Charger

Abstract

To provide a charger suitable for assisting a power source in supplying power to a valve driver.SOLUTION: A charger 5 supplies the power supplied by a power supply 7 to a valve drive device 3. The power supplied by the power supply 7 is supplied to the valve drive device 3 via a switching power supply device 12, a charging diagnostic device 15, and an inverter 19. A storage battery 17 charges and discharges according to the difference between the amount of power supplied from the charging diagnostic device 15 and the amount of operating power for the valve drive device 3. The charging diagnostic device 15 monitors the power supplied from the switching power supply device 12, and when it detects that the amount of power supplied from the switching power supply device 12 is less than a first reference value, it sends a control signal to the valve drive device 3.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a charging device, and more particularly to a charging device that supplies power from a power source to a valve drive device. [Background technology]

[0002] As disclosed in Patent Document 1, the applicant has proposed a valve drive device. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 08-114275 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] To cope with power outages in the power supply, it is conceivable to use a charging device as an uninterruptible power supply. In this case, the charging device is located near the power supply for the valve drive device.

[0005] However, the time when a valve drive device is under load is extremely short compared to the time when it is not under load. Therefore, the amount of power supplied to the valve drive device from the power source increases or decreases in a short period of time. It is desirable that the charging device also perform processing to assist the power supply to the valve drive device.

[0006] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a charging device suitable for assisting a power source in supplying power to a valve drive device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] A first aspect of the present invention is a charging device that supplies power supplied from a drive power source to a valve drive device, the charging device comprising: a charging diagnostic device, an AC / DC converter, a storage battery, and an inverter; the AC / DC converter comprises a switching power supply device; the charging diagnostic device comprises an output unit that is electrically connected to the storage battery and also to the inverter; the power supplied to the inverter is supplied to the valve drive device; the switching power supply device converts the power supplied by the drive power source and supplies it to the charging diagnostic device; and the charging diagnostic device supplies the power supplied by the switching power supply device to the output unit. The storage battery does not charge or supply power if the amount of power supplied from the output unit is the same as the amount of power required to operate the valve drive device, but charges the storage battery with power supplied from the output unit if the amount of power supplied from the output unit is greater than the amount of power required to operate the valve drive device, and supplies power to the inverter if the amount of power supplied from the output unit is less than the amount of power required to operate the valve drive device. The charging diagnostic device monitors the power supplied from the switching power supply device, and if it detects that the amount of power supplied from the switching power supply device is less than a first reference value, it issues a control signal to the valve drive device.

[0008] A second aspect of the present invention is the charging device of the first aspect, wherein the charging diagnostic device stops the inverter by detecting that the amount of power supplied from the output unit after a reference time is less than a second reference value for a continuous period of time, and when the charging diagnostic device detects that a second operating device has been operated, it operates the inverter to supply power to the valve drive device via the inverter. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] When a load is applied to a valve drive device, the amount of power required for operation increases sharply. According to various aspects of the present invention, by adding a charging device to the valve drive device and charging and discharging the storage battery according to the difference between the power supplied from the charging diagnosis device and the power supplied to the inverter, it is possible to operate the valve drive device in the same manner as an uninterruptible power supply, and it is also possible to support the power supply to the valve drive device by supplying power from the storage battery to the valve drive device during times when the valve drive device is under load. When the charging diagnosis device detects that the amount of power supplied from the switching power supply device is less than a first reference value, the control signal given to the valve drive device is, for example, to stop operation, to close the valve, to open the valve, or to close the valve at a certain rate (to a predetermined position between open and closed). [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a charging system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a charging system in the case where a plurality of valve drive devices 531, . . . , 53n are present. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] Hereinafter, examples of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings, but the present invention is not limited to the following examples. [Example]

[0012] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a charging system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0013] The charging system 1 includes a valve drive device 3, a charging device 5, a power source 7, and a first operating device 14.

[0014] The valve drive device 3 includes a through metal fitting 31 , a through metal fitting 33 , a terminal block 35 , a control device 37 , an input / output device 39 , an encoder 41 , a torque detection device 43 , a power supply processing device 45 , a switch 47 , and a motor 49 .

[0015] The charging device 5 includes a terminal block 11, an AC / DC converter 13, a charging diagnostic device 15, a storage battery 17, an inverter 19, a terminal block 21, a through-hole metal fitting 23, and a through-hole metal fitting 25. The AC / DC converter 13 includes a switching power supply device 12. The charging diagnostic device 15 includes an output unit 18.

