JP2014025825A - Detecting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a detecting device capable of detecting presence of a foreign substance and a different type of oil when the foreign substance exists in the oil which flows through an oil feeding system of an oiling device or when the different type of oil from the oil which should be feed exists.SOLUTION: A detecting device has electrodes (2, 3) placed in a liquid reservoir (1), a conductivity measuring device (4) for measuring conductivity between the electrodes (2, 3), and a control unit (10) which has capability to determine type of fluid (Q) filling the liquid reservoir (1) on the basis of the conductivity between electrodes (2, 3).

Description

  The present invention relates to an oil supply device that supplies fuel oil, kerosene, and other various oils. More specifically, the present invention mixes or supplies foreign matter such as water in the oil supply system of the oil supply device. The present invention relates to a detection device capable of detecting the presence of the foreign matter or a different type of oil when a different type of oil from the power oil is present.

At gas stations (gas stations), a large amount of water may flow into underground storage tanks due to heavy rain. Further, cracks and holes may be formed in the piping due to piping work and corrosion, and water may enter from there.
If water is mixed in due to various reasons like this, when gasoline containing water is supplied to the vehicle and the gasoline (containing water) flows into the combustion chamber of the engine, knocking or engine stop due to poor combustion In some cases, it may lead to the worst situation of engine damage. And if you sell the gasoline (gas mixed with water) without detecting that water is mixed in the gasoline, you need to check the sales customer data and contact each customer. A great deal of effort must be expended in handling and handling such as reporting to.
In addition, if trouble occurs in the underground oil storage tank and underground piping system of the gas station, and water enters the fuel oil, serious problems may occur as described above. For this reason, it is desirable to monitor the vehicle at all times before refueling the vehicle, and to deal with it promptly.

On the other hand, since a fuel station sells multiple types of fuel oil, for example, if you mistakenly supply kerosene to a gasoline vehicle, or if you mistakenly sell kerosene and sell gasoline (so-called “mis-fueling” occurs) ) May cause a serious accident.
In addition, the introduction of different types of fuel oil to the underground storage tanks at the gas station (so-called “wrong unloading”) can also lead to serious accidents. . In other words, if different types of fuel oil (gasoline) are mixed into fuel oil (kerosene) stored in underground tanks due to “wrong unloading”, the fuel oil mixed with different types of fuel oil will be sold to customers. There is a possibility of serious inconveniences such as a failure or damage of an automobile engine, an accident caused by engine damage, a fire, or the like.

As another conventional technique, an oil level gauge attached to an underground storage tank of a gas station has been proposed which has a function of detecting water accumulated at the bottom from the amount of float movement (see Patent Document 1).
However, in the related art, even if the water accumulated in the underground tank can be detected, the water that has entered the piping system from the underground tank to the fueling device is mixed into the fuel oil flowing through the piping system. Can not cope with the situation.
In addition to this, in the related art (Patent Document 1), although it is possible to cope with water mixing into the fuel oil, it is not possible to cope with the case where different types of fuel oil are supplied.

JP-A-9-323799

  The present invention has been proposed in view of the above-described problems of the prior art, and when there is a foreign substance such as water in the oil flowing through the oil supply system of the oil supply device, what is the oil to be supplied? An object of the present invention is to provide a detection device capable of detecting the presence of the foreign matter or different types of oil when different types of oil are present.

  The detection device (100) of the present invention includes an electrode (2, 3) disposed in the liquid reservoir (1), a conductivity measuring device (4) for measuring the conductivity between the electrodes (2, 3), It has the control apparatus (10) which has a function which determines the kind of liquid (Q) with which the liquid storage part (1) is filled from the electrical conductivity between electrodes (2, 3).

  The detection device (100) of the present invention is preferably provided in an L-shaped portion (so-called “elbow” portion 5) of the oil supply system.

  Moreover, it is preferable that the detection apparatus (100) of this invention is provided in the centrifuge (6) arrange | positioned in the oil supply apparatus (for example, pump of 200).

  Furthermore, it is preferable that the detection device (100) of the present invention is interposed in an oil supply pipe (7) communicating with the oil storage tank (T) of the oil filling station (300).

According to the present invention having the configuration described above, the liquid (1) filled in the liquid reservoir (1) is determined by determining the conductivity between the electrodes (2, 3) by the conductivity measuring device (4). The conductivity of Q) is obtained.
Here, since the conductivity varies depending on the type of liquid (Q) (for example, water and oil, different fuel oil), the type of liquid (Q) filled in the liquid reservoir (1) by obtaining the conductivity. Can be specified.

