Gas leak monitoring system

Abstract

The disclosure provides a gas leakage monitoring system, which can include a central control cabinet and a plurality of control panels, the output end of the digital output module of the control panel is electrically connected with a gas supply device, and the power supply module is connected with the digital output module through a manual isolation switch, and the manual isolation switches in the plurality of control panels are uniformly and centrally arranged in the central control cabinet for manual control. Related personnel can perform human control operation through the central control cabinet, thereby avoiding the risk of equipment downtime caused by software, hardware and human errors, and the occurrence of accidents such as gas supply pipeline valve shutdown, personnel evacuation panic and the like. In addition, when the power supply of the digital output module cannot be normally executed after being cut off during construction, the related personnel can quickly restore the manual isolation switch through the central control cabinet, so that the gas pipeline with leakage immediately executes the judgment instruction of the control program of the main control panel, and the gas supply device is remotely shut down to supply gas, thereby preventing the continuous expansion of the gas source leakage.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to the field of gas leak monitoring technology, and in particular to a gas leak monitoring system. Background Technology

[0002] With the development and application of technology, PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) technology is increasingly widely used in automated control systems, particularly in the semiconductor manufacturing industry for its application in gas supply and leakage control systems. Semiconductor manufacturing processes rely heavily on the use of toxic and flammable gases. Normal supply processes typically utilize GC (Gas CaBinet) or VMB (valve manifold box) systems to deliver the required gases to the machine for reaction with raw materials to synthesize chips. Due to the inherent hazards of gas supply equipment operation, gas leakage monitoring systems differ significantly from most familiar factory monitoring systems. During system operation, software errors must prevent gas supply valves from being interlocked and closed, or other human interference from causing pneumatic valves in the gas supply pipeline to shut down, thus disrupting normal production. This necessitates a more stable and precise control system for gas leakage detection to better ensure production and personnel safety.

[0003] In related technologies, gas leak monitoring systems use various types of gas detectors at the front end to detect when the concentration of a certain gas in the ambient air at the sampling point exceeds the standard. The system sends a feedback signal to the main PLC, which then controls the valves of the GC (Gas CaBinet) or VMB (valve manifold box) to open or close, directly cutting off the leak source and effectively controlling the hazards caused by gas leaks. With changes in production or operational needs (such as the addition or removal of gas supply equipment, construction, or preventative maintenance (PM) operations), the system equipment will inevitably involve changes to the PLC program and routine periodic PM operations during operation. A conventional gas leak monitoring system mainly consists of a PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) cabinet and a RIO (Remote Input / Output) cabinet for control and monitoring. The PLC cabinet acts as the main controller and contains components such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), communication module, input / output module, and power supply module. The CPU communicates with the communication module via a DP (DisplayPort) communication line. The actions of the input / output modules are transmitted to the CPU through the communication module for internal program logic judgment and execution. The main difference between our RIO cabinet and the PLC cabinet is that the RIO cabinet does not have a separate CPU. The construction of the other components is the same. Due to the limited number of cabinet locations and the specific nature of the signal type, multiple automatic control cabinets will be added in different areas during the system construction and design phase.

[0004] All gas supply equipment or gas detectors used for gas leak monitoring are linked and monitored through hard-wired communication with the input / output module terminals in the control panel. Therefore, during hardware construction, daily PM or software program download operations, there may be triggering of PLC & RIO control panel linkage actions, causing equipment interlock down, which may lead to gas supply interruption risks, personnel evacuation panic and other accidents. Utility Model Content

[0005] In view of this, in order to solve the technical problem that existing gas leak monitoring systems may trigger related actions of control panels during hardware construction, daily PM or software program download operations, leading to equipment interlocking down and causing gas supply interruption risks, personnel evacuation panic and other accidents, this disclosure provides a gas leak monitoring system.

[0006] According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, a gas leak monitoring system is provided, characterized in that the gas leak monitoring system includes a central control box and multiple control panels installed at different sites. Each control panel includes a power supply module, a digital output module, and a manual disconnect switch. The output terminal of the digital output module is electrically connected to the corresponding gas supply equipment at the site, and the power supply module is connected to the digital output module through the manual disconnect switch. The manual disconnect switch is used to connect or disconnect the electrical connection between the power supply module and the digital output module. The manual disconnect switches in the multiple control panels are centrally located in the central control box, so that the manual disconnect switches can be manually controlled from the central control box.

[0007] In one optional implementation, The manual disconnect switch includes a switching device and a status indicator device, wherein the status indicator device is used to indicate whether the switching device is in a conducting state or a cut-off state.

[0008] In one optional implementation, The status indicator includes an indicator light, wherein when the switching device is in the off state, the indicator light is off; when the switching device is in the on state, the indicator light is on.

[0009] In one optional implementation, The control panel includes a terminal block, a first hard-wired control line, and a second hard-wired control line. The terminal block is electrically connected to the power supply module. The terminal block is connected to the manual disconnect switch via the first hard-wired control line. The manual disconnect switch is connected to the digital output module via the second hard-wired control line.

[0010] In one optional implementation, The plurality of control panels include a main control panel and n remote control panels, where n is a positive integer greater than or equal to 1, and all n remote control panels are communicatively connected to the main control panel.

[0011] In one optional implementation, The gas leak monitoring system includes at least one gas detector, and at least one of the gas detectors is electrically connected to the main control panel. The main control panel is configured to output an alarm based on the gas leak signal fed back by at least one of the gas detectors.

[0012] In one optional implementation, The main control panel includes a programmable logic controller (PLC), which includes a central processing unit (CPU). The CPU is configured to output a control signal to the digital output module based on a gas leak signal fed back by at least one of the gas detectors, so as to control the corresponding gas supply equipment to cut off the gas supply.

[0013] In one optional implementation, The control panel includes a communication module and an analog input module. In the programmable logic controller, at least one of the gas detectors sequentially feeds back a gas leak signal to the central processing unit through the analog input module and the communication module of the programmable logic controller.

[0014] In one optional implementation, In the remote control panel, at least one of the gas detectors sequentially feeds back a gas leak signal to the central processing unit through the analog input module and communication module of the remote control panel, as well as the communication module of the programmable logic controller.

[0015] In one optional implementation, The gas supply equipment includes at least one gas cylinder cabinet and at least one valve distribution box.

[0016] The technical solutions provided by the embodiments of this disclosure can include the following beneficial effects: The gas leak monitoring system of this disclosure can include a central control box and multiple control panels (e.g., a PLC panel and at least one RIO panel). Each control panel can include a power supply module, a digital output module, and a manual disconnect switch. The output terminal of the digital output module is electrically connected to the gas supply equipment, and the power supply module is connected to the digital output module through a manual disconnect switch. The manual disconnect switches in multiple control panels are centrally located in the central control box for manual control. This disclosure, without affecting system operation, adds manual disconnect switches to prevent misoperation between the digital output modules and power supply modules in different control panels. This allows relevant personnel to perform manual control operations through the central control box, thereby avoiding equipment downtime due to software, hardware, or human errors, and minimizing the risk of gas supply interruption caused by valve closure. For example, during periodic PM operations, this invention can prevent equipment malfunctions caused by loose cables or accidental contact with related components; during gas detector testing, it can prevent erroneous interlocking of the main control panel's control program from causing actual special gas equipment malfunctions; and it can reduce the risk of accidental operation by construction personnel leading to actual special gas equipment malfunctions. In other words, this disclosure can better avoid accidents such as gas supply interruptions and panic during personnel evacuation. Furthermore, in this disclosure, if the digital output module cannot function properly after its power is cut off during construction, relevant personnel can quickly restore the manual isolation switch through the central control box. This allows the leaking gas pipeline to immediately execute the judgment command in the main control panel's control program, remotely shutting off the gas supply to the equipment, preventing the gas source from continuously expanding the leak, and ensuring personal and production safety.

[0017] It should be understood that the above general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only, and are not intended to limit this disclosure. Attached Figure Description

[0018] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form part of this specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with the present invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the present invention.

