JP2007017149A - Safety control system for boiler - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To secure safety when an earthquake has occurred, and to reduce an economical loss accompanied with stop of a boiler. <P>SOLUTION: This safety control system is provided with the first control means for stopping combustion when electrification to the boiler 1 is stopped, an earthquake determination means for determining the presence of the earthquake, based on information other than a seismic sensor 4, when the seismic sensor 4 provided in the boiler 1 detects a prescribed level or more of seismic intensity, and the second control means for stopping the combustion in the boiler 1 when the earthquake determination means determines the generation of the earthquake, and for continuing the combustion in the boiler 1 when the earthquake determination means determines no generation of the earthquake. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a boiler safety control system when an earthquake occurs.

  With the Great Hanshin Earthquake in 1995, fire prevention measures in the event of an earthquake are becoming increasingly important. In a boiler, a burner that burns and heats fuel is provided as a combustion device. Therefore, when an earthquake occurs, it is necessary to stop the combustion so as not to cause a fire. Therefore, it is recommended that the boiler be equipped with a seismic sensor that detects earthquakes. When an earthquake is detected by this seismic sensor, the fuel supply is forcibly stopped to prevent fuel from flowing out. I have to. That is, by forcibly stopping the fuel supply, the flame is extinguished to be in a misfire state, and the combustion stop control is performed by detecting this misfire state.

  In this configuration, since the seismic sensor is configured to detect all vibrations of a predetermined strength or higher, it is not caused by an earthquake. For example, a person accidentally touches the seismic sensor or an object is Even if it falls and contacts the seismic sensor, the seismic sensor may detect a vibration and stop combustion. This stoppage of combustion is essentially unnecessary, and if the boiler stops and the supply of steam stops for a long time, the equipment that uses the steam, for example, the production line of the factory, will also stop. And may cause a great loss. On the other hand, if the seismic sensor is out of order, when an earthquake occurs, the combustion of the boiler cannot be stopped, which may cause a fire.

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is to secure safety at the time of occurrence of an earthquake and to reduce the economic loss accompanying the stoppage of the boiler as much as possible.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems. The invention according to claim 1 is directed to a first control means for stopping combustion when energization to the boiler is stopped, and a feeling provided in the boiler. When the seismic sensor detects a seismic intensity of a predetermined strength or higher, an earthquake judging means for judging whether it is an earthquake based on information other than the seismic sensor, and when the seismic judging means judges that an earthquake has occurred, the combustion of the boiler is stopped. In addition, there is provided a second control means for continuing combustion of the boiler when it is determined that no earthquake occurs.

  The invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that, in claim 1, information other than the seismic sensor is information from another boiler.

  A third aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the first aspect, information other than the seismic sensor is fuel leak occurrence information by a combustion leak sensor provided in the boiler in which the seismic sensor is operated.

  Furthermore, the invention described in claim 4 is characterized in that, in claim 2, the other boiler is a boiler in the same boiler installation chamber.

According to the present invention, it is possible to ensure the safety in the event of an earthquake and to reduce the economic loss associated with the boiler stop as much as possible.

  Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described. The safety control system according to the present invention (hereinafter referred to as “the present safety control system”) is applied to a boiler, and is also applied to a system including a plurality of boilers and a management device that manages these boilers.

  The first embodiment of the safety control system includes a first control means for stopping combustion when power to the boiler is stopped, and a seismic sensor other than the seismic sensor when the seismic sensor detects a seismic intensity exceeding a predetermined strength. And a second control means for stopping the combustion of the boiler when the earthquake determination means determines that it is an earthquake, and to continue the combustion of the boiler when it is determined that the earthquake is not an earthquake. It consists of. In the first embodiment, it is preferable that a safety inspection instruction signal is transmitted when the earthquake determination means determines that no earthquake has occurred.

  In this embodiment, the combustion is stopped in the boiler after it is determined by the earthquake determination means whether it is an earthquake or not. As a result, when the seismic sensor of the boiler determines that it malfunctions, the combustion is continued without stopping, so that the economy is improved.

