JP3283669B2 - Operation monitoring device and operation monitoring method for fluid dehumidifier - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an operation monitoring device and an operation monitoring method for a fluid dehumidifier, and more particularly to a cooling method in which a dew point of a dehumidifying fluid supplied from the fluid dehumidifier is cooled to a predetermined temperature by a cooling means. The present invention relates to a fluid dehumidifier monitoring apparatus and an operation monitoring method for monitoring the operating state of a fluid dehumidifier using a mirror surface.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Fluids such as compressed air are widely used in controllers of various devices. If the humidity of the fluid used in such a control device or the like is high, water droplets may be generated inside the control device or the like, which may cause an uncontrollable situation. In order to avoid such a situation, a fluid dehumidified by the dehumidifier is usually supplied to the controller and the like. However, when the dehumidifier malfunctions or its function decreases, or when the humidity in the suction fluid sucked into the dehumidifier increases, the humidity of the dehumidifier supplied from the dehumidifier also increases, and the controller device, etc. There is a risk that water droplets will be generated inside the interior. For this reason, conventionally, in order to monitor the operation state of the dehumidifier, the dew point temperature of the dehumidifying fluid supplied from the dehumidifier is monitored to prevent a situation in which a fluid having an unacceptable humidity is supplied to a controller or the like.

[0003] As a monitoring device for monitoring the dew point temperature of a dehumidifying fluid, Japanese Patent Publication No. 2-26059 discloses a dehumidifying fluid temperature and a dew point temperature and detects each of the temperatures by an oxide thin film dew point detector. There has been proposed a device which converts an electric signal into an electric signal and issues an alarm when a difference between the two signals approaches a predetermined value. Further, Japanese Patent Publication No. 62-9854 proposes a monitoring device that detects the amount of transmitted light by using a photodetector for the dew condensation state of the cooling mirror surface.

[0004]

According to such a conventional monitoring device, the dew point temperature of the dehumidifying fluid can be constantly monitored, and it is possible to prevent a situation in which a fluid having an unacceptable humidity is supplied to a controller or the like. However, the conventional monitoring device employs an electronically complicated mechanism so that the dew point temperature of the dehumidifying fluid can be constantly monitored. For this reason, the price of the monitoring device becomes expensive, and if a failure occurs in the monitoring device, it becomes difficult to find it, and there is a concern that the failure detection of the dehumidifying device may be delayed. On the other hand, in many cases, constant monitoring of the dehumidifying fluid is not required. Also, it is extremely rare that the dehumidifying ability of the dehumidifying device rapidly decreases. For this reason, there is a demand for a monitoring device that has a simple mechanism of the monitoring device and has few failures, and that can easily find a failure even if it occurs. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an operation monitoring device and an operation monitoring method for a fluid dehumidifier, which have a simple mechanism, have few failures, and can be easily detected even if a failure occurs.

[0005]

Means for Solving the Problems The present inventors have studied to achieve the above object, and as a result, flow a dehumidifying fluid into a flow path of dehumidifying air formed on a cooling mirror surface cooled to a predetermined temperature,
By visually observing the presence or absence of fogging of the cooling mirror surface due to dew condensation of the moisture contained in the dehumidifying fluid, it has been found that it is possible to monitor whether the dehumidifying fluid is normally dehumidified,
The present invention has been reached. That is, the present invention provides a fluid dehumidifier
To a predetermined temperature near the dew point temperature of the dehumidifying fluid supplied from
Using the cooling mirror that is cooled by the cooling means, a monitoring device for monitoring the operating condition of the fluid dehumidifier, the cooling
Means for controlling the temperature of the cooling mirror surface to the predetermined temperature.
Control means and dew condensation of moisture contained in the dehumidifying fluid.
The presence or absence of fogging on the cooling mirror surface due to
In said cooling at least a portion covering the upper side of the mirror surface is formed by a transparent member hood is mounted, the and the hood, so dehumidifying fluid flows along the cooling mirror,
An operation monitoring device for a fluid dehumidifier, wherein a supply port and a discharge port for a dehumidifying fluid are provided. In the present invention having such a configuration, at least a part of each wall surface of each of the divided chambers divided into a plurality of chambers by the partition wall provided inside the hood that covers above one cooling mirror surface is formed by the cooling mirror surface, and to each of the divided chambers of the hood, dehumidification <br/> fluid to flow along the cooling mirror, by providing the supply port and the outlet of the dehumidifying fluid, to monitor a plurality of dehumidifying fluid dew point temperature at the same time be able to.

