the first invention, the second invention, the third invention, or the fourth invention.

In a sixth aspect of the present invention, at least the inlet side of the seawater inlet / outlet is provided with a filter, and at least a part of the filter is the electrode, or the electrode is arranged so that an antifouling substance can be supplied to the filter. The sensor system for monitoring the marine environment according to the first invention, the second invention, the third invention, the fourth invention or the fifth invention, characterized in that

A seventh invention comprises a pump, a sensor, a power supply device, and a system control device for controlling the seawater circulation direction in cooperation with each other. 3rd invention or 4th invention or 5th
Or a sensor system for monitoring a marine environment according to the sixth invention.

An eighth aspect of the present invention comprises an antifouling substance concentration meter for measuring the concentration of the antifouling substance introduced into the sensor chamber, wherein the system control device is based on the output of the antifouling substance concentration meter. The marine environment monitoring according to the seventh aspect of the present invention is characterized by having a function of synchronizing the pump and the power supply device so that the concentration of the antifouling substance is within a preset concentration range, and driving and stopping the same. Sensor system.

A ninth aspect of the present invention comprises a water thermometer for detecting the temperature of seawater in the vicinity of the sensor chamber or inside the sensor chamber, and the system controller sets the concentration range of the antifouling substance based on the output of the water thermometer. It is a sensor system for monitoring the marine environment according to the seventh invention or the eighth invention, which has a function.

A tenth aspect of the invention is characterized in that the electrode is provided with a connection exchange means for exchangeably connecting an anode and a cathode of the power supply device, the second invention or the third aspect. The invention, the fourth invention, the fifth invention, the sixth invention, the seventh invention, the eighth invention, or the ninth invention is the sensor system for monitoring the marine environment.

The eleventh invention is the first invention, the second invention, the third invention, the fourth invention, the fifth invention, the sixth invention, the seventh invention, the eighth invention or the fifth invention. A method for controlling a sensor system for monitoring a marine environment according to a ninth invention or a tenth invention, wherein at least one of the sensors intermittently performs measurement, and seawater is measured by an electrode after one measurement by the sensor. Electrolysis, and the step of introducing seawater containing antifouling substances generated by electrolysis into the chamber by a pump, and after the step of introducing the antifouling substances, at least before the next measurement by the sensor, the power supply device is stopped. The step of driving the pump to remove the antifouling substance inside the chamber and the step of performing the next measurement with the sensor after the removal step with the pump driven or stopped And controlling the introduction step or the removal step by reversing the flow direction of seawater according to the amount of stagnant material accumulated in the seawater inlet or outlet or the set time, and controlling the sensor system for monitoring the marine environment. Is the way.

In a twelfth aspect of the invention, between the step of introducing the antifouling substance and the step of removing the antifouling substance, the step of stopping the power supply device and the pump, the step of driving the power supply device and the pump, or the stoppage. A method for controlling a sensor system for monitoring a marine environment according to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, characterized in that a period for alternately performing the process and the driving process is provided.

[0019]

[Operation] In a sea area where a large amount of dust is floating in seawater or mud is flying, dust and mud gradually accumulate on the inlet filter and electrodes due to long-term operation. If you reverse the direction, they will be released into the sea. The flow rate of seawater is kept constant because dust and mud do not collect on the filters and electrodes. Since the spores and larvae of organisms contained in dust and mud are not collected at the doorway, the effect of preventing biofouling remains as it was at the beginning of operation.

[0020]

1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a first embodiment of a marine environment monitoring sensor system of the present invention. The sensor system for monitoring the marine environment of the present embodiment includes a sensor chamber 5 including a chamber body 1, a pump 2, a DC power supply device 3, a polarity switching device 15 and a system control device 4,
It is composed of a converter 6 and a data processing device 7. The pump 2 is, for example, a combination of two normal pumps so that the suction and discharge directions thereof are opposite to each other, and has a function of reversing the seawater flow direction by switching the pump 2.

