JPH0841811A - Snow-thawing equipment of road and running method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce cost, by wiring electric circuits so as to change over a circuit energizing only a larger partial heating unit and a circuit energizing both larger and smaller partial heating units connected together in series, to each other. CONSTITUTION:When snowfall is detected, an electric voltage is applied on the partial heating units A1, A2 having a larger area in the heating units 1, 2 in the state that switches SW1, SW2 are closed and a switch SW3 is opened, to thaw snow within a specified range of a road, for a fast thawing operation. When the temperature of the pavement body on the road reaches a specified figure, the switches SW1, SW2 are opened and the partial heating units A1, A2 with a larger area are connected to the partial heating units B1, B2 with a smaller area in series and then, a voltage is applied to do a steady thawing operation. When necessary, the partial heating unit C is actuated to thaw snow.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electric heating type snow melting facility for melting snow at a snow melting point such as a road surface and a method of operating the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Road snow melting equipment is used in slopes, shaded areas, sharp curves, brake zones, pedestrian crossings, etc. in order to secure traffic volume and safety. Conventional road snow melting equipment is operated by the following method. 1) Preheating operation: In order to cope with sudden snowfall, the pavement is preheated to a temperature as low as several tens of degrees Celsius with respect to the snow melting temperature, and the time for the temperature of the pavement to rise to the snow melting temperature is shortened. Method. 2) Priority / non-priority operation: An operation method in which a heat-generating unit is installed in each snow-melting section in which snow-melting points are divided into multiple sections, and each heat-generating unit is individually turned on / off to melt snow in each snow-melting section. In this case, the power consumption when operating all the snow melting sections at the same time is the number of heat generating units x the power consumption of each heat generating unit, so if the number of heat generating units is large, the power consumption, and therefore the power facility capacity, is very large. Become. Therefore, many snowmelt sections are divided into priority sections that preferentially melt snow and non-priority sections, and the non-priority sections are energized during the energization suspension time of the priority sections caused by energization control, reducing the power equipment capacity. The device to do is made. The following values are generally adopted for the heat generation density of the heat generating unit. Cold region aerial part (bridge part): 250 to 350 W / m ² Cold region road part: 200 to 300 W / m ² Other aerial part (bridge part): 200 to 300 W / m ² Other road part: 120 to 250 W / m ²

[0003]

However, the conventional methods for operating these road snow melting facilities have the following problems. That is, 1) Preheat operation: This is an operation method in which power consumption increases in cold regions. Since electricity is supplied in advance, useless power that is not directly related to snow melting is consumed. 2) Priority / non-priority operation: Power equipment capacity can be reduced, but sudden snowfall cannot be dealt with, and this method also requires preheating and consumes unnecessary power not directly related to snowmelt. It will be. The present invention reduces the running cost of road snow melting equipment,
The purpose is to improve the utilization of electric power equipment.

[0004]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a road snow melting facility and a method of operating the same that solve the above-mentioned problems. In the road snow melting facility, one or more heat generating units are buried in a road to melt snow. The heat generating unit includes a partial heat generating unit A having a large area and a partial heat generating unit B having a small area, and the heat generating unit includes a circuit X for energizing only the partial heat generating unit A, the partial heat generating unit A and the partial heat generating unit. A first aspect of the present invention is a road snow melting facility, characterized in that a circuit Y for connecting B and a circuit for energizing is controlled by a power supply device that is switchably wired.

In the first aspect of the invention, a rapid snow melting operation is performed in which the energizing circuit X is energized to heat the partial heating unit A, and then the energizing circuit Y is energized to heat the partial heating units A and B. A second invention is a method of operating a road snow melting facility, which is characterized by performing a steady snow melting operation.

In a road snow melting facility in which one or a plurality of heat generating units are buried in a road to melt snow, the heat generating units are a partial heat generating unit A and a partial heat generating unit B.
And the partial heat generating unit C, the partial heat generating unit C consumes power when only the partial heat generating unit A is energized, and when the partial heat generating unit A and the partial heat generating unit B are connected in series and the current is applied. A third aspect of the present invention is a road snow melting facility, which is configured to perform heat generation operation control with power consumption that is a difference from power consumption.

