JP7743264B2 - Electrical equipment, electrical equipment systems and programs - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to electrical equipment, electrical equipment systems, and programs, and in particular to the connection relationships between multiple pieces of electrical equipment and multiple circuit breakers.

When installing multiple air conditioning units in a building or other facility, for example, multiple outdoor units are installed side by side on the roof. The facility's distribution board is equipped with multiple circuit breakers (also called "breakers"), and each air conditioning unit is connected to one of these circuit breakers. The wiring electrically connecting each air conditioning unit to each circuit breaker is either bundled together in a wiring rack or buried. Therefore, when installing new air conditioning units, the wiring is tagged with the system name, for example, so that the connection relationship between the air conditioning unit and the circuit breaker can be determined.

However, when replacing air conditioning equipment, the system name may change or become anonymous, which can make it difficult to determine the connection relationship between the air conditioning equipment and the circuit breaker.

In light of this, a conventional technology has been proposed in which a current measuring device is provided in association with each of multiple branch breakers, and the current measuring device transmits operating information to a power control device, including the current value obtained by turning the power of the electrical equipment from off to on and the equipment ID, and the power control device then references the operating information to identify the connection relationship between the electrical equipment and the branch breaker (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

In addition, technology has been proposed for identifying the power cord to which a load device is connected by repeatedly turning the load device's power on and off at a predetermined cycle to change the current value, or by creating a characteristic change in the power consumption generated by the load device (for example, Patent Document 2).

International Publication No. 2014/155561 Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2018-190225 Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2017-090113 Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 09-329636 Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-107121 Patent Publication

However, in Patent Document 1, the user had to go through the trouble of switching the power of the electrical equipment from off to on. Furthermore, in Patent Document 2, a separate load device had to be prepared.

The purpose of this invention is to make it easier than ever to identify the connection relationship between electrical equipment and circuit breakers.

The electrical equipment of the present invention is characterized by having at least one device that operates when supplied with current, storage means for storing a program created to cause characteristics to appear in the time-series changes in the current value used by the device, and control means for controlling the operation of the device by executing the program in accordance with instructions from a user.

Furthermore, the program is characterized by being a program that controls the operation of multiple devices.

The present invention is also characterized in that the device is at least one of a compressor and a blower mounted in an outdoor unit that constitutes the air conditioning equipment.

The electrical equipment system of the present invention comprises a plurality of circuit breakers, a plurality of electrical equipment each electrically connected to one of the circuit breakers, and a current measuring device connected to one of the plurality of circuit breakers and measuring the current value of the current output from the circuit breaker, wherein the electrical equipment comprises a memory means for storing a program created to cause characteristics to appear in the time-series changes in the current value of the current used by the electrical equipment, and a control means for controlling the operation of the electrical equipment by executing the program in accordance with instructions from a user, and is characterized in that the connection relationship between the circuit breakers and the electrical equipment is identified by comparing the time-series changes in the current value measured by the current measuring device with the time-series changes in the current value that appear when the electrical equipment is made to execute the program stored in the electrical equipment.
The programs stored in the plurality of electrical equipments are each created so that different characteristics appear in the time-series changes in current value.

The program of the present invention causes a computer installed in electrical equipment that has at least one device that operates by consuming power to function as a storage means for storing a program created to cause characteristics to appear in the time-series changes in the current value used by the device, and a control means for controlling the operation of the device by executing the program in accordance with instructions from a user.

The present invention makes it easier than ever to identify the connection relationship between electrical equipment and circuit breakers.

1 is a conceptual diagram showing an embodiment of an electrical equipment system according to the present invention. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an air conditioning device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 10 is a flowchart showing a method for identifying a connection relationship in the present embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a waveform of a current value of a current used by a compressor in the present embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of waveforms of current values used by a compressor and a blower in the present embodiment. 10A and 10B are diagrams showing other examples of waveforms of current values used by the compressor and the blower in the present embodiment. 10A and 10B are diagrams showing other examples of waveforms of current values used by the compressor and the blower in the present embodiment. 10A and 10B are diagrams showing other examples of waveforms of current values used by the compressor and the blower in the present embodiment.

