Water treatment monitoring device and imaging device

Abstract

To take a series of images.SOLUTION: There is provided an imaging device 100, including: a water tank 200; an imaging unit for imaging water stored in the water tank 200; and a storage member that houses the imaging unit and is arranged at a position where an open bottom surface does not come into contact with a water surface of the stored water.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a water treatment monitoring device and an imaging device. [Background technology]

[0002] In water purification plants, sewage treatment plants, and other wastewater treatment facilities, a flocculant is added to the water being treated to flocculate suspended solids (SS) in the water being treated to form flocs, and the flocs are then separated by settling or flotation. In general, the state of the separated sediments and suspended matter is analyzed, and the addition of the flocculant is controlled based on the analysis results. In order to determine the state of suspended matter, for example, a device has been devised in which an imaging means is attached to a cylindrical member with an open bottom end, and the bottom end is immersed in water to capture an image of the liquid surface (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2020-98323 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the technology described in Patent Document 1, the lower end of the tubular member to which the imaging means is attached is immersed in water, so that floating objects contained in the water adhere to the tubular member. To capture clearer images, it is necessary to remove the floating objects adhered to the tubular member. To remove the floating objects, the tubular member must be taken out of the water once. This causes a problem in that continuous images cannot be captured. If continuous images cannot be captured, the state of the water during periods when images are not being captured cannot be obtained, and a more accurate state of the water cannot be obtained.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a water treatment monitoring device and an imaging device that are capable of capturing continuous images. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The water treatment monitoring device of the present invention comprises: Aquarium and an imaging unit that images the water stored in the water tank; The storage member has a bottom surface that is open and arranged not to come into contact with the surface of the stored water.

[0007] Moreover, the imaging device of the present invention comprises: a storage member in which the imaging unit is stored and whose end face in the direction in which the imaging unit captures an image is open; A vertical drive mechanism attached to a side surface of the storage member; A cylindrical flow straightening member having both ends open, The vertical drive mechanism is attached to a side surface of the rectifying member, The flow straightening member has one end facing the open end of the storage member and is spaced apart from the end. Effect of the Invention

[0008] In the present invention, continuous images can be captured. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a water treatment monitoring device of the present invention. [Diagram 2] 2 is a diagram showing an example of a position where an imaging device is disposed with respect to the water tank shown in FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing details of the configuration of the imaging device shown in FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a top view of the imaging device shown in FIG. [Diagram 5] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the imaging device shown in FIG. [Figure 6] 5 is a diagram showing an example of details of a portion where a fixing member is attached to a storage member and a straightening member in a cross section taken along line AA' shown in FIG. 4. FIG. [Figure 7] 4 is a diagram showing an example of the structure of the airflow rectifying member shown in FIG. 3. [Figure 8] 4 is a diagram showing an example of an air supply mechanism provided in the water treatment monitoring device in the present embodiment. FIG. [Figure 9] 9 is a diagram showing an example of how the air supply mechanism shown in FIG. 8 blows air onto an imaging surface. [Figure 10] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating examples of other shapes of the storage member in the present embodiment. [Figure 11] 3 is a diagram for explaining the function of the suppression member shown in FIG. 2. [Figure 12] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating examples of other shapes of the storage member in the present embodiment. [Figure 13] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an application example of a water treatment monitoring device of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0011] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing one embodiment of a water treatment monitoring device of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the water treatment monitoring device in this embodiment has an imaging device 100 and a water tank 200. The water tank 200 is a storage tank into which raw water to be treated flows and stores the inflowing water to be treated. A flocculant is added to the water to be treated stored in the water tank 200, and the water flows out as flocculated water. The water to be treated stored in the water tank 200 may be any water that contains substances to be insolubilized by a flocculant, such as suspended solids. The imaging device 100 images the water stored in the water tank 200.

[0012] Fig. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a position where the imaging device 100 is placed with respect to the aquarium 200 shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the details of the configuration of the imaging device 100 shown in Fig. 1. Note that Fig. 3 shows only the main components related to this embodiment among the components of the imaging device 100 shown in Fig. 1.

