KR20020027009A - System for monitoring of a Storage Environment and Method therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A system for monitoring of a storage environment and a method therefor are provided to automatically control and manage the whole environment of a low temperature storehouse on the basis of the storage physiological data for the corresponding item. CONSTITUTION: The system comprises a storehouse(10), a sensor terminal(20), a relay(30), an environment controller(40), a host computer(50) and both-direction communication device. The sensor terminal consisting of a plurality of sensor modules outputs the corresponding detection signal by detecting various environment factors such as a temperature, a humidity, oxygen, carbon dioxide and ethylene. The relay transmits the signal to the host computer through a communication port after amplifying to a fixed data format by receiving the detection signal. The environment controller automatically controls the state and quantity of the temperature, the humidity, oxygen and carbon dioxide in the storehouse by a specific control signal. The host computer controls the environment of storehouse to the optimized state by controlling the environment controller in necessary after collecting, storing and analyzing the environment data in the storehouse through the sensor terminal and relay.

Description

System for monitoring of a Storage Environment and Method therefor}

The present invention relates to a management system for cold storage, and in particular, to investigate the physiology and applicability of storage items such as horticultural crops and agricultural and marine products, and to automatically control the overall environment of the cold storage using data on the physiological characteristics of the storage. The present invention relates to a cold storage environment management automation system and method thereof.

At present, a number of cold storages have been established in Korea, but the temperature and humidity sensors provided in the cold storages can be adjusted after visual inspection in the machine room.

Therefore, in the related art, computerization and related hardware construction that can automatically manage and control the environment in the warehouse have not been made in Korea at all, and accordingly, economic damage caused by inadequate management of storage factors is increasing year by year. Due to the inaccurate operation of the cold storage built in the inability to function properly as a low temperature storage, there is a problem that the operation efficiency is significantly reduced.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to set the physiological and storage factor information of storage items such as horticultural crops and agricultural and marine products and set them in the host computer, and then automatically establishes the overall environment of the cold storage based on data on storage physiology of the corresponding items. To provide a cold storage environment management automation system and method for controlling and managing the same.

In addition, another object of the present invention to provide a cold storage environment management automation system and method that can be analyzed and controlled after measuring the environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, ethylene, oxygen, carbon dioxide of the cold storage with a sensor. have.

In addition, another object of the present invention is to build a database by measuring the environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, ethylene, oxygen, carbon dioxide of the storage, and also to search the accumulated data through the Internet storage physiological characteristics without limitation of time and place It is to provide a cold storage environment management automation system and method that can be quickly and accurately analyzed, and can remotely control the measurement conditions in the storage.

1 is a schematic view showing an environmental management system of a storage room according to the present invention,

2 is a block diagram showing the detailed apparatus of FIG. 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention;

3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of FIG. 2 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

4 to 6 are views showing the output screen state by the environmental management software of the present invention.

* Explanation of symbols for the main parts of the drawings

10 to 10n: Storage 20 to 20n: Sensor terminal

21: environmental detection unit 25: detection control unit

30: repeater 40: environmental controller

41: temperature / humidity controller 43: nitrogen generator

45: adsorber (CO ₂ ) 50: host computer

60: Internet 70: interactive communication device

Technical means of the present invention for achieving the above object, the sensor terminal for detecting each of the various environmental factors in the low-temperature storage, and outputs a signal corresponding thereto, and receives the data output from the sensor terminal and amplified into a specified data format A repeater which is then output through a communication port, an environmental controller which is driven in accordance with a predetermined control signal transmitted through the repeater, and which optimally adjusts the state of various environmental factors in the store, and the environmental factor data in the store through the repeater Collect and construct a database, and compare and analyze the collected data with a predetermined optimal data to control the environment controller.

