FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
THE PATENTS RULES, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
[See section 10, Rule 13]
WATER TREATMENT FACILITY OPERATION ASSISTANCE SYSTEM AND WATER
TREATMENT FACILITY OPERATION ASSISTANCE METHOD
MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION, A CORPORATION
ORGANISED AND EXISTING UNDER THE LAWS OF JAPAN, WHOSE ADDRESS IS
7-3, MARUNOUCHI 2-CHOME, CHIYODA-KU, TOKYO 1008310, JAPAN
THE FOLLOWING SPECIFICATION PARTICULARLY DESCRIBES THE INVENTION
AND THE MANNER IN WHICH IT IS TO BE PERFORMED
2
DESCRIPTION
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure relates to water treatment
facility operation assistance system and water treatment facility5
operation assistance method.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] Conventionally, in a sewage treatment plant, an
operation management system that performs water quality10
simulations based on state quantities has been provided. This
system includes an input-output unit for entering the operating
conditions of a sewage treatment plant, a data storage unit for
storing state quantities transmitted from the sewage treatment
plant, a water quality prediction unit that incorporates a pre-15
installed water quality simulator and performs water quality
simulations based on state quantities from the data storage unit
and operating conditions from the input-output unit, and a
parameter input unit for entering parameters of the water quality
simulator into the water quality prediction unit. In this20
conventional system, the results of the water quality simulation
created by the water quality prediction unit are output to the
input/output unit.
CITATION LIST25
3
PATENT DOCUMENT
[0003] Patent Document 1: Japanese Laid-Open Patent
Publication No. 2006-95440
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION5
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTION
[0004] For the operation of water treatment facilities,
including sewage treatment plants, as described in the prior art,
operation support technologies have been proposed to reduce
reliance on operation monitoring based on the know-how of skilled10
operators.
Operating conditions for water treatment facilities,
including sewage treatment plants and water purification plants,
are not limited to a single pattern. Operators must select the
optimal conditions from various operational patterns, taking into15
account factors such as fluctuations in influent load, weather
conditions, and impact of equipment shutdowns at the water
treatment facilities.
Therefore, for an inexperienced user, selecting the
optimum operating condition from various patterns of operating20
conditions becomes a difficult task.
[0005] The present disclosure aims to solve the aforementioned
problems by providing an operation assistance system and an
operation assistance method for a water treatment facility. This
system enables even inexperienced users to select optimal25
4
operating conditions for water treatment facility operation.
MEANS TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM
[0006] The water treatment facility operation assistance
system disclosed in the present disclosure is a water treatment5
facility operation assistance system for supporting the operation
of a water treatment facility, comprising:
a data storage unit for storing state quantities
indicating the status of the water treatment facility transmitted
from the water treatment facility;10
an operating condition selection unit for selecting at
least one operating condition from among a plurality of operating
conditions related to the operation of the water treatment
facility;
a control target value setting unit for calculating a15
control target value corresponding to the operating condition
selected by the operating condition selection unit;
a simulation unit for performing simulations to predict
at least one state quantity from among a plurality of state
quantities of the water treatment facility based on the state20
quantities stored in the data storage unit and the control target
value calculated by the control target value setting unit; and
an output unit that displays the simulation results
generated by the simulation unit.
The water treatment facility operation assistance25
5
system disclosed in the present disclosure is a water treatment
facility operation assistance system for supporting the operation
of a water treatment facility, comprising:
a data storage unit for storing state quantities
indicating the status of the water treatment facility, transmitted5
from the water treatment facility;
a control target value input unit for inputting control
target values related to the operation of the water treatment
facility;
an operating condition display unit for displaying at10
least one operating condition from among a plurality of operating
conditions corresponding to the control target values entered by
the control target value input unit;
a simulation unit for performing a simulation related
to the operation of the water treatment facility, based on the15
state quantities stored in the data storage unit and the control
target values entered by the control target value input unit; and
an output unit for outputting the simulation results
from the simulation unit.
The water treatment facility operation assistance20
method disclosed in the present disclosure is a water treatment
facility operation assistance method for supporting the operation
of a water treatment facility, comprising:
a data storage step for accumulating state quantities
indicating the operational condition of the water treatment25
6
facility transmitted from the water treatment facility;
an operating condition selection step for selecting at
least one operating condition from a plurality of operating
conditions related to the operation of the water treatment
facility;5
a control target value setting step for calculating a
control target value corresponding to the operating condition
selected in the operating condition selection step;
a simulation step for performing a simulation to
predict at least one of the state quantities of the water10
treatment facility based on the state quantities stored in the
data storage step and the control target value calculated in the
control target value setting step; and
an output step for outputting the simulation results
from the simulation step.15
The water treatment facility operation assistance
method disclosed in the present disclosure is a water treatment
facility operation assistance method for supporting the operation
of a water treatment facility, comprising:
a data storage step for storing state quantities20
indicating the status of the water treatment facility transmitted
from the water treatment facility;
a control target value input step for accumulating
state quantities indicating the condition of the water treatment
facility transmitted from the facility;25
7
a control target value input step for inputting control
target values associated with the operation of the water treatment
facility;
an operating condition display step for displaying at
least one operating condition from a plurality of operating5
conditions corresponding to the control target values entered in
the control target value input step;
a simulation step for performing a simulation related
to the operation of the water treatment facility based on the
state quantities stored in the data storage step and the control10
target values entered in the control target value input step; and
an output step for outputting the simulation results
from the simulation step.
EFFECT OF THE INVENTION15
[0007] According to the operation assistance system and method
disclosed in the present disclosure, even inexperienced users can
select optimal operating conditions for the operation of a water
treatment facility.
20
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] [FIG. 1] FIG. 1 a configuration diagram illustrating a
water treatment facility and a water treatment facility operation
assistance system according to embodiment 1.
[FIG. 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example25
8
screen of the operating condition selection unit according to
embodiment 1.
[FIG. 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of
the setting of control target values in the control target value
setting unit according to embodiment 1.5
[FIG. 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of
water quality simulation results displayed on the output unit
according to embodiment 1.
