KR101236843B1 - Power over network control system - Google Patents

Abstract

A network power system is disclosed. A network power system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a master node installed in a safe area without explosion; And a plurality of slave nodes installed in a potentially hazardous area, and a communication network of the master node and the plurality of slave nodes is connected in a ring topology and uses a power over network (PoN) method. Power of the plurality of slave nodes may be supplied from the master node.

Description

Network over power control system

The present invention relates to a network power control system, and more particularly to a network power control system that can be used in ships or factories that are in danger of explosion.

In ships or plants handling oil or gas, electronic control devices that can cause an explosion due to sparks, etc. cannot be used directly, and a method of preventing an explosion by the electronic control device should be used. As a method for preventing an explosion caused by an electronic controller, there are a method using a special case and a method of removing an explosion causing factor of the electronic controller.

The special case is a method in which the electronic controller is placed in a special case so as not to be exposed to the outside. The method using a special case has a problem in that the cost for installing a special case that guarantees reliability in electronic control devices installed in a potentially explosive work space increases.

The method of removing the explosion causing factor of the electronic control apparatus is a method of preventing sparks and the like from occurring in the electronic control apparatus which causes the explosion. There is a distributed control method using a foundation fieldbus as a way to eliminate the explosion causing factors of the electronic control device. The distributed control method using the foundation fieldbus uses a low-speed physical layer, such as RS-485, so that the communication speed is slow, and the amount of data that can be transmitted within a certain period of time can be processed within a network segment. Difficult to use on system In addition, the distributed control method using the foundation fieldbus has to apply a separate power source for driving each distributed node, and there is a difficulty in installing a separate cable and a power supply device.

Therefore, in ships or plants that handle oil or gas, sensors and actuators are connected directly in a 1: 1 manner without installing an electronic control device in a potentially explosive place. The direct connection of sensors and actuators 1: 1 requires a large number of cables and cable trays, which create difficulties in the manufacture and maintenance of ships or plants.

One embodiment of the present invention is to provide a network power control system that can be used in ships or plants that are in danger of explosion.

The network power control system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a master node installed in a non-explosive safety zone, and a plurality of slave nodes installed in a potentially dangerous zone, wherein the master node and the plurality of slave nodes are provided. The communication networks of the slave nodes are connected in a ring topology and use a power over network (PoN) scheme, and power of the plurality of slave nodes is supplied from the master node.

The master node may include a signal processor configured to generate a control signal frame including a plurality of control signals for controlling the plurality of slave nodes, and a first communication unit configured to receive a control signal frame processed by any one of the plurality of slave nodes. A port, a second communication port for transmitting the generated control signal frame to any one of the plurality of slave nodes, and a power port for transmitting power to at least one of the plurality of slave nodes.

The master node may further include a setting unit configured to establish a power connection between the master node and the plurality of slave nodes.

The power delivered to the first communication port, the second communication port, and the power port may be power below a reference value that may cause an explosion.

The control signal frame includes real time communication data, and the real time communication data includes a real time header including time information for synchronization between the master node and the plurality of slave nodes, from the plurality of slave nodes to the master node. Input data including the transmitted data, output data including the data transferred from the master node to the plurality of slave nodes, data about the connection state of the first communication port, the second communication port and the power port It may include a real-time taylor including the state data included, and whether the plurality of slave nodes for the output data is received.

The control signal frame includes non-real time communication data, and the non-real time communication data includes a non-real time header including time information for synchronization between the master node and the plurality of slave nodes, the master node and the plurality of slaves. Command and response data including command data of the master node for establishing a connection state of a node and response data of the plurality of slave nodes with respect to the command data, and whether the plurality of slave nodes with respect to the command data are received. It may include a non-real-time Taylor is included.

Each of the plurality of slave nodes may include a first communication port configured to receive a control signal frame generated by the master node, a signal processor configured to process data including data to be transmitted to the master node in the control signal frame, and the processed control signal frame. It may include a second communication port for transmitting to the master node or another slave node, and a power port receiving power from the master node.

Each of the plurality of slave nodes may further include a power selector configured to select power used as driving power among powers transmitted through the first communication port, the second communication port, and the power port.