In addition, the technical method of the present invention for achieving the above object is, by detecting a variety of environmental factors in the storage with a plurality of sensors, and amplified by converting the detected data into an appropriate data form to wire or wireless data Transmitting the data, collecting the transmitted data to build a database for each item of the storage, and comparing the collected data with a predetermined optimal data to determine various environmental factors in the storage; After the determination, generating control data for adjusting various environmental factors in the storage to an optimal state, and transmitting the control data to the storage by wire or wirelessly, and receiving and driving the control data to bring various environmental factors of the storage into an optimal state. Characterized in that it comprises a step of adjusting.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a schematic diagram showing an environmental management system of a storage room according to the present invention, which includes a storage 10, a sensor terminal 20, a repeater 30, an environment controller 40, a host computer 50, and a two-way communication device ( 70).

The sensor terminal 20 is composed of a plurality of sensor modules to detect the various environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, oxygen, carbon dioxide and ethylene in the storage 10, respectively, and outputs the corresponding signal, repeater 30 ) Is configured to receive the data transmitted from the sensor terminal 20, amplify the data into a designated data form, and then transmit the data to the host computer 50 through the communication port, and the environment controller 40 stores the storage according to a predetermined control signal. It is made to automatically control and adjust the state and quantity of temperature, humidity, oxygen, carbon dioxide, etc. in (10).

The host computer 50 collects, stores, and analyzes the environmental data in the storage 10 through the sensor terminal 20 and the repeater 30, and then controls the environmental controller 40 as necessary to control the environment in the storage 10. To adjust to an optimal state.

The two-way communication device 70 includes a terminal, for example, a personal computer, a notebook computer, a handheld computer, an Internet mobile phone, an Internet television, and the like, which connect to the host computer 50 through a communication network such as the Internet 60. After connecting to the host computer 50 using the bidirectional communication device 70, the environmental factors in the storage 10 stored in the host computer 50 are searched and read, and the data are analyzed or measured conditions such as measurement time intervals. Can be reset remotely.

In addition, the repeater 30 and the host computer 50 is preferably configured to communicate with each other by wired or wireless data using a wired or wireless modem according to the design conditions, the repeater 30 has a plurality of storage (10) Sensor terminals (20 to 20n) and environmental controllers (40 to 40n) for detecting and controlling environmental factors of ˜10n), respectively, and are configured to selectively communicate or control data in the corresponding stores according to unique numbers for each store. It is preferable.

2 is a block diagram showing a detailed apparatus of FIG. 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and includes a sensor terminal 20, a repeater 30, an environmental controller 40, and a host computer 50.

The sensor terminal 20 is composed of an environmental detection unit 21 composed of a plurality of sensor modules and a detection control unit 25 for controlling the communication of the detected signals. The environmental detection unit 21 has a temperature, It is configured to detect various environmental factors such as humidity, oxygen, carbon dioxide, and ethylene (caused during fruit rot) and output corresponding signals, and the detection controller 25 digitally outputs the signals output from the environmental detector 21. After conversion to the transmission to the repeater 30 through the communication port according to a predetermined control signal.

There are various kinds of gases generated in case of decay according to the types of articles stored in the storage 10, and other sensors may be installed in addition to ethylene sensors for detecting the decay of apples.

The detection controller 25 controls the analog / digital converter 26 for converting an analog signal into a digital signal corresponding thereto and controls the analog / digital converter 26 according to a program preset in the internal memory 27 to detect the detected data. After receiving the RS-232, RS-422 is configured as a microprocessor 28 for controlling the transmission to the repeater 30 through the communication port 29, such as.

In addition, the repeater 30 is selected at predetermined time intervals according to a selection means 31 such as a multiplexer for selectively receiving and outputting data transmitted from the sensor terminal 20, respectively, and a program set in the internal memory 33. By controlling the means 31 to selectively receive the data transmitted from the plurality of sensor terminals (20 to 20n) to amplify the data in the form of the required data, the host through a communication port 37 such as RS-232, RS-422 port It consists of a microprocessor 35 that controls the transmission to the computer 50 or outputs a predetermined environmental control signal transmitted from the host computer 50 to the environmental controller 40.

In addition, the environmental controller 40 is driven according to the control signal transmitted through the repeater 30 and the temperature / humidity controller 41 for automatically controlling the temperature and humidity in the storage 10, and through the repeater 30 Nitrogen generator 43 is driven according to the transmitted control signal to adjust the amount of oxygen in the reservoir 10, and the adsorber is driven in accordance with the control signal transmitted through the repeater 30 to absorb and remove carbon dioxide in the reservoir (10) (45) and so on.

The host computer 50 includes storage means each containing an environmental management program, optimal environmental condition data, detection data collected from the plurality of storages 10 to 10n, data collected from the plurality of storages 10 to 10n, and Monitor displaying various analysis data according to environmental management program in the form of text, table, and graph, printer outputting information displayed on monitor, input means for inputting various command data, and demodulating and demodulating to predetermined data type. Communication means, such as a wired or wireless modem to communicate with the 30, and the data stored in the store through the data collected from the repeater 30 received through the communication means collected in the storage means (horticultural crops, agricultural and marine products) It is composed of a system controller for analyzing and displaying the physiological characteristics of the storage and the remote control of the overall environment of the storage (10 to 10n). .

In addition to the sensor 21 for detecting environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, oxygen, carbon dioxide, and ethylene in the storage 10 as described above, a sensor capable of detecting other environmental factors may be further expanded, and a repeater ( Similarly, the plurality of sensor terminals 20 to 20n and the environmental controllers 40 to 40n can be further extended and connected to each other.

3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation process of FIG. 2 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 2, FIG.

First, each sensor of the environmental detector 21 detects environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, oxygen, carbon dioxide and ethylene in the storage 10 and outputs a signal corresponding to the detected signal to the detection controller 25 ( S1).

The detection control unit 25 converts the signal output from each sensor of the environmental detection unit 21 into a digital signal, and then communicates the unique number, time, and detection data of the storage 10 under predetermined control by the microprocessor 28. Output to the repeater 30 through the port 29 (S2).

The repeater 30 receives, amplifies and modulates the data output from the predetermined detection control unit 25 according to a signal for selecting a specific sensor terminal 20, and transmits the data to the host computer 50 using a wired or wireless network. (S3).

Subsequently, the host computer 50 receives and collects the environmental factor data in the storehouse transmitted from the repeater 30 (S4), constructs and stores a database for each environmental factor item for each storehouse (S5) and stores the data in the storage unit. Based on the optimal environmental data set in advance, the system controller compares and analyzes various environmental factors in the store (S6).

According to the comparative analysis, the system controller determines whether the temperature and humidity in the specific storage is properly maintained (S7). Otherwise, the system controller generates the temperature / humidity control data together with the unique number of the controlled storage, and then, Transmission to the repeater 30 through the communication means (S8).

The repeater 30 transmits control data to the temperature / humidity controller 41 of the corresponding storage 10, and the temperature / humidity controller 41 operates according to the transmitted control data to control the temperature and humidity in the storage 10. Adjust to an optimal state (S9).

Further, according to the comparative analysis, the system controller of the host computer 50 determines whether the oxygen in the specific storage is properly maintained at a predetermined amount (S10), and if not, the oxygen amount control data together with the unique number of the controlled storage. After generating the transmission to the repeater 30 through the communication means (S11).

The repeater 30 transmits control data to the nitrogen controller 43 of the corresponding reservoir, and the nitrogen controller 43 operates according to the transmitted control data to adjust the amount of oxygen in the reservoir to an optimal state (S12).

In addition, according to the comparative analysis, the system controller of the host computer 50 determines whether the amount of carbon dioxide in a specific storage is properly maintained at a predetermined level or less (S13). After generating the control data is transmitted to the repeater 30 through the communication means (S14).

The repeater 30 transmits control data to the adsorber 45 of the corresponding storage, and the adsorber 45 operates according to the transmitted control data to adjust and remove carbon dioxide to an optimal state in operation S15 (S15). ).

On the other hand, in the process of controlling the temperature and humidity (S9) it is preferable to control the relative humidity to always be about 95 to 100% in consideration of the large amount of moisture generated in the storage crop itself during storage.

In the process of controlling the amount of oxygen and carbon dioxide (S12) (S15) in consideration of the reduction of oxygen and the increase of carbon dioxide due to the respiration of the storage crops in the reservoir, the optimum conditions in the reservoir are 2 to 3% oxygen, carbon dioxide is It is preferable to set it at about 3 to 5%. For this purpose, as described above, nitrogen is forcibly injected into the nitrogen generator 43 to increase the amount of oxygen, or air is introduced into the aeration to introduce 5 to 7 oxygen in the initial reservoir. It is more preferable to set the carbon dioxide to 0%, and if the amount of carbon dioxide is detected from the sensor 21, the adsorber 45 is operated to remove carbon dioxide.

Subsequently, the environmental factor data collected according to the user's selection in the environmental management system of the host computer 50 and the data constructed in advance in the database may be displayed by text, table or graph for each storage item (S16).

In addition, the host computer 50 receives various environmental factors for the crops from the repeater 30 to build a series of databases, and analyzes and organizes the physiological characteristics of the crops through the data thus constructed, and anyone can easily draw a graph. The physiological characteristics of the crops can be analyzed and the built database can be remotely monitored and computerized by accessing the host computer 50 using the Internet 60 and remotely monitoring and controlling the storage environment. have.

In addition, it is possible to appropriately control the temperature and humidity by determining the degree of decay according to the generation of environmental factors (temperature, humidity, oxygen, carbon dioxide and ethylene) of the crop based on the established database.

4 to 6 show screen states by the environmental management software of the present invention.

4 is a screen of the host computer 50 for displaying the environmental factor data detected for each storage, and when the user clicks the 'measurement start' menu displayed on the lower right of the screen by using an input means, each storage is measured for each storage. The environmental factor data is sequentially input through the repeater 30 and signal processed, and the measurement time, temperature, humidity, carbon dioxide, oxygen and ethylene data are displayed on each item of the screen and stored in the storage means at the same time.

In addition, the information displayed on the screen may be output through the printer by clicking the 'Print' menu on the lower right.

On the other hand, on the left side of the screen, there are various functions to check the information of the current storage, the 'Storage Setting' menu for inputting the optimal environmental conditions for the management of the storage and the measurement time interval of the storage, and efficient data management. It consists of 'Data View' menu for each item of measured data for 'Graph', 'Graph View' menu for viewing the state of environmental factors detected by storage, and 'Storage Information' menu for viewing data by storage. At the bottom is an additional 'Add Reservoir' menu to add a monitor that can be monitored.

5 is an example of the homepage of the environmental management system connected to the Internet, and shows detection data of the first storage.

On the left side of the homepage, there is a menu called 'About storage' where you can see various information of the storage, 'Storage status' menu where you can see accumulated data about the selected storage, and the accumulated data about storage. 'Graph View' menu, 'Measurement time setting' menu for setting the measurement time of the storage, and 'Data room' and 'Bulletin' menu for the user's convenience.

FIG. 6 is a graph showing specific environmental factors measured in the storage, and is displayed when the function of 'graph view' of FIG. 4 or FIG. 5 is selected.

As shown in the figure, by displaying the oxygen amount measured in the first reservoir in a graph, it is possible to simply analyze the data, thereby improving data analysis efficiency.

As described above, the web-based environmental management system can construct a remote system for continually observing accurate information about environmental changes in the storage room regardless of time and place as the Internet can be used. It is possible to retrieve data in real time, analyze it graphically, and set the measurement time of the reservoir remotely.

While specific embodiments of the present invention have been described and illustrated above, it will be apparent that the present invention may be embodied in various modifications by those skilled in the art. Such modified embodiments should not be individually understood from the technical spirit or the prospect of the present invention, and such modified embodiments should fall within the appended claims of the present invention.

Therefore, in the present invention, by providing specific information on the physiological changes that occur during the storage and distribution of the stored goods, can help in setting the correct conditions when storing the goods as well as cold storage technology, quality control of the storage of the main horticultural crops Through the minimization of storage loss and the improvement of international competitiveness, it is expected to increase exports.