The system has two sensors 8a and 8b, the detection portion of which is housed inside the chamber body 1, and the measurement data is transmitted to the data processing unit 7 via the converter 6. The chamber body 1 has seawater inlets / outlets 9 and 10, and by driving the pump 2, seawater can be circulated in both directions inside. Further, filters 11 and 12 are provided near the seawater inlets / outlets 9 and 10, and electrodes 13 and 14 are provided outside them. By driving the DC power supply device 3, seawater is electrolyzed at the electrodes, and antifouling substances such as chlorine and hypochlorous acid that are disliked by living things are generated.

Although it is not necessary to have a filter near the entrance of the seawater, it is preferable to have a filter, and organisms having a size larger than the mesh of the filter are removed by the filter. It can be done more effectively. In addition, if the electrodes are in the form of filters, the effect of electric shock can more effectively prevent the invasion of living organisms into the system.

By driving the pump 2, the electrode 1
Antifouling substances generated in 3 and 14 are filters 11, 12 and
It is supplied to the inside of the chamber body 1 and a detection portion of a sensor 8 installed inside the chamber body 1. Also,
Objects having a size larger than the mesh of the filters 11 and 12 are removed by the filters 11 and 12. By the action of the antifouling substance and the filters 11 and 12, the sensor system can be continuously operated for a long period of time and highly reliable data can be acquired.

When seawater is caused to flow in the direction of the arrow by the pump 2, the antifouling substance generated at the electrode 13 passes through the filter 11 and is supplied to the inside of the chamber main body 1 and the detecting portion of the sensor 8 so that biological attachment to the detecting portion of the sensor occurs. It is suppressed and discharged from the seawater inlet / outlet 10. When the pump 2 is operated so that the seawater flows in the direction opposite to the arrow, depending on the amount of dust and mud accumulated in the vicinity of the seawater inlets / outlets 9, 10 or according to a preset time, the electrode 14 is activated. The generated antifouling substance flows into the chamber body 1 through the filter 12. In sea areas where a large amount of dust is floating in the seawater or mud is floating, inhaling seawater for a long period of time causes the seawater inlet (electrodes and filters) to be clogged with mud and dust in the sea. However, it is possible to remove the accumulated objects each time the seawater circulation direction is reversed. Therefore, even in a sea area where a large amount of dust and mud is present in seawater, the flow of seawater will not decrease due to the accumulation of dust and mud on the filters and electrodes at the seawater inlet. In addition, since the spores and larvae of the organisms contained in the dust and mud are not collected, the effect of preventing biofouling continues.

Since the antifouling substance exhibits an antifouling action at a certain concentration or more and has a long life, it is not necessary to continuously drive the DC power supply device 3 and the pump 2. The relationship between the drive time and the antifouling effect is investigated in advance, and the drive is performed only when the antifouling effect is reduced, whereby the power consumption can be significantly reduced.

Depending on the sensor, the measurement may be disturbed by the presence of the antifouling substance, or accurate measurement may not be possible unless the flow of seawater exceeds a certain level. If there is such a sensor, perform the measurement with that sensor intermittently,
At the time of measurement, the pump 2 is driven, the DC power supply device 3 is stopped, and fresh seawater is circulated inside the chamber main body 1, and the antifouling substance is supplied to the inside of the chamber main body 1 by the method described above except at the time of measurement. . Even if the supply of antifouling substances is temporarily stopped, the organisms that adhered during that period repelled the antifouling substances that were subsequently supplied and moved away from the places where they adhered. There is no particular problem with supply. When circulating fresh seawater inside the chamber body 1, the seawater circulation direction may be reversed.

Chamber body 1, sensor 8, pump 2,
The structures and arrangements of the electrodes 13 and 14 and the filters 11 and 12 may be such that the antifouling function and the measurement by the sensor 8 can satisfy the required performance.

The apparatus of this embodiment is provided with a polarity switching device 15 between the electrodes 13 and 14 and the DC power supply device 3. Electrode 1
Although 3a and 13b and 14a and 14b respectively operate as an anode and a cathode, when they are used with the same polarity for a long period of time, magnesium hydroxide or calcium carbonate is deposited on the cathode and the function of the electrode is hindered. In the device of this embodiment, the polarity of the electrodes can be switched by the polarity switching device 15 every set time, so that the deposition of these can be suppressed.