[0006] Further, the present invention provides a cooling device having a predetermined temperature.
Is supplied from the fluid dehumidifier on the cooled mirror surface.
The dehumidifying fluid and monitor the operation of the fluid dehumidifier.
The cooling mirror surface near the expected dew point temperature of the dehumidifying fluid.
And clouding due to condensation of water contained in the dehumidifying fluid
After cooling to the specified temperature that does not occur, maintain at the specified temperature
On a cooling mirror being flowed dehumidifying fluid supplied from the flow body dehumidifier is also a working method of monitoring the front Kihiya却鏡surface haze fluid dehumidifier characterized by macroscopically observing the presence or absence of. In the present invention having such a configuration , the fluid removal
The dehumidifying fluid supplied from the humidifier is applied to at least one of the wall surfaces.
In the channel formed by the transparent member on the cooling mirror surface,
By flowing along the cooling mirror surface, fogging of the cooling mirror surface
The presence / absence of is made easily observable with the naked eye via a transparent member.
In addition, by forming a plurality of flow paths on one cooling mirror surface and flowing a dehumidifying fluid through each of the flow paths along the cooling mirror surface, the dew point temperatures of the plurality of dehumidifying fluids can be monitored simultaneously .
Here, if the inside of the flow path formed on the cooling mirror surface is set to the atmospheric pressure state , the structure of the members forming the flow path can be simplified. other
Write a <br/> to the inside flow path formed on the cooling mirror and pressurized state, it is possible to raise the temperature of the cooling mirror, it is possible to simplify the cooling means for cooling the cooling mirror .

In the present invention having such a configuration,
By using a Peltier element as a cooling means for cooling the cooling mirror surface, the temperature of the cooling mirror surface can be easily controlled.

[0008]

According to the present invention, the expected dew point of the supplied dehumidifying fluid
Water that is cooled in the vicinity and contained in the dehumidifying fluid
Maintained at a specified temperature without fogging due to condensation
Flow the dehumidifying fluid supplied from the dehumidifier on the cooling mirror surface.
While cloudy due to the condensation of cooling the mirror surface (hereinafter simply referred to as "cooling mirror
By the naked eye,
Whether or not the dew point temperature of the supplied dehumidifying fluid is equal to or lower than the expected dew point temperature can be easily determined, and the operating state of the dehumidifying device can be easily determined. That is, if fogging is observed on the cooling mirror surface, it means that the dew point temperature of the dehumidifying fluid exceeds the expected dew point temperature, which indicates a decrease in the function of the dehumidifying device.
Further, the monitoring device of the present invention does not require a device for automatically detecting the presence or absence of fogging on the cooling mirror surface, and can simplify the device structure. Furthermore, at least a part of each wall surface of each of the divided chambers divided into a plurality of chambers by a partition wall provided inside a hood that covers above one cooling mirror surface is formed by a cooling mirror surface, and each, as dehumidifying fluid flows along the cooling mirror, the case of providing a supply port and an outlet of the dehumidifying fluid can allow a plurality of dehumidifying fluid monitoring dew point temperature at the same time.

In the present invention, since the presence or absence of fogging on the cooling mirror surface is visually observed, it is impossible to continuously observe the state of the cooling mirror surface. However, after confirming that the operating condition of the dehumidifying device is normal, it is extremely rare that the dehumidifying function of the dehumidifying device rapidly decreases or the humidity of the suction fluid sucked into the dehumidifying device rapidly increases. It is. For this reason, the operating condition of the dehumidifier can be sufficiently monitored by occasionally observing the presence or absence of fogging on the cooling mirror surface with the naked eye.

