JPH0618401A - Detector of filter clogging - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent any useless repairing and damage of a filter based on a misjudgment from occurring by keeping the flow of a pipeline fitted with a filter constant while controlling the opening of a flow control valve, and detecting any clogging in this filter from an increase in the valve opening or drop in the flow rate. CONSTITUTION:A flow sensor 3 and a flow control valve 4 are installed in a pipeline 2 fitted with a filter in series. A motor-driven ball valve is used for this valve 4, controlling the extent of opening in the valve 4 via an electric connection 7. A flow regulating controller 5 controls the opening of the valve 4 on the basis of information out of the flow sensor 3, thereby keeping the flow rate of the pipeline 2 in the preset flow rate. In succession, the controller 5 is so judged that the filter is clogged at the time when the opening of the valve 4 comes to 'full open' or reaches the preset opening, or in the case where it has failed to keep the setting flow rate, thus a user is informed of it by emitting sound or light or by displaying, for example.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a detector for detecting clogging of a filter provided in the middle of a pipe.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, the clogging of a filter has been assumed based on the usage time or the amount of flowing water set from experience, etc.
It was common to repair or replace the filter.
In this method, since the set usage time or flow rate is used as a reference, inconvenience such as not performing repair even if the required flow rate cannot be obtained due to filter clogging, or repairing when clogging does not occur There was a waste of doing.

Further, as shown in the piping diagram of FIG. 5, a bypass pipe 44 provided with a differential pressure gauge 43 in parallel with the filter 41 is provided in the piping 42 having the filter 41 attached thereto. It was also determined that the filter 41 was clogged because the pressure difference between the front and rear pipes reached a preset pressure difference. In the structure shown in FIG. 5, when the pressure on the upstream side of the filter 41 increases,
Although the flow rate increases, the pressure difference between the pipes before and after the filter 41 also increases. For this reason, it is judged that the filter is clogged even though the required flow rate is obtained, and there is a waste of unnecessarily repairing or replacing the filter 41.

Next, when the pressure on the upstream side of the filter 41 decreases, the flow rate decreases, but the pressure difference between the pipes before and after the filter 41 also decreases. For this reason, even though the required flow rate has not been obtained, it is not determined that the filter is clogged, and the necessary repair or replacement of the filter 41 is not performed. The same thing happened when the pressure on the downstream side of the filter 41 decreased or increased.

Further, when it is assumed that the filter is clogged based on the set use time or the flow-through water amount,
As shown in FIG. 5, even when the clogging of the filter is detected by the increase in the pressure difference between the pipes before and after the filter 41, the flow rate immediately before the cleaning of the filter is made to be the necessary flow rate, so that repair or the like is required. The flow rate immediately after performing was extremely large due to the small flow resistance of the filter, which caused inconveniences such as damage to the filter and shortening the service life.

[0006]

According to the present invention, it is possible to assume that the above-described conventional filter clogging estimation method and detection method are clogged to such an extent that the required flow rate cannot be obtained. No, it is judged to be clogged even if the required flow rate is obtained, it is not judged to be a clogged even if the required flow rate is not obtained, or the flow rate immediately after repairing is too large. The purpose is to solve problems such as damage to the filter and shortening its life.

[0007]

According to the filter clogging detection device of the present invention, a flow rate controller and a flow rate control valve are connected in series to a pipe in which a filter is attached, and a flow rate control controller connected to the flow rate sensor is used. Adjust the opening of the flow rate control valve to keep the flow rate of the pipe at a preset flow rate, or when the flow control valve opening is fully opened or reaches a preset opening, or the flow rate is set to a preset flow rate. Since it is no longer possible to keep it in place, we have adopted a configuration to detect and notify the clogging of the filter. In this case, the flow rate control valve described above may be a control valve,
An electric ball valve is particularly preferable.

[0008]

The controller for flow rate controls the opening of the flow rate control valve so as to maintain the flow rate in the pipe at a preset flow rate based on the flow rate information received from the flow rate sensor. Due to this action, when the filter is not clogged, the flow resistance of the filter tends to be small and the flow rate tends to increase.Therefore, the opening of the flow control valve should be reduced and as the filter becomes more clogged, the flow control valve Increase the opening of.

When the opening of the flow rate control valve is fully opened or reaches a preset level, or when the flow rate cannot be maintained at the preset flow rate, the controller that receives this information from the flow rate control valve or the flow rate sensor It is detected that the filter is clogged, and sound or light is emitted or displayed by this detection signal to notify. Further, by using this detection signal, other devices can be operated in conjunction with each other, or an alarm can be issued at a distant place.

In this device, the flow rate is maintained at a preset flow rate regardless of the clogging of the filter.
An excessive flow rate will not damage the filter or the like to shorten the service life, and will not cause a problem that the required flow rate cannot be obtained. In addition, there is no need to report clogging even if the required flow rate has been obtained, or to not report clogging even if the required flow rate has not been obtained, and there is no waste or inconvenience for this.

