Vibration sensor installation support system

Abstract

To facilitate installation of vibration sensors for detecting leakage of a fluid flowing in a duct network, in an appropriate arrangement in the duct network.SOLUTION: A vibration sensor installation support system is configured to calculate an arrangement in a duct network, of vibration sensors that are installed in the duct network and configured to detect leakage of fluid in the duct network which includes a plurality of connected duct elements and in which the liquid flows. The vibration sensor installation support system includes an installation position calculation part which, using inputted information on the duct network and inputted information on the vibration sensors to be installed, generates an expression of an optimization problem aiming at representing minimization of the total number of vibration sensors installed in the duct network while setting the number of vibration sensors capable of detecting the leakage of the fluid to be equal to or larger than a minimum number that is set for each duct element, and then calculates and outputs optimum installation position information on the vibration sensors to be installed by solving the expression of the optimization problem.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a vibration sensor installation support system that is installed in a pipeline network having a plurality of connected pipeline elements through which a fluid flows, and calculates the placement within the pipeline network of vibration sensors that detect fluid leakage in the pipeline network. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, there have been proposed techniques for calculating the placement of sensors that detect leakage of fluids flowing through pipeline networks in infrastructure and factory pipeline networks, and in water pipeline networks. For example, Patent Document 1 describes a method for calculating the placement of multiple sensors that detect leakage of fluids from pipes by sound pressure in a pipeline network in which multiple pipes through which fluids can flow are connected, based on a weighting value that is preset for each pipe. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2017-180598 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in the technology of Patent Document 1, the placement of the sensor is calculated without considering the change in the ease of vibration damping in the pipe depending on the structure of the pipe, and the detection performance of the sensor. As a result, it is not possible to calculate the range in the pipe network where the sensor can detect leakage. As a result, there is a risk that leakage in the pipe that should be detectable by the sensor cannot be detected, and there is a problem that the placement of the sensor may not be appropriate.

[0005] The present invention aims to provide a vibration sensor installation location system, an information processing method, and an information processing program that make it easy to install vibration sensors that detect leakage of fluid flowing through a pipeline network in an appropriate position in the pipeline network. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, one aspect of the vibration sensor installation support system of the present invention is a vibration sensor installation support system that is installed in a pipeline network having a plurality of connected pipeline elements through which a fluid flows, and calculates the placement within the pipeline network of a vibration sensor that detects leakage of the fluid, and has an installation position calculation unit that uses information about the pipeline network and information about the vibration sensor to be installed as input, generates an equation for an optimization problem that aims to minimize the total number of vibration sensors to be installed in the pipeline network while setting the number of vibration sensors capable of detecting leakage of the fluid to be equal to or greater than the minimum number set for each pipeline element, and calculates and outputs optimal installation position information for the vibration sensor to be installed obtained by solving the equation for the optimization problem. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to easily install vibration sensors for detecting leakage of fluid flowing through a pipeline network in a layout that allows monitoring of the pipeline network without overlooking the entire network, taking into consideration the detection range of the vibration sensors. Furthermore, it is possible to avoid placing too many vibration sensors based on the calculation result of the minimum number of vibration sensors required, thereby reducing the energy required to install the vibration sensors in the pipeline network and the amount of carbon dioxide generated, thereby suppressing global warming.

[0008] Problems, configurations and effects other than those described above will become apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiment of the invention. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a functional block diagram of the vibration sensor installation support system according to the first embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional block diagram of an installation position calculation unit in the first embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of pipeline network information in the first embodiment. [Figure 4]FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of vibration sensor information according to the first embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional block diagram of an installation condition acquisition unit in the first embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional block diagram of an installation position optimization calculation unit in the first embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a node table in the first embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a pipeline element table according to the first embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a vibration sensor sensitivity table in the first embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a vibration model table in the first embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a nodal vibration propagation model table in the first embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a pipe element vibration propagation model table in the first embodiment. [Figure 13] 11 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an installation position calculation process according to the first embodiment. [Figure 14] 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration of a vibration sensor installation support system according to a first embodiment. [Figure 15] FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an installation condition input screen displayed for a user to input installation conditions; [Figure 16A] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of an equation of a detection function. [Figure 16B] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of calculation of a detection function equation. [Figure 16C] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a monitoring feasibility matrix. [Figure 16D] FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining constraint equations for an optimization problem. [Figure 16E] FIG. 2 illustrates a formula for an optimization problem. [Figure 17] FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a method for calculating a detection function. [Figure 18] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a table representing a monitoring feasibility matrix. [Figure 19] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a table in which the arrangement of vibration sensors is presented to a user. [Figure 20] 13 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a vibration sensor arrangement screen showing the arrangement of vibration sensors; FIG. [Figure 21] 13 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a vibration sensor arrangement screen showing the arrangement of vibration sensors; FIG. [Figure 22] FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an installation condition input screen displayed for a user to input installation conditions in the first modified example of the first embodiment; [Figure 23] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a node table in a second modified example of the first embodiment. [Figure 24] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a functional block diagram of a vibration sensor installation support system in a second embodiment. [Diagram 25] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of area information according to the second embodiment. [Figure 26] FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration of a vibration sensor installation support system according to a second embodiment. [Figure 27] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional block diagram of an installation condition acquisition unit in the second embodiment. [Figure 28] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a node table in the second embodiment. [Figure 29] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a pipeline element table in the second embodiment. [Diagram 30] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a pipe element vibration propagation model table in the second embodiment. [Diagram 31] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a functional block diagram of a vibration sensor installation support system according to a third embodiment. [Diagram 32] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional block diagram of an installation order calculation unit in the third embodiment. [Diagram 33] 13 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an installation order calculation process in the third embodiment. [Diagram 34] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a table in which an optimal route is presented to a user. [Diagram 35]FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an optimum route presentation screen showing the shortest route. [Diagram 36] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a functional block diagram of a vibration sensor installation support system in a first modified example of the third embodiment. [Figure 37] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional block diagram of an installation order calculation unit in a first modified example of the third embodiment. [Figure 38] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a functional block diagram of a vibration sensor installation support system in a fourth embodiment. [Figure 39] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a functional block diagram of a vibration sensor installation support system in a first modified example of the fourth embodiment. [Diagram 40] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a functional block diagram of a vibration sensor installation support system in a fifth embodiment. [Diagram 41] 13 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an installation position calculation process in the fifth embodiment. [Diagram 42] FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration of a vibration sensor installation support system according to a fifth embodiment. [Diagram 43] FIG. 23 is a diagram showing an example of a functional block diagram of a vibration sensor installation support system in a sixth embodiment. [Diagram 44] 23 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an installation position calculation process in the sixth embodiment. [Diagram 45] FIG. 23 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an information acquisition condition input screen displayed for a user to input information acquisition conditions in the sixth embodiment. [Figure 46] FIG. 23 is a diagram showing an example of a functional block diagram of a vibration sensor installation support system in a seventh embodiment. [Figure 47] 13 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an installation position calculation process in the seventh embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The examples are illustrative for explaining the present invention, and are omitted and simplified as appropriate for clarity of explanation. The present invention can be implemented in various other forms. Unless otherwise specified, each component may be singular or plural.

[0011] In order to facilitate understanding of the invention, the position, size, shape, range, etc. of each component shown in the drawings may not represent the actual position, size, shape, range, etc. Therefore, the present invention is not necessarily limited to the position, size, shape, range, etc. disclosed in the drawings.

[0012] As examples of various information, the various information may be described using expressions such as "table," "list," and "queue," but the various information may be expressed using data structures other than these. For example, various information such as "XX table," "XX list," and "XX queue" may be expressed as "XX information." When describing identification information, expressions such as "identification information," "identifier," "name," "ID," and "number" are used, but these are mutually interchangeable.

[0013] When there are multiple components having the same or similar functions, they may be described by using the same reference numerals with different subscripts, or when there is no need to distinguish between these multiple components, the subscripts may be omitted.

[0014] In the embodiments, a process performed by executing a program may be described. Here, a computer executes the program using a processor (e.g., CPU, GPU), and performs the process defined by the program while using a storage resource (e.g., memory) and an interface device (e.g., communication port), etc. Therefore, the subject of the process performed by executing the program may be the processor. Similarly, the subject of the process performed by executing the program may be a controller, device, system, computer, or node having a processor. The subject of the process performed by executing the program may be a calculation unit, and may include a dedicated circuit that performs specific processing. Here, the dedicated circuit is, for example, an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), or a CPLD (Complex Programmable Logic Device), etc.

[0015] The program may be installed in the computer from a program source. The program source may be, for example, a program distribution server or a computer-readable storage medium. When the program source is a program distribution server, the program distribution server may include a processor and a storage resource that stores the program to be distributed, and the processor of the program distribution server may distribute the program to be distributed to other computers. In addition, in the embodiment, two or more programs may be realized as one program, and one program may be realized as two or more programs. EXAMPLES

[0016] The vibration sensor installation support system 1 is installed in a pipeline network having a plurality of connected pipeline elements, such as in infrastructure or a factory, through which a fluid flows, and calculates the placement of vibration sensors in the pipeline network that detect leakage of the fluid. In the following, a "map of a pipeline network" may be referred to as a "pipe network." In the following, as an example, the pipeline network is a pipeline network of water pipes, and the fluid flowing through the pipeline network is water. By calculating the placement of vibration sensors to be installed in the pipeline network of water pipes, the vibration sensor installation support system 1 makes it easy to install vibration sensors in the pipeline network in an appropriate placement that detects leakage of water flowing through the pipeline network.

[0017] The vibration sensor installation support system 1 calculates the placement of vibration sensors in a pipeline network, taking into account the following factors: The target pipeline network is a pipeline network in a range in which vibration sensors are installed to monitor for leakage. A node is a point in a pipeline network where the end of a pipe is located (a joint between pipes or the end of a pipeline), or where a device that affects the flow of fluid inside the pipe is installed. A node is, for example, a joint between pipes of different diameters or a branching point of a pipeline, the end of a pipeline, or a point where a device that affects the flow of fluid inside the pipe is installed (a water control valve such as a flow control valve, a fire hydrant, or a gate valve). The installation candidate node is a node that is a candidate for installing a vibration sensor. An installation node where the vibration sensor is to be installed is selected from the installation candidate nodes. A pipe element is a pipe with nodes at both ends.

[0018] The vibration sensor is installed at the installation node and can detect vibrations caused by water (fluid) leakage (for example, based on the vibration intensity of a predetermined frequency, the detection time, and characteristics related to the stationary nature of the vibration), and output information on the vibration intensity of the predetermined frequency and the presence of vibration to a leakage monitoring device (not shown) to which the vibration sensor is connected. By receiving the vibration intensity of the predetermined frequency and information on the presence of vibration from the vibration sensor, the leakage monitoring device can detect that water (fluid) is leaking from a node or pipe element in the vicinity of the node where the vibration sensor is installed. The vibrations detected by the vibration sensor are not limited to vibrations that travel through piping, but also include vibrations resulting from sound that travels through air or liquid.

[0019] <System configuration> Fig. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a functional block diagram of a vibration sensor installation support system 1 in Example 1. As shown in Fig. 1, the vibration sensor installation support system 1 has pipeline network information 11, vibration sensor information 12, an installation position calculation unit 13, and optimal installation position information 14. The pipeline network information 11 and the vibration sensor information 12 are inputs to the installation position calculation unit 13, and the optimal installation position information 14 is an output from the installation position calculation unit 13.

[0020] 3 shows the configuration of pipeline network information (pipe network information) 11, which comprehensively includes information about the pipelines of a pipeline network. For example, it is information that comprehensively includes pipeline configuration information 31 and operation management information 32, and corresponds to computerized pipeline management data, data about the operation and management of a pipeline network, documents with pipeline diagrams printed on paper, and documents scanned from paper and extracted with the necessary information as electronic data.

[0021] FIG. 4 shows the configuration of the vibration sensor information 12, which is composed of measurement data 41 that comprehensively includes information such as the specifications of the vibration sensor used and past detection results (information on past measurement values ​​of the vibration sensor), and theoretical data 42 that comprehensively includes information on vibration such as analytical values ​​and theoretical values ​​that model the characteristics of leakage vibration caused by leakage of fluid from a pipeline network and propagation attenuation characteristics. The measurement data 41 includes, for example, data on the detection lower limit of the vibration sensor, sensitivity characteristics for each frequency band, and detection results of the vibration sensor obtained in the past. The theoretical data 42 corresponds to data related to the propagation characteristics of vibration such as a mathematical model of the expected strength of vibration caused by leakage and vibration attenuation characteristics depending on the pipeline structure. These pieces of information can be associated with each other, and the vibration sensor information (information of the vibration sensor) includes information on past measurement values ​​of the vibration sensor and information that associates theoretical characteristics related to the strength of leakage vibration and vibration attenuation with the structural characteristics of the pipeline element.

[0022] 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the installation position calculation unit 13. The installation position calculation unit 13 has an installation condition acquisition unit 21, an installation position optimization calculation unit 22, and an input data set 23. The installation condition acquisition unit uses the pipeline network information 11 and the vibration sensor information 12 to output the input data set 23. The installation position optimization calculation unit 22 uses the input data set 23 to output optimal installation position information 13.

[0023] 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the installation condition acquisition unit 21. The installation condition acquisition unit 21 creates an input data set 23 by referring to the pipeline network information 11 and the vibration sensor information 12. The input data set 23 has a node table 51, a pipeline element table 52, a vibration sensor sensitivity table 53, a vibration model table 54, a nodal vibration propagation model table 55, and a pipeline element vibration propagation model table 56.

[0024] A node table 51 and a pipeline element table 52 are output from the pipeline configuration information 31 and operation management information 32 of the pipeline network information 11, and a vibration sensor sensitivity table 53, a vibration model table 54, a nodal vibration propagation model table 55, and a pipeline element vibration propagation model table 56 are output from the measurement data 41 and theoretical data 42 of the vibration sensor information 12.

[0025] The node table 51, the details of which will be described later with reference to FIG. 7, stores each node in the pipeline network in association with configuration information relating to the properties and operation of the node.

[0026] The pipeline element table 52, the details of which will be described later with reference to FIG. 8, stores each pipeline element in the pipeline network in association with configuration information relating to the properties and operation of the pipeline element.

[0027] The vibration sensor sensitivity table 53, the details of which will be described later with reference to FIG. 9, stores the type of vibration sensor and information relating to the sensitivity of the vibration sensor in association with each other.

[0028] The vibration model table 54, the details of which will be described later with reference to FIG. 10, stores configuration information relating to the properties of the pipe elements and information relating to the vibration characteristics at the leak point in association with each other.

[0029] The nodal vibration propagation model table 55, details of which will be described later with reference to FIG. 11, stores configuration information on the properties of the nodes in association with information on vibration attenuation characteristics in the process of vibration propagation at the nodes.

[0030] The pipeline element vibration propagation model table 56, details of which will be described later with reference to FIG. 12, stores configuration information relating to the properties of the pipeline elements in association with information relating to the vibration attenuation characteristics during the vibration propagation process in the pipeline elements.

[0031] Fig. 6 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the installation position optimization calculation unit 22. The installation position optimization calculation unit 22 uses the input data set 23 to carry out processing to calculate optimal installation position information 14 in a calculation unit 61. The processing of the calculation unit 61 will be described in detail later using the flowchart of Fig. 13, but the input data set 23 created by the installation condition acquisition unit 21 is used to calculate the placement of the vibration sensors and the detection range at each placement location. Then, the placement of the vibration sensors is output using an output device.

[0032] Fig. 14 is a block diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration of the vibration sensor installation support system 1 in the embodiment 1. As shown in Fig. 14, the vibration sensor installation support system 1 has a processor 141, a main memory device 142, a sub-memory device 143, an input device 144, an output device 145, and a bus 146 connecting these devices. The vibration sensor installation support system 1 can be realized by a general information processing device such as a PC or a server computer.

[0033] The processor 141 reads data and programs stored in the secondary storage device 143 into the primary storage device 142, and executes the processing defined by the programs.

[0034] The main memory device 142 has a volatile memory element such as a RAM, and stores the programs executed by the processor 141 and data.

[0035] The secondary storage device 143 is a device that has a non-volatile storage element such as a hard disk drive (HDD) or a solid state drive (SSD) and stores programs, data, etc. The secondary storage device 143 stores the pipeline network information 11 and the vibration sensor information 12 described above.

[0036] In addition, the installation position calculation program 13a is installed in the sub-storage device 143. The installation position calculation unit 13 described above with reference to FIG. 2 is realized by the processor 141 reading the installation position calculation program 13a stored in the sub-storage device 143 into the main storage device 142 and executing it. The installation position calculation program 13a includes an installation condition acquisition program 21a and an installation position optimization calculation program 22a, although not shown. As described above with reference to FIG. 2, the installation position calculation unit 13 includes an installation condition acquisition unit 21 and an installation position optimization calculation unit 22. The installation condition acquisition unit 21 is realized by the processor 141 reading the installation condition acquisition program 21a stored in the sub-storage device 143 into the main storage device 142 and executing it. In addition, the installation position optimization calculation unit 22 is realized by the processor 141 reading the installation position optimization calculation program 22a stored in the sub-storage device 143 into the main storage device 142 and executing it.

[0037] The input device 144 is a device such as a keyboard or a mouse that accepts user operations and acquires information input by the user's operations. The output device 145 is a device such as a display that outputs information and presents information to the user by displaying it on a screen, for example.

[0038] <Various data structures> 7 is a diagram showing an example of the node table 51. The node ID 701 is a node ID that identifies each of the multiple nodes. The position 702 is position information that indicates the position of each of the multiple nodes, and is expressed, for example, by latitude and longitude. The attribute information 703 is information on the attribute (type) of the node. The attribute of the node is, for example, information on the type of pipe connected to the node, such as a pipe connection point between pipes of different diameters, a pipeline branch point, or a pipeline end point, or information on the type of device that affects the flow of fluid inside the pipe, such as a water control valve such as a flow control valve, a fire hydrant, or a gate valve. The valve value 704 indicates whether or not the node is provided with a valve. If the node is provided with a valve, the valve value 704 is set to 1 (valve value 704 = 1), and if the node is not provided with a valve, the valve value 704 is set to 0 (valve value 704 = 0). Branch classification 705 is a value that specifies the branch configuration of the node. If the attribute information 703 is not a branch, branch classification 705 is set to 0 (branch classification 705=0), and if the attribute information 703 is a branch, a value that identifies a different branch configuration depending on the number of branches, the material of the branch pipe, and the pipe diameter is entered. The installation possibility value 706 indicates whether or not the node is an installation candidate node that is a candidate for installing a vibration sensor. The installation possibility value 706 is set to 1 (installation possibility value 706 = 1) if the node is an installation candidate node, and is set to 0 (installation possibility value 706 = 0) if the node is not an installation candidate node. "Node information in which a plurality of nodes are associated with an installation possibility value that indicates whether each of the plurality of nodes is an installation candidate node that is a candidate for installing a vibration sensor" is, for example, a node ID 701 and an installation possibility value 706 in the node table 51 in FIG. 7.

[0039] As described above, the node table 51 is a pipeline element table including the structural characteristics (attribute information 703, valve value 704, branch classification 705) of the nodes that make up the pipeline network. The node table 51 also contains node information that associates, for each of the pipeline elements that make up the pipeline network, position information (position 702) of multiple nodes at both ends of each of the multiple pipeline elements with an installation feasibility value 706 that indicates whether each of the multiple nodes is a candidate installation node for installing a vibration sensor.

[0040] Nodes where a valve is installed are examples of nodes where vibration is easily detected. Therefore, the installation feasibility value of a node where a valve is installed and the valve value 704 is 1 is set to 1 (installation feasibility value 706 = 1). Also, the installation feasibility value of a node where the valve value 704 is 0 is set appropriately.

[0041] This allows nodes where valves are installed to be preferentially set as installation candidate nodes. By setting in this way, nodes where valves are installed are preferentially set as installation nodes where vibration sensors are to be installed, and this makes it possible to more reliably detect water (fluid) leakage from the pipeline network.

[0042] In addition, when the length of a pipeline element is so long that the pipeline element cannot be detected evenly by a vibration sensor installed at the end of the pipeline element, a node is set midway through the pipeline element even if there is no device within the pipeline element that affects the flow of fluid within the pipe.

[0043] 8 is a diagram showing an example of the pipeline element table 52. The pipeline element ID 801 is an ID that identifies each pipeline element. The end node ID1 column 802 is the node ID of the node to which the pipeline element is connected at one end. The end node ID2 column 803 is the node ID of the node to which the pipeline element is connected at the other end. The pipe type 804 indicates the pipe material of the pipeline element.

[0044] Pipe length 805 is the length of the pipeline element. Pipe wall thickness 806 is the thickness of the pipe that constitutes the pipeline element. Pipe diameter 807 is the diameter of the pipe that constitutes the pipeline element. Pressure 808 is the expected pressure inside the pipeline element. Age 809 is the number of years that have passed since the pipeline was laid. Past repair date 810, in the case of a pipeline element from which a leak has occurred in the past, is the repair date of that leak.

[0045] As described above, the pipeline element table 52 is a pipeline element table including the structural characteristics (pipe type 804, pipe length 805, pipe wall thickness 806, pipe diameter 807, pressure 808) of the pipelines that make up the pipeline network. The pipeline element table 52 also contains pipeline element information that associates position information (column 802 of terminal node ID1, column 803 of terminal node ID2) with the structural characteristics of the pipeline element (pipe type 804, pipe length 805, pipe wall thickness 806, pipe diameter 807, pressure 808) for each of the multiple pipeline elements that make up the pipeline network.

[0046] FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of the vibration sensor sensitivity table 53. The vibration sensor sensitivity table 53 stores the detection limit vibration intensity of the vibration sensor to be installed at the installation candidate node (node). The vibration sensor ID 901 of the vibration sensor sensitivity table 53 is an ID for identifying the model number 902 of the vibration sensor. The sensor model number 902 is the model number of the vibration sensor. The detection limit vibration intensity 903 is a value of the minimum vibration intensity that the vibration sensor can detect. The detection limit vibration intensity 903 includes a value of the minimum vibration intensity that the vibration sensor can detect for a plurality of vibration frequencies. In FIG. 9, the unit of the detection limit vibration intensity 903 is an arbitrary unit (au), but the unit of the vibration intensity can be changed as appropriate, and may be, for example, (g) or (dB). As described above, the vibration sensor sensitivity table 53 is a vibration sensor sensitivity table including the performance characteristics (detection limit vibration intensity 903) of the vibration sensor.

[0047] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of the vibration model table 54. ID 1001 is an ID for identifying a coefficient (vibration strength A) of the vibration model. Pipe type 804, pipe wall thickness 806, and pressure 808 in FIG. 10 are values ​​representing the properties of the pipeline element, similar to those in FIG. 8. Leakage amount 1002 is the amount of water (fluid) leaked from the pipeline element, and leakage hole shape 1003 is the structural characteristic of the hole at the leakage point. Frequency 1004 is the expected frequency of vibration caused by leakage. Vibration strength A column 1005 is the vibration strength A assumed at the leakage point when water (fluid) leaks from the pipeline element and vibration occurs. The vibration model is a function representing the strength of vibration caused by leakage, assumed according to the configuration of the pipeline element, leakage amount, and leakage hole shape. A column 1005 of vibration intensity A in FIG. 10 is calculated by experiments or a theoretical formula based on pipe type 804, pipe wall thickness 806, pipe diameter 807, pressure 808, leakage amount 1002, leakage hole shape 1003, frequency 1004, and the like.

[0048] As described above, the vibration model table 54 is a vibration sensor sensitivity table including the characteristics related to leakage vibration (frequency 1004, vibration intensity A column 1005). 11 is a diagram showing an example of the nodal vibration propagation model table 55. ID 1101 is an ID for identifying the vibration attenuation amount B of the node. The nodal vibration propagation model is a function that represents the attenuation of vibration caused by leakage as it propagates through the nodes of a pipeline network, based on information on the configuration of the node. The attenuation amount B column 1102 is the calculation result of the attenuation term "B" of the vibration propagation model described later, and represents the ease with which the vibration is attenuated as it propagates through the node.

[0049] 11 is calculated by an experiment or a theoretical formula based on the attribute information 703, the branching classification 705, the frequency 1004, etc. As described above, the nodal vibration propagation model table 55 is a nodal vibration propagation model table including the attenuation characteristics of leakage vibration at a node (the attenuation B column 1102). Also, the nodal vibration propagation model table 55 is nodal vibration propagation model information that associates the nodal vibration intensity attenuation characteristics (the attenuation B column 1102) that take into account the nodal structural characteristics (the attribute information 703, the branching classification 705) with each of a plurality of nodes at both ends of each of a plurality of pipeline elements that make up a pipeline network.

[0050] Fig. 12 is a diagram showing an example of the pipeline element vibration propagation model table 56. ID 1201 is an ID for identifying the vibration attenuation amount α of the pipeline element. The pipeline element vibration propagation model is a function that represents the attenuation of vibration caused by leakage as it propagates through the pipeline elements of the pipeline network, based on information on the configuration of the pipeline element. Frequency 1004 in Fig. 11 is the assumed frequency of vibration caused by leakage. The attenuation amount α column 1202 is the calculation result of the attenuation term "α" of the vibration propagation model described later, and represents the ease of attenuation of vibration as it propagates through the pipeline element.

[0051] The column 1202 of attenuation amount α in FIG. 12 is calculated by experiment or a theoretical formula based on the pipe type 804, pipe length 805, pipe wall thickness 806, pipe diameter 807, pressure 808, frequency 1004, and the like.

[0052] As described above, the pipeline element vibration propagation model table 56 is a pipeline element vibration propagation model table including the attenuation characteristics of leakage vibration in the pipeline element (column 1202 of attenuation amount α). Also, the pipeline element vibration propagation model table 56 is pipeline element vibration propagation model information that associates the pipeline element vibration intensity attenuation characteristics, which take into account the structural characteristics of the pipeline element (pipe type 804, pipe length 805, pipe wall thickness 806, pipe diameter 807, pressure 808), with each of the multiple pipeline elements that make up the pipeline network.

[0053] In the above explanation, "pipe element information capable of associating, with each of a plurality of pipeline elements, position information, vibration intensity of vibration caused by fluid leakage, and pipeline vibration intensity attenuation characteristics taking into account the pipeline element structural characteristics" is information including, for example, the pipeline element table 52 in FIG. 8, the vibration model table 54 in FIG. 10, and the pipeline element vibration propagation model table 56 in FIG. 12.

[0054] The "position information" of the pipeline element information is information relating to the positions of both ends of a pipeline element, for example, column 802 of end node ID1 and column 803 of end node ID2 in pipeline element table 52 in Fig. 8. As shown in pipeline element table 52 in Fig. 8, position information is associated with each of a plurality of pipeline elements. In addition, the positions on the map of both ends of each of a plurality of pipeline elements can be calculated from these end node IDs and node ID 701 and position 702 in node table 51 in Fig. 7.

[0055] Also, the "vibration intensity of vibration caused by leakage of fluid" of the pipeline element information is vibration intensity A of vibration caused by leakage of fluid in the pipeline element, for example, column 1005 of vibration intensity A in vibration model table 54 of Fig. 10. In vibration model table 54 of Fig. 10, vibration intensity A in column 1005 of vibration intensity A is associated with pipe type 804, pipe wall thickness 806, pipe diameter 807, and pressure 808 of Fig. 10 for each frequency 1004, which are further associated with pipe type 804, pipe wall thickness 806, pipe diameter 807, pressure 808, and pipeline element ID 801 (i.e., each of the multiple pipeline elements) in pipeline element table 52 of Fig. 8. This allows "vibration intensity of vibration caused by leakage of fluid" in any leakage amount 1002 and leakage hole shape 1003 to be associated with each of the multiple pipeline elements.

[0056] Furthermore, the "pipe element structural characteristics" of the pipeline element information is information on the structure of the pipeline element related to vibration attenuation in the pipeline element, and is, for example, the pipe type 804, pipe length 805, pipe wall thickness 806, pipe diameter 807, and pressure 808 of the pipeline element table 52 in Fig. 8 and the pipeline element vibration propagation model table 56 in Fig. 12. The pipe type 804, pipe length 805, pipe wall thickness 806, pipe diameter 807, and pressure 808 in Fig. 12 correspond to the pipe type 804, pipe length 805, pipe wall thickness 806, pipe diameter 807, pressure 808, and pipeline element ID 801 (i.e., each of the multiple pipeline elements) of the pipeline element table 52 in Fig. 8. This allows the "pipe element structural characteristics" to correspond to each of the multiple pipeline elements.

[0057] Furthermore, the "pipe vibration intensity attenuation characteristics considering pipe structure characteristics" of the pipe element information is a value related to the decrease in vibration intensity due to vibration attenuation in the pipe, calculated based on information on the structure of the pipe element related to vibration attenuation in the pipe element (pipe element structure characteristics). The "pipe vibration intensity attenuation characteristics" is, for example, the attenuation amount α column 1202 in the pipe element vibration propagation model table 56 in FIG. 12. As described above, the attenuation amount α column 1202 (pipe element vibration intensity attenuation characteristics) is calculated by experiment or theoretical formula for each frequency 1004 based on the pipe type 804, pipe length 805, pipe wall thickness 806, pipe diameter 807, and pressure 808 (pipe element structure characteristics). As a result, the "pipe vibration intensity attenuation characteristics" considers the pipe structure characteristics.

[0058] The "node information capable of associating multiple nodes at both ends of each of multiple pipeline elements with nodal vibration intensity attenuation characteristics taking into account the nodal structural characteristics for each of the multiple nodes" is information including, for example, the node table 51 in FIG. 7, the vibration model table 54 in FIG. 10, and the nodal vibration propagation model table 55 in FIG. 11.

[0059] Here, the "node structure characteristics" are information on the structure of a node related to vibration damping at the node, for example, attribute information 703 in node table 51 in Fig. 7. In node table 51 in Fig. 7, attribute information 703 (node ​​structure characteristics) is associated with node ID 701 (i.e., a plurality of nodes). Also, attribute information 703 and branch classification 705 in Fig. 11 are associated with attribute information 703, branch classification 705 and node ID 701 (i.e., each of a plurality of nodes) in node table 51 in Fig. 7. In this way, a "node structure characteristic" is associated with each of a plurality of nodes.

[0060] In addition, the "nodal vibration strength attenuation characteristics taking into account nodal structural characteristics" is a value relating to the reduction in vibration strength due to vibration attenuation at the node, calculated based on information about the node structure related to vibration attenuation at the node (nodal structural characteristics). This "nodal vibration intensity attenuation characteristic" is, for example, column 1102 of attenuation B in nodal vibration propagation model table 55 in Fig. 11. As described above, column 1102 of attenuation B is calculated by experiment or theoretical formula based on attribute information 703 and branch classification 705. As a result, the "nodal vibration intensity attenuation characteristic" takes into consideration the nodal structural characteristics. Note that the items constituting each data table are not limited to the items shown in Figs. 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12, and any items can be added.

[0061] <Processing Procedure> 14 to input a placement calculation request signal requesting calculation of the placement of the vibration sensor to the vibration sensor installation support system 1. When the vibration sensor installation support system 1 acquires the placement calculation request signal, the installation condition acquisition unit 21 transmits installation condition input screen information to the output device 145.

[0062] The installation condition input screen information is information that causes the output device 145 to display an installation condition input screen so that the user can input the installation conditions required to calculate the placement of the vibration sensor. The installation condition input screen information includes information on the pipeline network map. The pipeline network map is a map of pipeline elements that includes node IDs and position information of each of the multiple nodes, and node IDs connected to both ends of each of the multiple pipeline elements.

[0063] The user can set installation conditions such as the model number of the vibration sensor, the target pipeline network in which the vibration sensor is to be installed, and the minimum number mp of vibration sensors capable of detecting fluid leakage from pipeline elements for each pipeline element in the target pipeline network, from the installation condition input screen displayed on the output device 145. The above installation conditions include the model number of the vibration sensor, but any information that specifies the performance of the vibration sensor can be used in place of the model number of the vibration sensor.

[0064] Fig. 15 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an installation condition input screen displayed on the output device 145 for the user to input the installation conditions. The installation condition input screen 1500 shown in Fig. 15 includes a pipeline network map 1501, a vibration sensor installation range selection frame 1502, a map enlargement button 1503, a map reduction button 1504, a vibration sensor model number input field 1505, a minimum number input field 1506, and a decision button 1507.

[0065] A pipeline network map 1501 in FIG. 15 includes nodes v1 to v8 indicated by white circles and pipeline elements p1 to p8 indicated by solid lines. In the pipeline network map 1501, a pipeline network within a range surrounded by a vibration sensor installation range selection frame 1502 indicated by a dashed line is set as a target pipeline network for which the placement of the vibration sensor is to be calculated. A user can move the pipeline network map displayed on the installation condition input screen 1500 in any direction, east-west, north-south, or north-west, using a mouse or the like of the input device 144. When the user presses a map enlargement button 1503, the pipeline network map 1501 is enlarged and displayed. When the user presses a map reduction button 1504, the pipeline network map 1501 is reduced and displayed. A user can change the position and size of the vibration sensor installation range selection frame 1502 using a mouse or the like to set a target pipeline network. In FIG. 15, the vibration sensor installation range selection frame 1502 is shown as a rectangular frame, but the shape of the vibration sensor installation range selection frame 1502 is not limited to a rectangle. For example, the user may use a mouse or the like to draw a curved line, such as a circle, that surrounds the target pipeline network, and the drawn curve may be used as the vibration sensor installation range selection frame 1502.

[0066] The vibration sensor model number input field 1505 is a field where the user inputs the model number of the vibration sensor. The minimum number input field 1506 is a field where the user inputs the minimum number mp of vibration sensors that can detect leakage of fluid in the pipeline element for each pipeline element in the vibration sensor installation range selection frame 1502. The minimum number input field 1506 has the pipeline element IDs of all pipeline elements in the vibration sensor installation range selection frame 1502 and an input field for the minimum number mp of vibration sensors. In addition, the pipeline element ID in the minimum number input field 1506 is automatically changed to the pipeline element ID in the vibration sensor installation range selection frame 1502 according to a change in the vibration sensor installation range selection frame 1502. For example, in the example of FIG. 15, the pipeline element ID is set to p1 for the pipeline element p1, and the minimum number mp is set to 1. This indicates that when leakage occurs in the pipeline element p1, one (mp=1) or more vibration sensors are set to be able to detect the leakage in the pipeline element p1.

[0067] The user selects a target pipeline network in which a vibration sensor is to be installed in a vibration sensor installation range selection frame 1502, inputs the model number of the vibration sensor in a vibration sensor model number input field 1505, and inputs the minimum number mp of vibration sensors that can detect fluid leakage from the pipeline elements for each pipeline element in the target pipeline network in a minimum number input field 1506, thereby setting the minimum number mp of vibration sensors. Then, the user presses a decision button 1507. Then, installation conditions such as the model number of the vibration sensor, and vibration sensor minimum number information that associates the pipeline element ID of the pipeline element in the range of the target pipeline network with the minimum number mp of vibration sensors are saved. Here, the vibration sensor installation support system 1 that has saved the installation conditions executes an installation condition acquisition process in an installation condition acquisition unit 21 (see FIG. 2 ) to create and save an input data set 23 based on the installation conditions, pipeline network information 11, and vibration sensor information 12, and then executes an installation position calculation process executed by an installation position calculation unit 13 of the vibration sensor installation support system 1.

[0068] The installation position calculation process executed by the installation position calculation unit 13 of the vibration sensor installation support system 1 will be described with reference to FIG. 13 while referring to FIG. 16A to FIG.

[0069] FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an installation position calculation process.

[0070] In the following description, for the sake of convenience, it is assumed that the target pipeline network includes pipeline elements p1 to pm and installation candidate nodes w1 to wn.

[0071] The vibration sensor installation support system 1 saves pre-set installation conditions or installation conditions input from outside (including the minimum number mp of vibration sensors that can detect fluid leakage in the pipeline element, which is set for each pipeline element) (step S131).

[0072] Next, the vibration sensor installation support system 1 extracts installation candidate nodes of the vibration sensor in the pipeline network to be monitored (step S132). The installation conditions saved in step S131 include information on the pipeline element IDs of the pipeline elements included in the target pipeline network. Therefore, in step S132, the vibration sensor installation support system 1 uses the pipeline element IDs to extract node IDs of nodes included in the target pipeline network by referring to the pipeline element ID 801, the column 802 of the terminal node ID1, and the column 803 of the terminal node ID2 in the pipeline element table 52. Then, referring to the node ID 701 and the installation feasibility value 706 (installation candidate node identification information) in the node table 51, the system saves the nodes (node ​​IDs) whose installation feasibility value 706 is 1 (installation feasibility value=1) as installation candidate nodes w1 to wn.

[0073] Next, the vibration sensor installation support system 1 calculates a detection function FVij based on the vibration strength A, the vibration attenuation B of the node, and the vibration attenuation α of the pipeline element, and further calculates a detection feasibility value cij (step S133). The detection function FVij is a function that indicates the ease of detection of vibration caused by leakage from the pipeline element pi by the vibration sensor installed at the installation candidate node wj when a vibration sensor is installed at the installation candidate node wj. The detection function FVij is calculated based on the vibration strength A, the vibration attenuation B of the node, the vibration attenuation α of the pipeline element, and the detection lower limit vibration strength L, thereby taking into account the attenuation caused by the leakage vibration traveling through the pipeline network.

[0074] As described above, the vibration sensor sensitivity table 53, the vibration model table 54 including the vibration model, the nodal vibration propagation model table 55 and the pipeline element vibration propagation model table 56 which constitute the vibration propagation model, which are included in the input data set 23, are created by the installation position calculation unit 21 by reading them out based on the measurement data 41 and theoretical data 42 stored in the vibration sensor information 12.

[0075] Fig. 16A is a diagram showing an example of the detection function FVij. Equation (1) in Fig. 16A is an example of the detection function FVij. The detection function FVij may be a detection function other than Equation (1).

[0076] 16A includes a term for vibration intensity "vibration intensity A," a term for vibration attenuation of the pipeline element "α," a term for vibration attenuation of the node "B," and a term for the sensor sensitivity "lower detection limit vibration intensity L." In other words, the detection function FVij is a function with the vibration intensity A, the amount of vibration attenuation of the pipeline element α, the amount of vibration attenuation of the node B, and the lower detection limit vibration intensity L as variables.

[0077] The term "vibration intensity A" is the term of vibration intensity A of vibration caused by leakage of water (fluid) in a pipeline element. Vibration intensity A is determined by the configuration of the pipeline element. To obtain vibration intensity A, the vibration sensor installation support system 1 extracts the pipe type 804, pipe wall thickness 806, pipe diameter 807, and pressure 808 of the pipeline element in which leakage is assumed from the pipeline element table 52 shown in FIG. 8, and extracts the vibration intensity A and frequency Q corresponding to these from the vibration intensity A column 1005 and frequency 1004 of the vibration model table 54 shown in FIG. 10, and sets them as vibration intensity A and frequency Q. Note that the user may input the amount of leakage, and the vibration intensity A may be calculated based on the input amount of leakage.

[0078] The term "α" of vibration attenuation of the pipe element represents the degree of vibration attenuation in the pipe element and is determined by the configuration of the pipe element. The term "α" of vibration attenuation is a value determined by the pipe diameter, pipe type, and pipe length of the pipe element. For example, when vibration is transmitted to a certain pipe element, the vibration intensity becomes "α" times. To obtain the term "α" of vibration attenuation, the vibration sensor installation support system 1 extracts the pipe type 804, pipe length 805, pipe wall thickness 806, pipe diameter 807, and pressure 808 of the pipe element in which leakage is assumed from the pipe element table 52 shown in FIG. 8. Next, the vibration attenuation amount α of the pipe element corresponding to these extracted items and the frequency Q extracted from the vibration model table 54 described above is extracted from the attenuation amount α column 1202 of the pipe element vibration propagation model table 56 shown in FIG. 12, and is set as the vibration attenuation amount α of the pipe element. Alternatively, the user may input the amount of leakage in the pipeline element, and the vibration sensor installation support system 1 may calculate the vibration attenuation amount α of the pipeline element based on the input amount of leakage. Alternatively, the vibration attenuation amount α of the pipeline element may be input by the user.

[0079] The term "B" of vibration attenuation of a node represents the degree of vibration attenuation at the node, and is determined by the configuration of the node on the propagation path. The term "B" of vibration attenuation is determined by the pipe diameter and the number of branches of the pipe element connected to the node. For example, when vibration is transmitted through one node, the vibration intensity becomes "B" times. To obtain the term "B" of vibration attenuation, the vibration sensor installation support system 1 extracts the attribute information 703 and the branch classification 705 from the node table 51 shown in FIG. 7. Next, the vibration sensor installation support system 1 extracts the vibration attenuation amount B of the node corresponding to these extracted items and the frequency Q extracted from the vibration model table 54 described above from the column 1102 of the attenuation amount B of the nodal vibration propagation model table 55 shown in FIG. 11, and sets it as the vibration attenuation amount B. Note that the user may input the leakage amount at the pipe element, and the vibration attenuation amount B may be calculated based on the input leakage amount. The vibration attenuation amount B of the node may also be input by the user.

[0080] The term "lower detection limit vibration intensity L" of the detection limit vibration intensity is a term of the sensitivity of the vibration sensor at the frequency Q corresponding to the vibration intensity A, and is determined depending on the type of the vibration sensor. To obtain the lower detection limit vibration intensity L, the vibration sensor installation support system 1 extracts the lower detection limit vibration intensity corresponding to the frequency Q corresponding to the vibration intensity A extracted as described above from the vibration model table 54 shown in Fig. 10 and the model number of the vibration sensor included in the setting conditions from the vibration sensor sensitivity table 53 shown in Fig. 9, and sets it as the lower detection limit vibration intensity L.

[0081] Next, the vibration sensor installation support system 1 calculates the vibration damping term "α" of the pipeline element for each pipeline element, and calculates the vibration damping term "B" of the node for each node.

[0082] Fig. 17 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a method for calculating the detection function FVij. Fig. 16B is a diagram showing an example of the formula of the detection function FVij in Fig. 17. Fig. 17 shows the term "α" of vibration damping of the pipeline elements for each of the pipeline elements p1 to p7 of the target pipeline network, and the term "B" of vibration damping of the nodes for each of the nodes v1 to v8. Also, in Fig. 17, the installation candidate nodes are shown with white dashed circles, the nodes that are not installation candidate nodes are shown with white solid circles, and the pipeline elements are shown with solid lines.

[0083] In Fig. 17, for example, when a leak occurs in pipe element p2 and vibration (vibration intensity A2) caused by the leak is detected by a vibration sensor installed at node (installation candidate node) v3, the detection function FV23 is given by formula (2) in Fig. 16B. Note that the installation candidate node is determined according to the value in the column of installation feasibility value 706 in node table 51 in Fig. 7, and is a node whose installation feasibility value 706 is 1 (installation feasibility value = 1).

[0084] Also, for example, in Fig. 17, when a leak occurs at the pipe element p2 and vibrations (vibration intensity A2) caused by the leak are detected by a vibration sensor installed at node (candidate node for installation) v7, the detection function FV27 becomes formula (3) in Fig. 16B. Formula (3) in Fig. 16B is an equation for the detection function of a path that passes through node v6, where a leak occurs at the pipe element p2 and vibrations caused by the leak are transmitted from pipe element p2 to node v3, pipe element p5, node v6, pipe element p6, and node v7. Here, the path that passes through node v6 is set as a representative path, and the detection function for this path is set as the detection function FV27. Another route for vibration to travel from pipe element p2 to node v7 is via node v4 (vibration caused by leakage from pipe element p2 travels from pipe element p2 to node v3, pipe element p3, node v4, pipe element p7, and node v7). The reason that the route via node v6 is chosen as the representative route is that the value of the detection function for the route via node v6 is larger than the value of the detection function for the route via node v4 (i.e., vibration attenuation is smaller).

[0085] In this way, the detection function FVij for the installation candidate node wj where the vibration sensor is installed and the pipeline element pi where leakage occurs is set as the detection function of the representative path between the installation candidate node wj and the pipeline element pi. In other words, if there are multiple paths between the pipeline element pi and the installation candidate node wj, the path with the largest detection function value (i.e., the path with the smallest vibration attenuation) among the multiple paths is set as the representative path, and the detection function of the representative path is set as the detection function FVij. Note that, for the sake of simplicity of calculation, the detection function FV calculated as the representative path may be the path with the shortest total pipe length of the pipeline elements on the path, or the path with the branch attribute and the fewest number of nodes with a branch number greater than 1.

[0086] In the detection function FV, the product of the vibration intensity term "A" and the damping equation F(α,B) which includes the pipe element vibration damping term "α" and the nodal vibration damping term "B" is the vibration intensity of the vibration transmitted to the vibration sensor, and if this vibration intensity is greater than the sensor sensitivity term "lower detection limit vibration intensity L" (1<detection function FV), it is considered that the vibration sensor can detect the vibration.

[0087] Therefore, when the value of the detection function FV is greater than 1 (1<detection function FV), the vibration sensor can detect a leak, and the detection feasibility value c is set to 1 (detection feasibility value c=1). On the other hand, when the value of the detection function FV is less than or equal to 1 (detection function FV≦1), the vibration sensor cannot detect a leak, and the detection feasibility value c is set to 0 (detection feasibility value c=0). Note that when 1≦detection function FV, the detection feasibility value c may be set to 1, and when detection function FV<1, the detection feasibility value c may be set to 0.

[0088] The vibration sensor installation support system 1 calculates the detection function FVij as described above, and further calculates the detection feasibility value cij for the detection function FVij. That is, the target pipeline network includes pipeline elements p1-pm and installation candidate nodes w1-wn. For each of the pipeline elements p1-pm and each of the installation candidate nodes w1-wn, the system calculates the detection function FVij when a leak occurs at the pipeline element pi and vibrations caused by the leakage are detected by a vibration sensor installed at the installation candidate node wj, and further calculates the detection feasibility value cij from the detection function ij.

[0089] As described above, when a vibration sensor is installed at the installation candidate node wj and a leak occurs at the pipeline element pi, the detection feasibility value cij is 1 (cij = 1) if the vibration sensor installed at the installation candidate node wj can detect the vibration caused by the leak, and is 0 (cij = 0) if it cannot be detected.

[0090] Next, the vibration sensor installation support system 1 generates a monitoring feasibility matrix C from the detection feasibility values ​​cij (step S134). In the process of step S133, the detection feasibility values ​​cij are calculated for each of the pipeline elements p1 to pm and each of the installation candidate nodes w1 to wn. In the process of step S104, a monitoring feasibility matrix C is generated with the detection feasibility values ​​cij as elements, with the pipeline elements p1 to pm as rows and the installation candidate nodes w1 to wn as columns.

[0091] FIG. 18 is a diagram showing an example of a table representing the monitoring feasibility matrix C. The table in FIG. 18 is a table of the detection feasibility values ​​cij for the pipeline elements p1 to p8 and the installation candidate nodes v2, v4, v6, and v7 shown in FIG. 17. In the table of detection feasibility values ​​in FIG. 18, for example, in the column of node v2, the detection feasibility value c12 in the row of the pipeline element p1 is 1 (c12=1), which indicates that when a vibration sensor is installed in the installation candidate node v2, the installed vibration sensor can detect a leak in the pipeline element p1. Also, for example, in the column of the installation candidate node v4, the detection feasibility value c14 in the row of the pipeline element p1 is 0 (c14=0), which indicates that when a vibration sensor is installed in the installation candidate node v4, the installed vibration sensor cannot detect a leak in the pipeline element p1.

[0092] Fig. 16C is a diagram showing an example of the monitoring feasibility matrix C. The monitoring feasibility matrix C of equation (4) in Fig. 16C is a monitoring feasibility matrix C that expresses the table in Fig. 18 in the form of a matrix. The arrangement of the values ​​of the detection feasibility value cij in the table in Fig. 18 is the same as the arrangement of the detection feasibility value cij of the elements of the monitoring feasibility matrix C of equation (4) in Fig. 16C.

[0093] Next, the vibration sensor installation support system 1 generates an equation for the optimization problem using the monitoring feasibility matrix C (step S135).

[0094] The number of vibration sensors installed at installation candidate node wj is assumed to be xj (usually 0 or 1). The product of the detection feasibility value cij and the number xj of vibration sensors at installation candidate node wj, cij·xj, is the number of vibration sensors installed at installation candidate node wj that can detect leakage from pipeline element pi, as explained below. In other words, cij·xj will be 0 (cij·xj=0) both when the vibration sensor installed at installation candidate node wj cannot detect leakage from pipeline element pi (detection feasibility value cij=0) and when no vibration sensor is installed at installation candidate node wj (number xj of vibration sensors at installation candidate node wj=0). On the other hand, if the vibration sensor installed in the installation candidate node wj can detect a leak in the pipeline element pi (detection feasibility value cij = 1) and one or more vibration sensors are installed in the installation candidate node wj (the number of vibration sensors in the installation candidate node wj xj ≧ 1), then cij·xj will be 1 or greater (cij·xj ≧ 1). As described above, cij·xj is the number of vibration sensors installed in the installation candidate node wj that can detect a leak in the pipeline element pi.

[0095] Fig. 16D is a diagram for explaining the constraint equation of the optimization problem. The total number ti of vibration sensors capable of detecting leakage in the pipeline element pi is the total number (total number) of vibration sensors installed at the installation candidate nodes w1 to wn that can detect leakage in the pipeline element pi, and can be calculated by equation (5) in Fig. 16D.

[0096] When the number ti of vibration sensors capable of detecting leakage in a pipeline element pi is equal to or greater than the minimum number mpi of vibration sensors (ti≧mpi) for all pipeline elements p1 to pm, equations (6) to (8) in FIG. 16D are obtained.

[0097] As described above, the "minimum number mpi of vibration sensors that can detect fluid leakage of the pipeline element pi, which is set for each of the pipeline elements p1 to pm (the minimum number set for each pipeline element)" is included in the setting conditions acquired in step S131. Furthermore, when formulas (6) to (8) in FIG. 16D are expressed using matrices and vectors, formula (9) in FIG. 16D is obtained. Formula (9) in FIG. 16D can be expressed by formula (10) using the vibration sensor number vector T=(t1, t2, . . . , tm), the minimum number vector mp of vibration sensors=(mp1, mp2, . . . , mpm), the installed sensor number vector x=(x1, x2, . . . , xn), which is an n-th order column vector, and the monitoring feasibility matrix C, which is an m×n matrix, in formula (9) in FIG. 16D.

[0098] The above-described formulas (6) to (8), (9) and (10) in Fig. 16D correspond to constraints in the optimization problem. These constraints mean that "in each of the multiple pipe elements p1 to pm, the number xi of vibration sensors capable of detecting leakage of water (fluid) must be equal to or greater than the minimum number mpi of vibration sensors."

[0099] FIG. 16E is a diagram showing the equations of the optimization problem. Equations (11) to (15) in FIG. 16E are examples of equations of the optimization problem. Equation (11) in FIG. 16E is an equation of the objective function of the optimization problem. In equation (11) in FIG. 16E, the inner product of the installed sensor number vector x (whose components are 1 or more or 0) and the installed sensor number vector x is the total number of vibration sensors to be installed. Equation (11) in FIG. 16E, which is the objective function, means "minimizing the number of vibration sensors to be installed in the target pipeline network." Equation (12) in FIG. 16E is equation (10) in FIG. 16D, and is an equation of constraints in the optimization problem. Equations (11) and (12) in the optimization problem in FIG. 16E can be expressed by equations (13) to (15) shown in FIG. 16E. In equations (13) to (15) shown in FIG. 16E, the variables are as follows: v represents a candidate node for installation, and V represents the set of all candidate nodes for installation. p represents a pipeline element, and P represents the set of all pipeline elements. x vrepresents the number of vibration sensors to be installed at the installation candidate node v, and its value is 0 or 1 or more (i.e., x v represents the number xj of vibration sensors installed at the installation candidate node wj). c pv is a detection feasibility value that expresses with 1 or 0 whether the vibration sensor installed at the installation candidate node v can detect a leak in the pipeline element p when the vibration sensor is installed at the installation candidate node v and a leak occurs in the pipeline element p, and has the same meaning as the monitoring feasibility matrix C. mp is the minimum number mp (minimum monitoring number) of vibration sensors that can detect leakage from the pipeline element p, which is set for each pipeline element p.

[0100] The content of formula (13) shown in Fig. 16E is formula (11) shown in Fig. 16E of the objective function described above, which means "minimizing the number of vibration sensors to be installed in the target pipeline network." Also, the content of formula (14) shown in Fig. 16E is formula (12) of the constraint described above, which means "the number xi of vibration sensors capable of detecting leakage of water (fluid) in each of the multiple pipeline elements p1 to pm should be equal to or greater than the minimum number mpi of vibration sensors."

[0101] Equations (11) and (12) of the optimization problem and equations (13) to (15) of the optimization problem shown in Fig. 16E belong to a problem generally called an integer programming problem. In step S135, the vibration sensor installation support system 1 generates equations (11) and (12) of the optimization problem shown in Fig. 16E. Here, equation (11) of the optimization problem includes a monitoring feasibility matrix C, and the monitoring feasibility matrix C calculated by the vibration sensor installation support system 1 in step S134 is used. By calculating the monitoring feasibility matrix C, the m × n detection feasibility values ​​c included in equations (6) to (8) of Fig. 16D described above can be consolidated into one monitoring feasibility matrix C.

[0102] Next, the vibration sensor installation support system 1 solves the equation of the optimization problem generated in step S135 (step S136). The solution of the equation of the optimization problem is the number x1 to xn of vibration sensors to be installed for each of the installation candidate nodes w1 to wn, and this is set as optimal installation position information representing the placement of the vibration sensors. That is, the vibration sensor installation support system 1 calculates, as optimal installation position information representing the placement of the vibration sensors, information on the number x1 to xn of vibration sensors to be installed for each of the installation candidate nodes w1 to wn obtained by solving the equation of the optimization problem, which is information on the number x1 to xn of vibration sensors to be installed for each of the installation candidate nodes w1 to wn, associating the node IDs of the installation candidate nodes w1 to wn with the numbers x1 to xn of vibration sensors.

[0103] For example, a branch and bound method can be used to solve the equation of the optimization problem when a strict optimal solution is required. For example, simulated annealing, genetic algorithms, etc. can be used to heuristically solve the equation of the optimization problem. Furthermore, other optimization methods or a combination of multiple methods may be used depending on the purpose. Note that a desired condition can be added to the conditions for the placement of the vibration sensors by adding a desired constraint equation to the equation of the optimization problem. This condition is, for example, a condition of uniformity of the number of detectable sensors, such that each pipe element can be detected by as uniform a number of vibration sensors as possible.

[0104] Next, the vibration sensor installation support system 1 outputs the solution of the optimization problem solved in step S136 as optimal installation position information representing the placement of the vibration sensors, and ends the process (step S137). As described above, the solution of the optimization problem is the numbers x1 to xn of the vibration sensors to be installed for the installation candidate nodes w1 to wn, respectively, and is the optimal installation position information representing the placement of the vibration sensors.

[0105] The solution to the optimization problem (optimum installation position information) may be output as follows. For example, the optimum installation position information is output to the output device 145, and the arrangement of the vibration sensors included in the optimum installation position information is displayed (presented) on the output device 145. A file including the solution to the optimization problem is transmitted. A file including the solution to the optimization problem is stored.

[0106] FIG. 19 is a diagram showing an example of a table when the arrangement of vibration sensors (optimum installation position information) is presented to a user in a table. In the table of FIG. 19, the number of vibration sensors (0 or 1 or more) to be installed at the installation candidate nodes v2, v4, v6, and v7 for the arrangement candidates is shown in the table. For example, in the table shown in FIG. 19, the arrangement candidate 1 indicates that one vibration sensor is installed at the installation candidate nodes v2 and v7, and no vibration sensor is installed at the installation candidate nodes v4 and v6. The arrangement candidate 1 has a higher priority than the arrangement candidate 2. The priority may be set in terms of the number of vibration sensors to be arranged, the minimum number of monitoring for each pipeline element, the coverage rate, which is the degree to which the vibration sensor covers the pipeline network, the overlap degree, which is the degree of overlap of the detection ranges, and the like. The coverage rate is the ratio of pipeline elements in which the vibration sensor can detect leakage to the total number of pipeline elements in the target pipeline network (= the number of pipeline elements in which leakage can be detected / total number of pipeline elements).

[0107] Fig. 20 and Fig. 21 are explanatory diagrams showing an example of a vibration sensor arrangement screen showing the arrangement of the vibration sensors. In Fig. 20 and Fig. 21, the installation nodes v2 and v7 at which the vibration sensors are installed are indicated by double circles.

[0108] In the vibration sensor arrangement screen 2000 shown in Fig. 20, the screen is divided for each installation node, and the pipeline elements that can be detected by the vibration sensor installed at the installation node of the divided screen are shown by solid lines, and the pipeline elements that cannot be detected by the vibration sensor are shown by dashed lines. In the vibration sensor arrangement screen 2000 of Fig. 20, in the pipeline network on the upper side, when a vibration sensor is installed at the installation node v2, leakage of the pipeline elements p1 to p3, and p5 shown by solid lines can be detected by the vibration sensor installed at the installation node v2, and leakage of the pipeline elements p4, and p6 to p8 shown by dashed lines cannot be detected by the vibration sensor. On the other hand, in the lower side of the vibration sensor arrangement screen 2000, when a vibration sensor is installed at the installation node v7, leakage of the pipeline elements p3, p4, and p6 to p8 shown by solid lines can be detected by the vibration sensor installed at the installation node v7, and leakage of the pipeline elements p1, p2, and p5 shown by dashed lines cannot be detected by the vibration sensor. In addition, in Figure 20, an example is shown in which double circles, dashed lines, and solid lines are used to distinguish nodes and pipeline elements, but the display method for distinguishing nodes and pipeline elements can be changed as appropriate, and for example, a method of changing the line thickness or color may be used.

[0109] In the vibration sensor arrangement screen 2100 of FIG. 21, the number of vibration sensors that can detect the pipeline elements when vibration sensors are installed at all installation nodes v2 and v7 where the vibration sensors are arranged is indicated by the multiplicity of lines. That is, in the vibration sensor arrangement screen 2100 of FIG. 21, the pipeline elements (other than the pipeline element p3) in which a leak is detected by one vibration sensor are indicated by a single line, and the pipeline element p3 in which a leak is detected by two vibration sensors is indicated by a double line. In this way, in the vibration sensor arrangement screen 2100 of FIG. 21, the number of vibration sensors that can detect the leak of the pipeline element pi is indicated by the multiplicity of lines, so that the user can easily grasp the number of vibration sensors that can detect the leak of the pipeline element p. Note that, in the vibration sensor arrangement screen 2100 of FIG. 21, an example is shown in which double circles, single lines, and double lines are used to distinguish the nodes and pipeline elements, but the display method for distinguishing the nodes and pipeline elements can be changed as appropriate, and for example, a method of changing the thickness or color of the line may be used.

[0110] Thus, in the first embodiment, the vibration sensor installation support system 1 generates an optimization problem equation using the pipeline network information 11 (pipe network information) and the vibration sensor information 12 (vibration sensor information) as inputs, and calculates the vibration placement in the pipeline network (see FIG. 2). This has the effect of facilitating the installation of vibration sensors in the pipeline network, which detect leakage of water (fluid) flowing through the pipeline network, in a placement that allows monitoring of the pipeline network without missing anything, taking into account the detection range of the vibration sensor. Furthermore, based on the calculation result of the minimum number of required vibration sensors, it has the effect of preventing the installation of too many vibration sensors, reducing the energy required to install vibration sensors in the pipeline network and the amount of carbon dioxide emissions generated, thereby suppressing global warming.

[0111] Moreover, the input information includes pipeline configuration information (configuration information of a plurality of pipeline elements) 31 and pipeline network information 11 (see FIG. 3) including operation management information 32 related to operation management of the plurality of pipeline elements, and the optimum installation position information is calculated based on the pipeline network information 11. This has the effect that the vibration sensor installation support system 1 can calculate a more appropriate placement of the vibration sensor within the pipeline network.

[0112] Furthermore, the input information includes vibration sensor information (vibration sensor information) 12, which includes information on past measurement values ​​of the vibration sensor and information associating theoretical characteristics related to the strength of leakage vibration and vibration attenuation with the structural characteristics of the pipeline element, and the optimum installation position information is calculated based on the vibration sensor information 12. This has the effect that the vibration sensor installation support system 1 can calculate a more appropriate placement of the vibration sensor within the pipeline network.

[0113] Furthermore, the vibration sensor installation support system 1 generates an input data set 23, and calculates the placement of vibration sensors in a pipeline network based on the input data set 23 (see FIG. 2). This has the effect of enabling the vibration sensor installation support system 1 to more reliably calculate the placement of vibration sensors in a pipeline network.

[0114] Moreover, the installation condition acquisition unit generates an input data set 23 including a node table (node ​​information) 51, a pipeline element table (pipe element information) 52, a vibration sensor sensitivity table (vibration sensor sensitivity information) 53, a vibration model table (vibration model information) 54, a nodal vibration propagation model table (nodal vibration propagation model information) 55, and a pipeline element vibration propagation model table (pipe element vibration propagation model information) 56 (see Fig. 5). This has the effect of enabling the vibration sensor installation support system 1 to more reliably calculate the placement of vibration sensors in a pipeline network.

[0115] Furthermore, the pipeline element table (pipe element information) 52 includes information associating position information with structural characteristics of the pipeline element for each pipeline element (see FIG. 8). This has the effect that the vibration sensor installation support system 1 can more reliably calculate the placement of the vibration sensor in the pipeline network.

[0116] Furthermore, the vibration sensor installation support system 1 calculates the optimum installation position information of the vibration sensor by inputting pipeline element vibration propagation model information (see FIG. 12) in which pipeline element vibration intensity attenuation characteristics that take into account the structural characteristics of the pipeline element are associated with each of the multiple pipeline elements that make up the pipeline network. This has the effect of enabling the vibration sensor installation support system 1 to more reliably calculate the placement of the vibration sensor in the pipeline network.

[0117] Furthermore, the vibration sensor installation support system 1 calculates optimal installation position information for the vibration sensor using, as input, node information in which each of a plurality of nodes is associated with an installation feasibility value indicating whether or not the node is a candidate node for installing a vibration sensor. This has the effect of enabling the vibration sensor installation support system 1 to more reliably calculate the placement of the vibration sensor in the pipeline network.

[0118] Furthermore, the vibration sensor installation support system 1 calculates optimal installation position information for the vibration sensor using a nodal vibration propagation model table (nodal vibration propagation model information) 55, which associates nodal vibration intensity attenuation characteristics taking into account nodal structural characteristics for each of a plurality of nodes, as an input. This has the effect of enabling the vibration sensor installation support system 1 to more reliably calculate the placement of the vibration sensor in the pipeline network.

[0119] Furthermore, the vibration sensor installation support system 1 calculates the placement of vibration sensors in a pipeline network using a detection function FV, which is a function including a term for vibration strength A, a term for vibration attenuation amount α of a pipeline element, a term for vibration attenuation amount B of a node, and a term for lower detection limit vibration strength L. This has the effect that the vibration sensor installation support system 1 can more easily calculate the placement of vibration sensors in a pipeline network.

[0120] Furthermore, the vibration sensor installation support system 1 receives the minimum number of vibration sensors for each pipeline element, and calculates the placement of vibration sensors in a pipeline network based on the input minimum number of vibration sensors for each pipeline element. This has the effect of enabling the vibration sensor installation support system 1 to calculate a more suitable placement of vibration sensors in a pipeline network.

[0121] Furthermore, the vibration sensor installation support system 1 outputs optimal installation position information to the output device 145. This has the effect that the vibration sensor installation support system 1 can easily present to the user the placement of the vibration sensor in the pipeline network.

[0122] Moreover, the minimum number of vibration sensors for each pipeline element is input using the input device 144. This has the effect that the vibration sensor installation support system 1 can easily set the minimum number of vibration sensors for each pipeline element.

[0123] Furthermore, the vibration sensor installation support system 1 calculates a monitoring feasibility matrix C, the elements of which are detection feasibility values ​​c that indicate whether or not the vibration sensor to be installed at the installation candidate node can detect fluid leakage from the pipeline element, based on the pipeline network information 11 and the vibration sensor information 12. This has the effect of facilitating the calculation of the sensor placement, taking into consideration the piping structure, such as the branching of the pipeline network piping and the pipe diameter, and the detection performance of the sensor.

[0124] Then, the vibration sensor installation support system 1 can handle the m×n detection feasibility values ​​c included in the above-mentioned equations (6) to (8) in Fig. 16D collectively into one monitoring feasibility matrix C. Therefore, the vibration sensor installation support system 1 has an effect of being able to more easily calculate the placement of the vibration sensors.

[0125] Then, the vibration sensor installation support system 1 generates an objective function that represents minimizing the number of vibration sensors to be installed in the pipeline network. The vibration sensor installation support system 1 also generates a constraint equation including a monitoring feasibility matrix that represents that the number of vibration sensors capable of detecting fluid leakage in the pipeline element pi is to be equal to or greater than the minimum number mpi of vibration sensors in all pipeline elements. As a result, the vibration sensor installation support system 1 generates an optimization problem equation including an objective function equation and a constraint equation. The vibration sensor installation support system 1 also has the effect of solving the optimization problem equation and calculating the number of vibration sensors to be installed in each installation candidate node (installation node), as well as the node ID and position information of the installation candidate node as the arrangement of the vibration sensors.

[0126] Therefore, the vibration sensor installation support system 1 can calculate a more appropriate placement of the vibration sensor and can more easily calculate the placement of the vibration sensor. As a result, the vibration sensor installation support system 1 has an effect of facilitating the installation of a vibration sensor that detects leakage of a fluid flowing through a pipeline network in an appropriate placement in the pipeline network.

[0127] Furthermore, this has the effect of reducing the energy required to install vibration sensors in appropriate positions on a pipeline network and the amount of carbon dioxide emissions generated, thereby helping to curb global warming.

[0128] In addition, the vibration sensor installation support system 1 uses, as an example, the detection function of equation (1) in Fig. 16A to calculate the detection feasibility value c. This has the effect of allowing the placement of sensors to be calculated by appropriately considering the pipe diameter, length, and branching of the pipe elements, and the sensitivity of the sensors.

[0129] Furthermore, to calculate the detection function FVij, the vibration attenuation term "α" of the pipe element in the vibration propagation model is calculated for each pipe element, and the vibration attenuation term "B" of the node is calculated for each node (see FIG. 17). Then, the calculated vibration attenuation term for each pipe element and the vibration attenuation term for each node are combined to calculate the detection function FVij, and the detection feasibility value cij is calculated (see formulas (2) and (3) in FIG. 16B). This makes it possible to calculate the vibration attenuation term for each pipe element and the vibration attenuation term for each node in a single calculation. Therefore, the amount of calculation can be reduced and the placement of the vibration sensors can be calculated. In other words, there is an effect that the placement of the vibration sensors can be calculated more easily.

[0130] In order to calculate the detection function FVij, the term "α" of the vibration damping of the pipe elements may not be calculated for all the pipe elements, and the calculation of the term of vibration damping of some of the pipe elements may be omitted as appropriate. Also, the term "B" of the vibration damping of the nodes may not be calculated for all the nodes, and the calculation of the term of vibration damping of some of the nodes may be omitted as appropriate.

[0131] <<Variation 1>> The vibration sensor installation support system 1 of variant example 1 differs from the vibration sensor installation support system 1 of embodiment 1 in that the minimum number mp of vibration sensors that can detect water (fluid) leakage from a pipeline element, which is set for each pipeline element, is set to 2 or more.

[0132] The vibration sensor installation support system 1 of the first modification differs in the installation condition input screen information for displaying the installation condition input screen described above in the following respects: The installation condition input screen information includes information for setting the minimum number mp of vibration sensors that can detect each pipe element to 2 or more.

[0133] Fig. 22 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an installation condition input screen displayed for a user to input installation conditions in Modification 1. On the installation condition input screen 2200 in Fig. 22, when a value less than 2 (for example, 1 or 0) is input into a minimum number input field 2206 of vibration sensors, it is automatically replaced with 2 so that the minimum number mp of vibration sensors capable of detection for each pipeline element is set to 2 or more. In this way, information for automatically replacing with 2 is included in the installation condition input screen information.

[0134] As a result, the vibration sensor installation support system 1 of the first modified example calculates the arrangement of vibration sensors so that the number of vibration sensors capable of detecting leakage in all pipeline elements is two or more. Therefore, the vibration sensor installation support system 1 of the first modified example can detect leakage in a pipeline element by vibration sensors installed at two or more installation nodes, which has the effect of more reliably detecting leakage when it occurs in a pipeline element.

[0135] In addition, the vibration sensor installation support system 1 may calculate in advance the parts of the pipeline element that can be detected by two or more sensors, and use the fact that a leak at that part is detected by two or more sensors to identify the leak location.

[0136] <<Variation 2>> The vibration sensor installation support system 1 of the second modification example differs from the vibration sensor installation support system 1 of the first embodiment in that, when a vibration sensor is installed, a node that is easy to connect wirelessly between the vibration sensor and a leakage monitoring device (not shown) is preferentially set as an installation candidate node. As described above, the leakage monitoring device can detect water (fluid) leaking from a node or pipe element in the vicinity of the node where the vibration sensor is installed by receiving information on the vibration intensity of a predetermined frequency or information on the presence of vibration from the vibration sensor via wireless communication connection.

[0137] In the vibration sensor installation support system 1 of variant example 2, in the node table 51 described using Figure 7, when a vibration sensor is installed, the installation feasibility value 706 of a node that facilitates wireless communication connection between the vibration sensor and a leak monitoring device (not shown) is set to 1.

[0138] FIG. 23 is a diagram showing an example of a node table in the second modification. The node table 51 in FIG. 23 has a connection ease value 2304 instead of the valve value 704 of the node table 51 in the first embodiment shown in FIG. 7. The connection ease value 2304 indicates whether or not the node is a node that is easy to connect to a vibration sensor and a leakage monitoring device (not shown) when the vibration sensor is installed. When the vibration sensor is installed, the connection ease value 2304 of a node that is easy to connect to a vibration sensor and a leakage monitoring device (not shown) is set to 1 (connection ease value 2304=1), and the connection ease value 2304 of a node that is not easy to connect is set to 0 (connection ease value 2304=0). Then, the installation feasibility value of a node with a connection ease value 2304 of 1 (connection ease value 2304=1) is set to 1 (installation feasibility value=1). Furthermore, the installation feasibility value of a node whose connection ease value 2304 is 0 (connection ease value 2304=0) is set appropriately.

[0139] As described above, a node whose installation feasibility value 706 is 1 (installation feasibility value=1), i.e., a node where the vibration sensor can be easily connected to a leak monitoring device (not shown) when the vibration sensor is installed, is preferentially set as an installation candidate node. For this reason, a node where the vibration sensor can be easily connected to a leak monitoring device (not shown) when the vibration sensor is installed is preferentially set as an installation candidate node, and is therefore preferentially set as an installation node where the vibration sensor is installed. Then, when the vibration sensor is installed, the vibration sensor can be easily attached to a node where the vibration sensor can be easily connected to a leak monitoring device (not shown). This has the effect of making it easier to install the vibration sensor in an appropriate position. EXAMPLES

[0140] FIG. 24 is a diagram showing an example of a functional block diagram of the vibration sensor installation support system 1 in the second embodiment. The vibration sensor installation support system 1 in the second embodiment is different from the vibration sensor installation support system 1 in the first embodiment in that the vibration sensor installation support system 1 in the second embodiment includes area information 241 in addition to the vibration sensor installation support system 1 in the first embodiment, and can calculate the placement of the vibration sensor in consideration of area information such as the topography, geology, map, facility placement, traffic conditions, and population composition of the area. The area information 241 is geographical information such as information on the natural environment and social environment of an area where a pipeline network is located. In the vibration sensor installation support system 1 in the second embodiment, parts and configurations having the same functions as those in the vibration sensor installation support system 1 in the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

[0141] 25 is a block diagram showing the configuration of area information 241 in Example 2. The area information 241 covers information about an area where a pipeline network is provided, and is composed of map information 251 comprehensively including information on topography, facility layout, population composition, roads, etc., traffic information 252 comprehensively including traffic conditions such as road traffic volume, geological information 253 comprehensively including geological information such as soil, etc. The area information 241 is acquired, for example, from computerized data, satellite data including traffic conditions and topographical images, statistical data such as population, data related to geological surveys, and documents on which maps are printed on paper are scanned and necessary information is extracted as electronic data.

[0142] Fig. 26 is a block diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration of the vibration sensor installation support system 1 in the embodiment 2. As shown in Fig. 26, the vibration sensor installation support system 1 has area information 241 in the secondary storage device 143 in addition to the configuration in Fig. 14.

[0143] Fig. 27 shows a block diagram of the installation condition acquisition unit 21 in the embodiment 2. The installation condition acquisition unit 21 in Fig. 27 is configured to output (generate) an input data set 23 by referring to area information 241 in addition to the pipeline network information 11 and the vibration sensor information 12.

[0144] Fig. 28 is a diagram showing an example of the node table 51 in the embodiment 2. In the node table 51 in Fig. 26, a new column, nearby facilities 2801, is added to the node table 51 shown in Fig. 7. The nearby facilities 2801 identifies representative facility information near the node based on the area information 241.

[0145] Fig. 29 is a diagram showing an example of the pipeline element table 52 in the embodiment 2. The pipeline element table 52 in Fig. 29 includes a new column, soil 2901, in addition to the pipeline element table 52 shown in Fig. 8. The soil 2901 indicates the type of soil in an area where a pipeline element is located.

[0146] FIG. 30 is a diagram showing an example of the pipeline element vibration propagation model table 56 in the second embodiment. The pipeline element vibration propagation model table 56 in FIG. 30 includes a new column, soil 2901, in addition to the pipeline element vibration propagation model table 56 shown in FIG. 12. The soil 2901 can be associated with the soil 2901 in the pipeline element table 52 in the second embodiment, and indicates the type of soil in the area where the pipeline element is located. The extent to which vibration is transmitted to the surroundings of the pipeline element varies depending on the type of soil in the area where the pipeline element is located. For this reason, the value of the vibration attenuation amount α of the pipeline element varies depending on the type of soil (i.e., the soil 2901) surrounding the pipeline element.

[0147] In the pipeline element table 52 of the second embodiment, the column α of the vibration attenuation of the pipeline element indicates the degree of vibration attenuation in the pipeline element and is determined by the configuration of the pipeline element. The column α of the vibration attenuation is a value determined by the pipe diameter, pipe type, and pipe length of the pipeline element as well as a value acquired from the area information 241. For example, when vibration is transmitted to a certain pipeline element, the vibration intensity is set to be α times the vibration attenuation of the pipeline element. The vibration sensor installation support system 1 acquires the vibration attenuation α as follows. First, the vibration sensor installation support system 1 extracts the soil 2902 acquired from the area information 241 in addition to the pipe type 804, pipe length 805, pipe wall thickness 806, pipe diameter 807, and pressure 808 of the pipeline element in which leakage is assumed from the pipeline element table 52 shown in FIG. 29. Next, the vibration attenuation amount α in the pipeline element corresponding to the extracted values ​​and the frequency Q extracted from the vibration model table 54 described above is extracted from the attenuation amount α column 1202 of the pipeline element vibration propagation model table 56 shown in FIG. 30, and is set as the vibration attenuation amount α. Note that the user may input the leakage amount in the pipeline element, and the vibration sensor installation support system 1 may calculate the vibration attenuation amount α of the pipeline element based on the input leakage amount. The vibration attenuation amount α of the pipeline element may also be input by the user. Note that the information obtained from the area information and added to the pipeline element table 52 and the pipeline element vibration propagation model table 56 is not limited to the soil 2902, and can be added as appropriate.

[0148] As an effect of the area information 241 of the second embodiment, for example, in the node table 51 shown in Fig. 28, whether or not a node is to be an installation candidate node (whether the installation possibility value is 1 or 0) can be set in consideration of area information stored in the area information 241, such as the topography, map, facility layout, traffic conditions, and population composition of the area. For example, by setting the installation possibility value of a node whose neighboring facility 2801 is a hospital to 1 (installation possibility value = 1), it becomes possible to set a node near a hospital where damage due to leakage is expected to be large as an installation candidate node. This has the effect of enabling the vibration sensor to be placed in a more convenient location so as to suppress damage due to leakage.

[0149] As an effect of the area information 241, in the pipeline element table 52 including the column of soil 2901 shown in Fig. 29, by referring to the pipeline element vibration propagation model table 56 including the corresponding column of soil 2901 in Fig. 30, it becomes possible to calculate the placement of the vibration sensor after setting the vibration attenuation amount α of the pipeline element taking into account the influence of vibration attenuation of the pipeline element due to differences in soil, for example. This has the effect of improving the accuracy of the detection function of the vibration sensor. EXAMPLES

[0150] The vibration sensor installation support system 1 of the third embodiment differs from the vibration sensor installation support system 1 of the first embodiment in that, after calculating the placement of the vibration sensors, the system calculates and outputs an optimal moving path for installing the vibration sensors from paths passing through all installation nodes where the vibration sensors are to be installed. Note that in the vibration sensor installation support system 1 of the third embodiment, parts and configurations having the same functions as those in the vibration sensor installation support system 1 of the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals and descriptions thereof will be omitted.

[0151] Fig. 31 is a diagram showing an example of a functional block diagram of the vibration sensor installation support system 1 in the embodiment 3. As shown in Fig. 31, the vibration sensor installation support system 1 in the embodiment 3 includes an installation order calculation unit 310 and optimal installation order information 311 in addition to the vibration sensor installation support system 1 in the embodiment 1.

[0152] As shown in FIG. 32, the installation order calculation unit 310 calculates the placement of the vibration sensors, and then executes an installation order calculation process in which the calculation unit 320 calculates and outputs optimal installation order information 311 representing the optimal moving route for installing the vibration sensors from among routes passing through all installation nodes where the vibration sensors are to be installed.

[0153] Fig. 33 is a flowchart showing an example of an installation order calculation process executed by the installation order calculation unit 310. When the process of step S136 in the flowchart of Fig. 13 is completed, the installation order calculation process receives a solution (optimum installation position information) of the optimization problem, which is the arrangement of the vibration sensors, solved in step S136, and is executed.

[0154] The vibration sensor installation support system 1 calculates an optimal route that passes through all the installation nodes where the vibration sensors are installed (step S331). Here, the calculation of the optimal route involves solving a problem generally called an integer programming problem. In this process, when a strictly optimal solution is obtained using, for example, a function that minimizes the route length as an objective function for optimization, a branch and bound method can be used. In addition, for example, simulated annealing or a genetic algorithm can be used as a method for heuristically calculating the optimal route. Furthermore, other optimization methods or a combination of multiple methods may be used depending on the purpose. In addition, in calculating the optimal route, the vibration sensor installation support system 1 may use the above-mentioned information on traffic conditions such as road traffic volume and map information such as roads in the area information 241, and calculate the optimal route so that it passes through the roads on the ground, taking into account the roads on the ground.

[0155] Next, the vibration sensor installation support system 1 outputs the optimal route calculated in step S331 as optimal installation order information, and ends the process (step S332). In the output of step S332, the optimal route is output in the same manner as the arrangement of the vibration sensors output in step S137 of the flowchart of the installation position calculation process described above with reference to FIG. 13. This output may be performed in the same manner as step S137 of the flowchart of the installation position calculation process described above. That is, the optimal route together with the arrangement of the vibration sensors may be output, for example, by being included in a file, or may be included in a file and stored in the secondary storage device 143, or may be output to the output device 145 and presented to the user of the vibration sensor installation support system 1.

[0156] FIG. 34 is a diagram showing an example of a table in the case where an optimal route is output using an objective function that minimizes the total length of routes between installation points, for example, starting from v8. In the table of FIG. 34, the installation nodes where vibration sensors are to be installed are nodes v2, v6 to v8. In the table of FIG. 34, the installation order in which vibration sensors are installed at each installation node is indicated by numbers. The route that passes through the installation nodes in the installation order is the shortest route. The table of FIG. 34 shows that the route that passes through the nodes in the order of v8, v7, v6, and v2 is the shortest route. Note that the method of displaying the installation order in this case can be expressed by any method, such as descending order, ascending order, symbols, or letters.

[0157] FIG. 35 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an optimum route presentation screen showing an optimum route output to the output device 145 of the vibration sensor installation support system 1 in order to present the optimum route. In FIG. 35, the installation nodes where the vibration sensors are to be installed are nodes v2, v6 to v8. In the example of the optimum route presentation screen in FIG. 35, the installation order in which the vibration sensors are to be installed is shown by numbers in parentheses above the installation nodes together with the target pipeline network. FIG. 35 shows that the route passing through the nodes v8, v7, v6, and v2 in this order is the optimum route. In the example of the optimum route presentation screen in FIG. 35, the installation order can be displayed by any method such as symbols, lines, or colors.

[0158] 34 and 35, the installation nodes where the vibration sensors are to be installed are four nodes v2, v6 to v8, but this is just an example. The number and positions of the installation nodes included in the optimal route are not important.

[0159] The vibration sensor installation support system 1 of the third embodiment calculates and outputs an optimal route that passes through all installation nodes where the vibration sensor is to be installed. For example, if the vibration sensor is installed through an optimal route calculated using an objective function that minimizes the route length, the vibration sensor can be installed with less movement. This has the effect of making it easier to install the vibration sensor.

[0160] <<Variation 1>> Fig. 36 is a diagram showing an example of a functional block diagram of the vibration sensor installation support system 1 in Modification 3. The vibration sensor installation support system 1 in Modification 1 differs from the vibration sensor installation support system 1 in Example 3 in that the input data set 23 acquired by the installation position calculation unit 13 is used as an input to the installation order calculation unit 310 as shown in Fig. 36.

[0161] Fig. 37 is a diagram showing a functional block diagram of an installation order calculation unit 310 of the vibration sensor installation support system 1 in the modified example 1 of the embodiment 3. In addition to the configuration of the installation order calculation unit 310 in Fig. 32, the input data set 23 is input to a calculation unit 320.

[0162] As described above, when calculating the installation order, an optimal route can be calculated from among routes passing through all installation nodes where vibration sensors are to be installed, based on information included in the input data set 23. For example, by referring to the pipeline element table 52 in Fig. 8 and calculating the installation order such that the installation nodes are installed first from the installation nodes located near the pipeline elements to which the installation candidate nodes belong that have been installed for a long time, it is possible to more quickly start monitoring for leaks in pipelines that are aging and have a high possibility of leaking. EXAMPLES

[0163] FIG. 38 is a diagram showing an example of a functional block diagram of the vibration sensor installation support system 1 in the fourth embodiment. The fourth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 38. The vibration sensor installation support system 1 in the fourth embodiment is different from the vibration sensor installation support system 1 in the first embodiment in that the vibration sensor installation support system 1 in the fourth embodiment includes area information 241 as an input to the installation position calculation unit 13 as shown in the second embodiment, and can calculate the placement of the vibration sensor in consideration of area information such as the topography, map, facility placement, traffic conditions, and population composition of the area, and that after calculating the placement of the vibration sensor shown in the third embodiment, calculates and outputs an optimal route passing through all the installation nodes where the vibration sensor is to be installed. In the vibration sensor installation support system 1 in the fourth embodiment, the same reference numerals are given to parts and configurations having the same functions as those in the vibration sensor installation support system 1 in the first embodiment, and description thereof will be omitted.

[0164] Fig. 38 is a diagram showing an example of a functional block diagram of the vibration sensor installation support system 1 in the fourth embodiment. Fig. 38 is the same as the functional block diagram of the vibration sensor installation support system 1 in the first embodiment, except that the area information 241, the installation order calculation unit 310, and the optimal installation order information 311 are included. The process executed by the installation position calculation unit 13 of the vibration sensor installation support system 1 in this embodiment is similar to the process executed by the installation position calculation unit 13 in the second embodiment, and therefore the description thereof will be omitted. In addition, the process executed by the installation order calculation unit 310 in this embodiment is similar to the process executed by the installation order calculation unit 310 of the vibration sensor installation support system 1 in the third embodiment, and therefore the description thereof will be omitted.

[0165] As an effect of the area information 241 in the fourth embodiment, for example, when the installation position calculation unit 13 calculates the input data set, whether or not to set a node as an installation candidate node in the node table 51 from the pipeline network information 11 and the area information 241 (whether to set the installation possibility value to 1 or 0) can be set in consideration of area information such as the topography, map, facility layout, traffic conditions, and population composition of the area stored in the area information 241 in FIG. 25. For example, the installation possibility value can be set to 0 (installation possibility value = 0) so that a node in a place with a lot of vehicle traffic is not set as an installation candidate. In addition, nodes in places with a high population density can be set as installation candidate nodes with a focus (installation possibility value = 1). As a result, the vibration sensor installation support system 1 can calculate the installation order in which the vibration sensors can be installed in the installation order calculation unit after setting the vibration sensors to be more conveniently arranged.

[0166] As an effect of the area information 241, for example, in the installation position calculation unit 13, the calculation unit 61 of FIG. 6 that calculates the optimal installation position information 14 from the input data set 23 can set the minimum number mp (minimum monitoring number) of vibration sensors that can detect leakage from the pipeline element p, which is set for each pipeline element p in FIG. 16D, taking the area information into consideration. For example, in places where there is a hospital or the like in nearby facilities or in places with a high population density, the impact of a deterioration in the sanitary condition of tap water due to leakage is large, so it is necessary to increase the number of sensors that can be monitored and reduce oversight of leakage. In such places, by increasing the minimum number mp (minimum monitoring number) for the pipeline elements, the arrangement of vibration sensors that can reduce oversight of leakage is calculated, and then the installation order calculation unit calculates the installation order in which the vibration sensors can be installed, which has the effect of making it easier to install the vibration sensors.

[0167] <<Variation 1>> FIG. 39 is a diagram showing an example of a functional block diagram of the vibration sensor installation support system 1 in the first modified example of the fourth embodiment. The vibration sensor installation support system 1 in the first modified example of the fourth embodiment is different from the vibration sensor installation support system 1 in the fourth embodiment in that the input data set 23 acquired by the installation position calculation unit 13 shown in FIG. 38 is used as an input to the installation order calculation unit 310 as shown in FIG. 39. As a result, when calculating the installation order (optimum installation order information), a route can be calculated based on the area information 241 from among routes passing through all installation nodes where vibration sensors are installed based on data in the input data set. For example, by calculating the installation order based on an index such as an altitude value from the map information 251 of the area information 241 in FIG. 25, the route for installing the vibration sensor is set to pass from a point with a high altitude to a point with a low altitude, and the vibration sensor can be installed with an easier movement. This has the effect of making it easier to install the vibration sensor. EXAMPLES

[0168] The difference between the vibration sensor installation support system 1 of Example 5 and the vibration sensor installation support system 1 of Example 1 is that, in addition to the configuration of Example 1, the vibration sensor installation support system 1 of Example 5 is connected to one user terminal (external terminal) or a group of multiple user terminals via a network NW.

[0169] 40 is a diagram showing an example of a functional block diagram of the vibration sensor installation support system 1 in the fifth embodiment. In order to calculate the placement of the vibration sensor, the user of the user terminal 2 can operate the user terminal 2 to transmit a placement calculation request signal requesting the user terminal 2 to calculate the placement of the vibration sensor to the vibration sensor installation support system 1. Upon receiving the placement calculation request signal, the vibration sensor installation support system 1 transmits installation condition input screen information to the user terminal 2.

[0170] The user terminal 2 is configured to display an installation condition input screen when it receives installation condition input screen information from the vibration sensor installation support system 1. The user of the user terminal 2 is capable of setting installation conditions, such as the model number of the vibration sensor, the target pipeline network in which the vibration sensor is to be installed, and the minimum number mp of vibration sensors capable of detecting fluid leakage from pipeline elements for each pipeline element in the target pipeline network, from the installation condition input screen displayed on the user terminal 2. The above installation conditions include the model number of the vibration sensor, but any information that identifies the vibration sensor to be installed can be used in place of the model number of the vibration sensor.

[0171] In order for the user of the user terminal 2 to input the installation conditions, the installation condition input screen displayed on the user terminal 2 can be implemented with a configuration similar to that of FIG. 15 shown in the first embodiment.

[0172] As described with reference to FIG. 15, when the user inputs information into the predetermined input fields described in the first embodiment in the vibration sensor installation range selection frame 1502 and the like on the installation condition input screen similar to that of FIG. 15, and then presses the decision button 1507, the user terminal 2 transmits the installation conditions including the vibration sensor minimum number information that associates the model number of the vibration sensor, the pipeline element ID of the pipeline element within the range of the target pipeline network with the minimum number mp of the vibration sensors, to the vibration sensor installation support system 1 via the network NW. Here, the vibration sensor installation support system 1 that has received the installation conditions can identify the target pipeline network based on the information on the pipeline element ID of the pipeline element within the range of the target pipeline network that is included in the installation conditions. When the vibration sensor installation support system 1 receives the installation conditions from the user terminal 2, it executes an installation position calculation process for the vibration sensor installation support system 1.

[0173] Fig. 41 is a flowchart showing an example of an installation position calculation process in the fifth embodiment. In the flowchart in Fig. 41, instead of step S131 of storing the input installation conditions in the first embodiment shown in Fig. 13, there is a step S411 of storing the installation conditions input via an input device or a network NW, and instead of step S137 of outputting the solution to the optimization problem, there is a step S412 of outputting the solution to the optimization problem via an output device or a network NW. The processes other than the above steps S411 and S412 are similar to steps S132 to S137 in the flowchart in the first embodiment shown in Fig. 13, and therefore will not be described.

[0174] The vibration sensor installation support system 1 stores the installation conditions received from the input device of the vibration sensor installation support system 1 or the user terminal 2 in the main storage device 142 (step S411). This allows the vibration sensor installation support system 1 to accept and store input of the installation conditions (including the minimum number mp of vibration sensors that can detect fluid leakage in the pipeline element, which is set for each pipeline element) from the user of the user terminal 2 on the network NW.

[0175] The output of the solution to the optimization problem (step S412) may be any of the following outputs: For example, a file including the solution to the optimization problem is sent to the user terminal 2; a file including the solution to the optimization problem is stored; the solution to the optimization problem is output to an output device and presented to a user of the vibration sensor installation support system 1; the solution to the optimization problem is sent to the user terminal 2 and the user terminal 2 is caused to present the solution to the user. Here, the presentation of the solution to the user of the user terminal 2 may be, for example, output to a display of the user terminal 2 or output through a printer.

[0176] The network NW may be a wired network or a wireless network. The network NW may be a global network such as the Internet or a local area network (LAN).

[0177] 42 is a block diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration of the vibration sensor installation support system 1 in Example 5. As shown in FIG. 42, the vibration sensor installation support system 1 includes a network I / F 420 in addition to the configuration in FIG.

[0178] The network I / F 420 is an interface for transmitting and receiving data to and from the user terminal 2 via the network NW. The vibration sensor installation support system 1 can use the network I / F 420 to transmit and receive data to and from devices such as the user terminal 2 connected to the network NW. The network I / F 420 can receive information input by a user of the user terminal 2, and thus the network I / F 420 also functions as an input device. The network I / F 420 can also transmit data to the user terminal 2 via the network NW, and thus the network I / F 420 also functions as an output device.

[0179] The user terminal 2 can use hardware resources other than the installation position calculation program 13a, the pipeline network information 11, and the vibration sensor information 12 in FIG. 42, and can transmit vibration sensor placement conditions and the like input by the user of the user terminal 2 to the vibration sensor installation support system 1 via the network NW. The user terminal 2 also includes a device for displaying information such as a display, and can display information acquired via the network NW to the user. When the vibration sensor placement (solution to the optimization problem, optimal installation position information) is transmitted from the vibration sensor installation support system 1, the user terminal 2 can display the vibration sensor placement. This has the effect of enabling many users to use the vibration sensor installation support system 1 more easily. EXAMPLES

[0180] Fig. 43 is a diagram showing an example of a functional block diagram of the vibration sensor installation support system 1 in the sixth embodiment. Fig. 43 will be used to explain the sixth embodiment. The vibration sensor installation support system 1 in the sixth embodiment differs from the vibration sensor installation support system 1 in the first embodiment in that the vibration sensor installation support system 1 is connected to an information management system 3 (external terminal) via a network NW.

[0181] The information management system 3 stores information about the pipeline network and information about the vibration sensors. The vibration sensor installation support system 1 can request supplemental information from the information management system 3 as necessary and receive the supplemental information from the information management system 3. In this way, even if the information stored in the vibration sensor installation support system 1 is insufficient for calculating the placement of the vibration sensors, the vibration sensor installation support system 1 can calculate the placement of the vibration sensors by supplementing the information from the information management system 3. The information that the vibration sensor installation support system 1 can supplement from the information management system 3 includes information similar to the information stored in the vibration sensor installation support system 1 described below, such as the following information:

[0182] For example, this information covers the pipeline configuration and operational management of a pipeline network, such as digitized pipeline management data, information related to the operation and management of a pipeline network, documents with pipeline diagrams printed on paper, and documents scanned from paper with the necessary information extracted as electronic data.

[0183] It also includes information covering the detection results and specifications of the vibration sensor used, measurement data, characteristics of the leaked vibration, etc. For example, in addition to data on the lower detection limit of the vibration sensor and sensitivity characteristics for each frequency band, data related to vibration propagation such as previously obtained detection results of the vibration sensor, mathematical models of the expected strength of vibration caused by leakage and vibration attenuation characteristics depending on the pipeline structure, etc. Also included are area information consisting of the topography, maps, facility layout, traffic conditions, population composition, etc. of the area where the pipeline network is located, and programs and parameters related to calculation of the layout of the vibration sensor.

[0184] Also, for example, the same information as the nodal table 51 to the pipe element vibration propagation model table 56 may be used.

[0185] Fig. 44 is a flowchart showing an example of an installation position calculation process in the sixth embodiment. In addition to the process flow of the first embodiment shown in Fig. 13, the flowchart in Fig. 44 includes step S441 for saving the input information acquisition conditions and step S442 for acquiring necessary information from the information management system 3. The processes other than the above step S441 and step S442 are similar to steps S132 to S137 in the flowchart of the first embodiment in Fig. 13, and therefore their explanations are omitted. In addition, the following description of the location calculation request signal, information acquisition condition input screen information, and information acquisition condition input screen (see Fig. 15) is similar to the first embodiment, and therefore their explanations are omitted.

[0186] The user inputs a placement calculation request signal for requesting calculation of the placement of the vibration sensor to the vibration sensor installation support system 1 through the input device 144 of the vibration sensor installation support system 1. Upon receiving the placement calculation request signal, the vibration sensor installation support system 1 outputs information acquisition condition input screen information.

[0187] The user sets information acquisition conditions such as the name of the area in which the target pipeline network in which the vibration sensor is to be installed is located, as described later with reference to Fig. 45, from the information acquisition condition input screen displayed on the output device 145, and inputs the information acquisition conditions to the vibration sensor installation support system 1. The vibration sensor installation support system 1 saves the input information acquisition conditions (step S441).

[0188] Next, the vibration sensor installation support system 1 can request the necessary information from the information management system 3 according to the input information acquisition conditions, and receive supplementary information from the information management system 3 (step S442). The subsequent steps are the same as steps S132 to S137 in the flow of FIG. 13 shown in the first embodiment.

[0189] 45 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an information acquisition condition input screen displayed on the output device 145 so that the user can input a region name as an example of an information acquisition condition. The information acquisition condition input screen 4500 shown in FIG. 45 includes a region name input field 4501 and a decision button 1507.

[0190] The hardware configuration of the vibration sensor installation support system 1 in the sixth embodiment can be realized by the same configuration as that shown in Fig. 42 in the fifth embodiment. Note that, although the area name is input as an information acquisition condition in Fig. 45, any information that identifies the area as the area name may be used, and may be a postal code, an address, or the like.

[0191] When the user inputs the name of the area where the vibration sensor is to be installed in the area name input field 4501 and presses the decision button 1507, the input area name is input to the vibration sensor installation support system 1 as an information acquisition condition and is saved in the vibration sensor installation support system 1 (step S441 in the flowchart of FIG. 44). Here, the vibration sensor installation support system 1 that has saved the information acquisition condition requests the information management system 3 for necessary information based on the information acquisition condition, and receives the supplementary information from the information management system 3 (step S442). Subsequent processing is the same as that from step S131 in FIG. 13 shown in the first embodiment.

[0192] The vibration sensor installation support system 1 of the sixth embodiment can acquire information that is lacking in the vibration sensor installation support system 1 from the information management system 3. This has the effect of reducing the amount of information held in the vibration sensor installation support system 1, enabling it to be executed even on hardware with a small storage area, and ultimately enabling it to be used more easily by many users. EXAMPLES

[0193] Fig. 46 is a diagram showing an example of a functional block diagram of a vibration sensor installation support system 1 in a seventh embodiment. The seventh embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 46. The vibration sensor installation support system 1 in the seventh embodiment differs from the vibration sensor installation support system 1 in the first embodiment in that the vibration sensor installation support system 1 is connected to a user terminal 2 and an information management system 3 via a network NW.

[0194] Fig. 47 is a flowchart showing an example of an installation position calculation process in the seventh embodiment. The flowchart in Fig. 47 includes step S471 of saving information acquisition conditions input via an input device or network NW, and step S442 of acquiring necessary information from the information management system 3 in addition to the process flow of the fifth embodiment shown in Fig. 41. The other steps in the flowchart in Fig. 47 are similar to steps S411 to S412 in the flowchart of the fifth embodiment in Fig. 41, and therefore the explanation will be omitted. Also, in this embodiment, explanations of the configuration and process similar to those of the first to sixth embodiments will be omitted as appropriate.

[0195] In order to calculate the placement of the vibration sensor, the user of the user terminal 2 operates the input device of the vibration sensor installation support system 1 or the user terminal 2 to input a placement calculation request signal requesting calculation of the placement of the vibration sensor to the vibration sensor installation support system 1. Upon receiving the placement calculation request signal, the vibration sensor installation support system 1 transmits information acquisition condition input screen information to the user terminal 2 of the vibration sensor installation support system 1.

[0196] When the user terminal 2 receives information acquisition condition input screen information from the vibration sensor installation support system 1, it displays an information acquisition condition input screen as shown in Fig. 45. The user of the user terminal 2 sets information acquisition conditions, such as the name of an area in which a target pipeline network in which a vibration sensor is to be installed, from the information acquisition condition input screen displayed on the user terminal 2, and transmits the information acquisition conditions to the vibration sensor installation support system 1. The vibration sensor installation support system 1 saves the information acquisition conditions transmitted from the user terminal 2 (step S471). The vibration sensor installation support system 1 can request necessary information from the information management system 3 according to the information acquisition conditions transmitted from the user terminal, and receive supplementary information from the information management system 3 (step S442).

[0197] When the vibration sensor installation support system 1 receives the supplementary information, it transmits installation condition input screen information to the user terminal 2.

[0198] When the user terminal 2 receives the installation condition input screen information from the vibration sensor installation support system 1, it displays the installation condition input screen of Fig. 15. The user of the user terminal 2 can set installation conditions such as the model number of the vibration sensor, the target pipeline network in which the vibration sensor is to be installed, and the minimum number mp of vibration sensors capable of detecting fluid leakage from pipeline elements for each pipeline element in the target pipeline network, from the installation condition input screen displayed on the user terminal 2. The above installation conditions include the model number of the vibration sensor, but any information that identifies the vibration sensor to be installed can be used in place of the model number of the vibration sensor.

[0199] The vibration sensor installation support system 1 stores the installation conditions received from the user terminal 2 via the input device of the vibration sensor installation support system 1 or the network NW in the main storage device (step S411). This allows the vibration sensor installation support system 1 to accept and store input of the installation conditions (including the minimum number mp of vibration sensors that can detect fluid leakage in the pipeline element, which is set for each pipeline element) from the user of the user terminal 2 on the network NW.

[0200] The output of the solution to the optimization problem (step S412) may be any of the following outputs: For example, a file including the solution to the optimization problem is sent to the user terminal 2; a file including the solution to the optimization problem is stored; the solution to the optimization problem is output to an output device and presented to a user of the vibration sensor installation support system 1; the solution to the optimization problem is sent to the user terminal 2 and the user terminal 2 is caused to present the solution to the user. Here, the presentation of the solution to the user of the user terminal 2 may be, for example, output to a display of the user terminal 2 or output through a printer.

[0201] The network NW may be a wired network or a wireless network. The network NW may be a global network such as the Internet or a local area network (LAN).

[0202] The information management system 3 stores information about the pipeline network and information about the vibration sensor. The vibration sensor installation support system 1 can request the necessary information from the information management system 3 according to the area name transmitted from the user terminal and receive supplementary information from the information management system 3, and this can be implemented in all steps in the flowchart shown in FIG.

[0203] In this way, even if the vibration sensor installation support system 1 lacks information for calculating the placement of the vibration sensors in its stored information, it can calculate the placement of the vibration sensors by supplementing the missing information from the information management system 3 in accordance with input information from an input device of the vibration sensor installation support system 1 or input information transmitted from the user terminal 2. Information that the vibration sensor installation support system 1 can supplement from the information management system 3 includes information similar to the information stored in the vibration sensor installation support system 1 described below, for example, the following information. For example, this information covers pipeline configuration and operation management, and may include digitized pipeline management data, information on the operation and management of pipeline networks, documents with pipeline diagrams printed on paper, or documents scanned with the necessary information extracted as electronic data.

[0204] It also includes information covering the detection results and specifications of the vibration sensor used, measurement data, characteristics of the leaked vibration, etc. For example, in addition to data on the lower detection limit of the vibration sensor and sensitivity characteristics for each frequency band, data related to vibration propagation such as previously obtained detection results of the vibration sensor, mathematical models of the expected strength of vibration caused by leakage and vibration attenuation characteristics depending on the pipeline structure, etc. Also included are area information consisting of the topography, maps, facility layout, traffic conditions, population composition, etc. of the area where the pipeline network is located, and programs and parameters related to calculation of the layout of the vibration sensor.

[0205] Also, for example, the same information as the nodal table 51 to the pipe element vibration propagation model table 56 may be used.

[0206] The vibration sensor installation support system 1 of the seventh embodiment can obtain information that is requested by the user terminal 2 and that is lacking in the vibration sensor installation support system 1 from the information management system 3 via the network NW. This eliminates the need to constantly store huge amounts of pipeline network information and vibration sensor information in the vibration sensor installation support system 1, and has the effect of obtaining and executing only the information required for calculating the vibration sensor placement plan requested by the user each time. This has the effect of making it possible to implement the vibration sensor installation support system 1 using hardware resources with a small storage area, and allowing more users to easily use it through input and output via the network NW.

[0207] The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments and modifications, but includes various modifications and equivalent configurations within the spirit of the appended claims. For example, the above-mentioned embodiments and modifications have been described in detail to clearly explain the present invention, and the present invention is not necessarily limited to those having all of the described configurations. Also, a part of the configuration of one embodiment may be replaced with a configuration of another embodiment. Also, a configuration of another embodiment may be added to a configuration of one embodiment. Also, a part of the configuration of each embodiment may be added, deleted, or replaced with another configuration. [Explanation of symbols]

[0208] 1: Vibration sensor installation support system 2: User terminal 3: Information Management System 11: Pipeline network information 12: Vibration sensor information 13: Installation position calculation part 14: Optimal installation location information 21: Installation condition acquisition part 22: Installation position optimization calculation unit 23: Input Data Set 31: Pipe configuration information 32:Operation management information 41: Measurement data 42:Theoretical data 51: Node table 52: Pipe element table 53: Vibration sensor sensitivity table 54: Vibration model table 55: Nodal vibration propagation model table 56: Pipe element vibration propagation model table 61: Arithmetic section 141: Processor 142: Main memory 143: Secondary storage device 144: Input device 145: Output device 146: Bus 241: Area Information 251: Map information 252: Traffic information 253: Geological information 310: Installation order calculation part 311: Optimal installation order information 320: Arithmetic unit 320 420: Network I / F

Claims

1. 1. A vibration sensor installation support system that is installed in a pipeline network having a plurality of connected pipeline elements through which a fluid flows, and calculates a location of a vibration sensor in the pipeline network that detects leakage of the fluid in the pipeline network, comprising: an installation position calculation unit that receives as input information on the pipeline network and information on the vibration sensors to be installed, generates an equation for an optimization problem that aims to minimize the total number of the vibration sensors to be installed in the pipeline network while setting the number of the vibration sensors capable of detecting leakage of the fluid to a minimum number of 1 or more set for each pipeline element, and calculates and outputs optimal installation position information for the vibration sensors to be installed obtained by solving the equation for the optimization problem; an installation condition acquisition unit that generates, from information on a pipeline network and information on vibration sensors to be installed, a pipeline element table including structural characteristics of the pipelines that make up the pipeline network, a node table including structural characteristics of the nodes that make up the pipeline network, a vibration sensor sensitivity table including performance characteristics of the vibration sensors, a vibration model table including characteristics related to leakage vibration, a pipeline element vibration propagation model table including attenuation characteristics of leakage vibration in pipeline elements, and a node vibration propagation model table including attenuation characteristics of leakage vibration at nodes; A vibration sensor installation support system having the same.

2. The vibration sensor installation support system according to claim 1, A vibration sensor installation support system having, as input information, configuration information of a plurality of pipeline elements and pipeline network information including information relating to operation and management of the plurality of pipeline elements.

3. The vibration sensor installation support system according to claim 1, A vibration sensor installation support system that has as input information vibration sensor information including information regarding past measurement values ​​of the vibration sensor and information correlating theoretical characteristics regarding the intensity of leakage vibration and vibration attenuation with the structural characteristics of the pipeline element.

4. The vibration sensor installation support system according to claim 1, A vibration sensor installation support system having an installation condition acquisition unit that generates an input data set by extracting input information necessary for calculating optimal installation position information of a vibration sensor from information on the pipeline network and information on the vibration sensor to be installed, and an installation position calculation unit having an installation position optimization calculation unit that uses the input data set as input to generate an equation for an optimization problem that aims to minimize the total number of vibration sensors to be installed in the pipeline network while setting the number of vibration sensors capable of detecting leakage of the fluid to be equal to or greater than the minimum number set for each pipeline element, and calculates the number of vibration sensors to be installed as the arrangement of the vibration sensors, obtained by solving the equation for the optimization problem.

5. The vibration sensor installation support system according to claim 1, A vibration sensor installation support system that calculates optimal installation position information for a vibration sensor by inputting position information and pipeline element information that corresponds to structural characteristics of the pipeline elements for each of a plurality of pipeline elements that make up a pipeline network.

6. The vibration sensor installation support system according to claim 1, A vibration sensor installation support system that calculates optimal installation position information for a vibration sensor by inputting pipeline element vibration propagation model information that corresponds to pipeline element vibration intensity attenuation characteristics that take into account the structural characteristics of the pipeline elements for each of a plurality of pipeline elements that make up a pipeline network.

7. The vibration sensor installation support system according to claim 1, A vibration sensor installation support system that calculates optimal installation position information for a vibration sensor using as input node information that associates position information of a plurality of nodes at both ends of each of a plurality of pipeline elements that make up a pipeline network with an installation feasibility value that indicates whether each of the plurality of nodes is a candidate installation node for installing the vibration sensor.

8. The vibration sensor installation support system according to claim 1, A vibration sensor installation support system that uses as input nodal vibration propagation model information that corresponds to nodal vibration intensity attenuation characteristics taking into account nodal structural characteristics for each of multiple nodes at both ends of each of multiple pipeline elements that make up a pipeline network, and calculates optimal installation position information for the vibration sensor.

9. The vibration sensor installation support system according to claim 7, and preferentially setting the node at which a valve is provided as the installation candidate node. Vibration sensor installation support system.

10. The vibration sensor installation support system according to claim 1, a vibration intensity term; a term of vibration damping of the pipe element, which indicates a degree of vibration damping in the pipe element; a nodal damping term representing the degree of damping of vibration at the nodal point; and a term of a detection lower limit vibration strength, and using a detection function that is a function including the term, the optimum installation position information of the vibration sensor is calculated.

11. The vibration sensor installation support system according to claim 1, A vibration sensor installation support system that inputs area information consisting of the topography, maps, facility layout, traffic conditions, population composition, etc. of an area where a pipeline network is located and calculates optimal installation position information for the vibration sensor.

12. The vibration sensor installation support system according to claim 7, calculating a monitoring feasibility matrix having detection feasibility values ​​representing whether or not vibrations caused by leakage of the fluid in the pipeline elements can be detected by the vibration sensors to be installed at the installation candidate nodes, based on information on the pipeline network and information on the vibration sensors; generating an equation for an optimization problem including an objective function representing minimizing the number of the vibration sensors to be installed in the pipeline network, and an equation for a constraint representing that the number of the vibration sensors capable of detecting leakage of the fluid in each of the plurality of pipeline elements is to be equal to or greater than the minimum number of vibration sensors and including the monitoring feasibility matrix; Calculating the number of the vibration sensors to be installed at each of the installation candidate nodes, obtained by solving the equation of the optimization problem, as the arrangement of the vibration sensors; Vibration sensor installation support system.

13. The vibration sensor installation support system according to claim 1, A vibration sensor installation support system that calculates optimal installation position information of the vibration sensors and an order in which the vibration sensors are to be installed in an arrangement of the vibration sensors.

14. The vibration sensor installation support system according to claim 1, the minimum number of the vibration sensors capable of detecting leakage of the fluid from the pipeline element, which is set for each pipeline element, is set to 2 or more; Vibration sensor installation support system.

15. The vibration sensor installation support system according to claim 1, A processor and a storage device, The storage device stores information on the pipeline network and information on the vibration sensor to be installed. The processor, A vibration sensor installation support system having an installation position calculation unit that, when the minimum number of vibration sensors for each of the multiple pipeline elements that make up the pipeline network is input, generates an equation for an optimization problem that aims to minimize the total number of vibration sensors to be installed in the pipeline network while setting the number of vibration sensors capable of detecting leakage of the fluid to be greater than or equal to the minimum number set for each pipeline element based on information about the pipeline network and information about the vibration sensors to be installed, and calculates optimal installation position information for the vibration sensors to be installed obtained by solving the equation for the optimization problem.

16. The vibration sensor installation support system according to claim 1, An output device for displaying information; outputting the calculated optimum installation position information of the vibration sensor to the output device; Vibration sensor installation support system.

17. The vibration sensor installation support system according to claim 1, An input device for inputting information is provided, When the minimum number of vibration sensors for each of the multiple pipeline elements that make up the pipeline network is input through the input device, the vibration sensor installation support system generates an equation for an optimization problem that aims to minimize the total number of vibration sensors to be installed in the pipeline network while setting the number of vibration sensors capable of detecting leakage of the fluid to be greater than or equal to the minimum number of vibration sensors for each of the multiple pipeline elements that was input, based on information about the pipeline network and information about the vibration sensors to be installed, and calculates optimal installation position information for the vibration sensors to be installed obtained by solving the equation for the optimization problem.

18. The vibration sensor installation support system according to claim 1, A vibration sensor installation support system that can share information about the pipeline network and vibration sensors with external terminals via a network.

19. The vibration sensor installation support system according to claim 1, A vibration sensor installation support system capable of sharing information on the optimum installation position of the vibration sensor with external terminals via a network.

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