[0010]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. FIG. 1 is a front view showing an embodiment according to the monitoring device of the present invention. The hood 14 that covers the upper part of the cooling mirror surface 12 cooled by the cooling means at the temperature displayed on the temperature display unit 32 is attached to the monitoring device 10 shown in FIG. This food 1
One surface of the cooling mirror surface 4 is formed by a transparent plate 16, and the state of the cooling mirror surface 12 can be visually observed from outside the hood 14. The hood 14 is provided with a partition 18. When the hood 14 is mounted so as to cover above the cooling mirror surface 12, the hood 14 is divided into the division chambers 20 a and 20 b by the partition 18. For this reason, the division room 20
A part of the bottom surface of each of the chambers a and 20b is formed by the cooling mirror surface 12. Further, supply ports 22, 22 for supplying a measurement fluid are provided at one end side of each of the divided chambers 20a, 20b.
As shown in FIG. 2, a discharge port 24 is provided at the other end of the division chamber 20. For this reason, a plurality of flow paths are formed on the cooling mirror surface 12, and as shown in FIG. 2, the measurement fluid supplied from the supply port 22 flows along the cooling mirror surface 12 and is discharged from the discharge port 24 into the atmosphere. Is done. At this time, as shown in FIG.
By providing the throttle 26 at 2, the flow rate of the measurement fluid flowing into the division chamber 20 can be adjusted, and the inside of the division chamber 20 can be brought into the atmospheric pressure state. By setting the inside of the divided chamber 20 (flow path) to the atmospheric pressure state, the thickness and the like of the hood 14 can be reduced, and the weight of the monitoring device can be reduced.

In this embodiment, a Peltier device 28 (FIG. 2) having a radiating fin group 30 provided on the rear end side is used as a cooling means for cooling the cooling mirror surface 12. By using such a Peltier element 28, the cooling temperature of the cooling mirror surface 12 can be easily controlled as shown in FIG. That is, the cooling means of the present embodiment cools the cooling mirror surface 12 by stacking the Peltier elements 28a and 28b in two stages. This is because the cooling attainment temperature is limited in a single-stage Peltier element. Such Peltier devices 28a, 28
The DC current is directly supplied from an external power supply to the first-stage Peltier element 28a of the line b. The second-stage Peltier element 28 b is provided by the cooling mirror surface 12 detected by the temperature detecting element 34 such as a thermocouple and displayed on the temperature display section 32.
Switching element 38 such as a transistor according to the temperature of
ON-OFF control. Therefore, food 1
The cooling mirror surface 12 which forms a part of each floor surface of the divided chambers 20 a and 20 b formed in the inside 4 can be controlled to the temperature displayed on the temperature display unit 32. In addition, not only 28b of the second stage,
It is also possible to control the first-stage Peltier element 28a together.

The monitoring apparatus 10 shown in FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 4, by supplying the supply fluid B to the dehumidifying device and the dehumidifying fluid A discharged from the dehumidifying device to each of the division chambers 20 dividing the cooling mirror surface 12, It can monitor that the dehumidifier is operating normally.
For example, when the temperature of the cooling mirror surface 12 is set to be higher than the expected dew point of the dehumidifying fluid A by about 1 to 2 ° C., the cooling mirror surface 1 forming a part of the floor surface of the divided chamber 20b through which the supply fluid B passes.
Although the part 2 is cloudy, the division chamber 2 through which the dehumidifying fluid A passes
The part of the cooling mirror surface 12 which forms a part of the floor surface of Oa is not clouded. For this reason, it turns out that a dehumidifier is operating normally. At this time, as shown in FIG. 4, dehumidifying fluid A and the supply fluid B is a needle valve 40a, 40b and flow meter F _1, F ₂ and by resolution being adjusted to a proper flow chamber 2
The fluid supplied to the first and second chambers 0a and 20b and passed through the division chambers 20a and 20b is released to the atmosphere. Division rooms 20a, 20b
If the flow rate entering the chamber is too large, the discharge fluid tends to be large and the dehumidifying fluid tends to be wasted. If the flow rate entering the division chambers 20a and 20b is too small, it is difficult to determine the degree of fogging on the cooling mirror surface 12. This is because there is a tendency. Here, the fogging generated on the cooling mirror surface 12 of the division chamber 20b through which the supply fluid B passes can be easily removed by switching the current supply direction to the Peltier elements 28a and 28b shown in FIG. Also, as shown in FIG. 5, by providing a three-way valve 42 and switching the fluid passing through the division chamber 20b from the supply fluid B to the dehumidifying fluid A, the fogging generated on the cooling mirror surface 12 can be easily removed.