[0016] In the charging device 5, the charging diagnostic device 15 can determine whether the first operating device 14 and the second operating device 16 have been operated by an operator. The first operating device 14 and the second operating device 16 are input devices such as switches. Here, in FIG. 1, the first operating device 14 and the second operating device 16 are configured as separate devices from the charging device 5. The charging diagnostic device 15 can determine whether the operator has operated the first operating device 14 and the second operating device 16 by performing communication processing with the first operating device 14 and the second operating device 16. In the present invention, the charging device 5 may be equipped with the first operating device 14 and / or the second operating device 16. Furthermore, the first operating device 14 and / or the second operating device 16 may be physical devices or virtual devices such as icons displayed on an information processing terminal, a touch panel, or the like.

[0017] Furthermore, charging diagnostic device 15 diagnoses storage battery 17 and the like, and outputs a signal indicating the diagnosis result to the outside.

[0018] Furthermore, charging diagnostic device 15 outputs a control signal to inverter 19 for controlling its operation (for example, to start or stop operation).

[0019] Furthermore, charging diagnosis device 15 provides a control signal (such as stopping operation) for valve drive device 3 to valve drive device 3 via terminal block 21 and a cable connected by through-hole metal fittings 25 and 33. In valve drive device 3, the control signal provided by charging diagnosis device 15 is provided to control device 37 via terminal block 35. Control device 37 controls the operation of valve drive device 3 according to the control signal provided by charging diagnosis device 15.

[0020] The valve drive device 3 is an actuator such as the Semflex (registered trademark) series. The control device 37 operates the motor 49 to open or close the valve according to instructions from an operator. The operator's instructions may be given to an input / output device 39 (such as a liquid crystal display device and operation buttons) provided in the valve drive device 3, or may be given by operation at a remote location.

[0021] The power supply 7 is an AC power supply of, for example, 100 volts, 200 volts, etc. The power from the power supply 7 is supplied to the valve drive device 3 via the charging device 5.

[0022] In the charging device 5, power from the power supply 7 is supplied to an AC / DC converter 13 via a terminal block 11. In the AC / DC converter 13, a switching power supply 12 converts the power supplied from the power supply 7 and supplies it to a charging diagnostic device 15. The switching power supply 12 is a power supply device that uses, for example, a switching transistor and stabilizes output by controlling the on / off time ratio (duty ratio) of a semiconductor switch element using a feedback circuit. It is widely used as a power conversion device that converts AC from a commercial power source into DC power. For example, the voltage supplied by the switching power supply 12 can be different from the voltage of the power supply 7.

[0023] Charging diagnostic device 15 is electrically connected to storage battery 17 using output unit 18, and is also electrically connected to inverter 19. Charging diagnostic device 15 outputs the power supplied from switching power supply device 12 from output unit 18.

[0024] The power supplied to the inverter 19 is supplied to the valve drive device 3 via the inverter 19 and terminal block 21, using a cable connected by the through metal fittings 23 and 31. The power supplied to the inverter 19 is the operating power amount of the valve drive device 3 (the amount of power required for the operation of the valve drive device 3).

[0025] In the valve drive device 3, power supplied from the charging device 5 is supplied to the motor 49 via the terminal block 35 and the switch 47. The power supply processing device 45 processes the power of the motor 49 and controls the ON / OFF of the switch 47. The switch 47 is provided for the case of drive by a switch (MgSW drive type).

[0026] The operating power amount of the valve drive device 3 is basically small when the valve drive device 3 is in a standby state where no load is applied. The operating power amount of the valve drive device 3 increases when a load is applied to the valve drive device 3. A load is applied to the valve drive device 3, for example, in response to the operation of the motor 49. When a load is applied to the valve drive device 3 from a no-load state, the operating power amount of the valve drive device 3 increases and the valve drive device 3 returns to a no-load state. The time when the valve drive device 3 is under load is extremely short compared to the time when no load is applied. Note that regenerative power is almost not observed in the valve drive device 3, so no special measures are required in the charging device 5.

[0027] The storage battery 17 operates to balance the power supplied from the output unit 18 and the power supplied to the inverter 19 .

