Driver-assistance device, driver-assistance method, and computer program

Abstract

To provide a driver-assistance device that assists a driving manager in making decisions by accurately presenting a basis for calculated values to the driving manager.SOLUTION: A driver-assistance device 1 according to an embodiment includes: a water quality prediction unit 11 which calculates a predicted value of raw water quality using at least information on raw water quality of raw water flowing into a water treatment process having a step of injecting chemicals into water to be treated, and calculates a predicted value of treated water quality after injecting the chemicals using a predicted value of a chemical injection rate calculated by a chemical injection rate calculation unit 13 using the predicted value of the raw water quality; the chemical injection rate calculation unit 13 which calculates a predicted value of the chemical injection rate using the predicted value of the raw water quality; and a display information generation unit 15 which generates display information for displaying time-series information of the predicted value of the chemical injection rate, time-series information of the value used for calculating the chemical injection rate, and time-series information of the predicted value of the treated water quality in association with the time.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Embodiments of the present invention relate to a driving assistance device, a driving assistance method, and a computer program.

Background Art

[0002] A water purification plant is required to have water quality conforming to water quality standards and supply the required amount of water to consumers regardless of fluctuations in the water quality of water sources such as rivers. Therefore, strict water quality management is carried out at water purification plants.

[0003] In a water purification plant, since it takes several hours from the inflow of raw water into the water treatment process until the completion of water treatment such as chemical injection, coagulation sedimentation, and filtration of chlorine, flocculants, etc., it is necessary to predict the weather and water quality during the water treatment process several hours after the inflow of raw water and perform water quality management. For such water quality management, the injection rate of chemicals such as chlorine and flocculants injected into the water to be treated during the water treatment process has generally been determined based on the know-how of experienced operation managers with expertise in water treatment, such as knowledge and experience. In recent years, for the purpose of improving the efficiency of water treatment operations and reducing the workload of operation managers, the know-how of experienced operation managers has been digitized, and the introduction of systems that automatically control chemical injection rates and the like has been promoted.

[0004] However, in the operation by the conventional control system, sufficient information has not been provided to the operation manager, and there have been cases where it has been difficult for the operation manager to judge the validity of the control by the system.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] Even when automatically controlling the chemical injection rate, etc., it is necessary for the operation manager to monitor the chemical injection rate in order to cope with, for example, system failures or sudden changes in the quality of raw water. However, in conventional control systems, since sufficient information about the basis of the chemical injection rate calculated by the control system is not provided to the operation manager, it may be difficult for the operation manager to determine the validity of the chemical injection rate presented based on the information provided by the system.

[0007] An embodiment of the present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an operation support device, an operation support method, and a computer program that assist the operation manager's judgment by accurately presenting the basis of the chemical injection rate calculated by the system are provided.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0008] The operation support device according to the embodiment calculates a predicted value of the raw water quality using at least information regarding the raw water quality of the raw water flowing into a water treatment process having a step of injecting a chemical into the water to be treated, and calculates a predicted value of the treated water quality after chemical injection using a predicted value of the chemical injection rate. A chemical injection rate calculation unit that calculates a predicted value of the chemical injection rate using the predicted value of the raw water quality, and time series information of the predicted value of the chemical injection rate, time series information of the values used in the calculation of the chemical injection rate, and time series information of the predicted value of the treated water quality, and a display information generation unit that generates display information for displaying with time corresponding.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

[0010] Hereinafter, a driving support device, a driving support method, and a computer program according to one embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing a configuration example of a water treatment system to which the driving support device and the driving support method according to one embodiment are applied.

[0011] The water treatment system 100 has a function of predicting the future water quality of raw water flowing into the water treatment process WP, a function of calculating the injection rate of chemicals (for example, chlorine, flocculant, activated carbon, etc.) to be injected into the water to be treated in the water treatment process WP, and a function of presenting the injection rate calculated by the system to the operation manager in a display such as a graph.

[0012] The water treatment process WP includes an intake well, a mixing tank, a flocculation tank, a sedimentation tank, a filtration tank, and a clean water tank (not shown). Chemicals such as chlorine and flocculant are injected into the water to be treated at various points from when the raw water flows into the water treatment process WP as the water to be treated until it flows out of the water treatment process WP as the treated water, and water treatment such as coagulation sedimentation and filtration is performed.