[FIG. 5] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the operation
flow of the water treatment facility operation assistance system10
according to embodiment 1.
[FIG. 6] FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram illustrating
a water treatment facility and a water treatment facility
operation assistance system according to embodiment 2.
[FIG. 7] FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram illustrating15
a water treatment facility and a water treatment facility
operation assistance system according to embodiment 3.
[FIG. 8] FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram illustrating
a water treatment facility and a water treatment facility
operation assistance system according to embodiment 4.20
[FIG. 9] FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of
the hardware configuration of the water treatment facility
operation assistance system according to the embodiments.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS25
9
[0009] Preferred embodiments of the present disclosure will be
described in detail below with reference to the accompanying
drawings. In the present specification and drawings, elements
having substantially the same function are assigned the same
reference numerals, and redundant explanations are omitted. It5
should be noted that the diagrams illustrating the system
configuration and the shape of components merely depict schematic
configurations and shapes of the system and components. The
relative sizes and positions of the components shown in the
drawings do not necessarily represent the exact size or positional10
relationships between the actual components.
In the following embodiments, a sewage treatment plant
is used as an example of a water treatment facility for
explanation purposes. However, the technology disclosed in the
present disclosure is applicable to water treatment facilities in15
general, including both water purification plants and sewage
treatment plants.
[0010] Embodiment 1.
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a water treatment20
facility and a water treatment facility operation assistance
system according to embodiment 1.
The water treatment facility 100 according to
embodiment 1 includes a biological reactor tank 1, an air blower 2,
and sensors 3. The water treatment facility operation assistance25
10
system 110 according to embodiment 1, includes a data storage unit
4, a parameter adjustment unit 5, an input-output unit 6, a data
extraction unit 8, a control target value setting unit 9, and a
simulation unit 10. The input-output unit 6 further includes an
operating condition selection unit 7 and an output unit 11.5
The details of the water treatment facility and the
water treatment facility operation assistance system according to
embodiment 1 will be described below.
[0011] The biological reactor tank 1 of the water treatment
facility 100 contains activated sludge inside. Air supplied from10
the air blower 2 is supplied through the piping 2a into the
biological reactor tank 1. The air blower 2 and piping 2a are not
limited to a single set but can be arranged in multiples depending
on the structure and size of the biological reactor tank 1.
[0012] The sensors 3 are sensors for measuring state15
quantities of the water treatment facility 100 and are installed
at a plurality of locations within the water treatment facility
100. The sensors 3 include various types of sensors for measuring
the state of the water treatment facility 100, such as flowmeters,
airflow meters, thermometers, dissolved oxygen (DO) meters, pH20
meters, oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) meters, mixed liquor
suspended solids (MLSS) meters, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD)
meters, chemical oxygen demand (COD) meters, nicotinamide-adenine
dinucleotide (NADH) meters, ammonia nitrogen concentration meters,
total nitrogen concentration meters, total phosphorus25
11
concentration meters, polyphosphate phosphorus concentration
meters, and chlorine concentration meters.
[0013] The data of a plurality of state quantities measured by
the sensor 3 of the water treatment facility 100 is transmitted
via the signal line 3 to the data storage unit 4 of the water5
treatment facility operation assistance system 110.
[0014] The data storage unit 4 of the water treatment facility
operation assistance system 110 accumulates the data of a
plurality of state quantities measured by the sensors 3,
transmitted via the signal lines 3a. The larger the amount of10
accumulated data to be stored, the more desirable it becomes, and
the system can store data ranging from periods of less than a day
to several years.
[0015] The parameter adjustment unit 5 receives past state
quantity data stored in the data storage unit 4 via signal line 4a15
and adjusts the parameters of the simulator built into the
simulation unit 10 to reproduce the past state quantity data.
[0016] The input-output unit 6, which includes the operating
condition selection unit 7 and the output unit 11, functions as a
device for the input of operating conditions and the verification20
of simulation results. The input-output unit 6 includes, for
example, a personal computer, a touch panel, a tablet, a
smartphone, and the like.
[0017] In the operating condition selection unit 7, the user
selects the desired conditions from among a plurality of preset25
12
operating conditions. The operating condition selection unit 7
enables the user to select conditions via the input-output unit 6.
FIG. 2 shows an example of the screen of the operating
condition selection unit 7 displayed on the input-output unit 6.
In the operating condition selection unit 7, the user inputs the5
simulation period for the water treatment facility operation
assistance system 110 according to embodiment 1.
In the example shown in FIG. 2, the period between
April 1, 00:00, and April 2, 00:00, is entered as the simulation
period.10
[0018] In the operating condition selection unit 7, a
plurality of operating conditions are preset for several
parameters that serve as operation indicators for the water
treatment facility 100. The user selects the desired operating
conditions for simulation from among these presets.15
In the example shown in FIG. 2, the operating
indicators for the water treatment facility include parameters
such as the volume of pumped water, the volume of aeration, and
the volume of returned sludge, with three operating conditions set
for each parameter in this example. The user selects the operating20
condition to be simulated for each parameter.
The operating indicators shown in FIG. 2 are merely
examples. In general sewage treatment plants, typical operation
indicators include the volume of pumped water, the volume of
aeration, the volume of returned sludge, the volume of25
13
recirculated nitrification liquid, the volume of excess sludge
withdrawal, the volume of coagulant dosing, the number of
operating pumps, the number of operating blowers, bypass flow rate,
and incinerator temperature. Given that operation indicators vary
widely depending on the plant configuration, they can be modified,5
increased, or decreased as needed. For example, in a sewage
treatment plant employing the Anaerobic-Anoxic-Oxic (A2O) process,
the parameters available for selection in the operating condition
selection unit 7 may include the volume of pumped water, aeration,
returned sludge, and recirculated nitrification liquid.10
[0019] In the data extraction unit 8, extraction is performed
for data corresponding to the period desired by the user, as
entered in the operating condition selection unit 7, from the data
storage unit 4 via signal line 4b. If the period entered in the
operating condition selection unit 7 is earlier than, or later15
than, the period stored in the data storage unit 4, the system may
alternatively search for and create a dataset from the data
storage unit 4 that matches the characteristics of the specified
period (e.g., weekday/holiday, rainfall, season).