  Here, the first control means is a safety control circuit that stops combustion by closing the fuel shutoff valve when energization to the boiler is stopped due to a failure such as an interruption of the transmission line due to an earthquake or the like, Included in boiler controller. The combustion stop here is an interlock in a stopped state (the stopped state is locked), and the lock is released manually or by a lock release signal. As the first control means, in the case of a temporary power outage (for example, an instantaneous power outage of 0.5 sec or less), the combustion may be automatically restarted when it is determined as an instantaneous power outage.

  The seismic sensor outputs information indicating that an earthquake has been detected (hereinafter referred to as “earthquake detection information”) to a controller of the boiler when a seismic intensity of a predetermined strength or higher, for example, a seismic intensity of 5 or higher is detected. Second control means provided in the controller stops combustion of the boiler (hereinafter referred to as “the boiler”). The combustion stop here is also in a locked state similar to that by the first control means. The output of this earthquake detection information is also called the operation of the seismic sensor. The seismic sensor is incorporated in all the boilers, or is disposed in the vicinity of the outside of the boiler or at a predetermined distance.

  Moreover, the said earthquake determination means determines whether it is an earthquake based on information other than the said seismic sensor. As one embodiment of the earthquake judging means, it is provided in a management device possessed by a maintenance manager (usually a maintenance manager) who manages the boiler of the maintenance management contractor. The management device and the boiler are connected by communication means. Another embodiment of the earthquake determination means is provided in the controller of the boiler. In the latter embodiment, since the plurality of boilers are connected to each other by communication means and transmit and receive information to and from each other, the management device is not necessarily required and can be omitted. The maintenance management contractor refers to a person who has contracted maintenance management of the boiler to the maintenance manager by contract.

  As information other than the seismic sensor, information from seismic sensors of other boilers managed by the same management apparatus and installed in the same boiler installation room (boiler room), that is, presence / absence information of earthquake detection information And Moreover, as information other than the said seismic sensor, it can also be another boiler in the predetermined area which the said management apparatus manages. Further, as information other than the seismic sensor, it is also possible to use fuel leak occurrence information by a fuel (oil or gas) leak sensor provided in a combustion device (the combustion device) in which the seismic sensor is activated.

  Furthermore, the earthquake determination logic by the earthquake determination means determines that there is no earthquake if the earthquake detection information by the seismic sensor of the boiler in which the seismic sensor is operated is considered to be malfunctioning according to other information. If it is considered that it is not a malfunction and is not mistaken, it is determined that an earthquake has occurred. For example, when all the other boilers in the same boiler installation room are outputting earthquake detection information, it is determined that an earthquake has occurred. However, malfunctions of seismic sensors rarely occur simultaneously in a plurality of boilers in the predetermined area, and there are variations in seismic intensity in the predetermined area, and all the seismic sensors may not operate. Since it is considered, it is also possible to determine that an earthquake has occurred when not all of the boilers but a predetermined ratio or a predetermined number (one or more excluding the boiler) of the boilers are activated.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to said embodiment, The 1st control means which stops combustion when the electricity supply to a boiler is stopped, and the seismic sensor detected the seismic intensity more than predetermined intensity A second control means for stopping combustion, an earthquake judging means for judging whether the earthquake is based on information other than the seismic sensor when a seismic intensity of a predetermined intensity or more is detected by the seismic sensor, and an earthquake judging means is an earthquake The present invention is also applied to a mode provided with third control means for generating a safety check instruction signal or a boiler combustion resumption signal when it is determined that there is no occurrence. As a result, safety in the event of an earthquake and economic loss due to boiler shutdown are minimized.

  Here, the third control means will be described. The third control means is provided in the controller of the management device, and performs the following processing based on the determination information of the earthquake determination means. When the earthquake determination means determines that it is not an earthquake, a safety inspection instruction signal is generated, and display means provided separately from the controller of the combustion equipment and the boiler (e.g., display panel or illustration owned by a maintenance management contractor) To the maintenance management contractor. Based on this notification, the maintenance management contractor confirms that there is no abnormality, confirms that there is no abnormality, and restarts the combustion operation of the boiler. The safety inspection instruction signal can include earthquake occurrence information. Further, the safety inspection instruction signal can be transmitted, for example, by e-mail to a PHS (Personal Handyphone System) or a mobile phone carried by the maintenance management contractor.

