Heat adjustment monitoring device, heat adjustment monitoring program, and heat adjustment monitoring method

Abstract

To notify a user of possibility that a bad condition is caused in a heat regulation room.SOLUTION: A heat regulation monitoring device 20 comprises: an acquisition part 21A for acquiring a change time T required when temperature of a heat regulation chamber is changed from first temperature to second temperature in a heat regulation process; and an analysis part 21B for statistically analyzing collection of a changing time T acquired by the acquisition part 21A in each of plural heat regulation processes to obtain statistical data of the collection as first statistical data. The heat regulation monitoring device 20 further comprises a comparison part 21C constituted to output comparison results by comparing the first statistical data with second statistical data which is a reference prepared as statistical data of the collection of the changing time T when the plural heat regulation processes are performed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a heat conditioning monitoring device, a heat conditioning monitoring program, and a heat conditioning monitoring method for monitoring heat conditioning such as heating or cooling.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for monitoring the activity (ultraviolet intensity in Patent Document 1) of a burner flame for each of a plurality of sub-sequences (in Patent Document 1, "pilot ignition (trial)", "pilot only", "main ignition", and "main stable") that constitute a combustion sequence. In this technique, when the activity of the flame of the burner to be monitored deviates from the normal state determined for each sub-sequence, it is determined that there is a malfunction in the combustion device. The user can grasp that there is a malfunction in the combustion device by checking this determination result.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the combustion device disclosed in Patent Document 1, combustion of fuel gas by a burner is performed in a combustion chamber, and the inside of the combustion chamber is heated. When a serious abnormality occurs in this combustion chamber, such as progress of damage to the wall of the combustion chamber, combustion in this combustion chamber becomes impossible. Therefore, it is desirable to let the user grasp the malfunction of the combustion chamber even before it progresses to a serious abnormality. However, Patent Document 1 does not consider detection of such a malfunction, and the technique of Patent Document 1 cannot let the user grasp that there may be a malfunction in the combustion chamber. Note that such a problem is applicable not only to the combustion chamber but also to a heat conditioning chamber in general that is the object of heat conditioning.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object thereof is to enable a user to recognize the possibility that a malfunction may occur in the heat conditioning chamber.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] In order to solve the above problems, a heat conditioning monitoring device according to a first aspect of the present invention is a heat conditioning monitoring device that monitors heat conditioning in a heat conditioning chamber performed according to a heat conditioning process, and includes an acquisition unit configured to acquire a change time required for the temperature of the heat conditioning chamber to change from a first temperature to a second temperature in the heat conditioning process, an analysis unit configured to statistically analyze a set of the change times acquired by the acquisition unit for each of a plurality of heat conditioning processes, and obtain statistical data of the set as first statistical data, and a comparison unit configured to compare the first statistical data with second statistical data serving as a reference, which is statistical data of a set of the change times when the heat conditioning process is performed a plurality of times, and output a comparison result.

[0007] The analysis unit may be configured to statistically analyze a set of the change times acquired by the acquisition unit for each of the plurality of heat conditioning processes performed before a malfunction occurs in the heat conditioning chamber, in the same manner as when obtaining the first statistical data, and obtain statistical data of the set as the second statistical data.

[0008] The first statistical data may include first distribution data that divides a range of change times into a plurality of divided classes and shows a distribution of the number of change times belonging to each class, and the second statistical data may include second distribution data that divides a range of change times into a plurality of divided classes and shows a distribution of the number of change times belonging to each class.

[0009] The comparison unit graphs the first distribution data and the second distribution data in association with each other by using the first axis as the class of change time and the second axis as the number of change times, compares the first statistical data and the second statistical data, and outputs each graph of the first distribution data and the second distribution data graphically associated with each other as the comparison result, and may be configured in such a manner.

[0010] The comparison unit may be configured to estimate the presence or absence of malfunction in the heat conditioning chamber based on the difference between the first statistical data and the second statistical data, and output the result of the estimation as the comparison result.

[0011] The first statistical data and the second statistical data include any one of statistical quantities such as the average value of the change time, the mode of the distribution of the number of change times belonging to each class of the change time, the median of the distribution, the standard deviation of the distribution, and the variance of the distribution. When the statistical quantity of the first statistical data is larger than the statistical quantity of the second statistical data, the comparison unit may be configured to estimate that there may be a malfunction in the heat conditioning chamber, and output to that effect as the result of the estimation.