In the monitoring device 10 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, a throttle 26 is provided in the supply port 22 so that the insides of the divided chambers 20a and 20b are at atmospheric pressure. For this reason, the temperature of the cooling mirror surface 12 is controlled to be higher by about 1 to 2 ° C. than the dew point temperature under the atmospheric pressure. By the way, since the dew point temperature under atmospheric pressure is generally lower than the dew point temperature under pressure, as shown in FIG. 3, to cool the cooling mirror surface 12 near the dew point temperature of the measurement fluid, In many cases, the Peltier device 28 is multi-staged. In this way, when the Peltier elements are multi-staged, the cooling area becomes smaller as the Peltier elements in the upper stage become smaller due to heat radiation and the like.
The area of the cooling mirror surface 12 is also small. For this reason, since the transparent plates 16 (FIG. 1) of the divided chambers 20a and 20b also have a small area, it is difficult to observe the state of the cooling mirror surface 12 through the transparent plates 16. In this case, the transparent plate 16 may be formed into a curved surface in order to give the transparent plate 16 a function as a lens. Also, as shown in FIG. 6, a throttle 44 may be provided at the discharge port 24 of the measurement fluid, the inside of the divided chamber 20 may be pressurized, and the area of the cooling mirror surface 12 may be enlarged. This is because the dew point temperature of the pressurized fluid is higher than the dew point temperature of the fluid under the atmospheric pressure, so that the cooling mirror surface 12 can be cooled by the one-stage Peltier element 28 to the vicinity of the dew point temperature of the fluid. still,
In this case, a pressure gauge for measuring the pressure in the divided chamber 20 is provided, and conversion into the dew point temperature under the atmospheric pressure is required.

In the monitoring device 10 used in the embodiments described above, the measurement fluid that has passed through the division chamber 20 is released to the atmosphere, but the fluid such as hydrogen discharges the measurement fluid to the atmosphere. That is a problem from a safety point of view. For this reason, as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the pressure fluid is supplied to the division chamber 20 of the pressure-resistant structure of the monitoring device 10 by the pipe 50 from the conduit 46 through which the dehumidifying fluid is conducted, It is necessary to return the pressurized fluid that has passed through the pipe 46 to the conduit 46 via the pipe 52 provided with a mounting port downstream of the mounting port of the pipe 52. In this case, the conduit 46
By simply providing each mounting port of the pipes 50 and 52 on the pipe wall of
Since the fluid in the conduit 46 does not easily flow toward the monitoring device 10,
As shown in FIG. 7A, an orifice 48 is provided near the middle of the mounting port of the pipes 50 and 52, and the pressure of the mounting port of the pipe 52 downstream of the mounting port of the pipe 50 is reduced. It is necessary to create a pressure difference between the mounting openings 50,52. In addition, as shown in FIG.
The pressure difference between the mounting ports of the pipes 50 and 52 can also be formed by pushing the port of the pipe 46 near the center of the pipe 46 and forming the port of the other pipe 52 on the pipe wall of the pipe 46.

In the embodiment described above, the supply fluid and the dehumidification fluid of the dehumidification device are divided into the divided chambers 2 of the monitoring device 10.
Although the dehumidifying fluids are supplied to the dehumidifiers 0a and 20b, the dehumidifying fluids of the plurality of dehumidifying devices may be supplied to the divided chambers 20a and 20b of the monitoring device 10 to simultaneously monitor the operating states of the plurality of dehumidifying devices. In addition, an illumination device may be provided near the hood 14 so that the illuminating light enters from a transparent portion of the hood 14 in order to facilitate observation of the cooling mirror surface 12 at a degree of cloudiness. Further, if the dehumidifying fluid only needs to be dehumidified below the predetermined dew point temperature, by setting the set temperature of the cooling mirror surface 12 to the dew point temperature of the dehumidifying fluid, when the dehumidifying fluid exceeds the predetermined dew point temperature, Fogging occurs on the cooling mirror surface 12. still,
In the present embodiment, a partition 18 is provided on the hood 14 and a plurality of divided chambers 20a and 20b are provided on the cooling mirror surface 12 to form a plurality of channels. However, one channel is provided on the cooling mirror surface 12 without providing the partition 18. Even if it is formed, it is needless to say that the dew point temperature of the dehumidifying fluid can be monitored.

