KR102720274B1 - Apparatus of seismic isolator using energy harvestor - Google Patents

Abstract

A seismic isolation device utilizing energy harvesting, which can independently supply power to various sensors mounted on the seismic isolation device and appropriately deal with malfunctions of the sensors, is proposed. The device includes a damping material that offsets shock with vibration, a housing in which the damping material is combined, an energy harvesting unit installed on the damping material and extracting current by a piezoelectric effect utilizing vibration, and an isolation module mounted on the housing and operated by the current harvested by the energy harvesting unit, and the seismic isolation module includes a communication sensing unit that detects a seismic isolation state and transmits the detected sensor data to the outside.

Description

{Apparatus of seismic isolator using energy harvester}

The present invention relates to a base isolation device, and more specifically, to a base isolation device that utilizes energy harvesting by vibration to generate energy in an energy harvester even when an external power source is cut off, and transmits sensor data of the base isolation device using a wireless device (IoT), thereby enabling clear detection of the base isolation state.

Vibration due to impacts such as earthquakes, wind, and vehicles always exists in real life. Dampers are used to reduce vibrations due to impacts in buildings and bridges. Various studies are being conducted to reduce vibrations by seismic isolation, and measurement technology is being developed based on standard weight shock sources. Seismic isolation devices are made in various ways by utilizing damping materials in coil or plate shapes, weights, etc. Seismic isolation devices are equipped with various sensors to detect in real time, and the performance of the seismic isolation device is identified and countermeasures are taken.

Seismic isolation devices embedded in heavy-load structures such as buildings and bridges are difficult to properly repair if the power supply to the sensors is cut off. Meanwhile, energy harvesting technology is environmentally friendly and can be adopted as a power source for various sensors mounted on seismic isolation devices because it obtains and reuses wasted energy. However, although energy harvesting technology utilizing vibration is suggested in various ways, such as in Korean Patent No. 10-1682962, it is not easy to apply it to seismic isolation devices embedded in heavy-load structures. In addition, if some of the sensors malfunction, data is not transmitted, making it difficult to properly determine the performance of the seismic isolation device.

The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a seismic isolation device utilizing energy harvesting, which can independently supply power to various sensors mounted on the seismic isolation device, thereby appropriately responding to malfunction of the sensors in the event of a disaster or when external power is cut off.

A base isolation device utilizing energy harvesting for solving the problem of the present invention comprises a damping material that offsets shock into vibration, a housing to which the damping material is combined, an energy harvesting unit installed in the damping material and extracting current by a piezoelectric effect utilizing the vibration, and a base isolation module mounted in the housing and operating by the current harvested by the energy harvesting unit. At this time, the base isolation module includes a communication sensing unit that detects a base isolation state and transmits detected sensor data to the outside.

In the device of the present invention, the damping material uses vibration of any one of a coil shape, a plate shape, or a weight. The harvesting unit includes a piezoelectric body, a piezoelectric support including the piezoelectric body, and a damping connecting unit, and the piezoelectric body and the piezoelectric support relatively vibrate. The seismic isolation module includes a charging module in which the current of the energy harvesting unit is charged, and the communication sensing unit is operated by power supplied from the charging module. The seismic isolation module may include an ESS module. The seismic isolation module may include a branching unit that branches the current of the harvesting unit to the charging module and the ESS module.

In a preferred device of the present invention, the communication sensing unit includes a module group including a plurality of communication sensing modules [TS1, TS2, …, TS(m), m is a natural number] that are linked to each other via a proximity communication network, and a module group [M1, M2, …, M(n), n is a natural number] can be mounted on each of n housings. Each of the module groups [M1, M2, …, M(n), n is a natural number] can include a gateway [G1, G2, …, G(n), n is a natural number] linked to a proximity communication network. The gateway [G1, G2, …, G(n), n is a natural number] can be linked to the proximity communication network while an adjacent gateway [G1, G2, …, G(n), n is a natural number] is linked to the proximity communication network. The gateway [G1, G2, … , G(n), n is a natural number] can be linked to adjacent communication sensing modules [TS1, TS2, …, TS(m), m is a natural number] through a proximity communication network.