[0012] The heat conditioning monitoring program according to the second aspect of the present invention causes a computer that monitors the heat conditioning in the heat conditioning chamber performed according to the heat conditioning process to execute an acquisition step of acquiring the change time required for the temperature of the heat conditioning chamber to change from the first temperature to the second temperature in the heat conditioning process, an analysis step of statistically analyzing the set of the change times acquired in the acquisition step for each of a plurality of times of the heat conditioning process, and obtaining statistical data of the set as first statistical data, and a comparison step of comparing the first statistical data with second statistical data as a reference prepared as statistical data of the set of the change times when the heat conditioning process is performed a plurality of times, and outputting a comparison result.

[0013] The heat conditioning monitoring method according to the third aspect of the present invention is a heat conditioning monitoring method for monitoring the heat conditioning in a heat conditioning chamber performed according to a heat conditioning process, the method including: an acquisition step of acquiring a change time required for the temperature of the heat conditioning chamber to change from a first temperature to a second temperature in the heat conditioning process; an analysis step configured to statistically analyze a set of the change times acquired by the acquisition step for each of a plurality of heat conditioning processes and obtain statistical data of the set as first statistical data; and a comparison step of comparing the first statistical data with second statistical data serving as a reference prepared as statistical data of the set of the change times when the heat conditioning process is performed a plurality of times.

Advantages of the Invention

[0014] According to the present invention, it is possible to allow a user to recognize that there may be a malfunction in the heat conditioning chamber.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0015]

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BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0016] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention and modifications thereof will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0017] (Embodiment) As shown in FIG. 1, a heat adjustment monitoring device 20 according to an embodiment of the present invention is used in a heating system 10. The heating system 10 heats an object to be heated, such as steel in the combustion chamber R, by heating the inside of the combustion chamber R by combustion of fuel gas, thereby reforming the object to be heated. The heat adjustment monitoring device 20 monitors the state of heating (heat adjustment) in the combustion chamber R by monitoring a change time T, which is a period during which the temperature in the combustion chamber R changes from a first temperature to a second temperature. The user can grasp that there may be a malfunction in the combustion chamber R, more specifically, a member such as a combustion furnace forming the combustion chamber R, by checking the monitoring result (statistical data of the change time described later). Here, "malfunction" refers to a mild abnormality that allows combustion before the state where combustion cannot be performed.

[0018] The heating system 10 includes, in addition to the heat adjustment monitoring device 20, a combustion device 30 that burns combustion gas, and a combustion control device 70 that controls the combustion by the combustion device 30. Hereinafter, the combustion device 30 and the combustion control device 70 will be described first, and then the heat adjustment monitoring device 20 will be described.

[0019] The combustion device 30 includes a combustion appliance 40, an air supply system 50, and a fuel supply system 60.

[0020] The combustion appliance 40 burns fuel gas in the combustion chamber R. The combustion appliance 40 includes a combustion furnace 41 that forms the combustion chamber R, and a main burner 42 that burns fuel gas to heat the inside of the combustion chamber R. The combustion appliance 40 further includes a pilot burner 43 that burns fuel gas to ignite the main burner 42, and an ignition device (igniter) 44 that generates an ignition spark for igniting the pilot burner 43. The combustion appliance 40 further includes a flame detector 45 that detects the activity of the flame of each of the burners 42 and 43, and a temperature sensor 46 that detects the temperature inside the combustion chamber R. The activity of the flame is the degree indicating how actively the flame is generated, and here it is the intensity of the flame. The flame detector 45 detects the activity of the flame, for example, by detecting electromagnetic waves (here, ultraviolet rays) radiated from the flame of the main burner 42 or the pilot burner 43.

[0021] The air supply system 50 supplies air to each of the burners 42 and 43 of the combustion appliance 40. The fuel supply system 60 supplies external fuel gas to the main burner 42 and the pilot burner 43 of the combustion appliance 40. The configurations of each of the systems 50 and 60 are arbitrary. Each of the systems 50 and 60 is configured to supply air and fuel gas such that the air-fuel ratio, which is the ratio of air to fuel gas, is within a predetermined range favorable for combustion.

[0022] The combustion control device 70 is configured to include various computers such as a PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) and a personal computer. The combustion control device 70 may include a burner controller that controls the main burner 42 and the pilot burner 43. The combustion control device 70 may be configured to include a burner controller and a temperature controller that activates the burner controller so that the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 46 becomes a target temperature described later.

[0023] The combustion control device 70 controls the combustion device 30 according to a predetermined combustion sequence in order to heat the inside of the combustion chamber R. Hereinafter, the combustion sequence will be described with reference to FIG. 3. At the start of the combustion sequence, it is assumed that the air supply system 50 and the fuel supply system 60 are controlled to a closed state in which they do not supply air and fuel to the main burner 42 and the pilot burner 43. As shown in FIG. 2, the combustion sequence includes sub-sequences such as "pre-purge" (step S1), "pilot ignition" (step S2), "pilot only" (step S3), "main ignition" (step S4), "main stabilization" (step S5), and "steady combustion" (step S6).

