Health diagnosis method for compressed air supply facilities and leakage inspection method for compressed air piping

Abstract

To provide a compressed air supply facility health diagnosis method that enables simple and reliable determination of the presence or absence of compressed air leakage without requiring idling or the like of production facilities using compressed air.SOLUTION: A compressed air supply facility health diagnosis method is provided, comprising a first step of collecting operation information data of an air compressor 2, a second step of acquiring usage information data, a third step of sorting the operation information data into first operation information data corresponding to the idle periods and second operation information data corresponding to the operating periods, a fourth step of evaluating the need for maintenance of compressed air piping on the basis of the first operation information data, and a fifth step of identifying compressed air leakage points in the compressed air piping, where the fifth step comprises a first sub-step of allowing a mist of colored lubricant to be present in the compressed air, and a second sub-step of searching for leakage points by searching for the lubricant leaking out from the inside of the compressed air piping.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for diagnosing the soundness of compressed air supply equipment and a method for inspecting compressed air transport pipelines for leaks. [Background technology]

[0002] In manufacturing facilities (factories), compressed air generated by air compressors is used as a power source for pneumatic equipment and tools used in the process of manufacturing intermediate and finished products. Within the facility, a network of compressed air transport pipelines (air piping) is laid out to distribute compressed air to numerous production lines and different production areas. In addition, multiple air compressors are often installed in different locations corresponding to the production lines and production areas.

[0003] As the years go by since the establishment of a business establishment, the pipelines become deteriorated, and compressed air leaks become more likely to occur from pipe joints and other parts. If compressed air leaks are left unchecked for a long period of time, the air compressor will waste more electricity, which will lead to higher manufacturing costs. Furthermore, if fossil fuels are used as the primary energy source for the electricity supply, this will also lead to an increase in carbon dioxide emissions. Therefore, it is desirable to regularly diagnose the soundness of the pipelines and, if necessary, perform maintenance such as repairing or replacing the pipelines.

[0004] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technology in which a leak inspection agent, the main components of which are a volatile solvent, a white inorganic fine powder that becomes transparent when wet and opaque when dried, and a color pigment, is applied to the surface of an object to be inspected, such as a container or pipe, and a leak is detected based on the change in color tone when the dried coating comes into contact with a liquid such as water or oil leaking from inside the object to be inspected. Patent Document 2 discloses, as a conventional technology, a technology in which oil containing an oil-soluble fluorescent dye is dissolved therein, and the fluorescence emitted from the oil seeping out from the leaking part is observed in a dark place by irradiating the surface of an object to be inspected, such as a container or pipe, with ultraviolet light to find the leaking part. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 10-142166 [Patent Document 2] JP 2001-221705 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] When applying the techniques of Patent Documents 1 and 2 to diagnose the soundness of compressed air transport pipelines, it is necessary to directly pour water and oil into every corner of the pipeline, and it is also necessary to drain the water and oil after the inspection, so it takes a very long time to complete the inspection. In addition, compressed air cannot be supplied to the production equipment during the inspection, so the inspection date and time are limited to days when the business is closed, etc.

[0007] Furthermore, when the technology of Patent Document 1 is applied, the inspection preparation work of comprehensively applying the inspection agent to a large number of pipe joints constituting the transport pipeline and the inspection implementation work of observing the color change of the inspection agent after application are generated. Therefore, there is a problem that the total man-hours of the work become enormous. In addition, if there is a period between the inspection preparation work and the inspection implementation work, there is a concern that the applied inspection agent may peel off due to vibration of the transport pipeline, etc.

[0008] In view of the above-mentioned problems, the present invention aims to provide a method for diagnosing the health of compressed air supply equipment and a method for inspecting compressed air transport pipelines for leaks, which can easily and reliably determine the presence or absence of compressed air leakage without requiring the suspension of production equipment that uses compressed air. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The health diagnosis method according to the present invention is a method for diagnosing the health of a compressed air supply facility including an air compressor that generates compressed air and a transport pipeline used to transport the compressed air to a compressed air utilization device, the method comprising the steps of: a first step of collecting operation information data including information on the discharge air volume and power consumption of the air compressor; a second step of acquiring usage information data that enables the operation period and the stop period of the compressed air utilization device to be specified; and a second step of comparing the operation information data with the usage information data to determine first operation information data corresponding to the stop period and second operation information data corresponding to the operation period. a third step of sorting the first operation information data into non-operating data and non-operating data; a fourth step of evaluating the necessity of maintenance for the transport pipeline based on the first operation information data; and a fifth step of identifying a location of leakage of the compressed air in the transport pipeline if it is evaluated in the fourth step that maintenance is necessary for the transport pipeline, wherein the fifth step includes a first sub-step of causing a mist of colored lubricating oil to be present in the compressed air, and a second sub-step of searching for the leakage location by searching for the lubricating oil leaking from the inside to the outside of the transport pipeline.

[0010] According to this method, it is possible to easily and reliably determine the presence or absence of a compressed air leak without the need to shut down production equipment that uses compressed air, etc. Note that the "operating period" here refers to the period during which the compressed air utilization equipment operates and consumes compressed air, and the "stopping period" refers to the period during which the compressed air utilization equipment is stopped and does not consume compressed air.

[0011] More specifically, the method may further include a sixth step of evaluating the necessity of maintenance for the air compressor based on second operation information data. More specifically, the method may include a fourth step of calculating a waste power cost of the air compressor based on first operation information data, and evaluating that maintenance is necessary for the transport pipeline when the calculated waste power cost satisfies a predetermined condition, and a sixth step of calculating a specific energy of the air compressor based on second operation information data, and evaluating that maintenance is necessary for the air compressor when the calculated specific energy satisfies a predetermined condition.

[0012] The leakage inspection method according to the present invention is a method for inspecting leakage of compressed air generated by an air compressor in a pipeline for transporting the compressed air, and includes a first step of making a mist of colored lubricant oil exist in the compressed air, and a second step of searching for the location of the leakage by searching for the lubricant oil leaking from the inside to the outside of the pipeline. According to this method, it is possible to easily and reliably determine the presence or absence of leakage of compressed air without requiring the suspension of production equipment that uses the compressed air.