The following describes a preferred embodiment of the present invention based on the drawings.

Figure 1 is a conceptual diagram showing one embodiment of an electrical equipment system according to the present invention. Figure 1 shows air conditioning equipment 1 as an example of electrical equipment installed in a facility such as a building, and a circuit breaker 3 installed in a distribution panel 2 of the facility. Note that while Figure 1 shows four air conditioning equipment 1, it is sufficient to install at least one. The same applies to circuit breakers 3. However, multiple circuit breakers 3 must be installed. In this embodiment, for ease of explanation, it is assumed that one air conditioning equipment 1 is connected to one circuit breaker 3.

Each air conditioning unit 1 is connected to one of the circuit breakers 3 via a power line 4 and operates when current is supplied via the connected circuit breaker 3. Each air conditioning unit 1 is not necessarily installed near the distribution board 2. If it is installed away from the distribution board 2, the power lines 4 are bundled together in a wiring rack 5 or buried for safety reasons.

Also shown in Figure 1 is an ammeter 6. The ammeter 6 is an example of a current measuring device, and is connected to one of the multiple circuit breakers 3 to measure the current value of the current output from the connected circuit breaker 3.

Figure 2 is a block diagram of the air conditioning equipment 1 in this embodiment. As mentioned above, the air conditioning equipment 1 is connected to one circuit breaker 3 via a power line 4. All the air conditioning equipment 1 need only have the same configuration, so Figure 2 shows one air conditioning equipment 1 as a representative example.

Air conditioning equipment 1 is also commonly referred to as an "air conditioner." Air conditioning equipment 1 is composed of an outdoor unit 10 installed outdoors, an indoor unit 20 installed indoors, and a remote control 30 that a user uses to operate the indoor unit 20. At least one indoor unit 20 is connected to the outdoor unit 10, and the indoor unit 20 is operated by at least one remote control 30. The remote control 30 is connected to the indoor unit 20 via a wired or wireless connection.

The outdoor unit 10 has a power supply unit 11, inverters 12 and 13, a compressor 14, a blower 15, a memory device 16, a control device 17, and a communication device 18. In addition, in Figure 2, the power supply lines for supplying current from the circuit breaker 3 to operate the outdoor unit 10 are shown in bold lines, separate from the control lines used to send and receive signals between the various components.

The power supply unit 11 is a device that receives the current supplied from the circuit breaker 3. The inverters 12 and 13 convert DC current to AC current and supply it to the compressor 14 and blower 15, respectively. In this embodiment, the compressor 14 and blower 15 are shown as examples of devices that operate when supplied with current. The memory device 16 is a storage means that stores a program created to reveal characteristics in the time-series changes in the current values used by the compressor 14 and blower 15. The control device 17 controls the operation of the outdoor unit 10. In particular, in this embodiment, the control device 17 controls the operation of the compressor 14 and blower 15 by executing the program stored in the memory device 16 in accordance with instructions from the user. The communication device 18 exchanges information with the indoor unit 20.

The indoor unit 20 has a control device 21 that controls the operation of the indoor unit 20 in response to instructions from the remote control 30 and control from the outdoor unit 10, and a communication device 22 that exchanges information between the outdoor unit 10 and the remote control 30.

The remote control 30 has an operation unit 31 operated by the user, a display unit 32 that displays the operation content and current setting status, etc., a control device 33 that issues instructions for operating the indoor unit 20 and controls the display on the display unit 32 in response to user operations on the operation unit 31, and a communication device 34 that exchanges information with the indoor unit 20.

The above describes the device configuration of the air conditioning equipment 1 in this embodiment, but the configuration of the air conditioning equipment 1 in this embodiment may be the same as that of conventional air conditioning equipment 1. This embodiment is characterized in that the control device 17 controls the operation of the compressor 14 and the blower 15 by executing a program stored in the storage device 16, so that characteristics appear in the time-series changes in the current values used by the compressor 14 and the blower 15.

