JP2019162601A - Flocculant addition amount control device, sludge concentration system, and flocculant addition amount control method - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a flocculant addition amount control device capable of accurately controlling the flocculant injection rate in the step of concentrating sludge with a concentrator.SOLUTION: A flocculant addition amount control device has: an imaging unit that images the liquid surface of a separation liquid in which a processing object to which a flocculant is added by a flocculant addition unit is separated by a solid-liquid separator; an area detection unit for detecting an area of suspended substance that exists in the separation liquid from the imaging data obtained from the imaging unit; an outline detection unit for detecting the outline of the suspended substance existing in the separation liquid from the imaging data obtained from the imaging unit; a determination unit that compares a relation between the area of the suspended substance and the outline of the suspended substance to a reference range; and a control unit for controlling the amount of the flocculant added by the flocculant addition unit based on the comparison result of the determination unit.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a flocculant addition amount control device, a sludge concentration system, and a flocculant addition amount control method.

Solid-liquid separators are used in facilities such as water treatment plants for the purpose of concentrating or dewatering materials to be treated such as sludge. In general, the object to be treated such as sludge cannot be solid-liquid separated as it is, so as a pretreatment, a polymer flocculant is added to the object to be treated, and the fine particles in the object to be treated are connected to each other by several mm. After agglomeration flocs are formed so as to be the size of a table, solid-liquid separation is performed by a solid-liquid separation device. When the addition amount of the polymer flocculant is optimal, the aggregate flocs of several millimeters optimal for solid-liquid separation can be obtained, but when the addition amount is small, the aggregate floc size is less than 1 mm, The efficiency of solid-liquid separation decreases. On the other hand, when the amount of the polymer flocculant added is excessively large, the viscosity of the flocculent flocs increases, and since the flocculant itself is charged, the flocculent flocs are redispersed and the size of the flocculent flocs It becomes less than 1 mm, and the efficiency of solid-liquid separation decreases. Usually, in the operation management of the solid-liquid separation device, the amount of the polymer flocculant added is often set higher than the optimum value in consideration of fluctuations in the properties of the treated part, which increases the maintenance cost. It is a factor.
There is also a sludge treatment apparatus having a function of controlling the injection rate of such a flocculant (for example, Patent Document 1). In the sludge treatment apparatus of this patent document 1, the state of floc aggregation in the sludge stock solution is photographed, the area of floc is obtained from the photographing result, and the amount of flocculant added is adjusted based on the area of floc.

JP 2011-189321 A

However, if the flocculant is excessively injected into the object to be treated, it may be discharged out of the system together with the filtrate without being effectively utilized, resulting in waste. On the other hand, when the amount of the flocculant injected is insufficient, solid-liquid separation cannot be performed efficiently.
Moreover, in the centrifuge of Patent Document 1, the injection rate of the flocculant is controlled based on the area of the floc, but even if the floc area is the same, the floc exists as a lump, There may be cases where the flocs are dispersed in a large number, and even if the area of the flocs can be grasped, the properties of the object to be processed may be different. Then, it is desirable to set the injection rate of the flocculant to an injection rate according to the properties of the object to be processed. However, in the sludge treatment apparatus of Patent Document 1, it is not always possible to control the flocculant injection rate in accordance with the properties of the object to be treated by using only the floc area.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and the object thereof is a flocculant addition amount control device capable of accurately controlling the injection rate of the flocculant in the step of concentrating sludge with a concentrator. It is to provide a sludge concentration system and a flocculant addition amount control method.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides an imaging unit that images a liquid surface of a separation liquid obtained by separating a workpiece to which a flocculant is added by a flocculant addition unit by a solid-liquid separation device, and the imaging An area detection unit that detects the area of suspended solids present in the separation liquid from the imaging data obtained from the imaging unit, and a contour detection unit that detects the outline of suspended solids present in the separation liquid from the imaging data obtained from the imaging unit A determination unit that compares the relationship between the area of the suspended solids and the outline of the suspended solids and a reference range, and a flocculant added by the flocculant addition unit based on a comparison result of the determination unit And a control unit for controlling the addition amount.

  Further, in the present invention, the imaging unit images the liquid level of the separation liquid from which the processing object to which the flocculant is added by the flocculant addition unit is separated by the solid-liquid separation device, and the area detection unit is configured to capture the imaging unit. The area of the suspended solids present in the separation liquid is detected from the imaging data obtained from the contour, and the contour detection unit detects the contour of the suspended solids present in the separation liquid from the imaging data obtained from the imaging unit. Compares the relationship between the area of the suspended substance and the outline of the suspended substance and the reference range, and the control unit adds the flocculant added by the flocculant addition unit based on the comparison result of the determination unit Is a method for controlling the addition amount of the flocculant to control the addition amount.

  As described above, according to the present invention, the flocculant injection rate can be accurately controlled in the step of concentrating sludge with a concentrator. Further, since the injection rate of the flocculant can be accurately controlled, it is possible to reduce the wasteful injection of the flocculant.

It is a schematic block diagram which shows the structure of the sludge concentration system 1 using the flocculant addition amount control apparatus in 1st Embodiment. It is a schematic block diagram showing the structure of the vertical filtration concentration apparatus 40 with which the camera 60 was provided. FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram for explaining a part of functions of a control panel 80, a camera 60, and a computer 90. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of image data captured by a camera 60. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of image data captured by a camera 60. FIG. It is a figure showing the relationship between a color area and total perimeter. It is a figure showing the relationship between a color area and the value which divided the color area by total perimeter. 2 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the sludge concentration system 1. It is a schematic block diagram showing the vicinity where the camera 60a in the sludge concentration system 1a in 2nd Embodiment was installed. It is the schematic block diagram which expanded the vicinity containing the overflow box 411. FIG. It is a schematic block diagram in the sludge concentration system 1b in 3rd Embodiment.

Hereinafter, a sludge concentration system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a configuration of a sludge concentration system 1 using the flocculant addition amount control device according to the first embodiment as an embodiment of the present invention.
The sludge concentration system 1 includes a flocculant supply pump 10, a flocculant flow meter 11, a sludge supply pump 20, a sludge concentration meter 21, a sludge flow meter 22, a mixing tank 30, a pressure gauge 31, a vertical filtration concentration device 40, and a concentrated sludge. A drawing pump 50, a camera 60, a control panel 80, and a computer 90 are included.

The flocculant supply pump 10 supplies chemicals to the processing object in the mixing tank 30 and the path supplied from the sludge supply pump 20 to the mixing tank 30 in accordance with instructions from the control panel 80. This chemical is, for example, an electrolyte substance containing a component for performing a concentration treatment of an object to be processed, and is, for example, a polymer flocculant (hereinafter also simply referred to as a flocculant). The flocculant supply pump 10 supplies the flocculant so as to obtain a supply amount (also referred to as an injection rate) according to a control signal output from the control panel 80.
The flocculant flow meter 11 measures the supply amount of the flocculant supplied from the flocculant supply pump 10 and outputs the measurement result to the control panel 80.

