Abnormality detection device for air supply machine and abnormality detection method for air supply machine

Abstract

An abnormality detection device (1) for an air supply machine (30) for supplying air into water via an air pipe (31), said abnormality detection device (1) comprising a pipe-side sensor unit (2) in which a first temperature sensor (6) for measuring a surface temperature of the air pipe (31) is built in a first heat insulation material (5), and an atmosphere-side sensor unit (3) in which a second temperature sensor (9) for measuring an atmospheric temperature is built in a second heat insulation material (8), wherein: the first temperature sensor (6) and the second temperature sensor (9) are used to detect an abnormality in the air supply machine (30) when the difference between the surface temperature of the air pipe (31) and the atmospheric temperature becomes equal to or less than a predetermined temperature difference; the pipe-side sensor unit (2) is attached to the air pipe (31) outside the air supply machine (30); and the atmosphere-side sensor unit (3) is attached to the pipe-side sensor unit (2).

Description

Air supply machine abnormality detection device and air supply machine abnormality detection method

[0001] The present invention relates to abnormality detection in an air supply device called a blower or an air blower.

[0002] Air is supplied to water tanks and septic tanks using air supply devices. For example, in septic tanks, an air supply device called a blower is used, and air is supplied from the blower to the contact aeration tank of the septic tank. This causes the liquid to come into contact with the air, causing aeration, and the wastewater is purified by circulating and contacting the aerobic microorganisms that act as contact materials. Therefore, if the blower breaks down, the septic tank will not function properly, so it is necessary to quickly detect any abnormalities in the blower.

[0003] In this regard, the maintenance and inspection system for septic tank blowers and the like described in Patent Document 1 attaches a CT coil to the electric wire that supplies power to the drive motor of equipment such as blowers, and by detecting changes in current values, it is possible to grasp abnormalities in the blowers and pumps.Furthermore, the abnormality detection device for sewage purification equipment described in Patent Document 2 uses the intake pressure generated on the intake side of the blower to detect abnormalities in the septic tank and blower from changes in intake pressure and can notify the manager or the like.

[0004] Utility Model Registration No. 3235585 Patent No. 437751

[0005] However, when a current detector is used as in the maintenance and inspection system described in Patent Document 1, the current detector itself is expensive, and installation requires disassembly of the blower to install the current detector, making installation time-consuming.The abnormality detection device described in Patent Document 2 requires a device box with a built-in differential pressure switch and a dedicated intake tube.This makes the system expensive overall, and requires the installation of an intake tube that requires length adjustment, making installation time-consuming.

[0006] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems of the related art, and has as its object to provide an abnormality detection device and an abnormality detection method for an air supply machine that are low cost and easy to install.

[0007] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the abnormality detection device for an air supply machine of the present invention is an abnormality detection device for an air supply machine that supplies air into water through an air pipe, and is equipped with a pipe-side sensor unit in which a first temperature sensor that measures the surface temperature of the air pipe is built into a first insulating material, and an atmosphere-side sensor unit in which a second temperature sensor that measures the atmospheric temperature is built into a second insulating material, the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor being used to detect an abnormality in the air supply machine when the difference between the surface temperature of the air pipe and the atmospheric temperature falls below a predetermined temperature difference, and the pipe-side sensor unit is attached to the air pipe outside the air supply machine, and the atmosphere-side sensor unit is attached to the pipe-side sensor unit.

[0008] The method for detecting an abnormality in an air supply machine of the present invention is a method for detecting an abnormality in an air supply machine that supplies air into water through an air pipe, and uses a pipe-side sensor unit in which a first temperature sensor that measures the surface temperature of the air pipe is built into a first insulating material, and an atmosphere-side sensor unit in which a second temperature sensor that measures the atmospheric temperature is built into a second insulating material, and detects an abnormality in the air supply machine when the difference between the surface temperature of the air pipe measured by the first temperature sensor and the atmospheric temperature measured by the second temperature sensor becomes less than a predetermined temperature difference, and is characterized in that the pipe-side sensor unit is attached to the air pipe outside the air supply machine, and the atmosphere-side sensor unit is attached to the pipe-side sensor unit.

[0009] According to the present invention, it is possible to detect an abnormality in an air supply machine without modifying existing equipment. Furthermore, because abnormality detection is based on temperature data from a temperature sensor, expensive current detection sensors or pressure detection sensors are not required. In other words, according to the present invention, it is possible to realize a low-cost and easy-to-install air supply machine abnormality detection device and an abnormality detection method.

[0010] An overall view of an anomaly detection system using an anomaly detection device for an air supply machine according to one embodiment of the present invention. An enlarged perspective view showing a blower and an anomaly detection device according to one embodiment of the present invention. A diagram showing an example of detection results and calculation results according to one embodiment of the present invention. A flowchart in which the flow of a manager's work is added to the flow of data processing by an anomaly detection device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0011] The present invention relates to abnormality detection in an air supply machine. An abnormality in an air supply machine may be caused by, for example, a malfunction of a drive unit, a discharge valve, or an intake valve. The air supply machine is, for example, called a blower or an air blower, and in this embodiment, an air pump or a fan is assumed to discharge air. In this embodiment, the target of abnormality detection is described as an example of a blower used in a septic tank, but the present invention is not limited to this, and may be any air supply machine used to blow air into liquid. For example, the air supply machine may be used to blow air into the water of an aquarium or a fish preserve.

[0012] An embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is an overall view of an anomaly detection system using an anomaly detection device for an air supply unit (hereinafter simply referred to as "anomaly detection device") 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention. The anomaly detection device 1 detects an abnormality in a blower 30 used in a septic tank 20. The septic tank 20 includes a first anaerobic filter bed tank 21, a second anaerobic filter bed tank 22, a contact aeration tank 23, a sedimentation tank 24, and a disinfection tank 25.

[0013] In the first anaerobic filter bed tank 21 and the second anaerobic filter bed tank 22, filter media 26, 27 remove suspended solids contained in the wastewater, and anaerobic microorganisms that do not require oxygen decompose and purify the organic matter in the wastewater. Air is blown into the contact aeration tank 23 from an air pipe 31 connected to a blower 30, and the wastewater is aerated while circulating and contacting the contact material 28. As a result, the wastewater is further purified by the aerobic microorganisms that adhere to the contact material 28.

[0014] The treated water that has passed through the contact aeration tank 23 flows into a settling tank 24, where solids settle, and the supernatant water is sent to a disinfection tank 25. In the disinfection tank 25, the treated water is disinfected with chlorine and is then discharged as hygienically safe water.

[0015] In Fig. 1, an abnormality detection device 1 is installed on the air pipe 31 side of a blower 30. The abnormality detection device 1 includes a pipe-side sensor unit 2, an atmosphere-side sensor unit 3, and a wireless transmitter 4. Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view showing the blower 30 and the abnormality detection device 1. The pipe-side sensor unit 2 has a first temperature sensor 6 disposed on the inner surface of a cylindrical insulating material 5. In the attached state of the pipe-side sensor unit 2 shown in Fig. 2, the first temperature sensor 6 is in contact with the air pipe 31. There are no particular limitations on the type of first temperature sensor 6, as long as it can measure the surface temperature of an object.

[0016] A slit 7 is formed in the insulating material 5, and the insulating material 5 can be opened at the slit 7, making it easy to attach and detach the insulating material 5 to the air pipe 31. The first temperature sensor 6 may be fixed to the insulating material 5 in advance, or may be disposed on the inner surface of the insulating material 5 when the insulating material 5 is attached to the air pipe 31. Alternatively, the temperature sensor 5 may be attached to the pipe 31 with a fixing device before the insulating material 5 is attached. The insulating material 5 is used to prevent the first temperature sensor 6 from detecting temperatures other than those of the air pipe 31, and the insulating material 5 is not limited to being cylindrical. If another configuration, such as a separate cover, is used to prevent the first temperature sensor 6 from detecting temperatures other than those of the air pipe 31, the insulating material 5 may be omitted.

[0017] The atmosphere-side sensor unit 3 has a second temperature sensor 9 disposed on the inner circumferential surface of a cylindrical insulating material 8. There are no particular limitations on the type of second temperature sensor 9, as long as it can measure atmospheric temperature, and the same sensor as the first temperature sensor 6 used in the piping-side sensor unit 2 may be used. The insulating material 8 is used to avoid direct sunlight, and the insulating material 8 is not limited to being cylindrical. Furthermore, if the environment is less susceptible to the effects of direct sunlight, the insulating material 8 may be omitted. For example, this can be done when the device is installed in a well-ventilated shade or when a separate sunshade is installed.