[0024] In the pre-purge, the combustion control device 70 controls the air supply system 50 to an open state and sends fresh air into the combustion chamber R through the main burner 42 and the pilot burner 43. Thereby, the fuel gas remaining in the combustion chamber R is discharged to the outside. The pre-purge is performed for a certain period of time.

[0025] After the pre-purge, the combustion control device 70 controls the fuel supply system 60 to start supplying fuel to the pilot burner 43 and operates the ignition device 44 to generate an ignition spark, thereby performing pilot ignition. Thereby, the pilot burner 43 is ignited. The combustion control device 70 detects the ignition of the pilot burner 43 when the activity of the flame detected by the flame detector 45 exceeds a first predetermined value. After this detection, the combustion control device 70 performs pilot only to stabilize the flame of the pilot burner 43.

[0026] After only the pilot burner, the combustion control device 70 controls the fuel supply system 60 to execute main ignition to start fuel supply to the main burner 42. As a result, the main burner 42 ignites with the flame of the pilot burner 43 as the kindling fire. The combustion control device 70 detects the ignition of the main burner 42 when the activity of the flame detected by the flame detector 45 exceeds a second predetermined value or when a predetermined amount has increased since the detection of the ignition of the pilot burner 43. After detecting the ignition, the combustion control device 70 executes main stabilization to stabilize the flame of the main burner 42. After the main burner 42 ignites, the combustion control device 70 controls the air supply system 50 and the fuel supply system 60, stops the supply of air and fuel to the pilot burner 43, and extinguishes the flame of the pilot burner 43.

[0027] After only the main burner, the combustion control device 70 shifts to steady combustion. The inside of the combustion chamber R is heated by the steady combustion of the main burner 42. At the timing of the end of the steady combustion, the combustion control device 70 controls the air supply system 50 and the fuel supply system 60 to a closed state and stops the supply of air and fuel to the main burner 42.

[0028] The combustion control device 70 executes the above combustion sequence so that the temperature inside the combustion chamber R changes over time in the same manner as the time change of the target temperature specified by the temperature program shown in, for example, FIG. 3, using the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 46 as the feedback value. The combustion sequence may be executed a plurality of times in one temperature program. The start of the combustion sequence, the period of steady combustion (the end timing of the combustion sequence), the flow rates of fuel and air during steady combustion, etc. are controlled based on the relationship between the feedback value and the target temperature. As a modification, the combustion device 30 may include a plurality of sets of main burners 42 and pilot burners 43. In this case, the number of main burners 42 to be ignited, etc. are also controlled by the combustion control device 70.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 3, the temperature program is divided into a plurality of segments SG1 to SG7. In segments SG1 and SG3, the target temperature gradually rises over time. That is, in segments SG1 and SG3, the time change of the target temperature has a rising gradient. In segments SG2, SG4, and SG6, the target temperature is constant. In segments SG5 and SG7, the target temperature gradually decreases over time. That is, in segments SG5 and SG7, the time change of the target temperature has a falling gradient. The reason for providing a gradient in the time change of the segment target temperature is to prevent damage, that is, the occurrence of abnormalities, such as on the wall surface of the combustion chamber R due to a sudden change in the temperature in the combustion chamber R. Segments SG2 etc. where the target temperature is set to be constant are provided to cause a compositional change in the object to be heated in the combustion chamber R due to its temperature.

[0030] The combustion control device 70 measures the change time T required for the temperature in the combustion chamber R detected by the temperature sensor 46 to change from the first temperature (for example, 30°C) to the second temperature (for example, 200°C). When this change time T becomes long, it means that there is a malfunction in the combustion chamber R due to a decrease in the heat retention function of the combustion furnace 41.

[0031] Next, the reheating monitoring device 20 will be described. It is configured to include various computers such as a personal computer. As shown in FIG. 4, the reheating monitoring device 20 includes a processor 21 such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a RAM (Random Access Memory) 22 that functions as the main memory of the processor 21, and a non-volatile storage device 23 that stores a reheating monitoring program executed by the processor 21. The storage device 23 also stores the change time group, recent statistical data, and reference statistical data described later. The reheating monitoring device 20 further includes a display 24 that displays various screens described later, an operating device 25 operated by a user, and a communication module 26 for the processor 21 to communicate with the combustion control device 70.

[0032] In this embodiment, the processor 21 operates as an acquisition unit 21A, an analysis unit 21B, and a comparison unit 21C shown in FIG. 5 by executing a heat adjustment monitoring program stored in the storage device 23.

[0033] The acquisition unit 21A communicates with the combustion control device 70 via the communication module 26, acquires the change time T output from the combustion control device 70 every time a combustion sequence is executed, and stores it in the storage device 23. Every time the acquisition unit 21A acquires the change time T, it executes the change time storage process shown in FIG. 6.

[0034] In the change time storage process of FIG. 6, the acquisition unit 21A stores the change time T acquired from the combustion control device 70 in the N-th (initial value is 0) storage area among the 0 to 49th storage areas (see FIG. 7) provided in the storage device 23 (step S11). Thereafter, the acquisition unit 21A determines whether N = 49 (step S12). If N ≠ 49 (No), it adds 1 to N (step S13). When N = 49 (step S12; Yes), the acquisition unit 21A initializes N to 0 (step S14). Through such a series of processes, as shown in FIG. 7, when 50 change times T (a1 to a50) with N = 0 to 49 that make up the change time group are stored in the storage device 23, the subsequently obtained change time T is overwritten starting from N = 0. As a result, the storage device 23 stores the latest 50 change times T measured in each of the latest 50 combustion sequences. This data group of the 50 change times T is the change time group.

[0035] Returning to FIG. 5, the analysis unit 21B statistically analyzes the set of change times T with N = 0 to 49 that make up the change time group stored in the storage device 23 at an initial stage after the manufacture of the combustion device 30, and obtains the statistical data of the set obtained by this analysis as reference statistical data.

[0036] After the combustion device 30 is manufactured, the analysis unit 21B obtains reference statistical data by starting the reference statistical data generation process shown in FIG. 7 from the first operation start. In the reference statistical data generation process shown in FIG. 8, the analysis unit 21B first monitors each storage area of the storage device 23 where N = 0 to 49, and waits until the change time T is stored in all of them (step S21). When the change time T is stored in each storage area where N = 0 to 49 (step S21; Yes), the analysis unit 21B reads out a set of 50 change times T from each of these storage areas (step S22). Then, the analysis unit 21B statistically analyzes the read set of 50 change times T (step S23), and stores the statistical data of the set of change times T obtained by this analysis in the storage device 23 as reference statistical data (step S24).

[0037] In the statistical analysis of step S24, as shown in FIG. 9, the range of the change time is divided in advance into a plurality of divided classes, and the number of change times T belonging to the same class is counted as the frequency. The reference statistical data includes distribution data showing the distribution of the number of change times T belonging to each class of the change time T as shown in FIG. 9. This distribution data is also referred to as reference distribution data hereinafter. The reference distribution data serves as a reference for comparison with the most recent distribution data described later. The above class may be the value of the change time T itself. For example, when the change time T is specified in units of 1 second and the decimal part is rounded off, each numerical value of 1 second, 2 seconds, 3 seconds,... that the change time T can take may be treated as the above class of the change time T.

[0038] When the reference distribution data shown in FIG. 9 is graphed with the horizontal axis as the class of the change time T and the vertical axis as the number (frequency) of the change times T, a graph (frequency line graph) as shown in FIG. 10 is obtained. The black circles in the graph of FIG. 10 are attached to the class values of the classes. As shown in FIG. 10, the graph of the reference distribution data has a Gaussian distribution with a narrow width in the horizontal axis direction, that is, a small standard deviation.

[0039] The reference statistical data generation process shown in FIG. 8 may start before the operation test after the manufacture of the combustion device 30, or may start after the start of the actual operation of the combustion device 30 after the end of the operation test. The manufacture includes repairing, fixing, modifying, or replacing the combustion device 30, particularly the combustion furnace 41, so that the combustion device 30 or the combustion furnace 41 becomes new. Further, the reference statistical data generation process may start at any timing when the user wants to register the reference statistical data. In this case, the user instructs to that effect via the operation device 25. The reference statistical data generation process may be executed when there is no malfunction in the entire combustion device 30 or at least in the combustion chamber R.

[0040] Returning to FIG. 5, the analysis unit 21B acquires, at an arbitrary timing after the reference statistical data is obtained, a set of change times T that constitutes the group of change times stored in the storage device 23 at that time. This set is for the most recent 50 times and is a set of change times T for each command to start the supply of air in the same number of combustion sequences as when generating the reference statistical data. The analysis unit 21B statistically analyzes the set of change times T, and obtains the statistical data of the set obtained by this analysis as the most recent statistical data and stores it in the storage device 23. The most recent statistical data is used for comparison with the reference statistical data. Note that the number of change times T used for generating the most recent statistical data and the reference statistical data is not limited to 50 and is arbitrary. The user considers whether there is a malfunction in the combustion chamber R based on the result of this comparison. Therefore, when the user wants to consider whether there is a malfunction in the combustion chamber R, the user inputs the above comparison instruction to the operation device 25. In response to this input, the analysis unit 21B performs the above statistical analysis and obtains the most recent statistical data.

[0041] The analysis unit 21B obtains the most recent statistical data by the same method of analysis as when obtaining the reference statistical data, for example, by performing the same processing as steps S22 to S24 of the reference statistical data generation process shown in FIG. 8, and stores it in the storage device 23. Similar to the reference statistical data, the most recent statistical data includes distribution data (see also FIG. 9) showing the distribution of the number of change times T belonging to each class of change times T. This distribution data is also referred to as the most recent distribution data below.

[0042] Returning to FIG. 5, upon the recent statistical data being recorded in the storage device 23, the comparison unit 21C reads out the recent statistical data and the reference statistical data from the storage device 23, compares them, and performs a process of outputting a comparison result.

[0043] Here, as schematically shown in FIGS. 11 to 13, the comparison unit 21C graphs the recent distribution data of the recent statistical data and the reference distribution data of the reference statistical data with the horizontal axis being the amplitude class (class value) and the vertical axis being the frequency, in association with each other. By this association and graphing, the recent statistical data and the reference statistical data are compared. Here, on a common coordinate plane, the recent distribution data and the reference distribution data are graphed in an overlapping manner, so that both are graphed in association with each other. The comparison unit 21C outputs images of the graphs of the graphed recent distribution data and reference distribution data (the images in FIGS. 11 to 13) to the display 24 as a comparison result between the recent statistical data and the reference statistical data.

[0044] When there is no trouble in the combustion chamber R (before trouble occurs), the graph of the recent distribution data and the graph of the reference distribution data almost overlap, as shown in FIG. 11. On the other hand, when trouble occurs in the combustion chamber R, its heat retention performance deteriorates, and the time required to raise the temperature in the combustion chamber R from the first temperature to the second temperature becomes longer. For this reason, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the graph of the recent distribution data tends to have a longer change time T than the graph of the reference distribution data. In FIG. 12, the graph of the recent distribution data is shifted in the direction of a longer overall change time T compared to the graph of the reference distribution data. In FIG. 13, the mode of the graph of the recent distribution data does not change compared to the graph of the reference distribution data, but the median and the average value become longer. The shift between the two graphs becomes larger as the trouble progresses, that is, as the heat retention function deteriorates.

[0045] The user can compare the graphs of the latest distribution data and the reference distribution data that are associated with each other. When the former has a tendency of a longer change time T than the latter, one of the factors to be considered is the malfunction of the combustion chamber R. Thus, in this embodiment, by presenting to the user the graphs (comparison results of both data) of the latest distribution data and the reference distribution data, which are statistical data on the change time T required for the temperature in the combustion chamber R to rise from the first temperature to the second temperature, associated with each other, the user can be made aware of the possibility that a malfunction has occurred in the combustion chamber R. Further, when the deviation between the two graphs is large, the user can grasp that one of the factors, the possible malfunction of the combustion chamber R, may have become severe. Based on these understandings, the user can inspect and repair the combustion chamber R and the combustion furnace 41.

[0046] In this embodiment, the latest distribution data and the reference distribution data are obtained by a statistical analysis of the set of the change time T, and the tendency of the change in the change time T, that is, the tendency of the malfunction of the combustion chamber R, is likely to be reflected in the comparison result (the deviation between the two graphs) of the latest distribution data and the reference distribution data. Therefore, by checking the comparison result, the user can grasp early the possibility that a malfunction has occurred in the combustion chamber R. Further, even if the change time T has changed significantly due to a sudden event not resulting from a malfunction, since this influence is reduced by the statistical analysis, the user can grasp with a high degree of accuracy the possibility that a malfunction has occurred in the combustion chamber R. Therefore, the user can appropriately (here, early or with a high degree of accuracy) grasp the possibility that a malfunction has occurred in the combustion chamber R.

[0047] The malfunction of the combustion chamber R gradually becomes more serious. The change time T tends to gradually become longer as the severity of the malfunction increases. When considering detecting a malfunction by comparing one change time T with a threshold without statistically analyzing the change time T, depending on the threshold, there may be a case where the malfunction is not detected unless the malfunction becomes somewhat severe. In this embodiment, since a statistical analysis is used to let the user grasp the malfunction, such an inconvenience does not occur.

[0048] In the above-described embodiment, as a comparison result, by associating and displaying the graphs of the most recent distribution data and the reference distribution data, it is easier for the user to intuitively grasp the difference between the most recent distribution data and the reference distribution data.

[0049] The reference statistical data compared with the most recent statistical data in this embodiment is data that serves as the basis for the comparison, prepared as statistical data of a set of change times T when the combustion sequence is executed multiple times. In particular, it may be data prepared as statistical data of a set of change times T when there is no malfunction in the entire combustion device 30, more preferably in the combustion chamber R. For this reason, the reference statistical data may be data obtained from the results of experiments using a combustion device of the same type as the combustion device 30 and prepared in advance. However, in this embodiment, the reference statistical data is prepared based on the set of change times T measured in the combustion sequence actually executed by the combustion device 30. Thereby, reference statistical data reflecting the individual quirks of the plurality of produced combustion devices 30 can be obtained, so that the user can more appropriately grasp the malfunction of the combustion device 30.

[0050] (Modification example) The configuration of the above-described embodiment can be arbitrarily changed. Modification examples are illustrated below. Each modification example can also be combined with at least a part of the others.

[0051] (Modification example 1) The configuration of the combustion device 30 is arbitrary. For example, the combustion device 30 may be of a type having only the main burner 42 without the pilot burner 43. Also, the combustion device 30 may be in a state where the pilot burner 43 is constantly ignited. In this case, it is advisable to prepare a flame detector for the main burner 42 and a flame detector for the pilot burner 43.

[0052] (Modification example 2) The comparison unit 21C may graphically associate and display the recent distribution data of the most recent statistical data and the reference distribution data of the reference statistical data, with the class of the change time T on the vertical axis and the number of the change times T on the horizontal axis. The method of graphically associating and displaying is not limited to the method of overlapping each graph on a coordinate plane with the same vertical and horizontal axes as described above. For example, each graph may be represented on different coordinate planes with the same scale of the coordinate axes. In this way, the method of graphically associating and displaying may be, for example, any method that allows the user to compare each distribution data. By graphically associating both data, the user can easily grasp the possibility that a malfunction has occurred in the combustion chamber R.

[0053] (Modification Example 3) Among the set of change times T subject to the above statistical analysis, the change times T with abruptly abnormal numerical changes may be excluded from the analysis target.

[0054] (Modification Example 4) The comparison unit 21C may output an image in which the values of the recent distribution data and the reference distribution data are shown side by side. Even with such numerical values, the user can easily grasp the possibility that a malfunction has occurred in the combustion chamber R. The most recent statistical data and the reference statistical data may include various statistical quantities such as the average value, the mode, the median, the standard deviation, or the variance, and the comparison unit 21C may output an image in which each statistical quantity of the recent distribution data and the reference distribution data is shown side by side. Such a side-by-side display of each value is also a kind of comparison between the recent distribution data and the reference distribution data.

[0055] (Modification Example 5) The analysis unit 21B may generate the latest recent statistical data, for example, every time a new change time T is stored in the storage device 23. In such a case, each time the latest recent statistical data is generated, the comparison unit 21C not only displays the graph, but also estimates the presence or absence of a malfunction in the combustion chamber R (step S31) based on the difference between the reference statistical data and the recent statistical data, as shown in FIG. 14. If there is a malfunction (step S32; Yes), the estimation result to that effect may be output as a comparison result (step S33). If there is no malfunction (step S32; No), the comparison unit 21C may or may not output the comparison result to that effect.

[0056] As at least part of the recent statistical data and the reference statistical data, the analysis unit 21B may obtain any one of the following statistical quantities: the average value of the change time T, the mode of the distribution (the above distribution data) of the number of change times T belonging to each class of the change time T, the median of the distribution, that is, the distribution data, the standard deviation of the distribution, that is, the distribution data, and the variance of the distribution, that is, the distribution data.

[0057] As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, in any of the three statistical quantities, if the latest statistical data is higher than the reference statistical data (including the case where the difference is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value), it can be understood that there may be a problem in the combustion chamber R. Also, when the value of the standard deviation or variance is large, it means that the heat retention function of the combustion chamber R is not stable, so it can be understood that there may be a problem in the combustion chamber R. Therefore, the comparison unit 21C may estimate that there is a problem in the combustion chamber R when the average value of the latest statistical data is higher than the average value of the reference statistical data, and output that fact as the result of the estimation. The comparison unit 21C may estimate that there is a problem in the combustion chamber R when the mode value of the latest statistical data is higher than the mode value of the reference statistical data, and output that fact as the result of the estimation. The comparison unit 21C may estimate that there is a problem in the combustion chamber R when the median value of the latest statistical data is higher than the median value of the reference statistical data, and output that fact as the result of the estimation. The comparison unit 21C may estimate that there is a problem in the combustion chamber R when the standard deviation (or variance) of the latest statistical data is higher than the standard deviation (or variance) of the reference statistical data, and output that fact as the result of the estimation. The comparison unit 21C may display information to that effect on the display 24, for example. Such information includes, for example, messages such as "There may be a problem in the combustion chamber". Note that the comparison unit 21C may notify that there is a problem in the combustion chamber when there is no abnormality in other measured values or the like.

[0058] As described above, the tendency of the change in the change time T is likely to be reflected in the comparison result between the latest distribution data and the reference distribution data. Therefore, by the above estimation by the comparison unit 21C, the comparison unit 21C can detect the possibility of a problem in the combustion chamber R at an early stage. Also, even if the change time T changes greatly due to a sudden event not resulting from a problem in the combustion chamber R, this influence is reduced by statistical analysis, so the comparison unit 21C can estimate with high accuracy the presence or absence of the possibility of a problem in the combustion chamber R. And the user can appropriately grasp the possibility that there may be a problem in the combustion chamber R based on the result of the estimation by the comparison unit 21C.

[0059] (Modification Example 6) The specific method of statistical analysis by the analysis unit 21B and the specific method of comparison between the latest statistical data and the reference statistical data by the comparison unit 21C are arbitrary. As described above, the tendency of the change in the change time T is reflected in the statistical data of the change time T. Therefore, the user can grasp that there may be a problem in the combustion chamber R by checking the comparison result.

[0060] (Modification Example 7) The hardware configuration of the heat regulation monitoring device 20 is arbitrary. The heat regulation monitoring device 20 may be configured as a gateway to which the combustion control device 70 and other devices are connected. At least a part of the acquisition unit 21A, the analysis unit 21B, and the comparison unit 21C may be composed of various logic circuits such as an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) and an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array). At least a part of the units 21A to 21C may be provided in the combustion control device 70. The acquisition unit 21A may directly acquire the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 46 or via the combustion control device 70, monitor the temperature, and measure and acquire the change time. The heat regulation monitoring device 20 may be a server computer, a cloud computer, or the like. The output destination of the comparison result may be a display such as a user terminal. The output destination of the comparison result may be a printer, a storage medium, a network, another computer, or the like. Each device such as the heat regulation monitoring device 20 includes a system in which the components of the device are collectively housed in one housing, as well as a system in which the components of the device are separately housed in a plurality of housings. The combustion monitoring program may be stored in a computer-readable non-transitory storage medium such as the storage device 23 described above.

[0061] (Modification Example 8) The present invention is generally applicable to heat treatment technologies for monitoring heat treatment in a heat treatment chamber that is performed according to a predetermined heat treatment process such as the above combustion sequence and the above temperature program. The heat treatment process may be composed of a plurality of sub-processes such as the above sub-sequences. The heat treatment monitoring device 20 may monitor, for example, the heating of a heating chamber of a heating furnace by an electric heater or the like. The heat treatment monitoring device 20 may monitor, for example, the cooling of a refrigerator or the like. In the case of cooling, it is preferable that the change time T is the time required to drop from the first temperature to the second temperature. When the heat treatment chamber is heated to a high temperature (for example, 100 °C or 200 °C or higher), the deterioration of the member forming the heat treatment chamber (especially the wall of the heat treatment chamber) is rapid, and the heat treatment chamber is likely to malfunction (a slight abnormality in which heat treatment is possible before heat treatment in the heat treatment chamber becomes impossible). Therefore, the present invention is particularly effective for a heat treatment chamber heated to a high temperature. Such heating includes heating for processing a heating target such as a steel material. The processing includes a structural change of a steel material or the like.

[0062] (Heat treatment monitoring method) By the process executed by the heat treatment monitoring device 20, a heat treatment monitoring method for performing statistical analysis and comparison between the latest statistical data and the reference statistical data is being performed, but at least a part of this method may be performed by something or someone other than the heat treatment monitoring device 20. By the user confirming the comparison result obtained by comparing the latest statistical data and the reference statistical data, as described above, the user can be made aware that a malfunction has occurred in the heat treatment chamber.

[0063] (Scope of the present invention) Although the present invention has been described above with reference to the embodiments and modification examples, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments and modification examples. For example, the present invention includes various changes to the above embodiments and modification examples that can be understood by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention. Each configuration described in the above embodiments and modification examples can be appropriately combined within a non-contradictory range.

Explanation of reference signs

[0064] 10… Heating system, 20… Heat regulation monitoring device, 21… Processor, 21A… Acquisition unit, 21B…… Analysis unit, 21C… Comparison unit, 23… Memory device, 25… Operating device, 40… Combustion equipment, 42… Main burner, 43… Pilot burner, 44… Ignition device, 45… Flame detector, 50… Air supply system, 60… Fuel supply system, 70… Combustion control device.

Claims

1. A heat conditioning monitoring device that monitors heat conditioning in a heat conditioning chamber performed according to a heat conditioning process, an acquisition unit configured to acquire a change time required for the temperature of the heat conditioning chamber to change from a first temperature to a second temperature in the heat conditioning process; an analysis unit configured to statistically analyze a set of the change times acquired by the acquisition unit for each of a plurality of the heat conditioning processes and obtain statistical data of the set as first statistical data; a comparison unit configured to compare the first statistical data with second statistical data as a reference prepared as statistical data of the set of the change times when the heat conditioning process is performed a plurality of times and output a comparison result, and the analysis unit is configured to statistically analyze a set of the change times acquired by the acquisition unit for each of the heat conditioning processes in the same number as the plurality of times performed before a malfunction occurs in the heat conditioning chamber by the same method as when obtaining the first statistical data, and obtain statistical data of the set as the second statistical data. A heat conditioning monitoring device.

2. A heat conditioning monitoring device that monitors heat conditioning in a heat conditioning chamber performed according to a heat conditioning process, an acquisition unit configured to acquire a change time required for the temperature of the heat conditioning chamber to change from a first temperature to a second temperature in the heat conditioning process; an analysis unit configured to statistically analyze a set of the change times acquired by the acquisition unit for each of a plurality of the heat conditioning processes and obtain statistical data of the set as first statistical data; a comparison unit configured to compare the first statistical data with second statistical data as a reference prepared as statistical data of the set of the change times when the heat conditioning process is performed a plurality of times and output a comparison result, and the first statistical data includes first distribution data that divides a range of the change time into a plurality of divided classes and shows a distribution of the number of change times belonging to each class; the second statistical data includes second distribution data that divides a range of the change time into a plurality of divided classes and shows a distribution of the number of change times belonging to each class. A heat conditioning monitoring device.

3. The comparison unit compares the first statistical data with the second statistical data by graphing the first distribution data and the second distribution data in association with each other with the class of the change time as the first axis and the number of change times as the second axis. configured to output, as the comparison result, each graph of the first distribution data and the second distribution data that are associated with each other and graphed The heat conditioning monitoring device according to claim 2

4. The comparison unit is configured to estimate the presence or absence of a malfunction in the heat conditioning chamber based on the difference between the first statistical data and the second statistical data, and output the result of the estimation as the comparison result The heat conditioning monitoring device according to any one of claims 1 to 3

5. The first statistical data and the second statistical data include any one of a statistical quantity of an average value of change times, a mode value of a distribution of the number of change times belonging to each class of change times, a median value of the distribution, a standard deviation of the distribution, and a variance of the distribution When the statistical quantity of the first statistical data is greater than the statistical quantity of the second statistical data, the comparison unit is configured to estimate that there may be a malfunction in the heat conditioning chamber, and output a message to that effect as the result of the estimation The heat conditioning monitoring device according to claim 4

6. A heat conditioning monitoring program that, when executed by a computer that monitors the heat conditioning in a heat conditioning chamber performed according to a heat conditioning process, causes the computer to function as the heat conditioning monitoring device according to any one of claims 1 to 5

7. A heat conditioning monitoring method for monitoring the heat conditioning in a heat conditioning chamber performed according to a heat conditioning process An acquisition step of acquiring a change time required for the temperature of the heat conditioning chamber to change from a first temperature to a second temperature in the heat conditioning process An analysis step of statistically analyzing a set of the change times acquired by the acquisition step for each of a plurality of heat conditioning processes, and obtaining statistical data of the set as first statistical data A comparison step of comparing the first statistical data with second statistical data that is a reference prepared as statistical data of a set of the change times when the heat conditioning process is performed a plurality of times In the analysis step, a set of the change times acquired by the acquisition step for each of the plurality of heat conditioning processes performed before a malfunction occurs in the heat conditioning chamber is statistically analyzed by the same method as when obtaining the first statistical data, and statistical data of the set is obtained as the second statistical data Heat conditioning monitoring method

8. A heat conditioning monitoring method for monitoring the heat conditioning in a heat conditioning chamber performed according to a heat conditioning process An acquisition step of acquiring a change time required for the temperature in the heat conditioning chamber to change from a first temperature to a second temperature in the heat conditioning process; An analysis step of statistically analyzing a set of the change times acquired by the acquisition step for each of a plurality of times of the heat conditioning process, and obtaining statistical data of the set as first statistical data; A comparison step of comparing the first statistical data with second statistical data serving as a reference prepared as statistical data of the set of the change times when the heat conditioning process is performed a plurality of times, and having: The first statistical data includes first distribution data that divides a range of the change time into a plurality of divided classes and shows a distribution of the number of change times belonging to each class; The second statistical data includes second distribution data that divides a range of the change time into a plurality of divided classes and shows a distribution of the number of change times belonging to each class; A heat conditioning monitoring method.

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