Maintenance support method and maintenance support system

Abstract

To provide a maintenance support method and maintenance support system associated with maintenance management work for power storage elements.SOLUTION: A computer (maintenance support device) included in a maintenance support system disclosed herein is configured to: acquire status data of power storage elements via a network; automatically generate report data including a result of determination as to whether or not the history of the status data over a given period of time is within a normal range corresponding to the power storage elements; and store the generated report data.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a maintenance support method and a maintenance support system for assisting maintenance management work of energy storage elements.

Background Art

[0002] Energy storage elements are widely used in uninterruptible power supply devices, DC or AC power supply devices included in stabilized power supplies, etc. The use of energy storage elements in large-scale systems that store electric power generated by renewable energy or existing power generation systems is also expanding.

[0003] For the operation of energy storage elements, preventive maintenance efforts including regular inspections such as deterioration diagnosis are essential. In order to reduce the burden on maintenance workers and enable deterioration diagnosis of energy storage elements based on accurate information, technologies have been proposed that allow users or maintenance workers of energy storage elements to check the state of energy storage elements via a network.

[0004] Patent Document 1 discloses a device that can acquire state data of an energy storage element without going through a network managed by a user of the energy storage element when a maintenance worker performs a regular inspection of the energy storage element. By the method disclosed in Patent Document 1, a maintenance worker can go to the installation location of the energy storage element and easily acquire the state data of the energy storage element using a terminal device in their possession.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] In the regular inspection by maintenance workers, a status check including visual confirmation is performed, and a report is created based on the status data of the power storage element acquired by the terminal device and the status check at the installation location. Depending on the proficiency of the maintenance workers or the environment of the status check, there are differences in the time required for the inspection work and the creation of the report.

[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide a maintenance support method and a maintenance support system.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0008] The maintenance support method is such that a computer automatically acquires status data of a power storage element via a network, creates report data including a judgment result as to whether or not the history of the status data over a predetermined period is included within a normal range corresponding to the power storage element, and stores the created report data.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009]

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Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0010] The maintenance support method detects the completion of inspection by a maintenance worker for a power storage element, and after detecting the completion of the inspection, data obtained from a storage device that sequentially stores measurement data related to the power storage element in association with identification data for identifying the power storage element diagnoses the state of the power storage element based on whether a value indicated by the data is within a predetermined range, and creates report data including the result of the diagnosis.

[0011] With the above configuration, report data is created based on the result automatically diagnosed based on the measurement data stored in the storage device. The diagnosis is mechanically performed based on whether the value indicated by the measurement data is within a predetermined range, using the measurement data at the time of inspection obtained from the storage device that sequentially stores the measurement data. Since it is mechanically performed, the content of the report is homogenized, and the work required for the report creation work of the maintenance worker is significantly reduced.

[0012] In maintenance support, since data acquisition is mechanically performed, the man-hours are small. In maintenance inspection, there are inspection items that require human work such as visual inspection by maintenance workers, so it is difficult to reduce man-hours. Therefore, the inventors focused on the fact that the total man-hours of maintenance inspection can be reduced by streamlining the report creation, and as a result, the above effects were obtained. Although regular inspection of the power storage element is desirable, the time and cost required for the inspection become a burden on the owner, and there is a concern that the power storage element may be left without inspection. As described above, by automatically creating report data from the storage unit that sequentially stores measurement data, it becomes possible to perform inspection with a significant reduction in man-hours. Thereby, the time and cost required for the inspection can be reduced, and an environment in which inspection is easily performed is provided.

[0013] The report data may include information of the user of the power storage element or information of the maintenance worker.

[0014] Information such as that of the user who is the owner and operator of the energy storage element, or that of the maintenance worker may be automatically included in the report data. By automatically complementing the information that is true, the work of the maintenance worker is reduced.

[0015] Approval of the maintenance worker may be received for the created report data.

[0016] For the operation of the energy storage element, it is necessary for the maintenance worker to go to the actual place of use and conduct inspections such as visual inspection of the appearance. By making it essential for the maintenance worker who actually conducts the inspection to approve the mechanical diagnosis result based on the measurement data, the reliability of the report is increased compared to outputting only the mechanical diagnosis result based on the measurement data.

[0017] The predetermined range for the measurement data used for the diagnosis of the energy storage element may be obtained from the manufacturing management system of the energy storage element, or may be calculated from the history of the measurement data stored in the storage device.

[0018] With the above configuration, diagnosis according to the subtle differences in the individual characteristics of the energy storage element becomes possible so as not to be influenced by only the data of that day, and the accuracy of automatic diagnosis is improved.

[0019] The created report data may be stored in association with the identification information of the user of the energy storage element and the inspection date and time.

[0020] With the above configuration, when the user desires to check the history of maintenance inspections, the user can view the report data stored in association with the user's identification information and the inspection date and time.

