JP2016000985A - Pump control system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a pump control system capable of prolonging the service life of a plurality of electric pumps for feeding fluid to a common fluid flow passage.SOLUTION: A pump control system includes a plurality of electric pumps P for feeding fluid to a common fluid flow passage R, an operation control section 10 for individually controlling operation of the electric pumps P, and an integrating section for integrating a work load defined by the product of operation time from installation of the pump and supplied power for each of the electric pumps P, and the operation control section 10 controls operation of the electric pumps P so that the difference between the integrated work loads integrated by the integrating section is equal to or less than a set value.

Description

  The present invention relates to a pump control system having a plurality of electric pumps that send fluid to a common fluid flow path and an operation control unit that individually controls the operation of the plurality of electric pumps.

Patent Document 1 describes a vacuum pump device having a motor drive control device.
This vacuum pump device has a prediction function for predicting the lifetime of an electronic component in order to predict the replacement time of the electronic component used in the motor drive control device.
Patent Document 2 describes a drain pump control device for an air conditioner.
This drain pump control device calculates the amount of condensate generated when room air passes through the heat exchanger, and sets the operation time of the electric drain pump required to discharge the drain of the calculated amount of condensate. By not operating the drain pump more than necessary, the life of the drain pump is extended.

JP 2009-197602 A JP 2005-55107 A

Patent Document 1 describes a technique for predicting the remaining life of a vacuum pump device from the life of an electronic component, and does not describe, for example, a technique for extending the life of a vacuum pump device itself.
Patent Document 2 describes a technique for reducing the useless operation of a single electric drain pump and extending its life, and extending the life of a plurality of electric pumps that send fluid to a common fluid flow path. The technology is not described.
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a pump control system capable of extending the life of a plurality of electric pumps that send fluid to a common fluid flow path.

  A characteristic configuration of the pump control system according to the present invention includes a plurality of electric pumps that send fluid to a common fluid flow path, an operation control unit that individually controls the operation of the plurality of electric pumps, and each of the electric pumps. An integration unit that integrates the work defined by the product of the operation time from the installation of the pump and the supplied power, and the operation control unit is configured to provide a difference between the integrated work accumulated by the integration unit. Is that the operation of the plurality of electric pumps is controlled so that is less than a set value.

The pump control system of this configuration integrates the work amount defined by the product of the operation time from the installation of the pump and the supplied power for each electric pump.
The operation control unit controls the operation of the plurality of electric pumps such that the difference between the accumulated work amounts accumulated by the accumulation unit is equal to or less than a set value.
Thereby, the variation in the work amount of the plurality of electric pumps is suppressed so that the operation is not biased to a specific electric pump among the plurality of electric pumps that send the fluid to the common fluid flow path. The service life of the electric pump can be extended.

  Another characteristic configuration of the present invention is that the integration unit corrects and integrates the work amount according to an operating environment temperature for each electric pump.

When the operating environment temperature of the electric pump is high, for example, due to stress caused by the thermal expansion of the electric motor, the electric pump is overused than during operation at the normal operating environment temperature, and the remaining life of each electric pump varies. Arise.
With this configuration, in such a case, according to the operating environment temperature for each electric pump, for example, the higher the operating environment temperature, the higher the work amount to be integrated, and It can be accumulated by correcting the amount of work.

  Another characteristic configuration of the present invention is that the operation control unit selectively operates the plurality of electric pumps so that a difference between the accumulated work amounts is equal to or less than a set value.

  With this configuration, since any one of the electric pumps may be operated, the control procedure for suppressing the variation in the work amount among the plurality of electric pumps can be simplified.

  In another characteristic configuration of the present invention, the rotational speed detection unit that detects the rotational speed of the electric pump, and the detected rotational speed detected by the rotational speed detection unit are set according to the supplied power at the time of detection. An abnormality determination unit that determines that the electric pump is abnormal when the rotational speed is lower than a target rotational speed, and when the operation control unit determines that the electric pump is abnormal, The point is to drive at least one at the same time.

If it is determined that the electric pump is abnormal when the actual rotational speed (detected rotational speed) of the electric pump is lower than the target rotational speed set according to the supplied power at the time of detection as in this configuration, Even when the fluid discharge pressure and flow rate fluctuate during normal operation of the electric pump, it is possible to accurately determine the abnormality of the electric pump.
In addition, a decrease in pump function due to the electric pump determined to be abnormal can be supplemented by at least one simultaneous operation of the remaining electric pumps.

  Another characteristic configuration of the present invention is that it includes a display unit that displays the electric pump determined to be abnormal by the abnormality determination unit.

  With this configuration, it is possible to quickly take necessary measures for the electric pump determined to be abnormal.

It is explanatory drawing which shows the structure of a pump control system. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of a pump control system. It is a flowchart which shows pump operation control. It is a flowchart which shows a pump selection process. It is a flowchart which shows an abnormality determination process. It is a flowchart which shows the pump selection process in 2nd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the abnormality determination process in 2nd Embodiment.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
[First Embodiment]
1 to 5 show an example of a pump control system according to the present invention.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the pump control system has a plurality of centrifugal pump-type electric pumps P that send fluid to a common fluid flow path R, and operations of the plurality of electric pumps P are separated (independently). And an operation control unit 10 for controlling the operation.

The fluid flow path R is a circulation flow path that sends cooling water (an example of fluid) that has passed through a water jacket 1 of an engine E provided in a vehicle such as a passenger car to the radiator 2 to dissipate heat, and returns to the water jacket 1 after heat dissipation. Has been.
The fluid flow path R includes a supply pipe 3 that sends cooling water from the water jacket 1 to the radiator 2, and a reduction pipe 4 that returns the cooling water radiated by the radiator 2 to the water jacket 1. The supply pipe 3 is provided with a cooling water temperature sensor TS for measuring the temperature of the cooling water.

  The operation control unit 10 alternatively operates one of the plurality of electric pumps P so that the temperature measured by the cooling water temperature sensor TS is maintained within the set temperature range. Each has an accumulating unit 11 for accumulating work from the time of installation of the pump and an abnormality determining unit 12 for determining an abnormality of the electric pump P during operation.

The plurality of electric pumps P are the first electric pump P <b> 1 and the second electric pump P <b> 2 having the same specifications, and are connected in series along the flow direction of the cooling water at a midpoint of the reduction pipe 4.
Each of the electric pumps P1 and P2 includes a bypass passage (not shown) through which cooling water can flow around the pump chamber W2 provided with the rotary blade (impeller) W1.

The cooling water flows through the pump chamber W2 of the operating electric pump and the bypass path of the stopped electric pump by the alternative operation of the first electric pump P1 or the second electric pump P2. Cycle R.
Thereby, compared with the case where two electric pumps P1 and P2 are operated simultaneously, the control procedure of operation can be simplified.

The first electric pump P1 drives and rotates the rotary blade W1 with a first motor M1 formed of a brushless DC motor. Similarly, the second electric pump P2 drives and rotates the rotary blade W1 with a second motor M2 formed of a brushless DC motor.
The first and second motors M1 and M2 have a built-in general control circuit that switches the power supplied to the field coil by detecting the rotational phase of the rotor composed of permanent magnets with a plurality of Hall elements. Yes.

  The first electric pump P1 is provided with a first environmental temperature sensor TS1 that detects the operating environment temperature as the temperature of a motor component such as a stator or a bracket provided in the first motor M1. Similarly, the second electric pump P2 is provided with a second environmental temperature sensor TS2.

The pump control system includes first and second power supply units A1 and A2 that individually supply power supplied from the power supply 13 through the power supply line 14 to the first and second motors M1 and M2 through the power supply line 15. I have.
The first and second power supply units A1 and A2 set the power supplied to the first and second motors M2 via the power supply line 15 by setting the voltage to the PWM type, and the first and second It has a function of adjusting the rotation speed of the electric pumps P1, P2.

  Each of the first and second motors M1 and M2 includes first and second rotational speed sensors RS1 and RS2 for measuring the rotational speed, and the first rotational speed sensor RS1 detects the rotational speed of the first electric pump P1. It corresponds to a number detection unit, and the second rotation number sensor RS2 corresponds to a rotation number detection unit that detects the rotation number of the second electric pump P2.

  If the electric pump P includes a rotation angle sensor such as a Hall element that feeds back the rotation angle of the rotor, the number of rotations may be detected from a detection signal of the rotation angle sensor. In the case of no rotation angle sensor, the number of rotations may be detected by the cycle and frequency of the zero cross point.

The power supply line 14 that supplies power to the first motor M1 includes a first voltage sensor VS1 that measures an applied voltage, and a first relay RY1 that performs intermittent power supply.
Similarly, the power supply line 14 that supplies power to the second motor M2 includes a second voltage sensor VS2 that measures the applied voltage, and a second relay RY2 that performs intermittent power supply.

The power source 13 is composed of a battery provided in the vehicle.
Each electric power supply part A1, A2 is comprised as a controller which adjusts the electric power supplied to the field coil of a motor, and controls the rotation speed of a rotor.
Each power supply unit A1, A2 starts operation of the corresponding electric pumps P1, P2 when an operation command is input together with control information from the operation control unit 10, and when an operation stop command is input from the operation control unit 10. The operation of the corresponding electric pumps P1, P2 is stopped.
Each of the power supply units A1 and A2 has a built-in power adjustment unit (not shown) that adjusts the power supplied to the corresponding electric pumps P1 and P2 by setting the duty ratio, and is adjusted by the power adjustment unit. The number of rotations of the electric pumps P1 and P2 is adjusted by electric power.

The operation control unit 10 is configured by using a microprocessor or a DSP, and includes a nonvolatile memory 16 such as an EEPROM.
As shown in FIG. 2, the operation controller 10 includes a coolant temperature sensor TS, first and second environmental temperature sensors TS1 and TS2, first and second rotation speed sensors RS1 and RS2, and first and first rotation sensors. Detection signals of the two voltage sensors VS1 and VS2 are input.

  The operation control unit 10 sends control information for controlling the rotation speed of the first and second motors M1 and M2 (first and second electric pumps P1 and P2) to the first and second power supply units A1 and A2. Output independently, and output a control signal for controlling the first and second relays RY1, RY2, and a control signal for controlling a display operation of a display panel (an example of a display unit) 17 provided in a vehicle driving unit or the like. To do.

The accumulating unit 11 accumulates the work amount defined by the product of the operation time from the time of installation of the pump and the supplied power for each of the first and second electric pumps P1 and P2, and the accumulated latest accumulated value. The work amount Q is stored in the memory 16 in a state in which the stored accumulated work amount is updated each time the operation of the pump is stopped.
The latest accumulated work amount Q can be obtained, for example, by integrating the change in supplied power from the time of pump installation to the present with the elapsed time from the time of pump installation to the present.

  For this reason, each time the operation of the electric pump P is started, the integrating unit 11 operates the first and second motors M1 and M2, the supply power and voltage supplied to the first and second motors M1 and M2, and the like. Is received from the first and second power supply units A1 and A2.

The integrating unit 11 integrates the work amount corrected according to the operating environment temperature detected based on the detection signals of the first and second environmental temperature sensors TS1, TS2.
Specifically, when the operating environment temperature is higher than the set temperature range, the corrected work amount is multiplied by a larger correction coefficient as the temperature difference exceeding the installation temperature range increases.
As a result, the amount of work taking into account the progress of deterioration due to the operation of the electric pumps P1 and P2 under a high-temperature operating environment can be integrated to reduce the remaining life variation of the electric pumps P1 and P2. it can.

The memory 16 stores in advance the target rotational speed to be realized by the supply power and voltage supplied to the first and second motors M1, M2 of the electric pump P that operates normally.
The abnormality determination unit 12 supplies the supply power and voltage supplied at the time of detection based on the detected rotational speed detected based on the detection signals of the first or second rotational speed sensors RS1 and RS2 corresponding to the electric pump P in operation. When the rotational speed is lower than the target rotational speed to be realized, it is determined that the electric pump P during operation is abnormal.

As shown in the flowchart of FIG. 3, when the operation command for the electric pump P is input from an ECU (engine control unit) or the like (step # 1), the operation control unit 10 continues until the operation stop command is input. Pump operation control for selectively operating the first electric pump P1 or the second electric pump P2 is executed (steps # 2 to # 4).
In the pump operation control, the first integrated work amount Q1 of the first electric pump P1 and the second integrated work amount Q2 of the second electric pump P2 stored in the memory 16 are read, and the first and second integrated work amounts are read out. A “pump selection process” is performed in which the first electric pump P1 and the second electric pump P2 are selected and operated so that the difference between Q1 and Q2 is equal to or less than the set value ΔQ (step # 2). ).

FIG. 4 shows a flowchart of the “pump selection process”.
In the “pump selection process”, the first electric pump P1 is selected when the first integrated work amount Q1 is smaller than the second integrated work amount Q2 by exceeding the set value ΔQ (steps # 11 and # 13). When the second cumulative work Q2 is smaller than the first cumulative work Q1 by exceeding the set value ΔQ, the second electric pump P2 is selected (steps # 12 and # 14).

When the difference between the first integrated work amount Q1 and the second integrated work amount Q2 is equal to or smaller than the set value ΔQ, the predetermined first electric pump P1 is selected (step # 13).
The operation command of the electric pump (P1 or P2) alternatively selected in the “pump selection process” is input to the corresponding power supply unit (A1 or A2) together with the control information, and the operation of the electric pump (P1 or P2) is performed. Is started.

  The operation control unit 10 determines whether or not the currently operating electric pump (P1 or P2) is abnormal by the abnormality determining unit 12, and determines that the operating electric pump (P1 or P2) is abnormal. Sometimes, an “abnormality determination process” is executed in which an operation command for starting the operation of the electric pump (P2 or P1) that is stopped is output to the corresponding power supply unit (A1 or A2) together with the control information (step # 3). ).

FIG. 5 shows a flowchart of the “abnormality determination process”.
In the “abnormality determination process”, the detected rotational speed detected based on the detection signal of the rotational speed sensor (RS1 or RS2) corresponding to the electric pump (P1 or P2) in operation is supplied power supplied at the time of detection. When the rotation speed is lower than the target rotational speed to be realized by the voltage, it is determined that the electric pump (P1 or P2) in operation is abnormal.
The electric pump (P2 or P1) that has stopped operating is determined to be not abnormal because the detected rotational speed and the target rotational speed are both “0”.

  When it is determined that the first electric pump P1 is abnormal, an insufficient rotational speed with respect to the target rotational speed of the first electric pump P1 is calculated, and the second electric pump P2 is operated at a rotational speed corresponding to the insufficient rotational speed. The operation command is input to the second power supply unit A2 together with the control information, and the fact that the first electric pump P1 is abnormal is displayed on the display panel 17 (steps # 21 to # 23).

  When it is determined that the second electric pump P2 is abnormal, as in steps # 22 and # 23, the insufficient rotational speed with respect to the target rotational speed of the second electric pump P2 is calculated, and the rotation corresponding to the insufficient rotational speed is calculated. The operation command for operating the first electric pump P1 is input to the first power supply unit A1 together with the control information, and the fact that the second electric pump P2 is abnormal is displayed on the display panel 17 (steps # 21, #). 24- # 26).

  Thus, when the currently operating electric pump (P1 or P2) is abnormal, another electric pump (P2 or P1) that is stopped is also operated at the same time. Therefore, the electric pump (P1 determined to be abnormal) Or the fall of the pump function by P2) can be compensated.

When the operation stop command for the electric pump P is input, the operation control unit 10 stops all the electric pumps P1 and P2 that are in operation, and starts operation of the electric pumps P1 and P2 and then stops. The accumulated work amount Q stored in the memory 16 is updated (step # 5).
Therefore, when both the first and second electric pumps P1 and P2 are operated simultaneously, the work amounts from the start to the stop of the operation of each electric pump P1 and P2 are integrated and stored in the memory 16. The accumulated work amount Q is updated.

[Second Embodiment]
6 and 7 show another embodiment of the present invention.
The pump control system of the present embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the required flow rate of cooling water is circulated through the fluid flow path R by operating both the first and second electric pumps P1 and P2 simultaneously.
For this purpose, one of the first and second electric pumps P1 and P2 is operated as a main pump MP that drives at the highest rotational speed, and the other is supplemented to compensate for the lack of pump capacity caused by the operation of the main pump MP. Operates as pump SP.

  The operation control unit 10 executes pump operation control in the same procedure as the flowchart of FIG. 3 shown in the first embodiment. In the “pump selection process”, the integrated work of the first and second electric pumps P1 and P2 is performed. An electric pump (P1 or P2) with a small accumulated work amount Q is selected as the main pump MP so that a difference between the amounts Q is equal to or less than a set value ΔQ, and an electric pump (P2 or P1) with a large accumulated work amount Q is selected. Select as auxiliary pump SP.

  Further, in the “abnormality determination process”, when one of the main pump MP and the auxiliary pump SP is determined to be abnormal, the rotational speed of the other pump is increased, and the pump function of the pump determined to be abnormal is determined. Make up for the decline.

FIG. 6 shows a flowchart of “pump selection processing” in the present embodiment.
In this “pump selection process”, when the first integrated work Q1 is smaller than the second integrated work Q2 by exceeding the set value ΔQ, the first electric pump P1 is selected as the main pump MP and the first pump SP is used as the auxiliary pump SP. 2 The electric pump P2 is selected (steps # 31 and # 33).
When the second cumulative work Q2 is smaller than the first cumulative work Q1 by exceeding the set value ΔQ, the second electric pump P2 is selected as the main pump MP, and the first electric pump P1 is selected as the auxiliary pump SP ( Steps # 32 and # 34).
When the difference between the first integrated work amount Q1 and the second integrated work amount Q2 is equal to or smaller than the set value ΔQ, for example, the predetermined first electric pump P1 is selected as the main pump MP (step # 33).

An operation command for driving the electric pump (P1 or P2) selected as the main pump MP in the “pump selection process” at the highest rotational speed is input to the corresponding power supply unit (A1 or A2) together with the control information, An operation command for driving the electric pump (P2 or P1) selected as the auxiliary pump SP at a rotation speed that compensates for the lack of pumping capacity caused by the operation of the main pump MP is input to the corresponding power supply unit (A1 or A2) together with the control information. Is done.
Thereby, the driving | operation of both the 1st electric pump P1 and the 2nd electric pump P2 is started simultaneously.

FIG. 7 shows a flowchart of “abnormality determination processing” in the present embodiment.
In this “abnormality determination process”, the detected rotational speed detected based on the detection signal of the rotational speed sensor (RS1 or RS2) corresponding to the main pump MP is realized by the supply power and voltage supplied at the time of detection. When the rotational speed is lower than the target rotational speed, it is determined that the main pump MP is abnormal.

  When it is determined that the main pump MP is abnormal, the power supply unit corresponding to the control information for calculating the insufficient rotational speed relative to the target rotational speed and increasing the rotational speed corresponding to the insufficient rotational speed to operate the auxiliary pump SP (A1 or A2) and an indication that the main pump MP is abnormal is displayed on the display panel 17 (steps # 41 to # 43).

When it is determined that the auxiliary pump SP is abnormal, as in Steps # 42 and # 43, an insufficient rotational speed with respect to the target rotational speed is calculated, and the rotational speed corresponding to the insufficient rotational speed is increased to the main pump MP. The control information for operating the power is input to the corresponding power supply unit (A1 or A2), and the fact that the auxiliary pump SP is abnormal is displayed on the display panel 17 (steps # 41, # 44 to # 46).
Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment.

[Other Embodiments]
1. In the first or second embodiment, if only one of the first electric pump P1 (main pump MP) and the second electric pump P2 (auxiliary pump SP) is abnormal, the engine is driven with the pump operation. The vehicle can run for a short time. However, if both pumps are abnormal, it is desirable to stop traveling of the vehicle as soon as possible so as not to overheat.
For this reason, in the abnormality determination process shown in the first or second embodiment, when it is determined that the first electric pump P1 (main pump MP) is abnormal, the second electric pump P2 (auxiliary pump SP) is further provided. If the first electric pump P1 (main pump MP) and the second electric pump P2 (auxiliary pump SP) are determined to be abnormal at the same time, both pumps are abnormal. May be displayed on the display panel 17.
Accordingly, it is possible to notify the user in a more conspicuous display form that the situation is likely to cause overheating.
2. The pump control system according to the present invention may have three or more electric pumps that send fluid to a common fluid flow path.
3. In the pump control system according to the present invention, some or all of the plurality of electric pumps may be connected in series with each other.
4). In the pump control system according to the present invention, some or all of the plurality of electric pumps may be connected in parallel to each other.
5. The pump control system according to the present invention may have an electric pump other than the centrifugal pump type, or may be an electric pump that sends a heat medium other than water, oil, or the like to a common fluid flow path.

  The present invention can be used in a pump control system including a plurality of electric pumps in a fluid flow path.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Operation control part 11 Accumulation part 12 Abnormality determination part 17 Display part P Electric pump Q Integrated work amount (DELTA) Q Setting value R Fluid flow path RS1, RS2 Rotation speed detection part

Claims (5)

A plurality of electric pumps that send fluid to a common fluid flow path;
An operation control unit for controlling the operation of each of the plurality of electric pumps;
For each of the electric pumps, an integration unit that integrates the work amount defined by the product of the operation time from the installation of the pump and the supplied power, and
The operation control unit is a pump control system that controls the operation of the plurality of electric pumps such that a difference between the accumulated work amounts accumulated by the accumulation unit is equal to or less than a set value.   The pump control system according to claim 1, wherein the integrating unit corrects and integrates the work amount according to an operating environment temperature for each electric pump.   The pump control system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the operation control unit selectively operates the plurality of electric pumps such that a difference between the accumulated work amounts is equal to or less than a set value. A rotational speed detection unit for detecting the rotational speed of the electric pump; and when the detected rotational speed detected by the rotational speed detection unit is lower than a target rotational speed set according to the power supplied at the time of detection. Having an abnormality determination unit that determines that the electric pump is abnormal;
The said operation control part is a pump control system of any one of Claims 1-3 which operate | moves at least one of the remaining electric pumps simultaneously, when it determines with the said electric pump being abnormal.   The pump control system according to claim 4, further comprising a display unit that displays an electric pump that is determined to be abnormal by the abnormality determination unit.

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