The communication network of the master node and the plurality of slave nodes may be connected to a non-connected state in which control signal frames are not transmitted or received, an operating state in which the control signal frames are transmitted or received, a setting state for setting the communication network, and the communication network is not maintained. It can be set to either of the fault conditions.

The transition from the disconnected state to the operational state, the transition from the operational state to the fault state, and the transition from the setup state to the fault state can be automatically switched in accordance with configuration information recorded in the memory of the master node. have.

Network power control system according to an embodiment of the present invention can perform a high-speed control in a vessel or plant that is in danger of explosion.

In addition, a large number of cables and cable trays are not required, making it easy to manufacture and maintain a ship or plant.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a network power control system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a block diagram illustrating a master node according to an embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a block diagram illustrating a control signal frame according to an embodiment of the present invention.
4 is a block diagram illustrating a network state of a network power control system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
5 is a block diagram illustrating a slave node according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings so that those skilled in the art may easily implement the present invention. The present invention may be embodied in many different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein.

In addition, in the various embodiments, components having the same configuration are represented by the same reference symbols in the first embodiment. In the other embodiments, only components different from those in the first embodiment will be described .

In order to clearly illustrate the present invention, parts not related to the description are omitted, and the same or similar components are denoted by the same reference numerals throughout the specification.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a network power control system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, a network power control system includes at least one master node and at least one slave node.

Here, it is assumed that the network power control system includes two master nodes 11 and 12 and k slave nodes 20-1, 20-2, ..., 20-n.

The first master node 11 and the second master node 12 are installed in a safe area A that is not likely to be exploded by sparks or the like, and k slave nodes 20-1, 20-2, ..., 20 -k) may be installed in the danger area B which may be exploded by a spark or the like. The first master node 11 and the second master node 12 may be connected to a processing device capable of controlling the network power control system. The k slave nodes 20-1, 20-2,..., 20-k may be connected to various devices used in a ship or a plant.

The communication networks of the first master node 11, the second master node 12 and the k slave nodes 20-1, 20-2, ..., 20-k are connected in a ring topology. Can be. For example, the first master node 11 is connected to the second master node 12, the second master node 12 is connected to the first slave node 20-1, and the first slave node 20. -1) is connected to the second slave node 20-2, in this way up to the k-th slave node 20-k, and the k-th slave node 20-k is the first master node 11; Can be connected to.

Meanwhile, power of k slave nodes 20-1, 20-2,..., 20-k is supplied from the first master node 11 and / or the second master node 12. The first master node 11 and the second master node 12 supply power only to slave nodes that are not directly connected to a communication network among k slave nodes 20-1, 20-2, ..., 20-k. Can supply For example, the second slave node 20-2, which is not directly connected to the first master node 11 and the second master node 12 by a communication network, is connected to a power port of the second master node 12. Only power can be delivered.

The communication network between the first master node 11, the second master node 12, and k slave nodes 20-1, 20-2, ..., 20-k is a power over network (PoN) method and a high speed. Real-time network method can be used.

PoN method is a network method that can send data and power at the same time.

(1) It supplies power to network node including power line in communication cable without separate power cable. (2) If the first master node 11, the second master node 12 and k slave nodes 20-1, 20-2, ..., 20-k are connected according to the ring topology, the network segment The power supplied to the segment is basically two. (3) Additional power lines can be added to increase power supply to separate network segments.

Power over Ethernet (PoE) using Ethernet as a PoN method may be used. The PoE method allows data and power to be sent simultaneously through a single CAT5 Ethernet cable.

The high speed real-time network method is a network method capable of real-time data transmission at the data link layer and has the following characteristics.

(1) As the physical layer of the network, Ethernet, RS-485, RS-422, fiber-optic, etc. may be used. (2) It is possible to connect between nodes according to the data chain. (3) The reception time can be estimated when transmitting data. (4) It is possible to check whether the received frame is normally received. (5) All nodes connected to the network can share the same time. (6) A plurality of master nodes may be used, and when a problem occurs in an activated master node, another waiting master node may be activated to correspond to a failure state of the master node.