As mentioned above, each air conditioning unit 1 is electrically connected to one of the circuit breakers 3 and operates using the current supplied through the circuit breaker 3. The power lines 4 connecting each air conditioning unit 1 to each circuit breaker 3 are grouped together in a wiring rack 5, so it is not possible to trace the power lines 4 to determine the connection relationship between each air conditioning unit 1 and each circuit breaker 3. For this reason, when installing a new unit, tags are attached to the power lines 4 to make the connection relationship clear. However, when replacing air conditioning units 1, the system name may change, or tags may be forgotten, making it possible to lose track of the connection relationship between the air conditioning units 1 and circuit breakers 3.

Therefore, in this embodiment, even if the connection relationship becomes unknown, it is possible to identify the connection relationship between the air conditioning equipment 1 and the circuit breaker 3 in a simple manner. Below, the method for identifying the connection relationship in this embodiment is explained using the flowchart shown in Figure 3.

First, a worker carries an ammeter 6 to a facility, such as a building, where the air conditioning equipment 1 is installed to perform maintenance and inspection of the air conditioning equipment 1. Upon arriving at the installation location of the outdoor unit 10 connected to the circuit breaker 3, the worker selects the air conditioning equipment 1 to be maintained (step 101). The worker then performs a predetermined operation on the outdoor unit 10 of the selected air conditioning equipment 1 to switch it from normal mode, which is the normal operating mode, to search mode. Search mode is set, for example, by switching the search mode switch provided on the outdoor unit 10 (step 102). Alternatively, it may be set by operating the remote control 30. When the air conditioning equipment 1 enters search mode, it stops, and a program stored in the storage device 16 is activated. The control device 17 in the outdoor unit 10 then begins executing the activated program and controls the devices installed in the outdoor unit 10—in this embodiment, at least one of the compressor 14 and the blower 15—to perform the operations described below. To this end, the control device 17 is implemented as a computer equipped with a processor, ROM, and RAM.

For other air conditioning devices 1, no special operations are required and normal operation can be continued.

Figure 4 is a diagram showing the waveform of the current value used by the compressor 14 when it is operated according to a program. In Figure 4, the blower 15 is not subject to operational control and is in a stopped state. In Figure 4, the horizontal axis represents time and the vertical axis represents the current value. Since the waveform of the current value is determined by the time-series change in the current value, in this embodiment, the time-series change in the current value and the current value waveform are used synonymously.

According to the current waveform shown in Figure 4, the compressor 14 periodically alternates between an operating state and a stopped state. The time-series change in the current value of the compressor 14 shown in Figure 4 is a characteristic time-series change in the current value that does not appear during normal operation, but appears when the program is executed in search mode. In other words, the program is created to produce a characteristic time-series change, i.e., a characteristic current waveform, that does not appear during normal operation of the compressor 14. In this way, by setting the search mode, the operator operates the compressor 14 to use the current value shown in Figure 4. The program is pre-stored in the storage device 16, and the operator knows in advance the current waveform of the current used by the compressor 14 when the program is executed.

Next, the worker connects the ammeter 6 he or she is carrying to the power line 4 connected to the circuit breaker 3 for which the current value has not yet been measured (step 103). The worker then checks the waveform of the current value measured by the ammeter 6 (step 104). The ammeter 6 displays the waveform of the current value being measured, i.e., the waveform shape shown in Figure 4, on a monitor provided with the ammeter 6. Alternatively, the waveform shape may be indicated by a built-in LED that flashes depending on the magnitude of the current value.

The worker determines the connection relationship between the circuit breaker 3 and the air conditioning equipment 1 by comparing the time-series changes in the current value indicated by the ammeter 6, i.e., the waveform indicated by the current value, with the waveform of the current value used by the compressor 14 when the control device 17 executes a program.

If it is determined that the waveforms are the same (Y in step 105), the worker determines that the air conditioning equipment 1 being inspected for maintenance is connected to the circuit breaker 3 whose current value was measured by the ammeter 6, and identifies the connection relationship between the circuit breaker 3 and the air conditioning equipment 1 (step 106).

