ES2433668T3 - Operating procedure of a hazard warning facility - Google Patents

Abstract

Operation procedure of a hazard warning installation comprising a central unit (central or coupler) to which they are connected in parallel, through a two-wire line acting as a fieldbus, several subscribers (T01 to T10), each of which comprises an input (a) and an output (b) for the fieldbus, at least one processor (μP). a disconnector (TR) controlled by the processor between input (a) and output (b), a sensor or actor (S / A) and a communication module (KM), characterized in that in each subscriber (T01a T10) - the current is measured through the subscriber between its input (a) and its output (b), this current is compared with a maximum stored value and, when this is exceeded, a signal representative of this is generated in the processor (μP), and - when, after a specific delay time (VZ) of the subscriber, the maximum current value exceeds, the disconnector (TR) is opened.

Description

Operating procedure of a hazard warning facility.

The invention concerns a method of operating a hazard warning installation comprising a central unit (central or coupler) to which they are connected in parallel, through a two-wire line acting as a fieldbus, several subscribers, each of which comprises an input (A) and an output (B) for the fieldbus, at least one processor, a disconnector controlled by the processor between input (A) and output (B), a sensor or actor and A communication module. The invention also concerns a hazard warning facility that works according to this procedure.

The hazard warning facilities with the basic structure mentioned above have been a state of the art for a long time. The central unit supplies the service voltage to the subscribers through the two-wire line that functions as a fieldbus, and communicates digitally with these subscribers through proprietary protocols defined almost always. To protect the hazard warning installation, the central unit also monitors, among other things, the voltage and current in the fieldbus. When a preset maximum value of the current is exceeded, caused in general by insulation defects, in the most unfavorable case a short circuit, the central unit disconnects the operating voltage. The hazard warning installation can be put into operation again only when the cause of the defect has been eliminated.

The invention is based on the problem of providing a method of operation of a hazard warning facility of this kind that generally avoids a total failure of the hazard warning facility as a result of an insulation defect appearing in the bus zone. field, that is, on the two-wire line or on a particular subscriber.

This problem is solved according to the invention by the fact that in each subscriber

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the current is measured through the subscriber between its input and its output, this current is compared with a maximum stored value and, if this is exceeded, a signal representative of it is generated in the processor, and

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 when, after a specific delay time of the subscriber, the maximum current value exceeds, the disconnector is opened.

This solution is based on a hazard warning installation according to the current state of the art, in which the central unit and the subscribers communicate digitally with each other. The entry and exit of the subscribers are equivalent, so that the “incoming” field bus can also be connected to the output and the “outgoing” field bus can also be connected to the input. The sensors in the subscribers can be especially smoke alarms or intrusion alarms. The actors can be, for example, optical or acoustic indicative of escape routes, controllers of extinguishing agents and / or triggers for fire protection doors or smoke extraction gates.

The solution according to the invention is suitable both for a field bus in the form of a line branch and for a closed field bus in the form of a ring. In both cases, as is known per se, other field buses acting as line branches can be derived from the field bus.

The core of the invention is that, when an insulation defect appears, in what is still referred to only as an example "short circuit", all subscribers certainly recognize this defect at the same time by means of current measurement, but Only the subscriber who, within the wiring, is closer to the place of the defect, opens its disconnector, so that the other subscribers located between the subscriber with the disconnector open and the central unit remain fully trained to operate.

The specific delay time of the subscriber is determined on the basis of the number of other subscribers located between the respective subscriber and the central unit and is stored individually in each subscriber, preferably during commissioning of the hazard warning installation.

Preferably, the subscriber's specific VZ delay time is set as VZ = (N + 1-i) · t, where N is the number of subscribers, i is the physical position number of the subscriber counted from the feed terminal of The central unit and t is a time interval that is longer than the time each subscriber needs to fully execute his or her operating routine. In this case, all the partial tasks assigned to the subscriber, normally preprogrammed and that are repeated cyclically, are understood in this case, that is also those executed by the subscriber during normal operation, for example periodic consultation of the sensors, sending of messages status to the exchange, receipt and processing of orders from the exchange, etc. To this is added within the framework of the invention the time for the measurement of the current by the subscriber, generally also carried out only at periodic intervals of time for reasons of energy saving, the comparison with the maximum stored value and the processing of the result of the comparison by the processor, as well as the opening of the

disconnector possibly triggered by said processor. The time interval t can be very short, for example of the order of magnitude 1 ms.

To increase safety against failures, the fieldbus is frequently constructed as an annular line in the current hazard warning facilities. In this case, the method according to the invention consists in that, when the danger warning system is put into operation, the current flow direction valid for normal operation and a first delay time for the case of operation are stored in each subscriber. power supply through terminal A of the central unit and a second delay time for the case of power supply through terminal B of the central unit, and during operation, as soon as an overcurrent is detected (“short-circuit current "), The direction of the latter between the subscriber's input and output is determined, and in that, depending on the current flow direction obtained, either after the first delay time elapses or the second delay time has elapsed and in each case still exceeding the maximum current value, the disconnector is opened.

In this way, the availability of the hazard warning facility is greatly improved even in the case of a short circuit, since, as a result, the place of the short circuit is separated from the fieldbus because the subscribers immediately adjacent to the place of the short circuit (“before” and “behind” the place of the short circuit) both open their disconnectors whenever the central unit feeds the fieldbus at this time both through terminal A and through terminal B.

Preferably, when the disconnector is opened, a data telegram meaningful of this is sent to the central unit, through the communication module. Therefore, the central unit or the service personnel not only recognizes as up to now that a short circuit has occurred, but that the short circuit can be immediately located and notified, for example in unencrypted text.

Since in the case of a complete short-circuit between the field bus or two-wire line torones that the latter materializes, the operating voltage of at least the subscribers positioned in the area closest to the short-circuit site collapses to 0 volts or almost 0 volts, it must be ensured otherwise that the corresponding subscribers are supplied with their operating voltage at least until the disconnector of the subscriber closest to the place of the short circuit (or the disconnectors of the subscribers located on both sides of the place of the short circuit) has been opened and all remaining subscribers receive their operating voltage again from the central unit. For this reason, provided that a service voltage from an external auxiliary voltage source is not available to subscribers, it is necessary that these, being below the minimum value of their operating voltage, be supplied from an energy accumulator internal, for example a condenser, for a sufficiently long time, at least until the opening of the corresponding disconnector.

In addition, in each subscriber the applied operating voltage can be measured, this can be compared with a minimum stored value and the result of the comparison can be supplied to the processor.

Conveniently, when the disconnector is open, a subscriber signaling pilot can be activated that identifies this state. This simplifies the search for the place of defect.

In addition, a hazard warning facility that can be operated in a manner corresponding to the proposed procedure is the subject of the invention. This hazard warning installation comprises a central unit (central or coupler) to which several subscribers are connected in parallel through a two-wire line acting as a fieldbus. Each subscriber has

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an input and an output for the fieldbus,

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at least one processor,

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a disconnector controlled by the processor between the input and the output,

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a sensor or actor,

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a module for measuring the current between the subscriber's input and output and

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a communication module to exchange data telegrams with the central unit

and, according to the invention, it also has

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at least one memory for at least one specific delay time of the subscriber,

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 another memory for storing at least the magnitude of the maximum value of the allowable current during normal operation between the subscriber's input and output,

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 an evaluation circuit that compares the measured current with the maximum stored value and supplies the

result of the processor comparison, and

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 an energy accumulator for processor operation when the subscriber's operating voltage ceases.

When the field subscriber is constructed as an annular line and, therefore, can be fed by the central unit through its terminal A and / or its terminal B, the current measurement module, in addition to determining the magnitude of the current, also determines its sign, that is, its address between terminal A and terminal B of the subscriber.

The hazard warning installation may additionally comprise a voltage measurement module that compares the operating voltage applied to the input or output of the subscriber with a minimum stored value and provides the result of the comparison to the processor.

The invention is explained in the following by means of the drawing, which refers to an example of embodiment represented in a strongly simplified manner. They show:

Figure 1, a diagram of a hazard warning installation,

Figure 2, a block diagram of one of the subscribers of this hazard warning facility and

Figure 3, a symbolic representation of the subscriber states after the appearance of a short circuit.

The diagram of a hazard warning installation is represented in a simplified way in figure 1.

