WO2004107290A1

WO2004107290A1 - Electronic equipment for remote monitoring of installations

Info

Publication number: WO2004107290A1
Application number: PCT/ES2003/000256
Authority: WO
Inventors: Roberto Montes Casero
Original assignee: Tsk Electrónica Y Electricidad, S.A.
Priority date: 2003-05-29
Filing date: 2003-05-29
Publication date: 2004-12-09
Also published as: AU2003233813A1

Abstract

The invention relates to electronic equipment which is used for the remote monitoring of installations. More specifically, the invention relates to a surveillance and control system which can be used in any type of installation. The inventive equipment obtains the physical parameters or variables to be monitored and sends same to the central station where they are monitored and checked. The signals being monitored by the equipment can be analogue, digital or PT-100. The system is provided with reduced dimensions and can operate without a mains power supply. Moreover, the communication between the remote stations and the central station can be configured using GSM, GPRS, satellite telephony, telematics or radio. In this way, the invention can be used in any type of installation, whether large or small, regardless of the location thereof, and even in adverse weather conditions.

Description

REMOTE INSTALLATION ELECTRONIC SUPERVISION EQUIPMENT

D E S C R I P C I Ó N

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to electronic equipment that allows the remote supervision of all types of installations, regardless of the variables to be controlled in the installation, the size and location of the installation and the assistance of an electrical supply source.

The equipment object of the invention is able to obtain the parameters and variables to be monitored, store them locally and send them to a central station for monitoring and control, and data communication can be carried out through various means of communication.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Telecontrol systems are currently known facilities that generally constitute specific or customized solutions for each installation, that is, in which the equipment used and system functions are developed specifically for each application, so its use is not possible for the control and supervision of other facilities.

These systems are based on the acquisition of data through PLCs arranged in the corresponding electrical cabinets and, therefore, require large space for their location, not being suitable for small installations or when the equipment to be controlled is outdoors. Control programs or systems are also developed specifically for each application.

These cabinets are usually housed in special rooms and, logically, require the corresponding power supply for their operation, so they are not suitable in areas without energy availability.

These limitations due to the need for space and power supply, together with the high economic value of these equipment, make them not suitable for small installations.

There are also more compact solutions, but associated with the control and supervision of specific installations, having been able to obtain small-sized equipment based on optimizing the necessary means for this type of installation but which, logically, cannot be used for other different applications.

In this regard, we can cite Spanish patents No. 2,120,377 and No. 2,127,122 relating to an autonomous electronic monitoring system for traps, valves and installations in real time. These systems allow the control of the operation of traps and the detection of steam leaks, and can be applied for the remote control of fluids in various installations, but they are not suitable for monitoring and supervision of other types of installations. We therefore find a large number of small and medium sized remote installations that are not supervised. Installations such as water treatment plants, tanks or tanks of all kinds, hoppers, transformers, electric transformers in poles, urban distribution centers, collectors of spills, smoke in chimneys or weather stations, which could be covered with a versatile, controllable equipment remote, small in size, electrically autonomous and able to withstand the weather. The presented solution offers such versatility and makes it possible to be installed to also supervise large installations.

In recent years there has been a great development of telecommunication equipment, oriented mainly to large consumption utilities. This has resulted in the dramatically improved coverage of digital mobile phone systems, and their safety and reliability of operation. This has led to the development of products that use this communication to send signals (home alarms, commercial premises, §). However, there has been no development of this type of equipment in the world of industry in general. Much of the blame for this may be that existing equipment does not have the necessary conditions for use in harsh industrial environments. The presented team uses this means of communication, with the possibility of using other means, reaching to supervise remote places.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention aims at a electronic equipment for remote monitoring of multi-purpose facilities that is capable of controlling any type of installation, obtaining the physical variables or parameters to be monitored and sending them to the central station for monitoring and control.

The electronic equipment is configured in a compact way, staying in a tight housing of small dimensions that can be easily attached to any installation, even of small size, with the possibility of operating without power, so that it can be used in all types of installations , regardless of its location, the availability of a source of energy supply and even in weather conditions.

The system is capable of capturing signals of all kinds, both analog, digital or PT-100, so that it can be adapted to the supervision of installations or processes of all kinds.

In addition, the data obtained is stored in the equipment itself and sent to the central control station through various types of communication means, which allows the system to be independent of the communication availability available in a facility to be controlled.

In this way, facilities that until now could not be controlled remotely can be controlled and monitored, such as tanks or tanks of all types, hoppers, transformers, electric transformers in poles, urban distribution centers, spill collectors, smoke in chimneys or weather stations. Can also be control large facilities, such as water treatment plants.

As it was said, the electronic equipment object of the invention can be installed even in locations where there is no possibility of conventional communication, that is, by telephone or signal cable, so that the plant operators or the personnel of maintenance, in an emergency or danger situation, can give notice to a central post almost immediately. This improves the safety of people and facilities, speeding up the intervention.

The electronic equipment performs a continuous control of the values of the variables to be monitored, analyzing whether progressive drifts occur on the correct operation, thus allowing to act before the final failure occurs.

The electronic equipment is composed of the following elements: a) signal collection module. b) communications module. c) power module. d) central data acquisition and monitoring team.

a) The signal pickup module is housed and materialized in a sealed box of small dimensions, to which the corresponding cables and sensors access. The measured signals are treated by a microprocessor integrated in a surface mounted PCB circuit. This module produces a series of signals that can activate various optical and acoustic alarms or activate equipment protection.

Being constituted by a watertight module of small dimensions, it can be used in any type of installation and even arranged outdoors.

In addition, electronic circuits are treated with resin to prevent moisture.

The module can capture digital, analog and PT-100 signals, since the input card is easily configurable according to the needs of each case, thus allowing great versatility of use.

The equipment is also equipped with digital outputs capable of responding locally through an action, such as connecting a siren or activating an extinguishing system.

The equipment has a reduced electrical consumption since they are brought to a mode of minimum consumption in a cyclic way.

If there are several devices to be supervised within the same installation, different signal pick-up modules, duly connected to each other via serial connection, will be arranged in order to simplify communication with the central station.

External signals have galvanic isolation with respect to the electronics of the equipment and with respect to the power supplies.

b) The communications module collects the data of the capture module, stores them and sends them to the central station, through a transmission medium that will be chosen a priori among several options, such as by GSM, GPRS, via radio, etc.

When different collection modules connected in series are arranged in the same installation, one of the modules will act as a master, and will collect, store and send the data obtained by each of the modules to the central station.

c) The power module supplies electricity to the peripheral element and can be adapted to various types of electrical sources and in particular the following:

AC or DC power grid.

Magnetic induction power taking advantage of the energy generated by high voltage cables. Solar panels . Long-lasting autonomous batteries.

Therefore, electronic equipment can be used and installed in any location, even where there is no power grid.

The hardware and firmware developed optimize energy consumption, allowing operation with unconventional energy systems.

These three modules constitute a peripheral unit or module that will be located in the remote installation to be monitored. d) The central data acquisition and monitoring team is composed of a personal computer with the corresponding monitoring and control program. The program communicates with the communication cards located in the remote facilities and the data processing.

The configuration of the sampling time and the alarms of the feedback module is done by software from the central unit.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To complement the description that is being made and in order to help a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, in accordance with an example of practical realization of the same, a single sheet is attached as an integral part of said description in which with character Illustrative and non-limiting and in its only figure, an electronic equipment for remote supervision of installations carried out in accordance with the object of the present invention has been schematically represented.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

In view of the above-mentioned figure, it can be seen how the remote electronic equipment for supervision of installations that is proposed presents a set of peripheral elements (1-9) connected to the central data acquisition equipment (10). Each peripheral element consists of a signal pickup module, a communications module and a power module

Each signal collection module (1-9) is located in a tight box of small dimensions (waterproof box with IP67 protection), which allows operation in outdoor conditions and therefore the supervision of outdoor installations. The sensor cables (71) enter this module and the signals that activate the alarms (72) or those that activate protective equipment are output.

The feedback module (1-9) can process digital, analog or PT100 signals, configuring the input card according to the type of signals to be processed. This microprocessor card for the periphery allows you to collect up to eight external signals, store them, compare them with the alarm thresholds (through assembly language), and generate alarm messages. For each of the eight inputs, the card includes electronic circuits that allow to establish by means of a switch whether the input is going to be a digital signal or an analog signal of voltage from 0 to 10 volts, from current to 4 to 20 milliamps or temperature for 100 ohm platinum probe.

Electronic equipment and circuits have a reduced electrical consumption since they are cyclically driven to a minimum consumption mode. This feature gives the remote electronic equipment for the supervision of installations a great versatility in that it allows the supervision of installations that were not easily controllable before.

External signals received by the pickup module have galvanic isolation greater than 2.5 kV with respect to system electronics and with respect to power supplies.

The communications module links the feedback modules (3, 7, 8, 9) with the central station

(10) It is responsible for collecting the data of the module or capture modules, of its storage and shipment to the central station. Communication can be configured in several possible ways: by GSM, by GPRS, by satellite telephony, by telematic means or by radio. The wide coverage offered by current digital mobile phone systems allows peripheral equipment distributed in many remote installations to be covered by these systems.

When there are several teams in the same installation to be supervised by several pick-up modules (1-5), communications with the central station can be simplified by making only one of the pick-up modules of that installation act as a master

(3), connecting said modules in series by an RS-485 bus (12, 22, 32, 42). The modules so connected can be up to a kilometer away. The master module will transmit the information of that installation to the central unit.

The power module provides the power supply of the signal pickup modules. The power supply can be configured based on different sources, which allows electronic monitoring equipment to be installed in any location, even where there is no electricity.

The hardware and firmware developed minimize energy consumption, allowing operation with unconventional energy systems. Specifically, the power module can work with magnetic induction power, taking advantage of the energy generated by a high voltage cable (11); by solar panels (73, 81); with long-lasting autonomous batteries; with direct current (12 or 24 Vdc); or with the AC power grid (230-110 See) (91).

The power module is integrated by a solar charger card, which from the energy extracted from the solar panels (73, 81) recharges a 6 or 12 Vdc battery, from minimum levels of lux, by having a booster voltage reducer that optimizes the solar panels charge curve, charging the battery with voltages in the solar generator from 4 volts. This is possible through a continuous continuous converter, which allows energy to accumulate when there are low levels of solar radiation.

Another element of the power module is the induction charger card, which obtains the energy from the magnetic induction generated by a variable high intensity cable (11) (greater than 5 A), by means of an intensity transformer and a circuit specific electronic, which delivers a continuous voltage between 15 and 40 V that charges the batteries. From 5 A intensities, the power module is able to capture the induction energy of this current and take advantage of it in the battery charge.

The power module is also composed of a battery charger card, which allows the battery to be charged. Another element is the 24Vdc output power card, which by means of a switched electronics system allows to obtain 24V Power supply from a universal voltage input (12 or 24 Vdc; 110, 220 or 380 See).

The central data acquisition and monitoring equipment (10) consists of a personal computer together with a monitoring and control program. It also has the electronics to communicate (101) with the remote feedback modules. The program communicates with the communication cards located in the remote installations (via OPC protocol) and processes the data (SCADA system).

The configuration of the sampling time of the data acquisition and the alarms of the feedback module is carried out from the central unit.

The central equipment allows the reception of the signals according to three different modes:

- automatically: every time an analog signal exceeds the maximum or minimum threshold or its sensor has an incidence, or when there is a change of state in the digital signals.

- periodically at programmed intervals from the supervision module. - at the request of the operator.

Claims

R E I V I N D I C A C I O N E S

I ^to .- Electronic Monitoring Equipment Remote characterized installations because it is able to capture signals all corresponding to the installation or equipment to control, store the data, compared with alarm thresholds, manage alarms local and / or send them to a remote control station, using various means of communication, and obtaining the necessary energy to power the equipment through the power source available at the place of the installation to be controlled.

2 .- Electronic equipment remote monitoring of facilities according to claim Ia, wherein is configured compactly, being housed in a housing of reduced dimensions that can easily be attached to any installation, even of small size, with the possibility of operating without power supply, in such a way that it can be used in all types of installations, regardless of location, the availability of a power supply network and even in weather conditions.

3 .- Electronic equipment remote monitoring of facilities according to claim Ia, wherein the system is capable of signal capture analog, digital or PT100 using a card data input is configurable, individually for each input, according to the characteristics of the installation and variables to control and supervise.

4 .- Electronic equipment remote monitoring facility according ^to claim I, characterized in that alternatively you can work with any from the following energy sources:

Solar panels.

Long-lasting autonomous batteries. - Magnetic induction power.

AC power grid.

5 .- Electronic equipment remote monitoring of facilities according to claim Ia, wherein the communication between the electronic equipment and the control station remote may alternatively be performed by telephone, GSM, GPRS, satellite phone, radio or electronic means.

6 .- electronic equipment remote monitoring facility according ^to claim I, characterized in that comprises the following elements:

a) A module or peripheral element installed in each of the facilities or equipment to be monitored and comprising:

al) A signal pickup module that is housed and materialized in a tight box of small dimensions to which the cables and sensors corresponding to the variables to be controlled corresponding to the installation or equipment to be monitored are accessed a2) A communications module that collects The data of the pick-up module stores and sends it to the remote control station. a3) A power module that supplies electricity to all the peripheral module component equipment. b) A central remote control station for data acquisition and monitoring, from modules or peripheral elements.

7 ^a. - Electronic equipment for remote supervision of installations according to claims I ^a and 6 ^a , characterized in that the signal pickup module is equipped with digital outputs capable of responding locally through an action, such as connecting a siren or activating a extinguishing system

8 ^a. - Electronic equipment for remote supervision of installations according to claims I ^a and 6 ^a , characterized in that the external signals received by the pick-up modules have galvanic isolation of 2.5 kilovolts with respect to the electronics of the card and the sources of feeding.

9 ^a. - Electronic equipment for remote supervision of installations according to claim I ^a and 6 ^a , characterized in that when in the same installation different equipment must be controlled, different signal capture modules connected in series are used, one of which will act as a master with respect to the other peripheral modules, taking care of the storage and transmission to the remote control module of the data obtained by each of the existing signal collection modules.

10 .- Electronic equipment remote monitoring facility according ^to claims I and 6, wherein the power module incorporates a solar charger card recharging a battery of 6 or 12 V from minimal levels luxes, by a booster / voltage reducer that optimizes the light utilization from 4 V, in solar cells.

11 ^a. - Electronic equipment for remote supervision of installations according to claims I ^a and 6 ^a , characterized in that the power module incorporates an induction charger card that obtains energy from the magnetic induction generated by a cable of intensity greater than 5 Amps, generating a continuous voltage for battery charges, using a current transformer.