The high-speed real-time network method that satisfies these characteristics consumes less power because no separate processor is required for communication. EtherCAT (Ethernet for Control Automation Technology) technology can be used as a high speed real-time network. EtherCAT is an automated application that requires short data update times and low communication jitter.

The first master node 11 and the second master node 12 receive the control signals S1 to Sn from the signal input device 30. The signal input device 30 refers to an apparatus for generating a control signal for controlling the master nodes 11 and 12 and the slave nodes 20-1, 20-2, ..., 20-k. The signal input device 30 includes a manager terminal for managing the network power control system or a sensor for measuring an operating state of the network power control system.

At least one of the first master node 11 and the second master node 12 transmits the control signals S1 to Sn transmitted from the signal input device 30 in an activated state to the other master node and k slaves. Generate a control signal frame for delivery to nodes 20-1, 20-2, ..., 20-k.

Hereinafter, for convenience of understanding and explanation of the present invention, a master node that generates a control signal frame among the plurality of master nodes 11 and 12 is called a communication master. For example, the first master node 11 may be set as a communication master, and the second master node 12 may be set as a master node to assist the communication master. The control signal frame generated by the first master node 11, which is the communication master, is transmitted to the first slave node 20-1 via the second master node 11, and the first slave node 20-1 starts with the first slave node 20-1. It may be sequentially delivered up to k slave nodes 20-k. In this case, the second master node 11 may include an additional control signal in the control signal frame according to the environment to which the present invention is applied. Each slave node 20-1, 20-2, ..., 20-k selectively outputs a control signal corresponding to itself in a control signal frame, and adds additional data such as a response signal or a status signal to the control signal frame. Can be included in At this time, each slave node (20-1, 20-2, ..., 20-k) is driven using the power delivered according to the PoN method.

2 is a block diagram illustrating a master node according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, the master node 100 includes a signal connection unit 110, a signal processing unit 120, a memory 130, a power supply unit 140, a first communication port 151, and a second communication port 152. And a power port 155. The master node 100 may be any one of a plurality of master nodes included in the network power control system. The master node 100 may be a master node functioning as a communication master among a plurality of master nodes included in the network power control system.

The signal connection unit 110 transmits a plurality of control signals S1 to Sn to the signal processing unit 220, which are input as electrical signals from a processing device installed in the safe area A without an explosion possibility. The signal connection unit 110 may maintain the plurality of control signals S1 to Sn during a communication period. The plurality of control signals S1 to Sn may be signals of a manager terminal or a measurement sensor connected to the master node 100. The types of control signals S1 to Sn include analog signals, digital contact signals, and digital count signals. The analog signal may be an analog voltage value and / or a current value received at the master node or the slave node, and the signal connection unit 110 maintains the analog signal during the communication period with the other master node or the slave node. The digital contact signal may be an on / off signal received from another master node or slave node, and the signal connection unit 110 receives the digital contact signal during a communication period with the other master node or slave node. Keep it. The digital count signal is a pulse received during a communication period with a master node or a slave node, and the signal connection unit 110 counts a pulse received during the communication period to uniform a frequency during a communication period with another master node or a slave node. Output pulses.

The signal processor 120 generates a control signal frame including a plurality of control signals S1 to Sn according to a value set by the setting unit 160. The signal processing unit 120 is connected to the first communication port 151 and the second communication port 152, and the other master node or slave node through the first communication port 151 and the second communication port 152. Is connected to. The first communication port 151 may be a communication port for receiving a control signal frame from another master node or a slave node, and the signal processor 120 receives the control signal frame through the first communication port 151. can do. The second communication port 152 may be a communication port for transmitting a control signal frame to another master node or a slave node, and the signal processor 120 may transmit the control signal frame through the second communication port 152. Can be. That is, the first communication port 151 is a communication port for receiving a control signal frame processed by any one of the plurality of master nodes and the plurality of slave nodes, the second communication port 152 is a plurality of master nodes and a plurality of Communication port for transmitting the control signal frame generated in any one of the slave nodes.