[0018] In Figure 2, the atmosphere-side sensor unit 3 is fixed to the pipe-side sensor unit 2 by a fixture 10. This allows both units to be attached to the air pipe 31. The fixture 10 may be a metal band or a resin band. The attachment method is not limited to the example in Figure 2, and any other method may be used as long as it stabilizes the positions of the first temperature sensor 6 and the second temperature sensor 9.

[0019] The measured values ​​of the first temperature sensor 6 and the second temperature sensor 9 are input to the wireless transmitter 4. The wireless transmitter 4 includes a measuring means 11 and a communication means (communication module) 12. The measuring means 11 converts the measured values ​​of the first temperature sensor 6 and the second temperature sensor 9 into digital data and outputs them to the communication module 12. The communication module 12 transmits the digitally converted temperature data via the antenna 13 to the base station 40 (see FIG. 1).

[0020] As will be described later, in FIG. 1 , the temperature data transmitted to the base station 40 is also transmitted to the user terminal 42 and the administrator terminal 43. These terminals calculate the difference between the surface temperature T1 of the air pipe 31 measured by the first temperature sensor 6 and the atmospheric temperature T2 measured by the second temperature sensor 9. The present inventors conducted repeated research and experiments on methods for detecting abnormalities in air supply means, such as the blower 30. As a result, they discovered that when the blower 30 or the like sends air into the water in the septic tank 20 or the like, the air temperature rises by, for example, 15 to 17°C due to heat of compression. That is, when the air supply means is operating normally, the temperature of the air flowing through the air pipe 31 is higher than the atmospheric temperature by a predetermined temperature range. Therefore, when the air supply means is operating abnormally due to a malfunction, the difference between the temperature of the air flowing through the air pipe 31 and the atmospheric temperature is smaller than during normal operation. The present inventors focused on this phenomenon and developed an air supply device and an air supply device abnormality detection method based on the temperature difference between the air pipe surface temperature of the air supply device and the atmospheric temperature.

[0021] That is, in the abnormality detection according to this embodiment, when the temperature difference between the air pipe surface temperature T1 (°C) and the atmospheric temperature T2 (°C) becomes equal to or less than a predetermined temperature difference T3 (°C), it is determined that an abnormality has occurred in the air supply device (blower 30 in FIGS. 1 and 2 ). The predetermined temperature difference T3 (°C) may be a value determined in advance according to the specifications of the air supply device, or may be a value determined by measurement at the installation location of the air supply device. In this embodiment, T1 (°C) is not the air temperature inside the air pipe 31 but the surface temperature of the air pipe 31, so that the first temperature sensor 6 can be installed without processing or modifying the air pipe 31.

[0022] FIG. 3 shows an example of the detection results and calculation results. The measurement means 11 detects measured values ​​from the first temperature sensor 6 and the second temperature sensor 9 at predetermined time intervals, and the user terminal 42 and the administrator terminal 43 shown in FIG. 1 calculate the temperature difference ΔT (°C) from the temperature data. ΔT is the difference (T1-T2) between the air pipe surface temperature T1 (°C) and the ambient temperature T2 (°C). The user terminal 42 and the administrator terminal 43 determine that the temperature difference ΔT is normal if it is greater than T3 (°C), and determine that the temperature difference ΔT is abnormal if it is equal to or less than T3. In the example of FIG. 3, before time t100, the temperature difference ΔT is greater than T3 and is normal, but at time t100, ΔT becomes equal to or less than T3, and an abnormality is detected.

[0023] The anomaly detection system for the blower 30 used in the septic tank 20 shown in Figure 1 will be described in chronological order below with reference to the flowchart shown in Figure 4. Figure 4 is a flowchart in which the flow of operations by an administrator is added to the data processing flow in the anomaly detection system shown in Figure 1. In Figure 1, when operation of the septic tank 20 and blower 30 begins (step 100 in Figure 4), air is blown into the contact aeration tank 23 from the air pipe 31. During this time, the surface temperature of the air pipe 31 is measured by the first temperature sensor 6 shown in Figure 2, and the atmospheric temperature is measured by the second temperature sensor 9 (step 101 in Figure 4).

[0024] The measurement means 11 shown in Fig. 2 digitally converts the measurement value from the first temperature sensor 6 into temperature data T1, and digitally converts the measurement value from the second temperature sensor 9 into temperature data T2. The temperature data T1 and T2 are output to the communication means 12. The communication means 12 transmits the temperature data T1 and T2 to the base station 40 via the antenna 13 (step 102 in Fig. 4). In Fig. 1, the temperature data T1 and T2 transmitted from the base station 40 are stored in a server on the cloud 41 via the Internet. The temperature data T1 and T2 on the server can be received by the user terminal 42 and the administrator terminal 43 via the Internet (step 103 in Fig. 4).

[0025] The user terminal 42 and the administrator terminal 43 calculate the temperature difference ΔT (T1-T2) from the temperature data T1 and T2 (step 104 in FIG. 4). The administrator checks whether or not an abnormality has occurred in the blower 30 from the display on the administrator terminal 43 (step 105 in FIG. 4). For example, if the display screen of the terminal 43 is set to the same as that shown in FIG. 3, the administrator checks for an abnormality by checking the "abnormal" display in the judgment field. The "abnormal" display may be in the form of text, a mark, or the like, or may be a display that changes color or sounds an alarm. The same content as that on the administrator terminal 43 is displayed on the user terminal 42, so the user can also check for an abnormality.

[0026] The manager who has confirmed the abnormality dispatches a maintenance inspector to the site to check the situation (step 106 in FIG. 4). If the maintenance inspector confirms an abnormality, he or she will stop operation as necessary (step 107 in FIG. 4). Thereafter, the maintenance inspector will inspect the blower 30 and prepare for repairs.

[0027] In Figure 1, only one septic tank 20 is shown, but if an abnormality detection device 1 is installed in each blower 30 of multiple septic tanks 20, the measurement results can be checked on the user terminal 42 of each user of the multiple septic tanks 20, and the administrator can centrally manage the measurement results of the multiple septic tanks 20 on the administrator terminal 43.

[0028] In the above embodiment, the temperature difference ΔT (T1-T2) is calculated in the user terminal 42 and the administrator terminal 43, but it may be calculated by the measurement means 11 or by a server on the cloud 41. Also, in the above embodiment, the anomaly detection device 1 is equipped with the wireless transmitter 4 including the communication means 12, but it may also be configured without the communication means 12. In this case, if a display that displays the calculation results by the measurement means 11 is used instead of the wireless transmitter 4, the user of the equipment will be able to know of an abnormality.

[0029] An embodiment of the present invention has been described above. According to the present invention, abnormality detection in an air supply machine can be performed without modifying existing equipment. Furthermore, because abnormality detection is based on temperature data obtained by a temperature sensor, expensive current detection sensors and pressure detection sensors are not required. In other words, according to the present invention, an abnormality detection device and an abnormality detection method for an air supply machine can be realized that are low-cost and easy to install.

[0030] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Air supply machine abnormality detection device 2 Pipe side sensor unit 3 Atmospheric side sensor unit 4 Wireless transmitter 6 First temperature sensor 9 Second temperature sensor 11 Measuring means 12 Communication means 30 Blower 31 Air pipe

Claims

1. An abnormality detection device for an air supply machine that supplies air into water through an air pipe, comprising: a pipe-side sensor unit in which a first temperature sensor that measures the surface temperature of the air pipe is built into a first insulating material; and an atmosphere-side sensor unit in which a second temperature sensor that measures the atmospheric temperature is built into a second insulating material, wherein the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor are used to detect an abnormality in the air supply machine when the difference between the surface temperature of the air pipe and the atmospheric temperature falls below a predetermined temperature difference, and the pipe-side sensor unit is attached to the air pipe outside the air supply machine, and the atmosphere-side sensor unit is attached to the pipe-side sensor unit.

2. A method for detecting an abnormality in an air supply machine that supplies air into water via an air pipe, comprising: a pipe-side sensor unit having a first temperature sensor built into a first insulating material that measures the surface temperature of the air pipe; and an atmosphere-side sensor unit having a second temperature sensor built into a second insulating material that measures the atmospheric temperature; and detecting an abnormality in the air supply machine when the difference between the surface temperature of the air pipe measured by the first temperature sensor and the atmospheric temperature measured by the second temperature sensor falls below a predetermined temperature difference; wherein the pipe-side sensor unit is attached to the air pipe outside the air supply machine, and the atmosphere-side sensor unit is attached to the pipe-side sensor unit.

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