JPH01174870A - Device for diagnosis of refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To rapidly and effectively diagnose the abnormal state of a refrigerator by collecting a signal necessary to diagnose from a sensor group provided at desired positions of the refrigerator, calculating its enthalpy, and calculating characteristic coordinates on the basis of its enthalpy. CONSTITUTION:Operating characteristic display means calculates enthalpy IR on the basis of a refrigerant temperature signal and a refrigerant moisture signal. It obtains the ratio of a refrigerant pressure signal to the maximum value of an X-axis of coordinates at the X-axis and the ratio of the enthalpy IR to the maximum value of a Y-axis with the refrigerant pressure signal and the enthalpy IR, and judges the operating characteristics of a refrigerator. Diagnostic inference means input data collected by a process data collecting function 221 in a trouble diagnosing function 223, safety data obtained by safety data collecting function 222, an operating hysteresis and trouble history data, etc., infers on the basis of the rules of stationary knowledge base 227A and variable knowledge base 227B to diagnose a trouble, and eventually judges by general discriminating function 224.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Object of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to a diagnostic device for a refrigerator that supplies cooling energy to buildings, factories, etc. The present invention relates to a refrigerator diagnostic device that diagnoses abnormalities.

(Conventional technology) Conventionally, in order to diagnose a refrigerator, pressure gauges, flow meters, etc. were installed at various locations on the refrigerator, and during periodic inspections or patrol inspections, a supervisor traveled to the location of the refrigerator in a remote location. The indicated values of these pressure gauges and flow meters are read and the presence or absence of an abnormality is determined based on the relationship with predetermined specified values.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) Therefore, if the above diagnostic method is adopted, abnormalities in the nine components and systems of the refrigerator will not be detected unless a supervisor goes to the site during a patrol inspection and looks at the instruments. If it could not be detected, there was a risk that abnormal operation would trigger various accidents and even lead to a 1G accident. The supervisor who monitors the refrigerator must be a highly skilled person to determine whether there is an abnormality or not, based on past experience. In addition, heat source equipment is required to operate a refrigerator and supply cold energy, but there is a problem in that it is too costly to install independent heat source equipment in each small building.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and provides a refrigerator diagnostic device that can quickly and reliably diagnose abnormal conditions in a refrigerator and improve stable operation and maintenance efficiency of the refrigerator. The purpose is to

[Structure of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problems) The refrigerator diagnostic device according to the present invention includes a group of sensors that are installed at desired locations on the refrigerator and measure signals necessary for diagnosis, and a group of sensors that receive signals from these sensor groups. an operating characteristic display means for collecting and calculating enthalpy using necessary signals from the collected signals, and calculating characteristic coordinates of the refrigerator based on the enthalpy and displaying the characteristic coordinates in a graph; and at least using the collected data. and diagnostic inference means for inferring the operating state of the refrigerator based on the knowledge base and, if there is an abnormality, displaying the abnormal state on the graph displayed by the operating characteristic display means.

(Function) Therefore, the present invention has the above-mentioned means.
Where is the freezer? Signals necessary for diagnosis are collected from a group of sensors installed at a location, enthalpy is calculated using the necessary signals from the collected signals, and characteristic coordinates of the refrigerator are calculated based on this enthalpy. The operating characteristics and the characteristics at the time of chiller design are displayed in a graph on a display device, the operating state of the chiller is inferred based on a knowledge base using at least the collected data, and if there is an abnormality, it is displayed by the operating characteristic display means. The abnormal state is displayed on a graph, so even if the refrigerator is installed in a remote location, the operating state of the refrigerator can be quickly grasped from the center.

(Example) Examples of the apparatus of the present invention will be described below.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the refrigerator diagnosis device according to the present invention, and this diagram shows a local area side A where a refrigerator is installed and the operation of the refrigerator on this local area side A. It is divided into a center area side B for diagnosis.

This local area side A is equipped with a refrigerator device 11, a process human output device 12 having a data input/output function, a storage device, a CPU, etc., and operates the refrigerator device 11 by receiving information from the process human output device 12. Digital signal DI for status, failure, etc., analog signal A for refrigerant pressure and temperature, etc.
Relay signals RO and RO receive pulse signals such as I and compressor power, convert them into a data format suitable for transmission, and issue operating commands for refrigerators, pumps, etc., which are commands from center area side B. Pulse signal PO for temperature setting
It is comprised of a central processing unit 13 that sends data to the process output device 12, a modem 14 that transmits data to and from the center area side B, and the like.

On the other hand, the center area side B outputs signals corresponding to the modem 21 for data transmission with the local area side A, operation command signals RO and PO for the refrigerator, pump, etc., and performs various other calculations. Control For example, calculation of enthalpy of a refrigerator, calculation of characteristic coordinates from this enthalpy, characteristic pressure (
The central processing unit 22 performs control to display status diagrams such as Mollier diagrams based on the calculation results of the votes, and also performs diagnosis and inferences of refrigerators, and displays status diagrams such as Mollier diagrams and performance diagrams for refrigerators. It is composed of a CR7 display device 23 and the like for displaying images.

