JPS6249500A - Information transmission for fluid transportation equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention is applicable to equipment for transporting gases such as gas fuel and steam through pipes, equipment for transporting liquids such as water and petroleum through pipes, or equipment for transporting gases such as gas fuel and steam through pipes, or The present invention relates to information transmission methods in various fluid transport equipment, such as equipment that transports phase flows and solid-gas two-phase flows of powder and gas through pipes.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, in fluid transport equipment, information related to the fluid to be transported through pipes (for example, a valve device installed in the pipe, a power device for fluid transport such as a pump, a device for intermediate processing of the transported fluid, or finally Operation command information for remotely controlling various transportation fluid-related devices, such as devices that receive transportation fluid supply, and detectors that detect the flow rate, pressure, temperature, etc. of transportation fluid, and detection that detects leaks of transportation fluid. Detection information transmitted from transportation fluid-related detectors such as containers, transportation management information exchanged between multiple management facilities on pipeline transportation routes in plant facilities and public large-scale fluid transportation facilities, etc.) For transmission, wired transmission is generally used, regardless of whether the fluid transport equipment is small-scale equipment for home use or large-scale equipment for commercial or public use. Transmission is used to a limited extent for transmission between remote locations, and wireless transmission using light rays such as infrared rays is used to a limited extent for remote control devices used indoors (no literature available).

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

However, although wired transmission is widely adopted, it is necessary to install information transmission wiring (electrical wiring and optical fiber wiring) in parallel with the fluid transport pipeline facility, which increases the overall equipment cost and increases the facility cost. The total amount of construction work involved had increased significantly.

In particular, in recent years, advances in automatic control technology have resulted in the diversification of transmitted information and the need for complex wiring configurations.As a result, the proportion of equipment costs for information transmission wiring in the overall equipment cost, as well as the total amount of construction work have increased. The proportion of construction work for information transmission wiring has increased, and the information transmission wiring facilities have become a considerable burden.

Further, since maintenance of the transmission wiring is required separately from maintenance of the fluid transport pipe, maintenance of the equipment as a whole requires a large amount of cost and labor.

On the other hand, wireless transmission using radio waves can be carried out within plant facilities,
It cannot be used in places where the propagation of radio waves is obstructed by metal materials, such as inside steel-framed buildings, and because the transmission signal is often disrupted by interference radio waves, it is difficult to use emergency shutoff commands for valves or fluid leaks. There are problems in generalization and reliability, such as being unsuitable for transmitting emergency information such as detection information.
Wireless transmission using light beams is difficult to generalize because the transmission path is limited to a straight path.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a rational and novel method for transmitting information using fluid transport pipes, in order to solve the various problems mentioned above.

[Means for solving problems]

The characteristic means of the information transmission method according to the present invention is that information related to the transport fluid is transmitted by ultrasonic signals using the fluid transport pipe as a signal transmission path, and its functions and effects are as follows.

[For production]

In other words, the information to be sent is replaced with an ultrasonic signal by an ultrasonic transmitter and transmitted to the inside of the fluid transport pipe, while the ultrasonic signal that propagates inside the fluid transport pipe is transmitted onto the fluid transport system. The transmitted information is received by an ultrasonic receiver elsewhere.

〔Effect of the invention〕

The above characteristic means provides the following effects.

(a) Since the signal transmission path is within the fluid transport pipe, there is no need for transmission wiring that was conventionally installed in parallel with the fluid transport pipe.

Therefore, the overall equipment cost and overall construction amount can be significantly reduced, and the diversification of transmission information in recent years can be coped with without much increase in equipment cost and construction amount. Furthermore, since no maintenance is required for the transmission wiring, the cost and labor required for maintenance of the entire facility can be significantly reduced.

(2)) Ultrasonic signals are propagated along and inside the fluid transport pipeline, so wherever a series of fluid transport pipelines are installed, regardless of the external environment such as a building structure,
Moreover, even if the fluid transport path is a complicated tortuous path,
Information can be transmitted to any location, and it is extremely expensive compared to wireless methods using radio waves that cannot be transmitted within plant facilities or reinforced steel buildings, or wireless transmission where the transmission path is limited to straight paths. Has versatility.

(c) Fluid noise is generated in the fluid transport pipeline, but since ultrasonic signals are used, the fluid noise is unlikely to cause any disturbance to the signal transmission. Even if a fluid transport pipe is used, the fluid transport pipe acts as a protective pipe, and ultrasonic waves entering from outside the pipe are greatly attenuated, so the transmitted signal may be disturbed by external ultrasonic waves. It is more reliable than wireless transmission using radio waves, in which the transmission signal is greatly disturbed by interference radio waves from time to time, and information can be transmitted accurately and accurately.

2) By using the inside of the fluid transport pipe as a transmission route for ultrasonic signals, when problems such as damage due to blockage occur in the fluid transport pipe, the pipe trouble can be avoided from the accompanying transmission trouble. There are advantages in detecting, fluid transport line inspection and management.

As a whole, the present invention is a useful information transmission method that is extremely advantageous in terms of equipment costs and construction of fluid transport equipment, has high versatility, and has excellent transmission functions.

