A communication system for monitoring the status of heat transport pipes and a heat transport pipe monitoring system for the same

Abstract

A heat transport pipe monitoring system is disclosed, comprising a heat transport pipe, a first monitoring device and a second monitoring device provided to the heat transport pipe, wherein the first monitoring device and the second monitoring device are each electrically connected to a steel pipe included in the heat transport pipe, and the first monitoring device and the second monitoring device each include a wired communication unit that supports a wired communication protocol using a second wired communication line including the steel pipe, and the first monitoring device includes a wireless communication unit configured to transmit information received from the second monitoring device via a wireless communication network to a remote server using the wired communication unit.

Description

Technology Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a system for monitoring the condition of a heat transport pipe, and in particular to a communication system. Background Technology

[0002] Heat transmission pipes are double-insulated pipes installed in roads, green spaces, rivers, utility tunnels, etc., to transport heat produced from district energy facilities. The condition of heat transmission pipes can be managed by having designated monitoring devices registered with a central monitoring system (WCU, NTMS), which is a remote server, periodically provide the heat transmission pipe condition detection data they have detected to the remote server.

[0003] A heat transport pipe may comprise a conductive pipe and an insulating and thermal insulation covering that surrounds the pipe. For instance, hot water may pass through the interior of the pipe. Additionally, a set of conductors may be embedded within the covering, extending parallel to the pipe along the direction of extension of the pipe. In one embodiment, a total of four conductors may be embedded together along a single pipe.

[0004] Assuming that the aforementioned heat transfer pipe, treated as a single unit, extends for example several kilometers, a monitoring device for monitoring the condition of the heat transfer pipe may be installed near the heat transfer pipe, for example, every few hundred meters. In other words, multiple monitoring devices may be provided for monitoring a single heat transfer pipe.

[0005] Each of the above monitoring devices may be configured to monitor only a limited segment of the heat pipeline, for example, a pipeline segment (hereinafter simply 'segment') corresponding to several hundred meters of a single heat pipeline extending several kilometers. Therefore, multiple monitoring devices may be required to monitor the entire single heat pipeline extending several kilometers.

[0006] Additionally, the set of wires mentioned above may not be extended along the heat transport pipe without any length limitation, but may be cut and exposed to the outside at points on both ends of each segment. The portion of the set of wires exposed at one end of each segment may be connected to the monitoring device, while the portion of the set of wires exposed at the other end of each segment may not be directly connected to the monitoring device but may be prepared to be used in a different manner. To this end, each monitoring device may be positioned near the one end of each segment of the set of wires.

[0007] Each of the aforementioned multiple monitoring devices utilized a wireless communication technology, such as LTE, to transmit the data it detected to a remote server. However, there is a problem in that the purchase and maintenance costs of the communication terminals and the wireless communication network usage costs are incurred in proportion to the number of communication terminals supporting the wireless communication technology installed in all monitoring devices. The problem to be solved

[0008] The present invention aims to provide a new communication system that can reduce data communication costs for a plurality of monitoring devices provided to monitor the condition of a heat transport pipe, and a heat transport pipe monitoring system using the new communication system. means of solving the problem

[0009] According to one aspect of the present invention, a heat transport pipe monitoring system may be provided comprising: a heat transport pipe (100); a first monitoring device (201) provided corresponding to a first segment (161) of the heat transport pipe; and a second monitoring device (202) provided corresponding to a second segment (162) of the heat transport pipe. In this case, the first monitoring device and the second monitoring device are each electrically connected to a steel pipe (110) included in the heat transport pipe. The first monitoring device and the second monitoring device each include a wired communication unit (63) that supports a wired communication protocol using a second wired communication line including the steel pipe. The first monitoring device includes a wireless communication unit (64) configured to transmit information received from the second monitoring device via a wireless communication network to a remote server using the wired communication unit (63).

[0010] At this time, the heat transport pipe monitoring system may further include a second heat transport pipe that transports heat in a direction opposite to the heat transport direction of the heat transport pipe. At this time, the first monitoring device and the second monitoring device are each electrically connected to a second steel pipe (110') included in the second heat transport pipe, and the second wired communication line further includes the second steel pipe, and the wired communication unit included in the first monitoring device and the second monitoring device, respectively, may be configured to use the steel pipe and the second steel pipe as a communication line.

[0011] At this time, one end of the first copper wire (113) placed in the first segment is connected to the first monitoring device, and one end of the third copper wire (118) placed in the second segment is connected to the second monitoring device, and the other end of the first copper wire and the other end of the third copper wire are connected to each other at the extraction end (122) provided between the first segment and the second segment, and the first wired communication line further includes a copper wire assembly composed of the first copper wire and the third copper wire, and the wired communication unit included in the first monitoring device and the second monitoring device, respectively, may be configured to use the steel pipe and the copper wire assembly as a communication line.

[0012] At this time, the first monitoring device (201) includes a detection unit (62) that detects the state of the heat transport pipe (100), and the detection unit is electrically connected to the steel pipe through a steel pipe lead line (115) that is electrically connected to the steel pipe, and the first monitoring device may further include an electrical signal filter (50) disposed between the steel pipe lead line and the detection unit to filter the electrical signal input to the detection unit through the steel pipe lead line.

[0013] At this time, the sensing unit is electrically connected to a first sensor line (111) and a first feed line (112) installed in the heat transport pipe, and the electrical signal filter may be configured to further filter the electrical signal input to the sensing unit through the first sensor line and the first feed line.

[0014] At this time, the first monitoring device (201) includes a detection unit (62) that detects the state of the heat transport pipe (100) or the second heat transport pipe, and the detection unit is electrically connected to the steel pipe through a steel pipe lead line that is electrically connected to the steel pipe and is electrically connected to the second steel pipe through a second steel pipe lead line that is electrically connected to the second steel pipe, and the first monitoring device may further include an electrical signal filter (50) disposed between the steel pipe lead line and the detection unit and between the second steel pipe lead line and the detection unit to filter the electrical signal input to the detection unit through the steel pipe lead line and the second steel pipe lead line. Effects of the invention

[0015] According to the present invention, a new communication system that can reduce data communication costs of a plurality of monitoring devices provided to monitor the condition of a heat transport pipe, and a heat transport pipe monitoring system using the new communication system can be provided. Brief explanation of the drawing

[0016] FIG. 1 is a drawing showing a cross-section of a heat transport pipe provided according to one embodiment from two angles. FIG. 2 is intended to illustrate a withdrawal section in which a test point is defined among the heat transfer pipes provided according to one embodiment. Figure 3 shows the types and connection relationships of wires drawn from a test point among the heat transport pipes provided according to one embodiment. Figure 4 shows the configuration of a heat transport pipe monitoring system provided according to a comparative example. Figure 5 shows the internal configuration of the panel presented in Figure 4. FIG. 6a is a diagram showing a method in which a first monitoring device measures pipe length using a first sensor line and a first feed line. FIG. 6b is a conceptual diagram showing a method in which a first monitoring device measures the insulation status of a heat transport pipe using a steel pipe lead wire. FIG. 7 shows the configuration of a heat transport pipe monitoring system provided according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 shows the configuration of a heat transport pipe monitoring system provided according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 shows the configuration of a heat transport pipe monitoring system provided according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the configuration of a heat transport pipe condition monitoring system provided according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 shows the configuration of the first monitoring device and the second monitoring device presented in FIG. 10. FIG. 12 shows the configuration of a first monitoring device and a second monitoring device that may be provided according to another embodiment. Specific details for implementing the invention

[0017] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described herein and may be implemented in various other forms. The terms used in this specification are intended to aid in understanding the embodiments and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Furthermore, singular forms used below include plural forms unless the phrases clearly indicate otherwise.

[0018] FIG. 1 is a drawing showing a cross-section of a heat transport pipe provided according to one embodiment from two angles.

[0019] The heat transport pipe (100) of FIG. 1 may include a steel pipe (110) through which hot water flows, an insulating material (180) surrounding the steel pipe (110), and an outer shell (190) surrounding the insulating material (180). Additionally, a sensor wire (111), a feed wire (112), and one or more copper wires (113, 114) may be arranged inside the insulating material (180). The sensor wire (111), the feed wire (112), and one or more copper wires (113, 114) may be extended along the extension direction of the steel pipe (110).

[0020] FIG. 2 is intended to illustrate a withdrawal section in which a test point is defined among the heat transfer pipes provided according to one embodiment.

[0021] In FIG. 2, for convenience of explanation, the shape of the outer shell (190) and part of the insulation material (180) of the heat transport pipe (100) is shown with the shell removed.

[0022] In the outlet section (102), which is part of the heat transport pipe (100), a plurality of wires drawn out from the inside of the heat transport pipe (100) are exposed. The outlet section (102) may also be referred to as a Test Point (TP).

[0023] The above-mentioned extraction portion (102) may also be referred to as an extraction section (102) in this specification. At least some of the other parts excluding the extraction section (102) may be referred to as a straight pipe (101).

[0024] The portion of the wires exposed to the outside from the outgoing pipe (102) can be referred to as the outgoing end (120).

[0025] The heat transport pipe (100) may be defined by being divided into multiple segments. In one embodiment, the criterion for distinguishing two adjacent segments may be the extraction end (120). That is, if the transport pipe segment on one side of one extraction end (120) is referred to as the first segment (161), the transport pipe segment on the other side of the one extraction end (120) may be referred to as the second segment (162).

[0026] In FIG. 2, reference number 161 is a first segment positioned to the left of the extraction end (120), and reference number 162 is a second segment positioned to the right of the extraction end (120).

[0027] Figure 3 shows the types and connection relationships of wires drawn from a test point among the heat transport pipes provided according to one embodiment.

[0028] Referring to FIG. 3, a first extraction end (121) and a second extraction end (122) are provided at the left and right ends of the first segment (161), respectively. And the second extraction end (122) and a third extraction end (123) are provided at the left and right ends of the second segment (162), respectively.

[0029] The wires exposed outside the ground from the second withdrawal end (122) are divided into three main groups.

[0030] The wires of the first group are wires that extend from the left side of the second outgoing end (122) toward the right side and are exposed to the outside from the second outgoing end (122). That is, the wires of the first group are the right end of the wires that extend along the first segment (161) within the first segment (161). The wires of the first group may be composed of a plurality of wires, preferably three or more wires.

[0031] The wires of the second group are wires that extend from the right side of the second outgoing end (122) toward the left and are exposed to the outside from the second outgoing end (122). That is, the wires of the second group are the left end of the wires that extend along the second segment (162) within the second segment (162).

[0032] The wire of the third group is a wire electrically connected at a point near the second outgoing end (122) of the steel pipe (110).

[0033] The wires of the first group, the wires of the second group, and the wires of the third group may be exposed to the outside through a predetermined terminal block (300) provided on the ground near the second outgoing end (122). The exposed wires of the first group, the wires of the second group, and the exposed end of the third group may basically be electrically short-circuited to each other. However, a plurality of wires selected by a predetermined standard among the wires of the first group, the wires of the second group, and the wires of the third group may be electrically connected to each other at the terminal block (300).

[0034] In the example presented in FIG. 3, the first group of wires consists of a total of four wires, and the four wires are represented by reference numbers 111, 112, 113, and 114, respectively. In the example presented in FIG. 3, the second group of wires consists of a total of four wires, and the four wires are represented by reference numbers 116, 117, 118, and 119, respectively. In the example presented in FIG. 3, the third group of wires consists of a total of one wire, and the one wire is represented by reference number 115. In FIG. 3, the components represented by reference numbers 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, and 119 may be referred to as the first sensor line (111), the first feed line (112), the first copper wire (113), the second copper wire (114), the steel pipe lead line (115), the second sensor line (116), the second feed line (117), the third copper wire (118), and the fourth copper wire (119), respectively.

[0035] In one embodiment of the present invention, the left ends of the first sensor line (111), the first feed line (112), the first copper wire (113), and the second copper wire (114) provided in the first segment (161) can each be exposed through the first withdrawal end (121) and connected to the first monitoring device (201).

[0036] In one embodiment of the present invention, the right ends of the first sensor line (111), the first feed line (112), the first copper wire (113), and the second copper wire (114) provided in the first segment (161) can each be exposed through the second extraction end (122) and connected to the terminal block (300).

[0037] As shown in one embodiment of the present invention presented in FIG. 3, a topology that is symmetrical with respect to the second extraction end (122) may be provided. That is, when one sensor line (111), one feed line (112), and two bare copper lines (113, 114) are provided in the first segment (161), one sensor line (116), one feed line (117), and two bare copper lines (118, 119) are also provided in the second segment (162). And the right ends of the second sensor line (116), the second feed line (117), the third bare copper line (118), and the fourth bare copper line (119) provided in the second segment (162) may each be exposed through the third extraction end (123) and connected to the second monitoring device (202). And the left ends of the second sensor line (116), second feed line (117), third copper wire (118), and fourth copper wire (119) provided in the second segment (162) can each be exposed through the second extraction end (122) and connected to the terminal block (300).

[0038] Figure 4 shows the configuration of a heat transport pipe monitoring system provided according to a comparative example.

[0039] A heat transport pipe monitoring system (1') may include a heat transport pipe (100), a plurality of panels (10) arranged along the heat transport pipe (100), one or more monitoring devices (200) housed in each of the panels (10), and one or more terminal blocks (300) arranged along the heat transport pipe (100).

[0040] In the example shown in FIG. 4, the right end of the first sensor line (111) and the right end of the first feed line (112) are electrically connected to each other at the terminal block (300), and the left end of the first sensor line (111) and the left end of the first feed line (112) are each connected to the first monitoring device (201). Thus, the first monitoring device (201) can monitor the state of the first segment (161) using the first closed loop formed by the electrical connection of the first sensor line (111) and the first feed line (112). Additionally, although not shown, a steel pipe lead line electrically connected to the steel pipe (110) may be further connected to the first monitoring device (201).

[0041] In addition, in the example shown in FIG. 4, one end of the second sensor line (116) and one end of the second feed line (117) are electrically connected to each other at the terminal block (300), and the other end of the second sensor line (116) and the other end of the second feed line (117) are each connected to the second monitoring device (202). Thus, the second monitoring device (202) can monitor the state of the second segment (162) using the second closed loop formed by the electrical connection of the second sensor line (116) and the second feed line (117). Additionally, although not shown, a steel pipe lead line electrically connected to the steel pipe (110) may be further connected to the second monitoring device (202).

[0042] Figure 5 shows the internal configuration of the panel presented in Figure 4.

[0043] The panel (10) may be configured to be equipped with a monitoring device (200). The panel (10) may also include an internal terminal block (1001) that connects wires connected to the monitoring device (200) and wires coming out of the output terminal (120).

[0044] According to a comparative embodiment, at least one monitoring device (200) including a network wireless communication module, such as a CDMA communication module, is installed in every panel (10). The detection device (200) is configured to communicate with a remote server using the network wireless communication module.

[0045] FIG. 6a is a diagram showing a method in which a first monitoring device measures pipe length using a first sensor line and a first feed line.

[0046] Inside the first monitoring device (201), a reference resistor (2011) and a constant voltage source (2012) that provides a constant voltage may be provided. At this time, one terminal of the reference resistor (2011) is connected to one terminal of the constant voltage source (2012), the other terminal of the reference resistor (2011) is connected to the left end of the first sensor line (111), the other terminal of the constant voltage source (2012) is connected to the left end of the first feed line (112), and the right end of the first sensor line (111) and the right end of the first feed line (112) can be connected to each other. At this time, the first monitoring device (201) can measure the voltage at both ends of the reference resistor (2011), and as a result, the voltage of the line formed by the closed loop of the first sensor line (111) and the first feed line (112) is determined. By using the above-determined voltage and the resistance per unit length of the first sensor line (111) and the first feed line (112), the total length of the first sensor line (111) and the first feed line (112), that is, the length of the first segment (161), can be determined.

[0047] FIG. 6b is a conceptual diagram showing a method in which a first monitoring device measures the insulation status of a heat transport pipe using a steel pipe lead wire.

[0048] The first monitoring device (201) may be provided with a constant voltage source (2012) that provides a constant voltage. One terminal of the constant voltage source (2012) may be connected to the first sensor line (111) or the first feed line (112), and the other terminal of the constant voltage source (2012) may be connected to the steel pipe lead line (115'). At this time, the steel pipe lead line (115') may be a wire connected to a point in the steel pipe (110) that is close to the first monitoring device (201).

[0049] The insulation state of the heat transport pipe can be measured by utilizing the phenomenon that the voltage detected between the first sensor line (111) (or first feed line (112)) and the steel pipe lead line (115') changes depending on the insulation state of the insulation material (180).

[0050] FIG. 7 shows the configuration of a heat transport pipe monitoring system (1) provided according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0051] Referring to FIG. 7, a plurality of panels (10) may be installed along the extension direction of a heat transport pipe including a given steel pipe (110).

[0052] Each panel (10) may include one or more monitoring devices (200). The first monitoring device (201) installed on the first panel (11) may be configured to perform both wired communication and wireless communication functions.

[0053] For example, the wired communication may follow a power line communication protocol or another type of wired communication protocol. And the wireless communication may follow a specific wireless communication protocol such as CDMA, FDMA, and / or TDMA. The protocols of the wired communication and the wireless communication are not limited by the examples described above.

[0054] The second monitoring device (202), the third monitoring device (203), the fourth monitoring device (204), and the fifth monitoring device (205), each installed on the other panels excluding the first panel (11), such as the second panel (12), the third panel (13), the fourth panel (14), and the fifth panel (15), may each be configured to perform a wired communication function compatible with the wired communication function supported by the first monitoring device (201).

[0055] And the second monitoring device (202), the third monitoring device (203), the fourth monitoring device (204), and the fifth monitoring device (205) may each be connected to the first monitoring device (201) by a wired communication line (40).

[0056] According to this configuration, the second monitoring device (202), the third monitoring device (203), the fourth monitoring device (204), and the fifth monitoring device (205) can each provide the information they have collected to the first monitoring device (201) using the wired communication function that utilizes the wired communication line (40).

[0057] At this time, the first monitoring device (201) can provide information including at least some of the information it has collected and the information provided by the second monitoring device (202), the third monitoring device (203), the fourth monitoring device (204), and the fifth monitoring device (205) to a predetermined remote server via a wireless communication network using the wireless communication function.

[0058] By doing this, the second monitoring device (202), the third monitoring device (203), the fourth monitoring device (204), and the fifth monitoring device (205) do not need to have additional devices providing the wireless communication function, so there is an advantage in that the cost of the overall communication facility is reduced. In addition, it is sufficient for the first monitoring device (201) to subscribe to the wireless communication service to use the wireless communication network. That is, the second monitoring device (202), the third monitoring device (203), the fourth monitoring device (204), and the fifth monitoring device (205) do not need to subscribe to the wireless communication service, so there is an advantage in that communication costs can be saved.

[0059] At this time, the problem is how to provide a wired communication line (40) in order to provide a wired communication system like Fig. 7.

[0060] In one embodiment of the present invention, the aforementioned copper wire and steel pipe (110) are used together as a wired communication line (40). Since the steel pipe (110) is a common line that all monitoring devices included in the heat transport pipe monitoring system (1) can access, it can be used effectively.

[0061] Even if steel pipes (110) are not used and only the aforementioned copper wires are used, monitoring devices installed on two or three adjacent panels (10) can exchange information using the wired communication function. However, in a situation where the number of copper wires embedded in the cross-section of the heat transport pipe (100) is limited to, for example, two or three, the number of panels (10) installed in the heat transport pipe monitoring system (1) can be significantly large, for example, 20 or more. In this case, a problem of wasting resources called copper wires may occur, even though some of the copper wires must be reserved for other purposes. Additionally, since the copper wires provided in a disconnected form for each of the aforementioned segments must be connected to each other, and errors may occur during the connection process, it is preferable to use a steel pipe (110) that is already connected as a reference line (410). The reference line (410) has the potential to be accessed by all monitoring devices (200) included in the heat transport pipe monitoring system (1).

[0062] In the structure shown in FIG. 7, the first monitoring device (201) and the second monitoring device (202) must be connected to each other by the first signal line (421). At this time, the second extraction end (122) described above may exist between the first panel (11) and the second panel (12), and the wires embedded in the first segment (161) separated by the second extraction end (122) and the wires embedded in the second segment (162) are separated from each other.

[0063] However, it can be understood from the above description that at least some of the wires embedded in the first segment (161) (e.g., 113) and at least some of the wires embedded in the second segment (162) (e.g., 118) can be manually electrically connected to each other at the terminal block (300) provided at the second outgoing end (122).

[0064] Accordingly, the first signal line (421) shown in FIG. 7 can be provided by connecting the wire embedded in the first segment (161) and the wire embedded in the second segment (162) to each other. Preferably, the first signal line (421) can be provided by connecting the first bare copper wire (113) embedded in the first segment (161) and the third bare copper wire (118) embedded in the second segment (162) to each other at the terminal block (300) provided at the second outgoing end (122).

[0065] FIG. 7 shows that the first signal line (421) connecting the first monitoring device (201) and the second monitoring device (202), the second signal line (422) connecting the first monitoring device (201) and the third monitoring device (203), the third signal line (423) connecting the first monitoring device (201) and the fourth monitoring device (204), and the fourth signal line (424) connecting the first monitoring device (201) and the fifth monitoring device (205) are different lines. However, as described above, if the number of bare wires embedded in the cross-section of the heat transport pipe (100) is limited, it may not be possible to allocate a dedicated wired communication line to all monitoring devices. To solve this problem, a communication topology as shown in FIG. 8 can be presented.

[0066] FIG. 8 shows the configuration of a heat transport pipe monitoring system (1) provided according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0067] A first outlet end (121), a second outlet end (122), a third outlet end (123), a fourth outlet end (124), a fifth outlet end (125), a sixth outlet end (126), a seventh outlet end (127), an eighth outlet end (128), and a ninth outlet end (129) may be formed in order along the extension direction of the steel pipe (110).

[0068] A first panel (11), a second panel (12), a third panel (13), a fourth panel (14), and a fifth panel (15) may be installed at the respective locations of the first withdrawal section (121), the third withdrawal section (123), the fifth withdrawal section (125), the seventh withdrawal section (127), and the ninth withdrawal section (129).

[0069] Terminal blocks (300) may be provided at the locations of the second withdrawal section (122), the fourth withdrawal section (124), the sixth withdrawal section (126), and the eighth withdrawal section (128), respectively.

[0070] The configuration presented in FIG. 8 is identical to the configuration presented in FIG. 7, but may differ from each other in the respects described below.

[0071] At each extraction end (120), one bare copper wire embedded in one of the two segments separated by the extraction end (120) and another bare copper wire embedded in the other of the two segments separated by the extraction end (120) may be electrically connected to each other. By connecting in this way, a single signal line (420) that is accessible to the first monitoring device (201), the second monitoring device (202), the third monitoring device (203), the fourth monitoring device (204), and the fifth monitoring device (205) may be provided.

[0072] Now, each monitoring device (200) can be electrically connected to a point on the signal line (420) that is close to it.

[0073] Now, each monitoring device (200) can communicate via wired communication in a differential manner using a pair of wires consisting of a reference line (410) and a signal line (420).

[0074] In the case where the first monitoring device (201) among the monitoring devices (200) provides a wireless communication function, the second monitoring device (202), the third monitoring device (203), the fourth monitoring device (204), and the fifth monitoring device (205) can all provide the information they possess to the first monitoring device (201) using the differential wired communication method.

[0075] According to the communication topology shown in FIG. 8, the first monitoring device (201), the second monitoring device (202), the third monitoring device (203), the fourth monitoring device (204), and the fifth monitoring device (205) can share a communication channel consisting of a reference line (410) and a signal line (420) using various access methods such as time division, frequency division, or code division.

[0076] FIG. 9 shows the configuration of a heat transport pipe monitoring system (1) provided according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0077] The heat transport pipe monitoring system (1) further includes a second heat transport pipe that transports heat in a direction opposite to the heat transport direction of the heat transport pipe.

[0078] In one embodiment, the structure of the heat transport pipe and the second heat transport pipe may be substantially identical, except that the flow of the fluid transporting heat may be in opposite directions. The heat transport pipe and the second heat transport pipe may be arranged parallel to each other.

[0079] Just as the above heat transport pipe includes a steel pipe (110), the above second heat transport pipe may also include a second steel pipe (110').

[0080] The first monitoring device (201) and the second monitoring device (202) are each electrically connected to the steel pipe (110) included in the heat transport pipe, and may also be electrically connected to the second steel pipe (110') included in the second heat transport pipe.

[0081] The first monitoring device (201) may be connected to a steel pipe lead line (115_1) that is electrically connected to the steel pipe (110) and to a steel pipe lead line (115_1') that is electrically connected to the second steel pipe (110').

[0082] The second monitoring device (202) may be connected to a steel pipe lead line (115_3) that is electrically connected to the steel pipe (110), and may also be connected to a steel pipe lead line (115_3') that is electrically connected to the second steel pipe (110').

[0083] The wired communication unit (63) included in each of the first monitoring device (201) and the second monitoring device (202) may be configured to use the steel pipe and the second steel pipe as communication lines.

[0084] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the configuration of a heat transport pipe condition monitoring system provided according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0085] The heat transport pipe monitoring system (1) may include a first monitoring device (201), a second monitoring device (202), and a heat transport pipe (100).

[0086] At this time, one end of the first copper wire (113) placed in the first segment (161) of the heat transport pipe (100) is electrically connected to the first monitoring device (201), and the other end of the first steel pipe lead line (115_1), one end of which is connected to the steel pipe (110) of the heat transport pipe (100), may be electrically connected to the first monitoring device (201).

[0087] At this time, one end of the third copper wire (118) placed in the second segment (162) of the heat transport pipe (100) is electrically connected to the second monitoring device (202), and the other end of the third steel pipe lead line (115_3), one end of which is connected to the steel pipe (110) of the heat transport pipe (100), may be electrically connected to the second monitoring device (202).

[0088] At this time, the other end of the first copper wire (113) and the other end of the third copper wire (118) may be electrically connected to each other at the second extraction end (122) provided between the first segment (161) and the second segment (162).

[0089] At this time, the other end of the first copper wire (113) and the other end of the third copper wire (118) may be connected to the first terminal (301) and the second terminal (302) of the terminal block (300) provided at the second outgoing end (122), respectively. And by connecting the first terminal (301) and the second terminal (302) to each other with a predetermined wire (312), the other end of the first copper wire (113) and the other end of the third copper wire (118) may be electrically connected to each other. Although only four terminals (301 to 304) provided at the terminal block (300) are shown in FIG. 10, more terminals may be provided at the terminal block (300).

[0090] At this time, the first steel pipe pull-out line (115_1) may be provided from the first pull-out end (121) provided in correspondence with the first monitoring device (201) among the plurality of pull-out ends (120) provided in the heat transport pipe (100).

[0091] At this time, the third steel pipe pull-out line (115_3) may be provided from the third pull-out end (123) provided in correspondence with the second monitoring device (202) among the plurality of pull-out ends (120) provided to the heat transport pipe (100).

[0092] The heat transport pipe monitoring system (1) may further include a server (500).

[0093] At this time, the second monitoring device (202) can provide the heat transport pipe status monitoring information it has collected to the first monitoring device (201) in a differential manner using one wired communication line composed of the first copper wire (113) and the third copper wire (118) and another wired communication line composed of the steel pipe (110).

[0094] The first monitoring device (201) may be configured to transmit at least some of the heat transmission pipe status monitoring information it has collected and the heat transmission pipe status monitoring information received from the second monitoring device (202) to a remote server (500) via a wireless network (800).

[0095] FIG. 11 shows the configuration of the first monitoring device (201) and the second monitoring device (202) presented in FIG. 10.

[0096] The first monitoring device (201) and the second monitoring device (202) may each include a processing unit (61), a detection unit (62), a wired communication unit (63), and a filter unit (50).

[0097] And the first monitoring device (201) may further include a wireless communication unit (64).

[0098] The first monitoring device (201) may be connected to at least one of the first sensor line (111) and the first feed line (112). The first monitoring device (201) may also be connected to the first steel pipe lead line (115_1). The first monitoring device (201) may also be connected to the first copper wire (113).

[0099] The first monitoring device (201) can generate and store the result of monitoring the state of the part of the heat transport pipe (100) that the first monitoring device (201) is to monitor by using at least one of the first sensor line (111) and the first feed line (112), and using information based on the electrical signal obtained using the first steel pipe lead line (115_1). This process can be carried out by the detection unit (62) and the processing unit (61) included in the first monitoring device (201). To this end, the electrical signal obtained from at least one of the first sensor line (111) and the first feed line (112), and the first steel pipe lead line (115_1), may be configured to be provided to the detection unit (62).

[0100] Additionally, the first monitoring device (201) can perform a communication function to obtain information provided by the second monitoring device (202) using information based on electrical signals obtained using the first steel pipe lead line (115_1) and the first copper wire (113). To this end, the electrical signals obtained from the first steel pipe lead line (115_1) and the first copper wire (113) may be configured to be provided to the wired communication unit (63).

[0101] In this way, the electrical signal obtained using the first steel pipe lead line (115_1) can be provided to the detection unit (62) and the wired communication unit (63) in common. However, as illustrated in FIGS. 6a and 6b, the detection unit (62) is configured to monitor the condition of the heat transport pipe by applying DC power to at least one of the first sensor line (111) and the first feed line (112), and to the first steel pipe lead line (115_1). If high-frequency noise is introduced through the first sensor line (111), the first feed line (112), and the first steel pipe lead line (115_1), the detection performance of the detection unit (62) may deteriorate.

[0102] According to one embodiment of the present invention, since a wired communication signal having a high-frequency component flows through the first steel pipe lead line (115_1), a problem may arise in that high-frequency noise may be introduced into the detection unit (62) through the first steel pipe lead line (115_1). In addition, this high-frequency noise may be introduced into the detection unit (62) not only directly through the first steel pipe lead line (115_1), but also through the first sensor line (111) and the first feed line (112).

[0103] Accordingly, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a low-pass filter (50) may be installed at the input terminal of a detection unit (62) that receives an electrical signal from at least one of the first sensor line (111) and the first feed line (112) and the first steel pipe lead line (115_1).

[0104] In FIG. 11, the low-pass filter (50) is shown as being placed outside the sensing unit (62), but alternatively, it may be placed inside the sensing unit (62).

[0105] Since it is easy to understand that the configuration of the aforementioned sensing unit (62), wired communication unit (63), and low-pass filter (50) can be applied in the same way to the second monitoring device (202), the description of the configuration of the second monitoring device (202) is omitted for convenience.

[0106] As described above, since the first monitoring device (201) can collect heat transport pipe status monitoring information obtained by other monitoring devices and provide it to a remote server (500) via a wireless communication network, a wireless communication unit (64) is not necessarily required for the second monitoring device (202).

[0107] Although FIGS. 10 and 11 do not show the third monitoring device (203), the fourth monitoring device (204), and the fifth monitoring device (205) shown in FIGS. 8, it can be easily understood that these monitoring devices may have the same configuration as the second monitoring device (202).

[0108] FIG. 12 shows the configuration of a first monitoring device (201) and a second monitoring device (202) that may be provided according to another embodiment.

[0109] FIG. 12 is suitable for a configuration in which a steel pipe (110) and a second steel pipe (110') are used as wired communication lines, as shown in FIG. 9. The wired communication unit (63) may use a communication protocol that utilizes two communication lines made of the steel pipe (110) and the second steel pipe (110') in a differential manner. As a result, the wired communication unit (63) of the first monitoring device (201) and the wired communication unit (63) of the second monitoring device (202) can communicate with each other.

[0110] Using the embodiments of the present invention described above, those skilled in the art will be able to easily make various changes and modifications within the scope of the essential characteristics of the present invention. The content of each claim of the patent claims may be combined with other claims that are not related by reference within the scope of what can be understood from this specification. Explanation of the symbols

[0111] 1: Heat transfer pipe monitoring system 1: Heat transfer pipe monitoring system 10: Panel 11: Panel 1 12: Second Panel 13: Third Panel 40: Wired communication line 50, 51, 52: Low-pass filter 61: Processing unit 62: Detector 63: Wired Communications Department 64: Wireless Communications Department 410: Baseline 420: Signal line 421: 1st signal line 422: Second signal line 423: Third signal line 424: 4th signal line 100: Heat transport tube 101: Intuition 102: Pull-out steel pipe 110: Steel pipe 111: 1st sensor line 112: 1st feed line 113: No. 1 Nadongseon 114: Line 2 Na-dong 115: Steel pipe drawing line 115_1: 1st steel pipe drawing line 115_3: 3rd steel pipe pull-out line 116: 2nd sensor line 117: 2nd feedline 118: 3rd Line Na 119: Line 4 Na-dong 120: Withdrawal end 121: First withdrawal section 122: Second withdrawal section 123: Third withdrawal section 161: Segment 1 162: 2nd Segment 180: Insulation material 190: Outer shell 200: Monitoring device 201: First monitoring device 202: Second monitoring device 203: Third monitoring device 204: 4th monitoring device 205: 5th monitoring device 2011: Reference Resistance 2012: Constant Voltage Source 300: Terminal block 301: First terminal 302: Second terminal 303: Third terminal 304: 4th terminal 312: Frontline 500: Server 800: Wireless network

Claims

Claim 1 A heat transport pipe (100); a first monitoring device (201) provided corresponding to the first segment (161) of the heat transport pipe; and a second monitoring device (202) provided corresponding to the second segment (162) of the heat transport pipe; wherein the first monitoring device and the second monitoring device are each electrically connected to a steel pipe (110) included in the heat transport pipe, and the first monitoring device and the second monitoring device each include a wired communication unit (63) that supports a wired communication protocol using a second wired communication line including the steel pipe, and the first monitoring device includes a wireless communication unit (64) configured to transmit information received from the second monitoring device via a wireless communication network to a remote server using the wired communication unit (63), and the wires buried inside the heat transport pipe (100) are exposed to the outside in a physically cut state at both ends of each of the segments (161, 162), and at the boundary point between the first segment (161) and the second segment (162), a ground terminal block (300) for electrically connecting the wires exposed outside the ground is provided. A heat transport pipe monitoring system is provided, wherein the ground terminal block (300) includes a first terminal (301) to which a first copper wire (113) drawn from the right end of the first segment (161) is connected, and a second terminal (302) to which a third copper wire (118) drawn from the left end of the second segment (162) is connected, and the first terminal (301) and the second terminal (302) are interconnected by a predetermined wire (312) to form a copper wire assembly in which the first copper wire (113) and the third copper wire (118) are continuously extended as a single signal line, and the second monitoring device (202) provides the heat transport pipe status monitoring information collected by itself to the first monitoring device (201) in a differential manner using a first wired communication line composed of the copper wire assembly and a second wired communication line composed of the steel pipe (110). Claim 2 A heat transport pipe monitoring system according to claim 1, further comprising a second heat transport pipe that transports heat in a direction opposite to the heat transport direction of the heat transport pipe; wherein the first monitoring device and the second monitoring device are each electrically connected to a second steel pipe (110') included in the second heat transport pipe, and the second wired communication line further comprises the second steel pipe, and the wired communication unit included in the first monitoring device and the second monitoring device is configured to use the steel pipe and the second steel pipe as differential communication lines. Claim 3 A heat transport pipe monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein the first monitoring device (201) and the second monitoring device (202) are each electrically connected to a point of the copper wire assembly via a corresponding terminal provided in the ground terminal block (300) to perform differential wired communication. Claim 4 A heat transport pipe monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein the first monitoring device (201) includes a sensing unit (62) for detecting the state of the heat transport pipe (100), and the sensing unit is electrically connected to the steel pipe through a steel pipe drawing line (115) that is electrically connected to the steel pipe, and the first monitoring device further includes an electrical signal filter (50) disposed between the steel pipe drawing line and the sensing unit to filter an electrical signal input to the sensing unit through the steel pipe drawing line. Claim 5 In paragraph 4, the sensing unit is electrically connected to a first sensor line (111) and a first feed line (112) installed in the heat transport pipe, and the electrical signal filter is configured to further filter the electrical signal input to the sensing unit through the first sensor line and the first feed line, in a heat transport pipe monitoring system. Claim 6 In paragraph 2, the first monitoring device (201) includes a sensing unit (62) that detects the condition of the heat transport pipe (100) or the second heat transport pipe, and the sensing unit is electrically connected to the steel pipe through a steel pipe lead line that is electrically connected to the steel pipe, and is electrically connected to the second steel pipe through a second steel pipe lead line that is electrically connected to the second steel pipe, and the first monitoring device further includes an electrical signal filter (50) disposed between the steel pipe lead line and the sensing unit and between the second steel pipe lead line and the sensing unit to filter the electrical signal input to the sensing unit through the steel pipe lead line and the second steel pipe lead line.

Images