[0028] Storage battery 17 does not supply power if the amount of power supplied from output unit 18 is the same as the amount of power supplied to inverter 19 (the amount of power required to operate valve drive device 3). Therefore, if there is no power required to charge storage battery 17 and the amount of power required to operate valve drive device 3 is equal to or less than the amount of power that can be supplied by switching power supply device 12, there is no difference between the amount of power supplied by switching power supply device 12 and the amount of power required to operate valve drive device 3, and storage battery 17 neither charges nor supplies power. Charging device 5 supplies power supplied from switching power supply device 12 to valve drive device 3.

[0029] If the amount of power supplied from output unit 18 is less than the amount of power supplied to inverter 19, storage battery 17 supplies power corresponding to the difference between the amount of power supplied from output unit 18 and the amount of power supplied to inverter 19. In this case, power supplied from output unit 18 and storage battery 17 is supplied to inverter 19.

[0030] If the amount of power supplied from output unit 18 is greater than the amount of power supplied to inverter 19, storage battery 17 is charged with power corresponding to the difference between the amount of power supplied from output unit 18 and the amount of power supplied to inverter 19. In this case, the power supplied from output unit 18 is supplied to storage battery 17 and inverter 19.

[0031] For example, during a time period when the operating power amount of the valve driver 3 increases and exceeds the amount of power that can be supplied by the switching power supply device 12, the operating power amount of the valve driver 3 becomes greater than the amount of power supplied by the switching power supply device 12. The storage battery 17 supplies an amount of power corresponding to the difference between the operating power amount of the valve driver 3 and the amount of power supplied by the switching power supply device 12.

[0032] In the valve drive device 3, the time when a load is applied is extremely short compared to the time when no load is applied. Therefore, the amount of power required to operate the valve drive device 3 increases sharply and then decreases rapidly in a short period of time. The amount of power required to handle the load can be determined in advance. Therefore, it is possible to secure in the storage battery 17 some or all of the amount of power required to handle the load (for example, the amount of power required to operate the motor 49).

[0033] If the charging device 5 is not present and the power source 7 directly supplies power to the valve drive device 3, it is necessary to balance the power supply and demand relationship between the power source 7 and the valve drive device 3.

[0034] In this embodiment, the operating power amount of the valve drive device 3 only needs to be balanced between the supply and demand relationship between the amounts of power supplied by the switching power supply device 12 and the storage battery 17. Even if the operating power amount of the valve drive device 3 suddenly increases, it does not need to be adjusted by the switching power supply device 12 alone.

[0035] In this way, the storage battery 17 can respond to increases or decreases in the amount of operating power of the valve drive device 3 by focusing on the difference between the amount of power supplied by the switching power supply device 12 and the amount of operating power of the valve drive device 3.

[0036] Furthermore, even when the amount of power that can be supplied by the switching power supply device 12 decreases, the storage battery 17 supplies power to the valve driver 3. Therefore, the charging device 5 can also operate in the same manner as an uninterruptible power supply (UPS).

[0037] At least a portion of the power supplied from output unit 18 is supplied to inverter 19. Therefore, the power supplied from output unit 18 must be at least sufficient to supply the amount of power required when valve drive device 3 is in a standby state. The power supplied from output unit 18 is the amount of power supplied from switching power supply device 12. For example, if the amount of power that can be supplied from switching power supply device 12 decreases due to a power outage of power source 7, the amount of power supplied from output unit 18 will also decrease.

[0038] Even if the power supplied from the output unit 18 decreases, the storage battery 17 supplies the insufficient power to the inverter 19. Therefore, the valve drive device 3 can continue to operate.

[0039] Charging diagnostic device 15 monitors the amount of power supplied from switching power supply device 12 and uses the first reference value to determine whether sufficient power is being supplied from switching power supply device 12 to valve drive device 3. The first reference value is, for example, equal to or greater than 0 and is a value less than the amount of power required for valve drive device 3 to be in a standby state. The amount of power supplied from switching power supply device 12 is equal to or greater than the first reference value if normal, and is less than the first reference value if an abnormality occurs. Note that charging diagnostic device 15 may monitor the amount of power supplied from output unit 18 instead of or in addition to the amount of power supplied from switching power supply device 12.