The sludge supply pump 20 supplies an object to be treated such as sludge supplied from the outside to the mixing tank 30 in accordance with an instruction from the control panel 80. The amount (for example, the volume of the object to be processed per unit time) that the sludge supply pump 20 supplies to the mixing tank 30 is determined based on the drive signal supplied from the control panel 80.
The sludge concentration meter 21 measures the concentration of the object to be processed supplied from the sludge supply pump 20 and outputs the measurement result to the control panel 80.
The sludge flow meter 22 measures the supply amount of the object to be processed supplied from the sludge supply pump 20 and outputs the measurement result to the control panel 80.

In the mixing tank 30, the flocculant supplied from the flocculant supply pump 10 and the workpiece to be processed supplied from the sludge supply pump 20 are mixed and aggregated.
The pressure gauge 31 detects the pressure (filtration pressure) applied to the filtration screen in the vertical filtration concentrator 40 and outputs the detection result to the control panel 80.

The vertical filtration concentrator 40 has a cylindrical filtration screen having a central axis extending in the vertical direction and into which an object to be treated is supplied. The vertical filtration concentration apparatus 40 is accommodated in the filtration screen and rotates around the central axis. A screw, and a filtration container for housing the filtration screen so as to cover the outer peripheral portion and the bottom of the side surface of the filtration screen. The vertical filtration concentration device 40 concentrates the object to be processed by solid-liquid separation of the object to be processed after the flocculant is added and supplied from the mixing tank 30. The vertical filtration concentration apparatus 40 discharges the separated liquid and the concentrated sludge from different paths by performing solid-liquid separation.
The vertical filtration concentrating device 40 only needs to have a function of solid-liquid separation. For example, a decanter centrifugal dehydrator, a screw press dehydrator, a belt press dehydrator, or the like can be applied. In this embodiment, the case where the vertical filtration concentration apparatus 40 is used will be described.
The camera 60 is provided in the vicinity of the vertical filtration concentration device 40. The camera 60 measures the liquid level of the separated liquid separated by the vertical filtration concentrating device 40 after the flocculant is supplied by the flocculant supply pump 10 and the object to be treated is concentrated by the vertical filtration concentrating device 40. It functions as an imaging unit for imaging. A lighting device is disposed in the vicinity of the camera 60.

  The concentrated sludge extraction pump 50 extracts the object to be treated (concentrated sludge) after being concentrated in the vertical filtration concentrating device 40 from the discharge pipe connected to the bottom of the filtration container of the vertical filtration concentrating device 40 and performs subsequent processing. Discharge into the grid.

  The control panel 80 includes an amplifier 81 and a sequencer 82 and controls each part of the sludge concentration system 1. The amplifier 81 is connected to the camera 60 via the communication cable 70 and outputs image data obtained from the camera 60 to the sequencer 82. The sequencer 82 controls each part of the sludge concentrating system 1 based on image data obtained from the camera 60 and signals obtained from measuring instruments and the like of each part of the sludge concentrating system 1.

The camera 60 is connected to the computer 90, performs various information processing such as image processing and signal processing based on instructions from the computer 90, and outputs processing results to the control panel 80.
The camera 60 has an imaging function, and can perform various types of information processing on the image data that is the imaging result.

Next, the vertical filtration concentration apparatus 40 and the camera 60 will be further described. FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram showing the configuration of the vertical filtration concentration apparatus 40 provided with the camera 60.
In the vertical filtration concentration apparatus 40, the filtration container 401 accommodates the filtration screen 402 so as to cover the outer peripheral portion and the bottom portion on the side surface side of the filtration screen 402. The upper end of the filtration container 401 is set to be higher than the upper end of the filtration screen 402.
The filtration screen 402 has a cylindrical shape, has a central axis extending in the vertical direction, and an object to be processed (aggregated sludge) is supplied to the inside.
The screw 403 is housed inside the filtration screen 402 and rotates around the central axis of the filtration screen 402. The screw 403 has a spiral screw blade attached to the outer periphery of the rotating shaft. The outer diameter of the screw blade is set slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the filtration screen 402. The upper end of the screw 403 is attached so that the rotation of the output shaft of the motor 404 is transmitted. The motor 404 rotates according to the drive signal supplied from the control panel 80 to rotate the screw 403 around the central axis. When the screw 403 is rotated, the inner peripheral surface of the filtration screen 402 is scraped off by the screw blades, so that the filtration screen 402 is updated so as not to be clogged. Further, the rotation of the screw 403 causes the aggregated sludge on the inner periphery of the filtration screen 402 to be conveyed from the upper side to the lower side of the filtration screen 402.

Between the filtration screen 402 and the filtration container 401, a separation liquid 405 generated when the solidified sludge is solid-liquid separated by the rotation of the screw 403 is temporarily stored. When solid-liquid separation proceeds while the coagulated sludge is supplied into the filtration screen 402, the amount of the separation liquid 405 stored in the filtration container 401 increases, and the liquid level of the separation liquid 405 exceeds the upper end of the filtration container 401. In the separation liquid 405, the separation liquid 406 exceeding the upper end of the filtration container 401 is discharged by overflowing to the inside of the casing 407 outside the filtration container 401.
The camera 60 is installed on the upper side of the filtration container 401 and in the vicinity of the overflow portion where the separation liquid 405 overflows from the upper end of the filtration container 401, and the liquid of the separation liquid 405 between the filtration screen 402 and the filtration container 401. Image the surface.

3 is a schematic block diagram for explaining a part of the functions of the control panel 80, the camera 60, and the computer 90. FIGS. 4 and 5 are diagrams showing an example of image data captured by the camera 60. FIG.
The control panel 80 includes a storage unit 801, a determination unit 802, and a control unit 803. The camera 60 includes an area detection unit 601, a contour detection unit 602, and a storage unit 603. The computer 90 has a setting unit 901.
Here, the function of the camera 60 will be described first.
As a preprocessing, the camera 60 extracts a target area to be processed from all areas of the image of the image data obtained by the imaging function. For example, from the image data captured by the camera 60, the inner peripheral side of a circle having a predetermined radius with respect to the center position of the imaging region is extracted as the target region 100 (FIG. 4).
In the camera 60, the area detection unit 601 detects the area of the suspended matter present in the separation liquid from the imaging data obtained from the camera 60.
The contour detection unit 602 detects the contour of the suspended matter present in the separation liquid from the imaging data obtained from the camera 60.
The contour detection unit 602 can form a contour when the difference between the pixel value of the pixel corresponding to the suspended substance in the imaging data and the pixel value of the pixel corresponding to the substance other than the suspended substance is greater than or equal to a certain value. Detect as.
The contour detection unit 602 obtains the perimeter of adjacent pixels among a plurality of pixels detected as pixels that can form the contour. Here, when there are a plurality of groups of suspended matter pixels detected as color areas in the target region, the contour detection unit 602 obtains the respective perimeters and obtains the total perimeter as the sum of the perimeters. For example, when there are a plurality of masses of suspended solids, the sum of the perimeters is obtained.

Next, the camera 60 refers to the pixel value of each pixel in the target area 100 and determines whether each pixel is a pixel corresponding to the suspended matter.
The determination of whether or not the substance is a suspended substance is performed by conducting an experiment in advance, and the worker of the sludge concentration system 1 confirms the image data actually captured by the camera 60 and the actual liquid level of the separation liquid 405. An operator sets a pixel value that is a criterion for determining whether or not to make a suspended substance. For example, for the hue, saturation, and brightness of the pixels in the image data, the ranges to be included as suspended substances are respectively determined, and are written and stored in the storage unit 603 by the computer 90 as reference ranges.
Whether the area detection unit 601 refers to the color (pixel value) of each pixel of the target region 100 and whether the pixel value corresponds to the suspended matter is within the reference range stored in the storage unit 603. A comparison is made based on whether or not, and if it is within the reference range, it is determined as a suspended substance, and if it is not within the reference range, it is determined that it is not a suspended substance. This determination is performed for each pixel.
That is, when the separation liquid 405 is imaged, the area detection unit 601 uses the color of the suspended solid (SS) component (hue, saturation, brightness) stored in the storage unit 603 described above. ) Based on the area of the target region in the imaging range, the pixel area corresponding to the color of the SS component set in advance (hereinafter also referred to as a color area) is present (unit:%, for example). Is detected. For example, the SS density is higher as the color area ratio of the detected SS component is larger, and the SS density is lower as the color area ratio is smaller.
Here, the ratio of the color area can be obtained by using the master image in addition to the method of obtaining the area of the pixel corresponding to the color of the SS component with respect to the area of the target region. Here, the master image is used as the master image by obtaining the area of the pixel corresponding to the SS component in an image in which a certain number of pixels corresponding to the SS component exist in the image data obtained by photographing the separation liquid 405. Then, the ratio of the area of the pixel corresponding to the SS component in the target area of the image data to be determined to the area of the pixel corresponding to the SS component in the master image may be obtained. When the master image is used, a larger value is obtained as compared with the case where the master image is not used.

Here, the SS concentration of the separation liquid 405 can be measured by the color area. However, when the SS concentration increases in the operating state of the vertical filtration concentrator 40, the cause is also due to insufficient addition of the flocculant. Whether it is due to excessive addition of the flocculant or whether the operation of the vertical filtration concentrator 40 is not appropriate cannot be determined only by the SS concentration.
Therefore, in order to determine whether the increase in the SS concentration is due to insufficient addition of the flocculant, in addition to the color area described above, the contour detection unit 602 displays the SS contour included in the separation liquid 405 from the image from the camera 60. Measure based on the data.
The contour detection unit 602 sets the boundary line as the contour based on the color contrast between the pixel specified as the color area of the image data and the pixel adjacent to the pixel and not specified as the color area. If it is determined that the contour is to be used, the number of pixels of the contour is measured as a contour detection value. The criterion for determining whether or not to use the contour can use contrast. For example, a pixel specified as the color area of the image data and a pixel that is adjacent to the pixel and is not specified as the color area If the difference between the pixel values is equal to or greater than the reference contrast value, it is determined to be an outline, and if it is less than the reference contrast value, it is determined not to be an outline. The reference contrast value can be arbitrarily set by the computer 90 based on the properties of the object to be handled, operation standards, and the like. When the reference contrast value is set to a large value, the sensitivity is set low because it is detected as a contour when the pixel value difference between the suspended matter determined to be the color area and its surroundings (background) is large. When the reference contrast value is set to a small value, the contour is detected even if the difference between the pixel values of the suspended matter determined to be the color area and the surrounding (background) is small. Therefore, the sensitivity can be set high. Such a reference contrast value is stored in the storage unit 603.
The contour detection unit 602 counts the number of connected pixels when the pixels detected to be contours are connected so as to be adjacent to each other and surround the pixels of the suspended solids determined as the color area. To measure the perimeter. Here, even if some of the pixels are not connected, as long as the number of pixels that are separated is equal to or less than a predetermined number, the perimeter may be measured even if it is regarded as a contour.

Here, when the SS concentration of the separation liquid is increased due to insufficient injection rate of the flocculant, sludge that has not reacted with the flocculant (or sludge that has reacted but has not been sufficiently agglomerated) passes through the filtration screen 402. Then, the liquid is discharged together with the separation liquid 405 between the filtration screen 402 and the filtration container 401. Since no flocculant remains in the separation liquid 405, the SS floating in the separation liquid 405 does not reaggregate and is suspended as small particles. Here, the higher the SS concentration, the higher the degree of suspension (more suspension). In such a case, since the particles present as SS are fine, the difference in pixel value between the pixel determined as the color area and the pixel not determined as the color area adjacent to the pixel is less than the reference contrast value. Become. As a result, even if the SS concentration in the separation liquid 405 is high, the contour detector 602 cannot detect the contour.
On the other hand, when the injection rate of the flocculant is more than appropriate and the SS concentration of the separation liquid 405 is high, the flocculant remains in the separation liquid 405 to some extent. Since the floating SS reaggregates and becomes a large mass, the contour detection unit 602 can detect the contour of the SS.
Therefore, when the SS concentration of the separation liquid 405 is high and the value of the total perimeter detected as a contour is small, it can be determined that the flocculant is insufficient, and when the total perimeter is large, the flocculant is It can be determined that it is excessive or the operating conditions of the concentrator are not appropriate.

FIG. 4 is an image after image processing is performed on imaging data obtained by imaging the liquid surface of the separation liquid 405 when the injection rate of the flocculant into the sludge is appropriate. Here, an image in the case where the camera 60 detects the color area corresponding to the suspended matter for the target region 100 is shown. FIG. 4A shows an image after the area detection unit 601 determines the color area. Here, the coagulant remaining in the separation liquid 405 reacts with SS to be re-aggregated, and the suspended substance (for example, reference numeral 101) present in the liquid surface portion of the separation liquid 405 is determined as the color area. In this figure, a plurality of parts detected as such a color area are detected in the target area. Reference numeral 102 denotes an image of a portion of the illumination device where the illumination light is reflected, but such a pixel is not detected as a color area because it does not fall within the reference range of the pixel that is the target of the color area. .
FIG. 4B shows an image after the contour detection unit 602 detects the contour of the image in which the color area is detected. Here, a plurality of detected contours (reference numeral 110) are detected in the target region.
As described above, when the injection rate of the flocculant is appropriate, the total perimeter as the contour also increases / decreases as the color area increases / decreases. Therefore, the number of color areas with respect to the total perimeter (color area ÷ total perimeter) is a low value to some extent.

  FIG. 5 is an image after image processing is performed on imaging data obtained by imaging the liquid surface of the separation liquid 405 in a case where the injection rate of the flocculant with respect to the sludge is insufficient. Here, an image in the case where the camera 60 detects the color area corresponding to the suspended matter for the target region 100 is shown. FIG. 5A shows an image after the area detection unit 601 determines the color area. Here, since the coagulant hardly remains in the separation liquid 405, it does not re-aggregate with SS. Therefore, SS floats as fine particles on the liquid surface side of the separation liquid 405, and as a result, suspended substances (for example, reference numeral 101) existing in the liquid surface portion of the separation liquid 405 are determined as color areas. Thus, even a pixel that is not determined as the color area exists as a pixel having a value close to the pixel determined as the color area, and the contrast is less than the reference contrast value. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5B, the contour is hardly detected even though the number of pixels detected as the color area is large. Therefore, when the injection rate of the flocculant is insufficient, the value of the color area is large, and the total perimeter of the detected contour is low despite a large amount of SS leaking into the separation liquid 405. The number of color areas relative to the total perimeter (color area / total perimeter) is a larger value than when the injection rate is appropriate.

Data such as the color area, the perimeter, and the addition amount of the flocculant is accumulated in various scenes, and the control unit 803 controls the addition amount of the flocculant by using this data.
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the relationship between the color area and the total perimeter.
In this figure, the horizontal axis represents the SS color area, and the vertical axis represents the SS contour detection value (total perimeter). A curve indicated by reference numeral 300 represents a case where the addition amount of the flocculant is the first value, and a curve indicated by reference numeral 310 represents a case where the addition amount is larger than the first value and is an appropriate addition amount. The curve indicated by reference numeral 320 represents a case where the addition amount is larger than the second value and is an appropriate addition amount. These code 300, code 310, and code 311 collect color area values and contour detection values at different addition amounts, and the obtained measurement results are used as color area values on the horizontal axis and contour detection values on the vertical axis. It is a curve obtained by plotting as an approximate curve.
The curve indicated by reference numeral 300 represents a case where the amount of the flocculant added is insufficient and is not re-aggregated in the separation liquid 405. Therefore, even if the SS color area is increased, the contour is almost the same. Since it is not detected, the graph is almost flat.
On the other hand, the curves indicated by reference numerals 310 and 320 have a relationship in which the SS contour detection value increases as the numerical value of the SS color area increases. This is because the addition amount of the flocculant is appropriate, and the flocculant reacts with SS in the separation liquid 405 to reaggregate. Therefore, the detected contour increases as the color area increases, so the total perimeter increases. There is a tendency.
In this embodiment, in this way, data of color area values and contour detection values at different addition amounts are collected, and based on the results, a value that is an appropriate addition amount is determined in advance, Used to control the amount added. Here, each of the curves shown by reference numerals 310 and 320 represents a case where the addition amount of an appropriate flocculant is shown, but as to which case is used for controlling the addition amount of the flocculant, sludge concentration is used. What is necessary is just to select based on the property of the sludge supplied to the system 1 as a to-be-processed object, a driving | operation standard, etc. For example, the case where the addition amount of the flocculant in the case indicated by reference numeral 310 is used for control as a value that provides an appropriate addition amount will be described as an example.
Here, a certain range is defined as a reference range with reference to the curve indicated by reference numeral 310. For example, the reference range is ± 20%, preferably ± 10% of the value indicated by this curve, and the injection rate is controlled so as to be within that range. The curve indicated by reference numeral 311 represents the upper limit value of the reference range, and the curve indicated by reference numeral 312 represents the lower limit value of the reference range.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating the relationship between the color area and the value obtained by dividing the color area by the total perimeter. FIG. 7 shows a case where the vertical axis represents the value obtained by dividing the color area by the contour detection value in the measurement result shown in FIG. 6, and the horizontal axis represents the color area in the measurement result shown in FIG. With respect to the reference range described with reference to FIG. 6, the case where the reference range is defined in the relationship between the color area and the contour detection value has been described. Thus, the value obtained by dividing the color area by the contour detection value and the color area The reference range may be determined in the relationship.
Here, the straight line indicated by reference numeral 350 has a relationship corresponding to the curve indicated by reference numeral 300 in FIG. 6 (the same amount of flocculant is added), and the straight line indicated by reference numeral 360 corresponds to the curve indicated by reference numeral 310 in FIG. The relationship (the same amount of coagulant is added), and the straight line indicated by reference numeral 370 is the relationship corresponding to the curve indicated by reference numeral 320 in FIG. For example, when the straight line indicated by reference numeral 360 is used for controlling the addition amount of the flocculant, a predetermined range (± 20%, preferably ± 10%) can be determined as the reference range with reference to the straight line indicated by reference numeral 360. . The straight line indicated by reference numeral 361 represents the upper limit value of the reference range, and the straight line indicated by reference numeral 362 represents the lower limit value of the reference range.

Returning to FIG. 3, the storage unit 801 stores in advance a reference range in the relationship between the SS color area determined as described above and the SS contour detection value (total perimeter). Here, data indicating a reference range in the relationship between the SS color area determined as shown in FIG. 6 (or FIG. 7) and the SS contour detection value is stored.
The determination unit 802 refers to the data stored in the storage unit 801 to compare the relationship between the area of the suspended solids and the outline of the suspended solids and the reference range.
The determination unit 802 compares whether or not the value obtained by dividing the area of the suspended substance by the perimeter is within the reference range by referring to the data stored in the storage unit 801.
The control unit 803 controls the addition amount of the flocculant added by the flocculant supply pump 10 (flocculant addition unit) based on the comparison result of the determination unit 802.
When the value based on the relationship between the area of the suspended solid and the outline of the suspended solid is below the reference range (or may be below the reference range), the control unit 803 increases the amount of the flocculant added. When the value based on the relationship between the area of the suspended substance and the outline of the suspended substance exceeds the reference range (or may be greater than the reference range), the amount of the flocculant added is decreased.

  Note that the setting unit 901 of the computer 90 can also perform various settings of the camera 60. For example, the illumination brightness of the lighting device, focus, shooting frequency, registration of reference image, detection range, detection content setting (color area, contour detection, etc.), and the color to be detected (hue, (Saturation, lightness) is set according to the content operated by the operator from an input device such as a keyboard or a mouse. When contour detection is used, the sensitivity for detecting the contour can also be set.

  Among the configurations described above, the flocculant addition amount control device may be configured to include the functions of the camera 60 (imaging unit), the area detection unit 601, the contour detection unit 602, the determination unit 802, and the control unit 803. Further, the functions of the area detection unit 601, the contour detection unit 602, and the storage unit 603 may be provided in the control panel 80, or may be provided as functions of the computer 90.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the sludge concentration system 1.
The camera 60 images the liquid level of the separation liquid 405 (step S101). The area detector 601 of the computer 90 detects the color area based on the captured image data (step S102). When the color area is detected, the contour detection unit 602 detects the contour of the suspended matter detected as the color area (step S103), and detects the perimeter of the detected contour (step S104). Here, when the color area is detected at multiple locations in the target area of the image data, the total perimeter is detected by calculating the sum of the perimeters of the respective outlines of the suspended matter detected as the color area. To do.
When the perimeter is detected, the determination unit 802 refers to the data of the reference range stored in the storage unit 801 and compares whether or not the value of the perimeter (contour detection value) for the color area is in the reference range. To do. (Step S105).
Based on the comparison result of the determination unit 802, the control unit 803 maintains the addition amount of the flocculant supplied by the flocculant supply pump 10 when the value of the perimeter (contour detection value) with respect to the color area is within the reference range. (Step S106). Thereafter, after a certain waiting time elapses, the process proceeds to step S101.

  On the other hand, when the value of the perimeter for the color area is outside the reference range, the determination unit 802 compares whether or not the value of the perimeter for the color area is less than the lower limit of the reference range (step S107). The control unit 803 increases the supply amount of the coagulant supplied from the coagulant supply pump 10 when the value of the peripheral length with respect to the color area is less than the lower limit value of the reference range in the comparison result of the determination unit 802 ( Step S108). Here, for example, a plurality of different levels for specifying the supply amount of the flocculant supplied from the flocculant supply pump 10 is set in advance, and the control unit 803 is more than the current level among the plurality of levels. A control signal is output to the coagulant supply pump 10 so as to increase the level by one so that the supply amount of the coagulant increases. The flocculant supply pump 10 supplies the flocculant by increasing the supply amount of the flocculant by one stage. As a result, the supply amount of the flocculant supplied from the flocculant supply pump 10 increases, and the amount of the flocculant discharged from the filter screen 402 to the separation liquid 405 side tends to increase. After step S107, after a certain waiting time has elapsed, the process proceeds to step S101.

  On the other hand, in the comparison result of the determination unit 802, the control unit 803 determines that when the perimeter length value for the color area is not less than the lower limit value of the reference range, that is, when the perimeter length value for the color area exceeds the reference range. Then, the supply amount of the flocculant supplied from the flocculant supply pump 10 is decreased (step S109). Here, for example, the control unit 803 outputs a control signal to the flocculant supply pump 10 so as to lower one of the plurality of levels so that the supply amount of the flocculant is lower than the current level. . The flocculant supply pump 10 supplies the flocculant in such a manner that the supply amount of the flocculant is reduced by one stage. Thereby, the supply amount of the flocculant supplied from the flocculant supply pump 10 decreases, and the amount of the flocculant discharged from the filter screen 402 to the separation liquid 405 side tends to decrease. After step S109, after a certain waiting time has elapsed, the process proceeds to step S101.

In the embodiment described above, the color area and the contour may be detected using only one of the image data captured in step S101. However, in the image data of the past predetermined period of the captured image data. The determination unit 802 may determine the average value of each detected color area or detected value of the contour, and the control unit 803 may perform control. For example, a moving average may be obtained for past image data of about 10 minutes, and the determination by the determination unit 802 and the control by the control unit 803 may be performed. Also, depending on the shooting conditions of the camera, these detection values may fluctuate greatly depending on whether or not the SS is floated in the imaging range of the camera 60a. In such a case, The determination accuracy of the determination unit 802 can be improved by using the latest past average value (moving average or the like).
Further, the determination unit 802 is not limited to the determinations in step S105 and step S107 in the flowchart of FIG. 8, and compares the upper limit value of the reference range stored in the storage unit 801 with the value of the perimeter for the color area, and then Alternatively, the determination may be made by comparing the lower limit value of the reference range stored in the storage unit 801 with the value of the perimeter for the color area. Alternatively, the lower limit value of the reference range stored in the storage unit 801 is compared with the value of the perimeter for the color area, and then the upper limit value of the reference range stored in the storage unit 801 and the perimeter of the color area. You may determine by contrasting with a value.

In the above-described embodiment, the mixing tank 30 may be a line mixer, or the line mixer and the mixing tank 30 may be combined. The agglomerated sludge formed by mixing the sludge and the aggregating agent is introduced from the upper part of the vertical filtration concentrator 40 and separated into solid and liquid via the filtration screen 402. The camera 60 images the liquid surface of the separation liquid 405, and thereby, the color area of SS and the outline (size) of SS contained in the separation liquid 405 are measured. If the water quality (SS concentration) of the separation liquid is good, it can be determined that the SS color area is small and the solid-liquid separation of sludge is efficiently performed.
As described above, whether the aggregation is good or bad is determined by the SS concentration of the separation liquid and the SS contour (size). The relationship (curve) between the SS color area and the SS contour detection value at the optimum injection rate of the flocculant is previously determined. By grasping, the injection rate of the flocculant may be automatically adjusted so that the optimum curve is within the range of ± 20%, preferably ± 10%. The optimum curve may be an approximate straight line of “SS color area” and “SS color area / SS contour detection value”.
When the actually measured result falls within the optimum curve ± 20%, preferably ± 10%, the injection rate of the flocculant is maintained.

However, when the measured result falls below the range of the optimal curve ± 20%, preferably ± 10% (when using the approximate line of “SS color area” and “SS color area / SS contour detection value”) ), The coagulant injection rate is judged to be insufficient, and the coagulant supply pump speed is increased by one step to increase the coagulant injection rate. Note that the amount of increase per step of the flocculant supply pump can be arbitrarily set.
When the measured result exceeds the range of the optimal curve ± 20%, preferably ± 10% (lower than the approximate line of “SS color area” and “SS color area / SS contour detection value”) ), The coagulant injection rate is judged to be excessive, and the rotation speed of the coagulant supply pump is decreased by one step to decrease the coagulant injection amount. Note that the amount of reduction per stage of the flocculant supply pump can be arbitrarily set.
The SS color area and SS contour of the separation liquid are always measured continuously, but after increasing or decreasing the amount of flocculant injected, about 10 to 20 minutes considering the residence time of the mixing tank and concentrator. After the waiting time elapses, it may be determined again whether the injection of the flocculant is insufficient or appropriate, and the supply amount of the flocculant may be controlled.
Since the SS concentration of the separation liquid temporarily rises during the cleaning process of the vertical filtration concentrator, this control is not performed for about 10 minutes during the cleaning process and after the cleaning process.
As described above, since the injection rate of the flocculant is automatically controlled so as to be optimal, the SS recovery rate of the vertical filtration concentrator is maintained high, and the amount of the flocculant used can be reduced.