[0013] As shown in FIG. 2, the suppression member 300 is fixed to the water tank 200 shown in FIG. 1. The suppression member 300 suppresses the horizontal movement of the imaging device 100. The suppression of the horizontal movement of the imaging device 100 is also for example to prevent the imaging device 100 from contacting the inner wall surface of the water tank 200. The suppression member 300 allows the imaging device 100 to move in the vertical direction (up and down direction). The suppression member 300 may be provided not only in one place but also in multiple places. As shown in FIG. 3, the imaging device 100 shown in FIG. 1 has the imaging unit 110, the storage member 120, multiple floats 130, fixed members 140-1 and 140-2, and a straightening member 150. The floats 130 and the fixed members 140-1 and 140-2 constitute the vertical drive mechanism 160.

[0014] The imaging unit 110 captures an image of the water stored in the water tank 200 at a predetermined timing. The imaging unit 110 may be an image sensor. The imaging unit 110 may be a camera (e.g., a video camera) that captures images of the water in the water tank 200 at a time interval equal to or shorter than a preset time interval. The imaging unit 110 captures an image of the flocculation state of the water stored in the water tank 200 that has been rectified (the flow has been dammed) by the rectifying member 150. The imaging unit 110 transmits an image signal indicating the captured image to an external device. This external device is, for example, a control device that controls an addition device that adds a flocculant to the water tank 200. The imaging unit 110 may be any device that can determine the flocculation state of the water stored in the water tank 200, but it is preferable that the imaging unit 110 can detect the number of edge pixels of the flocs together with the external device.

[0015] The storage member 120 stores the imaging unit 110. The imaging unit 110 is fixed inside the storage member 120. The storage member 120 has a cylindrical shape with an open lower end (bottom surface). The storage member 120 is disposed at a position where the open lower end (bottom surface) does not contact the water surface 10 of the water stored in the water tank 200. The vertical drive mechanism 160 moves the storage member 120 in the vertical direction so that the lower end (bottom surface) of the storage member 120 does not contact the water surface 10 in accordance with the fluctuation of the water level stored in the water tank 200. At this time, the vertical drive mechanism 160 moves the storage member 120 using the buoyancy received from the water stored in the water tank 200. The straightening member 150 straightens the water in the water tank 200. That is, the straightening member 150 blocks the flow of water in the water tank 200. Therefore, the straightening member 150 is disposed so as to be located underwater. The straightening member 150 is disposed below the storage member 120 at a position where the imaging unit 110 can image the water straightened by the straightening member 150. In the water tank 200, the water to be treated flows in from the outside, and a flocculant is added to the water to be treated and stirred, so that the water to be treated flows. When the imaging unit 110 images the flocculated state of the water in which a strong flow occurs, the result is not stable. Therefore, the straightening member 150 blocks the flow. The straightening member 150 has a shape of, for example, a cylinder with an open upper end and a lower end. The float 130 constituting the vertical drive mechanism 160 is fixed to the fixing members 140-1 and 140-2. The fixing member 140-1 is attached to the side of the storage member 120. The fixing member 140-2 is attached to the side of the straightening member 150.

[0016] FIG. 4 is a top view of the imaging device 100 shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the imaging device 100 shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 3 shows an example in which one floating body 130 is provided on each side of the storage member 120 when viewed from the front of the imaging device 100, but FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 show an example in which four floating bodies 130 are provided around the storage member 120 to make the mechanism easier to understand. The number of floating bodies 130 is not limited. Also, FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 show an example in which the storage member 120 and the floating body 130 are each cylindrical in shape, but the shape is not limited to a cylindrical shape and may be, for example, a rectangular column shape. As shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, a disk-shaped fixing member 140-1 that is approximately concentric with the cross section of the storage member 120 is attached to the outside of the storage member 120 that stores the imaging unit 110. A plurality of floating bodies 130 are attached to the fixing member 140-1. Although not shown in FIG. 4, a disk-shaped fixed member 140-2 that is substantially concentric with the cross section of the straightening member 150 is attached to the outside of the straightening member 150. The plurality of floating bodies 130 attached to the fixed member 140-1 are also attached to the fixed member 140-2. The floating body 130 has a structure in which the vertical drive mechanism 160 floats the imaging device 100 so that the lower end (bottom surface) of the storage member 120 is in a position that does not contact the water surface 10 by the buoyancy of the water stored in the water tank 200. The material of the floating body 130 may be a material that is light, does not dissolve in water, and does not corrode in water, and can form a cavity inside to obtain buoyancy. The floating body 130 may be made of, for example, vinyl chloride used as a piping material, and a cavity may be formed by blocking both ends of a cylindrical vinyl chloride member with plate-shaped vinyl chloride. The shapes of the fixed members 140-1 and 140-2 are not limited. Furthermore, the fixing member 140-1 and the fixing member 140-2 may have different shapes.

[0017] 6 is a diagram showing an example of details of the attachment of the fixing member 140-1 to the storage member 120 and the attachment of the fixing member 140-2 to the rectifying member 150 in the cross section A-A' shown in FIG. 4. As shown in FIG. 6, ear members 121 are provided on the side of the storage member 120, and ear members 151 are provided on the rectifying member 150, and the ear members 121, 151 and the fixing members 140-1, 140-2 are fixed by using bolts 170. The ear members 121, 151 shown in FIG. 6 are omitted in other figures. Note that the attachment structure of the fixing member 140-1 to the storage member 120 and the attachment structure of the fixing member 140-2 to the rectifying member 150 are not limited to those shown in FIG. 6.

[0018] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the structure of the flow straightening member 150 shown in FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 7, the flow straightening member 150 shown in FIG. 3 is cylindrical and has a plurality of holes 152 on its side. The holes 152 are for promoting the replacement of water in the flow straightening member 150. It goes without saying that the holes 152 are provided in the water. A preferable length in the vertical direction of the flow straightening member 150 is set according to the height of the water tank 200 and the depth of the water. The total area of ​​the holes 152 is preferably 3 to 6% of the outer surface area (side area) of the flow straightening member 150. The number of holes 152 is preferably about 2 to 16, and the holes 152 are provided so as not to be concentrated in one place on the flow straightening member 150. Although an example in which the flow straightening member 150 has a cylindrical shape is shown in FIG. 7, the flow straightening member 150 may have a different shape such as a prism as long as it can suppress the water flow.

[0019] The water treatment monitoring device in this embodiment also has an air supply mechanism. Fig. 8 is a diagram showing an example of an air supply mechanism provided in the water treatment monitoring device in this embodiment. As shown in Fig. 8, air supply mechanism 400 sends air from the outside of storage member 120 to imaging surface 111 of imaging unit 110. Imaging surface 111 is the surface of a lens through which imaging unit 110 captures an image of a subject. When air supply mechanism 400 blows air onto imaging surface 111 of imaging unit 110, it is preferable to blow air at a predetermined angle relative to imaging surface 111.

[0020] FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of the state in which the air supply mechanism 400 shown in FIG. 8 blows air onto the imaging surface 111. As shown in FIG. 9, the air supply mechanism 400 blows air taken in from the outside onto the imaging surface 111. At this time, the angle Θ at which the air supply mechanism 400 blows air onto the imaging surface 111 is preferably an angle at which the air supply mechanism 400 is not reflected in the imaging range. By blowing air onto the imaging surface 111 in this way, dirt adhering to the surface of the imaging surface 111 can be removed, and the imaging unit 110 can capture a clear image. In addition, the type of gas blown by the air supply mechanism 400 is not particularly limited. For example, air is preferable as the gas blown by the air supply mechanism 400 from the viewpoint of cost-effectiveness, and dry air is more preferable from the viewpoint of preventing condensation.

[0021] Fig. 10 is a diagram showing an example of another shape of the storage member in this embodiment. The storage member 122 shown in Fig. 10 is different from the storage member 120 shown in Fig. 3 in that the portion close to the upper end is cylindrical, but the cross section becomes wider (the bottom becomes wider) as it approaches the lower end (bottom surface). Even with this structure, it is applicable as long as it is a structure capable of storing the imaging unit 110. By making the storage member 122 have the structure shown in Fig. 10, it is possible to prevent structures other than the imaging unit 110 above the water surface from being reflected on the water surface, and it is possible to reduce the weight of the storage member 122. This allows the volume of the float 130 to be reduced.

[0022] FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining the function of the suppression member 300 shown in FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 11, the suppression member 300 shown in FIG. 2 is fixed to the wall 210 of the water tank. The fixing method is not particularly limited. As described above, the suppression member 300 allows the storage member 120 to move in the vertical direction (up and down direction) and suppresses the movement in the horizontal direction. As long as the suppression member 300 fulfills this function, the shape of the suppression member is not particularly limited. For example, the suppression member 300 may be composed of a ring-shaped member through which the storage member 120 penetrates, and a columnar or plate-shaped member that fixes the ring-shaped member to the wall 210 of the water tank. The inner diameter of the ring-shaped member is larger than the outer diameter of the storage member 120. However, if the difference is too large, there is a risk that the storage member 120 will move in the horizontal direction relative to the water tank 200. Therefore, the inner diameter of a ring-shaped member that suppresses the horizontal movement of the storage member 120 and allows the storage member 120 to move in the vertical direction is calculated in advance, and the ring-shaped member with the calculated inner diameter is used. Note that. The shape of the suppression member 300 on the storage member 120 side is not limited to a ring shape as long as it corresponds to the shape of the storage member 120. The portion to which the suppression member 300 is fixed is not limited to the wall portion 210. For example, if a structure such as a pillar is fixed inside the water tank, the suppression member 300 may be fixed to the fixed structure such as the pillar.

[0023] Fig. 12 is a diagram showing an example of another shape of the storage member in this embodiment. Unlike the storage member 120 shown in Fig. 3 and the storage member 122 shown in Fig. 10, the storage member 123 shown in Fig. 12 is not cylindrical but hemispherical. The bottom surface of the storage member 123 shown in Fig. 12 is also open, and the stored imaging unit 110 can capture an image of the water surface. The storage member 123 is disposed at a position where the bottom surface does not come into contact with the water surface 10 of the water stored in the water tank 200, similar to the storage member 120 shown in Fig. 3 and the storage member 122 shown in Fig. 10.

[0024] The storage member is not limited to the shapes of storage member 120 shown in Fig. 3, storage member 122 shown in Fig. 10, and storage member 123 shown in Fig. 12, as long as its lower end (bottom surface) is open and the bottom surface is placed at a position that does not contact water surface 10. The storage member is structured so that light does not enter from any direction other than below imaging unit 110.

[0025] Fig. 13 is a diagram showing an application example of the water treatment monitoring device of the present invention. The water treatment monitoring device of the present invention having the imaging device 100 and water tank 200 described above is used in a water treatment system having a control device 500, an addition device 600, a flocculant 700, and an agitator 800, as shown in Fig. 13.

[0026] The imaging device 100 captures an image of the flocculation state of water stored in the water tank 200 to which a flocculant 700 has been added by an addition device 600. The addition device 600 adds the flocculant 700 to the water stored in the water tank 200. The addition device 600 adds an amount of flocculant 700 to the water based on instructions from the control device 500. The agitator 800 agitates the water in the water tank 200. The flocculant 700 is often aluminum-based (PAC, aluminum sulfate, etc.), iron-based (polyferric chloride, ferric chloride), polymer flocculant (polymer), etc., but is not particularly limited.

[0027] The control device 500 judges the flocculation state from the image indicated by the image signal transmitted from the imaging device 100, and controls the amount of flocculant 700 added by the addition device 600 based on the judged flocculation state. The control device 500 detects the number of edge pixels of the flocs based on the image signal transmitted from the imaging device 100, and controls an output signal that instructs the addition device 600, which is a flocculant injection pump, to add the amount of flocculant 700 based on the obtained number of edge pixels. More specifically, the control device 500 performs image processing on the digital image indicated by the image signal transmitted from the imaging device 100 to generate an edge image. The control device 500 detects pixels in the edge image in which the color difference between adjacent pixels is equal to or greater than a threshold value as edges, and calculates the number of pixels detected as edges as the number of edges. At this time, it is preferable that the control device 500 pre-records the optimal floc state as a master image (for example, an image with 100% edge count), and sets the relative value between the digital image indicated by the image signal transmitted from the imaging device 100 and the master image as an output signal to each device. The control device 500 converts the number of edges into an electrical signal and outputs it to each chemical injection pump such as the addition device 600.

[0028] The application example shown in Fig. 13 is an example of installation in a reaction tank, but it may be installed anywhere, such as a coagulation tank where a polymer is added. Considering the time lag within the tank, it is preferable to install it in a reaction tank. In addition, the water treatment device in which the water treatment monitoring device of the present invention is installed is not particularly limited as long as it is a device that includes coagulation, such as coagulation sedimentation or coagulation pressure flotation.

[0029] Thus, in the present invention, the storage member 120 that stores the imaging unit 110 is located above the water surface of the water stored in the water tank 200, and follows the water level fluctuations by the vertical drive mechanism 160, which is a float. Therefore, dirt is less likely to accumulate on the bottom surface, which is the lower end of the storage member 120. This reduces the frequency of cleaning the water treatment monitoring device, making it possible to take stable images for a long time. In addition, the vertical drive mechanism 160 follows the water level fluctuations, so that the distance between the imaging unit 110 and the water surface is kept constant. Therefore, the imaging unit 110 does not lose focus, making it possible to always take stable images. In addition, by sending air to the imaging part of the imaging unit 110, it is possible to prevent the imaging part from becoming cloudy or dirty, and to reduce the frequency of cleaning the imaging unit 110. Therefore, it is possible to take stable images for a long time. Thus, in the present invention, continuous images can be captured. [Explanation of symbols]

[0030] 10 water surface 100 Imaging device 110 Imaging unit 111 Imaging surface 120, 122, 123 Storage materials 121,151 Ear member 130 Floating Body 140-1, 140-2 Fixing member 150 Straightening member 152 Hole 160 Up and down drive mechanism 170 Volts 200 Aquarium 210 Aquarium wall 300 Restraining member 400 Air supply mechanism 500 Control device 600 Addition equipment 700 Flocculant 800 Stirrer

Claims

1. Aquarium and an imaging unit that images the water stored in the water tank; a cylindrical storage member in which the imaging unit is stored and in which an open bottom surface is disposed at a position not in contact with a water surface of the stored water; a vertical drive mechanism attached to a side surface of the storage member and adapted to move the storage member in response to fluctuations in the level of the stored water so that the bottom surface does not come into contact with the surface of the stored water; The vertical drive mechanism of the water treatment monitoring device moves the storage member using buoyancy from the stored water.

2. The water treatment monitoring device according to claim 1, A straightening member for straightening the water in the water tank, The straightening member is disposed below the storage member in a position where the imaging unit can capture an image of the water straightened by the straightening member in the water treatment monitoring device.

3. The water treatment monitoring device according to claim 2, The water treatment monitoring device, wherein the flow straightening member is tubular with open upper and lower ends.

4. The water treatment monitoring device according to claim 3, The vertical drive mechanism is attached to a side surface of the straightening member in the water treatment monitoring device.

5. The water treatment monitoring device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, A water treatment monitoring device having a suppression member fixed to the water tank and suppressing horizontal movement of the storage member.

6. The water treatment monitoring device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, The imaging unit transmits a signal indicating the captured image to a control device that controls an addition device that adds a flocculant to the water tank.

7. A cylindrical storage member in which an imaging unit that images water stored in a water tank is stored, the end face in the direction in which the imaging unit images being opened; a vertical drive mechanism attached to a side surface of the storage member and configured to move the storage member by using buoyancy from the stored water in accordance with fluctuations in the water level so that the end surface does not come into contact with the surface of the stored water; and A cylindrical flow straightening member having both ends open, The vertical drive mechanism is attached to a side surface of the rectifying member, an imaging device, wherein one end of the rectifying member faces the open end of the storage member and is provided at a distance from the end;

Images