[0021] The maintenance support system includes a storage device that periodically acquires and sequentially stores measurement data related to a power storage element, a maintenance terminal device that can be connected to the storage device, and a maintenance support device that can be communicatively connected to the maintenance terminal device. The maintenance terminal device notifies the maintenance support device of the completion of inspection by a maintenance worker for the power storage element. The maintenance support device that has been notified of the completion of inspection acquires diagnostic data obtained by diagnosing the state of the power storage element based on whether the value indicated by the data acquired from the storage device is within a predetermined range corresponding to the power storage element, and creates report data including the result of the diagnosis.

[0022] The maintenance support device includes a detection unit that detects the completion of inspection by a maintenance worker for the power storage element, and after detecting the completion of inspection, diagnostic data obtained by diagnosing the state of the power storage element based on whether the value indicated by the data acquired from a storage device that sequentially stores measurement data related to the power storage element in association with identification data for identifying the power storage element is within a predetermined range corresponding to the power storage element, and a report creation unit that creates report data including the result of the diagnosis.

[0023] The computer program causes a computer to execute a process of detecting the completion of inspection by a maintenance worker for a power storage element, and after detecting the completion of inspection, acquiring diagnostic data obtained by diagnosing the state of the power storage element based on whether the value indicated by the data acquired from a storage device that sequentially stores measurement data related to the power storage element in association with identification data for identifying the power storage element is within a predetermined range corresponding to the power storage element, and creating report data including the result of the diagnosis.

[0024] The maintenance terminal device includes a display unit that displays a screen including maintenance procedures for a power storage element, an acquisition unit that communicates with a storage device that periodically acquires and stores measurement data related to the power storage element to acquire the measurement data stored in the storage device, a notification unit that notifies a maintenance support device when maintenance inspection for the power storage element is completed, and a reception unit that receives report data created by the maintenance support device from the maintenance support device, causes the display unit to display a report based on the received report data, and accepts editing of the report.

[0025] The computer program causes a computer including a display unit to display a screen including maintenance procedures for a power storage element on the display unit, communicate with a storage device that periodically acquires and stores measurement data related to the power storage element to acquire the measurement data stored in the storage device, notify a maintenance support device when maintenance inspection for the power storage element is completed, receive report data created by the maintenance support device from the maintenance support device, cause the display unit to display a report based on the received report data, and execute a process of accepting editing of the report.

[0026] On the computer used by the maintenance worker, the maintenance inspection procedure is shown, and by acquiring measurement data from the storage device, the measurement results required for the inspection can be obtained. It becomes unnecessary to perform the measurement during the inspection of the power storage element, and the maintenance worker only needs to import the measurement data into the computer. Therefore, the inspection can be performed regardless of the proficiency of the maintenance worker, and the efficiency is improved.

[0027] The present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings showing its embodiments.

[0028] FIG. 1 shows an overview of the maintenance support system 100. The maintenance support system 100 includes a maintenance support device 1 and a maintenance terminal device 2 used by maintenance workers. The maintenance support system 100 can be communicatively connected to a remote monitoring system 300. The remote monitoring system 300 collects data indicating the state of the power storage element 50 to be maintained and realizes remote status viewing based on the data collected via the network. The maintenance support system 100 can be communicatively connected to a customer data management system 400 that stores data of customers who purchased the power storage element to be maintained. In the present embodiment, the maintenance support system 100, the remote monitoring system 300, and the customer data management system 400 are managed by the manufacturer of the power storage element 50 to be maintained and can be communicatively connected to each other via the manufacturer's network MN or a dedicated line. The maintenance support system 100 may be communicatively connected to a manufacturing management system (not shown) of the power storage element 50.

[0029] The network MN is a local network for the manufacturer. The network MN may be, for example, Ethernet (registered trademark) or an optical fiber line. The network MN may include a VPN (Virtual Private Network) and connect the systems 100, 300, and 400 at different locations as a local network. The connection between the maintenance support system 100 and the remote monitoring system 300 and the connection between the maintenance support system 100 and the customer data management system 400 may be part of the network MN, a dedicated line, or a VPN.

[0030] The maintenance terminal device 2 and the maintenance support device 1 can be communicatively connected via the communication network N or the network MN. The communication network N is the so-called Internet. The communication network N may include a carrier network that realizes wireless communication according to a predetermined mobile communication standard. The communication network N may include a general optical fiber line.

[0031] The power storage element 50 to be maintained by the maintenance support system 100 is preferably a rechargeable one such as a secondary battery including a lead-acid battery and a lithium-ion battery, or a capacitor. A part of the power storage element 50 may be a non-rechargeable primary battery. Each of the power storage elements 50 in the present embodiment is a lead-acid battery. In other examples, the power storage element 50 is a power storage module in which a plurality of power storage cells are connected. In other examples, the power storage element 50 is a power storage cell itself or a group of power storage modules in which a plurality of power storage modules are connected.