The central processing unit 22 on the center area side B has the functions as shown in FIG. 2, particularly regarding the refrigerator diagnosis and inference means. That is, the central processing unit 22 has a process data collection function 221, a maintenance data collection function 222,
It is composed of a failure diagnosis function 223 and a comprehensive judgment function 224 for each refrigeration cycle. The process data collection function 221 collects process data Al in real time.

It has a function of sequentially updating the contents of a process database 225 that collects DI, API, etc. and stores data related to processes.

The maintenance data collection function 222 includes the maintenance database 2
This maintenance database 226 is updated with maintenance data such as operation time, chiller efficiency, cooling energy consumption, etc. obtained by processing the data collected by the process data collection function 221, as well as operation history, failure history, etc. Collect and store data.

The failure diagnosis function 223 exists for each refrigeration cycle, and has a fixed knowledge base 227A and a variable knowledge base 22.
I have 7B. This fixed knowledge base 227A stores knowledge, such as start-up conditions, that does not change at all once the refrigerator is delivered. The variable knowledge base 227B stores knowledge whose judgment value changes depending on the life of lubricating oil, such as the oil temperature of a blower, for example.
Whether or not to update the knowledge base is determined and updated by a condition update determination function within the failure diagnosis function 223. 2
28 is a knowledge base editor, which can freely refer to the contents of each knowledge base 227A, 227B, and
It has the ability to modify, add and delete the knowledge base. This can reflect the operator's experience based on the driving record.

The comprehensive judgment function 224 has a function of making a final diagnosis by making a judgment based on the estimated cause obtained by the failure diagnosis function 223 for each cycle.

Next, FIG. 3 is a block diagram specifically showing, for example, a centrifugal chiller device among the refrigerator device 11 shown in FIG. 1. This device has 2. This is to diagnose the characteristics of 3 for the evaporation process and 4 for the compression process, and in that case, as mentioned above, the signals DI, AI, API, RO, PO, etc. are required, so these signals are used exclusively. This will be explained in relation to That is, a condensation process Kl including a condenser 31, and a fat expansion process K2 including an expansion step 2.

3. In the evaporation process including the evaporator 33. In the compression process including the compressor 34, a sensor corresponding to the purpose of Al11 is installed at the required location of 4, for example, the refrigerant pressure 41. Analog signals AI as process values such as refrigerant temperature 42 and refrigerant humidity 43 are measured. Further, an operating state signal 44. A digital signal DI such as a failure signal 45 is obtained, and in addition, a pulsed signal AP such as a consumable car signal 46 is obtained from the electric motor 36.
I is obtained.

On the other hand, the relay signal RO as an operation command sent from the center area side B is given to the electric motor 36, and the pulse signal PO is given to the evaporator 33 as a temperature setting signal for the circulating cold water outlet in the evaporator. ing.

Next, the operation of this device will be explained with reference to FIG. First, the central processing unit 13 on the local area side A receives a command from the central processing unit 22 on the center area side B, or at regular intervals determined by its own sequence program, outputs a signal from the servo chiller device. D.I.
, A.I.

The API is taken in through the process output device 12, converted into a signal form suitable for transmission, modulated by the modem 14, and sent to the central processing unit 22 on the center area side B. Further, the central processing unit 13 on the local area side A receives the signal RO sent from the central processing unit 22 on the center area side B.

PO is introduced into electric motor 36 and evaporator 33.

Therefore, the central processing unit 22 on the filter area side B
Based on the signals transmitted from the central processing unit 13 on the local area side A, the driving characteristic display means and diagnostic inference means shown in FIG. 3 are executed. First, the operating characteristic display stage receives a start command and receives a refrigerant temperature signal 42.
．． Based on the refrigerant humidity signal 43, enthalpy IR (KCAL/Kg) is calculated as shown in step S1.

IR-0,24TR+ (597,3+0.44TR)
*X (1)X= (0, [i6*Xs*RII
) /l (1-Rll) *Xs + 0.822
) = 12) Here, TR is the refrigerant temperature ("C), X
is the refrigerant absolute humidity (Kg/Kg'), RH is the refrigerant relative humidity (%), and Xs is the saturated absolute humidity (Kg/Kg'). Note that the central processing unit 22 has a temperature of 0.0°C, for example.
A saturated absolute humidity table is prepared that stores the saturated absolute humidity in 0.1°C steps from 60.0°C to 60.0°C.
The enthalpy IR in the above formula is calculated by reading the saturated absolute humidity of the table portion corresponding to the measured refrigerant temperature T″C. Next, in step S2, characteristic coordinates are calculated based on the enthalpy IR. That is, the refrigerant Using the pressure signal 41 and the above enthalpy IR, the coordinate X-axis is the ratio combination of the refrigerant pressure signal 41 to the X-axis maximum value, and the coordinate Y-axis is the ratio combination of the enthalpy IR to the Y-axis maximum value. In step S3, the arithmetic processing unit 22 reads out the characteristic data at the time of refrigerator design stored in the storage device, and displays it as a graph on the display device 23, for example, in sky blue.