This comprises a central unit ZE that can consist of the alarm central, a sub-central in the case of larger installations or a coupler connected to an alarm central or a sub-central. The central unit ZE has a terminal A and a terminal B for a field bus laid in a ring and materialized by a two-wire line, whose principle is correspondingly connected with terminal A of the central unit ZE and whose end is connected with the terminal B of it. The fieldbus supplies, for example, up to 123 subscribers with its operating voltage and at the same time serves for digital communication between the central unit and these subscribers. For the sake of simplicity, only 10 subscribers are represented in an R ring. These have the position numbers T01 to T10 counted from terminal A to terminal B or the position numbers (T01) to (T10) counted from terminal B to terminal A. Each subscriber has a bipolar input a and a bipolar output b.

Subscribers can have both the function of sensors and the role of actors. For example, T01 to T03 may be fire alarms, T04 may be an optical or acoustic indicative of an escape route, T05 may be an extinguishing agent controller, etc.

The central unit can supply the R-ring with a service voltage through terminal A in a service class A and through terminal B in a service class B. The same applies to communication between the central unit ZE and the subscribers. As is known per se, the central unit ZE comprises a logic that determines the kind of service based on the state of the field bus.

When, for example, the logic determines in the A service an interruption or a short circuit in the fieldbus, said logic tries to maintain the availability of the service by switching to the B service or to the A / B service, that is, the bus power field and communication from both terminals A and B.

Each of the subscribers in Figure 1 has the structure represented as a block diagram in Figure 2 for carrying out the proposed operating procedure. If the fieldbus is operated not as a ring, but only as a branch, the structure is simplified accordingly.

The subscriber has input terminals a + and a-, as well as output terminals b + and b-. The two-wire line that comes, for example, from terminal A of the central unit and materializes the fieldbus is connected to the input terminals a + and a-. The two-wire extension line is correspondingly connected with the output terminals b + and b-. Between terminals a + and b + there is a closed TR switch during regular operation, for example a relay contact or a controlled semiconductor switch. The TR disconnector can also be between terminals a- and b-. Preferably, the TR disconnector comprises two FETs arranged in series and acting as switches that can be connected discretionally, that is, under program control, individually or together, through connection orders. Between the terminals a and b- an IS current sensor is located, for example in the form of a current measuring resistor, whose voltage drop proportional to the current is measured by an evaluation circuit AS, which compares it to a value maximum archived in an MA memory and transmits to a μP processor the result and also, in the case of a field bus laid in the form of a ring, the current flow direction. In addition, the μP processor is connected, according to the case of application, with a sensor or an S / A actor, that is, for example, with the detection circuit of a scattered light smoke alarm or with the control circuit of an extinguishing agent installation. The processor sends status messages to the central unit ZE in Figure 1 through a KM communication module and receives from said central unit orders in the form of data telegrams. In addition, the μP processor controls the connection status of the TR disconnector. The module of

KM communication can also notify, among others, the connection status of the TR switch to the central unit ZE.

The evaluation circuit AS periodically consults in short time intervals, through the IS current sensor, about the current in the fieldbus, that is, the current through the subscriber. The maximum value is already stored preferably in the MA memory during commissioning of the hazard warning system, and the same occurs with the current flow direction during normal ring operation. When the maximum value is exceeded, the μP processor starts a timer ZG. Depending on the direction (the sign) of the current, the μP processor determines, after a stored delay time VZa has elapsed or after a stored delay time VZb has elapsed, if the signal that identifies an exceeding of the maximum value of the current. Only when this occurs, the μP processor triggers the opening of the TR disconnector. The operating behavior thus achieved will be explained below with the help of Figure 3.

When the current through the subscriber considerably exceeds the preset maximum value, that is, for example, in the event of a short circuit, the operating voltage in terminals a and b collapses. For this reason, the μP processor receives its internal operating voltage from an ES energy accumulator, for example a capacitor, which is sized so that the μP processor and the IS, AS current measurement circuit remain capable of operating at less until the opening of the TR disconnector. The energy accumulator ES is connected to the line between a + and b + through diodes D1 and D2 arranged on both sides of the disconnector TR to prevent, in the event of a short circuit, the energy accumulator ES being discharged through the place of the short circuit.

Optionally, the subscriber has voltage measurement modules Sa and Sb on the input side and the output side.

The voltage measurement modules compare the operating voltage applied to the subscriber's input and output with a minimum stored value and, when remaining below it, provide a signal to the processor, which can interpret this signal to interrupt certain routines, such as control or consultation of the sensor or the S / A actor or data traffic with the KM communication module, and immediately start the timer ZG. This shortens the time until the necessary opening of the TR disconnector.

The functional blocks represented are for explanation purposes only. In practice, certain functions and / or A / D converters, not shown, can be integrated into the μP processor, and all values to be stored can be stored in a common memory IC.

The operating behavior of a hazard warning installation according to figure 1 with subscribers according to figure 2 and especially the function of the delay times VZa and VZb specific to the subscribers are explained with the help of figure 3, specifically in the case of an overcurrent or short circuit caused by a defect between subscribers 06 and 07. In this case it is assumed that the hazard warning system or the central unit ZE according to figure 1 feeds the fieldbus at least from the input of the short circuit - which is also recognized by the central unit - both through terminal A and through terminal B.

In figure 3, subscribers T01 to T10 have been recorded in a symbolic time frame, in the direction of ordinates the delay times VZa and VZb that increase from left to right.

Each of the subscribers T01 to T10 has a specific delay time assigned to it. This depends on its "distance" to the respective power terminal of the central unit ZE and is much longer the closer the corresponding subscriber is to the power terminal. With "distance" it is meant the number of additional subscribers to the (respective) terminal.

The respective delay times can be determined according to the equation VZ = (N + 1-i) · t, where N is the number of subscribers, in this case 10, i is the number of physical position of the subscriber counted from the terminal Power supply of the central unit ZE and t is a time interval that is chosen at least so large that, in case of a current that exceeds the maximum stored value, each subscriber can perform the functions described with the aid of Figure 2 until opening if necessary, the disconnector TR, without these developments of the different subscribers temporarily overlapping.

Since the subscriber T01, seen from terminal A of the central unit ZE, is the first subscriber, but, in the case of feeding through terminal B of the central unit ZE, it is the last subscriber (T10), assigns subscriber T01 for storage, upon commissioning of the installation, the value t10 as delay time VZa and the value t1 as delay time VZb, etc. Reciprocally, for example, the subscriber T10 is assigned the value t1 as delay time VZa and the value t10 as delay time VZb and said times are stored in this subscriber. Consequently, the subscriber T01 has the longest delay time t10 [VZa] and the shortest delay time t1 [VZb], the subscriber T09 has the delay times t9 [VZa] and t2 [VZb], etc.

When, as it is assumed here, there exists between the subscribers T06 and T07 a defect location that leads to an overcurrent ("short circuit"), a service voltage is supplied to the subscribers T01 to T06 a

through terminal A, while said voltage is supplied to subscribers T07 to T10 through terminal B. For this reason, only the delay times VZa from t10 to t5 are relevant for T01 to T06 and have been marked marked of circles The delay times t4 [VZa] to t1 [VZa] not relevant in the case considered, but also stored, have been represented as dashed circles. Similarly, for subscribers T10 to T07 only the delay times relevant here t7 [VZb] to t10 [VZb] have been represented as circles. The other delay times t1 [VZb] to t6 [VZb] also stored have not been identified for the sake of clarity.

This results in the following for the defect location located between subscribers T06 and T07, which generates in each subscriber a current that is greater than the maximum stored value MA:

All subscribers T01 to T10 recognize at the same time this state that occurs at time t0. Therefore, each subscriber starts their timer ZG through its μP processor. Controlled by the information on the direction of the current, that is, depending on whether the corresponding subscriber is fed from t0 by terminal A or by terminal B of the central unit ZE, the μP processor of each subscriber waits until the end of their delay time VZa, in the case of figure 3 the subscribers T06 to T01, or until the end of the delay time VZb, in the case of figure 3 the remaining subscribers T07 to T10. Until the end of the respective delay time or only at its end, the respective μP processor checks whether the information on the overcurrent still persists. When this occurs, the μP processor of the corresponding subscriber triggers the opening of the TR disconnector of this subscriber.

Since the defect location is located between subscribers T06 and T07, the subscriber T06 with the shortest delay time t5 [VZa] and also the subscriber T07 with the shortest delay time t7 [VZb] are the first to recognize This status. These delay times are additionally marked with "X". Consequently, these two subscribers open their TR disconnectors. The place of defect is thus extracted from the ring bus. On the contrary, subscribers T01 to T05 and subscribers T08 to T10 recognize, at the end of their respective longer delay times VZa or VZb, that the maximum permissible value MA of the current has not been reached (again). For this reason, its TR disconnectors remain closed. Consequently, the previous functional capacity of the hazard warning facility is restored for at least subscribers T01 to T05 and T08 to T10. The functional capacity can be fully restored, that is, also for subscribers T06 and T07 located on both sides of the defect site, when these two subscribers, after opening their disconnectors, can also process signals from their sensors or Orders for their actors.