[0032] The power storage device 5 includes one or more power storage elements 50. The power storage device 5 may be used alone. The power storage device 5 is used as a group of power storage devices 5 communicatively connected to a customer's network CN managed by a customer (user) of the power storage element 50. A group of power storage devices 5 managed by the same customer transmits state data of the power storage element 50 to a management device 51 managed by the customer via the customer's network CN. The state data includes at least a voltage value. The state data may include an internal resistance value, a current value, and a temperature. The state data is transmitted from a unit connected to the terminals of the power storage element 50, which is a lead-acid battery, via the maintenance communication device 6. The state data may be transmitted by a maintenance communication device 6 connected to a battery management unit (BMU) provided in the power storage module, which is a lithium-ion battery. The state data may be transmitted from the maintenance communication device 6 to the maintenance terminal device 2. The state data transmitted from a plurality of power storage devices 5 is received by the remote monitoring system 300 via the dedicated line N2 or the communication network N. The state data is stored as a state history in association with identification data such as a manufacturing number for identifying each of the power storage elements 50.

[0033] The maintenance communication device 6 is provided in the power storage device 5. The maintenance communication device 6 can exchange data with the maintenance terminal device 2 used by a maintenance worker without going through the network CN. The maintenance communication device 6 can be communicatively connected to a unit that acquires state data for each power storage element 50 of the power storage device 5. The maintenance communication device 6 can be communicatively connected to a unit connected to the terminal of the lead-acid battery by wireless communication. The maintenance communication device 6 can be communicatively connected to a battery management unit (BMU) provided in the power storage module of the lithium-ion battery. The maintenance communication device 6 stores in a memory built therein the same state data as the state data transmitted from the power storage device 5 to the management device 51.

[0034] The network CN is the local network of a customer who operates a plurality of power storage devices 5. The network CN is Ethernet (registered trademark) and may be an optical line. The network CN may include a VPN. The network CN may be a network compatible with ECHONET (registered trademark) / ECHONETLite (registered trademark). The dedicated line N2 is a private network that connects between the network CN of the customer of the power storage device 5 and the remote monitoring system 300. The dedicated line N2 may be a communication network N. The dedicated line N2 may be a dedicated network compatible with ECHONET / ECHONETLite.

[0035] The maintenance support system 100 of the present embodiment supports the maintenance management of the power storage element 50 or the power storage device 5 by automatically creating report data. The maintenance support system 100 uses the status data acquired from the power storage device 5, the customer data obtained from the customer data management system 400, and the diagnostic data obtained from the remote monitoring system 300 for creating the report data. The work required for the report creation work of the maintenance worker is significantly reduced by the automatically created report data. The report data is homogenized by automatic creation, and the homogenization and efficiency of the maintenance inspection can be achieved. In the preventive maintenance of the power storage element 50, it is essential for the maintenance worker to actually visually inspect the power storage element 50 and actually confirm the usage environment. The report is created based on the report data approved by the maintenance worker who has visited the inspection. Thereby, the credibility of the report is maintained at a high level.

[0036] A detailed configuration for realizing such a maintenance support system 100 for the power storage element 50 will be described.

[0037] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the devices included in the maintenance support system 100. The maintenance support device 1 uses a server computer and includes a control unit 10, a storage unit 11, and a communication unit 12. In the present embodiment, the maintenance support device 1 is described as a single server computer, but the processing may be distributed among a plurality of server computers.

[0038] The control unit 10 is a processor using a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit). The control unit 10 controls each component and executes processing using memories such as built-in ROM and RAM. The control unit 10 executes processing based on the maintenance support program 1P stored in the storage unit 11. The maintenance support program 1P includes a Web server program. The control unit 10 functions as a Web server that provides a Web page to the maintenance terminal device 2.

[0039] The storage unit 11 uses a non-volatile memory such as a hard disk or an SSD (Solid State Drive). The storage unit 11 stores the above-described maintenance support program 1P. This maintenance support program 1P may be a program that the control unit 10 reads out the maintenance support program 7P stored in the recording medium 7 and replicates it to the storage unit 11. The storage unit 11 stores template data for a report to be referred to by the processing of the control unit 10, report data to be created, data of a web page to be displayed on the maintenance terminal device 2, and the like. The storage unit 11 stores operator data including the operator ID of the maintenance operator. The operator data includes contact information such as an operator name and an email address, and an approver ID of a supervisor who is the final approver, in association with the operator ID.

[0040] The report data stored in the storage unit 11 may be stored in a database (DB) in an external storage device.

[0041] The communication unit 12 is a communication device that realizes communication connection via the network MN and transmission and reception of data. Specifically, the communication unit 12 is a network card corresponding to the network MN. The communication unit 12 may realize communication via a router device (not shown) connected to the network MN and a communication network N. The control unit 10 transmits and receives data to and from the remote monitoring system 300 and the customer data management system 400 by the communication unit 12.

[0042] The maintenance terminal device 2 is a computer used by a maintenance operator. The maintenance terminal device 2 may be a desktop or laptop personal computer. The maintenance terminal device 2 may be a so-called smartphone or tablet-type communication terminal. The maintenance terminal device 2 includes a control unit 20, a storage unit 21, a first communication unit 22, a second communication unit 23, a display unit 24, and an operation unit 25. The maintenance terminal device 2 may include an imaging unit 26 as shown in the figure.

[0043] The control unit 20 is a processor using a CPU or a GPU. Based on the maintenance terminal program 2P stored in the storage unit 21, the control unit 20 causes the display unit 24 to display procedure instructions according to the maintenance inspection manual. The control unit 20 executes a process of reading information data from the maintenance communication device 6 based on the maintenance inspection manual. The control unit 20 executes information processing with the maintenance support device 1 by means of the web browser included in the maintenance terminal program 2P.

[0044] The storage unit 21 uses a non-volatile memory such as a hard disk or a flash memory, for example. The storage unit 21 stores various programs including the maintenance terminal program 2P. The storage unit 21 stores screen data based on the maintenance terminal program 2P. The maintenance terminal program 2P may be a program that the control unit 20 reads from the maintenance terminal program 8P stored in the recording medium 8 and replicates to the storage unit 21.

[0045] The first communication unit 22 is a communication device for realizing data communication via the communication network N or the network MN. The first communication unit 22 uses a communication device such as a network card for wired communication, a wireless communication device for mobile communication connected to the base station BS (see FIG. 1), or a wireless communication device corresponding to connection to the access point AP.

[0046] The second communication unit 23 is a communication device for realizing data communication by communicating and connecting with the maintenance communication device 6. The second communication unit 23 may be a wireless communication device such as Wifi or Bluetooth (registered trademark). The second communication unit 23 may be a USB (Universal Serial Bus) interface.

[0047] The display unit 24 uses a display such as a liquid crystal display or an organic EL (Electro Luminescence) display. The display unit 24 displays an operation screen based on the maintenance terminal program 2P of the control unit 20 and an image of the web page provided by the maintenance support device 1. The display unit 24 is preferably a display with a built-in touch panel. The display unit 24 may be a display without a built-in touch panel.

[0048] The operation unit 25 is a user interface such as a keyboard and a pointing device capable of input and output with the control unit 20, or a voice input unit. The operation unit 25 may use the touch panel of the display unit 24 or physical buttons provided on the housing. The operation unit 25 notifies the control unit 20 of operation information by the user.

[0049] The imaging unit 26 outputs an imaging image obtained using an imaging element. The control unit 20 can acquire an image captured by the imaging element of the imaging unit 26 at an arbitrary timing.

[0050] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the maintenance communication device 6. The maintenance communication device 6 includes a control unit 60, a storage unit 61, a first communication unit 62, a second communication unit 63, and a third communication unit 64. The control unit 60 uses a CPU or a microprocessor. The storage unit 61 stores a pre-defined program.

[0051] The storage unit 61 uses a non-volatile memory such as a flash memory. The storage unit 61 stores the state data received from the power storage element 50.

[0052] The first communication unit 62 is a communication device that realizes a communication connection with a unit connected to the power storage element 50. In the present embodiment, the first communication unit 62 communicates with the unit of the power storage element by wireless communication such as Bluetooth (registered trademark).

[0053] The second communication unit 63 is a communication device that realizes communication connection via the network CN. The maintenance communication device 6 can transmit the state data received from the power storage element 50 to the management device 51 by the second communication unit 63. When the power storage element 50 is provided with a battery management device having a communication function, the second communication unit 63 is unnecessary.

[0054] The third communication unit 64 is a communication device that realizes communication connection between the maintenance communication device 6 and the maintenance terminal device 2. In the present embodiment, the third communication unit 64 is a USB interface. The third communication unit 64 may be a wireless communication device different from the first communication unit 62.

[0055] The control unit 60 of the maintenance communication device 6 periodically acquires state data from the power storage element 50 by the first communication unit 62 based on a program. The control unit 60 sequentially stores the acquired state data in the storage unit 61. The storage period is, for example, about once a day when the power storage element 50 is a lead battery. The control unit 60 stores the acquired date and time in the storage unit 61 in association with the state data. The control unit 60 sequentially transmits the acquired state data from the second communication unit 63 to the management device 51. When the control unit 60 is communicatively connected to the maintenance terminal device 2 by the third communication unit 64 based on a program, the control unit 60 reads out state data from the storage unit 61 in response to an instruction from the maintenance terminal device 2 and transmits the state data from the third communication unit 64.

[0056] The maintenance support system 100 of the present embodiment supports maintenance management of the power storage element 50 group as follows. FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram showing an example of a processing procedure at the time of inspection in the maintenance terminal device 2.

[0057] The maintenance worker holds the maintenance terminal device 2 and inspects each of the power storage device 5 and the power storage elements 50 provided in the power storage device 5. The inspection contents include at least visual inspection of the appearance of the power storage element 50 or imaging of an image, and acquisition of state data of the power storage element 50 stored in the memory of the maintenance communication device 6.

[0058] The control unit 20 of the maintenance terminal device 2 displays a maintenance inspection screen based on the maintenance terminal program 2P (step S201).

[0059] The maintenance inspection screen is displayed on the main screen displayed on the display unit 24 by the processing of the maintenance terminal program 2P when the maintenance inspection menu is selected by the maintenance worker. The maintenance inspection screen includes fields for selecting or inputting data of the worker ID, customer ID, and manufacturing number of the energy storage element 50. The maintenance terminal device 2 may display the maintenance inspection screen based on the web screen data provided by the web server function of the maintenance support device 1 by the web browser function included in the maintenance terminal program 2P. The maintenance terminal device 2 is not necessarily communicably connected to the maintenance support device 1 via the communication network N. Therefore, the data of the maintenance inspection screen may be stored in the storage unit 21 of the maintenance terminal device 2 so that the maintenance inspection can be carried out even in a state where the communication connection is impossible.

[0060] The control unit 20 acquires the data of the worker ID and the customer ID (step S202). In step S202, the control unit 20 acquires the data based on the input operation using the operation unit 25 for the input field of the maintenance inspection screen. The control unit 20 may acquire the data of the customer ID from the maintenance communication device 6 in the communication connection with the maintenance communication device 6 described later. The control unit 20 acquires the identification data such as the manufacturing number of the energy storage element 50 to be inspected delivered to the customer identified by the customer ID (step S203). In step S203, the control unit 20 acquires the data from the input field of the maintenance inspection screen in the same manner as in S202.

[0061] Based on the maintenance terminal program 2P, the control unit 20 shows the maintenance procedure corresponding to the power storage element 50 incorporated in the customer identified by the customer ID on the maintenance inspection screen (step S204). In step S204, for example, when the control unit 20 acquires the data of the customer ID and the manufacturing number of the power storage element 50, it displays a message on the maintenance inspection screen to prompt the acquisition of the captured image by the imaging unit 26 and the connection. The maintenance operator operates the imaging unit 26 to capture the appearance of the power storage element 50, and connects the maintenance terminal device 2 and the maintenance communication device 6 with a USB cable.

[0062] The control unit 20 operates the imaging unit 26 to acquire captured image data (step S205). In step S205, instead of acquiring the captured image data, the control unit 20 may accept the input of the appearance visual information on the maintenance inspection screen by the operation unit 25.

[0063] The control unit 20 determines whether it can communicate and connect with the maintenance communication device 6 through the second communication unit 23 (step S206). If it is determined that communication connection is impossible (S206: NO), the control unit 20 returns the process to step S206 and waits.

[0064] If it is determined in step S206 that communication connection is possible (S206: YES), the control unit 20 sends an instruction to read the status data to the maintenance communication device 6 (step S207). The control unit 20 receives the status data read by the maintenance communication device 6 (step S208) and disconnects the communication by the second communication unit 23 (step S209).

[0065] The control unit 20 determines whether the maintenance inspection work of the maintenance operator for the power storage element 50 for the customer identified by the customer ID is completed (step S210). If it is determined that the maintenance inspection is not completed (S210: NO), the control unit 20 returns the process to step S203 and continues to show the maintenance procedure. For example, when the work progresses according to the procedure displayed on the maintenance inspection screen, an interface for selecting completion is displayed on the maintenance inspection screen. When the maintenance operator selects this interface, it is determined in step S210 that it is completed.

[0066] When it is determined in step S210 that the maintenance inspection has been completed (S210: YES), the control unit 20 transmits the inspection data to the remote monitoring system 300 in association with the operator ID (step S211). The control unit 20 transmits an inspection completion notice to the maintenance support device 1 in association with the operator ID (step S212), and ends the process. The inspection data in step S211 includes the status data and captured image data received from each maintenance communication device 6 in step S208, and identification data such as the manufacturing number of the energy storage element 50. The inspection completion notice transmitted in step S212 includes identification data such as the manufacturing number of the energy storage element 50.

[0067] The processes of steps S211 and S212 are performed when communication connection with the communication network N by the first communication unit 22 is possible. The transmission process in step S211 may be realized by establishing a communication connection between the maintenance terminal device 2 and the remote monitoring system 300 to perform data communication, or may also be realized by transmitting an e-mail from the maintenance terminal device 2 or the like.

[0068] The notification process in step S212 may be realized by establishing a communication connection between the maintenance terminal device 2 and the maintenance support device 1 to perform data communication, or may also be realized by transmitting an e-mail or the like from the maintenance terminal device 2.

[0069] Thereby, including the information of the energy storage element 50 of the energy storage device 5 not connected to the communication network N as shown in FIG. 1, the status data of each energy storage element 50 is collected by the remote monitoring system 300. Among the processing procedures of the flowchart in FIG. 4, the transmission of the status data to the remote monitoring system 300 in step S211 is not essential when the status data collected by the customer's management device 51 is transmitted to the remote monitoring system 300.

[0070] In this way, not only is the maintenance inspection procedure shown on the maintenance terminal device 2, but also the maintenance worker does not need to actually measure the state data of the power storage element 50 at the inspection target location. Instead, the maintenance worker can import the state data from the maintenance communication device 6 to the maintenance terminal device 2 via a USB cable. The maintenance worker can complete the inspection through visual inspection or appearance photography, observation, and data acquisition. The inspection can be performed regardless of the skill level of the maintenance worker, improving efficiency. It is possible to obtain state data of the same type as the state data transmitted to the management device 51, and there will be no discrepancy between the measurement results at the inspection site and the state data managed by the customer.

[0071] Figure 5 shows an example of the procedure of the report creation support process in the maintenance support system 100 by sequence. Figure 5 shows the process between the maintenance support device 1 and the remote monitoring system 300.

[0072] In the maintenance support device 1, the control unit 10 detects the completion of the inspection of the power storage element 50 (step S101). In step S101, the control unit 10 may receive and detect the inspection completion notification (S212) from the maintenance terminal device 2 in association with the identification data such as the manufacturing number of the power storage element 50. In step S101, not only the direct reception of the inspection completion notification but also the detection of the inspection completion for the power storage element 50 to be inspected from the remote monitoring system 300 or the like may be performed.

[0073] The control unit 10 acquires the operator ID of the maintenance inspection based on the identification data for the power storage element 50 for which the inspection has been completed (step S102). The control unit 10 acquires the customer data required for the report from the customer data management system 400 based on the identification data (step S103). The customer data includes, for example, the customer ID, customer name, type of the power storage element 50 or the power storage device 5, the delivery destination, and the delivery date.

[0074] The control unit 10 transmits a diagnostic data request for the power storage element 50 identified by the identification data received in step S101 to the remote monitoring system 300 (step S104).

[0075] The remote monitoring system 300 receives a diagnostic data request including a manufacturing number (step S301), and reads out the state data of the power storage element 50 identified by the manufacturing number (step S302). The state data to be read out is the latest data among the state data that has been recently transmitted from the power storage operation system for customer management or acquired by the maintenance terminal device 2 from the maintenance communication device 6 and transmitted and stored. The state data may be a history of state data over a predetermined period.

[0076] The remote monitoring system 300 creates diagnostic data based on the read state data according to the procedure set by the manufacturer of the power storage element 50 (step S303). The remote monitoring system 300 transmits the created diagnostic data to the source of the diagnostic data request (step S304).

[0077] The diagnostic data created in step S303 includes, for each power storage element 50, for example, for each power storage cell, a determination result as to whether the voltage value in the state data is included within the normal range corresponding to the target power storage element 50, and a message based on the determination result. The message includes the number of power storage cells whose voltage values are included within the normal range. When the number of power storage cells whose voltage values are within the normal range is equal to or more than a predetermined ratio of the total number of cells, the message may include that the power storage element 50 is operating normally. The diagnostic data is not limited to the determination result for the voltage value, and may include a determination result as to whether the internal resistance value is included within the normal range. The diagnostic data may include a determination result for the current value or temperature.

[0078] The diagnostic data created in step S303 also reflects the result of visual inspection of the appearance at the time of inspection. When the remote monitoring system 300 inputs a captured image, it performs image recognition on the power storage element 50 shown in the captured image, determines whether an event such as swelling or liquid leakage has occurred from the appearance of the power storage element 50, and adds the determination result to the diagnostic data. The remote monitoring system 300 may output the determination result by the visual inspection findings or a learning model that inputs the captured image and outputs the probability of the occurrence of an event.

[0079] The maintenance support device 1 receives diagnostic data from the remote monitoring system 300 via the communication unit 12 (step S105). The control unit 10 of the maintenance support device 1 creates report data based on the operator ID acquired in step S102, the customer data acquired in step S103, and the diagnostic data received in step S105 (step S106).

[0080] The control unit 10 stores the created report data in the storage unit 11 in association with identification data such as the manufacturing number of the energy storage element 50 (step S107). In step S107, the control unit 10 stores the inspection date and time in association with it in the storage unit 11.

[0081] The control unit 10 transmits a creation notification of the report data to the maintenance terminal device 2 (step S108), and ends the creation process of the report data. In step S108, the control unit 10 may transmit the notification by an e-mail to the maintenance worker, a short message, or a push notification function in the maintenance terminal program 2P.

[0082] Among the processes of steps S301 - S304 by the remote monitoring system 300, in step S303, the maintenance support device 1 may receive status data and create diagnostic data by the processing of the control unit 10.

[0083] FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram showing an example of a report creation processing procedure. When the maintenance worker finishes the inspection in a predetermined procedure, a report is created. The report is created after returning from the inspection to the manufacturer's office. The following processing starts when the maintenance worker who has received the notification in step S108 in FIG. 5 selects a report creation menu on the main screen displayed on the display unit 24 by the processing of the maintenance terminal program 2P.

[0084] The control unit 20 of the maintenance terminal device 2 displays a report creation screen based on the maintenance terminal program 2P (step S221). The maintenance terminal device 2 may display the report creation screen based on the web screen data provided by the web server function of the maintenance support device 1 by means of the web browser function included in the maintenance terminal program 2P. The report creation screen includes fields for selecting or inputting information such as the customer ID and the manufacturing number of the energy storage element 50.

[0085] The control unit 20 acquires identification data such as the customer ID and the manufacturing number of the energy storage element 50 on the report creation screen (step S222). In step S222, the control unit 20 may acquire the operator ID of the operator who operates the maintenance terminal device 2, and accept a selection from a list of customer IDs and manufacturing numbers corresponding to inspections that have been carried out by the operator identified by the acquired operator ID and for which report creation has not been completed.

[0086] The control unit 20 transmits a report data request including the customer ID and the identification data of the energy storage element 50 acquired in step S222 to the maintenance support device 1 (step S223).

[0087] The control unit 10 of the maintenance support device 1 receives the report data request (step S111). The control unit 20 reads out the latest report data among the report data stored in the storage unit 11 based on the identification data included in the report data request (step S112). The control unit 10 transmits the read report data to the maintenance terminal device 2 that is the source of the report data request (step S113). The transmission in step S113 is transmitted, for example, attached to the report creation screen.

[0088] The control unit 20 of the maintenance terminal device 2 receives the report data transmitted in response to the report data request by means of the first communication unit 22 (step S224). The control unit 20 displays the received report data as a report on the report creation screen (step S225). In step S225, the report may be displayed in a predetermined report format or may be displayed as a list for each item to be described in the report.

[0089] The control unit 20 receives an edit to the displayed report from the operation unit 25 (step S226). The report creation screen includes an edit reception interface and an approval interface for the report displayed in step S225. When the edit reception interface is selected, the control unit 20 can receive an edit of the report on the report creation screen. The items that can be edited are, for example, messages based on the judgment results included in the diagnostic data, and additional entries are possible.

[0090] The control unit 20 receives approval from the maintenance worker for the report from the operation unit 25 (step S227). When approval is received, the control unit 20 transmits an approval notice by the worker for the report data approved by the worker to the maintenance support device 1 including the worker ID in association with the approval notice (step S228). The approval in steps S227 and S228 may be applied with electronic approval operated within the manufacturer's network MN.

[0091] The control unit 10 of the maintenance support device 1 receives the approval notice (step S114). The control unit 10 notifies the final approver of a request for approval of the report data approved by the worker included in the approval notice in step S114 based on the worker ID associated with the approval notice (step S115). The notice to the final approver may be sent by e-mail or the like.

[0092] When receiving approval from the final approver for the approval request notified in step S115 (step S116), the control unit 10 creates document data of the report from the approved report data (step S117). The control unit 10 stores the created document data of the report in the storage unit 11 in association with the customer ID, inspection date and approval date (step S118), and ends the process.

[0093] If approval is not received in step S116, the control unit 10 of the maintenance support device 1 may request re-editing or the like for the worker indicated by the worker ID.

[0094] The document data in step S117 may be output, for example, as pdf data or printed out. The created document data is used for a salesperson to report to a customer. After the process of step S118, the control unit 10 may notify the salesperson that approved report document data has been created. The notification is sent by e-mail or the like, and it is preferable that this e-mail includes a link to the document data of the report.

[0095] The document data of the report stored in the storage unit 11 for each customer and for each identification data of the power storage element 50 in association with the inspection date and time may be made viewable from a computer used by the customer based on the function of the Web server of the maintenance support device 1. The control unit 10 of the maintenance support device 1 may transmit this data via the communication network N or the dedicated line N2 in response to a viewing request from a terminal device restricted by the management device 51 or a password or the like, only for the document data associated with the customer ID.

[0096] The diagnostic data creation process shown in FIG. 5 may be executed at the timing of reading the report data after the maintenance worker starts creating the report and the maintenance support device 1 receives the report data request (S111), as shown in FIG. 6.

[0097] FIGS. 7-9 show examples of the report creation screen 240 displayed on the maintenance terminal device 2. On the report creation screen 240 in FIG. 7, the worker ID is displayed together with the worker name based on the content input when starting the maintenance terminal program 2P using the maintenance terminal device 2. In FIG. 7, except for the customer ID and the identification data (manufacturing number) of the power storage element 50 for which input is required on the report creation screen 240, the location where the power storage element 50 is installed, the inspection execution date, and the report content are blank. The report creation screen 240 includes a data acquisition interface 241. When the customer ID and the manufacturing number of the power storage element 50 are input and the data acquisition interface 241 is selected by the operation unit 25, the process of step S223 in FIG. 6 is executed. Thereby, a request for report data is transmitted to the maintenance support device 1.

[0098] FIG. 8 shows a state in which the report data is reflected on the report creation screen 240. As shown in FIG. 8, the report data automatically created by the maintenance support device 1 based on the customer ID and the identification data of the power storage element 50 is acquired. When the necessary report data is acquired, the display interface 242 of the report on the report creation screen 240 is enabled and becomes selectable. FIG. 8 shows an example of being displayed as a list for each item to be described in the report in step S225 in FIG. 6. On the report creation screen 240 in FIG. 8, it is possible to accept the editing in step S226 in FIG. 6.

[0099] FIG. 9 is an example of the display of the report. FIG. 9 is an example of being displayed when the display interface 242 is selected in FIG. 8. FIG. 9 shows an example of being displayed in the format of the report in step S225 in FIG. 6. As shown in FIG. 9, the report creation screen 240 includes a preview screen 243, an approval interface 244, and an interface 245 for returning to the editing, that is, the screen shown in FIG. 8. When the approval interface 244 is selected, the approval in step S227 in FIG. 6 is accepted.

[0100] In this way, most of the reports to be formatted by the maintenance support device 1 are created, so the work required for the report creation work of the maintenance worker is greatly reduced. Since the diagnosis results included in the report data are automatically created, the reports are also homogenized. Since it is created based on a flow that requires approval, the credibility is also maintained at a high level.

[0101] (Modification example) In FIG. 5, the diagnosis is made based on whether or not the state data is included in a predetermined range in the remote monitoring system 300, and the diagnosis result is created as diagnosis data. Here, the predetermined range may vary depending on the production lot of the power storage element 50 identified by the production number, the production date and time, etc. In the modification example, the maintenance support device 1 acquires the result of determination using a range for each individual power storage element 50 instead of the same range for each of the plurality of power storage elements 50.

[0102] FIG. 10 shows an example of the procedure of the report creation support process of the maintenance support system 100 in the modified example by a sequence. Among the processing procedures shown in FIG. 10, for the procedures common to the processing procedures shown in FIG. 5, the same step numbers are assigned and detailed explanations are omitted.

[0103] In the modified example, when the remote monitoring system 300 reads out the state data for the power storage element 50 that is the request target of the diagnostic data (S302), based on the identification data such as the manufacturing number of the power storage element 50, it acquires the data to be referred to for diagnosis (step S323). The data to be referred to for diagnosis is data indicating the normal range for the measured values included in the state data of each power storage element 50. The data indicating the normal range is stored in the manufacturing management system in step S323, or is calculated by the remote monitoring system 300 itself.

[0104] The remote monitoring system 300 performs diagnosis based on the reference data for diagnosis acquired for each of the power storage elements 50 (step S324). In step S324, the remote monitoring system 300 determines, for example, whether the voltage value in the state data is included within the normal range of the reference data for diagnosis of the target power storage element 50.

[0105] The remote monitoring system 300 creates diagnostic data based on the diagnosis based on the reference data for diagnosis of each of the power storage elements 50 (S303), and transmits it to the maintenance support device 1 (S304). The processes of step S323 and step S324 may be executed by the maintenance support device 1.

[0106] The embodiments disclosed as above are illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is indicated by the claims, and includes all changes within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims.

Explanation of Signs

[0107] 100 Maintenance support system 1 Maintenance support device 10 Control unit 11 Memory unit 1P Maintenance support program 2 Maintenance terminal device 20 Control unit 21 Memory unit 2P Program for maintenance terminal 300 Remote monitoring system 400 Customer data management system 6 Communication equipment for maintenance

Claims

1. The computer Acquires status data of the energy storage element via a network, automatically creating report data including a determination result as to whether or not the history of the status data over a predetermined period of time is within a normal range corresponding to the storage element; Save the report data you created Maintenance support method.

2. The maintenance support method according to claim 1 , wherein the computer transmits the report data in response to a viewing request from a terminal device.

3. The maintenance support method according to claim 1, further comprising automatically creating report data including a determination result as to whether or not the temperature in the status data for the specified period is within a normal range corresponding to the target storage element.

4. The maintenance support method according to claim 1, further comprising automatically creating report data including a determination result as to whether or not the voltage value or internal resistance value of each storage element in the status data over the specified period is within a normal range corresponding to the storage element in question.

5. A maintenance support device capable of acquiring state data of the energy storage element via a network; Terminal device and Including, The maintenance support device includes: automatically creating report data including a determination result as to whether or not the history of the status data over a predetermined period of time is within a normal range corresponding to the storage element; Transmitting the created report data to the terminal device; The terminal device receiving report data transmitted from the maintenance support device and enabling the report data to be viewed; Maintenance support system.

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