Therefore, the normal characteristics of the refrigerator can be determined from the graph display. Next, the process moves to step S4, where the characteristics during operation of the refrigerator acquired in step S2 are graphically displayed in white on the display device 23. In this case, the operating characteristics of the refrigerator can be determined.

Next, in step S5, the diagnostic reasoning means is executed.

As shown in FIG.
Fault diagnosis is performed by taking in the data collected by , maintenance data, driving history, failure history data, etc. obtained by the maintenance data collection function 222 and making inferences based on the rules of each fixed knowledge base 227A and variable knowledge base 227B. Then, the comprehensive judgment function 224 makes a final judgment. For example, if the refrigeration pressure is lower than the line between ■ and ■ shown in FIG.
27B diagnoses whether there is a lack of refrigerant, whether the cold water pipe is dirty, whether oil is mixed in, or whether the load is low. Also, if the refrigerant pressure is high from the line between ■ and ■, the high point will change to red, for example, and the fixed knowledge base 227A and variable knowledge base 227B will indicate that non-condensable gas is mixed in or the cooling pipe is dirty. Diagnose whether the amount of cooling water is insufficient or the temperature of the cooling water is high.

After performing the diagnostic inference as described above, processing guidance in the event of an abnormality is displayed on the display device 23 in step S6. At this time, for example, if the result of the inference is abnormal, only the abnormality mark will be displayed at the top left of the graph, and when the operator selects that abnormality mark, the operator will respond to guidance on what action to take. It may take any form.

Therefore, according to the configuration of the embodiment as described above, necessary data is collected from refrigerators installed in remote locations, and diagnostic reasoning is performed based on the knowledge base using this collected data and maintenance data. In addition to diagnosing machine abnormalities, the characteristics of the operating status of the refrigerator are displayed graphically on the display device 23, so it is easy to understand in which refrigeration cycle process an abnormality has occurred, and to take appropriate measures to deal with the situation. Since the method can be explained in the form of conversational guidance, the troubleshooting process can be carried out smoothly.

Further, the diagnosis itself has a great effect on preventive maintenance of equipment, and newly obtained failure data can be reflected in the knowledge base, so more accurate diagnosis results can be obtained.

In addition, although the case of one refrigerator was explained in the second embodiment, it goes without saying that the present invention can be similarly applied even when a plurality of refrigerators are used. Furthermore, the present invention can be similarly applied to equipment other than refrigerators.

In addition, the present invention can be implemented with various modifications without departing from the gist thereof.

[Effects of the Invention] As detailed above, according to the present invention, necessary data is collected from refrigerators installed in remote locations, and diagnostic inferences are made based on a knowledge base using the collected data and maintenance data. This function diagnoses the operating status of the refrigerator and displays a graph of the refrigerator's status diagram, such as a Mollier diagram, on the CR7 display, making it possible to reliably diagnose abnormal conditions in the refrigerator remotely and In addition to improving the stable operation and maintenance efficiency of the refrigerator, by effectively utilizing the knowledge base, it is possible to obtain excellent diagnostic results while judging various situations, and in the event of an abnormality in the refrigerator, it is possible to reduce the negative impact on cooling heat demand customers. It is possible to provide a refrigerator diagnostic device that can minimize the

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 to 5 are shown to explain an embodiment of the refrigerator diagnostic device according to the present invention, FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of the entire device, and FIG. 2 is shown in FIG. 1. A functional configuration diagram of the diagnostic inference part of the central processing unit in the center area, Figure 3 is a specific refrigeration cycle configuration diagram of the refrigerator in Figure 1,
FIG. 4 is a flowchart explaining the operation of the apparatus of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of display of a state diagram of the refrigerator. A... Local area side, B... Center area side, 11... Refrigerator device, 1122... Central processing unit, 221... Process data collection function, 222...
...Maintenance data collection function, 223...Failure diagnosis function,
224... Comprehensive judgment function, 225... Process database, 226... Maintenance database, 227A.
...Fixed knowledge base, 227B...Variable knowledge base,
228...Knowledge base editor. Applicant's agent Patent attorney Takehiko Suzue Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 4

Claims (1)

[Claims] A group of sensors are installed at desired locations on the refrigerator to measure signals necessary for diagnosis, and signals are collected from these sensor groups, and enthalpy is calculated using the necessary signals from the collected signals. an operating characteristic display means for calculating characteristic coordinates of the refrigerator based on the information and displaying the calculated characteristic coordinates in a graph;
and diagnostic inference means for inferring the operating state of the refrigerator based on a knowledge base using at least the collected data and, if there is an abnormality, displaying the abnormal state on a graph displayed by the operating characteristic display means. A refrigerator diagnostic device featuring: