Water supply device

Abstract

To suppress the stopping of water supply or the decreasing of water supply amount, immediately after switching to pump controlling by a control board for backup.SOLUTION: A first pump control portion 51 and a second pump control portion 52 simultaneously execute the same control processing, and select a control signal for a switching control portion 4 to transmit it to a drive portion 3. Therefore, control processing by the first pump control portion 51 and control processing by the second pump control portion 52 become the same. Even if an abnormal condition occurs in the first pump control portion 51 and it is switched to control by the second pump control portion 52, continuity between control processing before switching and control processing after switching can be maintained. Even immediately after switching from the control of an electric pump 2 by the first pump control portion 51 to the control of the electric pump 2 by the second pump control portion 52, a problem of discontinuity of water supply characteristics such as the stopping of water supply and the rapid decreasing or increasing of water supply amount hardly occurs.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a water supply device such as a pump device. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, the water supply device described in Patent Document 1 is equipped with two control boards for controlling an electric pump, and when an abnormality occurs in the first control board while the electric pump is being controlled by the first control board, the device switches to backup operation using the second control board. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 5210147 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the water supply device described in Patent Document 1, when water is being supplied by pump control using a first control board, if pump control is switched to pump control using a second control board, there is a risk of a malfunction in which water supply stops or the amount of water supply decreases immediately after the switch.

[0005] In view of the above, the present disclosure discloses an example of a water supply device that can suppress the occurrence of the above-mentioned problems. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The water supply device preferably has at least one of the following components, for example. That is, the components include an electric pump (2) for supplying water, and Discharge Pressurethe first pump control unit (51) capable of executing a process (hereinafter referred to as a control process) for controlling the electric pump (2) using a detection signal of the pressure sensor (S1); a second pump control unit (52) capable of executing the same control process as the first pump control unit (51), the second pump control unit (52) capable of executing the control process simultaneously in parallel with the first pump control unit (51); and a switching control unit (4) capable of executing switching control between a case in which the electric pump (2) is controlled by the first pump control unit (51) and a case in which the electric pump (2) is controlled by the second pump control unit (52), and the switching control is control for switching to control by the other pump control unit when an abnormality occurs in the pump control unit that actually controls the electric pump (2) out of the first pump control unit (51) and the second pump control unit (52).

[0007] As a result, in the water supply device, even if the first pump control section (51) is controlling the electric pump (2), the second pump control section (52) can execute the same control processing as the first pump control section (51).

[0008] Furthermore, when the second pump control section (52) is simultaneously executing the same control processing as the first pump control section (51), the control processing by the first pump control section (51) and the control processing by the second pump control section (52) may be the same.

[0009] Therefore, even if an abnormality occurs in the first pump control section (51) and control is switched to that of the second pump control section (52)(), continuity can be maintained between the control process before and after the switch.

[0010] Furthermore, even immediately after control of the electric pump (2) is switched from the first pump control unit (51) to the second pump control unit (52), discontinuities in the water supply characteristics, such as a stop in water supply or a sudden decrease or increase in the amount of water supply, are unlikely to occur.

[0011] Incidentally, the symbols in the above parentheses are examples showing the corresponding relationship with the specific configurations etc. described in the embodiments described below, and the present disclosure is not limited to the specific configurations etc. shown by the symbols in the above parentheses. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing a water supply device according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a water supply device according to a second embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a water supply device according to a third embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0013] The following "embodiment of the invention" shows an example of an embodiment that falls within the technical scope of the present disclosure. In other words, the invention-specific matters described in the claims are not limited to the specific configurations and structures shown in the following embodiment.

[0014] At least one of each of the components or parts described with a reference symbol is provided, unless otherwise specified by "one". In other words, unless otherwise specified by "one", the component may be provided in two or more. The water supply device shown in the present disclosure includes at least the components described with a reference symbol, the structural parts shown in the drawings, and a control device.

[0015] (First embodiment) <1. Overview of the water supply system> In this embodiment, an example of a water supply apparatus according to the present disclosure is applied to a water supply apparatus applied to buildings such as an apartment building, a commercial building, etc. As shown in Fig. 1, the water supply apparatus 1 according to this embodiment includes at least an electric pump 2, a drive unit 3, a switching control unit 4, a control device 5, etc.

[0016] The electric pump 2 is a water supply pump driven by an electric motor (not shown). The control device 5 is a controller that controls the stopping and operation of the electric pump 2. The control device 5 has at least a first pump control unit 51, a second pump control unit 52, a pressure sensor S1, a flow rate sensor S2, etc.

[0017] The drive unit 3 is a drive circuit that drives the electric pump 2. The operation of the drive unit 3 is controlled by the control device 5. Specifically, the drive unit 3 supplies a drive current to the electric motor of the electric pump 2 to drive the electric motor. Therefore, the electric pump 2 is controlled by the control device 5 via the drive unit 3.

[0018] The drive unit 3 according to this embodiment includes an inverter type drive circuit (hereinafter referred to as the inverter circuit) 31, and a control unit 32 that controls the inverter circuit 31. The inverter circuit 31 is controlled by the control unit 32 to generate an AC drive current and supply it to the electric motor.

[0019] The control unit 32 causes the inverter circuit 31 to generate an AC driving current having a frequency according to a command from the control device 5. The control unit 32 is configured with a microcomputer having a CPU, ROM, RAM, etc. Software for executing the control of the inverter circuit 31 is stored in advance in a non-volatile storage unit such as a ROM.

[0020] <2. Control device> The control device 5 includes a first pump control unit 51, a second pump control unit 52, a pressure sensor S1, a flow rate sensor S2, etc. Discharge Pressure The flow rate sensor S2 detects the amount of water supplied (in this embodiment, the discharge flow rate of the electric pump 2).

[0021] <Pump control unit> The first pump control section 51 and the second pump control section 52 are capable of independently controlling the operation of the electric pump 2. The first pump control section 51 and the second pump control section 52 are controllers having the same specifications.

[0022] That is, each of the first pump control unit 51 and the second pump control unit 52 is configured with a microcomputer having a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, etc. Software for controlling the electric pump 2 is stored in advance in a non-volatile memory provided in each of the first pump control unit 51 and the second pump control unit 52.

[0023] The software pre-stored in the non-volatile storage section of the first pump control section 51 and the software pre-stored in the non-volatile storage section of the second pump control section 52 are the same software.

[0024] Therefore, the first pump control unit 51 and the second pump control unit 52 can execute the same control process. The control process refers to a process for controlling the electric pump 2 using detection signals from the pressure sensor S1 and the flow rate sensor S2.

[0025] A detection signal from the pressure sensor S1 and a detection signal from the flow rate sensor S2 are input to the first pump control unit 51 and the second pump control unit 52, respectively. That is, the first pump control unit 51 and the second pump control unit 52 each execute the same control process using the same detection signal.

[0026] The two pump control units 51, 52 simultaneously execute the same control process using the same detection signal in parallel, and therefore each of the pump control units 51, 52 can transmit the same control signal to the drive unit 3 at the same timing.

[0027] In addition, when the two pump control units 51, 52 execute the same control process simultaneously in parallel, this means, for example, that when the power switch of the water supply device 1 is turned on, the two pump control units 51, 52 start up simultaneously and begin the same control process.

[0028] Incidentally, the control process using the detection value of the pressure sensor S1 (hereinafter referred to as the detected pressure) is, for example, the target pressure control process and the start control process. The control process using the detection value of the flow sensor S2 (hereinafter referred to as the detected flow rate) is, for example, the small water flow stop control process.

[0029] The target pressure control process is a process for controlling the rotation speed of the electric pump 2 so that the detected pressure becomes a target pressure. The target pressure is a predetermined value, a value determined as a function value of the water supply amount, or the like.

[0030] The start-up control process is a process for starting the electric pump 2 when the detected pressure becomes equal to or lower than a predetermined pressure while the electric pump 2 is stopped. The low water volume stop control process is a process for stopping the electric pump 2 when the water supply volume becomes equal to or lower than a predetermined flow rate.

[0031] In this embodiment, display setting units 61, 62 are provided corresponding to the two pump control units 51, 52, respectively. The display setting units 61, 62 have a function of accepting input of parameters necessary for control processing, a function of displaying information about the water supply device, and the like.

[0032] <Switch control unit> The switching control unit 4 is a control unit for executing control for switching between a case in which the electric pump 2 is controlled by the first pump control unit 51 and a case in which the electric pump 2 is controlled by the second pump control unit 52.

[0033] That is, the switching control unit 4 has a switching circuit 41 and a control unit 42, etc., and is capable of executing a first switching control and a second switching control. The switching circuit 41 switches between a case where a first control signal is input to the control unit 32, i.e., the drive unit 3, and a case where a second control signal is input to the drive unit 3.

[0034] The switching circuit 41 switches the communication line between the control device 5 and the switching control unit 4. The first control signal refers to a control signal transmitted from the first pump control unit 51 to the drive unit 3. The second control signal refers to a control signal transmitted from the second pump control unit 52 to the drive unit 3.

[0035] The control unit 42 controls the operation of the switching circuit 41. Note that the control unit 42 according to the present embodiment also serves as the control unit 32. That is, the control unit 32 executes software for controlling the inverter circuit 31 as well as software for executing switching control.

[0036] The switching control unit 4, i.e., the control unit 42 and each of the pump control units 51, 52 can communicate with each other. The communication method between the control unit 42 and each of the pump control units 51, 52 and the communication method between the control unit 32 and the inverter circuit 31 are not important.

[0037] <First switching control> The first switching control is a switching control that switches to control by the other pump control unit when an abnormality occurs in the pump control unit that actually controls the electric pump 2, out of the first pump control unit 51 and the second pump control unit 52.

[0038] In other words, when the first control signal is input to the drive unit 3, if the switching control unit 4, i.e., the control unit 42 determines that an abnormality has occurred in the first pump control unit 51, the control unit 42 activates the switching circuit 41 to input the second control signal to the drive unit 3 and stops the input of the first control signal.

[0039] In addition, when the control unit 42 determines that an abnormality has occurred in the second pump control unit 52 while the second control signal is being input to the drive unit 3, the control unit 42 activates the switching circuit 41 to input the first control signal to the drive unit 3 and stop the input of the second control signal.

[0040] When the first switching control is executed, the other pump control unit notifies the outside that an abnormality has occurred. That is, for example, when an abnormality occurs in the first pump control unit 51, the second pump control unit 52 notifies the outside that an abnormality has occurred.

[0041] <Second switching control> The second switching control is a switching control in which the pump control unit that actually controls the electric pump 2 is switched every predetermined time (for example, 10 seconds). In other words, the first control signal and the second control signal are alternately input to the drive unit 3 every that time.

[0042] <3. Features of the water supply device according to this embodiment> In the water supply device 1 according to this embodiment, even if the first pump control section 51 controls the electric pump 2, the second pump control section 52 can execute the same control processing as the first pump control section 51.

[0043] Furthermore, when the second pump control unit 52 is simultaneously executing the same control processing as the first pump control unit 51, the control processing by the first pump control unit 51 and the control processing by the second pump control unit 52 are identical.

[0044] Therefore, even if an abnormality occurs in the first pump control section 51 and control is switched to that by the second pump control section 52, continuity can be maintained between the control process before the switch and the control process after the switch.

[0045] Furthermore, for example, even immediately after control of the electric pump 2 is switched from the first pump control unit 51 to the second pump control unit 52, discontinuities in the water supply characteristics, such as a halt in water supply or a sudden decrease or increase in the amount of water supply, are unlikely to occur.

[0046] The switching circuit 41 switches the communication lines between the switching control unit 4 and each of the pump control units 51, 52. This eliminates the need to cut off the communication lines or power to the pump control unit in which an abnormality has occurred, allowing the circuit configuration to be simplified.

[0047] When the first switching control is executed, the other pump control unit transmits a notice that an abnormality has occurred to the outside. In this way, even if an abnormality occurs in one of the pump control units, the abnormality can be transmitted reliably.

[0048] In other words, if an abnormality occurs and the abnormality is transmitted from the pump control unit in which the abnormality occurred, the abnormality may not be transmitted to the outside. In contrast, according to this embodiment, the other pump control unit transmits the abnormality to the outside, so that the abnormality can be transmitted to the outside reliably.

[0049] The switching control unit 4 switches, at predetermined time intervals, the pump control unit that actually controls the electric pump 2. This makes it possible to reliably switch the pump control unit even if the activation timing of the first switching control is delayed.

[0050] Second embodiment The water supply device 1 according to the embodiment described above is configured to include one electric pump 2. In contrast, the water supply device 1 according to the present embodiment is configured to include a plurality (e.g., two) electric pumps 2, as shown in Fig. 2. Accordingly, in this embodiment, the same number of drive units 3, switching control units 4, and flow rate sensors S2 as the number of electric pumps 2 are provided.

[0051] Each of the electric pumps 2 is the same electric pump. The first flow rate sensor S2 detects the discharge flow rate of the first electric pump 2. The second flow rate sensor S2 detects the discharge flow rate of the second electric pump 2.

[0052] When the target pressure control process is executed, the first pump control unit 51 and the second pump control unit 52 each control the operation of one or more electric pumps 2. When the start-up control process according to this embodiment is executed, the first electric pump 2 and the second electric pump 2 are started alternately.

[0053] In addition, the same components as those in the above-described embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in the above-described embodiment, and therefore, in this embodiment, duplicated explanations are omitted.

[0054] Third embodiment The water supply device 1 according to the embodiment described above is configured to include one control device 5. In this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 3, a plurality of (e.g., two) electric pumps 2, as well as the same number of control devices 5, switching control units 4, and drive units 3 as the number of electric pumps 2, are provided.

[0055] In other words, when the configuration shown in the first embodiment (FIG. 1) is used as a pump device, the water supply device 1 according to this embodiment is configured to include the same number of pump devices as the electric pumps 2. However, the number of display setting units 61, 62 is the same as the number of pump devices.

[0056] In addition, when the pump device on the left side of the page is referred to as the first pump device and the pump device on the right side of the page is referred to as the second pump device, hereinafter, the first pump control unit 51 of the first pump device will be referred to as the first pump control unit, and the second pump control unit 52 of the first pump device will be referred to as the second pump control unit.

[0057] The first pump control unit 51 of the second pump device is referred to as a third pump control unit, and the second pump control unit 52 of the second pump device is referred to as a fourth pump control unit. Note that the same components as those in the above-mentioned embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in the above-mentioned embodiment.

[0058] In the water supply device 1 of this embodiment, at least one of the first pump control unit and the second pump control unit is capable of communicating with at least one of the third pump control unit and the fourth pump control unit.

[0059] In this embodiment, each of the first to fourth pump control units can communicate with any of the pump control units, and the communication method is not important. At least information indicating the electric pump 2 to be started in the start-up control process is communicated between the pump control units.

[0060] When two electric pumps 2 are operated simultaneously, the pump control unit of the first pump device cooperates with the pump control unit of the second pump device to control the operation of the two electric pumps 2. When only one electric pump is operating, either the first pump device or the second pump device operates.

[0061] When only the first pump device is operating, the third pump control unit and the fourth pump control unit are stopped, and when only the second pump device is operating, the first pump control unit and the second pump control unit are stopped.

[0062] (Other embodiments) In the above embodiment, the control unit 42 of the switching control unit 4 and the control unit 32 of the drive unit 3 are common. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this. That is, the present disclosure may be configured such that the control unit 42 of the switching control unit 4 and the control unit 32 of the drive unit 3 are provided separately, for example.

[0063] In the above-described embodiment, the first pump control unit 51, the second pump control unit 52, and the switching control unit 4 are configured on separate control boards, and are communicatively connected to each other. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this.

[0064] That is, the disclosure may be, for example, a configuration in which the first pump control unit 51, the second pump control unit 52, and the switching control unit 4 are mounted on a single control board. With such a configuration, an interface (communication port) for communicatively connecting them is not required.

[0065] In the above embodiment, the switching control unit 4 is configured to monitor whether or not an abnormality has occurred in the pump control unit. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this. That is, the present disclosure may be configured, for example, such that each pump control unit monitors itself, or such that a monitoring unit dedicated to monitoring is provided.

[0066] In the above embodiment, the switching circuit 41 is a separate board from the driving unit 3. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this. That is, in the present disclosure, for example, the switching control unit 4 and the driving unit 3 may be configured on the same board.

[0067] The switching control unit 4 according to the above embodiment is capable of executing both the first switching control and the second switching control. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this. That is, the present disclosure may be configured to be capable of executing only one of the first switching control and the second switching control, for example.

[0068] The switching control unit 4 according to the above embodiment is configured to control the switching circuit 41, which is hardware, to switch the input of the control signal. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this. That is, the present disclosure may be configured to switch the input of the control signal by software, for example.

[0069] In the above-described embodiment, the water supply device according to the present disclosure is applied to a water supply device applied to a building such as an apartment building or a commercial building. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. That is, the present disclosure can also be applied to, for example, a pump device that circulates a liquid such as water.

[0070] Furthermore, the present disclosure is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments as long as it is consistent with the gist of the disclosure described in the above-mentioned embodiments. Therefore, the present disclosure may be a configuration in which at least two of the above-mentioned embodiments are combined, or a configuration in which any of the components illustrated or the components described with reference numerals in the above-mentioned embodiments are eliminated. [Explanation of symbols]

[0071] 1... Water supply device 2... Electric pump 3... Drive unit 4... Switching control unit 5... Control device 31... Inverter circuit 32... Control section 41... Switching circuit 42... Control section 51... First pump control section 52: Second pump control section 61: Display setting section S1: Pressure sensor S2... Flow sensor

Claims

1. An electric pump for water supply; a pressure sensor for detecting a discharge pressure of the electric pump; a first pump control unit capable of executing a process for controlling the electric pump using a detection signal from the pressure sensor (hereinafter referred to as a control process); a second pump control unit capable of executing the same control process as the first pump control unit, the second pump control unit capable of executing the control process simultaneously in parallel with the first pump control unit; a switching control unit capable of executing switching control to switch between a case where the electric pump is controlled by the first pump control unit and a case where the electric pump is controlled by the second pump control unit, The switching control is a control for switching to control by the other pump control unit when an abnormality occurs in the pump control unit that actually controls the electric pump, out of the first pump control unit and the second pump control unit.

2. Paragraph 0034 A drive unit that drives the electric pump is provided. the first pump control unit sends a signal for controlling the drive unit (hereinafter, referred to as a first control signal) to the drive unit during execution of the control process; the second pump control unit sends a signal for controlling the drive unit (hereinafter, referred to as a second control signal) to the drive unit during execution of the control process; The water supply apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising: the switching control unit inputting either the first control signal or the second control signal to the drive unit.

3. 3. The water supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the switching control is executed, the other pump control unit transmits a notification to the outside that an abnormality has occurred.

4. 4. The water supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the switching control unit is capable of executing a second switching control for switching a pump control unit that actually controls the electric pump at predetermined time intervals.

5. An electric pump for water supply; a pressure sensor for detecting a discharge pressure of the electric pump; a first pump control unit capable of executing a process for controlling the electric pump using a detection signal from the pressure sensor (hereinafter referred to as a control process); a second pump control unit capable of executing the same control process as the first pump control unit, the second pump control unit capable of executing the control process simultaneously in parallel with the first pump control unit; a switching control unit capable of executing switching control for switching between a case where the electric pump is controlled by the first pump control unit and a case where the electric pump is controlled by the second pump control unit at a predetermined time interval; A water supply device comprising:

6. a second electric pump for supplying water; a third pump control unit capable of executing a control process for controlling the second electric pump; a fourth pump control unit capable of executing the same control process as the third pump control unit, the fourth pump control unit capable of executing the control process simultaneously in parallel with the third pump control unit; a second switching control unit that switches to control by the other pump control unit when an abnormality occurs in one of the third pump control unit and the fourth pump control unit that actually controls the second electric pump, At least one of the first pump control unit and the second pump control unit controls at least one of the third pump control unit and the fourth pump control unit. The water supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, capable of communicating with a

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