Inactive Gas Supply Control for Autonomous Operation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing inactive gas supply facilities face issues where the inability of a higher-level control device to output operation instructions can lead to an excessive supply of inactive gas, resulting in increased gas concentration, decreased oxygen levels, and wasteful consumption due to the inability to switch the supply flow rate.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a state determination portion, condition determination portion, and processing execution portion in the first control device to continue operating the inactive gas supply based on the last received instruction from the second control device, with the option to stop the supply if predetermined stop conditions are met, such as changes in gas concentration or container presence.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the second control device becomes unable to output operation instructions, then the first control device continues operation based on the last received instruction, but the supply flow rate cannot be switched resulting in excessive inactive gas supply
Solution Approach 1:
The first control device monitors the operational state and detects when the second control device fails to output instructions. Based on this feedback, it automatically switches from receiving external instructions to autonomous operation mode, using feedback from its own operational state to determine when to continue or stop supply
Solution Approach 2:
When the second control device becomes unavailable, the first control device takes over the control function autonomously. It serves itself by continuously monitoring its own operational state and making decisions about continuing or stopping inactive gas supply based on pre-set conditions, without requiring external control instructions
2Duration of action of stationary object
If the first control device continues operation based on the last received instruction, then operational continuity is maintained, but gas concentration increases and oxygen levels decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The control system dynamically adjusts its operational mode based on the availability of the second control device. It transitions from a static instruction-following mode to a dynamic autonomous decision-making mode, adjusting the supply flow rate based on real-time conditions rather than fixed pre-set instructions
Solution Approach 2:
The system monitors environmental conditions (gas concentration, oxygen levels) and uses this feedback to determine when to stop supply. The continuous monitoring provides feedback that triggers automatic shutdown when safety thresholds are approached, preventing harmful gas concentration imbalances
3Productivity
If the supply flow rate is set to a large initial purging flow rate, then gas replacement occurs quickly, but the second control device may become unable to output instructions resulting in wasteful consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The first control device is pre-configured with autonomous operation capabilities and decision-making rules before the second control device fails. This preliminary preparation allows it to immediately take over control and make appropriate decisions about continuing or stopping supply without delay
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from the operational state and environmental conditions to dynamically adjust the supply flow rate. After initial rapid purging, the continuous monitoring provides feedback that triggers a reduction in flow rate or complete shutdown when the second control device becomes unavailable, preventing wasteful continued supply
Data Source
AI summary
A first control device executes, if it is determined that a second control device has become unable to output an operation instruction, continued operation processing for operating an inactive gas supply portion based on the operation instruction that was last output by the second control device. The first control device further executes, if it is determined during execution of continued operation processing that a stop condition is satisfied, operation stop processing for stopping the inactive gas supply portion by suspending the continued operation processing.