  In the above embodiment, the third control means is configured to send a safety inspection instruction signal to the control device of the boiler when the earthquake determination means determines that it is not an earthquake. A restart signal can be generated and transmitted to the boiler. This combustion resumption signal means a signal that can automatically release the combustion stop lock by the first control means and the second control means without manual operation. In this case, it is desirable to transmit the safety check instruction signal and the earthquake determination information without occurrence of an earthquake together.

  Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described. In this embodiment, a plurality of boilers are connected to each other by communication means, and information is transmitted and received between them, and the management device is not provided. In this embodiment, the first to third control means and the earthquake determination means are provided in the controller of each boiler.

  As described above, according to the above-described configuration, it is possible to ensure the safety at the time of the occurrence of the earthquake and to reduce the economic loss accompanying the stop of the boiler as much as possible.

  Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following embodiments, embodiments in which the present invention is applied to a boiler will be described. In the embodiment according to the present invention, the maintenance manager concludes a paid maintenance management contract with the owner or user (hereinafter referred to as “maintenance management contractor”) of the boiler as the managed device. This maintenance management contract includes contents for performing performance maintenance, function maintenance, abnormality recovery, and preventive maintenance diagnosis of the managed device.

  First, a schematic configuration of a system for realizing the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 1, boilers 1, 1,... As managed devices include burners 2, 2,. Each boiler 1 is connected to a water supply line (not shown), a fuel supply line (not shown), and a steam line (not shown). The operation of each boiler 1 is controlled by each controller 3 according to a preset program. Each of the boilers 1 includes seismic sensors 4, 4,... For detecting earthquakes. These seismic sensors 4 are connected to the controllers 3 via signal lines (reference numerals omitted). Each is connected.

  Further, as management bases for performing maintenance management of the boilers 1, there are provided maintenance bases 5, 5,. Each maintenance base 5 is provided for each management area 7, 7,..., And each maintenance base 5 has a first management device as a management device for managing the operation information of each boiler 1. 8, 8, ... are installed. That is, each maintenance base 5 is configured to perform maintenance management of each of the plurality of boilers 1 installed in each management area 7 in charge. One management center 6 is provided, and a second management device 9 is installed in the management center 6 as a management device for managing the operation information of each boiler 1.

  And each said boiler 1 and each said 1st management apparatus 8 are connected via the communication means 10 so that communication is mutually possible. That is, the first modems 11, 11,... Are connected to the controllers 3 in the boilers 1 through signal lines (reference numerals omitted), respectively, Second modems 12, 12,... Are connected to each other via signal lines (reference numerals omitted), and each first modem 11 and each second modem 12 are connected to each other via a general telephone line network 13. Has been. Accordingly, the communication means 10 is constituted by the first modems 11, the second modems 12, and the general telephone network 13, and the operation information of the boilers 1 is automatically or each of the first modems. In response to a request signal from the management device 8, it is transmitted to each first management device 8.

  The second management device 9 is connected to the boilers 1 and the first management devices 8 via the communication means 10 so as to communicate with each other. That is, a third modem 14 is connected to the second management device 9 via a signal line (reference number omitted), and the third modem 14 includes the first modem 11 and the second modem 12. And the general telephone line network 13. Therefore, the communication means 10 also includes the third modem 14, and the operation information of each boiler 1 received by each first management device 8 can be transferred to the second management device 9, In response to a request signal from the second management device 9, operation information of the boilers 1 is transmitted from the boilers 1 to the second management device 9. The operation information of the boilers 1 transmitted to the management devices 8 and 9 is stored in the management devices 8 and 9. Here, accumulation of the operation information in each first management device 8 is limited to a predetermined period (for example, one day) because of the storage capacity, and each first management device 8 is in each predetermined period. The accumulated operation information of each boiler 1 is transferred to the second management device 9.

  Each controller 3 includes first control means for stopping combustion of each boiler when energization to each boiler 1 is stopped, and information indicating that each boiler 1 has detected an earthquake (hereinafter referred to as an earthquake sensor 4). And second control means for stopping the combustion of each boiler when each controller 3 receives the software, software for controlling a microcomputer (not shown). It is realized by.