Further, in the third aspect of the invention, after the rapid snow melting operation for heating the partial heat generating unit A, the steady operation for connecting the partial heat generating units A and B in series to generate heat and also causing the partial heat generating unit C to generate heat is also performed. A method for operating a road snow melting facility, which is characterized by switching, is a fourth invention.

Further, in the first invention or the third invention,
A fifth aspect of the present invention is a road snow melting facility, in which a snow accumulation sensor is installed below the surface of a road in which the partial heat generating unit A is buried.

[0009]

As described above, the heat generating unit is divided into the partial heat generating unit A and the partial heat generating unit B, and the power source voltage is applied only to the partial heat generating unit A to generate heat, and the partial heat generating unit A and the partial heat generating unit. The case where B is connected in series and a power supply voltage is applied will be compared. In the heat generating unit, generally, the heat generating wires are wired with a uniform wiring density (the length of the heat generating wires per unit area), so that the electric resistances of the partial heat generating unit A and the partial heat generating unit B are proportional to their respective areas. Therefore, if the resistance of the heat generating unit is R and the resistances of the partial heat generating unit A and the partial heat generating unit B are R _A and R _B , respectively, R _A = αR, R _B = (1−α) R
Becomes Note that α is the area ratio of the partial heat generating unit A in the heat generating unit (area S). Then, when the power supply voltage V is applied only to the partial heating unit A, the heat generation density W _A of the partial heating unit _A is W _A = V ² / ( _RA αS) = V ² / (α ² RS) ( 1) On the other hand, when the partial heating unit A and the partial heating unit B are connected in series and a power supply voltage is applied, the heating density W
_{A + B} becomes ^{_{W A + B = V 2 /}} (R A + R B) S = V 2 / (RS) ··· (2).

Therefore, the heat generation density W _A when the rapid snow melting operation is performed by applying the power supply voltage V only to the partial heat generating unit _A
When the partial heat generating unit A and the partial heat generating unit B are connected in series and the heat generation density W _{A + B} when the power supply voltage is applied to perform the steady snow melting operation is compared, the heat generation density W when performing the quick snow melting operation is compared. _A is 1 / α ² times the heat generation density W _{A + B} when the steady snow melting operation is performed. For example, if α is 0.6, it will be 2.78 times, and if α is 0.9, it will be 1.23 times. In this way, the heat generation density of only the partial heat generating unit A can be set to a magnitude necessary for rapid snow melting, so that the road surface temperature can be raised quickly and preheating operation becomes unnecessary. It should be noted that the heat generation density W _{A + B} during the steady snow melting operation is the size required to obtain the snow melting effect (150 to 250 W
/ M ² ), and considering that the heat generation density W _A of the heat generating unit A during the rapid snow melting operation is set to be equal to or less than the value that the covering insulator of the heat generating wire withstands, the area of the heat generating unit A is It is more efficient if the area is half or more (α ≧ 0.5).