[0013] More specifically, the method may be such that the air compressor is an oil-lubricated air compressor, and in the first step, a coloring agent is contained in the lubricating oil circulated inside the body of the oil-lubricated air compressor. Also, more specifically, the method may be such that in the first step, the lubricating oil containing a coloring agent is sucked into the compressed air discharged from the air compressor. Also, more specifically, the method may be such that the coloring agent is a fluorescent or non-fluorescent oil-soluble dye. Effect of the Invention

[0014] According to the method for diagnosing the health of compressed air supply equipment and the method for inspecting compressed air transport pipelines of the present invention, it is possible to easily and reliably determine whether or not there is a compressed air leak, without requiring the suspension of production equipment that uses compressed air. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] 1 is a configuration diagram of a health diagnosis system 100 according to a first embodiment and its peripheral elements. [Diagram 2] 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the configuration of a communication system of a health diagnosis system 100. FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a more specific configuration example of the compressed air supply facility 1. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a specific example of the configuration of the lubricant applying means 11. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration example of an air compressor 2. [Figure 6] 1 is a flowchart of a data collection operation. [Figure 7] 13 is a flowchart relating to a health evaluation operation. [Figure 8] 13 is a flowchart showing the work process of a field engineer. [Figure 9] FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a leak inspection system 100 according to a second embodiment and its peripheral elements. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0016] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The following describes embodiments of the present invention, taking as examples a first embodiment mainly related to a soundness diagnosis system and a second embodiment mainly related to a leak inspection system.

[0017] 1. First embodiment (1) Configuration of health diagnostic system First, a first embodiment will be described. Fig. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a health diagnosis system 100 according to this embodiment and its peripheral elements.

[0018] The health diagnostic system 100 is a system having a lubricant applying means 11 (first to fourth lubricant applying means 11a to 11d described later), four controllers (first to fourth) 30a to 30d (hereinafter sometimes collectively referred to as "controllers 30"), and a server 500, and is a system for diagnosing the health of a compressed air supply facility 1. The compressed air supply facility 1 is a facility having four air compressors (first to fourth) 2a to 2d (hereinafter sometimes collectively referred to as "air compressors 2") that generate compressed air, and a transport pipeline 3 used to transport the compressed air to compressed air utilization equipment 4, and is a facility that supplies compressed air to the compressed air utilization equipment 4. The compressed air supply facility 1 is installed in a business establishment that uses compressed air, such as an industrial facility such as a factory.

[0019] In the compressed air supply facility 1, each air compressor 2 generates compressed air and sends it out to a transport pipeline 3. The compressed air sent out from each air compressor 2 is supplied to the transport pipeline 3, and then supplied to each compressed air utilization device 4 connected to the transport pipeline 3.

[0020] In the health diagnosis system 100, in the example of this embodiment, a first controller 30a is provided corresponding to the first air compressor 2a, a second controller 30b is provided corresponding to the second air compressor 2b, a third controller 30c is provided corresponding to the third air compressor 2c, and a fourth controller 30d is provided corresponding to the fourth air compressor 2d.

[0021] Each controller 30 is capable of controlling the operation of the corresponding air compressor 2. The server 500 is capable of communicating with each controller 30. Note that in this embodiment, one controller 30 is provided corresponding to one air compressor 2, but one controller 30 may be provided corresponding to a plurality of air compressors 2. In this case, the one controller 30 is set to control the operation of each of the plurality of air compressors 2.

[0022] The lubricant applying means 11 is a means for performing a process (lubricant applying process) of making a mist of colored lubricant present in the compressed air. The details of the lubricant applying means 11 will be described later.

[0023] 2 shows a more specific example of the configuration of a communication system connecting the controller 30 and the server 500 in the health diagnosis system 100. The health diagnosis system 100 is configured to include a LAN (Local Area Network) 300 and the server 500. The LAN 300 is configured to include a mesh-type wireless network 210.

[0024] Wireless network 210 is a communication network configured using communication devices (nodes) including first to fourth communication units 200a to 200d (hereinafter sometimes collectively referred to as "communication units 200"), a repeater 201, and a master unit 202. Communication units 200 are provided in one-to-one correspondence with each of a plurality of controllers 30, and correspond to slave units in wireless network 210.

[0025] The first communication unit 200a corresponds to the first controller 30a, the second communication unit 200b corresponds to the second controller 30b, the third communication unit 200c corresponds to the third controller 30c, and the fourth communication unit 200d corresponds to the fourth controller 30d. Each controller 30 can communicate with its own corresponding communication unit 200. The wireless network 210 allows wireless communication between multiple nodes arranged in a local area of ​​the business establishment, and when radio waves cannot reach directly, mutual communication is possible through relay by a node in between.

[0026] One feature of the communication protocol of the wireless network 210 is that it has a multi-hop function that sends a packet to a target node by passing through (hopping) multiple nodes. Therefore, even if the communication unit 200 is installed in a place where radio waves are difficult to reach due to distance or other reasons, mutual communication with other nodes is possible by providing a repeater 201. Furthermore, when a new communication unit 200 is added, the burden of wiring work is small, and the communication network can be easily expanded. Furthermore, by arranging the nodes in a mesh pattern, even if a failure occurs in a node, communication can be made possible via other normal nodes.

[0027] In the LAN 300, all communication units 200 are connected to a parent device 202 via a wireless network 210, and the parent device 202 is further connected to a server 500 via the Internet 400. This allows the server 500 to communicate with each communication unit 200. Information transmitted from each communication unit 200 is sent to the server 500 via the LAN 300 and the Internet 400. If necessary, it is also possible to connect another LAN to the server 500 via the Internet 400 to expand the scale of the health diagnosis system 100.

[0028] With the above-described configuration of the health diagnosis system 100, each controller 30 can transmit the device ID and operating information data M (described in detail later) of the air compressor 2 corresponding to the controller 30 to the server 500. The device ID is information that enables the air compressor 2 to be identified from other air compressors 2.

[0029] The server 500 is capable of diagnosing the health of the compressed air supply facility 1 based on the information received from each controller 30. The device IDs of all air compressors 2 are pre-registered in the server 500, and various information can be recorded for each device ID. The operation of the health diagnosis system 100 will be described in detail later.

[0030] (2) Compressed air supply equipment configuration, etc. 3 shows a more specific configuration example of the compressed air supply facility 1. The compressed air supply facility 1 includes the first to fourth air compressors 2a to 2d and the transport pipeline 3 described above.

[0031] The transport pipeline 3 is laid out in a network-like manner within the business establishment so that each air compressor 2 can be connected to each of the multiple compressed air utilization devices 4. In this embodiment, the transport pipeline 3 has a loop-shaped main pipeline 7, four feed pipelines 8a to 8d (hereinafter, sometimes collectively referred to as "feed pipelines 8"), and three use pipelines 9a to 9c (hereinafter, sometimes collectively referred to as "use pipelines 9"). Each feed pipeline 8 and each use pipeline 9 branches off and extends from a different position of the main pipeline 7. In other words, one end of each feed pipeline 8 and each use pipeline 9 is connected to a different position of the main pipeline 7.

