JP2014081154A - Monitoring system of electric actuator of sun tracker - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a monitoring system of an electric actuator 5 which can easily find out the electric actuator 5 with an abnormality of a sun trucker.SOLUTION: An electric actuator 5 comprises a monitoring system 19 detecting abnormal condition, and an abnormality display device 20 displaying that the electric actuator is in the abnormal condition. A device distinguishing abnormality from a passage time, a passage count or a timing of a linear motion body 9 reciprocating in a housing 6, or a device distinguishing abnormality from rotational operation of a threaded shaft 7 of the electric actuator 5 can be used for the monitoring system 19. For the abnormality display device 20, a device displaying abnormality using sight or auditory sense such as a lamp including an LED, a buzzer or a siren can be used.

Description

  This invention detects an abnormality of an electric actuator that is used as a drive source of a solar tracking device that tracks a solar panel or a reflector of a solar / solar thermal power generation device in accordance with the movement of the sun. The present invention relates to a monitoring system for an electric actuator that can be easily found.

  Some solar / solar thermal power generation devices include a solar tracking device that tracks a solar panel, a reflector, or the like in accordance with the movement of the sun using an electric actuator (Patent Document 1).

JP 2005-215510 A

  By the way, the concentrating solar thermal power generation apparatus is a power generation system that generates power by rotating a steam turbine by condensing sunlight using a lens, a mirror, or a reflector, and evaporating water with the heat.

  In a solar thermal power generation apparatus called a concentrated system, sunlight is condensed on one heat collector using hundreds to thousands of reflecting mirrors to generate power.

  Such a solar thermal power generation apparatus includes a solar tracking device that uses an electric actuator to accurately track the reflector in accordance with the movement of the sun in order to concentrate sunlight on the heat collector accurately.

  However, when an abnormality occurs in the operation state of the electric actuator that is a drive source of the solar tracking device, it becomes impossible to concentrate sunlight accurately on the heat collector.

  Therefore, in order to maintain the power generation efficiency to the maximum, it is necessary to determine the electric actuator of the solar tracking device in which an abnormality has occurred and replace or repair the electric actuator.

  When an abnormality occurs in the electric actuator of the solar tracking device, the direction of the reflecting mirror is not changed by the electric actuator. Therefore, it is also possible to discriminate an abnormal electric actuator by confirming the direction of the reflecting mirror.

  However, it is a difficult task to find a reflector whose orientation is not normal from hundreds to thousands of reflectors.

  In particular, since solar thermal power generation devices are often installed in dry desert areas at low latitudes, it is extremely hard work for workers to identify abnormal reflectors over a long period of time.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a monitoring system for an electric actuator that can easily find an electric actuator having an abnormality in a solar tracking device.

  According to the present invention, an electric actuator for driving in a solar tracking device of a solar / solar thermal power generation device includes a monitor device that detects an abnormal state and an abnormal display device that displays the abnormal state.

  Examples of the monitoring device include a device that determines abnormality from the passage time, the number of passages or timing of a linear moving body that reciprocates in the housing, a device that determines abnormality from the rotation of the screw shaft of the electric actuator, and the screw shaft of the electric actuator. A device that determines abnormality from the output of the provided optical or magnetic encoder, a device that determines abnormality from the output of the resolver voltage output device provided in the electric actuator, and the like can be used.

  As the abnormality display device, a device that displays an abnormality using vision or hearing, such as a lamp such as an LED, a buzzer, or a siren can be used.

  In addition, when two electric actuators are used as one set, and an abnormality is detected in one of the electric actuators, when another normal electric actuator is returned to the retracted position or the origin position, Since the direction of the reflector or the like changes, it becomes easy to find an abnormal electric actuator.

  When an abnormality is detected by the monitoring device, the electric actuator in a predetermined area including the abnormal electric actuator is returned to the retracted position or the origin position, and when the abnormal state is determined by the decrease in the amount of collected light, the abnormal electric actuator is Since it is easy to specify the area to be included, it is easier to find an electric actuator with an abnormality.

  According to the present invention, an abnormal electric actuator can be easily found from among a large number of electric actuators used in a solar tracking device of a solar / solar thermal power generation device.

It is a schematic side view which shows the example of the solar tracking apparatus of the solar thermal power generation apparatus which uses a reflecting plate, (A) shows the retracted state which turned up the reflecting plate, (B) showed the origin state which stood the reflecting plate. Yes. It is the schematic which shows the installation condition of the reflecting plate of the solar thermal power generation apparatus which uses a reflecting plate. It is sectional drawing which shows an example of the electric actuator of this invention used for a solar tracking apparatus. It is sectional drawing which shows the other example of the electric actuator of this invention used for a solar tracking apparatus. It is sectional drawing which shows the other example of the electric actuator of this invention used for a solar tracking apparatus.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 shows a solar tracking device 1 that tracks a reflector 2 used in a solar thermal power generation device in accordance with the movement of the sun.

  The solar tracking device 1 has a support column 4 standing on a gantry 3, and supports the reflector 2 on the upper end of the support column 4 so as to rotate in accordance with the altitude of the sun. This is performed by extending and contracting the rod of the electric actuator 5 provided on the motor.

  The expansion / contraction of the rod of the electric actuator 5 is controlled based on a sun tracking program.

  1A shows the state of the retracted position where the rod of the electric actuator 5 is extended to the maximum and the reflecting plate 2 faces upward, and FIG. 1B shows that the rod of the electric actuator 5 is retracted to the maximum. The state of the origin position where the reflecting plate 2 is set up is shown.

  The reflectors 2 used in the solar thermal power generation apparatus are installed on a scale of several hundreds to thousands, and each reflector 2 includes an electric actuator 5.

  FIG. 2 shows an example in which a total of 20 reflecting plates 2 of 4 vertical and 5 horizontal are provided in each of the three areas A to B.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the electric actuator 5 includes a housing 6, a screw shaft 7 that is supported by the housing 6 so as to be rotatable about an axis center and immovable in the axial direction, and a nut that is screwed to the screw shaft 7. 8 and a motor 10 as a drive source.

  The housing 6 includes a cylindrical linear motion guide portion 6a, a screw shaft support portion 6b coupled to one of the left and right ends of the linear motion guide portion 6a, and a coupling housing coupled to the tip of the screw shaft support portion 6b. A portion 6c, a shaft support portion 6d coupled to the other left and right ends of the linear motion guide portion 6a, and a lid portion 6e coupled to the tip of the shaft support portion 6d.

  The screw shaft 7 includes a ball screw portion 7a to which the nut 8 is screwed, and a cylindrical surface portion 7b and a male screw portion 7c extending from the ball screw portion 7a to the base end side. The cylindrical shaft portion 7 b of the screw shaft 7 is rotatably supported by a double row support bearing 12 that is fitted to the inner periphery of the screw shaft support portion 6 b of the housing 6. The support bearing 12 is a rolling bearing such as an angular ball bearing. A retaining nut 13 is screwed onto the male screw portion 7c, and the axial movement of the screw shaft 7 is restricted. The screw shaft 7 is coupled to a rotating shaft 10 a of the motor 10 installed outside the housing 6 through a coupling 14 housed in a coupling housing portion 6 c of the housing 6.

  The nut 8 is, for example, a ball nut that circulates a ball (not shown) along a contact surface of the screw shaft 7 with the ball screw portion 7a, and the ball screw portion 7a and the nut 8 constitute a ball screw mechanism 15. To do. The ball screw mechanism 15 rotates the screw shaft 7 so that the linear moving body 9 including the nut 8 moves in the axial direction.

  The linear moving body 9 includes the nut 8, a moving bracket 16 fitted to the outer periphery of the nut 8, and a shaft 17 extending from the moving bracket 16 in the axial direction of the screw shaft 7. The nut 8 and the moving bracket 16 are coupled to each other in a non-rotatable manner by a spline or the like, and are not movable in the axial direction by a retaining means (not shown).

  The shaft 17 has a cylindrical shape, and a tip side portion protruding from the nut 8 of the screw shaft 7 is inserted into the hollow portion. The shaft 17 is supported so as to be slidable in the axial direction of the screw shaft 7 by a linear sliding bearing 18 fitted to the inner periphery of the shaft support portion 6 d of the housing 6. The moving bracket 16 and the shaft 17 may be integrated or separate.

  When the electric actuator 5 rotates the screw shaft 7 by driving the motor 10, the linear motion body 9 including the nut 8 moves in the axial direction of the screw shaft 7. The electric actuator 5 includes a monitor device 19 that detects an abnormal state and an abnormality display device 20 that displays the abnormal state.

  As the monitor device 19 for detecting an abnormal state, for example, a micro switch 19a, a rotation sensor 19b, a rotary encoder 19c, or the like can be used.

  FIG. 3 shows an example in which a micro switch 19a is used as the monitor device 19 for detecting an abnormal state.

  In the example of FIG. 3, the microswitch 19a is installed at the end of the linear motion guide portion 6a of the housing 6 on the shaft support portion 6d side, and the moving bracket 16 of the linear motion body 9 moves to the end portion of the shaft support portion 6d side. In this case, the microswitch 19a is turned on or off by the moving bracket 16.

  The moving bracket 16 of the linear moving body 9 reciprocates between a retracted position where the reflecting plate 2 shown in FIG. 1 (A) faces upward and an origin position where the reflecting plate 2 shown in FIG. 1 (B) stands. . Therefore, when the electric actuator 5 breaks down, the ON / OFF state or timing of the microswitch 19a changes from that during normal operation. Therefore, by monitoring the ON / OFF state or timing of the microswitch 19a, An abnormality of the actuator 5 can be detected.

  In the example of FIG. 4, a gear 19d is provided between the motor 10 and the coupling 14, and the rotation of the gear 19d is detected by the rotation sensor 19b. For example, when the gear 19d does not rotate for a predetermined time or more, It is determined that the electric actuator 5 is abnormal.

  In the example of FIG. 5, the rotary encoder 19 c is attached to the motor 10. For example, when the output of the rotary encoder 19 c is not longer than a predetermined time, it is determined that the electric actuator 5 is abnormal.

  When an abnormality of the electric actuator 5 is detected by the monitor device 19, in order to display that the electric actuator 5 is abnormal, a display indicating the abnormality is displayed on the abnormality display device 20.

  As the abnormality display device 20, for example, a lamp such as an LED, a buzzer, or a siren is used so that an operator can find the abnormal electric actuator 5 by vision or hearing.

  Even when the abnormality display device 20 is provided in the electric actuator 5, it is easy to find the electric actuator 5 in which the abnormality display device 20 is operating from among the electric actuators 5 installed on the scale of several hundred to several thousand sheets. is not.

  For this reason, two electric actuators 5 are used as one set, and when an abnormality is detected in one of the set of electric actuators 5, the reflecting plate 2 is moved to the retracted position or the other electric actuator 5 without any abnormality. By returning to the origin position, the direction of the reflecting plate 2 of this group can be greatly different from the direction of the reflecting plate 2 of the other group, so that the worker can easily find the group including the electric actuator 5 having an abnormality. be able to.

  Further, when an abnormality is detected by the monitor device 19, the electric actuator 5 in the predetermined area 21 including the electric actuator 5 having the abnormality may be returned to the retracted position or the origin position. When the direction of the reflecting plate 2 in the entire area 21 is set to the retracted position or the origin position, the amount of light collected in the area 21 is reduced, so that the abnormal electric actuator 5 is included in the area 21 where the amount of condensed light is reduced. It can be easily distinguished.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 2, in the case where a total of 20 reflectors 2, 4 vertically and 5 horizontally, are provided in each of the three areas A to B, the area A is hatched. When there is an abnormality in the electric actuator 5 of the reflecting plate 2 shown, the area A including the abnormal electric actuator 5 can be easily identified by returning all the electric actuators 5 in the area A to the retracted position or the origin position. Can do.

  When the area A including the abnormal electric actuator 5 is found, the abnormal electric actuator 5 can be easily found by the abnormality display device 20.

5 Electric Actuator 6 Housing 7 Screw Shaft 19 Monitor Device 20 Abnormality Display Device

Claims (7)

  The electric actuator for driving the solar tracking device in the solar / solar thermal power generation apparatus includes a monitor device for detecting an abnormal state and an abnormal display device for displaying the abnormal state. .   The monitoring system for an electric actuator according to claim 1, wherein the monitor device discriminates an abnormality from the passage time, the number of passages, or the timing of a linearly moving body that reciprocates in the housing.   The monitoring system for an electric actuator according to claim 1, wherein the monitor device discriminates an abnormality from a rotation operation of a screw shaft of the electric actuator.   2. The electric actuator monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein the monitoring device discriminates an abnormality from an output of an optical or magnetic encoder provided on a screw shaft of the electric actuator.   The monitoring system for an electric actuator according to claim 1, wherein the monitoring device discriminates an abnormality from an output of a resolver voltage output device provided in the electric actuator.   2. The drive electric actuators are set as two sets, and when an abnormality is detected in one set of the electric actuators, the other electric actuators are returned to the retracted position or the origin position. The monitoring system for an electric actuator according to any one of claims 5 to 6. 6. When an abnormality is detected by the monitor device, the electric actuator in a predetermined area including the electric actuator having the abnormality is returned to the retracted position or the origin position, and the abnormal state is determined by reducing the amount of light collected. A monitoring system for the electric actuator according to claim 1.

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