Further, when the first management device 8 receives earthquake detection information from the earthquake detection sensor 4 of a certain boiler 1, the first management device 8 determines whether the earthquake is based on information from the earthquake detection sensors 4 other than the operation earthquake detection sensor 4. And a third control means for sending a safety inspection instruction signal to all the boilers 1 in the management area of the first management device 8 when the earthquake determination means determines that the earthquake determination means is not an earthquake, These means are realized by software for controlling a microcomputer (not shown). The second management device 9 is configured to be able to perform the function performed by the first management device 8 when the operation information is transferred from the first management device 8.

  Next, specific contents of the maintenance management method in the above configuration will be described. The operation information includes abnormality occurrence data, operation data, management data, and the like. The abnormality occurrence data is automatically transmitted when an abnormality occurs in any one of the boilers 1, and includes abnormality data and prediction data. The abnormality data informs that the boiler 1 has actually stopped due to an abnormality, and corresponds to, for example, the operation of the seismic sensor 4, the occurrence of non-ignition, and the occurrence of a low water level. On the other hand, the prediction data is not necessary to stop the boiler 1 immediately, but informs that there is a high possibility that the boiler 1 will stop due to an abnormality occurring in the near future. This is the case when the capacity of the feed water pump falls, and when the capacity of the feed water pump falls, a low water level tends to occur. The operation data includes data such as the number of times of ignition and combustion time, and the management data includes data such as operation efficiency and water pipe temperature.

  When the abnormality occurrence data from the boiler 1 is received, the maintenance base 5 in charge of the maintenance management analyzes the content of the received abnormality occurrence data, and based on the analysis result, The dispatcher or the manager in charge of the boiler 1 is instructed to recover. Here, during the daytime on weekdays, the maintenance base 5 responds based on the abnormality occurrence data transmitted from the boiler 1, and on the weekday night and on holidays, the management center 6 performs the above-mentioned operation at the maintenance base 5. It responds based on the abnormality occurrence data transferred from the first management device 8. When the management center 6 responds, if the recovery is possible by telephone instruction, the management center 6 instructs the manager in charge of the boiler 1 to recover, and if the service person needs to be dispatched, the management center 6 The center 6 makes an emergency call to the service person in charge at the maintenance site 5 and the service person in charge responds. Therefore, the response of 24 hours a day can be performed with a minimum number of personnel.

  Further, when making a diagnosis for preventive maintenance in each boiler 1, each maintenance base 5 sends the operation data and the management data to the communication means 10 in addition to the history of the abnormality occurrence data in the past. And the information obtained is analyzed. Then, the operation data and the management data are aggregated regularly (for example, every month), and the analysis result and heat balance report are sent to the maintenance management contractor as a regular report (monthly report). For example, report operational efficiency, evaporation, fuel consumption, etc. The periodic report is sent by mail, facsimile, electronic mail or the like.

  Further, a case where earthquake detection information is received from each boiler 1 as the operation information will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Now, it is assumed that the seismic sensor 4 of a certain boiler 1 is activated (hereinafter, this boiler 1 is referred to as “the boiler”).

  First, since the seismic sensor 4 is activated, the controller 3 of the boiler 1 stops the combustion of the boiler 1.

  On the other hand, the management device 8 that manages the boiler 1 determines whether or not the first management device 8 has received the earthquake detection information from the boiler 1 and the other boilers 1 in step S1.

  When the earthquake detection information is received (in the case of “YES”), the process proceeds to step S2 and it is determined whether or not the earthquake detection information is transferred to the management center 6. That is, it is determined whether the communication setting in the first management device 8 is set to transfer for nighttime correspondence or the like. In this step S2, no transfer to the management center 6 is performed, and if the maintenance base 5 corresponds (in the case of “NO”), the process proceeds to step S3.

  In step S3, it is determined whether earthquake detection information has been received from a predetermined number of the boilers 1 among the plurality of boilers 1 in the predetermined area including the boiler 1 in the management area 7. If the number is the predetermined number (in the case of “YES”), the process proceeds to step S4, it is determined that an earthquake has occurred, and the process proceeds to the next step S5, step S6 and step S7 to take action when the earthquake occurs. Do.