[0032] The other end of each use pipeline 9 is provided with a connection part 9x that can be connected to a compressed air utilization device 4. The connection part 9x may be in a form in which the compressed air utilization device 4 is fixedly connected, or in a form in which the compressed air utilization device 4 is detachably connected. The connection parts 9x of the use pipelines 9 can be installed in locations separated from each other.

[0033] Various devices that use compressed air can be applied as the compressed air utilization device 4. Specific examples of the compressed air utilization device 4 include an air gun or air spray that sprays compressed air, an air actuator such as an air cylinder that is operated by compressed air, and a blow molding machine that molds parts using compressed air. The compressed air utilization device 4 may also be a production facility that produces products using compressed air.

[0034] The first air compressor 2a is connected to the first feed pipe 8a and sends out the generated compressed air to the first feed pipe 8a. In the middle of the first feed pipe 8a, a first lubricant applying means 11a, a first air dryer 19a, and a first receiver tank 20a are provided in this order from the upstream side. The first air dryer 19a dehumidifies the compressed air sent out from the first air compressor 2a. The first receiver tank 20a temporarily stores the compressed air dehumidified by the first air dryer 19a.

[0035] The second air compressor 2b is connected to the second feed pipe 8b and sends out the generated compressed air to the second feed pipe 8b. In the middle of the second feed pipe 8b, a second lubricant applying means 11b, a second air dryer 19b, and a second receiver tank 20b are provided in this order from the upstream side. The second air dryer 19b dehumidifies the compressed air sent out from the second air compressor 2b. The second receiver tank 20b temporarily stores the compressed air dehumidified by the second air dryer 19b.

[0036] The third air compressor 2c is connected to the third feed pipe 8c and sends out the generated compressed air to the third feed pipe 8c. In the middle of the third feed pipe 8c, a third lubricant applying means 11c, a third air dryer 19c, and a third receiver tank 20c are provided in this order from the upstream side. The third air dryer 19c dehumidifies the compressed air sent out from the third air compressor 2c. The third receiver tank 20c temporarily stores the compressed air dehumidified by the third air dryer 19c.

[0037] The fourth air compressor 2d is connected to a fourth feed pipe 8d and sends out the generated compressed air to the fourth feed pipe 8d. In the middle of the third feed pipe 8d, a fourth lubricant applying means 11d, a fourth air dryer 19d, and a fourth receiver tank 20d are provided in this order from the upstream side. The fourth air dryer 19d dehumidifies the compressed air sent out from the fourth air compressor 2d. The fourth receiver tank 20d temporarily stores the compressed air dehumidified by the fourth air dryer 19d.

[0038] Each of the air dryers 19a to 19d described above has a role of dehumidifying the compressed air generated by the air compressor 2, and each of the receiver tanks 20a to 20d (hereinafter sometimes collectively referred to as "receiver tanks 20") has a role of suppressing sudden pressure fluctuations of the compressed air delivered from each of the air compressors 2. The compressed air delivered to each of the feed pipes 8a to 8d flows into the main pipe 7. Note that an opening / closing valve for opening and closing the flow path of the compressed air to the main pipe 7 may be provided in all or some of the feed pipes 8a to 8d.

[0039] The compressed air that has flowed into the main pipeline 7 further flows into each use pipeline 9. As a result, the compressed air sent out from each air compressor 2 is supplied via the transport pipeline 3 to the compressed air utilization equipment 4 connected to the connection part 9x of each use pipeline 9.

[0040] The lubricant applying means 11 (first to fourth lubricant applying means 11a to 11d) plays a role in causing a mist of colored lubricant to be present in the compressed air generated by the air compressor 2. This colored lubricant, which will be described in detail later, is used to identify the location of a compressed air leak in the transport pipeline 3. Here, a specific configuration example of the lubricant applying means 11 will be described with reference to FIG. 4.

[0041] The lubricant application means 11 shown in Figure 4 includes a sub-pipe 111 arranged to serve as a bypass route for part of the feed pipeline 8, a container 112 connected to the sub-pipe 111 and in which colored lubricant R is stored, and a control valve 113 for switching the flow state of compressed air in the sub-pipe 111.

[0042] The sub-pipe 111 has a base end connected to position α of the feed pipe 8, and a terminal end connected to position β (a position downstream of position α) of the feed pipe 8. In this way, the sub-pipe 111 is disposed so as to serve as a bypass route for the portion of the feed pipe 8 from position α to position β. The sub-pipe 111 can also be considered as a pipe whose base end branches off from position α of the feed pipe 8, where the main stream of compressed air flows, and whose terminal end joins position β of the feed pipe 8.

[0043] The control valves 113 are disposed at positions closer to the upstream side and closer to the downstream side in the sub-pipe 111, and are switched between open and closed states by a predetermined operation. This operation may be realized by remote control using a communication means. The compressed air flowing from the upstream side of the feed pipe 8 does not flow through the sub-pipe 111 when the control valve 113 is closed, but when the control valve 113 is open, at least a part of the compressed air flows into the sub-pipe 111 at position α, is returned to the feed pipe 8 at position β, and flows to the downstream side of the feed pipe 8. In addition, since the container 112 is disposed between the control valves 113 on the upstream side and the downstream side, the lubricating oil R in the container 112 does not leak into the feed pipe 8 when the control valve 113 is closed.

[0044] The container 112 has an air hole 112a on the upper side, and stores the lubricating oil R containing a coloring agent. The sub-pipe 111 is provided with an ejector 112d, and the suction part of the ejector 112d and the lubricating oil R (liquid phase part) inside the container 112 are communicated with each other through a suction pipe 112b. When the control valve 113 is in an open state, the lubricating oil R is sucked into the ejector 112d using compressed air sent from the front stage side of the sub-pipe 111 as a driving fluid, and a mist of the lubricating oil R is generated at the nozzle part. This mist is sent to the rear stage side of the sub-pipe 111 together with the compressed air through a diffuser part 112d1 of the ejector 112d. This makes it possible to make the mist of the colored lubricating oil R exist in the compressed air before it flows into the main pipe 7.

[0045] Furthermore, if the ejector 112d were installed in the feed pipe 8, the nozzle of the ejector 112d would create resistance and cause a drop in the supply pressure of the compressed air, but in this embodiment, by installing the ejector 112d in the sub-pipe 111, the lubricating oil R can be sucked in without reducing the supply pressure of the compressed air. Note that the diffuser portion 112d1 may be omitted if the pipe length and pipe diameter of the secondary pipe of the sub-pipe 111 are set so that the compressed air, which is the driving fluid, can be restored to its original pressure.