Further, after the partial heating unit A is arranged in the priority section and the safe road surface is secured by the rapid snow melting operation, the entire heating unit having a larger area (the partial heating unit A + the partial heating unit B) is energized to be steady. Shift to snow melting operation. In this case, since the safe road surface is partially secured by the rapid snow melting operation, the snow is in a semi-melted state due to heat diffusion from the part, and the snowfall is destroyed by the passage of the vehicle. Therefore, the heat generation density in the steady snow melting operation can be reduced. Furthermore, like the third and fourth inventions,
When the steady snow melting operation is performed by adding the heat generating unit C, the power capacity of the power feeding equipment (corresponding to the power consumption during the rapid snow melting operation) is fully used during the steady snow melting operation, and the steady snow melting operation is efficiently performed over a large area. It can be carried out.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings. (Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is an explanatory view of a road surface of two lanes on one side on which an embodiment of a road snow melting facility according to the present invention is constructed, and FIG. 2 is an electric connection circuit diagram thereof. The present embodiment is provided in one lane before the intersection, the power supply voltage is 200 V, the heat generation density during steady snow-melting operation is 200 W / m ² , and the structure is as follows. That is, 1) Priority section A is installed in a pedestrian crosswalk and in the brake zone of one lane on the opposite lane side. This section A is for ensuring the safety of the pedestrian crosswalk and the brake zone in front of it immediately at the start of snowfall. Section A
75% of the area of each of the heat generating units 1 and 2 (α =
The partial heat generating units A1 and A2 having an area of 0.75) melt snow. Then, at the time of rapid snow melting operation by applying a power supply voltage 200V, it can be operated at a heat generation density of 356W / m ² (formula (1) and (2) from 200 / 0.75 ^2). 2) The semi-priority section B is provided over the width of two lanes, the sidewalk side and the opposite lane side. Heat generating units 1 and 2 during steady snow melting operation
The partial heat generating units B1 and B2 having an area of 25% of the respective areas melt the snow. Partial heating unit B1
And the applied voltage to B2 is 50V (200 × 0.25)
And the heat generation density is 200 W / m ² . 3) The semi-priority section C is provided in one lane. In this section, stationary snow melting is performed by the heat generating unit C, and the power consumption thereof is the power consumption of rapid snow melting when the power supply voltage is applied only to the partial heat generating units A1 and A2 and the partial heat generating unit A1.
And B1, and the partial heat generating units A2 and B2 are connected in series so as to correspond to the difference between the power consumption of the steady snowmelt when the power supply voltage is applied. In other words, the area of the heat generating unit C has an applied voltage of 200 V and a heat generation density of 20.
The power consumption during steady snow-melting operation is set to 0 W / m ^{2 so} as to be equal to the power consumption during rapid snow-melting operation. That is, the area is 33% of the heat generating units 1 and 2 ((35
6 * 75-200 * 100) / 200). In addition,
Table 1 shows the configuration of this example.

[0013]

[Table 1] Note) Area ratio: Area of priority section A + semi-priority section B is 10
0%

The operation of this road snow melting facility is as follows. 1) When the start of snowfall is detected, the partial heating unit A
A power source voltage of 200 V is applied to A1 and A2 to generate a heat generation density of 35
The rapid snow melting operation is started for only Section A at 0 W / m ² . Therefore, in FIG. 2, the switches SW1 and SW
Close 2 and open SW3. However, if the pavement temperature is higher than the temperature at which the snow melting operation is switched to the steady snow melting operation, the steady snow melting operation is performed from the beginning. 2) When the pavement body temperature reaches a temperature (normally set to -3 to + 5 ° C) at which the pavement body is switched to the steady snowmelt operation after performing the rapid snowmelt operation, the switches SW1 and S of the heat generating units 1 and 2
W2 is opened, the switch SW3 of the heat generating unit C is closed, and a power supply voltage of 200 V is applied to the heat generating units 1, 2, and C to switch to the steady snow melting operation. Even when the rapid snow melting operation exceeds the limit time (usually set to 1 to 5 hours), the steady snow melting operation is switched to in consideration of the safety of the heater. In this way, by adding the heat generating unit C, the supply power capacity can be fully utilized and the area of the steady snow melting operation can be expanded. The heat generating unit C may be composed of a plurality of units.