[0019] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this utility model or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, for those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0020] One or more embodiments are illustrated by way of example with reference numerals in the accompanying drawings. These illustrations do not constitute a limitation on the embodiments. Elements with the same reference numerals in the drawings are denoted as similar elements. Unless otherwise stated, the figures in the drawings are not to be limited by scale.

[0021] Figure 1 This is an electrical schematic diagram of a gas leak monitoring system according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0022] Figure 2 This is an electrical schematic diagram of a main control panel cabinet according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0023] Figure 3 This is an electrical schematic diagram of a remote control panel according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0024] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the factory layout according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0025] Figure label: 10. Power supply module; 20. Digital input module; 30. Digital output module; 40. Analog input module; 50. Analog output module; 60. Communication module; 70. Manual disconnect switch; 71. Switching device; 72. Status indicator device; 80. Central processing unit; 100. Gas detector; 200. Gas supply equipment; 300. 24V terminal block; 1. First power supply module; 2. Second power supply module; 3. Third power supply module; 4. Fourth power supply module; 5. Redundant power supply module; 11. First air switch; 12. Second air switch; 13. Third air switch; 14. Fourth air switch. Detailed Implementation

[0026] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of this application clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0027] The following disclosure provides numerous different embodiments or examples for implementing various aspects of the present invention. To simplify the disclosure, specific examples of components and arrangements are described below. These are merely examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Furthermore, reference numerals and / or letters may be repeated in different examples. Such repetition is for simplification and clarity and does not in itself indicate a relationship between the various embodiments and / or arrangements discussed.

[0028] For ease of description, spatial relative terms may be used in the text to describe the relative position or movement of one element or feature relative to another element or feature, as shown in the figure. These relative terms include, for example, "inside," "outside," "middle," "outer," "below," "below," "above," "front," "back," etc. Such spatial relative terms are intended to include different orientations of the device in use or operation, other than those depicted in the figure. For example, if the device in the figure undergoes a positional flip, orientation change, or change of motion, these directional indications will change accordingly. For instance, an element described as "below other elements or features" or "below other elements or features" will subsequently be oriented "above other elements or features" or "above other elements or features." Therefore, the example term "below" can include both upper and lower orientations. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or in other directions), and the spatial relative descriptors used in the text will be interpreted accordingly.

[0029] It should be noted that the illustrations provided in the following embodiments are only schematic representations of the basic concept of this application. Therefore, the drawings only show the components related to this application and are not drawn according to the actual number, shape and size of the components in the actual implementation. In the actual implementation, the form, quantity and proportion of each component can be arbitrarily changed, and the layout of the components may also be more complex.

[0030] The embodiments of this application will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and preferred embodiments. Those skilled in the art can easily understand other advantages and effects of this application from the content disclosed in this specification. This application can also be implemented or applied through other different specific embodiments, and various details in this specification can also be modified or changed based on different viewpoints and applications without departing from the spirit of this application. It should be understood that the preferred embodiments are only for illustrating this application and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of this application.

[0031] To address the technical problem that existing gas leak monitoring systems may trigger related actions of control panels during hardware construction, routine maintenance, or software installation, leading to equipment interlocking shutdowns and potentially causing gas supply disruptions, panic during evacuation, or other accidents, this disclosure provides a gas leak monitoring system.

