JP5793643B2 - Communication method for combined heat and power supply apparatus and control board on which the communication method is executed - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication method in a control board of a combined heat and power supply device that takes over stored data related to the operating state when the control board is replaced.

  As a data exchanging means in a control device of a conventional combined heat and power supply device, there is one shown in Patent Document 1. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a conventional example described in Patent Document 1. In FIG.

  If the control board 401 of the combined heat and power supply device breaks down, it is replaced with a service board. At this time, data stored on the failed control board (hereinafter referred to as “old board”) may be taken over by a communication method or the like. If possible, it is possible to save the trouble of re-setting data previously set by the customer or service person, and to prevent malfunctions in the operation of the device due to forgetting or setting mistakes.

  4, the control board 401 includes a microcomputer 402, a communication unit 403, a storage unit 404, a microcomputer 406, a communication unit 407, and a storage unit 408. The storage unit 403 stores data indicating whether or not the product is a service product (hereinafter referred to as “SA data”) and reception software that the microcomputer 402 controls the communication unit 403 to receive data. The storage unit 408 stores SA data and transfer software that the microcomputer 406 controls the communication unit 407 to transfer data.

  When the control board 401 fails, it is replaced with a service board which is a new control board 405. At this time, the control board 401 and the control board 405 are connected by the communication line 409. When the cogeneration apparatus is turned on, power is supplied from the control board 401 to the control board 405 via the communication line 409, and the microcomputer 402 and the microcomputer 406 are activated almost simultaneously.

  The microcomputer 406 reads the SA data from the storage unit 407, and based on this, determines whether or not the product is a service product. If it is determined that the product is a service product, the received software in the storage unit 407 is executed.

  On the other hand, since the microcomputer 402 is a microcomputer of the control board attached to the device and does not have SA data, it is determined that the control board 401 is not a service product (old board) and is transferred to the storage unit 403. Run the software.

  As a result, the control board 401 behaves as the transmitting side and the control board 405 as the receiving side, and data in the storage means 403 of the control board 401 is transferred to the storage means 408 of the control board 405. After the transfer is completed, the control board 405 has the same data as the old board (control board 401).

  With the above configuration, simply connecting the old board and service board with a communication line and turning on the power automatically determines whether the microcomputer on both boards is the transmitting side or the receiving side, and installs the corresponding software. Since the data is transmitted and received, the data is automatically transferred from the old board to the service board. The service person does not need to perform any other operation and can definitely copy the data in the storage means.

Japanese Patent No. 3804181

  However, the conventional configuration has the following problems. That is, when data is transferred from the old board to the service board, the SA data is deleted. This is because if SA data remains, data cannot be transferred to a new service board during the next after-service. However, in the conventional configuration, a problem occurs in the process of replacing the control board, and even if an attempt is made to perform data transfer again, the data transfer cannot be performed again because the SA data is erased.

  On the other hand, when SA data remains, the control board is a service board forever and does not become an old board. Therefore, even if the board fails again, data cannot be transmitted to a new service board.

  The present invention solves the above-described conventional problems, and automatically determines whether the terminal is the transmission side or the reception side without determining whether the service board is based on the SA data. It is an object of the present invention to provide a communication method that can automatically and reliably transmit data from an old board to a service board.

In order to achieve the above object, the communication method of the combined heat and power device of the present invention comprises:
Storage means for storing data relating to the operation progress state of the device;
A communication unit that shifts to a reception state in which the data is received after entering a transmission state in which the data is transmitted, and that transmits the data to the storage unit when the data is received;
Based on the operation progress state of the device, transmission time determination means for extending the time of the transmission state of the communication means as the operation of the device progresses,
A communication method of the first and second control boards having
When the first control board attached to the device is replaced with the second control board, the communication means of the first control board changes the communication means of the second control board to the communication means. The data stored in the storage unit of the first control board is transmitted, and the storage unit of the second control board stores the data of the first control board.

  As a result, the transmittable period is extended for each control board in accordance with the operation progress state, so that the old first control board (old board) and the new first board regardless of the presence / absence of data indicating whether or not the product is a service product. By simply connecting the two control boards (service boards) with a communication line, data transfer from the first control board to the second control board can be realized without fail. It can be repeated as many times as you like.

  According to the present invention, the first control board attached to the device and the second control board for after-service are simply connected by the communication line regardless of the presence / absence of data indicating whether or not the product is a service product. Thus, data transfer can be performed more reliably.

The block diagram of the control board of the cogeneration apparatus in Embodiment 1 of this invention The flowchart which shows the operation | movement after starting of the control board of the cogeneration apparatus of the embodiment The figure which shows the state of the data transmission / reception between the 1st control board 101 and the 2nd control board 106 Block diagram showing conventional configuration

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention. The first and second control boards 101 and 106 in the first embodiment have communication means 103 and 107, storage means 104 and 108, and transmission time determination means 102 and 109 that exchange information with each other by wire or wirelessly, respectively. Have.

  The storage means 104. 108 stores the accumulated energization time and the transmittable time indicating the operation progress state of the combined heat and power supply device (for example, the fuel cell system).

  The transmission time determination means 102 and 109 read the accumulated energization time stored in the storage means 104 and 108, extend the transmission possible time according to this data, and save the extended transmission available time in the storage means 104 and 108. To do. In this embodiment, the transmission possible time is stored in the storage means, but is not stored in the storage means 104, 108, but is always output from the transmission time determination means 102, 109 to the communication means 103, 107. It doesn't matter.

  The communication units 103 and 107 are in a transmission state after being activated, read out data from predetermined addresses in the storage units 104 and 108, and transmit the data. When the transmittable time ends, the state transits to the reception state, and the received data is stored in predetermined addresses of the storage means 104 and 108. When the receivable time ends, the communication state ends.

  Hereinafter, a procedure for copying data from the first control board 101 which is an old board attached to the cogeneration apparatus to the second control board 106 which is a service board will be described with reference to FIGS. When the first control board 101 of the cogeneration apparatus fails, the second control board 106 is replaced and the second control board 106 and the first control board 101 are connected by the communication line 105. When the cogeneration apparatus is turned on in this state, power is supplied from the second control board 106 to the first control board 101 through the communication line 105, and both boards start up almost simultaneously.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation sequence of the control board according to the present invention, and the operation will be described with reference to this flowchart.

  The first control board 101 reads the transmittable time of the storage means 104 and enters the transmission state (step 201). In this state, data at a predetermined address in the storage means is read and transmitted (step 202). When the transmittable time ends (step 203), the transmission state changes to the reception state (step 204). If there is received data, the received data is stored at a predetermined address in the storage means 104 (step 205). When the receivable time ends, the reception state ends. The second control board operates similarly.

  Further, (Equation 1) below shows an example of extension of the transmission time in the transmission time determination means 102.

(Formula 1) Ts = Tm × ((Tb−Ta) / Q + 1)
Ta: Cumulative energization time after substrate replacement Tb: Cumulative energization time Tm: Time required to transmit data Ts: Transmittable time Q: Constant Here, Q is a constant defined in advance. For example, when extending the transmittable time every 100 hours, Q = 100. An upper limit is set for the transmittable time.

  Ta is the accumulated power generation time received from the combined heat and power supply device after board replacement, but the service board before data reception is 0. Tb is the cumulative energization time of the cogeneration apparatus. Therefore, it is 0 when the power supply is turned on for the first time after installing the cogeneration device.

  Tm is a communication time defined in advance based on the communication time of data to be transmitted from the first control board 101 to the second control board 106, and this is extended by (Equation 1).

  For example, if the first control board 101 fails in a board energization time of 150 hours, (Tb−Ta) /Q=1.5, and therefore the transmission possible time is Ts × 2.5. The new substrate is Ts × 1.

  When (Equation 1) is used, the transmittable time is extended in proportion to the cumulative energization time, but without using (Equation 1), the accumulated energization time exceeds the predefined value. In such a case, it may be of a form that extends to a predetermined value.

  The second control board 106, which is a service board, follows the same procedure as the first control board 101, enters the reception state through the transmission state, and ends the reception state at the end of the receivable time.

  The important point here is the difference in the transmittable time. In the first control board 101, the transmittable time is extended from the initial value in accordance with the cumulative energization time of the storage means 104. On the other hand, the transmittable time of the second control board 106 remains the initial value. In FIG. 3, when the power is turned on at substantially the same timing, both boards are in a transmission state at the beginning of power-on, and both transmit data. However, since it is not in the reception state, data is not received. Next, since the service board has a shorter transmittable time, the transmission state is ended first and the state transits to the reception state. At this time, since the first control board 101 is still in the transmission state, the first control board 101 is in the transmission state and the second control board 106 is in the reception state. As a result, the first control board 101 is in the second state. Since the data transmission / reception to / from the control board 106 is established, the data in the storage means of the first control board 101 can be copied to the storage means of the second control board 106.