  In addition, the supply amount of the flocculant supplied from the flocculant supply pump 10 is set as a plurality of levels in advance as the supply level, and the value of the perimeter (contour detection value) for the color area deviates from the reference range. The supply level according to the degree may be determined.

Next, a second embodiment will be described. In 2nd Embodiment, since the sludge concentration system 1a has the same structure about a part of sludge concentration system 1 in 1st Embodiment, a different structure is demonstrated.
FIG. 9 is a schematic configuration diagram showing the vicinity where the camera 60a is installed in the sludge concentration system 1a according to the second embodiment. About the part which is not shown by this figure, since the structure is the same as the sludge concentration system 1 in 1st Embodiment, the description is abbreviate | omitted.
In the second embodiment, a branch pipe 410 is provided near the upper end of the side surface of the filtration container 401 to branch out the separation liquid 405 from the filtration container 401.
In the height direction of the inner peripheral surface of the casing 407, an overflow box 411 (an example of a separated liquid storage unit) is provided in the vicinity of the same height as the branch pipe 410 attached to the filtration container 401. When the separation liquid 405 taken out from the branch pipe 410 is introduced, the overflow box 411 stores the separation liquid 405 therein. The upper surface of the overflow box 411 is opened. When the liquid level of the separation liquid 405 becomes higher than the upper end of the overflow box 411, the filtration container 401 overflows to the inside of the casing 407.
Further, one end of the branch pipe 410 opposite to one end (first end) provided in the filtration container 401 is provided on the side surface of the overflow box 411. Further, a siphon breaker 410 a extending in the vertical direction is provided connected between one end (second end) opposite to one end of the branch pipe 410.
The camera 60 a is installed above the overflow box 411 and images the liquid level of the separation liquid 405 stored in the overflow box 411.

FIG. 10 is a schematic configuration diagram enlarging the vicinity including the overflow box 411 in FIG. 9.
The branch pipe 410 attached to the overflow box 411 extends in the horizontal direction and then extends upward in the vertical direction so as to extend to a position higher than the upper end portion 431 of the filtration screen 402. Is open and is configured as a siphon breaker 410a.
Further, a part of the branch pipe 410 is located at a position lower than the siphon breaker 410a and between the upper end 430 of the filtration screen 402 and the upper end 431 of the filtration container 401 in the height direction (vertical direction) of the filtration container 401 ( And a height indicated by reference numeral 432).
In the overflow box 411, the height of the upper end 433 of the overflow box 411 is between the height (reference numeral 432) at which the branch pipe 410 is attached to the filtration container 401 and the height of the upper end 431 of the filtration container 401. It is set to be the height of.
The camera 60a is provided above the overflow box 411. Here, the camera 60 a is installed in a downward direction so as to capture an image of the liquid level of the separation liquid 405 temporarily stored in the overflow box 411 in the recess provided in the casing 407. Here, in the concave portion of the casing 407, a portion located between the camera 60a and the separation liquid 405 is open or constituted by a transmission member, and the separation liquid 405 can be imaged by the camera 60a. Yes. Since the camera 60a is provided in the concave portion of the casing 407 and is disposed outside the vertical filtration concentrating device 40, an operator can clean and install the camera 60a from the outside of the vertical filtration concentrating device 40. It is easy to make fine adjustments, and maintenance is good. In addition, since the concave portion functions as a cover (hood) of the camera 60a, the separation liquid 405 is difficult to adhere, so that the camera 60a is less likely to be stained or broken.

  In addition, the amount of the separation liquid 405 discharged from the filtration screen 402 side to the filtration container 401 side varies depending on the degree of solid-liquid separation depending on the supply amount and properties of the concentrated sludge. Therefore, the height of the liquid level of the separation liquid 405 between the filtration screen 402 and the filtration container 401 also varies. Along with this, the height of the overflow interface when the separation liquid 405 overflows from the filtration container 401 also varies. As in the first embodiment described above, when the liquid level of the separation liquid 405 between the filtration screen 402 and the filtration container is imaged by the camera 60, if there is a variation in the height of the overflow interface, the separation liquid is removed from the camera 60. Since the distance to the liquid surface 405 varies, the focal length also varies. Then, when the focus function of the camera 60 cannot follow the fluctuation of the height of the overflow interface, the image data captured by the camera 60 is also captured in a state where the focal length is not necessarily present. In addition, when the height of the overflow interface varies, the amount of reflected light that reflects from the illumination device at the overflow interface and reaches the camera 60a and the region on the liquid surface of the reflected separation liquid 405 are also different. It will change. For this reason, there is a possibility that the accuracy of color area and contour detection based on the captured image data may vary.

  In contrast, in the second embodiment, the separation liquid 405 is taken out from the branch pipe 410 provided on the side surface of the filtration container 401 and supplied to the overflow box 411, and the separation liquid 405 temporarily stored in the overflow box 411. An image of the liquid level was taken by the camera 60a. Thereby, even if the height of the overflow interface when the separation liquid 405 overflows from the filtration container 401 varies, the amount of the separation liquid 405 supplied to the overflow box 411 hardly varies. The amount of the separation liquid 405 temporarily stored in the tank does not fluctuate rapidly. Thereby, even if the separation liquid 405 temporarily stored in the overflow box 411 overflows, the height of the overflow interface hardly fluctuates, so the distance to the liquid level of the separation liquid 405 imaged by the camera 60a. Hardly fluctuates. Therefore, the focal distance from the camera 60a to the liquid surface of the separation liquid 405 can be made substantially constant, and the image can be captured by the camera 60a while maintaining the focal distance appropriately, and the color area and contour detection accuracy are maintained. Can be improved.

Further, in this figure, one end of the bypass pipe 440 is connected to the vicinity of the bottom of the side surface of the overflow box 411, and the other end of the bypass pipe 440 is provided on the side surface of the casing 407 below the overflow box 411. The separation liquid 405 temporarily stored in the overflow box 411 is discharged between the casing 407 and the filtration screen 402 via the bypass pipe 440. Further, the bypass pipe 440 is provided with a valve 441 so that the amount of the separation liquid 405 discharged from the overflow box 411 between the casing 407 and the filtration screen 402 is reduced to 0 or an arbitrary amount. Can be adjusted. This valve 441 may be driven by a control signal from the control panel 80 or may be manually opened and closed.
By opening and closing the valve 441 at a necessary timing, a flow of the separation liquid 405 in the overflow box 411 can be created, so that SS deposited on the liquid surface of the separation liquid 405 can be removed. For example, when the processing amount of concentrated sludge is small, the amount of the separation liquid 405 generated is small, and therefore the flow of the separation liquid 405 is slow, so that the SS component floating on the liquid surface of the separation liquid 405 remains deposited on the liquid surface. become. If this is taken with a camera, the detection accuracy may be reduced. In particular, deposition tends to occur near the wall surface. For this reason, the valve 441 may be opened at regular intervals, or the valve 441 may be opened at an opening that always discharges the separation liquid 405 by a predetermined amount.

  Further, the diameter of the branch pipe 410 can be arbitrarily set, but the separation liquid 405 flows from the branch pipe 410 to the overflow box 411 by setting it to a predetermined size (for example, a diameter of about 15 mm). Therefore, the overflow interface of the overflow box 411 can be hardly affected by the processing amount of the concentrated sludge, and the height of the overflow interface can be kept constant.

  In the second embodiment, a compressed air supply duct for blowing compressed air to the imaging surface of the camera 60a may be provided. Thereby, it is possible to remove moisture (spray etc.) generated from the separation liquid 405 of the overflow box 411 and scattered on the imaging surface of the camera 60a.

Next, a third embodiment will be described. In 3rd Embodiment, since the sludge concentration system 1b has the same structure about some sludge concentration systems 1 in 1st Embodiment, a different structure is demonstrated.
FIG. 11 is a schematic configuration diagram of the sludge concentration system 1b according to the third embodiment. About the part which is not shown by this figure, since the structure is the same as the sludge concentration system 1 in 1st Embodiment, the description is abbreviate | omitted.
By detecting the SS color area and contour of the separation liquid 405 of the vertical filtration concentration apparatus 40 in the first and second embodiments with the camera 60 or the camera 60a, the injection rate of the flocculant can be controlled. Although demonstrated, in this embodiment, the case where not only the vertical filtration concentration apparatus 40 but another solid-liquid separation apparatus 40a is applied is demonstrated. As the other solid-liquid separation device 40a, for example, a decanter type centrifugal dehydrator, a screw press type dehydrator, a belt press type dehydrator, or the like can be applied.

The solid-liquid separator 40a used in this embodiment performs solid-liquid separation of the concentrated sludge supplied from the mixing tank 30. The solid-liquid separation device 40 a branches the separation liquid separated from the concentrated sludge and supplies the branched separation liquid 405 a to the separation liquid monitoring box 500.
The separation liquid monitoring box 500 is provided with an overflow weir 502 (an example of a separation liquid storage unit), and the inner periphery of the overflow weir 502 is configured as a storage container 501, and temporarily stores the separation liquid 405a. When the solid-liquid separation proceeds and the separation liquid 405a supplied from the solid-liquid separation device 40a is accommodated in the container 501 and the height of the separation liquid 405a exceeds the upper end of the overflow weir 502, the separation liquid 405a overflows beyond the overflow weir 502. The camera 60 b is provided above the storage container 501 and images the liquid level of the separation liquid 405 a temporarily stored in the storage container 501.

  The camera 60b outputs image data that is an imaging result to the control panel 80. As in the first and second embodiments, the control panel 80 detects the color area and the contour based on the image data, and controls the supply amount of the flocculant based on the detection result.

  According to the third embodiment, the flocculant addition amount control device can be applied not only to the vertical filtration concentration device but also to other solid-liquid separation devices.

Further, according to the second embodiment and the third embodiment, the influence of dirt on the lens of the camera 60 (camera 60a) can be reduced. That is, in measurement using a camera, if dirt is attached to the lens, the image is taken under the influence of the dirt, which may cause measurement errors.
In addition to contamination, it is necessary to keep the distance from the camera to the liquid surface of the separation liquid that is the object to be photographed. For example, when the brightness setting or focus setting of the illumination device is fixed, if the distance between the camera and the liquid surface of the separation liquid is not constant, it may cause a measurement error. In particular, when the brightness is different, it can be a large variation factor in detecting the color area.
In addition, when the flow rate of the separation liquid 405 discharged from the filtration screen 402 is small, stagnation may occur in the overflow part of the separation liquid, and the SS component may not float and flow. Cause.
Such three error causes can be eliminated by making the overflow of the separation liquid into two stages as described in the second embodiment and the third embodiment.
When the overflow is in one stage, the overflow height of the separation liquid is proportional to the 2/3 power of the separation liquid flow rate, so the fluctuation of the flow rate has a large effect on the overflow height. Furthermore, since there is a possibility that the camera is soiled when cleaning the vertical filtration concentrator, it is not preferable to install the camera in the main overflow section.
Therefore, for example, a pipe with a diameter of about 20mm is installed 50mm below the top of the overflow overflow weir, and a height difference of 100 to 150mm (difference between the separation liquid interface of the overflow overflow and the separation liquid interface of the overflow box) is added. Put the separated liquid into another overflow box. According to Torichelli's theorem, even if the flow rate of the separation liquid fluctuates, the fluctuation amount of the separation liquid charged into the overflow box is reduced, and the interface height of the overflow box is not affected. Furthermore, since the overflow box is installed away from the overflow weir and is not affected by the cleaning of the vertical filtration concentrator, the camera can be prevented from being contaminated.

  On the other hand, when an ultrasonic densitometer or optical densitometer is used, the instrument and the measurement object (sludge etc.) are in direct contact with each other, or the measurement object is stored in a transparent container and measured through the transparent container. Therefore, the instrument and the container are easily contaminated and cause a measurement error. However, according to the present embodiment, since the surface of the separation liquid is directly photographed, there is no error due to the container contamination.

The depth of the overflow box is preferably about 150 mm to 200 mm, and if it is too shallow, the measurement by the camera is affected by the SS deposited on the bottom face of the box and the bottom face. On the other hand, when the depth is too deep, the flow rate of the separation liquid inside the box becomes slow, so that stagnation may occur and SS may be deposited. When the transparency of the separation liquid is high and the measurement by the camera is easily influenced by the bottom surface, the depth may be 200 mm or more. However, since the separation liquid flow rate inside the box becomes slow, the pipe diameter is increased so that the separation liquid residence time inside the box falls within the range of 20 to 60 seconds, preferably within the range of 20 to 40 seconds. It is not preferable to reduce the pipe diameter to less than 20 mm because the SS of the separation liquid may be clogged with the pipe.
The width of the overflow box is preferably about 150mm. If the width is narrow, the side plate enters the shooting range of the camera, which is not desirable. On the other hand, if the width is too wide, the flow rate of the separation liquid inside the box becomes slow, stagnation occurs and SS may be deposited, which is not desirable.
The depth of the overflow box is preferably about 150 mm. The reason is the same as in the width direction.
In order to prevent siphoning, the piping from the overflow dam to the overflow box is provided with a T-tube as the piping falling part and an intake port.
The camera is installed outside the vertical filtration concentrator in consideration of corrosion prevention and maintenance.
In addition, a dehumidified compressed air pipe and an electromagnetic valve are provided, and cleaning is performed by periodically blowing water droplets on the lens surface of the camera by a timer.