On the other hand, if it is determined that the waveforms are not the same (N in step 105), the worker connects the ammeter 6 to the power line 4 connected to another circuit breaker 3 for which the current value has not yet been measured (step 103), and repeats the process described above. The worker then identifies the connection relationship between the circuit breaker 3 and the air conditioning equipment 1 by finding the circuit breaker 3 that produces the same current waveform as the waveform that appears when the control device 17 executes the program (Y in steps 105, 106).

According to this embodiment, the worker identifies the connection relationship between the circuit breaker 3 and the air conditioning equipment 1 in the manner described above. If the worker also wants to identify the connection relationship between another air conditioning equipment 1 and the circuit breaker 3, he or she simply sets the air conditioning equipment 1 to be identified in search mode in the same manner as described above and checks the current waveform using the ammeter 6. In this embodiment, a program is pre-installed in the air conditioning equipment 1, and the program is executed by the control device 17, causing the equipment installed in the air conditioning equipment 1 to use a current with a characteristic current waveform, eliminating the need to prepare a separate device that generates a characteristic current waveform.

In order to make it easier to confirm the characteristic current waveform from the measurements taken by the ammeter 6, it is preferable to stop the air conditioning equipment 1. However, if the current waveform can be confirmed, it is not necessary to stop the air conditioning equipment 1. However, to do this, it is necessary to create a program so that devices that use current in search mode will behave in a way that is not possible during normal operation.

Here, we will explain other examples of the waveform of the current value used by the device installed in the air conditioning equipment 1 when it operates according to a program.

Figures 5 to 8 show example waveforms of the current used by the compressor 14 and the blower 15 when they are operated according to a program. While Figure 4 shows only the compressor 14 in operation, Figures 5 to 8 show a case in which the compressor 14 and the blower 15 are operated as multiple devices by executing a program. As shown in Figure 4, only a single device, i.e., the compressor 14, may be operated. However, as shown in Figures 5 to 8, multiple devices, in this embodiment, two devices, the compressor 14 and the blower 15, may also be operated. Operating multiple devices makes it possible to identify the connection relationship between the air conditioning equipment 1 and the circuit breaker 3 even if one device is not operating due to a malfunction or other reason. Note that while Figure 4 shows only the compressor 14 in operation, other devices, such as the blower 15, may also be operated.

Figure 5 shows an example in which the compressor 14 and the blower 15 are operated at the same timing for the same amount of time. In other words, the compressor 14 and the blower 15 operate repeatedly at the same cycle. Note that, as shown in Figure 5, the magnitude of the current used does not necessarily have to be the same.

Figure 6 shows an example in which the compressor 14 and the blower 15 start operating at the same timing as in Figure 5, but the operating times are different.

Figures 5 and 6 show an example in which the compressor 14 and blower 15 operate at overlapping times, while Figures 7 and 8 show an example in which the compressor 14 and blower 15 start operating at different times.

Furthermore, while Figure 7 shows the compressor 14 operating first and continuously, Figure 8 shows an example in which the blower 15 operates first and the blower 15 and compressor 14 are not operated continuously.

Since the time from when the air conditioning equipment 1 is set to search mode and the air conditioning equipment 1 starts operating until the worker begins measuring the current value output from the circuit breaker 3 using the ammeter 6 is unspecified, it is preferable to create a program so that the current value used by the air conditioning equipment 1 displays a characteristic waveform that appears periodically and repeatedly, as exemplified in Figures 4 to 8.

Note that the ammeter waveforms shown in Figures 4 to 8 are merely examples and are not limited to these. As long as the waveform can be recognized by an operator as the current value used by the air conditioning equipment 1 in search mode, the time interval for operating the equipment, the magnitude of the current value used, etc., do not need to be limited to these examples. For example, if the compressor 14 frequently alternates between operating and stopped states, the likelihood of a malfunction increases compared to when this cycle does not occur. In the above explanation, the compressor 14 is controlled to periodically alternate between operating and stopped states, but it does not necessarily need to be stopped. In other words, it is preferable to program the minimum current value supplied to the equipment to be an appropriate value, taking into account the specific equipment whose operation is to be controlled. The same applies to the maximum current value supplied to the equipment.