According to the seismic isolation device utilizing energy harvesting of the present invention, by utilizing vibration energy harvesting, power is supplied independently to various sensors mounted on the seismic isolation device and malfunctions of the sensors are appropriately dealt with.

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a first seismic isolation device according to the present invention.
Figure 2 is a drawing for explaining the harvesting section of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a block diagram for explaining the seismic isolation module of Figure 1.
FIG. 4 is a drawing schematically illustrating a sensor data transmission process using a wireless mesh network by the communication sensing unit of FIG. 3.
Figure 5 is a perspective view showing a second seismic isolation device according to the present invention.
Figure 6 is a block diagram for explaining the seismic isolation module of Figure 5.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. The embodiments described below may be modified in various different forms, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described below. The embodiments of the present invention are provided to more completely explain the present invention to those skilled in the art. In the drawings, exaggerated expressions are used for convenience of explanation. Meanwhile, terms indicating positions such as top, bottom, front, etc. are only related to those shown in the drawings. In practice, the base isolation device can be used in any optional direction, and the spatial direction in actual use changes depending on the direction and rotation of the base isolation device.

The embodiment of the present invention proposes a base isolation device that supplies power to various sensors mounted on the base isolation device independently and appropriately deals with malfunctions of the sensors by utilizing vibration energy harvesting. To this end, a base isolation device to which vibration energy harvesting is applied will be described in detail, and a process for identifying the performance of the base isolation device by utilizing vibration energy harvesting will be described in detail. The base isolation device of the present invention is used to offset vibrations caused by impacts such as earthquakes, wind, and vehicles that always exist in real life, and can be applied in various ways such as a damping material in the form of a coil or a plate, a weight, etc. In particular, the base isolation device of the present invention is preferably embedded in structures with heavy loads such as buildings and bridges, and among various base isolation devices, a coil type will be mainly described here.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a first seismic isolation device (100) according to an embodiment of the present invention. However, it is not a drawing in the strict sense, and there may be components not shown in the drawing for convenience of explanation.

According to FIG. 1, the first seismic isolation device (100) includes an upper housing (10) and a lower housing (13). A damping material (12) such as an elastic spring is arranged between the upper and lower housings (10, 13), and the damping material (12) offsets shocks such as earthquakes, wind, and vehicles through vibration. One side of the damping material (12) is coupled to an upper support (11), and the other side of the damping material (12) is coupled to a lower support (14). In the drawing, a damping material (12) of an elastic spring in the form of a coil is presented, but it can also be applied to a plate shape such as a disk, a connecting portion of a weight, etc. depending on the seismic isolation method. In other words, the outer sides of the upper and lower supports (11, 14) are coupled to the upper and lower housings (10, 13), and the inner sides are coupled to the damping material (12). Here, the upper and lower sides indicate relative positions with respect to the ground.

An energy harvesting unit (20) that harvests vibration energy is installed inside a damping material (12). The harvesting unit (20) can be mounted on one or both of the upper and lower supports (11, 14). In the drawing, a case in which it is mounted on the upper support (11) is presented. An isolation module (30) that utilizes the harvested energy can be mounted on at least one of the upper and lower housings (10, 13). In the drawing, a case in which it is mounted on the upper housing (10) is presented. The harvesting unit (20) and the isolation module (30) will be described in detail later. Although not shown in the drawing, the electrical connection of the harvesting unit (20) and the isolation module (30) can be implemented in a known manner.

Figure 2 is a drawing for explaining the harvesting section (20) of Figure 1. Here, (a) is a perspective view, (b) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line B-B of (a), and (c) is a bottom view viewed from the bottom. At this time, the first seismic isolation device (100) is referred to Figure 1.

