JP7293068B2 - Vapor quality evaluation device and vapor quality evaluation method - Google Patents

Description

Application of Article 30, Paragraph 2 of the Patent Law (1) Date of posting on website March 29, 2019 Website address: https://bms. Kurita. co. jp/products/index. html (2) Date of publication: June 5, 2019 Publication: Atsushi Sangyo Keizai Shimbun, page 8, dated June 5, 2019 (3) Date of publication: June 19, 2019 Publication: Kurita・Products and services catalog of BMS Co., Ltd.

The present invention relates to technology for evaluating steam quality.

Conventionally, there has been known a steam quality monitoring device that monitors the quality of steam in real time by cooling the steam generated in a boiler with a cooling device and measuring the water quality of the condensed water produced by the cooling with a water quality measuring device. (for example, Patent Document 1). This steam quality monitoring device monitors the amount of impurities contained in the steam, the corrosiveness of the steam, and the like.

JP-A-2007-93128

By the way, depending on the results of monitoring, it may be necessary to perform maintenance and inspection of pipes through which steam flows, equipment using steam, and the like. However, depending on the company, there are cases where it is not clear whether maintenance inspections are necessary even by looking at the results of monitoring. Unnecessary maintenance and inspection may require cost and time. Therefore, services based on steam quality monitoring results are required.

In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a technology capable of providing services based on steam quality monitoring results.

One aspect of the present invention is an evaluation unit that evaluates the quality of the steam based on measurement results of water quality contained in the steam obtained from the outside, and improvement of the quality of the steam based on the evaluation result of the evaluation unit. an information providing unit for providing method information, wherein the evaluation unit creates a report summarizing the evaluation results, and the information providing unit provides the steam quality improvement method based on the evaluation results of the evaluation unit. When there are multiple pieces of information, information on a method for improving the quality of the steam according to the customer's priority is provided based on the priority information indicating whether the customer prioritizes cost or efficiency. It is a vapor quality evaluation device.

In one aspect of the present invention, the evaluation unit uses the water quality measurement results to score the quality of each water quality, and the indications according to the scores, the time series data of the water quality measurement results, and the Create the report including any or all of the list of points for each water quality.

In one aspect of the present invention, the evaluation unit performs the evaluation based on a combination of the water quality measurement results.

According to one aspect of the present invention, an evaluation step of evaluating the quality of the steam based on the result of measuring the quality of water contained in the steam obtained from the outside; and an information provision step of providing information on a quality improvement method, wherein the evaluation step creates a report summarizing the evaluation results, and the information provision step is based on the evaluation results obtained in the evaluation step. When there is a plurality of information on the method for improving the quality of steam, the quality of the steam according to the priority of the customer is determined based on priority information indicating whether the customer prioritizes cost or efficiency. It is a steam quality evaluation method that provides information on how to improve .

The present invention makes it possible to provide services based on steam quality monitoring results.

1 is a configuration diagram showing the configuration of a steam quality evaluation system in the present invention; FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram showing the functional configuration of the steam quality evaluation device in the first embodiment; FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the evaluation table in 1st Embodiment. 4 is a flow chart showing the flow of processing of the vapor quality evaluation device in the first embodiment; It is a figure which shows the evaluation result of the electrical conductivity in 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the evaluation result of pH in 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the steam score in 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the report in 1st Embodiment. FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram showing the functional configuration of a vapor quality evaluation device in a second embodiment; 9 is a flow chart showing the flow of processing of the vapor quality evaluation device in the second embodiment;

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing the configuration of a steam quality evaluation system 100 according to the present invention. The steam quality evaluation system 100 is a system that evaluates steam quality based on steam quality monitoring results. A steam quality evaluation system 100 includes a steam utilization facility 10 , a steam monitoring device 15 and a steam quality evaluation device 20 .

The steam utilization facility 10 is a facility that utilizes steam. The steam utilization facility 10 includes a water supply tank 11 , a boiler 12 , a steam header 13 and a steam utilization production facility 14 . The water supply tank 11 and the boiler 12, the boiler 12 and the steam header 13, and the steam header 13 and the production equipment 14 using steam are connected by piping such as pipes. Note that the steam utilization facility 10 is not limited to the example shown in FIG. For example, the steam utilization facility 10 may be any facility that generates and uses steam.

The water supply tank 11 is a tank that stores water to be supplied to the boiler 12 . Water is supplied to the boiler 12 from the water supply tank 11 through a pipe.
The boiler 12 is a device that uses water supplied from the water supply tank 11 to generate steam. Boiler 12 may be any boiler that produces steam. Steam generated by the boiler 12 is supplied to the steam header 13 through pipes.

The steam header 13 is a device that once collects the steam supplied from the boiler 12, divides it into water and steam, and distributes them to each pipe. The steam distributed from the steam header 13 is supplied to the steam-using production equipment 14 through pipes.
The steam-using production facility 14 is a facility that uses steam supplied from the steam header 13 .

As described above, the steam utilization facility 10 utilizes the steam generated by the boiler 12 . Here, it is assumed that the line to which the steam to be evaluated (hereinafter referred to as "sample steam") is supplied is the piping between the steam header 13 and the steam-using production equipment 14. In this case, a sample steam outlet is provided from the piping between the steam header 13 and the steam-using production equipment 14 , and the sample steam outlet and the steam monitoring device 15 are connected. A sample vapor is thereby supplied to the vapor monitoring device 15 .

The steam monitoring device 15 is a device that monitors (observes) the quality of the sample steam in real time. The steam monitoring device 15 is composed of a cooling device 16 and a water quality measuring device 18 .
The cooling device 16 is a device that cools the sample vapor with cooling water and changes it into condensed water for water quality measurement. The condensed water is supplied to the water quality measuring device 18 through a condensed water supply line connecting the cooling device 16 and the water quality measuring device 18 .

The water quality measuring device 18 measures various water qualities based on the condensed water and sample steam supplied from the cooling device 16 . The water quality measured by the water quality measuring device 18 includes, for example, pH, electric conductivity (conductivity), dissolved oxygen concentration, organic matter, odor, and dryness. In addition to the water quality measuring device 18, the organic substances and odors may be sampled and analyzed by another device for detailed component analysis. In this case, the water quality measuring device 18 acquires analysis results of organic substances and odors from other devices. Organic matter includes, for example, COD (Chemical Oxygen Demand) and TOC (Total Organic Carbon). Dryness represents the mixing ratio of saturated water and saturated steam in wet steam. Generally, boiler steam is a mixture of saturated steam and saturated water (wet steam) unless superheated by a superheater. The wet steam flow from the boiler 12 is a fluid in which gas (saturated steam) is mixed with liquid (saturated water) in an atomized state. Therefore, dryness indicates the mixing ratio of saturated water and saturated steam in this wet steam.

Here, as an example, a configuration for measuring pH, electrical conductivity (conductivity), and dissolved oxygen concentration will be described. The water quality measuring device 18 has a plurality of flow cells, and measures the dissolved oxygen concentration, electrical conductivity, and pH of the condensed water with a measurement sensor provided in each flow cell by sequentially passing condensed water through the plurality of flow cells. Since specific methods for measuring pH, electric conductivity (conductivity), and dissolved oxygen concentration are well-known techniques, description thereof is omitted.
Moreover, when measuring dryness, the water quality measuring device 18 is equipped with a diaphragm calorimeter. A throttle calorimeter takes a sample vapor and uses the sample vapor to measure dryness.

The steam quality evaluation device 20 evaluates steam quality based on various water quality data measured by the water quality measurement device 18 . The evaluation performed by the steam quality evaluation device 20 means scoring of steam quality for each water quality item, consideration for each water quality item, comprehensive evaluation, and the like, and creating a report summarizing the results. The vapor quality evaluation device 20 is configured using an information processing device such as a notebook computer or a personal computer.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram showing the functional configuration of the vapor quality evaluation device 20 in the first embodiment.
The vapor quality evaluation device 20 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a memory, an auxiliary storage device, etc. connected via a bus, and executes a vapor quality evaluation program. By executing the steam quality evaluation program, the steam quality evaluation device 20 functions as a device including a measurement result storage unit 21, an evaluation table storage unit 22, and an evaluation unit 23. All or part of each function of the vapor quality evaluation device 20 may be implemented using hardware such as an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), a PLD (Programmable Logic Device), or an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array). good. Also, the steam quality evaluation program may be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium. Computer-readable recording media include portable media such as flexible disks, magneto-optical disks, ROMs and CD-ROMs, and storage devices such as hard disks incorporated in computer systems. Also, the steam quality evaluation program may be transmitted and received via an electric communication line.

The measurement result storage unit 21 stores various water quality data measured by the water quality measuring device 18 in chronological order. The measurement result storage unit 21 is configured using a storage device such as a magnetic hard disk device or a semiconductor storage device.
The evaluation table storage unit 22 stores an evaluation table in which information serving as a reference for evaluating specific water quality contained in steam is registered. The evaluation table storage unit 22 stores an evaluation table for each water quality item. The evaluation table storage unit 22 is configured using a storage device such as a magnetic hard disk device or a semiconductor storage device.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of an evaluation table according to the first embodiment.
The evaluation table has a plurality of records representing information serving as criteria for evaluating steam quality. A record has each value of a measurement result, a score, and a consideration. The measurement result represents the measurement result of the water quality item to be evaluated. FIG. 3 shows that the water quality item to be evaluated is electrical conductivity (conductivity). The score indicates the quality of water given according to the value of the measurement result. The higher the score, the better. A discussion represents an indication according to the score.

In the example shown in FIG. 3, the evaluation table classifies the measurement results into five stages. These measurement results are "2.0 or more", "1.0 or more and less than 2.0", "0.6 or more and less than 1.0", "0.2 or more and less than 0.6", "0.2 less than”. In Fig. 3, the record registered at the top of the evaluation table has a measurement result value of "2.0 or more", a score value of "1", and a consideration value of "Review of management operation method is recommended." I will.” That is, when the measurement result of electrical conductivity (conductivity) is "2.0 or more", the score is "1", which is the worst, indicating that the management operation method needs to be reviewed.

In FIG. 3, the record registered at the bottom of the evaluation table has a measurement result value of "less than 0.2", a score value of "5", and a consideration value of "maintain current management and operation." Please.” That is, when the measurement result of electrical conductivity (conductivity) is "less than 0.2", the score is "5", which is the best, and it is expressed that the current management operation should be maintained. .

In the example shown in FIG. 3, the classification of the measurement results in five stages is registered in the evaluation table, but the classification need not be limited to five stages. For example, in the evaluation table, the classification of the measurement result may be any number of stages as long as it is two or more stages. Moreover, the classification of the measurement results in the evaluation table for each water quality item may be the same, or may be partially or wholly different.

The evaluation unit 23 evaluates the quality of steam to be evaluated for each water quality item based on the measurement results stored in the measurement result storage unit 21 and the evaluation table stored in the evaluation table storage unit 22. .

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the process flow of the vapor quality evaluation device 20 in the first embodiment.
When the measurement result is obtained from the water quality measuring device 18, the steam quality evaluation device 20 stores the obtained measurement result in the measurement result storage unit 21 (step S101). The evaluation unit 23 determines whether evaluation timing has come (step S102). The evaluation timing may be, for example, a predetermined time, a timing when an evaluation execution instruction is given from the outside, or a predetermined number of measurement result data is accumulated in the evaluation table storage unit 22. It may be the timing.

If the evaluation timing has not come (step S102-NO), the evaluation unit 23 waits until the evaluation timing. If measurement results are obtained from the water quality measuring device 18 during this period, the obtained measurement results are stored in the measurement result storage unit 21 .
On the other hand, when the evaluation timing has come (step S102-YES), the evaluation unit 23 evaluates the steam quality using the measurement results stored in the measurement result storage unit 21 and the evaluation table (step S103).

Specifically, the evaluation unit 23 reads a plurality of measurement results of a certain water quality item (for example, electrical conductivity) from the measurement result storage unit 21 . The evaluation unit 23 calculates statistical values (for example, maximum value, minimum value, average value) using the plurality of read measurement results. The evaluation unit 23 refers to the evaluation table and obtains the score and consideration value corresponding to the calculated statistical value. The evaluation unit 23 executes this process for all water quality items. It should be noted that the evaluation unit 23 may perform processing only for the specified water quality item.

After that, the evaluation unit 23 creates a report (step S104). Specifically, the evaluation unit 23 generates tables as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 using a plurality of measurement results of a certain water quality item (for example, electrical conductivity). FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the evaluation results of electrical conductivity, and FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the evaluation results of pH. The tables shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 include statistical values (for example, maximum value, minimum value, average value), deviations, and time-series data of the measurement results of the water quality items. Moreover, the evaluation part 23 produces|generates the steam score shown in FIG. 7 using the score calculated for every water quality item. The steam score is a list of scores of water quality items. In FIG. 7, there are three water quality items (dissolved oxygen, conductivity and pH) that constitute the steam score, but all water quality items may be included.

The evaluation unit 23 creates the report shown in FIG. 8 based on the scores and consideration results for each water quality item obtained in the above process, the evaluation results, and the steam score. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a report. The report shown in FIG. 8 broadly shows five items. Specifically, as five items, FIG. ), and (V. General findings) are indicated. The items (|. About the target company evaluated this time) and (||. About the evaluation method) are entered in advance by the person in charge of evaluating the steam quality of the customer. Evaluation results for each water quality item as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 are entered in the items (|||. Evaluation results). In the item of (| V. Steam score), the obtained score and consideration for each water quality item are entered. Evaluation contents of "performance", "safety", "energy saving" and "productivity" are input. The item of (V. Comprehensive Findings) may be entered by the person in charge.

According to the steam quality evaluation device 20 configured as described above, it is possible to provide services based on the results of steam quality monitoring. Specifically, the steam quality evaluation device 20 evaluates the customer's steam quality based on the steam quality monitoring results, and creates a report as the evaluation result. The report prepared in this way contains scores and consideration results that indicate the quality of each water quality item. As a result, the customer can grasp which water quality item is bad and can take measures to improve it. Therefore, it is possible to provide services based on the results of steam quality monitoring.

(Second embodiment)
In the second embodiment, based on the evaluation results, points for improving the quality of the steam of the customer are pointed out and information on improvement methods is provided.
FIG. 9 is a schematic block diagram showing the functional configuration of a vapor quality evaluation device 20a according to the second embodiment.
The vapor quality evaluation device 20a includes a CPU, a memory, an auxiliary storage device, etc. connected via a bus, and executes a vapor quality evaluation program. By executing the steam quality evaluation program, the steam quality evaluation device 20a functions as a device including a measurement result storage unit 21, an evaluation table storage unit 22, an evaluation unit 23, and an information provision unit 24. Note that all or part of each function of the vapor quality evaluation device 20a may be implemented using hardware such as ASIC, PLD, and FPGA. Also, the steam quality evaluation program may be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium. Computer-readable recording media include portable media such as flexible disks, magneto-optical disks, ROMs and CD-ROMs, and storage devices such as hard disks incorporated in computer systems. Also, the steam quality evaluation program may be transmitted and received via an electric communication line.

The vapor quality evaluation device 20a differs in configuration from the vapor quality evaluation device 20 in that an information provision unit 24 is newly provided. The vapor quality evaluation device 20a has the same configuration as the vapor quality evaluation device 20 in other respects. Therefore, the description of the vapor quality evaluation device 20a as a whole is omitted, and the configuration of the information providing unit 24 is described.

Based on the evaluation results of the evaluation unit 23, the information providing unit 24 indicates points for improving the steam quality and provides information on improvement methods.

FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing the process flow of the vapor quality evaluation device 20a in the second embodiment. In FIG. 10, the same processing as in FIG. 4 is given the same reference numerals as in FIG. 4, and the description thereof is omitted.
Based on the evaluation result of the evaluation unit 23, the information providing unit 24 indicates points for improving the steam quality and provides information on improvement methods (step S201). Specifically, the information providing unit 24 provides information on how to improve water quality items whose scores are lower than the threshold values (for example, scores “1” and “2”) from the evaluation results of the evaluation unit 23 . For example, when the pH value is lower than the threshold, the information providing unit 24 provides information to switch boiler feed water from soft water to pure water. As a result, it is possible to prevent the generation of carbon dioxide gas derived from soft water, which causes a low pH. For example, the information providing unit 24 provides information recommending the addition of an oxygen agent when the value of dissolved oxygen is lower than the threshold. The number of pieces of information provided by the information providing unit 24 is not limited to one, and a plurality of pieces of information may be provided. This allows the customer to work in the improvement method that suits them.

According to the steam quality evaluation system 100 of the second embodiment configured as described above, it is possible to provide information such as an improvement method based on the result of evaluating the steam quality. This allows the customer to know how to improve the steam quality to make it better than the current situation. Also, a company equipped with the steam quality evaluation device 20a can provide better services to customers.

<Modification of Second Embodiment>
The steam monitoring device 15 and the steam quality evaluation device 20 may be integrated.
In the steam example, the information providing unit 24 is configured to provide information on improvement methods based on the evaluation result of one water quality item. The information providing unit 24 may be configured to provide information on an improvement method based on a combination of evaluation results of a plurality (two or more) of water quality items. For example, the information providing unit 24 scores the corrosion rate of the boiler 12 and steam pipes from data on pH, dissolved oxygen, and organic matter. Then, the information providing unit 24 provides information recommending the addition of an oxygen scavenger when the score is equal to or less than the threshold and, for example, when the dissolved oxygen is equal to or greater than the threshold, or the pH is equal to or greater than the threshold. Provide information recommending that the pH be adjusted if This makes it possible to keep the corrosion rate score high.
The information providing unit 24 may be configured to hold information such as priority information (for example, cost priority, efficiency priority) for each customer and change the information to be provided according to the customer. For example, it is undesirable to offer a costly but highly effective remedy to a cost-conscious customer. Therefore, when there are a plurality of improvement methods, the information providing unit 24 may provide information by reducing options based on the customer's priority information.
The information providing unit 24 may provide information recommending a contract such as a special plan to a specific customer. Here, a specific customer may be a customer who has made a request more than a specific number of times.

Modifications common to the first embodiment and the second embodiment will be described below.
If there is a company where the product may come into contact with steam in the manufacturing process of food or medical products, the steam quality evaluation equipment 20, 20a may use the water quality items (for example, 26 items such as calcium, magnesium, etc.) specified in the Food Sanitation Law. ) may also be configured to evaluate the steam quality based on the measurement results.
In each of the above embodiments, the evaluation unit 23 evaluates each water quality item. The evaluation unit 23 may be configured to perform evaluation based on a combination of multiple (two or more) water quality items. For example, the evaluation unit 23 may evaluate a combination of dissolved oxygen and pH, a combination of electrical conductivity, odor, and organic matter. Dissolved oxygen and low pH are factors that increase steam corrosivity. Therefore, the evaluation unit 23 may evaluate the steam corrosiveness based on the dissolved oxygen measurement result and the pH measurement result. Safety is a concern when the measurement results of conductivity, odor and organic matter are high. Therefore, the evaluation unit 23 may evaluate the safety based on the conductivity measurement result, the odor measurement result, and the organic substance measurement result. For example, when the electrical conductivity measurement result, the odor measurement result, and the organic matter measurement result are all high, that is, when all the scores of the electrical conductivity, odor, and organic matter are lower than the threshold, the evaluation unit 23 determines that the safety is low. rated as low.

Based on the time-series data of the measurement result of the water quality item, the evaluation unit 23 may evaluate that some abnormality has occurred when the change in the measurement result is equal to or greater than the threshold. In addition, the evaluation unit 23 may evaluate that some kind of abnormality occurs when the value of the measurement result of the water quality item continues to rise or continues to fall.
The evaluation unit 23 may be configured to predict future changes in the quality of steam based on the time-series data of the measurement results of the water quality items. Specifically, the evaluation unit 23 predicts the future transition of steam quality based on the data of the past transition of the measurement result of the water quality item.

Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment, and design and the like are included within the scope of the gist of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10... Steam utilization facility, 11... Water supply tank, 12... Boiler, 13... Steam header, 14... Steam use production equipment, 15... Steam monitoring device, 16... Cooling device, 18... Water quality measuring device, 20... Steam quality evaluating device , 21... Measurement result storage unit, 22... Evaluation table storage unit, 23... Evaluation unit, 24... Information provision unit

Claims (4)

an evaluation unit that evaluates the quality of the steam based on the measurement result of the water quality contained in the steam obtained from the outside;
an information providing unit that provides information on a method for improving the quality of the steam based on the evaluation result of the evaluating unit;
with
The evaluation unit creates a report summarizing the evaluation results ,
When there are a plurality of pieces of information on the steam quality improvement method based on the evaluation results of the evaluation unit, the information providing unit provides the following information based on priority information indicating whether the customer prioritizes cost or efficiency. , a steam quality evaluation device for providing information on how to improve the quality of the steam according to the customer's priority . The evaluation unit uses the water quality measurement results to score the quality of each water quality, and points out items according to the scores, time-series data of the water quality measurement results, and a list of points for each water quality. 2. The vapor quality evaluation device according to claim 1, wherein the report including any or all of the above is created. 3. The steam quality evaluation device according to claim 1 , wherein said evaluation unit performs said evaluation based on a combination of said water quality measurement results. an evaluation step of evaluating the quality of the steam based on the measurement result of the water quality contained in the steam obtained from the outside;
an information provision step of providing information on a method for improving the steam quality based on the evaluation result obtained in the evaluation step;
has
In the evaluation step, creating a report summarizing the evaluation results,
In the information provision step, priority information indicating whether the customer prioritizes cost or efficiency when there is a plurality of information on the steam quality improvement method based on the evaluation result obtained in the evaluation step. and providing information on how to improve the quality of the steam according to the customer's priority .

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