[First example] Next, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described.

Figure 1 shows the gas piping equipment drawn from the city gas supply main pipe (1) to a general household. A boiler (3), a stove (4), a gas fan heater (5), etc. are connected.

At the upstream end of the gas pipe (2), a main cock (6), an emergency shutoff solenoid valve (7), and a gas meter (8) are installed in that order from the upstream side.

A gas leak detector (1) is installed in each of the kitchen room (9) where a water heater (3) and stove (4) are installed, and the living room (10) where a gas fan heater (5) is installed.
1) is installed.

The gas leak detector (11) incorporates a mechanism that displays a gas leak with a buzzer, and a circuit that transmits an electric signal to shut off the solenoid valve (7) when a gas leak is detected.

On the other hand, each gas leak detector (
The ultrasonic transmitter (13) attached to each of the gas pipes (2) located near the gas leak detector (11)
The electric signal transmitted from 1) through the electric wiring (14) is converted into an ultrasonic signal and transmitted to the inside of the gas pipe (2).

Then, the ultrasonic signal propagating inside the gas pipe (2) is received by the ultrasonic receiver (15) attached to the gas pipe (2) near the solenoid valve (7), and at the time of reception, the An electric signal as a valve shutoff command is sent from the ultrasonic receiver (15) to the valve controller (12) via the electric wiring (16), thereby automatically shutting off the solenoid valve (7) when a gas leak is detected. It is switched to .

The gas leak detector (11) is equipped with a reset switch, and when the reset switch is turned on, an electrical signal different from that used when detecting a gas leak is transmitted from the gas leak detector (11). Along with this, an ultrasonic transmitter (
Different types of ultrasonic signals are transmitted from the solenoid valve (13), and different types of electric signals are transmitted from the ultrasonic receiver (15) to the valve controller (12), thereby
) is switched to the open state again.

In addition, the gas meter (8) installed upstream of the gas supply path than the ultrasonic receiver (15) has the effect of blocking the propagation of ultrasonic waves in the gas pipe (2), so that the ultrasonic waves emitted from the home side are Preventing ultrasonic signals from leaking to the city gas supply main (1) side and preventing other ultrasonic signals transmitted within the city gas supply main (1) from leaking to the home side,
To avoid inconvenience caused by such leakage.

[Second example] Next, a second embodiment will be described.

Figure 2 shows the water supply equipment, an outdoor water heater (21)
The hot water supply pipe (22) extended from the kitchen room (2
3) and the hot water tap (24) installed in the bathroom (2).
A remote controller (2) for the water heater (21) is connected to each of the showers (26) installed in the kitchen room (23) and the bathroom (25).
7) and (28) are installed.

A combustion controller (29) is incorporated in the water heater (21), and the following control is executed by the controller (29).

Opening the hot water tap (24) or opening the shower tap (24)
The gas burner (30) is automatically ignited based on water flow detection accompanying the opening operation of 6A), and each plug (24).

The gas burner (30) is automatically extinguished based on detection of water flow stoppage accompanying the closing operation of (26A).

The combustion load of the gas burner (30) is automatically adjusted so that the hot water temperature detected by the hot water temperature detection sensor (31) is maintained at the set temperature, and the hot water outlet temperature is maintained at the set temperature.

On the other hand, the remote controllers (27) and (28) include an operation switch (32) for turning on and off the power to the combustion controller (29), and a hot water temperature regulator (33) for changing the set temperature. , an operation indicator light (34) that lights up to indicate the atomization state of the combustion controller (29), and a combustion indicator light (35) that lights up to indicate that the gas burner (30) is in the combustion operating state. switch(
32), adjustment tool (33), and each indicator light (34).

The remote controller side controller (36) for (35)
) is included.

Control information such as power ON/OFF operation commands, set temperature change operation commands, and ON/OFF operation commands for indicator lights (34) and (35) are sent to the combustion controller (29) of the water heater (21) and each remote controller. A first ultrasonic transmitter/receiver (37) that transmits control information to and from the combustion controller (29) by means of electric signals, as well as to and from the controller (36).
) is attached to the end of the hot water supply pipe (22) on the water heater (21) side. The second and third ultrasonic transmitters transmit and transmit information.
Receiver (38).

(39), among them, the one for the kitchen room side remote controller (27) is near the hot water tap (24), and the one for the bathroom side remote controller (28)
The corresponding ones are placed near the shower faucet (26A) and upstream of the hot water supply system from the respective faucets (24) and (26A), and attached to the hot water supply pipe (22).

Control information sent from the combustion controller (29) is converted from an electrical signal into an ultrasonic signal by the first ultrasonic transmitter/receiver (37) and sent to the hot water supply pipe.

(22) and receives the ultrasonic signal propagating inside the hot water supply pipe (22) by the second and third ultrasonic transmitter/receivers (38) and (39), and the reception thereof. The ultrasonic signal is converted back into an electrical signal, and then the second
and a third ultrasonic transmitter/receiver (38).

(39) to each remote controller side controller (36)
.

(36).

