JP3392349B2 - Combustion control equipment data collection system, remote monitoring device and combustion control equipment - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a combustion control equipment data collection system for collecting data for maintenance from combustion control equipment of a combustion device such as a boiler.

Since a combustion system is required to have a high level of safety, a maintenance company generally having a high maintenance technology has a system in which a combustion system provided on the market is intensively maintained. In order to make this maintenance system practical, it is necessary to construct technology that enables efficient remote collection of data regarding combustion control of the combustion system.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art In a combustion control device, an accident caused by combustion may cause a great deal of damage. Therefore, when maintaining the combustion system and operating the combustion system, data such as operation history is managed. Is essential.

FIG. 10 shows an example of a conventional remote monitoring system for combustion control equipment. The remote monitoring device 10 is a device installed in, for example, a maintenance company, and collects and manages operation history data and the like of combustion control equipment. Combustion control device 20
Reference numerals -1, 20-2, ... Are devices for controlling the combustion equipment installed at the customer site.

Conventionally, when the remote monitoring device 10 remotely collects various data of the combustion control devices 20-1, 20-2, ..., The combustion control device 20- is connected via a general public telephone line network 30. Lines were individually connected to each of 1, 20-2, ..., After the connection was established, data was collected by data communication, and then the telephone line was disconnected. In particular, in the case of collecting data from a plurality of sites, first, for example, a line is connected to the combustion control device 20-1, data is collected from the combustion control device 20-1, and after the collection, the telephone line is disconnected. In addition, it is necessary to connect the combustion control device 20-2 to a line, collect data from the combustion control device 20-2, disconnect the telephone line after collection, and perform the processing for each combustion control device to be monitored. was there.

[0006]

According to the above-mentioned conventional techniques, there is a problem that the combustion control data of the combustion system cannot be collected efficiently.

Specifically, for example, the reliability of the telephone line is not sufficiently high, the telephone line may not be connected, or the telephone line may be congested and the telephone line may not be connected. There was a problem that it could not be collected.

Further, since it is necessary to connect each remote monitoring device to each combustion system by a telephone line, for example, when one remote monitoring device monitors 500 combustion systems, There has been a problem that it is necessary to connect the line 500 times for collecting data once, which requires a lot of time and cost for connecting the line.

Generally, a remote monitoring device often targets a plurality of combustion systems in a wide area, for example, a combustion system in the entire Kanto area, and each of the combustion systems is monitored individually. Since the telephone line has to be connected, a troublesome procedure must be executed, and the line connection cost increases.

This cost problem is exacerbated when either the combustion system or the remote monitoring device is deployed overseas. The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and is a combustion control device data collection that can efficiently collect combustion control data from a combustion control device in a shorter time and at lower cost efficiently than ever before. The purpose is to provide a system.

[0011]

FIG. 1 shows the principle configuration of the present invention. In the figure, 1 is a remote monitoring device that collects and manages operation history data of combustion control equipment, 2 is a combustion control equipment that controls combustion equipment such as a boiler, 3 is a network such as the Internet, and 4 is a function of sending and receiving e-mail. Represents a mail server that provides

The remote monitoring device 1 uses a data collection request means 11 for sending a data collection command to the combustion control device 2 using an electronic mail via the network 3, and an electronic mail addressed to itself from the combustion control device 2. It has an electronic mail monitoring means 12 for monitoring the presence / absence of data, and a collected data receiving means 13 for collecting the data notified by the electronic mail when there is an electronic mail addressed to the device itself from the combustion control device 2.

The electronic mail transmitting / receiving means 14 is means for transmitting / receiving electronic mail with the mail server 4 according to a predetermined protocol. The preliminary communication means 15 is a communication means for data collection using a public telephone network or the like used when data collection by e-mail fails. The management information storage device 16 includes the collected data receiving means 13
This is a device for storing the data collected by, for example, for creating a daily report or a monthly report.

The mail server 4 has a function of transferring electronic mail to a specified electronic mail address via the network 3, and an electronic mail received via the network 3 is a mailbox corresponding to the specified electronic mail address. 41, and has a function of transferring the electronic mail in the mailbox 41 in response to an electronic mail read request from a terminal having the electronic mail address.

The combustion control device 2 has an electronic mail monitoring means 21 for periodically monitoring the presence or absence of an electronic mail addressed to itself from the remote monitoring device 1 and an electronic mail addressed to the own device from the remote monitoring device 1. In this case, an electronic mail creating means 22 for creating an electronic mail containing the combustion control data such as the combustion history data 26 designated by the electronic mail, and the created electronic mail in the remote monitoring device 1 or the received electronic mail. And the collected data transmitting means 23 for transmitting to the destination instructed in.

The electronic mail transmitting / receiving means 24 is means for transmitting / receiving electronic mail with the mail server 4 according to a predetermined protocol. The standby communication unit 25 is a communication unit for transmitting the collected data by using the public telephone line network or the like in response to a request from the remote monitoring device 1.

By collecting data using electronic mail, the remote monitoring device 1 uses a broadcast mail specifying a plurality of electronic mail destinations even when collecting data from many combustion control devices 2. As a result, it is possible to request the all combustion control device 2 to collect data with one line connection. Further, even when the collected data is received, the reply mails accumulated in the mailbox 41 of the mail server 4 can be read out in a lump, so that a single line connection to the mail server 4 allows a large number of combustion control devices. Data from 2 can be received.

Further, the combustion control device 2 is the remote monitoring device 1
Even when transmitting the data collected by the request to the management device other than the remote monitoring device 1, the same interface as that of the remote monitoring device 1 can be used by simply specifying the destination of the instructed email by using the email. Can be easily sent.

In particular, the collected data receiving means 13 in the remote monitoring apparatus 1 is provided with means for resending an electronic mail when the electronic mail fails to be sent or when there is no reply mail from the combustion control device 2 for the sent electronic mail. As a result, it is possible to ensure receipt of the reply mail. The means to resend this email is first
Use a mail server different from the one used
If you resend the child mail (data collection command),
Reliable e-mail (data collection command) Combustion control device 2
Will be able to send to. I have set the terms for resending this email
When used, the combustion control device 2 should be used during normal operation.
If you cannot connect to the available mail server,
Connect to a backup mail server prepared for resending messages
An email (data collection order) is sent by doing
Check if you have come, email (data collection
Command) will be processed. Similarly,
The collected data transmitting means 23 in the combustion control device 2 is
When sending a child mail (reply mail) fails, send an e-mail
By providing a means for resending, reply mail (collection data
Data) can be reliably transmitted. This phone
The method to resend the child mail is the mail server used first
E-mail (collection data
If you choose to resend the
Data can be reliably transmitted to the remote monitoring device 1.
When using this email resend policy
Device 1 connects to the mail server used during normal operation.
Be prepared to resend email if unable to continue
By connecting to a spare mail server, you can
Check whether or not (collected data) has been returned,
Can be processed to receive email (collected data)
Becomes

Further, when data cannot be collected using electronic mail, the data is collected by communicating with the combustion control device 2 for which the data could not be collected by using a one-to-one connection. The remote communication device 1 is provided with a preliminary communication means 15 for executing the
By providing the preliminary communication means 25 for performing data communication with each combustion control device 2, the data collection can be made more reliable, and the data collection in real time becomes possible.

[0021]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an outline of the embodiment of the present invention.

The remote monitoring device 1 may be a host computer installed in a maintenance company for the combustion control device 2 or a portable terminal that a maintenance person can carry around. The management terminal 6 is a terminal managed by the manager (owner) of the combustion control device 2, and has a function of displaying the state of the combustion control device 2 and a function of receiving / displaying daily reports, monthly reports, etc. from the remote monitoring device 1. Further, in the present embodiment, the Internet 31 is used as the network 3 shown in FIG.

From the remote monitoring device 1, a data request mail 51 describing a data collection command and a destination of the collected data is transmitted to each combustion control device 2. The combustion control device 2 monitors the presence or absence of e-mail, and when receiving the data request mail 51, analyzes the content thereof, collects data in accordance with the described instruction, documents the data, and collects the data mail 52. Is created and returned to the remote monitoring device 1.