As a result, for example, if the conductivity of the liquid (Q) filled in the liquid storage section (1) is equal to the conductivity of water, it can be understood that water that cannot be ignored is mixed in the fuel.
In such a situation, for example, an alarm may be issued or refueling may be stopped, and fuel oil (for example, gasoline) containing the water may be supplied to the combustion chamber of the vehicle engine. Is prevented. Then, it is possible to prevent inconvenient situations such as knocking, engine stop, and engine damage due to poor combustion.

Further, when the measured conductivity of the liquid (Q) is different from the conductivity of the oil to be supplied, it is determined that a different type of oil from the oil to be supplied is supplied, and the oil supply is immediately performed. Can be prevented from mixing different kinds of oil (so-called “contamination”).
Similarly, if the detection device (100) of the present invention is provided in the oil supply pipe (7) communicating with the oil storage tank (underground tank T) of the oil filling station (300), the tank truck (8) unloads the oil storage tank (T). When the wrong type of seed is supplied to the oil storage tank (T) (so-called “contamination” occurs), the wrong oil type is determined from the conductivity of the oil flowing through the oil supply pipe (7). Can be detected immediately and necessary processing such as stopping the unloading can be executed.

It is a block diagram of the detection apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram of a control unit of an embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the control in embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the piping system which interposed the detection apparatus which concerns on embodiment. It is explanatory drawing of the outline | summary of the centrifuge which interposed the detection apparatus which concerns on embodiment. It is the A section expanded sectional view of FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state which interposed the detection apparatus which concerns on embodiment in the oil supply pipe | tube connected to the underground tank of a gas station.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
The detection apparatus 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention determines, for example, whether a fluid flowing in a flow path (for example, a pipe) is oil or water, and if the fluid is oil, the type (fuel oil) , Kerosene, etc.).

In FIG. 1, a detection device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a liquid storage unit 1, a pair of electrodes 2 (for example, connected to a positive electrode of a power source (not shown)) and an electrode 3 (for example, − A conductivity measuring device 4, and a control device 10.
The liquid reservoir 1 stores the liquid Q, and an electrode 2 (for example, a positive electrode) and an electrode 3 (for example, a negative electrode) face each other in the vicinity of the bottom of the liquid reservoir 1 in which the stored liquid Q is stored. Are arranged as follows. If no foreign matter (for example, water) is mixed, the liquid reservoir 1 stores fuel oil that should be originally supplied by the oil supply device.
As the conductivity measuring device 4, a known and commercially available device can be applied.

The control device 10 is connected to the conductivity measuring device 4 through a line L3, and is connected to the control device 40 of the oil supply device (see reference numeral 200 in FIG. 7) through a line L4.
The conductivity measuring device 4 is installed in the vicinity of the liquid reservoir 1. The conductivity measuring device 4 is connected to the electrode 2 (for example, a positive electrode) via the line L1, and is connected to the conductive electrode 3 (for example, a negative electrode) via the line L2. The conductivity measuring device 4 has a function of applying a predetermined voltage between the pair of (two) electrodes 2 and 3 and determining the conductivity of the liquid Q from the current value at that time. A commercially available product can be used.
Here, the conductivity of the liquid Q varies depending on the type of the liquid Q (for example, water and oil, or different fuel oil). Therefore, if the conductivity of the liquid Q is obtained, the type of the liquid Q filled in the liquid reservoir 1 can be specified.

Next, the configuration of the control device 10 of the detection device 100 according to the embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
In FIG. 2, the control device 10 includes an oil type determination block 10a, an alarm determination block 10b, and a storage block 10c.
The oil type determination block 10a is connected to the conductivity measuring device 4 via a line La, and is connected to the storage block 10c via a line Lca.
Then, the oil type determination block 10a determines the liquid in the liquid reservoir 1 from the conductivity of the liquid Q input from the conductivity measuring device 4 and the data indicating the relationship between the conductivity and the liquid type obtained from the storage block 10c. It has a function of specifying the type (liquid type) of Q.

Alarm determination block 10b is connected with the oil type decision block 10a and the line Lb, which is connected with the control unit 40 and the line _{L 40} of the oil supply device 200 (see FIG. 7).
The alarm determination block 10b includes the oil type specified in the oil type determination block 10a (the oil type currently being supplied: the oil type that flows through the oil supply pipe 7 in the case of FIG. 7 described later), and the oil supply device 200 (FIG. 7). determining whether the type of oil from the control unit 40 to be fueling entered via line L ₄₀ see) (species oil in the case of FIG. 7 described later, which is stored in underground tanks T) and matches It has a function.

