Steam-using facility monitoring system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10669883-B2
Application number	US-201515312308-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 22, 2015
Priority date	May 23, 2014
Publication date	Jun 2, 2020
Grant date	Jun 2, 2020

Abstract

Suitability of an operational state of a steam-using equipment is accurately estimated to allow for early detection of a sign of abnormality in the steam-using equipment. A steam-using facility monitoring system composed of a steam-using equipment includes a control state detector that detects a state of a steam controller provided in a steam pipe accompanying the steam-using equipment, and an operational state estimating means having a signal input unit that inputs a detection signal from the control state detector and an operational state estimation unit that estimates the operational state of the steam-using equipment based on one inputted detection signal or a preset particular combination of detection signals.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A steam-using facility monitoring system, comprising:
a control state detector that detects a state of a steam trap, wherein the steam trap is in a steam pipe external to a steam-using equipment that consumes steam from the steam pipe for turbine rotation, and wherein the control state detector is incorporated in the steam trap; and
an operational state estimating means having a signal input unit that inputs a detection signal from the control state detector and an operational state estimation unit that estimates an operational state of the steam-using equipment based on one inputted detection signal or a preset particular combination of detection signals,
wherein the operational state includes a risk of an inconvenience developing in the steam-using equipment with continued operation of the steam-using equipment.

2. The monitoring system according to claim 1 , wherein the operational state estimating means includes an alarm that issues a predetermined alarm when the operational state estimation unit senses an abnormality in the operational state of the steam-using equipment.

3. The monitoring system according to claim 2 , wherein the operational state estimation unit estimates a cause of the abnormality based on the one inputted detection signal or the preset particular combination of detection signals, when the abnormality is sensed in the operational state of the steam-using equipment.

4. The monitoring system according to claim 3 , wherein the operational state estimation unit generates countermeasure information for the abnormality based on the cause of the abnormality.

5. The monitoring system according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a steam state detector that detects a steam state in the steam pipe, wherein the signal input unit further inputs a detection signal from the steam state detector, and wherein the operational state estimation unit estimates the operational state of the steam-using equipment based on the preset particular combination of detection signals including the detection signal from the steam state detector and the detection signal from the control state detector.

6. The monitoring system according to claim 5 , wherein the operational state estimation unit estimates the operational state of the steam-using equipment based on a change in the steam state detected by the steam state detector starting from an activation of the steam-using equipment.

7. The monitoring system according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a sub equipment state detector that detects a state of a sub equipment accompanying the steam-using equipment, wherein the signal input unit further inputs a detection signal from the sub equipment state detector, and wherein the operational state estimation unit estimates the operational state of the steam-using equipment based on the preset particular combination of detection signals including the detection signal from the sub equipment state detector and the detection signal from the control state detector.

8. The monitoring system according to claim 1 , further comprising:
an equipment state detector that detects a state of the steam-using equipment, wherein the signal input unit further inputs a detection signal from the equipment state detector, and wherein the operational state estimation unit estimates the operational state of the steam-using equipment based on the preset particular combination of detection signals including the detection signal from the equipment state detector and the detection signal from the control state detector.

9. The monitoring system according to claim 1 , wherein the operational state estimating means includes a storage unit that stores the one inputted detection signal inputted over time or the preset particular combination of detection signals inputted over time, and wherein the operational state estimation unit estimates the operational state of the steam-using equipment based on (i) the stored one inputted detection signal inputted over time or (ii) the preset particular combination of detection signals inputted over time and the detection signal from the control state detector.

10. The monitoring system according to claim 1 , wherein the control state detector detects a temperature or a vibration of the steam trap as the state of the steam trap.

11. The monitoring system according to claim 1 , wherein the operational state estimation unit detects a clog or a temperature change in the steam trap based on the detection signal from the control state detector and estimates the operational state of the steam-using equipment based on the clog or the temperature change in the steam trap.

12. The monitoring system according to claim 1 , wherein the steam-using equipment generates drain in association with consumption of steam, wherein the steam trap is in an outlet pipe for discharging the drain generated in the steam-using equipment, and wherein the steam trap discharges the drain generated in the steam-using equipment.

Assignees

• Tlv Co Ltd

Inventors

• Tsuchiiwa Noriaki
• Shiraishi Tomoyuki

Classifications

• F01K13/02

  Controlling, e.g. stopping or starting · CPC title

• F01D21/003 Primary

  Arrangements for testing or measuring (for measuring vibrations G01H) · CPC title

• F01D21/14

  responsive to other specific conditions · CPC title

• F16T1/48 Primary

  Monitoring arrangements for inspecting, e.g. flow of steam and steam condensate · CPC title

• F01D25/00

  Component parts, details, or accessories, not provided for in, or of interest apart from, other groups · CPC title