According to FIG. 2, the harvesting unit (20) includes a piezoelectric body (21), a piezoelectric support (22) equipped with the piezoelectric body, and a damping connection (23). The piezoelectric body (21) is deformed together with the vibration of the damping material (12), and the deformation of the piezoelectric body (21) induces a current in the piezoelectric body of the piezoelectric support (22) by the piezoelectric effect phenomenon. The piezoelectric support (22) is coupled to the damping connection (23) and accommodates the deformation of the damping material (12). The piezoelectric body (21) accommodates the deformation of the damping material (12) and generates an induced current. Although not expressed in the drawing, the induced current is transmitted to the seismic isolation module (30). Here, the harvesting unit (20) is simply presented conceptually and may be variously modified according to the purpose of the present invention of harvesting vibration energy. For example, a commutator, brushes, etc. may be installed so that direct current can be induced, and additional elements may be included so that the induced current caused by the harvesting unit (20) can be transmitted to the seismic isolation module (30).

Fig. 3 is a block diagram for explaining the seismic isolation module (30) of Fig. 1. At this time, the first seismic isolation device (100) will be referred to Fig. 1.

According to FIG. 3, the seismic isolation module (30) includes a converter (31), a charging module (32), a control unit (33), and a communication sensing unit (40). The converter (31) performs alternating current to direct current conversion or direct current to forward current conversion so that charging in the charging module (32) is suitable. The control unit (33) controls the operations of the charging module (32) and the communication sensing unit (40). To this end, the charging module (32) may include known elements that perform commands of the control unit (33). The communication sensing unit (40) detects the seismic isolation state of the first seismic isolation device (100) and transmits the detected sensor data to the outside. The communication sensing unit (40) may exist individually, but a plurality of communication sensing modules [TS1, ... , TS(m), m is a natural number] may exist to form a mesh network to be described later. The communication sensing modules [TS1, ... , TS(m)] is a module that includes both communication elements and sensor elements, and all known elements can be applied. Although it is expressed as a block in the drawing, it has various shapes and arrangements.

The current of the seismic isolation module (30) is transmitted from the harvester (20). In other words, the power for operating the seismic isolation module (30) is not supplied from the outside but is procured by itself. If the power for operating the seismic isolation module (30) is supplied from the outside of the first seismic isolation device (100), an unexpected accident may cause the power to be cut off. In this case, it is impossible to detect in real time through various sensors of the first seismic isolation device (100), such as a vibration sensor, a displacement sensor, a humidity sensor, etc. by the communication sensing unit (40), and to identify and respond to the performance of the seismic isolation device. In order to resolve this, the first seismic isolation device (100) must be exposed and then repaired, but since the first seismic isolation device (100) is embedded in a building with a heavy load, it is not easy to repair.

If the power for operating the seismic isolation module (30) is supplied from the harvesting unit (20), the seismic isolation module (30) operates even if power is not supplied from the outside. In some cases, the power for the seismic isolation module (30) may be supplied from outside the first seismic isolation device (100) and stored in the harvesting unit (20) at the same time. In this case, even if the power from the outside is cut off, the power charged in the charging module (32) can be used, so that the operation of the seismic isolation module (30) is guaranteed during the time when repairs are required. Preferably, the capacity charged in the charging module (32) is sufficient to ensure the operation of the seismic isolation module (30) even without power supply from the outside.

Figure 4 is a drawing for schematically explaining the sensor data transmission process using a wireless mesh network by the communication sensing unit (40) of Figure 3. Here, (a) is a drawing schematically expressing the state applied in the field, and (b) is a drawing for conceptually explaining (a). At this time, the first seismic isolation device (100) is to be referred to Figure 1.