  At this time, if the procedure for replacing the control board is inadequate and it is desired to transfer the data again, the procedure described above is executed again when the power is turned off and turned on again. Therefore, it is clear that the re-transfer of data can be executed without any steps.

  In this embodiment, since the transmission state is switched from the transmission state to the reception state on the basis of the transmission possible time, in the unlikely event that the transmission time of the service product is broken, immediately after the startup without going through the transmission state To the reception state. On the other hand, if the transmittable time of the first control board 101 is broken, it is sufficient to calculate again from the accumulated energization time, and the necessary transmittable time can be ensured. In any case, a period in which the first control board 101 is on the transmitting side and the second control board 106 is on the receiving side is always ensured, so data from the first control board 101 to the second control board 106 is ensured. Transmission will always be realized.

Furthermore, after the board is replaced, when the combined heat and power supply apparatus is operated and the control board fails again, the second control board that was the service board needs to behave as the first control board 101. In the present embodiment, as the operation of the combined heat and power supply device continues, the cumulative energization period stored in the storage means increases and the transmittable time is extended. As a result, when a new service board is connected, a difference in the transmittable time occurs between the two, so that data transmission from the second control board 106 to the new control board can be executed reliably.

  In the present embodiment, the transmission possible time has been extended based on the cumulative energization time of the combined heat and power device, but not only the accumulated energization time, but also the accumulated power generation time, the accumulated carbon dioxide reduction amount, the accumulated power generation amount, the accumulation The transmission possible time may be extended based on data of any other operation elapsed period of the number of power generation times.

  Further, in this embodiment, the transmission time difference between the first control board 101 and the second control board 106 is created by extending the transmittable time, but this is also realized by a method of shortening the reception time. Is possible.

  In other words, when the power is turned on and the reception state is reached and the receivable time ends, the state is changed to the transmission state. At this time, if the receivable time is shortened according to the operation progress data, a difference occurs in the receivable time between the first control board 101 and the second control board 106. Since the first control board 101 finishes the reception state first and transitions to the transmission state, the first control board 101 is in the transmission state and the second control board 106 is in the reception state for this difference time. Data can be transmitted from the first control board 101 to the second control board 106.

  The control board of the combined heat and power device according to the present invention has a storage means for storing data set by the customer or a service person, and when the board fails, a control board for a fuel cell having a method of taking over the data, It is useful as a gas engine system.

101 First control board 102, 109 Transmission time determining means 103, 107 Communication means 104, 108 Storage means 105 Communication line 106 Second control board

Claims (6)

Storage means for storing data relating to the operation progress state of the device;
A communication unit that shifts to a reception state in which the data is received after entering a transmission state in which the data is transmitted, and that transmits the data to the storage unit when the data is received;
Based on the operation progress state of the device, transmission time determination means for extending the time of the transmission state of the communication means as the operation of the device progresses,
A communication method of the first and second control boards having
When the first control board attached to the device is replaced with the second control board, the communication means of the first control board changes the communication means of the second control board to the communication means. The data stored in the storage means of the first control board is transmitted, and the storage means of the second control board stores the data of the first control board;
Control board communication method.   The control board communication method according to claim 1, wherein the operation progress state is an operation progress period of the device. The device is a fuel cell system;
The operation progress state is at least one of a cumulative power generation time, a cumulative carbon dioxide reduction amount, a cumulative power generation amount, and a cumulative power generation number.
The control board communication method according to claim 1. Storage means for storing data relating to the operation progress state of the device;
A communication unit that shifts to a reception state in which the data is received after entering a transmission state in which the data is transmitted, and that transmits the data to the storage unit when the data is received;
Based on the operation progress state of the device, transmission time determination means for extending the time of the transmission state of the communication means as the operation of the device progresses,
Having a control board. Storage means for storing data relating to the operation progress state of the device;
A communication unit that shifts to a transmission state in which the data is transmitted after being in a reception state for receiving the data, and that transmits the data to the storage unit when the data is received;
Based on the operation progress state of the device, a reception time determination unit that shortens the time of the reception state of the communication unit as the operation of the device progresses;
Having a control board. A fuel cell system comprising the control board according to claim 4.

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