  In step S5, the earthquake occurrence information indicating that an earthquake has occurred and the safety inspection instruction information for instructing an inspection such as whether or not there is an abnormality in the fuel supply line are used as alarm notifications for each boiler 1 in the predetermined area. The controller 1 displays the occurrence of an earthquake and the necessity of safety inspection confirmation on a display (not shown). At the same time, this alarm report is transmitted to the manager's mobile phone by e-mail.

  Next, in step S6, a stop instruction signal is transmitted from the first management device 8 to the boiler 1 that has not transmitted earthquake detection information, and the supply of fuel is forcibly stopped to enter a combustion stop state. To do. This determines that the seismic sensor 4 of the boiler 1 that has not transmitted earthquake detection information did not operate normally despite the earthquake, and puts it into a combustion stopped state for safety.

  On the other hand, when the earthquake detection information is received only from the boiler 1 in step S3 (in the case of “NO”), the process proceeds to step S7, in which the seismic sensor 4 malfunctions or a vibration other than an earthquake is detected. It is determined that no earthquake has occurred. Then, the process proceeds to the next step S8, and the first management device 8 of the maintenance base 5 sends no earthquake occurrence information and a safety inspection instruction signal (information) to the boiler 1 that has transmitted the earthquake detection information. Send. Based on such information, the maintenance management contractor of the boiler can confirm the safety, release the combustion stop lock, and restart the combustion of the boiler 1.

  By the way, when the earthquake detection information is transferred to the management center 6 in the step S2, and the management center 6 responds (in the case of “YES”), the process proceeds to the step S9, and the earthquake detection information is sent to the management center 6. Transfer. Then, the management center 6 that has received the transfer of the earthquake detection information performs the processing from step S3 to step S8 in the same processing flow as that of the maintenance base 5.

  As described above, according to the above configuration, when a person accidentally touches the seismic sensor 4 or an object falls down and touches the seismic sensor 4, it is determined separately from an earthquake. It is possible to accurately determine whether an earthquake has occurred. As a result, unnecessary combustion stop of the boiler 1 can be prevented while ensuring safety due to the occurrence of an earthquake. Note that when the energization to the boiler 1 is interrupted due to the occurrence of a strong earthquake, the fuel valve is automatically shut off, so that safety is ensured.

Further, by determining the occurrence of the earthquake by each first management device 8, it is possible to specify the area of the area where the earthquake occurred, and depending on the area, the contents and response of the response when the earthquake occurs The number of necessary service personnel can also be determined appropriately. Then, during the daytime on weekdays, the first management device 8 receives the earthquake occurrence information and the maintenance base 5 responds. On weekdays at night and on holidays, the second management device 9 receives the earthquake occurrence information. Thus, the management center 6 is available, and a response of 24 hours a day can be performed with a minimum of personnel.

It is explanatory drawing which shows schematic structure of the system in this invention. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the process sequence at the time of receiving the earthquake detection information in this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 Boiler 4 Seismic sensor 5 Maintenance base (management base)
6 management center (management base)
8 First management device (management device)
9 Second management device (management device)
10 Communication means

Claims (4)

  Based on information other than the first seismic sensor 4 when the first control means for stopping combustion when the power to the boiler 1 is stopped and the seismic sensor 4 provided in the boiler 1 senses a seismic intensity of a predetermined strength or higher. And second control for stopping combustion of the boiler 1 when the earthquake determination means determines that an earthquake has occurred, and continuing combustion of the boiler 1 when it is determined that no earthquake has occurred. A boiler safety control system comprising means.   The boiler safety control system according to claim 1, wherein the information other than the seismic sensor 4 is information from another boiler.   2. The boiler safety control system according to claim 1, wherein the information other than the seismic sensor 4 is fuel leak occurrence information by a combustion leak sensor provided in the boiler 1 in which the seismic sensor 4 is operated.   3. The boiler safety control system according to claim 2, wherein the other boiler is a boiler in the same boiler installation chamber.

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