SELF-POWERED REMOTE CONTROL SYSTEM FOR SMART VALVE

Abstract

The present invention relates to a self-powered remote control system for a smart valve, the system comprising: a smart valve for regulating the flow of a fluid in a pipe; a sensing module for sensing the flow rate, pressure, and temperature of the fluid in the pipe; a power generation module for generating power according to the flow of the fluid; a control module for controlling the lifting or lowering of the opening/closing plate of the smart valve according to the flow rate, pressure, or temperature state sensed by the sensing module; and an administrator terminal for transmitting and receiving control signals to and from the control module, wherein the power generation module comprises: a conical fluid guide member provided in a direction in which the fluid is supplied; and a rotating member rotated by the fluid guided through the fluid guide member, whereby the operation of the smart valve can be controlled by manipulating the administrator terminal at a remote location, so as to supply the fluid into the pipe or intercept the supply of the fluid into the pipe.

Claims

1. A self-powered remote control system for a smart valve, comprising: a smart valve configured to control a flow of a fluid in a pipe; a sensing module configured to detect a flow rate, pressure, or temperature of the fluid in the pipe; a power generation module configured to generate power according to the flow of the fluid; a control module configured to control lifting or lowering of an opening/closing plate of the smart valve according to a state of the flow rate, pressure, or temperature detected by the sensing module; and an administrator terminal configured to transmit and receive a control signal to and from the control module, wherein the power generation module includes: a fluid guide member which has a conical shape and is provided in a supply direction of the fluid; and a rotating member rotated according to the fluid guided to the fluid guide member.

2. The self-powered remote control system of claim 1, wherein: the power generation module includes a first bevel gear rotated in the same direction as rotation of the rotating member, and a second bevel gear engaged with the first bevel gear and rotated in a direction changed from a rotation direction of the first bevel gear; and the sensing module is provided above the second bevel gear.

3. The self-powered remote control system of claim 1, wherein the smart valve is a soft seat gate valve.

4. The self-powered remote control system of claim 2, wherein: a plurality of fluid guide paths are provided in the conical shape on a surface of the fluid guide member; a plurality of blades are provided in the rotating member; a connection shaft is provided on the blades; a driving shaft is provided below the blades; and the rotating member is rotatably coupled in the fluid guide member through the connection shaft.

5. The self-powered remote control system of claim 4, wherein: the plurality of fluid guide paths are formed in a manner that a distance therebetween is gradually increased from an upper portion to a lower portion of the conical shape and are provided to correspond to the number of the plurality of blades; and the blades are provided in a direction parallel to the supply direction of the fluid and are provided to have a curved surface, in which a contact surface with the fluid is gradually decreased from a left side to a right side thereof, so as to be rotatable according to the fluid supplied through the plurality of fluid guide paths.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0024] FIG. 1 is a conceptual view for describing a conventional small hydroelectric power generation device.

[0025] FIG. 2 is a configuration view of a soft seat knife gate valve for controlling a transfer amount.

[0026] FIG. 3 is a view illustrating a structure of a self-powered remote control system for a smart valve according to the present invention.

[0027] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the self-powered remote control system for a smart valve shown in FIG. 3.

[0028] FIGS. 5 and 6 are views illustrating an operating state of an opening/closing plate in a smart valve.

[0029] FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of a power generation module provided in a pipe.

[0030] FIG. 8 is a schematic view for describing guidance of a moving fluid in the power generation module shown in FIG. 7.

[0031] FIGS. 9 and 10 are views illustrating other examples of a power generation member provided in a pipe.

MODES OF THE INVENTION

[0032] The above-described and other objects and novel features of the present invention will become more apparent from the description of the present specification and the accompanying drawings.

[0033] As used herein, the term “smart valve” is a structure of a soft seat gate valve installed at a middle of a pipe as shown in FIG. 2 to control a flow in a flow path and refers to a structure capable of automatically control an opening/closing plate for controlling a flow of a fluid (water) in a pipe applied to garden products of a smart farm, a multipurpose waterway, a reservoir, a pumping station, a coolant of a power plant, a sewage treatment plant, or an air conditioning facility of a skyscraper. A “left side” refers to a direction in which a fluid is supplied into the pipe, and a “right side” refers to a direction in which a fluid is discharged.

[0034] In addition, the term “fluid” used in the present invention refers to water used for water and sewage or used as agricultural water, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The fluid may be applied to oil, gas, or the like transported through a pipe.

[0035] Hereinafter, embodiments according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0036] FIG. 3 is a view illustrating a structure of a self-powered remote control system for a smart valve according to the present invention, and FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the self-powered remote control system for a smart valve shown in FIG. 3.

[0037] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the self-powered remote control system for a smart valve includes a smart valve 200 which controls a flow of a fluid in a pipe 100, a sensing module 300 which detects a flow rate, pressure, or temperature of the fluid in the pipe 100, a power generation module 400 which generates power according to the flow of the fluid, a control module 500 which controls lifting or lowering of an opening/closing plate of the smart valve according to a state of the flow rate, pressure, or temperature detected by the sensing module, and an administrator terminal 600 which transmits and receives control signals to and from the control module 500.

[0038] The pipe 100 is a pipe used for garden products of a smart farm, a multipurpose waterway, a reservoir, a pumping station, a coolant of a power plant, a sewage treatment plant, or an air conditioning facility of a skyscraper and is used to supply a fluid (water). As shown in FIG. 4, the pipe 100 may be a system connection pipe and may be used by connecting a plurality of pipes through pipe connection members 110 having valve faces. Such a pipe 100 may be made of a metal material or high-strength plastic which is a common pipe material.

[0039] The pipe connection member 110 has the same inner diameter as the pipe 100 and may be integrated with the pipe 100 at each end face 111 thereof through a coupling mechanism such as a bolt. A sensing member for the sensing module 300 and a power generation member for the power generation module 400 are embedded in the pipe connection member 110, and a first through-hole 112 for communication with the sensing module 300 and a second through-hole 113 for communication with the power generation module 400 are formed in the pipe connection member 110. The first through-hole 112 is formed for inserting the sensing member and is sealed to prevent a leakage, and the second through-hole 113 is provided with a bearing or the like to transmit a rotational force of the power generation member and is sealed to prevent a leakage.

[0040] Meanwhile, although the pipes 100 are shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 as being connected through a structure in which the pipe connection member 110 is applied to embed the smart valve 200 and the power generation module 400, but the pipes 100 may be directly connected and used.

[0041] As the smart valve 200, for example, a soft seat gate valve as shown in FIG. 2 may be applied. As shown in FIG. 4, the smart valve 200 includes a valve body 210 and a shaft and motor 220 which is for vertically moving an opening/closing plate 211 provided in the valve body 210, and the valve body 210 is mounted between the pipe connection member 110 and the pipe 100. The motor 220 is provided to be rotatable forward or reverse by the control module 500 and rotates the shaft to vertically move the opening/closing plate 211, thereby controlling a flow of a fluid in the pipe 100 as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. FIG. 5 is a view illustrating an operating state of the opening/closing plate in the smart valve and illustrating a state in which the opening/closing plate 211 is lowered to close a flow path in the pipe 100, and FIG. 6 is a view illustrating a state in which the opening/closing plate 211 is lifted according to the operation of the motor 220 in the smart valve to open the flow path in the pipe 100.

[0042] Therefore, when the self-powered remote control system for a smart valve according to the present invention is applied in, for example, supplying water for garden products of a smart farm, water can be supplied to the garden products only for a predetermined time.

[0043] In addition, according to the smart valve 200 according to the present invention, as shown in FIG. 2, a conventional gate valve (with a diameter of 300 mm) has a face-to-face distance of 400 mm, but the smart valve 200 according to the present invention has a face-to face distance of 76 mm (which is reduced by 324 mm). Thus, fluid sludge is prevented from being deposited on a lower portion of the valve is prevented, and there is no valve leakage. In addition, the smart valve 200 is provided to have a structure capable of controlling a flow rate of water resources, and thus, it is possible to primarily seal a valve disc through a soft seat and secondarily block a leakage through a metal. That is, in the conventional gate valve, due to a wide face-to-face distance of 400 mm, fluid vortex is generated to cause friction at a lower portion of a disc, a rubber lining is separated, and a leakage is caused, and due to a wedge-shaped disc structure, a lower rubber lining of the disc is torn, a leakage is caused, and flow rate adjustment is not possible. However, the smart valve 200 according to the present invention can solve the above-described problems.

[0044] The sensing module 300 is provided to have a structure capable of performing display by a temperature sensor, a flow rate sensor, and a pressure sensor being provided integrally. As shown in FIG. 4, the sensing module 300 is provided above the power generation member in the pipe connection member 110 through the first through-hole 112. Accordingly, a flow rate, pressure, temperature, and the like of a fluid flowing in the pipe 100 may be simultaneously detected and displayed and may be transmitted to the administrator terminal 600 in a remote place through the control module 500.

[0045] The power generation module 400 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8.

[0046] FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the power generation module provided in the pipe connection member, and FIG. 8 is a schematic view for describing guidance of a moving fluid in the power generation module shown in FIG. 7.

[0047] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 7, as the power generation member, the power generation module 400 includes a fluid guide member 410 which has a conical shape and is provided in a supply direction of a fluid, a rotating member 420 rotated according to a fluid guided to the fluid guide member 410, a first bevel gear 430 rotated in the same direction as the rotation of the rotating member 420, and a second bevel gear 440 engaged with the first bevel gear 430 and rotated in a direction changed from a rotation direction of the first bevel gear 430. The fluid guide member 410, the rotating member 420, the first bevel gear 430, and the second bevel gear 440 may be made of a metal material or high-strength plastic.

[0048] As shown in FIG. 7, a plurality of fluid guide paths 411 are provided in a conical shape on a surface of the fluid guide member 410. A plurality of blades 423 are provided in the rotating member 420, a connection shaft 422 is provided on the blades, and a driving shaft 421 is provided below the blades. That is, the driving shaft 421, the connection shaft 422, the plurality of blades 423, and the first bevel gear 430 are provided integrally. Accordingly, a rotational force corresponding to the rotation of the plurality of blades 423 is applied to the first bevel gear 430.

[0049] The rotating member 420 is rotatably coupled to the fluid guide member 410 through the connection shaft 422. To this end, a rotation guide member such as a bearing may be provided inside the fluid guide member 410. Accordingly, the fluid guide member 410 may be fixedly mounted in the pipe connection member 110. As shown in FIG. 8, the fluid guide member 410 may be provided in the conical shape to accelerate a flow speed of a fluid flowing in the fluid guide path 411 according to the Bernoulli's principle, thereby accelerating a rotational speed of the blade 423. As shown in FIG. 7, the plurality of fluid guide paths 411 may be formed in a manner that a distance therebetween is gradually increased from an upper portion to a lower portion of the conical shape and may be provided to correspond to the number of the plurality of blades 423.

[0050] As shown in FIG. 7, each blade 423 is provided in a direction parallel to a supply direction of a fluid. The blades 423 are provided to have a curved surface, in which a contact surface with a fluid is gradually decreased from a left side to a right side thereof, so as to be rotatable according to a fluid supplied through the plurality of fluid guide paths 411. Accordingly, a fluid accelerated by the fluid guide member 410 may be applied to a surface of the blade in contact with a fluid supplied to the pipe 100, thereby accelerating a rotational speed of the blade.

[0051] The first bevel gear 430 is provided at an end portion of the driving shaft 421 formed integrally with the blade and is rotated in the same direction as the rotation of the rotating member 420. A rotational force of the second bevel gear 440 rotated by being engaged with the first bevel gear 430 may be transmitted to an electric generator provided outside the pipe connection member 110 through a power generation shaft 441 inserted into the second through-hole 113 so as to generate electricity. The electricity generated by the electric generator may be stored in a charger.

[0052] The power generation module 400 as described above may be provided to generate a self-power of 6 kW or more, thereby driving the smart valve 200, performing remote controlling and monitoring at a distance of 10 km or more, and driving the sensing module 300 for detecting a temperature, humidity, and a flow rate.

[0053] The control module 500 includes a detection line 510 electrically connected to the sensing module 300 so as to transmit information detected by the sensing module 300 to the administrator terminal 600 and a motor line 520 electrically connected to the motor 220 of the smart valve 200 so as to control the operation of the smart valve 200 according to a control command transmitted from the administrator terminal 600. In addition, the control module 500 includes a communication unit, a storage unit, and a control unit therein.

[0054] For the remote controlling and monitoring at a distance of 10 km or more, the communication unit may include an antenna for wireless communication with the administrator terminal 600. The communication unit may execute any one wireless communication method of a long range (LoRa) method, a narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT) method, an ultra narrowband (UNB) modulation method, a wireless smart utility network (Wi-SUN) method, a ZigBee method, an industry-science-medical (ISM) band method, a radio frequency (RF) communication method, and a Bluetooth (BLE) method and thus transmit information detected by the sensing module 300 to the administrator terminal 600 or receive a control signal of the smart valve 200 from the administrator terminal 600 in a certain period. In addition, a repeater for long-distance communication may be provided in the control module 500.

[0055] The storage unit stores information about a flow rate, pressure, or temperature of a fluid detected by the sensing module 300, control information transmitted from the administrator terminal 600, various user interfaces, and the like and stores data and programs necessary for the control module 500 to operate. In addition, the storage unit may store instructions for a plurality of application programs or a plurality of applications driven by the control module 500. In addition, at least some of the application programs (applications) may be downloaded from the administrator terminal 600. To this end, the storage unit 202 may include at least one storage medium of a flash memory type memory, a hard disk type memory, a multimedia card micro-type memory, a card-type memory (for example, a secure digital (SD) or extreme digital (XD) memory), a random access memory (RAM), a static random access memory (SRAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), and a programmable read-only memory (PROM).

[0056] The display unit may display charge state information of a battery and state information detected by the sensing module 300 and may be provided as any one of a liquid crystal display (LCD), a thin film transistor liquid crystal display (TFT LCD), an organic light-emitting diode (OLED), and a flexible display.

[0057] The control unit includes a microprocessor, transmits information detected by the sensing module 300 to the administrator terminal 600, and controls the operation of the motor 220 of the smart valve 200 according to a control command transmitted from the administrator terminal 600.

[0058] The administrator terminal 600 may have a communication function capable of performing data communication with the control module 500 through a network and may include various terminals such as a smartphone, a portable terminal, a mobile terminal, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a portable multimedia player (PMP) terminal, a telematics terminal, a navigation terminal, a personal computer (PC), a notebook computer, a slate PC, a tablet PC, an ultrabook, a wearable device (including, for example, a watch-type terminal (smartwatch), a glass-type terminal (smart glass), a head mounted display (HMD), or the like), a WiBro terminal, an internet protocol television (IPTV) terminal, a smart television (TV), a digital broadcasting terminal, an audio-video-navigation (AVN) terminal, an audio/video (A/V) system, and a flexible terminal.

[0059] In addition, in the above description, the fluid guide member 410 has been described as having a structure fixedly mounted in the pipe connection member 110, but as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the fluid guide member 410 may be provided to have a structure fixed to the connection shaft 422 of the rotating member 420.

[0060] FIGS. 9 and 10 are views illustrating other examples of a power generation member provided in a pipe.