  According to the embodiment described above, it is possible to prevent excessive addition of the flocculant in the step of concentrating sludge with the concentrator. As a result, the flocculant can be controlled to a supply amount that matches the properties of the object to be processed, and it is possible to reduce the waste of adding the flocculant, thereby reducing operation management costs. It becomes possible.

Further, according to the present embodiment, the concentration and size of the SS component contained in the separated liquid separated by the vertical filtration concentrator is measured with a camera, and the flocculant of the vertical filtration concentrator is measured based on this measurement result. By appropriately controlling the supply amount, the following many excellent effects are exhibited.
By measuring the SS concentration of SS and the outline (size) of SS with a camera, it is possible to easily determine the water quality (property) of the NS, and instantly grasp the operating state of the vertical filtration concentrator. Therefore, appropriate and stable operation management can be performed.
Also, when controlling the flocculant injection rate of the vertical filtration concentrator based on the camera measurement results, it is possible to inject the flocculant properly, and the separation liquid is returned by maintaining a high SS recovery rate. It is possible to reduce the load on the water treatment, and to reduce the amount of the flocculant that has been injected so much for safety.
If a high SS recovery rate can be maintained, the separated liquid can be reused as washing water for other dehydrators, which can contribute to reducing the environmental burden of the entire sludge treatment facility.

  Moreover, a to-be-processed object is sludge, such as sludge and digested sludge which generate | occur | produce from the biological treatment process of a sewage treatment plant, for example. Therefore, the properties of such sludge are not always constant, and differ depending on the properties of sewage and the treatment status of the biological treatment process. It can be said that the properties of the supplied sludge always change when the solid-liquid separator is used to separate the solid-liquid. Even if the properties of the object to be processed supplied to the solid-liquid separation device change, the SS in the separation liquid 405 is imaged with a camera to detect the color area and contour and control the supply amount of the flocculant. Even if the property of the object to be processed changes, the amount of the flocculant supplied according to the change in the property of the object to be processed can be controlled by controlling the amount of the flocculant supplied according to the SS generated on the liquid surface of the separation liquid 405. Can be determined.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the sludge supply step for supplying sludge to the mixing tank, the step of injecting the flocculant into the mixing layer or the sludge supply pipe, and the stirring blades are rotated to form the aggregated sludge. A step, a step of concentrating the coagulated sludge with a vertical filtration concentration device, a step of allowing the separated liquid separated by the vertical filtration concentration device to overflow through the overflow weir, and a camera above the overflow portion To detect the color of the separation liquid and the outline of SS (solid matter) contained in the separation liquid, and the injection rate of the flocculant is determined based on the color of the separation liquid and the numerical value of the SS outline. It is possible to provide a control panel that controls appropriately.

  The area detection unit 601, the contour detection unit 602, and the storage unit 603 in the above-described embodiment are not limited to being provided in the camera 60, and may be provided in a computer. Further, the functions of the area detection unit 601, the contour detection unit 602, and the control panel 80 may be realized by a computer. In that case, a program for realizing this function may be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium, and the program recorded on this recording medium may be read into a computer system and executed. Here, the “computer system” includes an OS and hardware such as peripheral devices. The “computer-readable recording medium” refers to a storage device such as a flexible medium, a magneto-optical disk, a portable medium such as a ROM and a CD-ROM, and a hard disk incorporated in a computer system. Furthermore, the “computer-readable recording medium” dynamically holds a program for a short time like a communication line when transmitting a program via a network such as the Internet or a communication line such as a telephone line. In this case, a volatile memory inside a computer system serving as a server or a client in that case may be included and a program held for a certain period of time. Further, the program may be a program for realizing a part of the above-described functions, and may be a program capable of realizing the functions described above in combination with a program already recorded in a computer system. You may implement | achieve using programmable logic devices, such as FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array).

  The embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment, and includes designs and the like that do not depart from the gist of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 1a, 1b Sludge concentration system 10 Flocculant supply pump 11 Flocculant flow meter 20 Sludge supply pump 21 Sludge concentration meter 22 Sludge flow meter 30 Mixing tank 31 Pressure gauge 40 Vertical filtration concentration device 60, 60a, 60b Camera 50 Concentration Sludge extraction pump 70 Communication cable 80 Control panel 81 Amplifier 82 Sequencer 90 Computer 401 Filtration container 402 Filtration screen 403 Screw 404 Motor 405, 405a, 406 Separation liquid 411 Overflow box 500 Separation liquid monitoring box 501 Containment container 502 Overflow weir 801 Memory Unit 802 determination unit 803 control unit 601 area detection unit 602 contour detection unit 603 storage unit 901 setting unit

Claims (8)

An imaging unit that images the liquid surface of the separation liquid in which the processing object to which the flocculant is added by the flocculant addition unit is separated by the solid-liquid separator;
An area detection unit for detecting the area of suspended solids present in the separation liquid from the imaging data obtained from the imaging unit;
A contour detection unit for detecting a contour of suspended solids present in the separation liquid from imaging data obtained from the imaging unit;
A determination unit that compares the relationship between the area of the suspended solids and the outline of the suspended solids and a reference range;
Based on the comparison result of the determination unit, a control unit for controlling the addition amount of the flocculant added by the flocculant addition unit,
A flocculant addition amount control device having The controller is
If the comparison result of the determination unit is below the reference range, increase the amount of the flocculant,
The flocculant addition amount control device according to claim 1, wherein when the comparison result of the determination unit exceeds the reference range, the addition amount of the flocculant is decreased. The imaging unit
The flocculant addition amount control device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein an image of a liquid level of the separation liquid stored in a separation liquid storage unit that introduces the separation liquid via a branch path is branched. The contour detection unit
The pixel is detected as a pixel that can form a contour when a difference between a pixel value of a pixel corresponding to a suspended substance in the imaging data and a pixel value of a pixel corresponding to a substance other than the suspended substance is greater than or equal to a certain value. The flocculant addition amount control apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The contour detection unit
Obtaining the perimeter for adjacent pixels among a plurality of pixels detected as pixels that can constitute the contour,
The determination unit
The flocculant addition amount control device according to claim 4, wherein a value obtained by dividing the area of the suspended substance by the perimeter is within the reference range. The flocculant addition amount control device according to claim 1, further comprising a cover that protects the separation liquid from adhering to the imaging unit.   The sludge concentration system which has a flocculant addition amount control apparatus of any one of Claims 1-6. The imaging unit images the liquid level of the separation liquid in which the processing object to which the flocculant is added by the flocculant addition unit is separated by the solid-liquid separation device,
The area detection unit detects the area of the suspended solids present in the separation liquid from the imaging data obtained from the imaging unit,
The contour detection unit detects the contour of the suspended matter present in the separation liquid from the imaging data obtained from the imaging unit,
The determination unit compares the relationship between the area of the suspended solids and the outline of the suspended solids and a reference range,
A control part controls the addition amount of the flocculant which the said flocculant addition part adds based on the comparison result of the said determination part.