[0020] The operating conditions selected by the user in the20
operating condition selection unit 7 are transmitted to the
control target value setting unit 9 via the signal line 7a, and
the control target value setting unit 9 calculates the control
target value required to achieve the operating conditions selected
by the user and inputs it to the simulation unit 10.25
14
FIG. 3 shows an example of control target values set in
the control target value setting unit 9. As shown in FIG. 2, if
the volume of pumped water is selected as "two units operation,"
the volume of aeration as "low," and the volume of returned sludge
as "high" in the operating condition selection unit 7, then the5
control target value setting unit 9 sets specific values for the
volume of pumped water, DO target value, and returned sludge ratio
as control target values corresponding to each operating condition.
For example, if the volume of aeration is selected as "low" in the
operating condition selection unit 7, a DO target value of 0.510
mg/L is set in the control target value setting unit 9. If the
volume of aeration is selected as "medium," a DO target value
greater than 0.5 mg/L (e.g., 1 mg/L) is set.
[0021] As a method for converting the operating conditions
selected in the operating condition selection unit 7 into specific15
control target values in the control target value setting unit 9,
control target values corresponding to each operating condition
may be pre-assigned based on the expertise of skilled operators.
Alternatively, an Artificial Intelligence (AI) method may be used.
For instance, by utilizing AI clustering techniques, AI can20
classify past state quantity data operated by skilled operators
and automatically compute control target values corresponding to
one/two/three-unit operation of pumped water, or low/medium/high
levels of aeration or returned sludge, as shown in FIG. 3.
Employing an AI-drived method enables even inexperienced users to25
15
automatically compute control target values that approximate the
operation of skilled operators when using the water treatment
facility operation assistance system of this embodiment.
[0022] The correlation between the operating conditions and the
corresponding control target values does not necessarily have to5
remain constant and, preferably, should be adjusted as appropriate
according to seasonal variations, the operational status of the
sewage treatment plant, and other factors.
[0023] FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a sewage treatment
plant that employs DO control as the control method for aeration10
volume and ratio control relative to influent water volume as the
control method for returned sludge volume. In addition to DO
control, there are a wide variety of control methods for the
aeration volume adopted by sewage treatment plants, such as
constant aeration volume control, magnification control relative15
to the inflow water volume, and feedback control based on the
values of state quantities in the biological reactor tank 1.
Similarly, in the method of controlling the amount of returned
sludge, there are methods such as constant flow rate control in
addition to ratio control relative to the amount of inflow water.20
Furthermore, since the control methods for each operating
indicator differ according to the sewage treatment plant, the
items and values targeted for control also vary accordingly. For
example, in a sewage treatment plant that adopts ratio control
relative to influent water volume for aeration volume and constant25
16
flow control for returned sludge volume, the control target value
for aeration volume in FIG. 3 would be the aeration volume ratio
in place of the DO target value, and the control target value for
returned sludge volume would be the returned sludge flow rate in
place of the returned sludge ratio.5
[0024] The simulation unit 10 is equipped with a built-in
water quality prediction simulator and conducts water quality
simulations using parameters transmitted from the parameter
adjustment unit 5 via signal line 5a, state quantity data for the
user-specified period transmitted from the data extraction unit 810
via signal line 8a, and control target values transmitted from the
control target value setting unit 9 via signal line 9a.
In the example shown in FIG. 3, the simulation unit 10
performs a water quality simulation in accordance with the control
target values set by the control target value setting unit 9,15
assuming the operation of the sewage treatment plant with a pumped
water volume of 1000 m³/hr, a DO level of 0.5 mg/L in the
biological reaction tank 1, and a returned sludge ratio of 2.
[0025] The water quality prediction simulator built into the
simulation unit 10 simulates a plurality of water quality20
parameters, as specified by the user, in the biological reaction
tank 1 or in the water discharged from the biological reaction
tank 1. Representative water quality parameters include: DO, pH,
ORP, MLSS, BOD, COD, NADH, ammonia nitrogen concentration, total
nitrogen concentration, total phosphorus concentration,25
17
polyphosphate phosphorus concentration, and chlorine concentration.
The water quality prediction simulator can be implemented in any
form capable of simulating the desired water quality parameters,
including the activated sludge model proposed by the International
Water Association (IWA), AI techniques such as machine learning,5
deep learning, and genetic algorithms, or formulas based on
empirical rules.
[0026] The output unit 11 outputs the water quality simulation
results transmitted from the simulation unit 10 via signal line
10a to a screen or the like.10
FIG. 4 shows an example of water quality simulation
results displayed on the output unit 11. When COD, TN (Total
Nitrogen), and TP (Total Phosphorus) of the water discharged from
the biological reaction tank 1 are output to the output unit 11,
the COD, TN, and TP data for the period specified by the user in15
the operating condition selection unit 7 are displayed as a trend
graph on the screen. The output format of the data is not
necessarily limited to a trend graph; it may also be displayed in
the form of a data table, output as average values for the
specified period, or in other formats specified by the user, such20
as summary tables or charts, among other options.
[0027] The operation flow of the water treatment facility
operation assistance system 110 in embodiment 1 will be explained
using FIG. 5.
The operation flow of the water treatment facility25
18
operation assistance system 110 includes six steps, from Step ST1
to Step ST6.
In Step ST1, the user inputs the operating conditions
into the operating condition selection unit 7. Following this, the
operation flow proceeds to Steps ST2 to ST4. Since Steps ST2 to5
ST4 are independent steps, parallel operation is possible, as
shown in FIG. 5, thereby reducing the operation time of the water
treatment facility operation assistance system 110. However, it is
not essential to perform steps ST2 to ST4 in parallel, and the
same results can be obtained even if two or more of steps ST2 to10
ST4 are performed sequentially.