[0046] As described above, the lubricant applying means 11 shown in FIG. 4 is provided with a sub-pipe 111 for passing a branch flow of compressed air to a feed pipe 8 (main pipe) through which the main flow of compressed air passes, and communicates the sub-pipe 111 with a container 112 in which lubricant C is stored. Also, the control valve 113 is configured to switch between flow of compressed air through the sub-pipe 111 and non-flow. This allows the mist of lubricant R to be applied to the compressed air on a time-limited or daily basis depending on the timing of the leakage inspection. Also, when the lubricant C in the container 111 decreases, if the inflow of compressed air into the sub-pipe 111 is blocked by the control valve 113, the lubricant R can be replenished while continuing to supply compressed air via the feed pipe 8.

[0047] In addition, fluorescent or non-fluorescent oil-soluble dyes are suitable as colorants to be contained in the lubricating oil R. Most common dyes are water-soluble, and there are few types of dyes that can be dissolved in lubricating oil, but both fluorescent oil-soluble dyes and non-fluorescent oil-soluble dyes exist as such dyes. A colored lubricating oil R can be obtained by adding about 0.1 wt% of an oil-soluble dye to the lubricating oil.

[0048] The fluorescent oil-soluble dye is a dye that has almost no color under visible light but emits a fluorescent color when irradiated with ultraviolet light, and examples of such dyes include Solvent Yellow 98 and Fluorescent Brightener 184. When the transportation pipe 3 is installed in a dark place within the business premises, it is preferable to color the lubricating oil R using a fluorescent oil-soluble dye. By irradiating ultraviolet light from a portable black light, the leak location in the dark place can be easily identified by visual inspection. On the other hand, the non-fluorescent oil-soluble dye is a dye that has a color tone that appeals to the observer's eyes under visible light, and examples of such dyes include Solvent Red 27 and Solvent Blue 35.

[0049] (3) Air compressor configuration, etc. Fig. 5 shows a schematic configuration example of the air compressor 2. As shown in the figure, the air compressor 2 includes a compression mechanism 21, an oil separator 22, an automatic temperature control valve 23, an oil cooler 24, an oil filter 26, an inverter 27, and a suction filter 28. The compression mechanism 21 includes a compressor body 21a and an electric motor 21b.

[0050] In this embodiment, the air compressor 2 is configured as an oil-lubricated air compressor, and is capable of compressing air Aa sucked in from the outside by the compressor body 21a to produce compressed air Ab, which can be discharged to the transport pipeline 3 (corresponding feed pipeline 8) described above. The specific form of the air compressor 2 is not particularly limited, and may be configured as an oil-free air compressor, for example.

[0051] In FIG. 5, the outline arrows show the paths of the air Aa and the compressed air Ab, and the thick arrows show the lubricant oil circulation circuit X in which the lubricant oil Lu circulates. In this embodiment, the compressed air Ab discharged from the compressor body 21a passes through an oil separator 22 and is then discharged to the transport pipeline 3. An air flow sensor (not shown) is provided in the discharge line of the compressed air Ab, and detects the discharge air amount Q (in this embodiment, the unit is [m 3 / min). This detection information of the discharge air volume Q is sent to the controller 30. This enables the controller 30 to continuously collect monitor data (described in detail later) of the discharge air volume Q based on the detection information.

[0052] 5 is a path for circulating the lubricating oil Lu through predetermined locations (such as the compressor body 21a) in the compression mechanism 21 where friction reduction and cooling are performed using the lubricating oil Lu. The lubricating oil circulation circuit X has a path through which the lubricating oil Lu flows from the compressor body 21a to the compressor body 21a, passing through the oil separator 22, the automatic temperature control valve 23, the oil cooler 24, and the oil filter 26 in this order. The lubricating oil circulation circuit X also has an auxiliary path Xa that connects a position between the oil cooler 24 and the oil filter 26 to the automatic temperature control valve 23.

[0053] The compressor body 21a is driven by an electric motor 21b and operates to compress the air Aa to generate compressed air Ab. In this embodiment, a rotary (screw) compressor is used as the compressor body 21a, and the compressor body 21a uses lubricating oil Lu to reduce friction and cool the screw rotor (remove compression heat and frictional heat). The compressed air Ab generated by the compressor body 21a contains the lubricating oil Lu.

[0054] The electric motor 21b is configured to be driven to rotate by AC power (commercial power source, etc.) supplied from the outside, and drives the screw rotor of the compressor body 21a. The air compressor 2 is provided with a power sensor (not shown), which is capable of continuously detecting the power consumption L (instantaneous power, in this embodiment, the unit is [kW] as an example) of the air compressor 2. If the inverter 27 is provided with a power sensing function, this function may be used instead of the power sensor to continuously detect the power consumption L. The detection information of the power consumption L is sent to the controller 30. This enables the controller 30 to continuously collect monitor data of the power consumption L based on the detection information (described in detail later).

[0055] The oil separator 22 has an element 21 (a filter for removing oil mist) as a demister, receives compressed air Ab from the compressor body 21a, and temporarily stores the lubricating oil Lu (oil mist) contained in the compressed air Ab by separating it using the element 21. Note that the oil mist here corresponds to foreign matter mixed in the compressed air Ab. The portion of the lubricating oil circulation circuit X that runs from the compressor body 21a to the oil separator 22 is the path for the lubricating oil Lu contained in the compressed air Ab.

[0056] The automatic temperature control valve 23 is a three-way valve that adjusts the temperature of the lubricating oil Lu. The automatic temperature control valve 23 in this embodiment operates to increase the amount of lubricating oil Lu passing through the auxiliary path Xa when the temperature of the lubricating oil Lu is lower than a predetermined reference value, for example. This reduces the amount of lubricating oil Lu passing through the oil cooler 24, making it possible to suppress a drop in the temperature of the lubricating oil Lu.

[0057] The oil cooler 24 has a water-cooled oil cooler that cools the lubricating oil Lu by water cooling, and an air-cooled oil cooler that cools the lubricating oil Lu by air cooling. The water-cooled oil cooler recovers the waste heat contained in the lubricating oil Lu, and primarily cools the lubricating oil Lu by heat exchange between the lubricating oil Lu and the cooling water while warming the cooling water. The warm water generated by the water-cooled oil cooler can be used, for example, as boiler feed water within the business establishment.

[0058] The air-cooled oil cooler is configured to pass the lubricating oil Lu after passing through the water-cooled oil cooler and to perform secondary cooling of the lubricating oil Lu by heat exchange between the lubricating oil Lu and the cooling air. The oil cooler 24 may include only one of a water-cooled oil cooler and an air-cooled oil cooler. The oil filter 26 is a filter that removes impurities such as iron rust and sludge from the lubricating oil Lu.