[0032] The gas leak monitoring system disclosed herein may include a central control box and multiple control panels (e.g., a PLC panel and at least one RIO panel). Each control panel may include a power supply module, a digital output module, and a manual disconnect switch. The output of the digital output module is electrically connected to the gas supply equipment, and the power supply module is connected to the digital output module via a manual disconnect switch. The manual disconnect switches in the multiple control panels are centrally located in the central control box for manual control. This disclosure, without affecting system operation, adds manual disconnect switches to prevent misoperation between the digital output modules and power supply modules in different control panels. This allows relevant personnel to perform manual control operations through the central control box, thereby avoiding equipment downtime due to software, hardware, or human error, and minimizing the risk of gas supply interruptions such as valve closures. For example, during periodic PM operations, this invention can prevent equipment malfunctions caused by loose cables or accidental contact with related components; during gas detector testing, it can prevent erroneous interlocking of the main control panel's control program from causing actual special gas equipment malfunctions; and it can reduce the risk of accidental operation by construction personnel leading to actual special gas equipment malfunctions. In other words, this disclosure can better avoid accidents such as gas supply interruptions and panic during personnel evacuation. Furthermore, in this disclosure, if the digital output module cannot function properly after its power is cut off during construction, relevant personnel can quickly restore the manual isolation switch through the central control box. This allows the leaking gas pipeline to immediately execute the judgment command of the main control panel's control program, remotely shutting off the gas supply to the equipment, preventing the gas source from continuing to expand the leak, and ensuring personal and production safety.

[0033] In one exemplary embodiment, reference Figures 1 to 3 As shown, a gas leak monitoring system is provided, including a central control box and multiple control panels located at different sites (e.g., a factory area). It should be noted that more than one control panel can be installed in the same factory area. The central control box can be located in a duty room or a centralized control room; there is no limitation on this. The multiple control panels may include a main control panel and n remote control panels, where n is a positive integer greater than or equal to 1. All n remote control modules are communicatively connected to the main control panel.

[0034] For example, the main control panel can be a PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) panel, and the remote control panel can be a RIO (Remote Input / Output Cabinet) panel. The number of remote control panels can be set according to actual needs and is not limited.

[0035] Each control panel may include a power supply module 10, a digital output module 30, a digital input module 20, a communication module 50, an analog input module 40, and an analog output module 50. The control panel may also include connecting cables and other auxiliary equipment; there are no limitations on this. The power supply module 10 supplies power to the digital output module 30, digital input module 20, communication module 50, analog input module 40, and analog output module 50 to ensure their normal operation. The output terminal of the digital output module 30 is electrically connected to a gas supply device 200 to control the gas supply device 200.

[0036] Among the multiple control panels, the difference between the main control panel and the remote control panel is that the main control panel may include a central processing unit 80 (CPU), while the remote control panel may not have a central processing unit 80. The main control panel and the remote control panel can communicate with each other through the communication module 50, and the central processing unit 80 of the main control panel can control both the main control panel and the remote control panel simultaneously.

[0037] The gas leak monitoring system may include at least one gas detector 100 for detecting the presence of a gas leak. Each gas detector 100 may be electrically connected to the main control panel. The central processing unit 80 is configured to output a control signal to the digital output module 30 based on the gas leak signal fed back by at least one gas detector 100, so as to control the corresponding gas supply equipment 200 to cut off the gas supply.

[0038] In the main control panel, at least one gas detector 100 can sequentially send a gas leak signal to the central processing unit 80 via the analog input module 40 and the communication module 50. Upon receiving the gas leak signal, the central processing unit 80 can output a control signal to the digital output module 30 to control the corresponding gas supply equipment 200 to cut off the gas supply. For example, the main control panel can be configured with four gas leak detection points, meaning its analog input module 40 can be connected to four gas detectors 100.

[0039] In the case of a remote control panel installed on-site, at least one gas detector 100 sequentially transmits a gas leak signal to the central processing unit 80 of the main control panel via the analog input module 40 and communication module 50 of the remote control panel, and the communication module 50 of the main control panel. Upon receiving the gas leak signal, the central processing unit 80 transmits the signal through the communication modules 50 of the main control panel and the remote control panel to output a control signal to the digital output module 30 of the remote control panel, thereby controlling the corresponding gas supply equipment 200 to cut off the gas supply. For example, the remote control panel can be used to detect four gas leak points, meaning its analog input module 40 can be connected to four gas detectors 100.

[0040] The gas supply equipment 200 may include at least one gas cabinet (GC) and at least one valve manifold box (VMB). The digital output module 30, digital input module 20, analog input module 40, and analog output module 50 are primarily responsible for reading and controlling the operation, stop, and other states of the front-end gas supply equipment 200 and gas leak detection instruments (such as gas detector 100). The on / off signals of the equipment are generally represented by "0" or "1" in the judgment logic of the control program in the main control panel. The normal judgment logic is as follows: when the gas detector 100 sampling points detect a gas leak in the relevant area, it feeds the signal back to the AI ​​point. After the input signal is calculated and judged by the program logic ladder diagram, it is output through the DO point to the corresponding special gas supply equipment such as GC / VMB for interlocking shutdown, so as to shut down the corresponding gas supply pipeline and cut off the leak source. The PLC & RIO panel in the conventional construction method does not have a DO (digital output signal) signal isolation and cut-off switch. There are certain risks in the software and hardware expansion or PM operation of the system.

[0041] For example, during system expansion, modifying and downloading the control program of the running main control panel may cause interlocking shutdowns of gas supply equipment such as GC or VMB; during monthly PM operations of the gas leak monitoring system in the PLC&RIO panel, loose control cables may cause equipment shutdowns; during testing of the gas detector 100, errors in the control program in the main control panel may cause interlocking shutdowns, leading to the shutdown of gas-supplying branches of the VMB; when expanding the gas leak monitoring system by adding equipment, operators may cause short circuits in other equipment lines when connecting control lines, etc. All of the above situations could unnecessarily cause gas supply interruptions and panic during personnel evacuation.

[0042] The outputs in the control panel are mainly controlled via DO signals. The power supply for the communication module 50, digital output module 30, digital input module 20, analog input module 40, and analog output module 50 in the control panel is handled by individual power supply modules via separate air switches. Therefore, in this embodiment, a manual disconnect switch 70 is added to each control panel. The power supply module 10 is connected to the digital output module 30 via the manual disconnect switch 70. The manual disconnect switch is used to connect or disconnect the electrical connection between the power supply module 10 and the digital output module 30. The manual disconnect switches in multiple control panels are centrally located in the central control box for manual control.

[0043] The manual disconnect switch 70 may include a switching device 71 (i.e., a hardware manual disconnect switch) and a status indicator 72. The status indicator 72 is used to indicate whether the switching device 71 is in the on or off state, so that relevant personnel can understand the status of the switching device 71 in a timely manner.

[0044] The status indicator 72 includes an indicator light. When the switch 71 is in the off state, the indicator light is off; when the switch 71 is in the on state, the indicator light is on. The indicator light provides a more intuitive understanding of the status of the switch 71.

[0045] The control panel may include a terminal block, a first hard-wired control line and a second hard-wired control line. The terminal block is electrically connected to the power supply module 10. The terminal block is connected to the manual disconnect switch via the first hard-wired control line. The manual disconnect switch is connected to the digital output module 30 via the second hard-wired control line.

[0046] For example, the terminal block can be a 24V terminal block. In addition to the power supply module 10, the gas leak monitoring system can also include a redundant power supply module 5. Furthermore, the communication module 50, digital output module 30, digital input module 20, analog input module 40, and analog output module 50 in the control panel can all be connected to the power supply module 10 and / or the redundant power supply module 5 via the 24V terminal block. All of the above connections can be achieved using RVVP 2*1.0 standard cables.

[0047] In this embodiment, a separate hard-wired control line, a hardware switch device to prevent misoperation, and an indicator light are added to the DO point of the control panel, and the DO signal cut-off control points of the corresponding panel are uniformly concentrated in a separate central control box in the duty control room.

[0048] Specifically, the digital output modules 30 and power supply modules 10 of each control panel are disconnected from each other via hardware switching devices (such as rotary switches, normally left-on, right-off). Simultaneously, the corresponding DO module control indicator light of the control panel is turned off, effectively blocking the transmission of output control signals and preventing accidents caused by human error or hardware / software malfunctions. It should be noted that when the power supply to the digital output module 30 is connected, the indicator light can remain constantly lit. The central control box can be uniformly installed in the control room and managed by designated personnel.

[0049] It should be noted that during the period when the digital output module 30 of the control panel fails, the duty workstation can strengthen real-time monitoring, appropriately increase the number of technical personnel to monitor the operating status of each device in the system, and the status of all devices in the system workstation can be monitored normally without being affected. If the gas detector 100 detects that the gas concentration value in a certain area exceeds the standard, the control program in the gas leak monitoring system can run automatically and can remotely output actions (because the power supply of the digital output module 30 is cut off during construction, it cannot be executed normally). After the main control panel responds to the gas leak signal and pops up the relevant alarm prompt, it can immediately notify the construction personnel in the area to stop work and evacuate. At the same time, the electrical connection between the digital output module 30 and the power supply module 10 is restored in time, and the equipment can immediately execute the CPU's unsuccessful instruction, interlock and shut down the corresponding area's gas supply equipment 200, cut off the pneumatic valve of the supply branch, and quickly cut off the gas leak source, thus ensuring the stability of the system operation to a certain extent.

[0050] In this embodiment, the main control panel is configured to output an alarm based on a gas leak signal fed back by at least one of the gas detectors 100. For example, an alarm message and related procedures can be added to the control program of the main control panel. When the hardware switch is manually turned off, the main control panel can control the control software to output an alarm indicating that the switch is turned on. This alarm will not disappear automatically; it will only be automatically cleared after the hardware switch is reset, thereby further improving safety.

[0051] In this embodiment, without affecting system operation, a manual disconnect switch 70 to prevent misoperation is added between the digital output module 30 and the power supply module 10 in each different control panel. This allows relevant personnel to manually control the system through the central control box, thereby avoiding equipment downtime caused by software, hardware, or human errors, and minimizing the risk of gas supply interruptions due to valve closure. For example, during periodic PM operations, it prevents equipment downtime caused by loose cables or accidental contact with related components; during gas detector 100 testing, it prevents downtime of the actual special gas equipment due to PLC program errors and interlocks; and it reduces the risk of accidental operation by construction personnel leading to downtime of the actual special gas equipment. In short, this embodiment can better avoid accidents such as gas supply interruptions and panic during personnel evacuation.

[0052] In addition, in this embodiment, if the digital output module 30 cannot function properly after its power is cut off during construction, relevant personnel can quickly restore the manual isolation switch 70 through the central control box, so that the gas pipeline with leakage will immediately execute the judgment instruction of the program in the PLC, remotely shut off the gas supply equipment 200, prevent the gas source from continuing to expand the leakage, and ensure personal and production safety.

[0053] In one exemplary embodiment, reference Figures 1 to 4 As shown, a gas leak monitoring system is provided. This gas leak monitoring system may include a central control box, a main control panel, and multiple remote control panels. The main control panel may be a PLC panel, and the remote control panels may be RIO panels.

[0054] The gas leak monitoring system in this embodiment can be used to monitor two plant areas, #1 and #2. RIO control panels 01-03 are located in plant area #1, while PLC control panels and RIO control panels 04-05 are located in plant area #2. The difference between the PLC and RIO control panels is that the PLC control panel may include a central processing unit (CPU), while the RIO control panel may not have a CPU. The PLC control panel can communicate with the RIO control panels to control the gas supply equipment 200 controlled by each RIO control panel.

[0055] In each control panel, the digital output module 30, digital input module 20, analog input module 40, and analog output module 50 are mainly responsible for reading and controlling the operation, stop, and other states of the front-end gas supply equipment 200 and gas leak detection instruments (such as gas detector 100). The on or off signals of the equipment are generally represented by "0" or "1" in the judgment logic of the control program of the main control panel. The normal judgment logic is as follows: when the gas detector 100 detects a gas leak in the relevant area, it feeds back the signal to the AI ​​point. After the input signal of the AI ​​point is judged by the ladder diagram of the program logic, it is output through the DO point to the corresponding special gas supply equipment such as GC / VMB for interlocking shutdown, so as to shut down the corresponding gas supply pipeline and cut off the leak source. The PLC & RIO panel in the conventional construction method does not have a DO (digital output signal) signal isolation and cut-off switch. There are certain risks in the software and hardware expansion or PM operation of the system.

[0056] The button electrical diagram of this embodiment can be found in the reference diagram. Figure 1 As shown, the first air switch 11, the second air switch 12, the third air switch 13, and the fourth air switch 14 can effectively ensure that each line is powered independently without affecting the operation of the equipment, and are typically 220V / 10A specifications; the first power supply module 1 and the second power supply module 2 can convert 220V power to 24V for equipment use, and are used to ensure dual power supply to the communication module 50 of the main control panel; the communication module 50 of the main control panel is mainly used to realize data transmission and interaction between the main control panel and other equipment; the third power supply module 3 and the fourth power supply module 4 can convert 220V power to 24V for equipment use, and are used to ensure dual power input to the redundant power supply module 5; the redundant power supply module 5 can provide dual independent power supply protection for the equipment; the 24V terminal block 300 can provide standardized and maintainable wiring connections for the electrical system. The system comprises the following modules: AI module (Analog Input Module 40) converts analog input signals (such as continuously changing signals like temperature and pressure) into digital signals for processing by the control system; AO module (Analog Output Module 50) converts digital signals output by the control system into analog output signals for controlling actuators (such as valves and motors); DI module (Digital Input Module 20) receives digital input signals (such as discrete signals like switch on / off states and sensor status) from the field and transmits them to the control system; DO module (Digital Output Module 30) outputs digital signals according to instructions from the control system for controlling the start / stop and switching of external devices; and a manual disconnect switch with indicator lights controls the power supply status of the digital output module 30 to control whether the DO signal output is cut off.

[0057] It should be noted that the redundant power supply module 5 is electrically connected to the power supply of the control panel cabinet, thereby providing power to all modules in the control panel cabinet. However, the communication module can be directly powered by power supply module 1 / 2 or by redundant power supply module 5; there is no limitation on this.

[0058] In this embodiment, the hardware isolation of each control panel in the gas leak monitoring system is mainly divided into two states: on and off. A hardware switch device with an indicator light (rotary type, left on and right off, the indicator light is off when the switch device is on and constantly on when the switch device is off) is added before the power supply module 10 supplies power to the digital output module 30. This unifies the control points of the digital output modules 30 of the control panels in each plant area into a single central control box in the duty room for centralized control and management.

[0059] In situations involving related construction work, the switch can be manually operated in advance. Because the digital output module 30 involves the remote shutdown function of the gas supply equipment 200, this function requires the addition of a corresponding alarm notification function to the system workstation's control program. In a gas leak monitoring system, alarm levels are conventionally defined as follows: Level 1 alarm notifies the director-level supervisor; Level 2 alarm notifies the department manager; Level 3 alarm notifies the system engineer; and Level 4 alarm is a warning alarm requiring on-site confirmation and verification by a system technician. Gas detector 100 alarms are generally divided into two stages: Stage 1 alarms are gas leak warning alarms, and Stage 2 alarms trigger a system shutdown. Manual isolation is a risky operation and requires the system engineer to apply to the department manager and obtain approval from the director before proceeding. After activating the switching devices, the control program will display a level-two alarm, but the system's operational status will not be affected. The system engineer in the control room must manually monitor the special gas equipment and gas detector 100. If, during operation, gas detector 100 detects a gas leak in an area reaching the first or second alarm threshold, the main control panel will receive the leak signal from the gas detector 100 and issue an alarm, triggering corresponding interlocking actions (which cannot be executed normally after the power supply to the digital output module 30 was cut off during construction). Immediately, the operator must evacuate and report to the supervisor. The on-duty engineer will then immediately restore the switching devices, causing the leaking gas pipeline to execute the control program's judgment instructions in the main control panel to remotely shut off the corresponding special gas supply equipment valve, preventing further gas leakage and ensuring personal and production safety.

[0060] Those skilled in the art will further recognize that the units and algorithm steps of the various examples described in conjunction with the embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented in electronic hardware, computer software, or a combination of both. To clearly illustrate the interchangeability of hardware and software, the components and steps of the various examples have been generally described in terms of functionality in the foregoing description. Whether these functions are implemented in hardware or software depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Those skilled in the art can use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be considered beyond the scope of this application.

[0061] It should be noted that the terms "one implementation," "embodiment," "exemplary embodiment," and "some embodiments" used in the specification indicate that the described embodiment may include a specific feature, structure, or characteristic, but not every embodiment necessarily includes that specific feature, structure, or characteristic. Furthermore, such phrases do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. Moreover, when a specific feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, implementing such a feature, structure, or characteristic in conjunction with other embodiments, whether explicitly described or not, is within the knowledge scope of those skilled in the art.

[0062] It should be noted that, in this document, relational terms such as "first" and "second" are used merely to distinguish one entity or operation from another, and do not necessarily require or imply any such actual relationship or order between these entities or operations. Furthermore, the terms "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such a process, method, article, or apparatus. Unless otherwise specified, an element defined by the phrase "comprising one..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that includes said element.

[0063] The above embodiments are merely preferred embodiments provided to fully illustrate this application, and the scope of protection of this application is not limited thereto. Equivalent substitutions or modifications made by those skilled in the art based on this application are all within the scope of protection of this application.

Claims

1. A gas leak monitoring system, characterized in that, The gas leak monitoring system includes a central control box and multiple control panels located at different sites. Each control panel includes a power supply module, a digital output module, and a manual disconnect switch. The output of the digital output module is electrically connected to the corresponding gas supply equipment at the site. The power supply module is connected to the digital output module through the manual disconnect switch. The manual disconnect switch is used to connect or disconnect the electrical connection between the power supply module and the digital output module. The manual disconnect switches in the multiple control panels are centrally located in the central control box for manual control from the central control box.

2. The gas leak monitoring system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The manual disconnect switch includes a switching device and a status indicator device, wherein the status indicator device is used to indicate whether the switching device is in a conducting state or a cut-off state.

3. The gas leak monitoring system of claim 2, wherein, The status indicator includes an indicator light, wherein when the switching device is in the off state, the indicator light is off; when the switching device is in the on state, the indicator light is on.

4. The gas leak monitoring system of claim 1, wherein, The control panel includes a terminal block, a first hard-wired control line, and a second hard-wired control line. The terminal block is electrically connected to the power supply module. The terminal block is connected to the manual disconnect switch via the first hard-wired control line. The manual disconnect switch is connected to the digital output module via the second hard-wired control line.

5. The gas leak monitoring system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The plurality of control panels include a main control panel and n remote control panels, where n is a positive integer greater than or equal to 1, and all n remote control panels are communicatively connected to the main control panel.

6. The gas leak monitoring system according to claim 5, characterized in that, The gas leak monitoring system includes at least one gas detector, and at least one of the gas detectors is electrically connected to the main control panel. The main control panel is configured to output an alarm based on the gas leak signal fed back by at least one of the gas detectors.

7. The gas leak monitoring system of claim 6, wherein, The main control panel includes a programmable logic controller (PLC), which includes a central processing unit (CPU). The CPU is configured to output a control signal to the digital output module based on a gas leak signal fed back by at least one of the gas detectors, so as to control the corresponding gas supply equipment to cut off the gas supply.

8. The gas leak monitoring system according to claim 7, characterized in that, The control panel includes a communication module and an analog input module. In the programmable logic controller, at least one of the gas detectors sequentially feeds back a gas leak signal to the central processing unit through the analog input module and the communication module of the programmable logic controller.

9. The gas leak monitoring system of claim 8, wherein, In the remote control panel, at least one of the gas detectors sequentially feeds back a gas leak signal to the central processing unit through the analog input module and communication module of the remote control panel, as well as the communication module of the programmable logic controller.

10. The gas leak monitoring system according to any one of claims 1-9, characterized in that, The gas supply equipment includes at least one gas cylinder cabinet and at least one valve distribution box.

Images