[0028] In Step ST2, the parameter adjustment unit 5 adjusts
the parameters of the simulation unit 10 for reproducing the past
state quantity data stored in the data storage unit 4.
[0029] In Step ST3, the data extraction unit 8 extracts data15
for the period specified by the user in the operating condition
selection unit 7 from the data storage unit 4.
[0030] In Step ST4, the control target value setting unit 9
calculates the control target values necessary to achieve the
operating conditions selected by the user in the operating20
condition selection unit 7 and inputs the control target values
into the simulation unit 10.
[0031] In Step ST5, the simulation unit 10 performs a water
quality simulation based on parameters transmitted from the
parameter adjustment unit 5, state quantity data transmitted from25
19
the data extraction unit 8, and control target values transmitted
from the control target value setting unit 9.
[0032] In step ST6, the output unit 11 outputs the water
quality simulation results.
[0033] After Steps ST1 to ST6 are completed, if the user5
enters different operating conditions in the operating condition
selection unit 7, Steps ST1 to ST6 are repeated. This allows the
user to repeatedly review the simulation results for a plurality
of operating conditions, enabling them to observe the effects of
changes in operating conditions on water quality and explore the10
optimal operating conditions.
[0034] With the above configuration and flow, even a user with
limited experience in monitoring the operation of the water
treatment facility 100 can simply select the desired conditions
from among the preset operating conditions in the operating15
condition selection unit 7, allowing the control target value
setting unit 9 to automatically set the control target values for
the simulation. This makes it easy to perform water quality
simulations for a plurality of operating conditions. Furthermore,
since the user can view the water quality simulation results when20
operating conditions are changed, they can explore and determine
the optimal operating conditions for the actual operation of the
water treatment plant.
[0035] As described above, according to embodiment 1, a water
treatment facility operation assistance system supports the25
20
operation of a water treatment facility and comprises:
a data storage unit that stores state quantities
indicating the state of the water treatment facility transmitted
from the water treatment facility;
an operating condition selection unit that selects at5
least one operating condition from among a plurality of operating
conditions related to the operation of the water treatment
facility;
a control target value setting unit that calculates
control target values corresponding to the operating conditions10
selected in the operating condition selection unit;
a simulation unit that performs simulations to predict
at least one of the state quantities of the water treatment
facility based on the state quantities stored in the data storage
unit and the control target values calculated by the control15
target value setting unit; and
an output unit that outputs the simulation results of
the simulation unit,
thereby enabling even users with limited experience in
operating water treatment facilities to achieve optimal operating20
conditions.
[0036] A water treatment facility operation assistance method
supports the operation of a water treatment facility and
comprises:
a data storage step that stores state quantities25
21
indicating the state of the water treatment facility transmitted
from the water treatment facility; an operating condition
selection step that selects at least one operating condition from
among a plurality of operating conditions related to the operation
of the water treatment facility;5
a control target value setting step that calculates
control target values corresponding to the operating conditions
selected in the operating condition selection step;
a simulation step that performs simulations to predict
at least one of the state quantities of the water treatment10
facility based on the state quantities stored in the data storage
step and the control target values calculated in the control
target value setting step; and
an output step that outputs the simulation results of
the simulation step,15
thereby enabling even users with limited experience in
operating water treatment facilities to achieve optimal operating
conditions.
[0037] The operating condition selection unit is configured so
that a plurality of operating conditions are set for each of the a20
plurality of items serving as operation indicators, to allow user
selection of at least one operating condition for each item,
thereby enabling even users with limited experience in water
treatment facility operation to easily select the operating
conditions.25
22
[0038] The control target value setting unit calculates the
control target values corresponding to the operating conditions
based on either the predefined control target values assigned for
each operating condition according to the knowledge of skilled
operators or based on classifications of past state quantity data5
generated by AI (Artificial Intelligence) from operations by
skilled operators, allowing the control target values to
approximate those of skilled operators.
[0039] The water treatment facility includes a biological
reaction tank that stores activated sludge, and the simulation10
unit is configured to simulate at least one of the water quality
inside the biological reaction tank and the water quality of the
water discharged from the biological reaction tank, thereby
enabling even users with limited experience in water treatment
facility operation to simulate water quality close to that15
achieved by skilled operators.
[0040] Embodiment 2.
FIG. 6 illustrates the configuration of a water
treatment facility and water treatment facility operation
assistance system according to embodiment 2.20
The water treatment facility 100A of embodiment 2
includes a biological reaction tank 1, an air blower 2, a sensor 3,
and a sedimentation tank 12. The water treatment facility
operation assistance system 110A of embodiment 2 includes a data
storage unit 4, a parameter adjustment unit 5, an input/output25
23
unit 6, a data extraction unit 8, a control target value setting
unit 9, a simulation unit 10, and an output unit 11, and the
input/output unit 6 includes an operating condition selection unit
7 and an output unit 11.
The details of the water treatment facility and water5
treatment facility operation assistance system according to
embodiment 2 will be explained below, focusing on the differences
from embodiment 1.
[0041] The water treatment facility 100A of embodiment 2
includes a sedimentation tank 12 in addition to the configuration10
of embodiment 1. The sedimentation tank 12 receives water from the
biological reaction tank 1, settling solids such as activated
sludge to produce supernatant.
[0042] The sensors 3 are sensors for measuring the state of
the water treatment facility and are installed at a plurality of15
locations in the water treatment facility 100A, including the
sedimentation tank 12.
Various types of sensors correspond to sensor 3 for
measuring the state of the water treatment facility 100A,
including flow meters, airflow meters, thermometers, DO (Dissolved20
Oxygen) meters, pH meters, ORP (Oxidation-Reduction Potential)
meters, MLSS (Mixed Liquor Suspended Solids) meters, BOD
(Biochemical Oxygen Demand) meters, COD (Chemical Oxygen Demand)
meters, NADH (Nicotinamide-Adenine Dinucleotide) meters, ammonia
nitrogen concentration meters, total nitrogen concentration meters,25
24
total phosphorus concentration meters, polyphosphate phosphorus
concentration meters, chlorine concentration meters, and sludge
interface meters.
[0043] The water treatment facility operation assistance
system 110A of embodiment 2, like embodiment 1, includes a data5
storage unit 4, a parameter adjustment unit 5, an input/output
unit 6, an operating condition selection unit 7, a data extraction
unit 8, a control target value setting unit 9, and a simulation
unit 10, and the input/output unit 6 includes an operating
condition selection unit 7 and an output unit 11.10
[0044] The simulation unit 10 of embodiment 2 includes a
built-in sludge interface height prediction simulator. The
simulation unit 10 performs a prediction simulation of the sludge
interface height in the sedimentation tank 12 based on parameters
transmitted from the parameter adjustment unit 5 via signal line15
5a, the state quantity data for the period specified by the user
transmitted from the data extraction unit 8 via signal line 8a,
and the control target values transmitted from the control target
value setting unit 9 via signal line 9a.
Here, the sludge interface refers to the boundary20
between the settled solids and the supernatant liquid in the
sedimentation tank 12, and the distance from the bottom of the
sedimentation tank 12 to the sludge interface is the sludge
interface height. The sludge interface height prediction simulator
may take any form as long as it can simulate the sludge interface25
25
height in the settling tank 12, such as the Vesilind model, which
is a physical model that describes the settling phenomenon of
activated sludge in mathematical terms, AI such as machine
learning, deep learning, or genetic algorithms, or mathematical
formulas based on empirical rules.5
[0045] The output unit 11 outputs the simulation results of
the sludge interface height, transmitted from the simulation unit
10 via signal line 10a, to a screen or the like for review. Other
components and the operation flow are the same as in embodiment 1.
[0046] In embodiment 2, the simulation unit 10 simulates the10
sludge interface height in the settling tank 12, and the sludge
interface height is an important item to be monitored for stable
operation of a sewage treatment facility. If the sludge interface
height exceeds the height of the sedimentation tank 12, solids
such as activated sludge may overflow into the effluent, causing a15
significantly deterioration in the quality of effluent.
Furthermore, since activated sludge plays a role in purifying
contaminants, the discharge of activated sludge from the
sedimentation tank 12 may hinder further biological treatment. In
particular, when the amount of water flowing into the biological20
reaction tank 1 increases significantly during rainy weather, the
residence time required for solids to settle in the sedimentation
tank 12 may not be secured, and the sludge interface height may
rise.
[0047] For users with limited experience, monitoring25
26
operations under these conditions may often be challenging.
However, in embodiment 2, the configuration and operation flow
described above allow even users with limited experience in water
treatment facility operation to easily perform sludge interface
height simulations for a plurality of operating conditions by5
simply selecting desired conditions from among preset operating
conditions in the operating condition selection unit 7, which
automatically sets control target values in the control target
value setting unit 9. Furthermore, the user can check the
simulation results of the sludge interface height when the10
operating conditions are changed, allowing the user to search for
and determine the optimal operating conditions and operate the
actual water treatment plant.
[0048] As described above, according to embodiment 2, the same
effects as those of embodiment 1 are achieved, and in addition,15
since the water treatment facility includes at least a
sedimentation tank that settles solids of activated sludge and
obtains a supernatant liquid, and the simulation unit performs a
simulation of at least the sludge interface height in the
sedimentation tank, even users with limited experience in water20
treatment facility operation can perform simulations of sludge
interface heights similar to those achieved by skilled operators.
[0049] Embodiment 3.
FIG. 7 shows the configuration of a water treatment
facility and water treatment facility operation assistance system25
27
according to embodiment 3.
The water treatment facility 100B of embodiment 3
includes a biological reaction tank 1, an air blower 2, a sensor 3,
a storage unit 13, and a pump 14.
The water treatment facility operation assistance5
system 110B of embodiment 3 includes a data storage unit 4, a
parameter adjustment unit 5, an input/output unit 6, a data
extraction unit 8, a control target value setting unit 9, and a
simulation unit 10, and the input/output unit 6 includes an
operating condition selection unit 7 and an output unit 11.10
The details of the water treatment facility and water
treatment facility operation assistance system according to
embodiment 3 will be explained below, focusing on the differences
from embodiments 1 and 2.
[0050] The water treatment facility 100B of embodiment 315
includes a storage unit 13 and a pump 14, further including the
configuration of embodiment 1.
[0051] The storage unit 13 temporarily stores water before it
flows into the biological reaction tank 1 in order to regulate the
water inflow to the biological reaction tank 1. In general sewage20
treatment facilities, an inflow channel or a pump well serves as
the storage unit 13, but as long as it has the aforementioned
function, the storage unit 13 is not limited to an inflow channel
or pump well.
[0052] The pump 14 is a pump that draws (lifts) the water25
28
stored in the storage unit 13 and allows it to flow into the
biological reaction tank 1, with water from the storage unit 13
flowing into the biological reaction tank 1 via piping 14a.
[0053] The sensors 3 are sensors for measuring the state of
the water treatment facility 100B and is installed in a plurality5
of locations within the water treatment facility 100B, including
the piping that directs water into the storage unit 13 and the
piping 14a that directs water from the storage unit 13 into the
biological reaction tank 1. Various types of sensors correspond to
sensor 3 for measuring the state of the water treatment facility10
100B, including flow meters, airflow meters, thermometers, DO
(Dissolved Oxygen) meters, pH meters, ORP (Oxidation-Reduction
Potential) meters, MLSS (Mixed Liquor Suspended Solids) meters,
BOD (Biochemical Oxygen Demand) meters, COD (Chemical Oxygen
Demand) meters, NADH (Nicotinamide-Adenine Dinucleotide) meters,15
ammonia nitrogen concentration meters, total nitrogen
concentration meters, total phosphorus concentration meters,
polyphosphate phosphorus concentration meters, and chlorine
concentration meters.