[0059] The lubricating oil Lu circulating through the lubricating oil circulation circuit X plays a role in reducing friction in the compressor body 21a, and then flows into the oil separator 22 to be separated from the compressed air Ab. This lubricating oil Lu is temporarily stored in the oil separator 22, passes through the automatic temperature control valve 23, and is cooled when passing through the oil cooler 24. After impurities are removed from the cooled lubricating oil Lu in the oil filter 26, it flows into the compression mechanism 21 to be used for reducing friction and cooling in necessary places, and then returns to the compressor body 21a.

[0060] The inverter 27 is a device that performs power conversion of AC power supplied from the outside to the electric motor 21b. The operation of the inverter 27 can be controlled by the controller 30, which can control the drive frequency of the electric motor 21b. The higher the drive frequency, the higher the rotation speed of the electric motor 21b, and the more compressed air Ab is generated in the compressor body 21a.

[0061] The suction filter 28 is a filter that is provided in the intake path (the primary side of the intake adjustment valve) of the air Aa to the compressor body 21a and removes dust. When the air Aa passes through the suction filter 28, dust is removed from the air Aa and the air Aa is sent to the compressor body 21a.

[0062] The controller 30 controls and monitors each part of the air compressor 2 so that the air compressor 2 operates normally. As already described, the controller 30 is capable of communicating with the corresponding communication unit 200. Note that each controller 30 corresponding to each air compressor 2 may be incorporated in a control box arranged inside the housing of the air compressor 2.

[0063] The controller 30 in this embodiment monitors the pressure of the corresponding receiver tank 20, and when a pressure drop that exceeds a predetermined reference value occurs in the receiver tank 20, controls the corresponding air compressor 2 to start, and when a pressure increase that exceeds a predetermined reference value occurs in the receiver tank 20, controls the corresponding air compressor 2 to stop. Note that a pressure sensor that detects the pressure of the compressed air in the transport pipeline 3 may be disposed, and the controller 30 may control the drive frequency of the electric motor 21b according to the detection value of the pressure sensor. As a result, the lower the pressure of the compressed air in the transport pipeline 3, the higher the drive frequency is so that more compressed air is generated, and the pressure of the compressed air in the transport pipeline 3 can be maintained within an appropriate range.

[0064] (4) Operation of health diagnostic system The health diagnosis system 100 executes operations related to diagnosis of the health of the compressed air supply equipment 1. In the example of the present embodiment, the health diagnosis system 100 executes a data collection operation for causing the server 500 to collect various data, and a health evaluation operation for evaluating the health of the compressed air supply equipment 1 based on the collected data.

[0065] First, the data collection operation will be described below with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 6. Each controller 30 continuously collects and stores operation information data M of the corresponding air compressor 2, and transmits new operation information data M (after the data transmitted previously) together with the device ID of the air compressor 2 in question to the server 500 (step S11). The collection of operation information data M here may be limited to only those air compressors 2 that are powered on. The operation information data M includes the discharge air volume Q[m 3 / min] and power consumption L [kW].

[0066] These monitor data are all time series data (data at each time point at one-minute intervals) of values ​​detected synchronously at a predetermined period (one-minute period is used as an example in this embodiment), and all values ​​in each monitor data are accompanied by information on the date and time Ts at which the value was detected (for example, date and time in minutes such as "July 1st, 15:31"). In this way, the operation information data M includes information on both the discharge air volume Q and power consumption L at each time point at one-minute intervals. The device ID and operation information data M are transmitted from each controller 30 to the server 500 periodically (for example, at a period of 30 to 120 minutes) via the wireless network 210 described above.

[0067] Meanwhile, the server 500 waits to receive the driving information data M and the device ID from each controller 30 (step S21). Then, every time the server 500 receives the driving information data M and the device ID from any controller 30 (Yes in step S21), the server 500 records the received driving information data M as the driving information data M related to the device ID (step S22).

[0068] Furthermore, the server 500 waits for input of usage information data U (step S23). Here, the usage information data U is data that enables identification of the operation period Ta and the idle period Tb of the compressed air utilization equipment 4. The operation period Ta is a period during which at least one of the compressed air utilization equipment 4 operates and consumes compressed air, and the idle period Tb is a period during which all of the compressed air utilization equipment 4 is idle (not operating) and does not consume compressed air.

[0069] Examples of the usage information data U include operation day data representing operation days (days on which the compressed air utilization device 4 is operated) of the business establishment, holiday data representing holiday days (days on which the compressed air utilization device 4 is not operated), operation time period data representing operation time periods (time periods on which the compressed air utilization device 4 is operated) on operation days, and idle time period data representing idle time periods (time periods on which the compressed air utilization device 4 is not operated). The usage information data U may also be the setting information of a calendar timer used for ON / OFF control of the compressed air utilization device 4. The usage information data U may also be data representing only one of the operation period Ta and the idle period Tb, in which case, the period other than the one period may be regarded as the other period. For example, if the usage information data U is data representing only the operation period Ta, the period not represented by the usage information data U (i.e., the period other than the operation period Ta) may be regarded as the idle period Tb, and both the operation period Ta and the idle period Tb can be identified based on the usage information data U.

[0070] When usage information data U is input (Yes in step S23), the server 500 records the currently input information as the latest usage information data U (step S24). By performing such a series of data collection operations (steps S11 to S24), it is possible for the server 500 to collect the operation information data M and usage information data U related to each air compressor 2.

[0071] Next, the health evaluation operation will be described below with reference to the flowchart shown in Fig. 7. The health evaluation operation is periodically performed at a predetermined frequency (once a day, as an example in this embodiment). In addition, in one health evaluation operation, all air compressors 2 (device IDs) are set as processing targets once each, and a series of operations from steps S31 to S37, which will be described later, is performed on the processing targets. In other words, in one health evaluation operation, the series of operations from steps S31 to S37 are performed on each of the first to fourth air compressors 2a to 2d.

[0072] The server 500 compares the driving information data M to be processed with the latest usage information data U, and selects the first driving information data M1 corresponding to the downtime period Tb and the second driving information data M2 corresponding to the operating period Ta (step S31).

[0073] More specifically, the server 500 recognizes the downtime period Tb and the operating period Ta based on the usage information data U, and classifies, among all the monitor data in the operating information data M, the data whose date and time Ts belongs to the downtime period Tb into the first operating information data M1, and classifies the data whose date and time Ts belongs to the operating period Ta into the second operating information data M2. In this way, each of the monitor data of the discharged air volume Q and the power consumption L included in the operating information data M is divided into a part representing a value detected during the downtime period Tb and a part representing a value detected during the operating period Ta.

[0074] Next, the server 500 calculates the waste power cost C [¥] of the air compressor 2 based on the first operation information data M1 selected in the process of step S31 (step S32). More specifically, the server 500 calculates the waste power cost C per day using the collected monitor data of the power consumption L [kW] of the previous day. First, the power consumption amount P [kWh] for one day is obtained by multiplying the integrated value ΣL of each monitor data of the power consumption L by the number of collected monitor data N (corresponding to a fraction) (P=ΣL×N / 60). Then, the waste power cost C per day can be calculated by multiplying this power consumption P by the power unit price E [¥ / kWh] (Z=P×E). This power unit price E is the power unit price of the power company that supplies power to the air compressor 2, and is information that is registered in advance in the server 500. The power unit price E registered in the server 500 may be updated at any time to accommodate fluctuations.

[0075] Next, the server 500 calculates the specific energy W [kW / m 3 / min] (step S33). More specifically, the server 500 calculates the collected discharge air volume Q[m 3 The time series value of the specific energy W (specific energy W at each point in time at one-minute intervals) is calculated from the monitor data of the air consumption [kW] and the power consumption L [min]. Note that the specific energy W at each point in time can be calculated, for example, by dividing the power consumption L at the same point in time by the discharge air volume Q (W=L / Q).

[0076] Next, the server 500 determines whether the waste power cost C calculated in the current process of step S32 satisfies a predetermined reference condition Z1 (step S34). In this embodiment, the reference condition Z1 is set as a condition that is satisfied when the waste power cost C at any point in time exceeds a predetermined threshold.

[0077] During the downtime Tb when the compressed air utilization equipment 4 does not consume compressed air, the air compressor 2 should not be operating. However, if a wasteful power cost C occurs, it is revealed that a compressed air leak is progressing somewhere in the transport pipeline 3. For example, if the wasteful power cost C per day on non-working days is 2,000 yen / unit, this waste also occurs on working days, so the total wasteful power cost for the whole year is estimated to be 730,000 yen / unit. Therefore, as the predetermined threshold value for the wasteful power cost C, an amount at a level at which the total wasteful power cost for the whole year is about 50,000 yen / unit (for example, the wasteful power cost C per day is less than 150 yen / unit) is selected. If the wasteful power cost C satisfies the reference condition Z1 (Yes in step S34), the server 500 updates the transport pipeline corresponding flag F1 to ON (step S35).

[0078] That is, the server 500 stores information on the transport pipeline corresponding flag F1 (initial value is "OFF") in advance for each device ID, and the operation of step S35 updates the transport pipeline corresponding flag F1 corresponding to the current processing target to "ON." The transport pipeline corresponding flag F1 is information indicating whether or not maintenance is required for the transport pipeline 3, and when it is "ON," it indicates that maintenance is required for the transport pipeline 3, and when it is "OFF," it indicates that the necessity for said maintenance is low. When the transport pipeline corresponding flag F1 is updated to "ON" by the processing of step S35, it means that the server 500 has evaluated that maintenance is required for the transport pipeline 3.

[0079] Next, the server 500 determines whether or not the specific energy W calculated in the current process of step S33 satisfies a predetermined reference condition Z2 (step S36). In this embodiment, the reference condition Z2 is set as a condition that is satisfied when the specific energy W at any point in time exceeds a predetermined threshold value.

[0080] If the specific energy W exceeds a predetermined threshold, it is revealed that some malfunction (typically, clogging of filters such as the suction filter 28) is progressing in the air compressor 2. As the predetermined threshold for the specific energy W, for example, a numerical value obtained by multiplying the specific energy when all filters are unclogged and equivalent to a new product (for example, the specific energy on the day of commissioning of a new installation or the day of overhaul) as a base value B is selected, by a predetermined multiplication factor (for example, 1.1 to 1.3). If the specific energy W satisfies the reference condition Z2 (Yes in step S36), the server 500 updates the air compressor corresponding flag F2 to ON (step S37).

[0081] The reference condition Z2 may be set as a condition that is satisfied when the cost of replacing filters (e.g., the total of parts cost, labor cost, etc.) exceeds the excess power cost incurred by the increase in specific energy W relative to the above-mentioned base value B.

[0082] That is, the server 500 preliminarily records and holds information on the air compressor compatible flag F2 (initial value is "OFF") for each device ID, and the operation of step S37 updates the air compressor compatible flag F2 corresponding to the current processing target to "ON". The air compressor compatible flag F2 is information indicating whether or not maintenance is required for the air compressor, and when it is "ON", it indicates that maintenance is required for the air compressor, and when it is "OFF", it indicates that the necessity of said maintenance is low. When the air compressor compatible flag F2 is updated to "ON" by the processing of step S37, it means that the server 500 has evaluated that maintenance of the air compressor 2 is necessary.

[0083] The status of the transport pipeline corresponding flag F1 and the air compressor corresponding flag F2 for each device ID recorded and held in the server 500 can be confirmed by a business operator (facility management agent) contracted to perform maintenance work for the compressed air supply facility 1. This allows, for example, a field engineer performing maintenance work under the business operator to efficiently perform maintenance work for the compressed air supply facility 1 based on the status of the transport pipeline corresponding flag F1 or the air compressor corresponding flag F2. An example of a work process performed by a field engineer based on the status of these flags F1 and F2 will be described below with reference to the flowchart in FIG. 8.

[0084] The field engineer checks whether any of the transport pipeline flags F1 corresponding to all the device IDs are ON (step S41). If any of the transport pipeline flags F1 are ON (Yes in step S41), the field engineer causes the lubricant application means 11 to perform a lubricant application process, and then searches for and identifies the location of the compressed air leak in the transport pipeline 3 (step S42). If all of the transport pipeline flags F1 are OFF (No in step S41), it is considered that maintenance of the transport pipeline 3 is not required at this time, so the field engineer proceeds to the process of step S44 described below.

[0085] To explain the process of step S42 in more detail, first, the field engineer performs an operation to switch the control valve 113 of each of the lubricant application means 11a to 11d described above from a closed state to an open state. This causes each of the lubricant application means 11a to 11d to perform a lubricant application process in which a mist of colored lubricant R is applied to the compressed air generated by the air compressor 2. As a result, the transport pipeline 3 is filled with compressed air containing a mist of colored lubricant R.