[0061] That is, as shown in FIG. 9, a support member 450 is provided to maintain a state in which a fluid guide member 410 is fitted onto a connection shaft 422 of a rotating member 420, and thus, a fluid flowing through a fluid guide path 411 is applied directly to a blade 423, thereby increasing a rotational force of the rotating member 420. The fluid guide member 410 and the rotating member 420 are maintained in a pipe connection member 110 by the support member 450 provided at an approximately central portion of the connection shaft 422. In addition, a bearing 451 is provided at a central portion of the support member 450 so as to not interrupt the rotation of the connection shaft 422.

[0062] Meanwhile, although FIG. 9 shows a structure in which the support member 450 is provided at the connection shaft 422, as shown in FIG. 10, a structure in which the support member 450 is provided at an approximately central portion of a driving shaft 421 may be applied. Even in the support member 450 shown in FIG. 10, a bearing 451 is provided so as to not interrupt the rotation of the driving shaft 421.

[0063] As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, since the support member 450 is provided, the fluid guide member 410 and the rotating member 420 may be stably rotated by maintaining a center of mass in the pipe connection member 110.

[0064] Next, the operation of the self-powered remote control system for a smart valve according to the present invention will be described.

[0065] As shown in FIG. 3, the pipe 100 and the pipe connection member 110 are coupled, wherein the pipe 100 is used for garden products of a smart farm, a multipurpose waterway, a reservoir, a pumping station, a coolant of a power plant, a sewage treatment plant, or an air conditioning facility of a skyscraper, and the pipe connection member 110 is in a state in which the smart valve 200, the sensing module 300, and the power generation module 400 are provided.

[0066] Thereafter, when a fluid is supplied into the pipe 100 in a state in which the opening/closing plate 211 of the smart valve 200 is opened, the fluid passes through the plurality of fluid guide paths 411 of the fluid guide member 410 having a conical shape and is supplied to the plurality of blades 423 provided in the rotating member 420, thereby rotating the rotating member 420. The first bevel gear 430 is rotated according to the rotation of the rotating member 420, and the second bevel gear 440 rotated by being engaged with the first bevel gear 430 is rotated to rotate the power generation shaft 441. Thus, electricity is generated by the power generator and charges the charger.

[0067] Meanwhile, information about a temperature, a flow rate, and pressure of the fluid detected by the sensing module 300 according to the flow of the fluid is transmitted to the control module 500 through the detection line 510, and the detected information is transmitted to the administrator terminal 600.

[0068] In addition, when information for blocking the supply of fluid is transmitted to the control module 500 through the administrator terminal 600, the control module 500 operates the motor 220 of the smart valve 200 using power generated by the power generation module 400 to lower the opening/closing plate 211 as shown in FIG. 5 to block the supply of the fluid. Thereafter, when the supply of the fluid is required, as shown in FIG. 6, the opening/closing plate 211 is lifted to supply the fluid, and concurrently, the power generation module 400 generates power.

[0069] As described above, in the self-powered remote control system for a smart valve according to the present invention, the administrator terminal 600 is operated in a remote place so that the operation of the smart valve 200 is controlled to supply or block the fluid in the pipe 100.

[0070] The present invention made by the inventor has been described so far in details based on the embodiments, but the present invention is not limited to the embodiments. Various modifications are available without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0071] That is, in the above description, the power generation module 400 is provided to provide self-generation by a fluid flowing in the pipe 100, but the present invention is not limited thereto. When the smart valve is provided outdoors, solar energy generation may be added and applied to the above-described self-generation.

[0072] In addition, in the above description, power generation and control of the smart valve according to the supply of water have been described in garden products of a smart farm, a multipurpose dam waterway, or a power generation field, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The fluid may be applied to oil, gas, or the like.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

[0073] By using a self-powered remote control system for a smart valve according to the present invention, an administrator terminal is operated in a remote place so that the operation of a smart valve is controlled to supply or block a fluid in a pipe.