[0054] The water treatment facility operation assistance20
system 110B of embodiment 3, like embodiment 1, includes a data
storage unit 4, a parameter adjustment unit 5, an input/output
unit 6, an operating condition selection unit 7, a data extraction
unit 8, a control target value setting unit 9, and a simulation
unit 10, and the input/output unit 6 includes an operating25
29
condition selection unit 7 and an output unit 11.
[0055] The simulation unit 10 in embodiment 3 has a built-in
water quality prediction simulator and a water level prediction
simulator for the storage unit 13. The simulation unit 10 performs
simulations of the water quality inside or discharged from the5
biological reaction tank 1 and the water level in the storage unit
13 based on parameters transmitted from the parameter adjustment
unit 5 via signal line 5a, state quantity data for the period
specified by the user transmitted from the data extraction unit 8
via signal line 8a, and control target values transmitted from the10
control target value setting unit 9 via signal line 9a.
[0056] The water level in the storage unit 13 is the distance
from the bottom of the storage unit 13 to the water surface of the
water stored in the storage unit 13, and fluctuates according to
the balance between the amount of water flowing into the storage15
unit 13 and the amount of water pumped by pump 14.
The water level prediction simulator can take any form capable of
simulating the water level in the storage unit 13, including a
physical model describing the water balance in the storage unit 13,
AI (Artificial Intelligence) such as machine learning, or20
empirical formula-based models.
[0057] The output unit 11 outputs the water quality simulation
results and the storage unit 13 water level simulation results
transmitted from the simulation unit 10 via signal line 10a to a
screen or the like for user review. Other components and the25
30
operation flow are the same as in embodiment 1.
[0058] In embodiment 3, in addition to the water quality in
the biological reaction tank 1 or the water discharged from the
biological reaction tank 1, which is simulated by the simulation
unit 10 in embodiment 1, a water level simulation of the storage5
unit 13 is also performed. By temporarily storing water in the
storage unit 13, the amount of water flowing into the biological
reaction tank 1 can be adjusted. Accordingly, the storage unit 13
has the effect of stabilizing the treatment process in the
biological reaction tank 1.10
[0059] However, when an unusually large amount of water, such
as during rainfall, flows into the water treatment facility 100B,
the amount of water flowing into the storage unit 13 significantly
increases, causing the water level in the storage unit 13 to rise.
If the water level in the storage unit 13 exceeds the height of15
the storage unit 13, water overflows from the storage unit 13,
causing the water treatment facility 100B to become flooded with
sewage. Therefore, it is necessary to operate the water treatment
facility 100B to keep the water level in the storage unit 13 from
exceeding its height.20
[0060] To reduce the water level in the storage unit 13, an
effective approach is to increase the amount of water pumped to
the biological reaction tank 1 by operating pump 14. However,
increasing the inflow of water to the biological reaction tank 1
raises the pollution load within the tank, potentially leading to25
31
a deterioration in effluent quality.
Therefore, there is a trade-off relationship between
the water level in the storage unit 13 and the quality of the
water discharged from the biological reaction tank 1, and it is
necessary to carry out operational monitoring of the entire water5
treatment facility 100B while taking both into consideration.
[0061] For users with limited experience, monitoring the water
treatment facility 100B while considering such complex factors can
be challenging. However, in embodiment 3, the configuration and
operation flow described above allow even users with limited10
experience in operating the water treatment facility 100B to
easily perform simulations of water quality and the water level in
the storage unit 13 for a plurality of operating conditions. This
is achieved by simply selecting desired conditions from among
preset operating conditions in the operating condition selection15
unit 7, which automatically sets control target values in the
control target value setting unit 9. Furthermore, since the user
can check the water quality and the water level in the storage
unit 13 when the operating conditions are changed, the user can
search for and determine the operating conditions that optimize20
both the water quality of the water discharged from the biological
reaction tank 1 and the water level in the storage unit 13, and
then operate the actual water treatment plant.
[0062] As described above, according to embodiment 3, the same
effects as those of embodiments 1 and 2 are achieved, and in25
32
addition, since the water treatment facility includes a biological
reaction tank that stores activated sludge and a storage tank that
temporarily stores water flowing into the biological reaction tank,
and the simulation unit simulates at least the water level in the
storage tank, even users with limited experience in water5
treatment facility operation can perform simulations of storage
tank water levels similar to those of skilled operators.
[0063] Embodiment 4.
FIG. 8 shows the configuration of a water treatment
facility and water treatment facility operation assistance system10
according to embodiment 4. The water treatment facility 100C of
embodiment 4 includes a biological reaction tank 1, an air blower
2, and a sensor 3. The water treatment facility operation
assistance system 110C of embodiment 4 includes a data storage
unit 4, a parameter adjustment unit 5, an input/output unit 6, a15
data extraction unit 8, and a simulation unit 10, and the
input/output unit 6 includes a control target value input unit 20,
an operating condition display unit 30, and an output unit 11.
The details of the water treatment facility and water
treatment facility operation assistance system according to20
embodiment 4 will be explained below, focusing on the differences
from embodiments 1 through 3.
[0064] In embodiment 4, a control target value input unit 20
is provided in the input/output unit 6 , and a user can directly
input a control target value in the control target value input25
33
unit 20 .
The control target values input in the control target value input
unit 20 are transmitted to the simulation unit 10 via signal line
9a and to the operating condition display unit 30 via signal line
9b.5
[0065] When the control target value is transmitted to the
operating condition display unit 30 via signal line 9b, the
operating condition display unit 30 displays the operating
conditions corresponding to the control target values specified in
the control target value input unit 20. In the operating condition10
display unit 30, a plurality of operating conditions are set for
each of a plurality of items that serve as operating indicators,
and the respective operating conditions for each of the items that
correspond to the control target values inputted in the control
target value input unit 20 are displayed.15
Using Figures 2 and 3 as examples, several operating
indicators exist, such as the amount of pumped water, aeration,
and returned sludge. For each indicator, a plurality of operating
conditions are set: the amount of pumped water has "one-unit
operation," "two-unit operation," and "three-unit operation";20
aeration has "low," "medium," and "high"; and returned sludge has
"low," "medium," and "high." For instance, if a DO target value of
1 mg/L is specified in the control target value input unit 20, the
aeration operating condition is displayed as "medium" instead of
"low," and the operating condition display unit 30 on the screen25
34
of the input/output unit 6 shows that the specified control target
value corresponds to "medium" for aeration.