According to FIG. 4, the process of transmitting sensor data is performed through a communication sensing unit (40), a gateway unit (50), a remote communication network (55), and a communication control unit (60). In some cases, the gateway unit (50) may be wirelessly linked to a separate mobile device (63). The communication sensing unit (40) includes a plurality of module groups [M1, M2, ..., M(n), where n is a natural number] for measuring at least one physical quantity among vibration, displacement, humidity, etc. The communication control unit (60) includes a server (61) and a control panel (62), and appropriately controls the sensor data of the present invention. The mobile device (63) is a portable control panel such as a mobile, and includes application software, a display device, a controller, and the like that can display sensor data transmitted from the communication sensing unit (40) using a wireless mesh network method.

Each of the module groups [M1, M2, …, M(n)] includes a plurality of communication sensing modules [TS1, TS2, …, TS(m)], and the drawing presents an example in which five communication sensing modules (TS1, TS2, TS3, TS4, TS5) are mounted. The number of communication sensing modules [TS1, TS2, …, TS(n)] can be adjusted variously. For example, some module groups may include three communication sensing modules (TS1, TS2, TS3). Each sensor in the communication sensing modules [TS1, TS2, …, TS(m)] may be a duplicate sensor having a partially identical function. For example, two vibration detection sensors may be mounted. The type and number of the sensors may vary depending on the environment, purpose, etc. to which the embodiment of the present invention is applied.

The communication sensing modules [TS1, TS2, …, TS(m)] of each of the plurality of module groups [M1, M2, …, M(n)] are interconnected via a short-range communication network (41). The short-range communication network (41) can be applied in various ways within the scope of the present invention, for example, Bluetooth, Lora, Wifi, etc. That is, the communication sensing modules [TS1, TS2, …, TS(m)] of each of the plurality of module groups [M1, M2, …, M(n)] form a network. If each of the communication sensing modules [TS1, TS2, …, TS(m)] forms a network, the sensor data measured by each of the communication sensing modules [TS1, TS2, …, TS(m)] are shared with each other. That is, the sensor data of the present invention is shared through a network, and the shared sensor data is transmitted to the communication control unit (60) in a 1:n mesh network manner.

The gateway unit (50) includes a plurality of gateways [G1, G2, … , G(n), where n is a natural number]. Each gateway [G1, G2, … , G(n)] is interconnected by a proximity network (51), such as a proximity network (51a) between adjacent gateways (e.g., G1 and G2) and a proximity network (51b) between gateways one across (e.g., G1 and G3). Each gateway [G1, G2, … , G(n)] is linked to an adjacent module group [M1, M2, … , M(n)] by a proximity network (52). For example, the gateway (G1) is linked to the module group (M1) and the module group (M2) by a proximity network (52). The gateway (G1) transmits sensor data shared by the module group (M1) to the communication control unit (60) via a remote communication network (55), such as LTE. Likewise, the gateway (G2) transmits sensor data shared between the module group (M1) and the module group (M2) to the communication control unit (60) via a remote communication network (55) such as LTE. In this manner, each gateway [G1, G2, ..., G(n)] transmits to the communication control unit (60).

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a gateway unit (50) transmits a plurality of gateways [G1, G2, …, G(n)] to a communication control unit (60) in a 1:n mesh network manner. In this way, sensor data entering and exiting the gateway (G1) includes all sensor data measured by each sensor of a plurality of module groups [M1, M2, …, M(n)]. Similarly, sensor data entering and exiting the gateway [G(n)] includes all sensor data measured by each sensor of a plurality of module groups [M1, M2, …, M(n)]. In this way, when sensor data is transmitted in a mesh network manner, the sensor data is not lost due to communication failure or the like and is all transmitted to the communication control unit (60).

The sensor data transmission method first self-diagnoses the communication status of each module group [M1, M2, … , M(n)]. Specifically, in the case of the module group (M1), the communication status of the module group (M1), the gateway (G1), the remote communication network (55), and the communication control unit (60) is checked. Similarly, other module groups [M2, … , M(n)] are also self-diagnosed. Thereafter, the function and proximity communication status of each module group [M1, M2, … , M(n)] are self-diagnosed. Specifically, in the case of the module group (M1), the function of each communication sensing module [TS1, TS2, … , TS(m)] is checked, and the proximity communication status between each communication sensing module [TS1, TS2, … , TS(m)] is self-diagnosed. Sensor data is collected from each communication sensing module [TS1, TS2, … , TS(m)] in the module group (M1). Sensor data measured from each communication sensing module [TS1, TS2, …, TS(m)] is shared with each sensor through a proximity communication network (41).

Next, the sensor data acquired from each communication sensing module [TS1, TS2, …, TS(m)] of each module group [M1, M2, …, M(n)] can be corrected by a predetermined correction factor. A known method is utilized for the correction of such sensor data. Thereafter, the shared sensor data is transmitted to each sensor. The stored sensor data is compared with the transferred sensor data, duplicate sensor data is deleted, and then stored. The corrected and deleted stored sensor data is transmitted to the gateway unit (50) through the proximity communication network (52). Specifically, the module group (M1) is transmitted to the linked gateway (G1) through the proximity communication network (52). At this time, each gateway [G1, G2, …, G(n)] is linked as described above. The gateway (G1) transmits the stored sensor data to the server (61) using the remote communication network (55).

When the sensor data of the module group (M1) is transmitted to the server (61) in a 1:n mesh network manner, the sensor data is transmitted to the module group (M2) via the gateway (G2). In this way, the sensor data of the module group (M1) is stored in the sensor data of the module group (M2) and shared. For each module group [M2, … , M(n)], the sensor data transmission is performed (n-1) times in the same manner as in the module group (M1). In this way, the sensor data of the module group [M1, M2, … , M(n)] is shared with all module groups [M1, M2, … , M(n)].

Since the module group [M1, M2, … , M(n)] and the gateway [G1, G2, … , G(n)] according to the embodiment of the present invention perform 1:n mesh network communication with the communication control unit (60), it is possible to prevent the loss of sensor data of each module group [M1, M2, … , M(n)] due to communication failure, etc. This is because all communication sensing modules [TS1, TS2, … , TS(m)] of the module group [M1, M2, … , M(n)] share sensor data. In addition, since the sharing of sensor data is done by time division, the shared sensor data can be checked at any time. To this end, an appropriate cycle for time division can be set in advance.

Each of the module groups [M1, M2, … , M(n)] is installed in the first seismic isolation device (100). That is, if there are n module groups [M1, M2, … , M(n)], there are n first seismic isolation devices (100). In addition, if there are n module groups [M1, M2, … , M(n)], there are n gateways [G1, G2, … , G(n)]. Preferably, one module group and one gateway are installed in each of the first seismic isolation devices (100). In some cases, n gateways [G1, G2, … , G(n)] may be installed in the building (CM). The telecommunication network (55) and the communication control unit (60) are installed in the building (CM).

The method for transmitting sensor data using a wireless mesh network according to an embodiment of the present invention can be used without distance restrictions by utilizing both a local area network and a remote communication network. If the remote communication network utilizes LTE, a transmission device can be used without a separate cost. In addition, since various communication sensing modules [TS1, TS2, ..., TS(m)] apply a low-power protocol, the sensor data transmission process can be operated for a relatively long time. The transmission device of the present invention can not only have the function of preventing danger in advance, but can also ensure the safety of workers through warnings from the communication control unit (60). If a portable device such as a mobile device (63) is utilized, the effectiveness of safety inspection and danger warning can be further enhanced.

By utilizing the communication sensing unit (40) according to an embodiment of the present invention, even if some of the communication sensing modules [TS1, TS2, ..., TS(m)] in the first seismic isolation device (100) embedded in a heavy load building malfunction, the shared sensor data is secured and transmitted, so that the performance of the first seismic isolation device (100) can be properly identified and responded to.

Figure 5 is a perspective view showing a second seismic isolation device (200) according to an embodiment of the present invention. At this time, the second seismic isolation device (200) is identical to the first seismic isolation device (100) except for the seismic isolation module (70).

According to FIG. 5, the second seismic isolation device (200) includes an isolation module (70) with an ESS module (74) built in or externally stored for storing power transmitted from the harvester (20). In the drawing, the state in which the ESS module (74) is externally stored is expressed. In practice, since the external ESS module (74) has room to expand in size, more current harvested from the harvester (20) can be stored than in the case of built-in storage. Since the ESS module (74) can have a plurality of batteries built in, the stored capacity can be increased by increasing the number of batteries. In this way, the second seismic isolation device (200) can stably secure power for operating the seismic isolation module (70) by the ESS module (74). The ESS module (74) can be placed at any location considering the convenience of design, either in one or both of the upper and lower housings (10, 13).

Fig. 6 is a block diagram for explaining the seismic isolation module (70) of Fig. 5. At this time, the second seismic isolation device (200) will be referred to Fig. 5.

According to FIG. 6, the seismic isolation module (70) includes a branch unit (71), a converter (72, 73), an ESS module (74), a control unit (75), a charging module (32), and a communication sensing unit (40). The branch unit (71) divides the current transmitted from the harvesting unit (20) into the charging module (32) on one side and the ESS module (74) on the other side. Any known method can be adopted for the branch unit (71). The converters (72, 73) perform alternating current to direct current conversion or direct current to forward current conversion so that charging in the charging module (32) and the ESS module (74) is suitable. The control unit (75) controls the operation of the charging module (32), the communication sensing unit (40), and the ESS module (74).

If the capacity of the charging module (32) is insufficient, the control unit (75) supplies the stored current from the ESS module (74) to the charging module (32) through the wire (76). When the current is supplied from the ESS module (74), the capacity of the charging module (32) is stably secured. The control unit (75) may include an element that determines the capacity of the charging module (32) and supplies current to the ESS module (74) according to the situation. Since the determination of the capacity of the charging module (32) and the supply of current to the ESS module (74) are already well known, a detailed description thereof will be omitted here. In addition, the charging module (32) and the ESS module (74) may include known elements that perform commands from the control unit (75).

Above, the present invention has been described in detail with reference to preferred embodiments, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications are possible by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention.

10, 13; upper and lower housing
11, 14; upper and lower supports
12; damping material 20; harvesting part
21; Piezoelectric body 22; Piezoelectric support
23; damping connection
30, 70; seismic isolation module
31, 72, 73; converter
32; Charging module
33, 75; Control Unit
40; Communication sensing unit
41, 51, 52; Proximity Communication Network
50; Gateway section 55; Telecommunications network
60; Communication controller 61; Server
62; Control Panel 63; Mobile Device
71; Branch 74; ESS module

Claims (10)

Damping material that converts shock into vibration;
A housing having the above damping material combined;
An energy harvesting unit installed in the above damping material and extracting current by the piezoelectric effect utilizing the vibration; and
It comprises an isolation module mounted in the housing and operated by current harvested by the energy harvesting unit,
The above-mentioned seismic isolation module includes a communication sensing unit that detects the seismic isolation status and transmits the detected sensor data to the outside.
An isolator utilizing energy harvesting, wherein the harvesting unit includes a piezoelectric body, a piezoelectric support equipped with the piezoelectric body, and a damping connection, and the piezoelectric body is deformed by vibration of the damping material. An energy harvesting-utilizing seismic isolation device, characterized in that in the first paragraph, the damping material utilizes vibration of any one of a coil shape, a plate shape, or a weight. delete An isolation device utilizing energy harvesting, characterized in that in the first paragraph, the seismic isolation module includes a charging module in which the current of the energy harvesting unit is charged, and the communication sensing unit is operated by power supplied from the charging module. An isolation device utilizing energy harvesting, characterized in that in claim 1, the isolation module includes an ESS module. In the fifth paragraph, an isolation device utilizing energy harvesting, characterized in that the isolation module includes a charging module in which the current of the harvesting unit is charged and a branch unit that branches the current to the ESS module. delete delete delete delete

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