KR20090004545A

KR20090004545A - Inventory control system of oil tank

Info

Publication number: KR20090004545A
Application number: KR1020080059566A
Authority: KR
Inventors: 이송희; 장희웅
Original assignee: 주식회사 쿨투
Priority date: 2007-06-29
Filing date: 2008-06-24
Publication date: 2009-01-12

Abstract

An inventory control system of an oil tank is provided to automatise manual inventory control of an oil tank in a gas station. The inventory information of an oil tank is transmitted to a gateway through wireless communication, and the inventory information collected at the gateway is monitored through the internet network or is transmitted to a management sever. A sensor(20) senses the inventory information in the oil tank, and the sensor comprises a flow sensor(22), a moisture sensor(24), a temperature sensor(28) and a pulse generator(26) which applies a current pulse to each sensor. A controller(40) measures the propagation time of a pulse propagated at a supersonic speed, and calculates the amounts of flows and moistures by converting the measured time to distance. The controller controls the transmission of the data relating to the calculated amounts of the flows and moistures to the gateway through a communication unit(30).

Description

Inventory control system of oil tank

The present invention relates to an oil tank inventory management system, and more particularly, to an oil tank inventory management system capable of automating inventory management.

The oil filling and unloading process at the gas station is injecting oil into the filling station inlet according to the shipment of the gas station through the oil vehicle currently deployed at the gas station, and the injected oil is stored in the oil tank via the oil pipe, Delivered until.

However, when grasping the oil inventory in the oil intake and outgoing process, the gas station is directly measured by a man with a yardstick through a pipe pipe, and then the required value is calculated by converting the measured value into a drum standard and applying for the necessary oil. Thus, the calculated quantity is not only accurate, there is a problem that excessive manual work.

In other words, the conventional gas station is a situation that depends on the manual management of the inventory management is required to automate the system.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide an inventory management system of an oil tank that can automate inventory management.

However, the objects of the present invention are not limited to the above-mentioned objects, and other objects not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description.

In order to achieve the above object, the inventory management system of the oil tank according to an embodiment of the present invention, the sensing unit for sensing the inventory information in the oil tank for storing the oil; Communication unit for transmitting and receiving the detected inventory information; An inventory management unit for collecting and managing the transmitted and received inventory information; And a control unit controlling to transmit and receive the detected inventory information to the inventory management unit through the communication unit.

Specific details of other embodiments are included in the detailed description and drawings, and the advantages and features of the present invention and methods for achieving them will be apparent with reference to the embodiments described below in detail with the accompanying drawings.

According to the inventory management system of the oil tank according to the present invention as described above there is an effect that can be automated inventory management.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed below, but can be implemented in various different forms, only the embodiments are to make the disclosure of the present invention complete, and the common knowledge in the technical field to which the present invention belongs It is provided to fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art, and the present invention is defined only by the scope of the claims. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.

Hereinafter, an inventory management system of an oil tank according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a view schematically showing an inventory management system of an oil tank according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the oil tank of FIG. 1.

The illustrated oil tank management system includes a oil tank 10 provided with a sensing unit 20, a communication unit 30, and a control unit 40, a gateway 12, and a management server 14. .

The inventory information in the oil tank 10 detected by the oil tank 10 is sent to the gateway 12 through wireless communication, and the inventory information collected at the gateway 12 is web-monitored or managed through the Internet network 16. It is sent to the server 14 and managed by an administrator.

The detector 20 detects inventory information in the oil tank 10, which is commonly referred to as a tank level gauge (TLG). The inventory information detected here includes, but is not limited to, at least one of a flow rate, a moisture content, and a temperature in the oil tank 10.

Specifically, the detection unit 20 includes a sensor for sensing a flow rate, a water content, and a temperature (hereinafter, referred to as "flow sensor 22", "water sensor 24", and "temperature sensor 28"). And a pulse generator 26 for applying a current pulse to the flow rate sensor 22 and the moisture sensor 24 under the control of the controller 40.

In the case of the flow rate sensor 22 and the moisture sensor 24, the position of the float changes according to the liquid level of the liquid, and a magnetic displacement (magnet distortion linear) sensor which senses this position by the magnetic displacement principle can be used. . In the case of the magnetic displacement sensor, two liquids having different specific gravity (density) can be measured separately and used for oil / water separation measurement.

3 shows an example of applying a pulse to such a sensor. In FIG. 3, the pulses generated by the pulse generator 26 are applied to the flow rate sensor 22 and the moisture sensor 24 of the detector 20, respectively.

The operation principle after the pulse is applied to the magnetic displacement sensor will be described with reference to FIG. 4.

When a current pulse as shown in FIG. 5 (a) is applied to the special magnetostrictive line in the "A" direction, a magnetic field in the circumferential direction is generated throughout the magnetostrictive axial direction.

When a magnet (mounted in a float) is placed on the magnetostriction as shown in the drawing, an axial magnetic field is applied to the portion thereof, and an inclination magnetic field is generated as shown in the dotted line by the combination with the circumferential magnetic field, causing distortion. do. This phenomenon is called the Widemann effect. Because this torsion is a kind of mechanical vibration, it propagates at supersonic speed on a metal magnetostriction.

A pulse (for example, FIG. 5B) passing through the flow rate sensor 22 and the moisture sensor 24 and propagating at supersonic speed is input to the controller 40. Here, FIG. 5B is an example of a pulse waveform diagram shown when measured at 90.4 nsec intervals as shown in FIG. 5C.

The controller 40 measures the propagation time of the pulse propagated at supersonic speed, that is, the time of returning from the position of the magnet (ie, returning after passing through the sensor) from the time of applying the current pulse, and converting the measured time into a distance. Calculate the flow rate and water content. For example, in FIG. 5B, the time intervals between pulses p1 and p2 and the time intervals between pulses p1 and p3 are measured, respectively, to calculate flow rates and moisture amounts, respectively. In addition, the controller 40 controls the calculated flow rate and water amount data to be transmitted to the gateway 12 through the communication unit 30.

In addition, since the change in the oil tank 10 according to the temperature, that is, the volume of the oil and the water expands and contracts, the temperature sensor 28 is mounted in order to consider the error according to the change, and the detected temperature is detected. It is preferable that the control unit 40 is configured to correct an error in the flow rate and the amount of water, but is not limited thereto. In addition, the controller 40 controls such temperature data to be transmitted to the gateway 12 through the communication unit 30.

Of course, the error of the flow rate and moisture amount according to the sensed temperature may be implemented to be corrected in the gateway 12 or the management server 14 which collects or manages the flow rate and moisture amount data.

On the other hand, the sensing unit 20 may be implemented in the form of a long sensor node 29 or more than 5,000mm. In particular, in the case of a sensor node (long TLG) of 9,000 mm or more, the length of the sensor tank (long TLG) can reach the ground in the oil tank, so that the stock information in the oil tank can be detected more accurately.

The communication unit 30 transmits the flow rate and water content data calculated by the control unit 40 and the temperature data in the oil tank 10 to the gateway 12 in real time. The communication unit 30 may be a wireless communication method, and more specifically, may be a ZigBee wireless communication method having a communication frequency band within a range of 2.4 GHz to 2.5 GHz. Of course, the present invention is not limited thereto, and wireless communication technologies such as Bluetooth, Ultra Wide Band (UWB), and wireless LAN may be applied, and power line communication (PLC), IEEE 1394, and Ethernet. Wired communication technology such as may be applied.

The communication unit 30 is provided on the oil tank 10 side and the gateway 12 side to be in communication with each other, specifically, a radio including an RF (Radio Frequency) chip, an RF switch, an amplifier, an antenna, and the like. It may be a modem. The wireless modem may also be equipped with a debugging port to allow for program changes.

The antenna of the communication unit 30 is preferably a circular patch antenna installed on the ground outside the oil tank 10 so that reception sensitivity is high, but is not limited thereto, and may be a monopole or dipole antenna.

The case material of the sensing unit 20, the communication unit 30, and the control unit 40 is waterproof and corrosion resistant, and preferably is a material (eg, aluminum) that does not emit sparks when exploded.

The gateway 12 collects inventory information in the oil tank 10 received through the communication unit 30 in real time, and implements synchronization of the inventory data. In addition, the gateway 12 may analyze data in real time, establish a database through interworking with the Internet, and display data on the web via the Internet. In addition, the gateway 12 may remotely manage devices connected by wireless communication. For example, the manager may control the operation of the controller 40 in the gateway 12 to manage whether to execute the detection function. Such a gateway 12 may have an interface such as TCP / IP, RS232, RF.

The gateway 12 collects data sensed by the detector 20 and communicates with the management server 14 through TCP / IP communication. The gateway 12 is automatically executed when the program is down by using a watchdog, and the USB interface provided in the gateway 12 may be used for program update.

The software installed in the gateway 12 may include, for example, embedded Linux, Open Service Gateway Initiative (OSGI), and Qtopia.

OSGI is an industry standard proposed by the OSGI organization for the standard connection of Internet equipment such as home information appliances and security systems. It is a gateway software based on open Java embedded server (JES), and has the function to provide a multi-service with high security to a device or a facility regardless of platform and application software. In particular, it is an open network technology that accommodates various wired and wireless network technologies such as Bluetooth, HAVI, home PNA, home RF, USB, and VESA.

This OSGI reduces the network and system load by exchanging data asynchronously through message queues, and maximizes scalability and flexibility by operating the application around the data rather than the structure that the application depends on.

OSGI includes device managers, process managers, data aggregators, and data coordination items.

Device Manager provides a variety of device interfaces and interoperates between devices through standard and nonstandard network adapters. The device manager also notifies temporary storage and registration for device remote control. Process managers create related data groups, interface with them, manage queue registration data, and manage business process additions, changes, registrations, and deletions. The data integrator integrates and screens the heterogeneous data generated in the gas station. In addition, the data integrator manages the temporary storage space and interworks with the DB server, creates and stores data that is not application dependent, and ensures data stability and a consistent interface. Data reconciliation items add business processes for sales and inventory management, and generate online reports of local sellers over the web.

Qtopia provides a user interface and application platform for embedded Linux. It is optimized for limited memory and power and has its own windowing system to reduce hassle.

Qtopia displays data from OSGI's DB in real time using Qtopia program. Depending on the number of oil tanks can be added, deleted, the display screen may be a graphic full oil tank screen, a text full screen, etc., it is also possible to switch the detailed screen for each oil tank.

The management server 14 monitors the risk occurrence situation in real time with respect to the inventory information in the oil tank 10 received from the gateway 12 through the internet network 16, and notifies the control room or the center. The management server 14 stores the stock information in a database and analyzes and manages the stock information.

On the other hand, it may further include a repeater for receiving the data sensed by the detector 20 and transmits to the gateway 12.

With reference to the drawings illustrated as above, the inventory management system of the oil tank according to the present invention has been described, but the present invention is not limited by the embodiments and drawings disclosed herein, within the technical scope of the invention Of course, various modifications can be made by those skilled in the art.

1 is a view schematically showing an inventory management system of an oil tank according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration in the oil tank of FIG. 1; FIG.

3 is a diagram illustrating an example in which pulses are applied to a flow sensor and a moisture sensor;

4 is a view showing the operating principle after the pulse is applied to the magnetic displacement sensor,

Fig. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a pulse waveform applied to the magnetic displacement sensor and a pulse waveform diagram after passing through the magnetic displacement sensor, respectively.

10 oil tank 12 gateway

14: management server 16: the Internet network

20: detector 22: flow sensor

24: moisture sensor 26: pulse generator

28: temperature sensor 30: communication unit

40: control unit

Claims

A detector for detecting inventory information in an oil tank storing oil;

Communication unit for transmitting and receiving the detected inventory information;

An inventory management unit for collecting and managing the transmitted and received inventory information; And

And a control unit controlling to transmit and receive the detected inventory information to the inventory management unit through the communication unit.

The method of claim 1,

And the inventory information comprises at least one of flow rate, moisture, and temperature in the oil tank.

The method of claim 1,

The inventory management unit,

And a gateway for collecting the transmitted and received stock information, analyzing the stock information in real time, and linking with an upper system.

The method of claim 3, wherein

The gateway is the inventory management system of the oil tank, the web display the inventory information via the Internet.

The method of claim 3, wherein

The inventory management unit,

And a management server which communicates with the gateway to store the collected inventory information in a database, analyzes and manages the stored database, and transmits to the upper system in real time.

The method of claim 2.

The detection unit,

And a pulse generator for applying a current pulse to the sensor for sensing the flow rate, the amount of water and the temperature, respectively, and the sensor for detecting the flow rate and the amount of water under the control of the controller.

The method of claim 6,

The sensor for detecting the flow rate and the amount of water includes a magnetic displacement sensor that changes the position of the float according to the liquid level, and detects the position in a magnetic displacement principle.

The method of claim 7, wherein

The control unit measures the time that the current pulse returns after passing through the magnetic displacement sensor, and calculates the flow rate and the amount of water by converting the measured time into a distance, inventory management system of the oil tank.

The method of claim 1,

The communication unit is an oil tank inventory management system of the ZigBee (ZigBee) wireless communication system having a communication frequency band in the range of 2.4GHz to 2.5GHz.

The method of claim 9,

And the communication unit includes a circular patch antenna installed above the ground outside the oil tank.

The method according to claim 1 or 6,

The sensing unit is implemented in the form of a sensor node of more than 5,000mm, inventory management system of the oil tank.