[0066] The simulation unit 10 performs a simulation of the
water treatment facility operation based on the control target
values entered in the control target value input unit 20. The5
simulation unit 10 incorporates at least one of the following
simulators: a water quality prediction simulator, a sludge
interface height prediction simulator, and a water level
prediction simulator. Other components and the operation flow are
the same as in embodiments 1 to 3.10
[0067] With the above-described configuration, an experienced
user with extensive knowledge about operation monitoring of water
treatment facility can directly input the control target value to
be set in the control target value input unit 20, instead of
selecting pre-set operating conditions in the operating condition15
selection unit 7 of embodiments 1 to 3. This enables a more
precise simulation of the operating conditions desired by the user.
Furthermore, since the operating conditions corresponding to the
control target values entered in the control target value input
unit 20 are displayed in the operating condition display unit 30,20
even inexperienced users can easily understand what operating
conditions are being simulated.
[0068] In embodiment 4, in case where use by an experienced
user with extensive knowledge about operation monitoring of water
treatment plants is also assumed, the user is allowed to directly25
35
input the control target value to be set in the control target
value input unit 20, rather than selecting pre-set operating
conditions in the operating condition selection unit 7. In such a
case, the operating conditions corresponding to the control target
value inputted in the control target value input section 20 are5
displayed in the operating condition display section 30, so that
an inexperienced user can learn under which operating conditions
the simulation is being performed.
[0069] As described above, according to embodiment 4, a water
treatment facility operation assistance system is provided to10
support the operation of a water treatment facility. The system
comprises:
a data storage unit that accumulates state quantities
indicating the condition of the water treatment facility, as
transmitted from the facility;15
a control target value input unit for entering control
target values related to the facility’s operation;
an operating condition display unit that shows at least
one of the plurality of operating conditions corresponding to the
control target values specified in the control target value input20
unit;
a simulation unit that performs a simulation of the
facility’s operation using the state quantities stored in the data
storage unit along with the control target values specified in the
control target value input unit; and25
36
an output unit that outputs the simulation results from
the simulation unit, enabling even inexperienced users to
understand and optimize operating conditions for the water
treatment facility.
[0070] The operating condition display unit has operating5
conditions set for each of the various operating indicators, and
each of the operating conditions corresponding to each of these
indicators for the control target values entered in the control
target value input unit is displayed, allowing even inexperienced
users to understand optimal operating conditions for the water10
treatment facility.
[0071] Additionally, a method for supporting the operation of
a water treatment facility is provided, comprising:
a data storage step that accumulates state quantities
transmitted from the facility, indicating its operational15
condition; a control target value input step for entering control
target values associated with the operation of the facility;
an operating condition display step that displays at
least one of the operating conditions corresponding to the
specified control target values;20
a simulation step that performs simulations related to
facility operation based on the state quantities stored in the
data storage step and the control target values entered in the
control target value input step; and
an output step that displays the results from the25
37
simulation step, enabling even inexperienced users to understand
and apply optimal operating conditions for the water treatment
facility.
[0072] Furthermore, the water treatment facility operation
assistance system of embodiment 4 may be used in combination with5
the water treatment facility operation assistance systems of
embodiments 1 to 3.
Specifically, a water treatment facility operation
assistance system is provided, comprising:
a data storage unit that accumulates state quantities10
transmitted from the water treatment facility indicating its
operational state;
an operating condition selection unit that selects at
least one operating condition from among a plurality of conditions
related to the operation of the facility;15
a control target value setting unit that calculates
control target values corresponding to the operating conditions
selected by the operating condition selection unit;
a simulation unit that, based on the state quantities
stored in the data storage unit and the control target values20
calculated by the control target value setting unit, performs a
simulation to predict at least one of the state quantities of the
water treatment facility; and
an output unit that displays the simulation results
generated by the simulation unit. Additionally, the system25
38
includes a control target value input unit that allows users to
input control target values related to facility operation, and an
operating condition display unit that displays at least one
operating condition from among a plurality of conditions
corresponding to the control target values entered in the control5
target value input unit.
The simulation unit may be configured to perform
simulations related to facility operation based on the state
quantities stored in the data storage unit and the control target
values entered in the control target value input unit.10
[0073] FIG. 9 shows an example of the hardware configuration
of water treatment facility operation assistance systems 110, 110A,
110B, and 110C according to embodiments 1 to 4.
As shown in FIG. 9, the water treatment facility
operation assistance systems 110, 110A, 110B, and 110C include a15
processing device 1000 and an input/output unit 6. The processing
device 1000 includes a processor 1010 and a storage device 1020.
The storage device 1020 includes volatile memory such as random
access memory and non-volatile auxiliary storage such as flash
memory, though a hard disk may be used instead of flash memory.20
The processor 1010 executes programs loaded from the
storage device 1020, receiving programs from the auxiliary storage
device through volatile memory. The processor 1010 may output
calculation results and other data to volatile memory within the
storage device 1020 or store data to the auxiliary storage device25
39
through volatile memory.
The processor 1010 performs the calculations for the
parameter adjustment unit 5, data extraction unit 8, control
target value setting unit 9, and simulation unit 10 described in
previous embodiments. The storage device 1020 includes the data5
storage unit 4.
[0074] In addition, in the above-described embodiment, a
sewage treatment facility is used as an example of a water
treatment facility, but the technology disclosed in the present
application can be applied to water treatment facilities in10
general, including water purification facilities and sewage
treatment facilities.