The order of the μP processor that triggers the opening of the TR disconnector can be used simultaneously to connect an LED (not shown) that makes it easier for maintenance personnel to locate the location of the defect.

Claims (10)

1. Operation procedure of a hazard warning installation comprising a central unit (central or coupler) to which they are connected in parallel, through a two-wire line acting as a fieldbus, several subscribers (T01 to T10), each of which comprises an input (a) and an output (b) for the fieldbus, at least one processor (μP). a disconnector (TR) controlled by the processor between input (a) and output (b), a sensor or actor (S / A) and a communication module (KM), characterized in that in each subscriber (T01 to T10 )

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 the current is measured through the subscriber between its input (a) and its output (b), this current is compared with a maximum stored value and, when this is exceeded, a signal representative of this is generated in the processor (μP), Y

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 when, after a specific delay time (VZ) of the subscriber, the maximum current value exceeds, the disconnector (TR) is opened.

2.

 Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the specific delay time (VZ) of the subscriber is determined based on the number of the other subscribers located between the respective subscriber and the central unit (ZE) and is stored in the respective subscriber during the commissioning of the hazard warning installation.

3.

 Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the specific delay time (VZ) of the subscriber is set as VZ = (N + 1-i) · t, wherein N is the number of subscribers (T01 to T10), i is the physical position number of the subscriber counted from the power terminal (A, B) of the central unit (ZE) and t is a time interval that is greater than the time that the subscriber needs to fully execute his operating routine .

Four.

 Method according to any one of claims 1 to 3 for a hazard warning installation whose central unit (ZE) has a terminal A for the beginning of the fieldbus and a terminal B for the end of the fieldbus and that feeds the latter through terminal A and / or terminal B, characterized in that, during commissioning of the hazard warning system, the current flow direction valid for normal operation is stored in each subscriber, as well as a first Delay time (VZa) for the case of power supply through terminal A of the central unit (ZE) and a second delay time (VZb) for the case of power supply through terminal B of the central unit (ZE) ), and why it is determined during operation, when the maximum stored value of the current is exceeded, its address between the input (a) and the output (b) of the subscriber, and why, depending on the obtained address of the flow of current, the disconnector (TR) is opened at the end of the first delay time (VZa) or at the end of the second delay time (VZb) and the maximum current value exceeds.

5.

 Method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, when opening the disconnector (TR), a significant data telegram of this is sent to the central unit (ZE) through the communication module (KM).

6.

Method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the subscribers (T01 to T10) are fed from an internal energy accumulator when they are below the minimum value of their operating voltage.

7.

 Method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the operating voltage applied to each subscriber is measured (T01 to T10), this voltage is compared with a minimum stored value and the result of the comparison is supplied to the processor (μP ).

8.

 Method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, when the disconnector (TR) is open, a subscriber signaling pilot is activated.

9.

Danger warning installation with a central unit (central or coupler) to which several subscribers (T01 to T10) are connected through a two-wire line acting as a fieldbus, each of which comprises

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an input (a) and an output (b) for the fieldbus,

-at least one processor (μP),

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a disconnector (TR) controlled by the processor (μP) between input (a) and output (b),

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a sensor or actor (S / A),

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a current sensor (IS) to measure the current between the input (a) and the output (b) of the subscriber, and

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a communication module (KM) for exchanging data telegrams with the central unit (ZE),

characterized by

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at least one accumulator (VZa / VZb) for at least one specific delay time (VZ) of the subscriber,

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 another accumulator to store at least the magnitude of the maximum value of the allowable current during normal operation between the input (a) and the output (b) of the subscriber,

5 - an evaluation circuit (AS) that compares the measured current with the maximum stored value and gives the processor (μP) the result of the comparison and also, in the case of a ring-connected field bus, the address of the current, and

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 an energy store for processor operation (μP) when the subscriber's operating voltage ceases,

the installation being configured so that, when the maximum value is exceeded and when the exceeding 10 persists after the specific delay time of the subscriber has elapsed, the disconnector is opened. 10. Danger warning installation according to claim 9, characterized by a voltage measurement module comparing the operating voltage applied to the input (a) or the output (b) of the subscriber with a minimum stored value and, when presented insufficient voltage supplies a signal to the processor (μP).