On the other hand, the control information sent from each remote controller side controller (36) to the combustion controller (29) is transmitted in the opposite direction, and the second to third ultrasonic transmitter/receiver (38), ( Information transmission is performed in the same manner as described above, with the ultrasonic transmitter (39) functioning as a transmitter and the first ultrasonic transmitter/receiver (37) functioning as a receiver.

In addition, the transmission of power ON/OFF operation commands, transmission of set temperature change operation commands, and various indicator lights (34), (
35), different ultrasonic signals are used for transmitting the light on/off operation commands.

In addition, different ultrasonic signals are used to transmit the set temperature change operation command from the kitchen room remote controller (27) and from the bathroom remote controller (28). The set temperature change operation command from the side remote controller (2nd) is executed with priority in the combustion controller (29).

[Third example] Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described.

Figure 3 shows equipment for transporting oil and liquefied natural gas by pipeline, where a supply base (41) and a relay base (42) are connected by a main transport pipe (43), and the main transport pipe is connected at the relay base (42). Branch transport pipe (4) branched from pipe (43)
4), a transfer station (42) and multiple end consumption facilities (
45a), (45b)... are connected.

Each of the branch transport pipes (44) is provided with a valve (46) at the relay station (42).
), the distribution ratio is adjusted by operating the valves (46).

Each of the supply base (41), the relay base (42), and each end consumption facility (45a), (45b)... is equipped with a communication device (47) for exchanging transportation management information therebetween.
) will be provided.

To transmit management information between each communication device (47),
At each of the supply base (41), the intermediate base, and the base (42), an ultrasonic transmitter/receiver (48) connected to the communication device (47) is attached to the main transport pipe (43). In each of the consumption facilities (45a), (45b)..., an ultrasonic transmitter/receiver (
48) is attached to the branch transport pipe (44).

Then, the management information sent in the form of electrical signals from each ill transmitter (47) is converted into an ultrasonic signal by an ultrasonic transmitter/receiver (48) connected to the transmitter (47), and the information is sent to the main transport pipe (43). ) or inside the branch transport pipe (44),
On the other hand, a series of main and branch transport pipes (43).

The ultrasonic signal propagating inside (44) is received by another ultrasonic transmitter/receiver (48), and the receiving side communication device (47) connected from the ultrasonic transmitter/receiver (48) to it The received ultrasonic signal is converted back into an electrical signal and transmitted.

In other words, information exchange between the supply base (41) and the middle base (42), the relay base (42) and each end consumption facility (42),
Information exchange at 5a), (45b)..., furthermore, supply base (41) and each end consumption facility (45a), (45
b) In addition, information exchange between end consumption facilities (45a), (45b), etc. is carried out within a series of main and branch transport pipes (43), (44). This is done by using it as a transmission route.

In the valve (46) interposed part of each branch transport pipe (44), a pair of ultrasonic transmitters/receivers (49) that receive and pass transmission information to each other by electric signals are installed, one of which is connected to the valve (46). ) and the other downstream of the valve (46).
4), and the ultrasonic signal propagated inside the branch transport pipe (44) from either the upstream side or the downstream side of the valve (46) is transmitted to one ultrasonic transmitter/receiver (4).
9), converts the received ultrasonic signal into an electric signal, and transmits it to the other ultrasonic transmitter/receiver (49), and the received electric signal by the other ultrasonic transmitter/receiver (49). is converted into an ultrasonic signal again, and the ultrasonic signal is sent to the branch transport pipe (on the other side, upstream and downstream of the valve (46)).
44) Have it sent internally.

In other words, the valve (4
6), forming a bypass transmission path for the valve (46).
) is designed to ensure good information transmission regardless of whether it is opened or closed.

, Also, supply base (41) and end consumption facility (45a),
(45b)..., the pair of ultrasonic transmitter/receivers (49) forming the bypass transmission path functions as a relay amplifier for the transmitted ultrasonic signal.

[Application example]

Next, application examples of the present invention will be listed.

As fluid transport pipes whose insides are used as transmission paths for ultrasonic signals, hard pipes such as steel pipes, cast iron pipes, copper pipes, stainless steel pipes, concrete pipes, and ceramic pipes are effective, but rubber hoses, vinyl hoses, and plastic pipes are also effective. It can also be applied to soft pipes made of polymer compounds, such as pipes.

A device for transmitting an ultrasonic signal inside a conduit, and
The specific configuration of each device for receiving the ultrasonic signal propagating inside the pipe can be various configurations applying techniques used in the ultrasonic application field.

The present invention targets information related to transport fluid as transmission information from the viewpoint of using fluid transport pipes.
There is no particular limitation on the relevance.

The present invention can be applied to fluid transport equipment in various fields that handle various fluids, regardless of the purpose of transport or the contents of the equipment.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing gas piping equipment for explaining the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a diagram showing hot water supply equipment for explaining the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing pipeline transportation equipment for explaining a third embodiment of the present invention.

Claims (1)

[Claims] An information transmission method in fluid transport equipment that transmits information related to transport fluid using ultrasonic signals using a fluid transport pipe as a signal transmission path.