[0086] When the lubricating oil application process is performed, colored lubricating oil R leaks out from the compressed air leak point in the transport pipeline 3. A field engineer searches for this leaking colored lubricating oil R to locate and identify the compressed air leak point. For example, if there is a minute gap in a pipe joint of the transport pipeline 3, the lubricating oil R deposited on the inner wall of the transport pipeline 3 will seep out to the outside as the compressed air leaks. This lubricating oil R seeping out to the outside is intentionally colored, so the leak point can be identified by visual inspection or by an investigation using an inspection tool (e.g., an imaging device).

[0087] After performing the process of step S42, the field engineer performs maintenance on the transport pipeline 3 based on the information on the identified leak location (step S43). A specific example of the maintenance is repairing the transport pipeline 3 or replacing parts to stop the compressed air leak at the identified leak location. This eliminates the wasteful power consumption of the air compressor 2 caused by the increase in the amount of compressed air leaking.

[0088] When the process of step S42 is completed, the control valves 113 of the lubricant supplying means 11a-11d are switched from an open state to a closed state. Regarding the process of step S42, the switching of the control valves 113 of the lubricant supplying means 11a-11d from a closed state to an open state (processing to start the lubricant supplying process) may be automatically executed by the server 500 in response to any one of the transport pipeline corresponding flags F1 being turned ON.

[0089] Next, the field engineer checks whether any of the air compressor corresponding flags F2 corresponding to all the device IDs are ON (step S44). If any of the air compressor corresponding flags F2 are ON (Yes in step S44), the field engineer performs maintenance on the air compressor 2 (step S45).

[0090] Specific examples of such maintenance include cleaning and replacing filters such as the suction filter 28. The field engineer can check which air compressor 2 has the air compressor flag F2 set to "ON" and narrow down the targets for maintenance to those air compressors 2 with the flag F2 set to "ON." This reduces the time and cost required for maintenance work.

[0091] Through the above-described steps S41 to S45, the field engineer can appropriately perform maintenance of the compressed air supplying facility 1 by using the health diagnosis system 100. Note that for each of the flags F1, F2 that have been set to "ON," it is possible to have the health diagnosis system 100 perform the diagnosis of health again by updating the flags F1, F2 to "OFF" after performing maintenance on the compressed air supplying facility 1, for example.

[0092] 2. Second embodiment Next, a second embodiment will be described. In the following description, emphasis will be placed on matters different from the first embodiment, and matters common to the first embodiment may be omitted. FIG. 9 shows a schematic configuration of a leak inspection system 600 according to this embodiment and its peripheral elements. The leak inspection system 600 is simplified compared to the soundness diagnosis system 100 of the first embodiment, but instead is a system specialized for performing part of the soundness diagnosis of the compressed air supply facility 1 (processing useful for compressed air leak inspection in the main pipeline 7).

[0093] The leak inspection system 600 is a system that can be used to inspect for compressed air leaks in the transport pipeline 3 of the compressed air supply facility 1, and has a lubricant applying means 11 as in the first embodiment. The compressed air supply facility 1 is also basically the same as in the first embodiment. However, in the second embodiment, a means for appropriately controlling the operation of generating compressed air in each air compressor 2 is provided instead of the controller 30 in the first embodiment. Also, in the leak inspection system 600 of the second embodiment, the installation of the LAN 300, the Internet 400, and the server 500 in the first embodiment can be omitted.

[0094] The leak inspection system 600 is capable of performing the steps in the first embodiment, particularly steps S42 and S43 (see FIG. 8) related to leak inspection, thereby enabling efficient maintenance of the transport pipeline 3. This step can be performed at any time, for example, during regular inspection such as annual inspection. Note that the details of steps S42 and S43 are basically the same as those in the first embodiment, and therefore will not be described here.

[0095] In the leak inspection system 600, there is no need to perform the data collection operation or health evaluation operation in the first embodiment, and the leak inspection system 600 can be realized even in an equipment environment where it is not possible to collect the operating information data M in the first embodiment (for example, when the air compressor 2 does not have a function to output information on the discharge air volume or power consumption).

[0096] 3.Other As described above, the health diagnosis method according to the first embodiment is a method for diagnosing the health of a compressed air supply facility 1 including an air compressor 2 that generates compressed air and a transport pipeline 3 that is used to transport the compressed air to a compressed air utilization device 4, and includes a first step (steps S11, S21 to S22) of collecting operation information data M including information on the discharge air volume Q and power consumption L of the air compressor 2, a second step (steps S23 to S24) of acquiring usage information data U that enables the operation period Ta and the down period Tb of the compressed air utilization device 4 to be specified, and The method includes a third step (step S31) of sorting the operation information data M into first operation information data M1 corresponding to the downtime period Tb and second operation information data M2 corresponding to the operation period Ta by comparing the operation information data M with the information data U, a fourth step (steps S32, S34 to S35) of evaluating the need for maintenance of the transport pipeline 3 based on the first operation information data M1, and a fifth step (steps S41 to S42) of identifying the location of the compressed air leak in the transport pipeline 3 if it is evaluated in the fourth step that maintenance of the transport pipeline 3 is necessary.

[0097] Furthermore, this fifth step includes a first sub-step of making a mist of colored lubricant C present in the compressed air, and a second sub-step of searching for the leakage location by searching for the lubricant C leaking from the inside to the outside of the transport pipeline 3. According to this soundness diagnosis method, by executing the first to third steps, the necessity of maintenance for the transport pipeline 3 can be evaluated in the fourth step, and the leakage location can be identified in the fifth step by using the colored lubricant R. Furthermore, according to this soundness diagnosis method, it is possible to easily and reliably determine the presence or absence of a compressed air leak without requiring the suspension of production equipment that uses compressed air.

[0098] In the fifth step, the mist of the lubricating oil R is carried to every corner of the transport pipeline 3 while accompanying the compressed air flow. The lubricating oil R used here is also useful for lubricating and cooling the compressed air utilization equipment 4, such as pneumatic equipment with a sliding mechanism such as an air cylinder, and pneumatic tools with a rotating mechanism such as an air turbine. The mist of the lubricating oil R present in the compressed air is deposited on the inner wall of the transport pipeline 3 when the flow of compressed air stops, but even if the lubricating oil 3 flows into the production equipment, it is used as it is for lubricating the pneumatic equipment and pneumatic tools. Therefore, special measures such as oil removal are basically unnecessary. In addition, even if the compressed air utilization equipment 4 is a production equipment, there is no need to stop the production equipment.

[0099] The soundness diagnosis method of the first embodiment further includes a sixth step (steps S33, S36 to S37) of evaluating the necessity of maintenance for the air compressor 2 based on the second operation information data M2. Therefore, the second operation information data M2 obtained in the third step can also be used to evaluate the necessity of maintenance for the air compressor 2. In this way, the soundness diagnosis method is extremely useful in the maintenance management of the compressed air supply facility 1 because it can efficiently and collectively perform soundness diagnosis not only of the compressed air transport pipeline 3 but also of the air compressor 2.

[0100] The fourth step is a process of calculating the wasted power cost C of the air compressor 2 based on the first operation information data M1, and evaluating that maintenance is necessary for the transport pipeline 3 when the calculated wasted power cost C satisfies a predetermined condition. The sixth step is a process of calculating the specific energy W of the air compressor 2 based on the second operation information data M2, and evaluating that maintenance is necessary for the air compressor 2 when the calculated specific energy W satisfies a predetermined condition.

[0101] The soundness diagnosis method according to the first embodiment also includes a leakage inspection method (step S42) for the transport pipeline 3. This leakage inspection method and the leakage inspection method according to the second embodiment are methods for inspecting leakage of compressed air generated by the air compressor 2 in the transport pipeline 3, and include step A of making a mist of colored lubricating oil R exist in the compressed air, and step B of searching for the leakage occurrence point by searching for the lubricating oil R leaking from the inside to the outside of the transport pipeline 3. Also, in step A, the lubricating oil R containing a coloring agent is sucked into the compressed air discharged from the air compressor 2.

[0102] In addition, since the air compressor 2 in each embodiment is an oil-lubricated air compressor, the lubricant applying means 11 can also be a means for adding a coloring agent to the lubricant Lu (the lubricant circulated in the lubricant circulation circuit X) circulated inside the body of the air compressor 2. In this case, in the above-mentioned step A, the lubricant Lu circulated inside the body of the air compressor 2 is added with a coloring agent. As the coloring agent to be added to the lubricant Lu, the same coloring agent as that added to the lubricant R described above can be applied.

[0103] As described above, the compressed air Ab generated by the compressor body 21a of the air compressor 2 contains the lubricating oil Lu. Therefore, if the lubricating oil Lu contains a coloring agent, it is possible to make the colored mist of the lubricating oil Lu exist in the compressed air before it flows into the transport pipeline 3 without using any special means. When adopting this form of lubricating oil applying means 11, it is preferable to configure the lubricating oil circulation circuit X so as to bypass the element 21 or to omit the installation of the element 21 in order to intentionally include the mist of the colored lubricating oil Lu in the compressed air and cause it to flow into the transport pipeline 3. Note that, since the amount of the lubricating oil Lu held in the lubricating oil circulation circuit X gradually decreases due to the outflow of the mist, it is preferable to secure a large amount of the lubricating oil Lu stored in the oil separator 22 in advance.

[0104] Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the configuration of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. In other words, the above embodiment is an example in all respects and should be considered as not restrictive. The technical scope of the present invention is indicated by the claims, not the description of the above embodiment, and should be understood to include all modifications that fall within the meaning and scope of the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0105] 1. Compressed air supply equipment 2. Air Compressor 2a No. 1 air compressor 2b No. 2 air compressor 2c 3rd air compressor 2d 4th air compressor 3 Transport pipeline 4. Compressed air equipment 7 Main pipeline 8 Feed Pipe 8a First feed line 8b Second feed pipe 8c Third feed line 8d 4th feed line 9, 9a~9c Use Pipeline 9x connections 11 Lubricating oil application means 11a First lubricating oil application means 11b Second lubricating oil applying means 11c Third lubricating oil application means 11d Fourth lubricating oil applying means 19a First Air Dryer 19b Second Air Dryer 19c 3rd Air Dryer 19d No. 4 Air Dryer 20 Receiver Tank 20a 1st receiver tank 20b Second receiver tank 20c 3rd receiver tank 20d 4th receiver tank 21 Compression mechanism 21a Compressor body 21b Electric motor 22 Oil separator 23 Automatic temperature control valve 24 Oil cooler 26 Oil filter 27 Inverter 28 Suction filter 30 Controller 30a First Controller 30b Second Controller 30c 3rd Controller 30d 4th Controller 100 Health diagnostic system 111 Sub-piping 112 Container 113 Control valve 200 Communication Unit 200a First communication unit 200b second communication unit 200c Third communication unit 200d 4th communication unit 201 Repeater 202 Parent unit 210 Wireless Network 300 LAN 400 Internet 500 Servers 600 Leak Inspection System

Claims

1. A method for diagnosing the health of a compressed air supply facility including an air compressor that generates compressed air and a transport pipeline that transports the compressed air to a compressed air utilization device, comprising: A first step of collecting operational information data including information on the discharge air volume and power consumption of the air compressor; a second step of acquiring usage information data that enables the identification of operating periods and downtime periods of the compressed air utilization device; a third step of classifying the driving information data into first driving information data corresponding to the suspension period and second driving information data corresponding to the operation period by matching the driving information data with the usage information data; A fourth step of evaluating the necessity of maintenance for the pipeline based on the first operational information data; and a fifth step of identifying a location of a compressed air leak in the transport pipeline when it is evaluated in the fourth step that maintenance of the transport pipeline is necessary, The fifth step is: a first substep of causing a mist of colored lubricant to be present in the compressed air; a second sub-step of detecting the lubricant leaking from the inside of the transport pipeline to the outside, thereby detecting the location of the leakage.

2. 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising a sixth step of evaluating a need for maintenance on the air compressor based on the second operating information data.

3. A fourth step is a process of calculating a wasteful power cost of the air compressor based on the first operation information data, and evaluating that maintenance is necessary for the transportation pipeline when the calculated wasteful power cost satisfies a predetermined condition, 3. The health diagnosis method according to claim 2, wherein the sixth step is a process of calculating a specific energy of the air compressor based on the second operating information data, and evaluating that maintenance is necessary for the air compressor when the calculated specific energy satisfies a predetermined condition.

4. A method for inspecting a compressed air leak in a pipeline for transporting compressed air generated by an air compressor, comprising the steps of: a first step of causing a mist of colored lubricating oil to be present in the compressed air; a second step of detecting the location of the leakage by detecting the lubricating oil leaking from the inside of the transport pipeline to the outside.

5. the air compressor is an oil-lubricated air compressor; 5. The leakage inspection method according to claim 4, wherein in the first step, a coloring agent is added to the lubricating oil circulated inside the body of the oil-lubricated air compressor.

6. 5. The leakage inspection method according to claim 4, wherein in the first step, lubricating oil containing a coloring agent is sucked into the compressed air discharged from the air compressor.

7. 7. The leak inspection method according to claim 5, wherein the coloring agent is a fluorescent or non-fluorescent oil-soluble dye.

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