JP7426084B2 - water supply device - Google Patents

Description

The present disclosure relates to a water supply device including a plurality of water supply units each having a pump, an electric motor, and a control unit that controls the electric motor.

For example, the water supply device described in Patent Document 1 includes a plurality of water supply units and at least a first control board and a second control board. Each water supply unit includes a pump, an electric motor, and the like.

The first control board and the second control board are control units for controlling the plurality of water supply units. In normal times, all the water supply units are controlled only by the first control board. If the first control board fails, the second control board controls all the water supply units. That is, the water supply device described in Patent Document 1 is an invention that improves the reliability of the water supply device by providing a second control board as a backup control unit in case of failure.

Patent No. 5568113

By the way, the applicant has devised an invention that improves the reliability of a water supply device by having a control section for each of a plurality of water supply units. However, in a water supply device including a plurality of water supply units, it is undesirable from the viewpoint of durability and reliability of the water supply unit that the operating time of a particular water supply unit becomes excessively long.

In view of the above-mentioned points, the present disclosure discloses an example of a water supply device that can suppress an excessively long operating time of a specific water supply unit in a water supply device that has a control unit for each of a plurality of water supply units.

In a water supply device including a plurality of water supply units (Ws) each having a pump (P), an electric motor (M), and a control unit (CTL) that controls the electric motor (M), each of the plurality of control units (CTL) is It has a storage unit (Me) that is capable of transmitting and receiving information and stores received information, and furthermore, each of the plurality of control units (CTL) has a predetermined specific signal (hereinafter referred to as the first signal). ) to another control unit (CTL) according to predetermined rules, and also deletes information indicating the first signal from the storage unit (Me), when the first signal is received. , a first mover flag reception function that stores information indicating that the first mover signal has been received in the storage unit (Me), and whether information indicating that the first mover signal has been received is stored in the storage unit (Me) at the time of starting water supply. It is desirable to be able to perform an advance starting function that determines if the current state is stored and starts the electric motor (M) if the memory is stored.

As a result, in the water supply device, the water supply unit (Ws) activated at the start of water supply can have a different configuration each time water supply starts. This can prevent the operating time of a specific water supply unit from becoming excessively long, and therefore it may be possible to improve the reliability and durability of the water supply device.

Incidentally, the above reference numerals in parentheses are an example showing the correspondence with the specific configurations described in the embodiments described later, and the present disclosure is not limited to the specific structures shown in the above parentheses. .

It is a figure showing a water supply device concerning a 1st embodiment. It is a flow chart showing operation of a control part concerning a 1st embodiment.

The following "Embodiments of the Invention" represents an example of an embodiment that falls within the technical scope of the present disclosure. In other words, the matters specifying the invention described in the claims are not limited to the specific configurations and structures shown in the embodiments below.

At least one member or portion is provided with at least a reference numeral, unless otherwise specified such as "one". That is, if there is no indication such as "one", two or more members may be provided. The water supply apparatus shown in the present disclosure includes at least the components such as the members or parts labeled and described, as well as the structural parts shown in the drawings.

(First embodiment)
<1. Overview of water supply equipment>
<1.1 Configuration of water supply device>
In this embodiment, an example of the water supply device according to the present disclosure is applied to a water supply device applied to a building such as an apartment or a commercial building. As shown in FIG. 1, the water supply device 1 includes a plurality of (for example, four) water supply units Ws1 to Ws4.

Each of the water supply units Ws1 to Ws4 has the same configuration. Specifically, each of the water supply units Ws1 to Ws4 includes at least pumps P1 to P4, electric motors M1 to M4, and control units CTL1 to CTL4 that control the electric motors M1 to M4.

Hereinafter, when any water supply unit Ws among the water supply units Ws1 to Ws4 is intended, it will be referred to as a water supply unit Ws. If any pump among pumps P1 to P4 is intended, it will be written as pump P. If any electric motor is intended among the electric motors M1 to M4, it will be written as electric motor M. If any one of the control units CTL1 to CTL4 is intended, it will be referred to as control unit CTL.

The control unit CTL includes at least a drive circuit for the electric motor M (in this embodiment, an inverter-type drive circuit), a control circuit that controls the drive circuit, and the like. The control unit CTL according to the present embodiment controls the rotational speed of the pump P, that is, the discharge flow rate, discharge pressure, etc. of the pump P by controlling the drive frequency for driving the electric motor M.

Detection signals from the pressure sensors PS1 to PS4 and detection signals from the flow rate sensors FS1 to FS4 are input to the control units CTL1 to CTL4, respectively. Each pressure sensor PS1 to PS4 detects the discharge pressure of the water supply device 1. Each flow rate sensor FS1 to FS4 detects the discharge flow rate of the corresponding pump P.