Driving and stopping of the pump 2, the DC power supply device 3, the polarity switching device 15 and the sensor 8 are controlled by the system control device 4.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of a second embodiment of the sensor system for monitoring the marine environment of the present invention. The shape of the chamber body 1 is different from that of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 shown in the first embodiment, and the chamber body 1 is designed in a dogleg shape, and seawater inlets and outlets 9 and 10 are provided at the ends of the dogleg shape, respectively. Furthermore, as an alternative to the pump of FIG.
1 are attached to both sides of the chamber body 1 with the bent corners in between, at positions facing the seawater inlets / outlets 9, 10. The blades 20 and 21 may be similar in shape to those used in, for example, a magnet pump. The vanes are used as pumps and operated as in the first embodiment. that time,
By driving the blade 21, seawater can be circulated in the direction of the arrow, and by driving the blade 22, seawater can be circulated in the direction opposite to the arrow.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of a third embodiment of the sensor system for monitoring the marine environment of the present invention. A valve 22 and an antifouling substance concentration meter 1 are added to the apparatus of FIG. 1 shown in the first embodiment.
8 and water temperature gauge 19 are added.

As described in the first embodiment, by reversing the seawater flow direction, it is possible to remove dust and mud accumulated in the filters and electrodes. As a method of reversing the flow direction, the height difference between the inlet and the outlet of seawater is used in this embodiment.

The sensor 8 may be located above or below sea level. The pump 2 normally takes in seawater containing an antifouling substance or fresh seawater not containing an antifouling substance from the seawater inlet / outlet port 9 in the sea, and discharges it from a seawater outlet 17 that exits from the sea surface. As described in the first embodiment, the power consumption can be reduced by intermittently driving the pump 2. In the third embodiment, when the operation of the pump 2 is stopped while keeping the seawater inside the chamber body 1, the valve 22 of the seawater outlet 17 is closed. However, depending on the accumulated substances such as dust and mud near the seawater inlet / outlet 9 and the preset time, the valve 22 may be stopped while the pump is stopped.
By opening the, the direction of seawater circulation is reversed from the normal direction. Seawater flows out from the seawater inlet / outlet 9 which is usually used as a seawater inlet, and dust and mud near the seawater inlet / outlet 9 can be removed. The system controller 4 controls the valve 22.
Done by.

The system controller 4 of the third embodiment manages the concentration of the antifouling substance measured by the antifouling substance concentration meter 18 and keeps the DC power supply device 3 within a preset concentration range of the antifouling substance. And a function of driving / stopping the pump 2 and controlling a current value. This makes it possible to effectively and efficiently suppress biofouling and reduce power consumption.

The amount of biological activity and the corresponding biofouling phenomenon are affected by water temperature. Therefore, the concentration of antifouling substances required to prevent biofouling varies depending on the water temperature. The system control device 4 of the present embodiment changes the set value of the concentration of the antifouling substance required for the prevention of biofouling in accordance with the water temperature based on the data of the water temperature meter 19, and the DC power supply device according to the set value. 3 and the function of controlling the drive of the pump 2. As a result, it is possible to more effectively and efficiently suppress biofouling and reduce power consumption.

[0036]

According to the present invention, in the sensor system for monitoring the marine environment, the sensor detecting section is housed in the sensor chamber and the antifouling substance generated by electrolysis of seawater is supplied into the sensor chamber. By reversing the flow direction, it is possible to prevent the seawater inlet from being blocked by dust or mud in the seawater, and this system can be operated stably for a long period of time.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an embodiment of a sensor system of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing another embodiment of the sensor system of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram showing another embodiment of the sensor system of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram showing an embodiment of a sensor system of Japanese Patent Application No. 6-162241.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 chamber body 2 pump 3 DC power supply device 4 system control device 5 sensor chamber 6 converter 7 data processing device 8 sensor 9 seawater inlet / outlet port 10 seawater inlet / outlet port 11 filter 12 filter 13 electrode 14 electrode 15 polarity switching device 16 seawater inlet port 17 seawater outlet port 18 Antifouling substance concentration meter 19 Water temperature meter 20 Blades 21 Blades 22 Valves

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A sensor system for monitoring a marine environment, comprising at least one sensor, wherein a detection portion of the sensor is housed inside a sensor chamber, and the sensor chamber electrolyzes the chamber body and seawater to prevent it. An electrode for generating a pollutant, a power supply device for supplying an electric current to the electrode, at least two seawater inlets / outlets A and B for taking in and discharging seawater inside the chamber body, and the chamber body A sensor system for monitoring the marine environment, comprising a pump for circulating seawater inside, and switching the flow direction of the seawater between A → B and B → A directions. 2. A sensor system for monitoring the marine environment, characterized in that the pump switches the flow direction of the seawater between A → B and B → A directions. 3. The chamber body has a dogleg shape,
The two chambers are provided with the two seawater inlets / outlets A and B at an end of the chamber body, the seawater is circulated inside the chamber body, and the seawater circulation direction is switched between A → B and B → A directions. The marine environment monitoring sensor system according to claim 2, wherein rotary vanes are attached to portions of the main body facing the respective seawater inlets and outlets. 4. The seawater inlet / outlet A of one of the two seawater inlets / outlets attached to the chamber body is installed at a position lower than the seawater inlet / outlet B of the other, and the pumping of seawater by the pump and the seawater inlet / outlet A, The sensor system for monitoring the marine environment according to claim 1, wherein the distribution direction of the seawater is switched to the A → B and B → A directions by utilizing the height difference of B. 5. The electrode is installed at least on the inlet side of the seawater inlet / outlet, and has a structure capable of introducing an antifouling substance generated at the electrode into the entire inside of the sensor chamber by circulating seawater. The sensor system for monitoring the marine environment according to claim 1 or claim 2 or claim 3 or claim 4. 6. A structure in which a filter is provided on at least an inlet side of the seawater inlet and outlet, and at least a part of the filter is the electrode, or the electrode is arranged so that an antifouling substance can be supplied to the filter. The sensor system for monitoring marine environment according to claim 1, 2 or 3, 3 or 4 or 5. 7. The system control device for controlling the pump, the sensor, the power supply device, and the seawater circulation direction in association with each other, according to claim 1 or claim 2 or claim 5. The sensor system for monitoring the marine environment according to claim 3 or claim 4 or claim 5 or claim 6. 8. An antifouling substance concentration meter for measuring the concentration of an antifouling substance introduced into the inside of the sensor chamber,
Based on the output of the antifouling substance concentration meter, the system control device synchronizes the pump and the power supply device so that the concentration of the antifouling substance is within a preset concentration range, and drives and stops the pump and the power supply device. The marine environment monitoring sensor system according to claim 7, which has a function. 9. A water thermometer for detecting seawater temperature in the vicinity of the sensor chamber or inside the sensor chamber, wherein the system controller sets a concentration range of the antifouling substance based on the output of the water thermometer. 9. The marine environment monitoring sensor system according to claim 7, which has a function. 10. A connection exchanging means for exchangingly connecting an anode and a cathode of the power supply device to the electrode, the connection exchanging means is provided. The sensor system for monitoring the marine environment according to claim 5, 6 or 7, or 8 or 9. 11. A claim 1, a claim 2, or a claim 3.
Or claim 4 or claim 5 or claim 6 or claim 7 or claim 8 or claim 9 or claim 10.
A method for controlling a sensor system for monitoring a marine environment according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the sensors performs measurement intermittently, and electrolysis of seawater is performed by the electrode after one measurement by the sensor is completed. A step of introducing seawater containing an antifouling substance generated by electrolysis into the chamber by the pump, and at least before the next measurement by the sensor after the step of introducing the antifouling substance, the power supply device is stopped, and The pump is driven, and comprises a step of removing the antifouling substance inside the chamber, and a step of performing the next measurement with the sensor in a state in which the pump is driven or stopped after the removing step, the introducing step or the The removal process is carried out by changing the flow direction of seawater according to the amount of accumulated substances in the seawater inlet / outlet or the filter or the set time. A method for controlling a sensor system for monitoring the marine environment, which is characterized by being carried out. 12. A step of stopping the power supply device and the pump, a step of driving the power supply device and the pump, or the stop between the step of introducing the antifouling substance and the step of removing the antifouling substance. The method for controlling a sensor system for monitoring a marine environment according to claim 11, wherein a period for alternately performing the process and the driving process is provided.