[0040] Charging diagnostic device 15 determines whether or not the amount of power supplied from output unit 18 is equal to or greater than a first reference value. If charging diagnostic device 15 detects that the amount of power supplied from output unit 18 is less than the first reference value, it sends a control signal to valve drive device 3 to cause it to perform processing to deal with a power outage. Charging diagnostic device 15 sends control signals to valve drive device 3 to, for example, stop operation, close the valve, open the valve, or close the valve at a certain rate (a predetermined position between open and closed). Valve drive device 3 then performs processing in accordance with the control signal and enters a state in which power no longer needs to be supplied.

[0041] Furthermore, uninterruptible power supplies generally have problems during operation, such as startup.

[0042] For example, in the event of an emergency (such as a disaster), it is not possible to know in advance the scheduled time period during which the valve drive device 3 will operate. Therefore, it is necessary to assume that the valve drive device 3 may always operate even when it is in standby mode. Therefore, it is necessary for the charging device 5 to be in a state where it can always supply power to the valve drive device 3.

[0043] On the other hand, during normal times (when normal operation is carried out and not during an emergency), the time periods during which the valve drive device 3 operates are scheduled in advance. However, even during normal times, the valve drive device 3 may start operating just before a time period during which it is not scheduled to operate, and may continue to operate even after the time period during which it is not scheduled to operate. Therefore, whether or not the valve drive device 3 is operating cannot be determined by time alone.

[0044] During a time period when the valve drive device 3 is under load, the operating power amount of the valve drive device 3 is sufficiently larger than the power amount required for the valve drive device 3 in a standby state and the power amount required for charging the storage battery 17. Therefore, the charging diagnostic device 15 can determine whether or not a load is applied to the valve drive device 3 by monitoring the power amount supplied from the output unit 18 and using the second reference value. If the power amount supplied from the output unit 18 is equal to or greater than the second reference value, the charging diagnostic device 15 can determine that a load is applied to the valve drive device 3. If the power amount supplied from the output unit 18 is less than the second reference value, the charging diagnostic device 15 can determine that a load is not applied to the valve drive device 3. The second reference value is, for example, a value larger than the combined value of the power amount required for the valve drive device 3 in a standby state and the power amount required for charging the storage battery 17, but smaller than the power amount required to support the load. The second reference value is a value larger than the first reference value. Note that the charging diagnostic device 15 may monitor the amount of power supplied from the switching power supply device 12 instead of or in addition to the amount of power supplied from the output unit 18.

[0045] During normal times, when a time period in which the valve drive device 3 is not scheduled to operate begins after a reference time (for example, the end of work hours or the end of operation of the charging system 1), if the charging diagnostic device 15 detects that the amount of power supplied from the output unit 18 continues to be less than the second reference value, it can determine that the valve drive device 3 will not operate thereafter. Therefore, by detecting that the amount of power supplied to the output unit 18 has been less than the second reference value for a reference time period in a time period in which the valve drive device 3 is not scheduled to operate, the charging diagnostic device 15 can determine that the valve drive device 3 is not scheduled to operate thereafter.

[0046] Therefore, if charging diagnostic device 15 detects that the amount of power supplied from output unit 18 after the reference time has been less than the second reference value for a reference time, it sends a control signal to inverter 19 to stop its operation, thereby preventing power from being supplied from charging device 5 to valve drive device 3. This makes it possible to reduce power consumption in charging device 5. Note that charging diagnostic device 15 may also send a control signal to inverter 19 to stop its operation after a certain time has elapsed since sending the control signal to valve drive device 3.

[0047] On the other hand, the charging diagnostic device 15 continues to supply the power required for charging from the output unit 18 to the storage battery 17. In this embodiment, when the charging diagnostic device 15 stops the inverter 19, power is not supplied from the output unit 18 and the storage battery 17 to the valve drive device 3.

[0048] The reference time and the reference period may be set in advance, or may be set by the operator operating, for example, first operating device 14 according to a prior schedule. For example, if a disaster or the like is anticipated, the operator may operate first operating device 14 so that charging diagnostic device 15 does not stop the operation of inverter 19 even if it detects that the amount of power supplied from switching power supply device 12 has been less than the second reference value for the reference period since the reference time under normal circumstances.

[0049] When the inverter 19 stops, even if the operator tries to start the valve drive device 3 directly, the valve drive device 3 will not start because no power is supplied from the power source 7. Therefore, in this embodiment, the operator starts the valve drive device 3 by operating the second operating device 16. When the charging diagnostic device 15 detects that the second operating device 16 has been operated, it changes the inverter 19 from a stopped state to an operating state and supplies power from the charging device 5 to the valve drive device 3 via the inverter 19. In this way, the valve drive device 3 becomes ready to start. The valve drive device 3 may be started, for example, in response to the supply of power. Alternatively, the valve drive device 3 may be started by a control signal from the charging diagnostic device 15 in addition to the supply of power. The operator can start the valve drive device 3 by operating the second operating device 16.