The setting unit 160 sets the network state of the network power control system, the mapping between the master node signal and the slave node signal, and the power connection of the slave node. The network state of the network power control system sets any one of a disconnected state, an operating state, a setting state, and a fault state. The mapping between the master node signal and the slave node signal sets a slave node ID corresponding to the master node signal, a communication port connection / disconnection state of each master node and each slave node, and the like. The power connection of the slave node is set such that the power supplied to the slave node is at least one of the first communication port, the second communication port, and the power port of any one of the plurality of master nodes.

The setting unit 160 may be included in a processing device such as a PC, a notebook computer, a PDA, a smart phone, and the like. For example, the setting unit 160 may be configured as software to be directly driven by hardware of a PC, a notebook computer, a PDA, a smart phone, or the like, or may be driven in conjunction with separate software. Here, although the setting unit 160 is shown as being included in a separate processing apparatus, the setting unit 160 may be included in the master node 100 according to an environment to which the present invention is applied.

The memory 130 stores setting information such as a driving state of the network power control system configured by the setting unit 160, mapping between a master node signal and a slave node signal, power connection of a slave node, and the like. When power is first applied to the master node 100, the mast node 100 establishes a communication master by checking setting information stored in the memory 130. For example, when two master nodes are connected to a network, a master node having a slave node connected to a first communication port may be a communication master. The communication master is a master node that controls communication of the network power control system among the plurality of master nodes.

The power supply unit 140 receives power from an external power supply device 170 to supply driving power to the master node 100, and the first communication port 151, the second communication port 152, and the power port 155. Power to a plurality of slave nodes connected to at least one of That is, the slave node receives power through at least one of the first communication port 151, the second communication port 152, and the power port 155 of the master node 100. The power port 155 is a port that delivers power only to the slave node. The power port 155 of the master node 100 may be connected to a power port provided in the slave node to transmit only power. According to the number of slave nodes included in the network power control system, one master node 100 may be provided with a plurality of power ports. Power transmitted through the first communication port 151, the second communication port 152, and the power port 155 is a power below a reference value such as a voltage or a current that may cause an explosion.

The setting unit 160 may monitor a voltage and a current of power transmitted through the first communication port 151, the second communication port 152, and the power port 155. That is, the setting unit 160 may monitor the amount of power supplied to each of the plurality of slave nodes. The setting unit 160 may set the power of the slave node such that the power delivered to each slave node is at least one of the first communication port 151, the second communication port 152, and the power port 155.

3 is a block diagram illustrating a control signal frame according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, the control signal frame includes communication overhead and communication data. The communication overhead includes a frame gap to prevent interference between control signal frames, a preamble for synchronization of control signal frames, a header and a Taylor for identification and error check of the control signal frame.

The communication data includes any one of real time communication data and non-real time communication data for real time communication.

Real time communication data includes real time headers, input data, output data, status data and real time taylor. The real time header includes time information of the communication master for synchronization between the master node and the plurality of slave nodes. The input data includes data transferred from the plurality of slave nodes to the master node. The output data includes data transferred from the master node to the plurality of slave nodes. The state data includes data about a connection state of a first communication port and a second communication port, a power input / output state, and a connection state of a power port. The real-time taylor includes whether or not a plurality of slave nodes are received with respect to output data of the master node. Real-time communication data may be periodically transmitted and received between the master node and the plurality of slave nodes.

The master node and the slave node other than the communication master read information to be received from the real time communication data received through the first communication port, and include the information to be transmitted in the real time communication data. The master node and the slave node other than the communication master transmit the processed real time communication data through the second communication port.

Non-real-time communication data includes non-real-time headers, command and response data, and non-real-time taylor. The non-real time communication data may be transmitted aperiodically in the communication master to establish a connection state between the master node and the plurality of slave nodes. The non-real-time header includes time information of a master node which is a communication master. The command and response data include command data of the master node and response data of the plurality of slave nodes for establishing a connection state between the master node and the plurality of slave nodes. The non-real-time Taylor includes whether a plurality of slave nodes are received with respect to command data of the master node.

4 is a block diagram illustrating a network state of a network power control system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4, the network state of the network power control system may be set to any one of a disconnected state, an operating state, a setting state, and a fault state. The non-connected state means a state in which a control signal frame is not transmitted or received through a network. The operation state refers to a state of transmitting and receiving a control signal frame through a network. The setting state means a state of setting a network of a master node and a slave node according to the setting of the communication master. The fault condition means a state in which the network between the master node and the slave node cannot be maintained. In the non-connected state, the operating state and the set state, the output values of the master node and the slave node may be set to the recently set fault safety value. In the disconnected state, the master node monitors the network status.

The network state of the network power control system can be automatically switched or manually switched by the user according to the setting information recorded in the memory of the master node. Automatic switching is the switching of the network state according to the setting information recorded in the memory without interference of the setting unit for a predetermined time after the power is supplied to the communication master. Automatic switching can be executed when the network information is the same as the setting information recorded in the memory.

The transition from the disconnected state to the operating state (a), the transition from the operating state to the fault state (c), and the transition from the set state to the fault state (f) may be automatically switched. The transition from the disconnected state to the set state (b), the transition from the operating state to the set state (d), the transition from the set state to the operating state (e), and the transition from the fault state to the set state (g) are manual. Can be switched.

The main function of the communication master is to transmit control signal frames to master nodes and slave nodes connected to the network. The transmission period of the control signal frame is determined according to the setting of the setting unit, and if the transmission period of the control signal frame cannot be set according to the setting of the setting unit, the network state may be switched to a fault state.

All master nodes and slave nodes connected to the network and synchronized may perform an update according to data included in a control signal frame at an update time set in a communication period. If the update cannot be performed at the set update time, the network state may be switched to a fault state.

If the real time communication data transmission fails, retransmission of the real time communication data is performed according to the set number of retransmissions. If the real-time communication data is not normally transmitted even after retransmission is performed according to the set number of retransmissions, the network state may be switched to a fault state.

5 is a block diagram illustrating a slave node according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 5, the slave node 200 may include a signal connector 210, a signal processor 220, a memory 230, a power selector 240, a first communication port 251, and a second communication port 252. ) And a power port 255. The slave node 200 may be any one of a plurality of slave nodes included in the network power control system.

The signal connection unit 210 transmits the measurement signal M transmitted from various devices installed in the potentially dangerous area B to the signal processing unit 220, and transmits the measured signal M to the control signal frame processed by the signal processing unit 220. Deliver the included data to various devices. The signal connection unit 210 may convert the measurement signal M transmitted as an analog signal from various devices into a digital signal, or convert the measurement signal M transmitted as a digital signal into an analog signal and transmit the converted signal to the signal processor 220. have. The signal connector 210 may convert data processed by the signal processor 220 into an analog signal or a digital signal and transmit the converted data to various devices.

The signal processor 220 processes the control signal frame transmitted from the communication master. The signal processor 220 receives the control signal frame through the first communication port 251, reads data corresponding to the received control signal frame, and includes the data to be transmitted to the communication master in the control signal frame. The signal processor 220 may transmit the processed control signal frame to the master node or the other slave node through the second communication port 252.

The memory 230 stores information of the slave node 200. The information of the slave node 200 includes a slave node ID, signal connection unit 210 information, a failsafe value, an operation time, and the like.

The power port 255 is a port that receives only power from the master node.

The power selector 240 selects a power used as a driving power of the slave node 200 among powers transmitted through the first communication port 251, the second communication port 252, and the power port 255. The power selector 240 may automatically select power delivered from the master node according to a given condition. For example, the power selector 240 selects the power having the highest voltage among the power delivered through the first communication port 251, the second communication port 252, and the power port 255 of the slave node 200. It can be selected as the driving power source. When the voltage of the power supply having the highest voltage is less than or equal to the safety voltage value of the slave node 200, the power selector 240 may additionally select a power supply having the next highest voltage as the driving power of the slave node 200. The power selector 240 monitors the current consumed by the slave node 200, and cuts off the driving power of the slave node 200 when the current consumed by the slave node 200 exceeds the safety current value and communicates it. You can inform the master. That is, the signal processor 220 may include the cutoff state of the driving power in the received control signal frame and transmit the same to the master node or the other slave node.

A network power control method between a master node and a plurality of slave nodes using the above-described control signal frame will be described.