(Embodiment 2) FIG. 3 is an explanatory view of a road surface on which another embodiment of the road snow melting equipment according to the present invention is constructed.
FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram of the electrical connection. Like this embodiment, this embodiment is installed in a lane in front of an intersection and has a power supply voltage of 200 V and a heat generation density of 200 W during steady snow melting operation.
/ M ² . Its structure is as follows. 1) Similar to the above-mentioned embodiment, the priority section A is installed in the pedestrian crosswalk and the two-lane brake zone. The configuration and operating conditions of the heat generating unit are as shown in section A in the above embodiment. That is, the section A is melted by the partial heat generating units A1 and A2 having an area of 75% (α = 0.75) of the area of each of the heat generating units 1 and 2. 2) A semi-priority section B is provided adjacent to the priority section A over the width of two lanes. The structure and operating conditions of the heat generating unit are the same as those in Section B of the above-mentioned embodiment. That is, 25% of the area of each of the heat generating units 1 and 2 during the steady snow melting operation.
The partial heat generating units B1 and B2 having the area of are used to melt snow. 3) The semi-priority section C is provided adjacent to the semi-priority section B. The configuration and operating conditions of the heat generating unit are the same as those in section C of the above-mentioned embodiment. That is, the steady heat melting is performed in the heat generating unit C, and the power consumption thereof is the power consumption of the rapid snow melting when the power supply voltage is applied only to the partial heat generating units A1 and A2, The units A2 and B2 are connected in series so as to correspond to the difference from the power consumption of steady snowmelt when a power supply voltage is applied. If the non-priority section D is provided on the roadside strip, the snow melting facility of the present invention can be used more effectively. The heat generating unit D in this section is energized at the time of OFF by temperature control during the steady snow melting operation. Therefore, it is not necessary to include the heat generating unit D in the capacity of the power supply equipment. Here, the power consumption of the heat generating unit D is set to 25% of the power supply capacity with the applied voltage of 200V. Then, the area is 3
3% ((75 + 25 + 33) × 0.25)). The configuration of this embodiment is shown in Table 2.

[0016]

[Table 2] Note) Area ratio: Area of priority section A + semi-priority section B) is 1
00%.

The operation of this road snow melting facility is as follows. 1) When the start of snowfall is detected, the partial heating unit A
A power source voltage of 200 V is applied to A1 and A2 to generate a heat generation density of 35
The rapid snow melting operation is started only in section A at 0 W / m ² . Therefore, in FIG. 4, the switches SW1 and SW2 of the heat generating units 1 and 2 are closed, and the switch SW3 of the heat generating unit C is opened. Further, the switches SW41 to 43 which are temperature control switches for the heat generating units 1, 2, and C, and which interlock the heat generating unit D and the heat generating units 1, 2, and C, are the heat generating unit 1,
2. Close the C side and open the heat generating unit D side. However, if the pavement temperature is higher than the temperature at which the snow melting operation is switched to the steady snow melting operation, the steady snow melting operation is performed from the beginning. 2) Perform a rapid snow melting operation, and when the pavement temperature reaches a temperature (normally set to -3 to + 5 ° C) for switching to the steady snow melting operation, open the switches SW1 and SW2, and close SW3. Further, the switches SW41 to 43 close the heat generating units 1, 2, and 3 and open the heat generating unit D side. In this way, the power supply voltage 200 is applied to the heating units 1, 2, and C.
Apply V to switch to steady snow melting operation. In addition, rapid snow melting operation is the limit time (usually set to 1 to 5 hours)
Even if the temperature exceeds the limit, the operation is switched to the steady snow melting operation in consideration of the safety of the heater. 3) ON-OFF by temperature control during steady snowmelt operation is
The heating units 1, 2, and C are staggered in time, and when at least one of the heating units 1, 2, and C is OFF, the heating unit D is energized, and the heating unit D is energized. More opportunities to live. In other words, the heat generating units 1, 2, C of the switches SW41 to 43
Open either side and close the heat generating unit D side.

In the above embodiment, the area ratio α of the partial heat generating unit that performs the rapid snow melting operation is set to 0.75, but α is not limited to this value. The heat generation density during steady snow-melting operation is set to a value necessary for obtaining the snow-melting effect (150 to 250 W / m ² ), and the heat generation density during rapid snow-melting operation of the partial heat generating unit is set to the insulation of the heating wire ( Considering that it is smaller than the value (about 400 to 500 W / m ² ) that EP rubber, cross-linked polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, etc. can withstand, it is desirable that α> 0.6.