[0050] In this way, in the charging device 5, the charging diagnostic device 15 monitors the amount of power supplied from the switching power supply device 12, and by utilizing this, the valve drive device 3 can be started up and operated appropriately.

[0051] If charging diagnostic device 15 detects that the amount of power supplied from switching power supply device 12 is less than the first reference value while inverter 19 is operating, it issues a control signal to valve drive device 3 while power is being supplied from storage battery 17 to valve drive device 3. On the other hand, even if charging diagnostic device 15 detects that the amount of power supplied from switching power supply device 12 is less than the first reference value while inverter 19 is stopped, there is no need to operate inverter 19, and power is not supplied from storage battery 17 to valve drive device 3.

[0052] FIG. 2 shows n (n is a natural number of 2 or more) valve driving devices 531, ..., 53 n FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a charging system in the presence of a vehicle.

[0053] In the charging system of FIG. 2, each of the valve driving devices 531, . . . , 53n Correspondingly, charging devices 551, ..., 55 n Each charging device 551, ..., 55 n has the same configuration as the charging device 5 in FIG.

[0054] The first operating device 58 and the second operating device 59 correspond to the first operating device 14 and the second operating device 16, respectively, and a plurality of charging devices 551, . . . , 55 n A signal generated by operating the first operating device 58 and the second operating device 59 is shared by the plurality of charging devices 551, ..., 55 n is given to.

[0055] The power source 57 includes charging devices 551, . . . , 55 n via valve drive devices 531, ..., 53 n supplies power to

[0056] Each charging device 551,…,55 n are the corresponding valve drivers 531, ..., 53 n 1.

[0057] The operator can operate one first operation device 58 to charge a plurality of charging devices 551, . . . , 55 n It is possible to issue an instruction to switch between whether or not to perform inverter stop control.

[0058] The operator can operate one second operation device 59 to charge a plurality of charging devices 551, ..., 55 n , 53 n It is possible to supply power to [Explanation of symbols]

[0059] 1 Charging System 3 Valve drive unit 5 Charging device 7 Power source 11 Terminal block 12 Switching power supply 13 AC / DC converter 14 1st operating device 15 Charging diagnostic device 16 Second operating device 17 Storage battery 18 Output section 19 Inverter 21 Terminal block 23 Piercing hardware 25 Piercing hardware 31 Piercing hardware 33 Piercing hardware 35 Terminal block 37 Control Device 39 Input / Output Devices 41 Encoder 43 Torque detection device 45 Power Supply Processing Unit 47 Switch 49 Motor 53 Valve drive unit 55 Charging device 57 Power source 58 1st operating device 59 Second operating device

Claims

1. A charging device that supplies power supplied from a power source to a valve drive device, The charging diagnostic device includes an AC / DC converter, a storage battery, and an inverter. the AC / DC converter includes a switching power supply; The charging diagnostic device includes an output unit, the output unit is electrically connected to the storage battery and also to the inverter; The power supplied to the inverter is supplied to the valve drive device, the switching power supply device converts the power supplied by the power supply and supplies the converted power to the charging diagnostic device; the charging diagnostic device supplies the power supplied by the switching power supply device to the output unit; The storage battery is If the amount of power supplied from the output section is the same as the amount of power required to operate the valve drive device, no power is charged or supplied. If the amount of power supplied from the output unit is greater than the amount of power required to operate the valve drive device, charging the power supplied from the output unit; If the amount of power supplied from the output section is less than the amount of power required to operate the valve drive device, supplying power to the inverter; The charging diagnostic device monitors the power supplied from the switching power supply device, and if it detects that the amount of power supplied from the switching power supply device is less than a first reference value, it provides a control signal to the valve drive device.

2. the charging diagnostic device stops the inverter by detecting that the amount of power supplied from the output unit after a reference time is less than a second reference value for a reference time period; 2. The charging device according to claim 1, wherein, when the charging diagnostic device detects that a second operating device has been operated, the charging diagnostic device operates the inverter to supply electric power to the valve drive device via the inverter.

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