Alarm determination block 10b are connected with an alarm device 20 and the line _{L 20} of the oil supply device 200 are connected with the fuel supply stop device 30 and the line _{L 30} of the fueling device 200.
Then, the warning determination block 10b includes the case where the oil type specified in the oil type determination block 10a is not a fuel oil but a foreign substance such as water, and the oil type specified in the oil type determination block 10a In the case where the oil type flowing through the oil supply pipe 7 and the oil type stored in the underground tank T do not match in the case of FIG. A function to output a control signal to stop the fuel supply to the fuel supply stop device 30.

Next, control in the embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
In step S1 of FIG. 3, the conductivity measuring device 4 of the detection device 100 applies a voltage to the pair of electrodes 2 and 3, and measures the conductivity of the liquid flowing through the oil supply pipe from the intensity of the current flowing at that time. To start.
In the next step S2, the conductivity measuring device 4 determines the conductivity of the liquid Q being measured. About the aspect of the conductivity determination in the conductivity measuring device 4, since it is the same as that of a well-known technique, description is abbreviate | omitted.

If the conductivity of the liquid Q is determined, the process proceeds to step S3, and in the oil type determination block 10a, the conductivity of the liquid Q and information indicating the relationship between the conductivity and the liquid type obtained from the storage block 10c (for example, a map, The liquid type of the liquid Q being measured is specified from the characteristic diagram.
If the liquid type of the liquid Q is determined, in the next step S4, it is determined whether the specified liquid is water or oil.

In step S4, when it is determined that “the specified liquid is water” (step S4 is “water”), it is determined that water is mixed in the fuel oil at a predetermined ratio or more, and the process proceeds to step S5. Proceeding and transmitting a control signal for stopping fueling to the fueling stop device 30 and simultaneously transmitting a control signal for issuing an alarm to the alarming device 20 that the liquid flowing through the fueling pipe is water. To do.
On the other hand, if it is determined in step S4 that “the specified liquid is oil” (step S4 is “oil”), the ratio of water mixed in the fuel oil is low, and there is a problem due to water mixing. If it is determined not to proceed, the process proceeds to step S6.

In step S6, the detection device 100 includes an oil species identified in step S3, whether (data from the controller 40 via line L ₄₀ of the oil supply device 200 is input) type of oil to be fueling matches to decide.
If the oil type specified in step S3 and the oil type to be supplied do not match (NO in step S6), it is determined that there is a possibility that different types of oil may be mixed, and the process proceeds to step S5. Then, a control signal for stopping the oil supply is transmitted to the refueling stop device 30 and, at the same time, a control signal is transmitted to issue a warning to the alarm device 20 that different types of oil may be mixed. .
On the other hand, if the oil type specified in step S3 matches the oil type to be supplied (step S6 is YES), it is determined that there is no possibility that different types of oil will be mixed, and step S7. Proceed to

In step S7, it is determined that there is no inconvenience due to water mixing (step S4 is “oil”), and it is determined that there is no possibility of mixing different types of oil (step S4). S6 is YES), there is no problem in refueling.
In this state, in step S7, the detection device 100 determines whether or not to end a series of controls. If the series of control is to be ended (YES in step S7), the control is ended as it is, and if the control is to be continued (NO in step S7), the process returns to step S1, and step S1 and the subsequent steps are repeated.

In the case shown in FIG. 7 described later, in step S6, it is determined whether or not the oil type flowing in the oil supply pipe 7 and the oil type stored in the underground tank T match in the case of FIG. 7 described later. To do.
If the oil type flowing through the oil supply pipe 7 does not match the oil type stored in the underground tank T, the process proceeds to step S5, and the oil type flowing through the oil supply pipe 7 and the oil stored in the underground tank T are entered. If the seeds match, the process proceeds to step S7.

The fluid reservoir 1 can be provided, for example, in an elbow portion 5 of a piping system (oil supply pipe) as shown in FIG.
In FIG. 4, the elbow portion 5 of the piping system has an inflow side 51, a discharge side 52, and a water storage part 53. The discharge side 52 is orthogonal to the inflow side 51, and the water storage portion 53 is orthogonal to the inflow side 51 and is disposed below the discharge side 52. When water is mixed in the fuel oil, the specific gravity of water is larger, so the mixed water flows into the water reservoir 53 below the discharge side 52.