In the above embodiment, a snow sensor capable of detecting a minute snowfall of 1 cm or less is installed under the surface of the road in which the partial heat generating unit A is embedded, and the snow sensor detects the snowfall to rapidly When the snowmelt operation is started and the snowfall sensor no longer detects snowfall, the steady snowmelt operation may be started to automatically switch from the rapid snowmelt operation to the steady snowmelt operation. When the snow cover sensor is installed and used under the road surface as described above, the snow cover is surely detected, so that the operation of the road snow melting facility can be appropriately determined. As this snowfall sensor, for example, an infrared ray emitting / receiving device is built in a structure that can withstand running of a vehicle, and if snowfall is present, a sensor that detects snowfall by detecting infrared rays reflected from the snow is used.

[0020]

As described above, according to the present invention, in a road snow melting facility in which one or a plurality of heat generating units in which heat generating wires are wired are buried under a road surface and the heat generating wires are supplied with power to melt snow. The heating unit is divided into a partial heating unit having a large area (referred to as a partial heating unit A) and a partial heating unit having a small area (referred to as a partial heating unit B), and the power supply voltage is applied only to the partial heating unit A. Since it is equipped with a power supply facility capable of switching between the operation of the partial heating unit A and the application of the power source voltage by connecting the partial heating unit B in series, the heat generation density of only the partial heating unit A can be rapidly melted. Since it can be made the required size, the road surface temperature can be raised quickly,
There is an excellent effect that the preheating operation becomes unnecessary and the running cost is reduced. Further, when the power supply voltage is applied, the power consumption when the power supply voltage is applied only to the partial heat generating unit A and the power consumption when the power supply voltage is applied by connecting the partial heat generating unit A and the partial heat generating unit B in series. A power supply facility that includes a heat generating unit C that consumes power of a difference in power and that applies a power supply voltage to the heat generating unit C when the power generating voltage is applied by connecting the partial heat generating unit A and the partial heat generating unit B in series. Since it is equipped with the above, there is also an effect that the snow melting area can be expanded by effectively utilizing the power supply equipment capacity. In addition, the heat generating unit D is provided, and only while the steady snow melting operation is stopped by the temperature adjustment, the heat generating unit D is provided.
If the power supply equipment for applying the power supply voltage is provided in the power supply equipment, the utilization efficiency of the power supply equipment capacity is improved, and the snow melting area can be further expanded.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view of a road surface on which an embodiment of a road snow melting facility according to the present invention is constructed.

FIG. 2 is an electrical connection circuit diagram of the above embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view of a road surface on which another embodiment of the road snow melting facility according to the present invention is constructed.

FIG. 4 is an electrical connection circuit diagram of the above embodiment.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A road snow melting facility in which one or a plurality of heat generating units are buried in a road to melt snow, wherein the heat generating units include a partial heat generating unit A having a large area and a partial heat generating unit B having a small area. The heat generating unit is controlled by a power supply device in which a circuit X that energizes only the partial heat generating unit A and a circuit Y that electrically connects the partial heat generating unit A and the partial heat generating unit B in series are switchably wired. A road snow melting facility characterized by being configured as described above. 2. The rapid snow-melting operation according to claim 1, wherein the energizing circuit X is energized to heat the partial heating unit A, and then the energizing circuit Y is energized to perform the partial heating unit A.
A method for operating a road snow melting facility, characterized in that a constant snow melting operation is performed by generating heat in B and B. 3. In a road snow melting facility in which one or a plurality of heat generating units are buried in a road to melt snow, the heat generating units include a partial heat generating unit A and a partial heat generating unit B.
Partial heat generating unit C
Controls the heat generation operation by the power consumption which is the difference between the power consumption when only the partial heating unit A is energized and the power consumption when the partial heating unit A and the partial heating unit B are connected in series and energized. A road snow melting facility characterized by being configured in. 4. The partial heat generating unit A according to claim 3.
A method for operating a road snow melting facility, characterized in that, following the rapid snow melting operation for generating heat, the partial heating units A and B are connected in series to generate heat and the partial heating unit C is also switched to steady operation for generating heat. 5. The snow accumulation sensor is installed below the surface of the road in which the partial heat generating unit A is buried.
Or the road snow melting facility described in 3.