A first control signal frame including a plurality of control signals for controlling the plurality of slave nodes in the master node is generated. The first control signal frame is sequentially transmitted to the plurality of slave nodes through the ring topology network. The second control signal frame including the information of the plurality of slave nodes is received by the plurality of slave nodes from the slave node connected with the master node to the master node.

In this case, the plurality of slave nodes supply power through at least one of a first communication port for receiving the first control signal frame, a second communication port for transmitting the second control signal frame, and a power port receiving power from the master node. To be supplied. The first control signal frame includes setting information of power supplied from the master node to the plurality of slave nodes.

The first control signal frame may further include time information for synchronization between the master node and the plurality of slave nodes, input data transferred from the plurality of slave nodes to the master node, and output data transferred from the master node to the plurality of slave nodes. Can be.

Alternatively, the first control signal frame includes time information for synchronization between the master node and the plurality of slave nodes, command data of the master node for setting the connection state of the master node and the plurality of slave nodes, and a plurality of slaves for the command data. It may further include the response data of the node.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description of the present invention are illustrative and explanatory only and are intended to be illustrative of the invention and are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. It is not. Therefore, those skilled in the art will understand that various modifications and equivalent other embodiments are possible. Accordingly, the true scope of the present invention should be determined by the technical idea of the appended claims.

11: first master node
12: second master node
20-1, ..., 20-k: slave node
30: signal input device
100: master node
110: signal connection
120: signal processing unit
130: memory
140: power supply
151: first communication port
152: second communication port
155 power port
160: setting unit
170: power supply

Claims (10)

A master node installed in a safe area that is not likely to explode; And
Includes a plurality of slave nodes installed in a potentially hazardous area,
The communication network of the master node and the plurality of slave nodes are connected in a ring topology and use a power over network (PoN) scheme, and power of the plurality of slave nodes is supplied from the master node.
The communication network of the master node and the plurality of slave nodes may be connected to a non-connected state in which control signal frames are not transmitted or received, an operating state in which the control signal frames are transmitted or received, a setting state for setting the communication network, and the communication network is not maintained. Network power control system that is set to either fault condition. The method according to claim 1,
The master node,
A signal processor configured to generate a control signal frame including a plurality of control signals for controlling the plurality of slave nodes;
A first communication port configured to receive a control signal frame processed by any one of the plurality of slave nodes;
A second communication port configured to transmit the generated control signal frame to any one of the plurality of slave nodes; And
Network power control system including a power port for transmitting power to at least one of the plurality of slave nodes. The method of claim 2,
The master node further comprises a setting unit for setting a power connection of the master node and the plurality of slave nodes. The method of claim 3,
And the power delivered to the first communication port, the second communication port, and the power port is a power below a reference value that may cause an explosion. The method of claim 2,
The control signal frame includes real time communication data,
The real time communication data,
A real time header including time information for synchronization between the master node and the plurality of slave nodes;
Input data including data transferred from the plurality of slave nodes to the master node;
Output data including data transferred from the master node to the plurality of slave nodes;
State data including data on a connection state of the first communication port, the second communication port, and the power port; And
Network power control system including a real-time taylor including whether the plurality of slave nodes for the output data is received. The method of claim 2,
The control signal frame includes non-real time communication data,
The non-real time communication data,
A non-real time header including time information for synchronization between the master node and the plurality of slave nodes;
Command and response data including command data of the master node for establishing a connection state between the master node and the plurality of slave nodes and response data of the plurality of slave nodes with respect to the command data; And
And a non-real-time taylor including whether the plurality of slave nodes are received with respect to the command data. The method according to claim 1,
Each of the plurality of slave nodes,
A first communication port for receiving a control signal frame generated at the master node;
A signal processor to include and process data to be transmitted to the master node in the control signal frame;
A second communication port for transmitting the processed control signal frame to the master node or another slave node; And
Network power control system including a power port that receives power from the master node. The method of claim 7, wherein
Each of the plurality of slave nodes further includes a power selector configured to select a power used as driving power among power delivered through the first communication port, the second communication port, and the power port. delete The method according to claim 1,
The transition from the disconnected state to the operating state, from the operating state to the fault state, and from the setting state to the fault state are automatically switched according to the setting information recorded in the memory of the master node. Power control system.

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