Further, if there is an instruction of another destination as the transmission destination of the collected data, not only the remote monitoring device 1,
Collected data mail 52 to the destination (for example, management terminal 6)
To send.

FIG. 3 shows a configuration example of the remote monitoring device and the combustion control device. Remote monitoring device 1 and mail server 4-1
Communicates with the TCP / IP protocol. In addition, T is also between the combustion control device 2 and the mail server 4-2.
Communication is performed by the CP / IP protocol, and these are connected via the Internet 31.

A monitoring control unit 101 in the remote monitoring device 1
Is a part that controls the entire remote monitoring device 1. The collected data management task 102 issues a data collection request,
It is a task of accumulating and managing data collected from the combustion control device 2. The mail transmission task 103 is a task of transmitting the data request mail 51 addressed to the combustion control device 2 to the mail server 41-1 via the SMTP client 105. The SMTP client 105 is TC
It is a processing means for transferring a mail according to SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) which is one of P / IP application protocols.

Further, the mail receiving task 104 uses the POP
This is a task of monitoring the mail server 4-1 via the client 106 whether there is a mail addressed to itself, reading the mail, if any, and notifying the collected data management task 102. The POP client 106 is a processing unit that reads out a mail from the mail server 4-1 according to POP (Post Office Protocol) which is a protocol for receiving an electronic mail that has arrived at the mail server 4-1.

The data collection request means 11 shown in FIG. 1 is realized by the collected data management task 102 and the mail transmission task 103, the electronic mail monitoring means 12 is realized by the mail reception task 104, and the collected data reception means 13 is realized. It is realized by the mail reception task 104 and the collected data management task 102.

Combustion device control section 2 in combustion control device 2
Reference numeral 01 is a part that controls the entire combustion control device 2, and controls the combustion device (not shown) and monitors the combustion control status by inputs from various sensors. The data collection task 202 is a task for collecting the instructed data in response to a data collection request from the remote monitoring device 1, creating a collected data mail 52, and returning it to the remote monitoring device 1. The mail reception task 204 is a task that monitors whether or not there is a mail addressed to itself by the mail server 4-2 via the POP client 206, reads the mail if there is, and notifies the data collection task 202 of it.
The mail transmission task 203 is the SMTP client 20.
This is a task of returning the collected data mail 52 addressed to the remote monitoring device 1 to the mail server 41-2 via 5.

SMTP client 205 and POP
The clients 206 are SMs of the remote monitoring device 1, respectively.
TP client 105 and POP client 10
Although it has the same function as that of No. 6, the technology itself for sending and receiving mail using these is well known, and therefore a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 4 shows an example of the connection form from the remote monitoring device to the combustion control equipment. FIG. 4A is an example of using the mail servers 4-1 and 4-2 of the provider that provides the connection service to the Internet 31, and is between the remote monitoring device 1 and the mail server 4-1 of the provider. Further, this is an example in which the combustion control device 2 and the mail server 4-2 of the provider are connected by PPP (Point-to-Point Protocol) by dial-up connection by a general telephone line.

FIG. 4B shows an LA such as an intranet.
This is an example of a connection configuration in which the remote monitoring device 1 and the combustion control device 2 can send and receive electronic mail via the mail servers 4-1 and 4-2 connected to the N / dedicated lines 71 and 72, respectively. . Besides, a composite type of the connection form as shown in FIG. 4A and the connection form as shown in FIG. 4B can be considered.

FIG. 5 shows the backup communication means 15, 2 shown in FIG.
5 shows an example of implementation. Communication by e-mail using the Internet is relatively resistant to a failure because an alternative route is automatically selected for a communication failure in the middle, especially when the e-mail is transferred to a remote place. However, when a failure occurs in the mail server, there may be a case where communication by e-mail cannot be performed. Therefore, a communication means that does not use e-mail is also prepared.

FIG. 5A shows an example in which data is directly collected by connecting to a modem on the other side via a telephone line, which is used in a field / monitoring environment where a telephone line and a modem are installed. When the transmission / reception of the electronic mail fails, the line connection processing is performed by the AT command, and the data is transmitted / received by the original control communication protocol.

FIG. 5B shows Ethernet (TCP / I
P) is an example of communication via the remote monitoring device 1 via the Ethernet (TCP / IP) to the combustion control device 2 on the other side.
Connect to and collect data. For example, when the remote monitoring device 1 and the combustion control device 2 are connected via an intranet or the like, the Ethernet cable is used as it is,
Both are directly connected by another protocol, and data is transmitted and received by data communication using the original communication protocol for control.

Data communication by the one-to-one connection between the remote monitoring device 1 and the combustion control device 2 as shown in FIG. 5 is conventionally performed when the remote monitoring device 1 collects data from the combustion control device 2. However, in the present invention, the existing technique can be used as it is as a backup communication means.

FIG. 6 shows an example of the operation sequence. Figure 6
(A) shows a basic operation of data collection in normal time. When there is a data collection request to the combustion control device 2, the remote monitoring device 1 creates a data request mail specifying the request data, date, and destination, and sends it to the combustion control device 2. It is also possible to transmit to a plurality of combustion control devices 2 at once.

Upon receiving the data request mail, the combustion control device 2 analyzes the mail, collects the requested data such as the combustion history and the alarm history, creates a reply mail, and sends the reply mail to the remote monitoring device. Send to 1. The remote monitoring device 1 receives the reply mail and completes the data collection.

FIG. 6B shows an operation example in the case where the reply mail cannot be reliably received for some reason. When there is a data collection request to the combustion control device 2, the remote monitoring device 1 creates and sends a data request mail to the combustion control device 2.

Suppose that the transmission fails somewhere on the network and the transmission failure notification is returned from the mail server. At this time, the remote monitoring device 1 transmits the data request mail again. If you can use multiple mail servers, when re-sending the data request mail,
It is desirable to select a mail server different from the first mail server and send the data request mail. in this way,
When re-sending the data request mail, it is different from the first mail server.
Send a data request mail to the mail server.
Then, the data request mail is surely sent to the combustion control device 2.
become able to. Resend rules for this data request email
When used, the combustion control device 2 should be
If you cannot connect to the
By connecting to another mail server prepared for resending
Check if the data request email has been sent
And process it to receive data request emails
become.

Also in the case of sending a reply mail from the combustion control device 2, if the sending fails, it is resent. That is,
If you can use multiple mail servers,
The monitoring device 1 uses a mail server different from the first mail server.
Combustion control to select and resend data request mail
Device 2 can also use multiple mail servers
In the case of resending the reply mail, the first mail server
Select a different mail server and send a reply mail
It is processed like this. Like this, resend the reply mail
Sometimes, the reply message is sent to a mail server different from the first mail server.
Sending a report will ensure that reply emails are sent remotely.
It becomes possible to transmit to the monitoring device 1. Of this reply email
When using the resend protocol, the remote monitoring device 1 operates normally.
If you cannot connect to the mail server for
Connection to another mail server prepared for resending
Check to see if a reply mail has been sent with
Then, it is processed so as to receive the reply mail.
If it is determined that the reception confirmation notification mail is to be transmitted and received with respect to the data request mail or the reply mail, the retry is similarly performed when the reception confirmation notification mail transmission fails.

FIG. 6C shows an operation example when the completion of transmission cannot be confirmed. When there is a data collection request to the combustion control device 2, the remote monitoring device 1 creates and sends a data request mail to the combustion control device 2.

It is assumed that the transmission fails somewhere on the network and the transmission failure notification is returned from the mail server. At this time, the remote monitoring device 1 transmits the data request mail again.

In response to this data request mail, if there is no mail transmission error notification or response from the combustion control device 2 as a reply mail, and if a predetermined time-out setting time has elapsed, a time-out error is generated.

When the time-out occurs, the data collection request is sent to the combustion control device 2 and the data is directly received from the combustion control device 2 by using the backup communication means such as the telephone line described in FIG.

In FIG. 7, the remote monitoring device 1 has a combustion control device 2
It is a flowchart at the time of collecting data from. In step S1, it is checked whether or not there is a data collection request, and if there is a request, the process proceeds to step S2. The data request is automatically issued at a preset date and time. The operator can also give an instruction by manual input.

In step S2, a request data list to be the target of data collection is attached and a transmission document is created. At this time, it is also possible to instruct a device other than the own device (for example, the management device 6 shown in FIG. 2) to send the collected data. In step S3, the electronic mail of the transmission document created in step S2 is automatically transmitted to the combustion control device 2.

In step S4, it is monitored for a predetermined time whether there is a reply mail from the combustion control device 2 in response to the data collection request. If there is a reply mail, step S4 is performed.
If there is no reply mail even after a certain period of time has passed, or if there is an error notification of e-mail transmission, the process proceeds to step S7.

In step S5, data is extracted from the content of the electronic mail received as the reply mail. next,
In step S6, the data taken out is used as the combustion control device 2
It is stored as management information of. Then, the process returns to step S1 and the same process is repeated.

If there is no reply mail within a fixed time after sending the electronic mail, or if there is a transmission error notification, the number of times of retry such as twice or three is determined in step S7. Check if you have tried to resend the. If not retransmitted for a predetermined number of retries, the electronic mail of the transmission document created in step S2 is retransmitted in step S8, and the reply mail is waited for in step S4.

If the reply mail is not received even after the retry count is retransmitted, the fact that there is no reply is recorded as log information in step S9, and then the telephone line or the like is used in step S10. The combustion control device 2 is directly connected to the combustion control device 2 one by one, and data is collected by the same collection method as the conventional one. Then, in step S6, the collected data is accumulated as management information.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart of data collection in the combustion control device 2. In step S21, it is checked whether or not there is a data request mail. If there is a data request mail, the process proceeds to step S22. If not,
It proceeds to step S25.

In step S22, the data requested by the data request mail is collected, and in step S23, a reply document containing the collected data is automatically generated. In step S24, the reply document is automatically sent to the remote monitoring device 1 as a reply mail. If another destination is specified in the data request mail, the mail is automatically sent to that destination as well.

In step S25, it is checked whether or not there is a data request by the telephone line of one-to-one connection. If there is a data request by the telephone line, the requested data is collected in step S26, and in step S27, Data is transmitted via a telephone line according to a predetermined protocol. When the transmission is completed, the telephone line is disconnected in step S28 and the process returns to step S21.

FIG. 9 shows an example of collected data in the combustion control device 2. FIG. 9 (A) shows an example of combustion history data, which shows high combustion time, low combustion time, and OFF on June 1st.
Information such as burning time and operating time is collected. Based on these pieces of information, the remote monitoring device 1 creates a daily report or a monthly report. Further, FIG. 9B shows an example of alarm trend information. For example, data such as that shown in FIG. 9 (B) for each second from the alarm occurrence time 19 seconds before the alarm occurrence time to the alarm occurrence time is collected for the purpose of investigating the cause of the alarm occurrence and countermeasures, and It is sent to the monitoring device 1 by e-mail.

[0056]

As described above, according to the present invention,
By collecting daily report information and monthly report information such as operation history and alarm history of combustion control equipment by exchanging e-mail,
By eliminating the need to maintain large-scale infrastructure equipment such as a dedicated line and installing a mail sending / receiving function such as the Internet, it becomes possible to easily collect the data of the combustion system. Further, even in the event of a disaster or the like, the redundancy of the transmission route can be used, so that the data collection capability is improved.

Further, when requesting data collection for a large number of combustion control devices installed at each site, it is only necessary to send one e-mail by broadcast mail specifying a plurality of destinations of the combustion control devices. Also, when requesting data transmission other than the remote monitoring device, it is only necessary to send an e-mail describing the destination. The data collected is
Since all are stored in the mailbox, a large number of electronic mails can be collectively read out when necessary, for example, by one line connection to the mail server.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a principle configuration of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an outline of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a remote monitoring device and a combustion control device.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a connection form from a remote monitoring device to a combustion control device.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of implementation of backup communication means.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of an operation sequence according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of data collection by the remote monitoring device.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of data collection in the combustion control device.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of collected data.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a conventional remote monitoring system for combustion control equipment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Remote monitoring device 11 Data collection request means 12 E-mail monitoring means 13 Collected data receiving means 14 E-mail sending and receiving means 15 Preliminary communication means 16 Management information storage device 2 Combustion control equipment 21 E-mail monitoring means 22 E-mail creation method 23 Collected data transmission means 24 E-mail sending and receiving means 25 Preliminary communication means 26 Combustion history data 3 network 4 Mail server 41 mailbox

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Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. A combustion control device data collection system having a combustion control device for controlling a combustion device and a remote monitoring device for monitoring the combustion control device, wherein the remote monitoring device uses electronic mail via a network. And a data collection requesting means for sending a data collection command to the combustion control device, and when the e-mail transmission fails or the transmitted e-mail message.
Email from the combustion control device
, The mail server you used
E-mail that resends the e-mail via the email server.
Re-sending means, mail server used for normal operation and backup
By connecting to the mail server used, and e-mail monitoring means for monitoring the presence or absence of E-mail addressed to the own apparatus from the previous SL combustion control apparatus, when from the combustion control device had e-mail addressed to its own apparatus , A collection data receiving unit that collects the data notified by the e-mail, and the combustion control device is a mail server used for normal operation and a backup.
By connecting to the mail server used, before SL and e-mail monitoring means for monitoring the presence or absence of E-mail addressed to the own apparatus from the remote monitoring device, when from the remote monitoring device there is an e-mail addressed to its own apparatus An e-mail creating means for creating an e-mail containing data on combustion control specified by the e-mail, and a collection for sending the created e-mail to the destination specified in the remote monitoring device or the received e-mail Used first when the data transmission means and the email created above failed to be transmitted.
The above-mentioned work is done via a mail server different from the mail server.
A combustion control device data collection system, comprising: an electronic mail retransmitting means for retransmitting the generated electronic mail . 2. A remote monitoring device in a combustion control device data collection system having a combustion control device for controlling a combustion device and a remote monitoring device for monitoring the combustion control device, which uses electronic mail via a network. And a data collection requesting means for sending a data collection command to the combustion control device, and when the e-mail transmission fails or the transmitted e-mail message.
Email from the combustion control device
, The mail server you used
E-mail that resends the e-mail via the email server.
Re-sending means, mail server used for normal operation and backup
By connecting to the mail server used, and e-mail monitoring means for monitoring the presence or absence of E-mail addressed to the own apparatus from the previous SL combustion control apparatus, when from the combustion control device had e-mail addressed to its own apparatus And a collected data receiving unit that collects the data notified by the electronic mail. 3. The remote monitoring device according to claim 2 , wherein when the data collection using the e-mail cannot be performed, a one-to-one connection is made with the combustion control device for which the data collection could not be performed. A remote monitoring device comprising means for performing data communication by means of performing the data collection. 4. A mail control device in a combustion control device data collection system having a combustion control device for controlling the combustion device and a remote monitoring device for monitoring the combustion control device, the mail server being used during normal operation. And for spare
By connecting to the mail server used, before SL and e-mail monitoring means for monitoring the presence or absence of E-mail addressed to the own apparatus from the remote monitoring device, when from the remote monitoring device there is an e-mail addressed to its own apparatus An e-mail creating means for creating an e-mail containing data on combustion control specified by the e-mail, and a collection for sending the created e-mail to the destination specified in the remote monitoring device or the received e-mail Used first when the data transmission means and the email created above failed to be transmitted.
The mail server via a mail server that different, the work
A combustion control device comprising: an electronic mail retransmitting means for retransmitting the generated electronic mail . 5. The combustion control device according to claim 4 , wherein when there is a data collection request from the remote monitoring device by a connection means of one-to-one connection, the requested combustion is performed by communication using the connection means. A combustion control device comprising a data transmission unit for transmitting data regarding control.