[0013] The water treatment system 100 includes an operation support device 1, a chemical injection device 2, a raw water quality meter 51, an influent flow meter 52, a treated water quality meter 53, and a water treatment process WP.

[0014] The raw water quality meter 51 measures the odor, color, turbidity, pH, water temperature, etc. of the raw water before being treated in the water treatment system 100, and supplies the measured values to the operation support device 1. The influent flow meter 52 measures the flow rate of the raw water flowing into the water treatment system 100, and supplies the measured values to the operation support device 1.

[0015] The treated water quality meter 53 measures the treated water quality such as odor, color, turbidity, pH, residual chlorine concentration, water temperature, etc. at a plurality of points for the water to be treated processed in the water treatment process WP of the water treatment system 100 and the treated water discharged from the water treatment process WP, and supplies the measured values (process information) to the operation support device 1.

[0016] The operation support device 1 is, for example, a device including an arithmetic unit having at least one processor and a storage unit (storage unit M shown in FIG. 2) in which a program executed by the processor is recorded. The operation support device 1 can realize various functions by software or a combination of software and hardware.

[0017] The operation support device 1 acquires the measured values of the quality and flow rate of the raw water and the process information of the water to be treated in the water treatment process WP, and acquires from the outside weather information such as the current and future (predetermined time later) air temperature, water temperature, precipitation, ultraviolet index, weather, etc. The operation support device 1 calculates the future raw water quality and the water quality of the water to be treated during the treatment of the water treatment process WP using the acquired various information, and calculates, for example, the predicted values of the time series of the chemical injection rate that results in a water quality that conforms to the control value of the residual salt concentration at the sedimentation tank outlet.

[0018] The operation support device 1 has a function of displaying on a display device (not shown) the predicted values of the future raw water quality, treated water quality, weather information, residual salt concentration of the treated water, chemical injection rate, etc. obtained by calculation in a graph format with the time axis as the horizontal axis, and presenting them to the operation manager. The chemical injection rate calculated by the operation support device 1 is corrected by the operation manager as necessary. The operation support device 1 supplies the chemical injection rate to the chemical injection device 2 after being confirmed by the operation manager.

[0019] The chemical injection device 2 injects the corresponding chemical into the water to be treated based on the chemical injection rate acquired from the operation support device 1. The chemical injection device 2 injects the chemical into the water to be treated with a chemical injection pump (not shown). The chemical injection device 2 includes, for example, a plurality of chemical injection pumps, and injects various chemicals at a plurality of positions in the water treatment process WP.

[0020] FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram schematically showing a configuration example of an operation support device according to an embodiment.

[0021] The operation support device 1 is an operation support device according to an embodiment, and includes a control unit CTR, an actual value database (DB) 12, an operation know-how database (DB) 14, a water quality management value database (DB) 16, an output unit 17, an input unit 18, a communication unit 19, and a storage unit M.

[0022] The control unit CTR, the output unit 17, the input unit 18, the communication unit 19, and the storage unit M are connected to each other via bus wiring so as to be communicable with each other.

[0023] The output unit 17 outputs data for visually presenting information to the driving administrator of the driving support device 1, for example. Note that the output unit 17 may include a monitor or the like for visually presenting information to the driving administrator, or may be configured to output data to an external monitor connected to the driving support device 1. Further, the output unit 17 may include voice output means for aurally supplying information to the driving administrator by a speaker or the like. In the present embodiment, the output unit 17 includes a monitor, and can present to the driving administrator the calculation results obtained by various functions of the control unit CTR, the raw water quality acquired from the communication unit 19, the process information of water treatment, and the predicted weather information.

[0024] The input unit 18 may include a user interface such as a mouse or a keyboard, or various sensors such as a microphone or a touch panel, which is operated by the driving administrator of the driving support device 1 and inputs various information (for example, change information such as numerical values of various settings of the driving support device 1).

[0025] The communication unit 19 can transmit the raw water quality, the water treatment process information, and the predicted weather information to various databases and signal processing units in the driving support device 1, and can transmit the information received from various databases and signal processing units in the driving support device 1 to the outside. The communication unit 19 can be communicably connected to, for example, the chemical injection device 2 and a user terminal (not shown) operated by the driving administrator via a network such as the Internet. In the present embodiment, the communication unit 19 supplies the above-described raw water quality, the process information of water treatment, and the predicted weather information to the control unit CTR. Further, the measured values from the present to the past supplied from the communication unit 19 can be recorded in the performance value database 12 by the control unit CTR.

[0026] The memory unit M includes, for example, a main memory unit and an auxiliary memory unit. The main memory unit may include, for example, a ROM (read-only memory) and a RAM (random-access memory). The ROM is a non-volatile memory exclusively used for reading data, and can store data used by the processor for performing various processes and various setting values. Also, the RAM can be used as a so-called work area for temporarily storing data when the processor performs various processes. The main memory unit of the present embodiment is, for example, a RAM.

[0027] The auxiliary memory unit of the memory unit M is a non-temporary computer-readable storage medium of a computer centered on the processor. The auxiliary memory unit is, for example, an EEPROM (registered trademark) (electric erasable programmable read-only memory), an HDD (hard disk drive), or an SSD (solid state drive). The auxiliary memory unit of the memory unit M can store data used by the control unit CTR for performing various processes, programs, data generated by the processing in the control unit CTR, parameters of a water quality prediction model (mathematical model, learned model, etc.), and various setting values.

[0028] In the performance value database 12, past raw water quality, past process information, past weather information, and the chemical injection rate actually adopted in the past are stored in association with date and time information. The information stored in the performance value database 12 can be used as input data and teacher data of a learning model for generating a water quality prediction model (learned model) by the water quality prediction unit 11 described later. Note that the values stored in the performance value database 12 are updated periodically.

[0029] The operation know-how database 14 is a database storing know-how information used by a skilled operation manager when determining the chemical injection rate. The operation know-how database 14 stores, for example, for changes (occurring events) in items included in water quality information and weather information, at what time point and how the chemical injection rate should be changed (response content).

[0030] For example, since it takes several hours from when the water to be treated flows into the water treatment process until the treatment is completed, for example, even if the chemical injection rate is changed (increased or decreased) at the time when an occurring event due to weather change occurs during the water treatment process, the response may not be in time, and it may become impossible to meet the water quality standards. Therefore, it is necessary to respond by changing the chemical injection rate at a time point a predetermined time before the occurring event occurs. In the operation know-how database 14, occurring events predicted to occur after a predetermined time and the response content for those occurring events are stored in association with each other.

[0031] The water quality management value database 16 stores data on water quality management values at the outlets of sedimentation tanks, filtration tanks, clear water tanks, etc. determined by the water purification plant. For example, water quality management values such as a sedimentation tank outlet turbidity management value of 0.5 degrees or less are stored.

[0032] The control unit CTR includes at least one processor. The processor is typically a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and / or a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), but may also be a microcomputer, an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), a DSP (Digital Signal Processor), or the like. The control unit CTR can realize various functions of the operation support device 1 by executing programs such as system software, application software, or firmware stored in the storage unit M. The control unit CTR includes a water quality prediction unit 11, a chemical injection rate calculation unit 13, and a display information generation unit 15.

[0033] The water quality prediction unit 11 has a water quality prediction model for predicting the water quality of future treated water, raw water, and water to be treated. The water quality prediction model predicts the water quality of future raw water, water to be treated, and treated water from, for example, measured values of raw water quality (information on raw water quality), process information, predicted weather information, etc. It may be a model based on static analysis of a physical-chemical model, or it may be a model by machine learning (a machine-learned model) that uses the information (measurement data) stored in the performance value database 12 as input data and teacher data. Note that the water quality prediction unit 11 may obtain a predicted value of the chemical injection rate calculated by the chemical injection rate calculation unit 13 and use it as input data for the water quality prediction model. The water quality prediction unit 11 can calculate a predicted value of the treated water quality from the predicted value of the water quality to be treated and the predicted value of the chemical injection rate.

[0034] In this embodiment, the water quality prediction model is, for example, a model that predicts the turbidity of the water to be treated in the subsequent (future) water treatment process WP and the turbidity at the outlet of the sedimentation tank when a predetermined flocculant injection rate is set for a predetermined raw water turbidity (raw water quality). Here, the water quality prediction model is not limited to the above model, and it may be a model that predicts not only the turbidity of the water to be treated in the water treatment process WP and the turbidity at the outlet of the sedimentation tank but also the turbidity at the outlet of the filtration tank. Further, the water quality prediction model of this embodiment may be applied to a water treatment process in which a plurality of types of chemicals including not only a flocculant but also a pH adjuster are used as chemicals injected into the water to be treated.

[0035] Also, accompanying the water quality prediction model, the water quality prediction unit 11 can also calculate the chemical cost according to the usage amount of the chemical (for example, flocculant). Regarding the cost of the process information, not only the chemical cost but also the sludge disposal cost and the filtration washing cost may be included, and the cost is not limited to only the chemical cost.

[0036] The water quality prediction unit 11 includes a scenario setting unit 11A. The scenario setting unit 11A can set, as a scenario, time-series information of values that can be input data for a water quality prediction model, such as raw water quality (raw water turbidity, raw water flow rate, raw water temperature, raw water pH, raw water alkalinity, etc.), weather, process information, and flocculant injection rate, based on input values by the operation manager or the like of the operation support device 1.

[0037] FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing an example of a scenario set in the operation support device according to an embodiment. FIG. 3 schematically shows an example of time-series information (scenario) of raw water quality (raw water turbidity, raw water flow rate, raw water temperature, raw water pH, raw water alkalinity, etc.) set by the scenario setting unit 11A. In this example, values of raw water quality such as raw water turbidity, raw water flow rate, raw water temperature, raw water pH, and raw water alkalinity are set in time series every hour from 12:00 to 24:00.

[0038] A user such as an operation manager can supply arbitrary values to each item such as raw water flow rate, raw water turbidity, raw water temperature, raw water pH, and raw water alkalinity related to raw water for each time via, for example, the input unit 18 or the communication unit 19 and supply them to the operation support device 1. The scenario setting unit 11A can acquire the scenario values supplied from the input unit 18 or the communication unit 19 and set them as a scenario.

[0039] The water quality prediction unit 11 supplies the calculated future treated water turbidity (predicted value of treated water quality), the turbidity of the water to be treated (predicted value of raw water quality), the cost, etc., together with these predicted values (time-series data), to the chemical injection rate calculation unit 13. When a scenario is set, the water quality prediction unit 11 outputs, as predicted values, time-series data of predicted values of the water quality (raw water quality) of the future water to be treated, predicted values of treated water quality, the cost, etc., calculated using the raw water quality, etc. (scenario) set by the scenario setting unit 11A, and outputs scenario predicted values set as a scenario instead of the predicted values.

[0040] The chemical injection rate calculation unit 13 calculates a predicted value of the chemical injection rate based on the predicted value of the water quality of the water to be treated and the cost supplied from the water quality prediction unit 11. For example, the chemical injection rate calculation unit 13 uses the data stored in the operation know-how database 14, the data stored in the water quality management value database 16, and the time-series data supplied from the water quality prediction unit 11 to calculate a predicted value of the chemical injection rate so that the treated water conforms to the management value.

[0041] The chemical injection rate calculation unit 13 supplies the calculated predicted value of the chemical injection rate to the display information generation unit 15 together with the values that serve as the basis for calculating the chemical injection rate, such as the predicted values and actual values of the raw water quality and treated water quality. When a scenario is set by the scenario setting unit 11A, the chemical injection rate calculation unit 13 acquires the set scenario from the water quality prediction unit 11 and calculates the coagulant injection rate that is lower than the upper limit value of the turbidity management value of the sedimentation tank turbidity based on the scenario, the data stored in the operation know-how database 14, and the data stored in the water quality management value database 16. Since the operation support device 1 has a function of simulating the calculation of the coagulant injection rate using the scenario, the operation manager can set and calculate scenarios for various cases before a change or abnormality occurs in the raw water quality, and can confirm in advance the sedimentation tank outlet turbidity and coagulant injection rate in various situations.

[0042] The display information generation unit 15 generates display information (support information) to be presented to the operation manager of the operation support device 1 and the like using the predicted values and actual values of the chemical injection rate supplied from the chemical injection rate calculation unit 13. The display information generated by the display information generation unit 15 includes at least one of the time-series predicted values and actual values of the water quality of the water to be treated, the water quality of the treated water, the residual salt concentration of the treated water, the chemical injection rate, etc., the values that serve as the basis for calculating the predicted value of the chemical injection rate, such as past and future weather information, and the time-series information of the predicted value of the chemical injection rate, for example, information for displaying in a manner corresponding to time in the form of a graph with the horizontal axis as the time axis, and information for displaying a table presenting the numerical values of the values that serve as the basis for calculating the predicted value of the chemical injection rate at the selected time.

[0043] FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining an example of display information generated by the driving support device according to one embodiment. In this example, the future treated water quality is calculated using the information acquired by the driving support device according to one embodiment, and in consideration of the future treated water quality and weather information, for example, the upper limit value of the control value such as the turbidity at the outlet of the sedimentation tank of the treated water is not exceeded. An example of a graph presented to the operation manager is shown by the display information displaying the calculated result of calculating the predicted value of the time series of the flocculant injection rate.

[0044] In FIG. 4, “0” on the horizontal axis of the graph is the current time, “−24” is 24 hours before the current time, and “24” is 24 hours after the current time. Therefore, the graph in FIGS. 4(a) to 4(c) displays the actual values and predicted values from 24 hours before to the present, and the predicted values from the present to 24 hours after.

[0045] FIG. 4(a) is a graph showing an example of the actual values and predicted values of the raw water turbidity flowing into the water treatment process WP for each time. FIG. 4(b) is a graph showing an example of the actual values and predicted values of the flocculant injection rate for each time. FIG. 4(c) is a graph showing an example of the actual values and predicted values of the turbidity at the outlet of the sedimentation tank for each time.

[0046] Periods A1 and A2 shown in FIG. 4(a) indicate periods during which the raw water turbidity is high or periods predicted to have high raw water turbidity. Period A1 is the period from 18 hours before the current time to 9 hours before the current time, and the actual value and predicted value of the raw water turbidity are high. Period A2 is the period from 9 hours after the current time to 24 hours after the current time, and the water quality prediction unit 11 uses a prediction model based on past data accumulated in the actual value database 12 to determine the time of rainfall and rainfall amount obtained from the predicted information of the weather information. It is a period in which the turbidity of the river water is predicted to increase based on information such as.

[0047] The predicted value of the coagulant injection rate shown in Fig. 4(b) is a graph showing the result calculated by the chemical injection rate calculation unit 13 of the optimal coagulant injection rate value that is below the upper limit value (for example, 0.5 degrees) of the control value of the turbidity at the sedimentation tank outlet (treated water turbidity) shown in Fig. 4(c), regardless of the magnitude of the raw water turbidity in Fig. 4(a). Therefore, in accordance with the timing of the change in the raw water turbidity in periods A1 and A2 in Fig. 4(a), the predicted value of the coagulant injection rate is calculated so that the injection amount of the coagulant is increased or decreased in periods B1 and B2 corresponding to periods A1 and A2.

[0048] After injecting chemicals such as coagulants into the water to be treated, the time (residence time) until the chemicals affect the water quality is determined by the flow rate of the water to be treated (raw water), the volume of the flocculation tank and the sedimentation tank, etc. In the example shown in Fig. 4, the residence time is 6 hours. Therefore, the influence of the coagulant injected into the water to be treated in periods B1 and B2 in Fig. 4(b) appears in periods C1 and C2 in Fig. 4(c), which are 6 hours later respectively. According to Fig. 4(c), it is shown that in both periods C1 and C2, the turbidity at the sedimentation tank outlet can be controlled without exceeding the upper limit value (0.5 degrees) of the control value.

[0049] In the operation support device 1 of the present embodiment, as shown in Fig. 4, the display information generation unit 15 generates display information such that for each of the raw water turbidity, the coagulant injection rate, and the turbidity at the sedimentation tank outlet (treated water turbidity), the past actual value and the future predicted value are shown as graphs with the time axis as the horizontal axis, and the corresponding times are arranged in the vertical axis direction. The operation manager can monitor by associating a plurality of numerical values in a predetermined period with time based on the presented plurality of graphs, and can visually understand the situation of the actual values and predicted values of the turbidity, the coagulant injection rate, and the turbidity at the sedimentation tank outlet.

[0050] Note that in the example shown in Fig. 4, a time-series graph with a time width of 24 hours, which is the time width from the present to the past and from the present to the future, is shown, but the time width used as the horizontal axis of the graph is not limited to 24 hours and may be other time widths such as 12 hours, 36 hours, 72 hours, etc.

[0051] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of displaying predicted values and actual values of each item at a predetermined time. In this example, the display information generation unit 15 sets each (or one) of the focus time and the residence time, and generates display information so as to be able to present at least any one of the predicted value and the actual value of the treated water turbidity, the coagulant injection rate, and the sedimentation basin turbidity corresponding to the set time as a table. That is, according to the table shown in FIG. 5, the numerical values of each item (actual value and predicted value) at the same time in the plurality of graphs shown in FIG. 4 can be presented to the operation manager.

[0052] In FIG. 5, the focus time is set to "-9:00". The residence time is the time after the residence time has elapsed from the focus time, and may be a time input by a user such as an operation manager, or may be a time automatically set according to the residence time of the applied water treatment process. In this example, the focus time is a time in the past compared to the current time, but the focus time may be a time in the future of the current time. If the focus time is a time in the past, the numerical values of the actual value and the predicted value of each item at the focus time are presented as a table, and if the focus time is a time in the future, the numerical values of the predicted value of each item at the focus time are presented as a table. Note that depending on the residence time of the water treatment process, there may be cases where the predicted value is not displayed in the table, such as when the residence time is outside the display time range of the graph.

[0053] As shown in FIG. 5, by presenting the numerical values at each time to the operation manager in the form of a table, the operation manager can grasp the values of the treated water turbidity and the coagulant injection rate at a specific time in more detail.

[0054] FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining an example of a display based on display information generated by the operation support device according to an embodiment. In this example, it is an example of a display based on display information generated by the display information generation unit 15 so as to display a plurality of graphs as shown in FIG. 4 and a table as shown in FIG. 5 together.

[0055] In this example, multiple graphs are displayed on the left side of the display screen, and a table is displayed on the right side of the display screen. The multiple graphs are graphs that display the actual and predicted values ​​of raw water turbidity, coagulant injection rate, and sedimentation basin outlet turbidity in chronological order. Vertical focus time lines and retention time lines are displayed on the multiple graphs, indicating positions corresponding to the focus time and retention time, respectively. In this example, a time marker is displayed near the position where the focus time intersects with the horizontal axis (time axis) of the graph.

[0056] A user such as an operation manager can move the focus time line and the dwell time line in conjunction with each other by, for example, using a mouse or a touch panel to place a pointer on a time marker near the horizontal axis of the graph and move it horizontally (plus or minus) in the time direction. At this time, by moving the focus time line and the dwell time line, the numerical values ​​of the focus time and the dwell time shown in the table on the right are changed to the times corresponding to the positions of the focus time line and the dwell time line on the graph.

[0057] Also, if the operation manager sets the time of the time marker in the table to 3:00, for example, the focus time is set to 3:00, and the retention time is set to 9:00, which is the above-mentioned 6 hours added. The operation manager can select the time corresponding to the numerical value displayed in the table. In the example shown in FIG. 6, the operation manager has selected the numerical value at the focus time to be displayed, and the predicted values ​​of the raw water turbidity, the coagulant injection rate, and the sedimentation basin outlet turbidity in the table are the values ​​at the focus time. The operation manager can switch between displaying the numerical value at the focus time and displaying the numerical value at the retention time by selecting the radio button displayed corresponding to each time. That is, the display information generating unit 15 generates and outputs display information in which the information to be displayed is updated according to the operation information of the operation manager.

[0058] In the graphs and tables of FIGS. 4 to 6, examples are shown in which actual values and predicted values are displayed for three items: raw water turbidity, flocculant injection rate, and sedimentation tank outlet turbidity. However, the items displayed in the graphs and tables are not limited to these, and it is also possible to omit the display of any item or add other items such as the filtration tank outlet turbidity.

[0059] In addition, in the operation support device 1 of the present embodiment, in addition to calculating a flocculant injection rate that is lower than the unique turbidity management value of the sedimentation tank outlet turbidity corresponding to the raw water turbidity, the treated water turbidity, etc., for example, corresponding to the magnitude of the raw water turbidity, the turbidity management value of the sedimentation tank outlet turbidity may be changed, and the flocculant injection rate at that time may be calculated.

[0060] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a turbidity management value of the sedimentation tank outlet turbidity corresponding to the raw water turbidity. By changing the management value of the sedimentation tank outlet turbidity according to the value of the raw water quality such as the raw water turbidity, the flocculant injection rate calculated by the chemical injection rate calculation unit 13 changes, and thereby the cost due to the usage amount of the chemical also goes up and down. Therefore, for example, when the raw water turbidity is high, if the management value can be relaxed within the range where the required water quality is satisfied, the chemical cost can be reduced. Therefore, by the function that enables the management value to be changed, by controlling the turbidity within the management value by the operation support device 1 of the present embodiment, it is possible to calculate a flocculant injection rate with good cost performance.

[0061] According to the operation support device 1 of the above-described present embodiment, the chemical injection rate calculated by the chemical injection rate calculation unit 13 can be presented to the operation manager in association with the numerical values that are the basis of the value of the chemical injection rate. As a result, the operation manager can understand the validity of the calculation result of the chemical injection rate based on the presented information. In addition, since the value of the actually used chemical injection rate is stored in the database, it can be utilized as one of the know-how in the calculation of the future chemical injection rate.

[0062] That is, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to provide a driving support device, a driving support method, and a computer program that assist the judgment of the driving manager by accurately presenting the basis of the calculated value to the driving manager.

[0063] The program according to the present embodiment may be transferred in a state stored in an electronic device, or may be transferred in a state not stored in the electronic device. In the latter case, the program may be transferred via a network, or may be transferred in a state stored in a storage medium. The storage medium is a non-temporary tangible medium. The storage medium is a computer-readable medium. The storage medium may be any medium that can store a program such as a CD-ROM or a memory card and is readable by a computer, regardless of its form.

[0064] Although some embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the invention described in the claims and its equivalent scope.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0065] 1... Driving support device, 2... Chemical injection device, 11... Water quality prediction unit, 11A... Scenario setting unit, 12... Performance value database, 13... Chemical injection rate calculation unit, 14... Driving know-how database, 15... Display information generation unit, 16... Water quality management value database, 17... Output unit, 18... Input unit, 19... Communication unit, 51... Raw water quality meter, 52... Inflow flow meter, 53... Treated water quality meter, 100... Water treatment system

Claims

1. A water quality prediction unit that calculates a predicted value of the raw water quality of raw water flowing into a water treatment process having a step of injecting chemicals into the water to be treated, and calculates a predicted value of the treated water quality after the chemical injection using a predicted value of the chemical injection rate; A chemical injection rate calculation unit that calculates a predicted value of the chemical injection rate using the predicted value of the raw water quality; An operation support device comprising: a display information generation unit that generates display information for displaying time-series information of the predicted value of the chemical injection rate, time-series information of the values used for calculating the chemical injection rate, and time-series information of the predicted value of the treated water quality, associating the times therewith.

2. The operation support device according to claim 1, wherein the display information includes information for displaying, for each of the time-series information of the predicted value and the actual value of the chemical injection rate and the time-series information of the values used for calculating the predicted value of the chemical injection rate, a graph with the time axis as the horizontal axis and the corresponding times arranged in the vertical axis direction.

3. The operation support device according to claim 1, wherein the display information includes information that enables display of at least one of the predicted value and the actual value of the raw water quality, the chemical injection rate, and the treated water quality at the selected time and at the residence time after the elapse of the residence time in the water treatment process from the selected time.

4. The water quality prediction unit includes a scenario setting unit that sets, as scenarios, time-series information regarding the raw water quality, weather information regarding the information regarding the raw water quality, and process information in the water treatment process; The operation support device according to claim 1, wherein the water quality prediction unit can calculate a predicted value of the raw water quality using at least the time-series information regarding the raw water quality included in the scenario.

5. The operation support device according to claim 1, wherein the chemical injection rate calculation unit calculates a predicted value of the chemical injection rate using a management value of the treated water quality set corresponding to the value of the raw water quality.

6. Calculate a predicted value of the raw water quality of the raw water flowing into the water treatment process using at least information regarding the raw water quality of the raw water flowing into the water treatment process having a step of injecting chemicals into the water to be treated; Calculate a predicted value of the chemical injection rate using the predicted value of the raw water quality; Calculate a predicted value of the treated water quality after the chemical injection using the predicted value of the chemical injection rate; An operation support method for generating display information that displays time-series information of the predicted value of the chemical injection rate, time-series information of the values used for calculating the chemical injection rate, and time-series information of the predicted value of the treated water quality in association with time.

7. A computer program for causing a computer to execute the operation support method according to Claim 6.

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