[0011]

FIG. 1 is an external view showing an embodiment of a filter clogging detection device of the present invention, in which 1 is a filter, 2 is a pipe, 3 is a flow sensor, 4 is a flow control valve,
Reference numeral 5 is a flow rate controller, and 6 and 7 are electrical connections. A flow rate sensor 3 and a flow rate adjusting valve 4 are attached in series to a pipe 2 to which a filter 1 is attached. The flow rate adjusting valve 4 is an electric ball valve. The opening degree is adjusted, and the controller 5 adjusts the opening degree of the flow rate adjusting valve 4 based on the flow rate information received through the connection 6 from the flow rate sensor 3 to maintain the flow rate in the pipe 2 at a preset flow rate. To work. In addition, the controller 5 determines, for example, that the filter 1 is clogged when the flow rate control valve 4 is fully opened or reaches a preset flow rate, or when the flow rate cannot be maintained at the preset flow rate. It is configured to emit or display sound or light for notification.

In FIG. 1, the flow direction of the pipe 2 is from left to right as indicated by the arrow in the figure, and the arrangement order of the filter 1, the flow rate sensor 3 and the flow rate control valve 4 is as shown in FIG. Although the arrangement shown in 1 is standard, the flow sensor 3
May be arbitrarily changed as long as it is on the upstream side of the flow rate control valve 4. Further, the controller 5 may be integrated with the flow rate sensor 3 or the flow rate control valve 4.
In addition to the above example, the flow rate sensor 3 may be arranged downstream of the flow rate control valve 4.

In FIG. 2, a flow rate sensor 33 and a flow rate adjusting valve 34 are attached in series to a pipe 32 to which a filter 31 is attached, and the flow rate sensor 33 and a controller 35 are connected. The filter 31 and the flow rate sensor 33
The arrangement order of the flow rate adjusting valve 34 and the flow rate adjusting valve 34 is such that the fluid in the pipe flows from left to right in the arrangement shown in FIG. 3, but the flow rate sensor 33 is located upstream of the flow rate adjusting valve 34 (or valve 34). The sensor 33 may be provided on the downstream side of the above). Therefore,
As shown in FIG. 3, the flow sensor 3 is provided on the primary side of the filter 31.
3a may be provided.

FIG. 4 is a piping diagram of a filter clogging detection device showing another example. In FIG. 4, a flow sensor 23 is connected in series to a pipe 22 to which a filter 21 is attached, and the flow sensor is attached to the pipe. The clogging of the filter 21 is detected when the flow rate of 22 is lower than a preset flow rate, and the notification device 24 emits a sound or light or displays it to notify. The flow rate sensor 2
3 is located upstream of the filter 21 in the pipe 22,
It may be on the downstream side. Since this device detects the clogging of the filter by the flow rate, it can be judged that the filter is clogged even if the required flow rate has been obtained, or that it is not clogged even if the required flow rate has not been obtained. Absent.

Next, the operation will be described based on the embodiment shown in FIG. The flow rate sensor 3 detects the flow rate in the pipe 2, this flow rate information is sent to the flow rate control controller through the connection line 6, and the controller 5 passes through the connection line 7 and the opening degree of the flow rate control valve 4 based on this opening degree information. Adjust, and when the filter 1 is not clogged,
Since the flow resistance of the filter 1 is small, the opening of the flow control valve 4 is reduced to increase the flow resistance here, and as the clogging of the filter 1 increases, the flow resistance of the filter 1 gradually increases. The opening degree of the valve 4 is gradually increased to reduce the flow resistance here, and the flow rate in the pipe 2 is maintained at a preset flow rate.

Further, as described above, the controller 5 operates when the opening of the flow rate adjusting valve 4 is fully opened or reaches a preset opening, or when the flow rate cannot be maintained at the preset flow rate. It is detected that the filter 1 is clogged, and sound or light is emitted or displayed by this detection signal to notify.

The filter (filter) shown in each of the above examples is an example, and the present invention is not limited to this, and a filter for filtering a liquid or gas fluid may be provided in the middle of the pipe. Of course, it can be applied to all filters.

[0018]

As described above in detail, the filter clogging detection device according to the present invention reports clogging when the required flow rate has been obtained, or causes clogging when the required flow rate has not been obtained. Only when it is necessary to repair or replace the filter without notifying it,
And when it is necessary, the clogging is always notified, so that no waste or inconvenience occurs. Further, the flow rate is maintained at a preset flow rate regardless of the clogging state of the filter, and the filter or the like is not damaged by the excessive flow rate and the service life is not shortened.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view showing an embodiment of a filter clogging detection device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a piping diagram for explaining an example of a filter clogging detection device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a piping diagram for explaining an example of a filter clogging detection device of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a piping diagram showing another example of the filter clogging detection device of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a piping diagram showing an example of a conventional filter clogging detection device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Filter 2 Piping 3 Flow Sensor 4 Flow Control Valve 5 Flow Control Controller

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A flow rate sensor and a flow rate control valve are mounted in series on a pipe equipped with a filter, and the flow control controller connected to the flow rate sensor adjusts the opening of the flow rate control valve to control the flow rate of the pipe. The clogging of the filter is detected by keeping the flow rate set in advance and opening the flow rate control valve fully or reaching the preset opening, or because the flow rate cannot be kept at the preset flow rate. A filter clogging detection device characterized in that. 2. The filter clogging detection device according to claim 1, wherein the flow rate control valve is an electric ball valve.