Hereinafter, when any pressure sensor among the pressure sensors PS1 to PS4 is intended, it will be referred to as pressure sensor PS. If any one of the flow rate sensors FS1 to FS4 is intended, it will be written as flow rate sensor FS.

Each of the control units CTL1 to CTL4 is capable of transmitting and receiving information to and from each other, and has storage units Me1 to Me4 that store received information. Hereinafter, when any one of the storage units Me1 to Me4 is intended, it will be referred to as the storage unit Me.

The communication method between each control unit CTL is not limited. Each control unit CTL according to this embodiment transmits and receives information to and from each other using a serial communication method. Each control unit CTL transmits and receives at least detection signals from the pressure sensor PS and flow rate sensor FS, a failure signal, an advance signal, an increase command signal, and the like.

The failure signal is a signal that the control unit CTL transmits to other control units CTL when the control unit CTL determines that a failure has occurred in the water supply unit Ws. The advance signal is a signal used when determining the water supply unit Ws to be activated first at the start of water supply.

The additional unit command signal is a signal for operating the stopped water supply unit Ws when the amount of water supplied by the water supply device 1 is insufficient. The control unit CTL that has received the increase command signal starts water supply by operating the electric motor M of the water supply unit Ws that is controlled by the control unit CTL.

<2. Control operation of control unit>
The control units CTL1 to CTL4, that is, the control circuit of each control unit CTL, is composed of, for example, a microcomputer having a CPU, ROM, RAM, and the like. Each control unit CTL controls the drive circuit and the like according to a control program stored in advance in a non-volatile storage unit such as a ROM.

<2.1 Overview of control operation>
Each control unit CTL controls the rotational speed of the pump P, that is, the electric motor M, so that the pressure detected by the pressure sensor PS (hereinafter referred to as detected pressure) falls within a predetermined pressure range. Each control unit CTL is capable of executing an advance start function, an increase function, and a flow rate stop function.

<First start function>
The advance start function is one of the functions that is executed when the detected pressure becomes less than the lower limit of the pressure range when all the water supply units Ws1 to Ws4 are in a stopped state.

Specifically, when executing the first start function, the control unit CTL stores information indicating that the first start signal has been received (hereinafter referred to as the first flag) in the storage unit Me of the control unit CTL at the time of starting water supply. Determine whether or not.

When the control unit CTL determines that the information is stored, the control unit CTL starts the electric motor M controlled by the control unit CTL. Therefore, only the water supply unit Ws in which the first flag is stored is activated, and the water supply unit Ws in which the first flag is not stored remains in a stopped state.

In addition, in this embodiment, the starting flag is stored in only one water supply unit Ws, as will be described later. Therefore, in this embodiment, only one water supply unit Ws starts supplying water first.

<Additional unit function>
The additional unit function is a function that is executed when the rotational speed of the currently operating water supply unit Ws, that is, the electric motor M, reaches a predetermined upper limit rotational speed. Specifically, it is a function of instructing the control unit CTL of the water supply unit Ws in operation to start water supply to the control unit CTL of the stopped water supply unit Ws.

For example, when the rotation speed of the electric motor M reaches a predetermined upper limit rotation speed when water is being supplied only by the first water supply unit Ws1, the control unit CTL1, for example, instructs the control unit CTL2 to start water supply. command. Thereby, water supply is also started from the second water supply unit Ws2.

Similarly, when the rotation speed of the electric motor M reaches a predetermined upper limit rotation speed while water is being supplied only by the first water supply unit Ws1 and the second water supply unit Ws2, the control unit CTL2 controls the The unit CTL3 is commanded to start water supply. Thereby, water supply is also started from the third water supply unit Ws3.

In this embodiment, when the plurality of electric motors M are in operation, the amount of water supplied by the water supply device 1 is controlled so that the rotational speeds of the plurality of electric motors M are approximately the same. Ru.

That is, the rotational speed of each electric motor M is controlled so that the discharge flow rate of each pump P in operation is maintained substantially the same and each detected pressure is maintained within the above pressure range. Therefore, in this embodiment, the rotational speed of each electric motor M changes in conjunction with each other.

<Flow rate stop function>
The flow rate stop function is a function that stops the electric motor M, that is, the pump P, when the discharge flow rate, that is, the flow rate detected by the flow rate sensor FS becomes less than a predetermined flow rate (hereinafter referred to as a stop flow rate).

In this embodiment, the control unit CTL determines the stop flow rate according to a predetermined rule depending on the operating state of the water supply device 1. Note that when all the water supply units Ws are stopped and the water supply device 1 is stopped, the water supply pressure is maintained by an accumulator (not shown).

<2.2 Starting rotation control of water supply unit>
<Summary>
The control unit CTL can perform at least a starting flag transmitting function, a starting flag receiving function, and a starting starting function as functions for executing starting rotation control.

The first mover flag transmission function is a function that is executed after the start of water supply and before the start of the next water supply. Specifically, when the flow rate stop function is executed, a predetermined specific signal (hereinafter referred to as an advance signal) is transmitted to another control unit CTL according to a predetermined rule, and the storage unit This is a function to delete the first-start flag, which is information indicating the first-start signal, from Me.

Note that the priority order for transmitting the first signal is stored in advance in the storage unit Me of each control unit CTL. Then, the control unit CTL transmits the first signal to other control units according to the priority order.

The first mover flag reception function is a function that, when a first mover signal is received, stores information indicating that the first mover signal has been received, that is, the first mover flag, in the storage unit Me. The first start function is a function that determines whether or not a first start flag is stored in the storage unit Me at the time of starting water supply, and starts the electric motor M if the first flag is stored.

The water supply device 1 according to the present embodiment has a function in case of failure of the water supply unit Ws. Specifically, each control unit CTL can perform a failure flag transmission function. The failure flag transmission function is a function that, when the water supply unit Ws controlled by the control unit CTL has a failure, transmits a failure signal indicating the failure to another control unit CTL and disables the advance start function. .

The failure flag transmission function according to the present embodiment disables the advance activation function by disabling the reception of the advance signal. Note that when the control unit CTL according to the present embodiment transmits a failure signal while the first flag is stored, the control unit CTL transmits the failure signal to other control units CTL according to predetermined rules (for example, the above priority order). send an advance signal to

<Control details (see Figure 2)>
The control flow shown in FIG. 2 is an example of the control flow shown in the above overview. The control flow shown in FIG. 2 is executed by each control unit CTL. A program for executing the control flow is stored in a non-volatile storage unit such as a ROM. Note that "S1" and the like written in parentheses in the following description are the codes shown in the flowchart.

The control unit CTL first determines whether the starting flag is stored in its own storage unit Me (S1). If the first mover flag is stored (S1: YES), the control unit CTL determines whether the discharge pressure, that is, the detected pressure has decreased to less than the lower limit of the pressure range (S3).

When the detected pressure has decreased to less than the lower limit value (S3: YES), the control unit CTL starts the pump P to start water supply (S5). If the detected pressure has not decreased below the lower limit (S3: NO), the control unit CTL executes S3 again.

After starting the pump P, the control unit CTL determines whether the water supply unit Ws controlled by the control unit CTL is operating normally (S7). If it is not operating normally, that is, if a failure has occurred (S7: NO), the control unit CTL transmits a failure signal to other control units CTL (S11).

If it is operating normally (S7: YES), the control unit CTL determines whether the discharge flow rate has decreased to the stop flow rate (S9). If the discharge flow rate has not decreased to the stop flow rate (S9: NO), the control unit CTL executes S7 again.

When the discharge flow rate has decreased to the stop flow rate (S9: YES), the control unit CTL determines whether the next-order water supply unit Ws can operate normally, that is, if a failure signal has been received from the next-order control unit CTL. It is determined whether the call has been sent or not (S13). Note that the next rank is a rank determined according to the above-mentioned priority order, and is a destination to which the control unit CTL is scheduled to transmit the first signal.

If the water supply unit Ws of the next rank can operate normally (S13: YES), the control unit CTL transmits an advance signal to the control unit CTL of the next rank (S15). In addition, when the water supply unit Ws of the next rank is not capable of normal operation (S13: NO), it is determined whether the next water supply unit Ws of the next rank is capable of normal operation (S13).

After transmitting the first mover signal, the control unit CTL deletes the first mover flag stored in its own storage unit Me (S17), and then stops the electric motor M (S19). After that, the control unit CTL executes S1 again.

If the first flag is not stored (S1: NO), the control unit CTL determines whether or not there is a failure in the water supply unit Ws that it controls (S21). (S21: YES), the control unit CTL prohibits reception of the advance signal (S23), and then determines whether the failure state has been recovered (S27).

If the failure condition has been recovered (S27: YES), the control unit CTL executes S1 again. If no failure has occurred (S21: NO), the control unit CTL permits reception of the advance signal (S25), and then executes S1 again.

<3. Features of the water supply device according to this embodiment>
Each of the plurality of control units CTL is capable of transmitting an advance signal to other control units CTL. Then, each control unit CTL determines whether information indicating that the first signal has been received is stored in the storage unit Me at the time of starting water supply, and if stored, starts the electric motor M.

As a result, in the water supply device 1, the water supply unit Ws that starts when water supply starts has a different configuration each time water supply starts. This can prevent the operating time of a specific water supply unit from becoming excessively long, so it may be possible to improve the reliability and durability of the water supply device 1.

Each of the plurality of control units CTL transmits an advance signal to the other control units CTL when the flow rate stop function is executed. This can reliably prevent the operating time of a specific water supply unit from becoming excessively long.

When the water supply unit Ws fails, each of the plurality of control units CTL transmits a failure signal to the other control units CTL and disables the advance start function. As a result, even if a failure occurs in any of the water supply units Ws, it is possible to reliably execute advance rotation control of the water supply units, and even if a failure occurs in a specific water supply unit Ws, water outage can be prevented. It can be avoided.

(Other embodiments)
In the embodiment described above, when the plurality of electric motors M are in operation, the amount of water supplied by the water supply device 1 is controlled such that the rotational speeds of the plurality of electric motors M are approximately the same rotational speed. . However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

That is, the disclosure provides a water supply device that provides a necessary amount of water by, for example, operating the pump P that was started first at the maximum rotation speed while changing and controlling the rotation speed of the pump P that was started next. It's okay.

The failure flag transmission function according to the embodiment described above disables the advance activation function by disabling the reception of the advance signal. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

That is, the disclosure provides a configuration in which, for example, even if the control unit CTL of the failed water supply unit Ws receives the advance signal, the received control unit CTL does not start the electric motor M, or the flow rate stop function is executed. The configuration may be such that the first signal is not sent to the control unit TC that sent the failure signal when the fault signal is sent.

In the above-described embodiment, the priority order when transmitting the advance signal is stored in advance. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. That is, the disclosure may include, for example, a configuration in which a random number table or the like is used to determine a destination when transmitting an advance signal.

Each control unit CTL according to the above-described embodiment was configured to execute the first-start flag transmission function when the flow rate stop function was executed. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. That is, the disclosure may be made before the flow rate stop function is executed, as long as it is after the start of water supply. In other words, the configuration may be such that the first-starter flag transmission function is executed after the start of water supply and before the start of the next water supply.

In the above-described embodiment, when two or more water supply units Ws are operating, if the water supply amount decreases, the water supply unit Ws whose first flag is stored is the first to stop. . However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. That is, the disclosure is sufficient if any one of the two or more operating water supply units Ws is stopped.

In the embodiment described above, each water supply unit Ws was provided with a pressure sensor PS. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. That is, since each pressure sensor PS detects the discharge pressure of the water supply device 1, at least one pressure sensor is sufficient.

That is, three of the four pressure sensors PS in the above-described embodiment are backup pressure sensors. Therefore, the water supply device 1 may have any configuration as long as it includes at least one pressure sensor PS. Note that in this configuration, at least one backup pressure sensor may be provided.

The water supply device 1 according to the above-described embodiment was configured to include four water supply units Ws. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. That is, the disclosure is also applicable to the water supply device 1 including at least two water supply units Ws.

Furthermore, the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments as long as it conforms to the spirit of the disclosure described in the above-described embodiments. Therefore, in a configuration in which at least two of the above-mentioned embodiments are combined, or in the above-mentioned embodiment, any of the illustrated structural features or the structural features described with reference numerals are abolished. It may be a configuration in which

1... Water supply device P1-P4... Pump M1-M4... Electric motor CTL1-CTL4... Control section Ws1-Ws4... Water supply unit PS1-PS4... Pressure sensor FS1-FS4... Flow rate sensor

Claims (4)

In a water supply device including a plurality of water supply units each having a pump, an electric motor, and a control unit that controls the electric motor,
Each of the plurality of control units is capable of transmitting and receiving information to and from each other, and has a storage unit that stores received information,
Each of the plurality of control units includes:
a first mover flag transmission function that transmits a predetermined specific signal (hereinafter referred to as the first mover signal) to the other control units according to predetermined rules, and deletes information indicating the first mover signal from the storage unit; ,
an advance flag reception function that stores information indicating that the advance signal has been received in the storage section when the advance signal is received; and information indicating that the advance signal has been received in the storage section when water supply is started; It is possible to perform a first start function of determining whether or not the electric motor is stored, and starting the electric motor if the electric motor is stored .
Each of the plurality of control units executes the first-start flag transmission function after the start of water supply and before the start of the next water supply,
Each of the plurality of control units is capable of executing a flow rate stop function of stopping the electric motor when the discharge flow rate becomes equal to or less than a predetermined flow rate,
Furthermore, each of the plurality of control units is a water supply device that executes the first flag transmission function when the flow rate stop function is executed . Each of the plurality of control units includes:
According to claim 1, when the water supply unit malfunctions, a failure flag transmission function is capable of transmitting a failure signal indicating the failure to the other control units and disabling the advance start function. water supply equipment. The water supply device according to claim 2 , wherein the failure flag transmission function disables the advance activation function by disabling the reception of the advance signal. Each of the plurality of control units stores in advance a priority order when transmitting the first signal,
The water supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the first mover flag transmission function transmits the first mover signal to the other control unit according to the priority order.

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