A pair of electrodes 2 and 3 are disposed on the bottom 53 b of the water storage unit 53. The pair of electrodes 2 and 3 are connected to a conductivity measuring device 4 (not shown) via lines L1 and L2 (not shown), respectively, as described with reference to FIG.
In FIG. 4, the dotted arrow Fo indicates the flow of fuel oil, and the solid arrow Fw indicates the flow of water.
As described above, water having a large specific gravity is repaired in the water storage portion 53 disposed below the elbow portion 5 of the piping system (oil supply pipe). Since a pair of electrodes 2 and 3 are arranged in the water reservoir 53 and the electrodes 2 and 3 are connected to the conductivity measuring device 4 (not shown in FIG. 4), the conductivity measuring device 4 causes the fuel oil to flow. The conductivity of water mixed in can be measured.

Alternatively, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the conductivity measuring device 4 can be provided in a centrifugal separator 6 that separates substances having different specific gravities by centrifugal force.
In FIG. 5, a centrifugal separator 6 is interposed in a part of a piping system (oil supply pipe). The centrifugal separator 6 includes an inflow part 61, a vortex generator 62, a straight pipe part 63, a fluid storage part 64, and a discharge part 65.
A vortex generating portion 62 is connected to the inflow portion 61, and the vortex generated in the vortex generating portion 62 flows through the straight pipe portion 63, and the fluid storage portion 64 is formed so as to surround a part of the outer periphery of the straight pipe portion 63. Has been.

In FIG. 6, the cross-sectional shape of the fluid reservoir 64 is approximately a horseshoe shape, and the fluid reservoir 64 and the straight pipe portion 63 communicate with each other via an orifice 64 a penetrating the straight pipe portion 63.
A pair of electrodes 2 and 3 are arranged on an arcuate circumferential portion 64 c radially outward of the straight pipe portion 63 in the fluid storage portion 64. The electrodes 2 and 3 are connected to the conductivity measuring device 4 (not shown in FIG. 6) by lines L1 and L2 not shown in FIG. Thereby, the electrical conductivity of the liquid between the electrodes 2 and 3 arrange | positioned at the liquid storage part 64 is measured.
When water is mixed in the fuel oil, the specific gravity of water is larger than that of the oil, so that the water having a large specific gravity flows through the straight pipe portion 63 due to the centrifugal force of the vortex generated in the vortex generator 62. At this time, the fluid flows into the fluid reservoir 64 from the orifice 64a. If water is not mixed in the fuel oil, the fuel oil flows into the fluid reservoir 64.

FIG. 7 shows a state in which the detection device 100 described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6 is provided in a fuel supply pipe of a gas station.
In FIG. 7, the detection device 100 is interposed in the oil supply pipes 7... Communicating with the oil storage tanks T.
In addition, the code | symbol 200 in FIG. 7 has shown the oil supply apparatus.

In FIG. 7, the filler ports 71 of the plurality of filler pipes 7 are collectively provided in the filler port box 250. The tank 90 of the tank lorry 8 is also partitioned into a plurality of hatches 9... And each hatch 9... Is connected to the discharge pipe 12 via the bottom valve 11. A coupling 13 is provided at the tip of the discharge pipe 12. The coupling 13 is connected to one of the oil supply ports 71 of the oil supply pipes 7.
Although not explicitly shown in FIG. 7, for example, the L-shaped elbow portion 5 of FIG. 4 is provided in the oil supply pipe 7, and the liquid reservoir 53 is formed in the elbow portion 5, thereby detecting the detection device according to the illustrated embodiment. Can be provided.

In FIG. 7, when the detection device 100 according to the embodiment is interposed in the oil supply pipes 7..., The oil types different from the oil types to be stored in the respective oil storage tanks T are supplied to the oil supply pipes 7 as described above. When it has flowed, it is possible to detect that fact and stop the refueling.
This can prevent an accident (so-called “contamination”) that unloads oil of different oil types to the underground oil storage tank T in the gas station 300.

  It should be noted that the illustrated embodiment is merely an example, and is not a description to limit the technical scope of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Liquid storage part 2, 3 ... Electrode 4 ... Conductivity measuring device 5 ... Elbow part 6 ... Centrifugal device 7 ... Oil supply pipe 8 ... Tank truck 9 ... Hatch 10 ... Control device 100 ... Detection device 200 ... Refueling device 300 ... Refueling station

Claims (4)

  An electrode disposed in the liquid reservoir, a conductivity measuring device for measuring the conductivity between the electrodes, and a control device having a function of determining the type of liquid filled in the liquid reservoir from the conductivity between the electrodes A detection device characterized by having.   The detection device according to claim 1, wherein the detection device is provided in an L-shaped portion of the oil supply system.   The detection device according to claim 1, wherein the detection device is provided in a centrifugal separator disposed in the fueling device.   The detection device according to claim 1, wherein the detection device is interposed in an oil supply pipe communicating with an oil storage tank of a gas station.

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