For instance, when applied to a water purification
facility, the water facility may include a receiving well, a
coagulation tank, a sedimentation tank, a filtration tank, and the15
like. The operating indicators in the operating condition
selection unit and operating condition display unit of the water
treatment facility operation assistance system may include items
such as sodium hypochlorite injection amount, ozone diffusion
volume, and coagulant injection amount.20
[0075] Although the disclosure is described above in terms of
various exemplary embodiments and implementations, it should be
understood that the various features, aspects, and functionality
described in one or more of the individual embodiments are not
limited in their applicability to the particular embodiment with25
40
which they are described, but they can be applied, alone or in
various combinations to one or more of the embodiments of the
disclosure.
It is therefore understood that numerous modifications
which have not been exemplified can be devised without departing5
from the scope of the present disclosure. For example, at least
one of the constituent components may be modified, added, or
eliminated. At least one of the constituent components mentioned
in at least one of the preferred embodiments may be selected and
combined with the constituent components mentioned in another10
preferred embodiment.
DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCE CHARACTERS
[0076] 1 Biological reactor tank
2 Air blower15
3 Sensor
4 Data storage unit
5 Parameter adjustment unit
6 Input-output unit
7 Operating condition selection unit20
8 Data extraction unit
9 Control target value setting unit
10 Simulation unit
11 Output unit
12 Sedimentation tank25
41
13 Storage tank
20 Control target value input unit
30 Operating condition display unit
100, 100A, 100B, 100C Water treatment facility
110, 110A, 110B, 110C Operation assistance system5
42
We Claim:
[Claim 1] A water treatment facility operation assistance system
for supporting the operation of a water treatment facility,
comprising:
a data storage unit that accumulates state quantities5
indicating the operational condition of the water treatment
facility transmitted from the water treatment facility;
an operating condition selection unit that selects at
least one operating condition from a plurality of operating
conditions related to the operation of the water treatment10
facility;
a control target value setting unit that calculates a
control target value corresponding to the operating condition
selected by the operating condition selection unit;
a simulation unit that, based on the state quantities15
stored in the data storage unit and the control target value
calculated by the control target value setting unit, performs a
simulation to predict at least one of the state quantities of the
water treatment facility; and
an output unit that outputs the simulation results from20
the simulation unit.
[Claim 2] The water treatment facility operation assistance
system according to claim 1, wherein
the operating condition selection unit is configured to25
43
set a plurality of operating conditions for each of a plurality of
items that serve as operating indicators, and to select at least
one operating condition from the plurality of operating conditions
for each of the items.
5
[Claim 3] The water treatment facility operation assistance
system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein
the control target value setting unit calculates the
control target value corresponding to the operating condition
based on a value previously assigned to each of the operating10
conditions based on the knowledge of an experienced operator, or
calculates the control target value based on past state quantity
data from operation by an experienced operator classified by AI
(Artificial Intelligence).
15
[Claim 4] A water treatment facility operation assistance system
for supporting the operation of a water treatment facility,
comprising:
a data storage unit that accumulates state quantities
indicating the operational condition of the water treatment20
facility transmitted from the water treatment facility;
a control target value input unit for inputting control
target values related to the operation of the water treatment
facility;
an operating condition display unit that displays at25
44
least one operating condition among a plurality of operating
conditions corresponding to the control target values inputted
through the control target value input unit;
a simulation unit that performs a simulation related to
the operation of the water treatment facility based on the state5
quantities stored in the data storage unit and the control target
values entered in the control target value input unit; and
an output unit that outputs the simulation result from
the simulation unit.
10
[Claim 5] The water treatment facility operation assistance
system according to claim 4, wherein
the operating condition display unit sets a plurality
of operating conditions for each of a plurality of items that
serve as operating indicators, and displays the respective15
operating conditions for each of the items that correspond to the
control target values inputted in the control target value input
unit.
[Claim 6] The water treatment facility operation assistance20
system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein
the water treatment facility includes a biological
reaction tank that stores activated sludge, and the simulation
unit performs a simulation of at least one of the water quality in
the biological reaction tank and the water quality discharged from25
45
the biological reaction tank.
[Claim 7] The water treatment facility operation assistance
system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein
the water treatment facility includes at least a5
sedimentation tank that settles solids of activated sludge and
obtains a supernatant liquid, and the simulation unit performs a
simulation of at least the sludge interface height in the
sedimentation tank.
10
[Claim 8] The water treatment facility operation assistance
system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein
the water treatment facility includes a biological
reaction tank that stores activated sludge and a storage tank that
temporarily stores water flowing into the biological reaction tank,15
and the simulation unit performs a simulation of at least the
water level in the storage tank.
[Claim 9] A water treatment facility operation assistance method
for supporting the operation of a water treatment facility,20
comprising:
a data storage step for accumulating state quantities
indicating the operational condition of the water treatment
facility transmitted from the water treatment facility;
an operating condition selection step for selecting at25
46
least one operating condition from a plurality of operating
conditions related to the operation of the water treatment
facility;
a control target value setting step for calculating a
control target value corresponding to the operating condition5
selected in the operating condition selection step;
a simulation step for performing a simulation to
predict at least one of the state quantities of the water
treatment facility based on the state quantities stored in the
data storage step and the control target value calculated in the10
control target value setting step; and
an output step for outputting the simulation results
from the simulation step.
[Claim 10] A water treatment facility operation assistance method15
for supporting the operation of a water treatment facility,
comprising:
a data storage step for storing state quantities
indicating the status of the water treatment facility transmitted
from the water treatment facility;20
a control target value input step for accumulating
state quantities indicating the condition of the water treatment
facility transmitted from the facility;
a control target value input step for inputting control
target values associated with the operation of the water treatment25
47
facility;
an operating condition display step for displaying at
least one operating condition from a plurality of operating
conditions corresponding to the control target values entered in
the control target value input step;5
a simulation step for performing a simulation related
to the operation of the water treatment facility based on the
state quantities stored in the data storage step and the control
target values entered in the control target value input step; and
an output step for outputting the simulation results10
from the simulation step.