In addition, by storing the main orchards harvested in the season in the quality state at the time of harvest to enable distribution even in the non-season period, it is possible to induce a change in consumption patterns, to suppress the consumption of imported orchards at this point The domestic market can be stabilized.

Claims (13)

A sensor terminal for detecting various environmental factors in the cold storage and then outputting a corresponding signal; A repeater receiving the data output from the sensor terminal and amplifying the data into a designated data format and outputting the same through a communication port; An environmental controller which is driven according to a predetermined control signal transmitted through the repeater to optimally adjust the state of various environmental factors in the storage; And Collecting environmental factors data in the store through the repeater to build a database, and compares the collected data with a predetermined optimal data and the host computer for controlling the environmental controller having a cold storage environment management automation system. The method according to claim 1, The sensor terminal, An environmental detection unit for detecting various environmental factors in the storage and outputting corresponding signals; And And a detection control unit for converting the signal output from the environment detection unit into a digital signal, modulating it according to a predetermined control signal, and transmitting the signal to a repeater through a communication port. The system of claim 2, wherein the environmental detection unit is any one or more selected from a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, an oxygen amount detection sensor, a carbon dioxide amount detection sensor, and an ethylene detection sensor. The method according to claim 1, The repeater, Selection means for selectively receiving data transmitted from the sensor terminal at predetermined time intervals; And Cold storage environment management system for automation characterized in that it comprises a microprocessor for controlling the selection means to receive the data transmitted from the sensor terminal to amplify to the required data form and then transmit to a host computer through a predetermined communication means . The method according to claim 1, The environmental controller, A temperature / humidity controller which is driven according to a control signal transmitted through the repeater and automatically controls temperature and humidity in the storage; A nitrogen generator driven according to a control signal transmitted through the repeater to automatically adjust the amount of oxygen in the reservoir; And And an adsorber driven according to the control signal transmitted through the repeater to suck and remove carbon dioxide in the reservoir. The method according to claim 1, The host computer, Storage means each containing a predetermined environmental management program, optimum environmental condition data, and detection data collected from a plurality of storages; Output means for displaying data collected from a plurality of reservoirs and various analysis data according to an environmental management program in the form of text, a table, and a graph; Input means for inputting various command data; Communication means for communicating with a repeater by demodulating and demodulating a predetermined data type; And A system controller is provided for receiving the data transmitted from the repeater through a communication means and collecting the data in a memory, analyzing and displaying the physiological characteristics of the stored items stored in the storage, and controlling the overall environment of the storage. Environmental management automation system for cold storage. The method according to claim 4 or 6, The communication means is a cold storage environment management automation system, characterized in that the wired or wireless modem. Detecting various environmental factors in the storage using a plurality of sensors, respectively; Converting the detected data into an appropriate data format, amplifying the data, and transmitting the amplified data to wired or wireless data; Collecting the transmitted data and constructing a database for each item of the storage; Comparing the collected data with a predetermined optimal data to determine various environmental factors in the storage; Generating control data for adjusting various environmental factors in an optimal state after the determination and transmitting the control data to the corresponding reservoir by wire or wirelessly; And And receiving and controlling the control data to adjust various environmental factors of the storage to an optimal state. The method according to claim 8, In the step of transmitting the detected data, the transmission data is a cold storage environment management automation method characterized in that it comprises the detection time and the unique number data of the storage. The method according to claim 8, In the step of collecting the environmental factor data from each of the storage, cold storage environment management automation method comprising the step of displaying the collected data on the screen for each item of the storage on the screen. The method according to claim 8, Wherein the database is a storage number, measurement time, temperature, humidity, carbon dioxide amount, oxygen amount and ethylene items comprising the environmental management automation method for cold storage. The method according to claim 8, The control data, temperature, humidity, oxygen and carbon dioxide environmental management method for cold storage, characterized in that it comprises any one or more selected items and storage number data. The method according to claim 8, The database can be viewed through the Internet and programmed to enable remote control of measurement time intervals.