In the above explanation, we have described the case where the connection relationship between the circuit breaker 3 and the air conditioning equipment 1 is checked one by one. However, multiple connection relationships can also be checked simultaneously in parallel. For example, if the connection relationship of two air conditioning equipment 1 is to be checked in parallel, the two air conditioning equipment 1 are set to search mode and the devices of each air conditioning equipment 1 are operated by a program. However, in this case, if currents with the same current waveform are used, no difference will appear, so it is necessary to use waveforms with different current values for the air conditioning equipment 1 that are operated in parallel.

In this case, for example, if four air conditioning units 1 are installed in a facility as shown in Figure 1, programs A, B, C, and D may be installed in each air conditioning unit 1, causing them to use different waveforms, for example, current values of waveforms A, B, C, and D. Alternatively, one program may be installed in each air conditioning unit 1, causing them to use current values of waveforms A, B, C, and D, and when an operator sets the search mode, they may select the waveform to use from waveforms A to D for each air conditioning unit 1 to be identified. In this way, it is possible to simultaneously check the connection relationships of multiple air conditioning units 1. In this case, multiple ammeters 6 may be brought into the facility.

This embodiment has been described using air conditioning equipment 1 as an example of electrical equipment, and an example of identifying the connection relationship between air conditioning equipment 1 and circuit breaker 3. However, electrical equipment is not limited to air conditioning equipment 1; the above-described method of identifying connection relationships can also be applied to other electrical equipment, such as electrically operated elevators, pumps, lighting, etc.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 air conditioning equipment, 2 distribution board, 3 circuit breaker, 4 power line, 5 wiring rack, 6 ammeter, 10 outdoor unit, 11 power supply device, 12, 13 inverter, 14 compressor, 15 blower, 16 storage device, 17, 21, 33 control device, 18, 22, 34 communication device, 20 indoor unit, 30 remote control, 31 operation unit, 32 display unit.

Claims (5)

At least one device that operates when supplied with an electric current;
a storage means for storing a program created so that one of a plurality of predetermined types of characteristics appears in a time-series change in the current value of the current used by the device;
a control means for controlling the operation of the device by executing the program in accordance with an instruction from a user ;
The control means, in accordance with instructions from the user, selects from the plurality of types of characteristics so that different characteristics appear for each of the devices of the plurality of electrical equipment, thereby performing control to enable each of the plurality of electrical equipment to be investigated simultaneously in parallel . The electrical equipment described in claim 1, characterized in that the program controls the operation of multiple devices. It is an air conditioning system,
The electrical equipment according to claim 1, wherein the device is at least one of a compressor and a blower mounted in an outdoor unit that constitutes the air conditioning equipment. A plurality of circuit breakers;
a plurality of pieces of electrical equipment each electrically connected to one of the circuit breakers;
a current measuring device connected to any one of the plurality of circuit breakers and measuring a current value of a current output from the circuit breaker;
and
The electrical equipment includes:
a storage means for storing a program created so that one of a plurality of predetermined types of characteristics appears in a time-series change in the current value of the current used by the electrical equipment;
a control means for controlling the operation of the electrical equipment by executing the program in accordance with instructions from a user;
and
a comparison of a time series change in the current value measured by the current measuring device with a time series change in the current value that appears when the electrical equipment is caused to execute a program stored in the electrical equipment, thereby identifying a connection relationship between the circuit breaker and the electrical equipment;
An electrical equipment system characterized in that a different program is stored in each of the plurality of electrical equipment so that a different feature among the plurality of types of features appears for each of the plurality of electrical equipment, thereby controlling the system so that each of the plurality of electrical equipment can be investigated simultaneously in parallel . A computer installed in an electrical facility having at least one device that operates by consuming power,
a storage means for storing a program created so that one of a plurality of predetermined types of characteristics appears in a time-series change in the current value of the current used by the device;
the program is executed in accordance with instructions from a user to function as a control means for controlling the operation of the device ;
A program for functioning as the control means that performs control to enable each of the multiple pieces of electrical equipment to be investigated simultaneously in parallel by selecting, in accordance with instructions from the user, from the multiple types of features so that different features appear for each of the devices of the multiple pieces of electrical equipment .