[0016]

According to the present invention, the mechanism of the monitoring device is simple, there are few failures, and even if a failure occurs, it can be easily found. Moreover, the structure of the monitoring device can be simplified,
Manufacturing costs can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing an embodiment of a monitoring device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a longitudinal sectional view of the monitoring device shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a control method of the monitoring device illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram outlining an example of how to use the monitoring device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a method of removing the fogging generated on the cooling mirror surface 12 in the monitoring device shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view according to another embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a monitoring method for monitoring the dew point temperature of a pressure fluid using the monitoring device according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Monitoring apparatus 12 Cooling mirror surface 14 Hood 16 Transparent plate (transparent member) 18 Partition wall 20a, 20b Division room 22 Fluid supply port 24 Fluid discharge port 26, 44 Restriction 28a, 28b Peltier element (cooling means) 30 Radiation fin group

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-5-60706 (JP, A) JP-A-62-9854 (JP, A) JP-A-62-245147 (JP, A) JP-A 61-1986 198045 (JP, A) JP-A-2-26059 (JP, A) JP-A-5-43060 (JP, U) JP-A-58-89854 (JP, U) JP-A-5-501764 (JP, A) (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G01N 25/66 F04B 39/16 G01N 25/56

Claims (10)

(57) [Claims] 1. A dehumidifying fluid supplied from a fluid dehumidifying device.
Cooled by cooling means to a predetermined temperature near the dew point temperature
Using cooled mirror surface, a monitoring device for monitoring the operating condition of the fluid dehumidifier to control the cooling means, the plant constant temperature the temperature of the cooling mirror
Control means to maintain the temperature of the
Enables visual observation of the presence or absence of fogging on the cooling mirror surface due to condensation
As such, the cooling at least a portion covering the upper side of the mirror surface is formed by a transparent member hood is mounted, the and the hood, so dehumidifying fluid flows along the cooling mirror, a supply port for dehumidifying fluid An operation monitoring device for a fluid dehumidifier, comprising: a discharge port. 2. A cooling mirror surface, wherein at least a part of each wall surface of each of the divided chambers divided into a plurality of chambers by a partition provided inside a hood that covers above a single cooling mirror surface, is formed by the cooling mirror surface; each of the hood divided chamber, dehumidification fluid to flow along the cooling mirror, dehumidifying operation monitoring device of the supply port and the discharge port and the fluid dehumidifying device according to claim 1, wherein is provided a fluid. 3. The operation monitoring device for a fluid dehumidifier according to claim 1, wherein the cooling means for cooling the cooling mirror surface is a Peltier device. 4. The operation monitoring device for a fluid dehumidifier according to claim 1, wherein one surface of the hood covering the upper side of the cooling mirror surface is formed of a transparent plate. 5. The cooling device is cooled to a predetermined temperature by cooling means.
The dehumidifying fluid supplied from the fluid dehumidifier is placed on the cooling mirror surface.
When the operating condition of the fluid dehumidifier is monitored, the cooling mirror surface is placed near the expected dew point temperature of the dehumidifying fluid and
No fogging due to condensation of moisture contained in the dehumidifying fluid
After cooling to a predetermined temperature have, a cooling mirror on which is maintained at a predetermined temperature, flowing a dehumidifying fluid supplied from the flow body dehumidifier, to the naked eye observation of the presence or absence of pre Kihiya却鏡surface haze A method for monitoring the operation of a fluid dehumidifier. 6. A dehumidifying fluid supplied from a fluid dehumidifying device.
A mirror surface cooled by at least a part of the wall by a transparent member
A flow along the cooling mirror surface in the flow path formed above
Item 6. A method for monitoring operation of a fluid dehumidifier according to Item 5 . 7. A plurality of flow paths are formed on one cooling mirror surface, and a dehumidifying fluid flows along each cooling mirror surface in each of the flow paths.
Be請 Motomeko 6 operation monitoring method of the fluid dehumidifier according. 8. The method for monitoring the operation of a fluid dehumidifier according to claim 6, wherein the inside of the flow path formed on the cooling mirror surface is brought into an atmospheric pressure state. 9. The method for monitoring the operation of a fluid dehumidifier according to claim 6, wherein the inside of the flow path formed on the cooling mirror surface is pressurized. 10. A cooling means for cooling a cooling mirror surface,
9. The method according to claim 5, wherein a Peltier element is used.
The method for monitoring operation of a fluid dehumidifying apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims.