JP3538989B2 - Piping leak monitoring device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a pipe leakage monitoring device for automatically detecting the presence or absence of fluid leakage in a transport pipeline for transporting fluid.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, leak monitoring devices for pipelines for transporting fluids are disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 4-64787 and 4-363.
There has been known a configuration of a gas supply pipe leakage monitoring device as disclosed in JP-A-638. Hereinafter, the configuration will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8.

First, in the conventional example shown in FIG. 7, a gas supply source 1 such as propane gas, a gas supply pipe 2, a parent gas meter 3 for integrating the total supply gas from the gas supply source 1,
The gas supply system includes an individual gas meter 4 for accumulating the amount of individual gas used by each supply destination, and individual gas appliances 5. Here, the parent gas meter 3 takes in the flow rate detection mechanism 6 and the CPU 7 which takes in the data detected by this detection mechanism to determine whether or not it is normal, and takes out the data calculated by the CPU 7 through the signal line 8. The communication controller 9 is provided, and the data is transmitted to the host computer 11 on the center side through the telephone line 10. Here, 12 is a pressure regulator, and 13 is a valve.

In such a configuration, the flow rate is detected by the flow rate detection mechanism 6 installed in the parent gas meter 3, and the gas usage reduction time zone, the minimum flow rate and their deviation values are learned, and their total value and the current The data is compared with the data to determine whether or not the current data is within a normal range, and an alarm output is generated when the data is determined to be abnormal.

In another conventional example shown in FIG. 8, a parent gas meter 3 for integrating the entire supply gas from a gas supply source 1 is provided.
And the gas supply pipe 2 and the gas supply 5 via the individual gas meter 4 of each supply destination, and the parent gas meter 3 and the individual gas meter 4 have a flow rate transmission function 14 and manage the gas meters. A gas supply leak monitoring device capable of exchanging flow rate information with the device 15 was used. Here, reference numeral 16 denotes a minute leak monitoring meter.

In such a configuration, the gas flow rate during a predetermined time period during the day when the gas consumption is small is collected by the flow rate transmitting function in the management device for each gas meter.
The sum N1 + N2 + of the flow value Ns of the parent gas meter 3 and the flow values N1, N2,... Nn of the individual gas meters 4.
.. + Nn, and Ns ≦ N1 + N2 +... + N
In the case of n, it is considered that there is no leakage, and Ns> N1 + N2 + ...
In the case of... + Nn, there is a configuration having a leakage determination method that there is leakage.

[0007]

However, in the pipe leak monitoring device as in the prior art, the pipe leak is determined on the assumption that there is a period in which the gas appliances in the whole house are not used at the same time. As the number of homes increases and the resident's lifestyle changes, is there really a gas leak upstream of the individual gas meter, or is gas equipment such as a gas air conditioner actually being used continuously? There is a problem that it becomes ambiguous and the reliability of the leak judgment by the pipe leak judging means is remarkably reduced.In addition, even if there is continuous use of an ignition, there is a problem that a gas leak is erroneously judged upstream of the gas meter. there were.

Further, in another conventional example, ±
Since there is an error of about 3%, when calculating the total flow rate of each individual gas meter, the error of each meter is superimposed and enlarged, and the reliability of leak determination is significantly reduced.
When the number of homes increases, it is very difficult to calculate the flow rate of each individual meter at the same time, and compare the total flow rate of each individual meter measured at a different time from the measurement time of the parent gas meter. However, there is a problem that the reliability of information for determining leakage is low.

A first object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problem, and to accurately and accurately determine leakage from a transportation pipeline based on flow rate information measured by two instantaneous flow rate measuring means. .

It is a second object of the present invention to improve measurement accuracy by measuring in a short time with an ultrasonic flowmeter so that the measurement times are matched.

It is a third object of the present invention to improve the determination accuracy by comparing the measurement time or the measurement time with the flow rate information, which is a pair of the time information and the flow information, and comparing them.

A fourth object of the present invention is to detect minute leaks with high accuracy by setting the instrumental difference of the flow rate measuring means to be equal to or smaller than the leak determination flow rate.

It is a fifth object of the present invention to improve the accuracy of leak determination by making a leak determination based on information obtained by measuring the flow rate over two or more days.

It is a sixth object of the present invention to improve the workability of installation work by notifying wiring means by notifying wiring means of flow rate information before and after the transportation pipeline to the determination means.

A seventh object of the present invention is to simplify the maintenance work of the leak monitoring device by enabling the leak test device to check the operation of the leak monitoring device.

An eighth object is to reliably inspect the operation of the first flow rate measuring means by arranging a leak test device in the first flow rate measuring means.

[0017]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to the above-mentioned conventional problems.
A transport conduit for transporting the fluid to solve
A shutoff valve provided on the upstream side of the transport pipe, a pipe branching means provided on the downstream side, and a first instantaneous flow rate measuring means provided on the most upstream side between the cutoff valve and the pipe branching means When a second instantaneous flow rate measuring means provided downstream of said first instantaneous flow rate measuring means between the conduit branch means and the shut-off valve,
First communication means for transmitting the first flow rate information obtained by the first instantaneous flow rate measurement means, and second communication means for transmitting the second flow rate information from the second instantaneous flow rate measurement means. Communication means for receiving the first flow rate information and the second flow rate information; and third communication means for receiving the first flow rate information and the second flow rate information;
And determining means for comparing the first flow rate information and the second flow rate information when any one of the flow rate information is equal to or less than a predetermined flow rate to determine leakage of the fluid from the transport pipeline. did.

Further, the first instantaneous flow rate measuring means and the second instant
When the flow rate measuring means has a configuration is an ultrasonic flowmeter.

Further, when was configured to perform the leakage determination by the first flow rate information and the second flow rate information in which the time information and flow rate information in a pair.

Further, the flow rate measuring device differences, and configured to include a first instantaneous flow rate measuring means and the second instantaneous flow rate measurement means is less than the leakage determination flow in the measurement flow rate range.

[0021] Also, a configuration provided with a determination means for performing a plurality of times of leakage determination for over 2 days.

Further, the first communication means, second communication means and the third communication means and configured to include a wireless device that communicates the flow rate information by using a radio signal.

[0023] Also, a configuration provided with a leakage test device for generating a test signal for testing a normal operation of the leakage mode monitoring.

Further , a leak test device for transmitting a test signal to the first instantaneous flow rate measuring means is provided.

[0025]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention by the above configuration, based on the two flow information measured by the instantaneous flow rate measurement unit, the leakage from pipelines can be determined reliably and accurately.

Then, the measurement is performed in a short time by the step ultrasonic flowmeter, so that the measurement time can be matched and the measurement accuracy can be improved.

Further, it is possible to improve the determination accuracy by time by the time information and flow rate information to match the measurement time and the measurement time by the flow information to pairwise comparison.

Further, by making it less leakage determination flow rate instrument error of flow rate measurement means, it is possible to detect a minute leakage with high accuracy.

[0029] Leak determination is performed based on information obtained by measuring the flow rate over two days or more, so that the accuracy of the leak determination can be improved.

Furthermore, by notifying the flow rate information before and after export Okukanro to the determining means by radio signals, it is possible to improve the workability of the installation construction wiring work as required.

Further, by making it possible to check the operation confirmation of the leakage monitoring device by leakage model test apparatus, it is possible to simplify the maintenance work of the leakage monitoring device.

Then , the operation inspection of the first flow rate measuring means can be reliably performed.

[0033]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a transport line 17 for transporting a fluid, a shut-off valve 18 provided on the upstream side of the transport line 17 and a downstream side of the transport line 17 are provided. A pipe branching means 19 provided, and a first ultrasonic flow meter 20 which is an instantaneous flow meter as a first flow measuring means provided on the most upstream side between the shutoff valve 18 and the pipe branching means 19. And a second ultrasonic flow meter 21 as a second flow measuring means provided at the most downstream side between the shut-off valve 18 and the pipe branching means 19, and the first ultrasonic flow meter. A first wireless device 22 as first communication means for transmitting the obtained first flow rate information, and a second wireless device 22 obtained by the second ultrasonic flow meter 21.
A second wireless device 23 as a second communication unit for transmitting the flow rate information of the second wireless device 23, and a third wireless device 2 as a third communication unit for receiving the first flow rate information and the second flow rate information.
4 and the first flow rate information and the second flow rate information are acquired and compared with each other to determine the leakage of the fluid from the transport pipeline 17. Here, 26 is a seismic sensor, 27 is a gas appliance, 28 is an alarm,
29 is a telephone reporting device, 30 is an individual meter of each house, 31
Is the main pipeline.

In the determination means 25, the first flow rate information on the upstream side and the second flow rate information on the downstream side of the transport pipeline 17 for transporting the fluid are set to a predetermined flow rate or less, for example, 500 liters / hour or less. It was decided to determine the leak if possible.

In such a configuration, in the time mode in which measurement is performed at a predetermined time, the first ultrasonic flow meter 20 is used.
Measures the flow rate Q1, and the first wireless device 22 transmits the first flow rate information data. Similarly, the second ultrasonic flow meter 21 measures the flow rate Q2, and the second wireless device 23
Is transmitted. Here, the first flow rate information data was a combination of a mode parameter indicating one of three modes of time, test, and seismic sensitivity, time information, and flow rate information. The second flow rate information data was a combination of time information and flow rate information. Then, in the determination means 25 provided on the downstream side, the transmission data is received by the third wireless device 24, and if the flow rate Q1 as the first flow rate information is equal to or less than a predetermined value 500 liter / hour, the flow rate Leakage is determined by taking the difference Δq between Q1 and the flow rate Q2 as the second flow rate information and comparing it with a flow rate difference threshold ΔQ which is a preset leak determination flow rate. That is, Q1-Q2 = ΔqΔq
When ≧ ΔQ, it is determined to be a leak and an alarm is issued. Then, the shutoff valve was automatically or manually closed. Also,
If Δq <ΔQ, it was determined that there was no leakage, and the measurement was continued.

For example, assuming that the threshold value ΔQ is 5 liters / hour and that the measurement accuracy of the flow rate measurement can be obtained with an accuracy of 1%, unless the predetermined flow rate is 500 liters / hour or less, 5
It turns out that it is difficult to measure the flow rate difference per liter / hour. Therefore, the measured flow rate range in which the leak determination can be realized is determined by the threshold value ΔQ for the leak determination and the measurement accuracy of the measuring instrument, and the leak determination is performed only when the flow rate less than the flow rate measurement range is measured. As a result, highly accurate leak determination can be realized.

Further, in order to perform the measurement using two flow meters,
By setting the instrumental difference of the flow rate measurement between the first ultrasonic flow meter and the second ultrasonic flow meter to be equal to or less than the threshold value ΔQ which is the leak determination flow rate in the measurable flow rate range, even a minute leak can be accurately performed. Leak determination can be performed.

Here, in the above-described leak determination, it is possible to determine the leak based on the result of one determination, but to improve the determination accuracy, the leak is determined from the results of the two determinations. . When the two determination results match, the determination result is adopted. When the two determination results do not match, the flow rate measurement is performed once again to perform the determination, and the determination of the result is employed. I decided. It is obvious that the more the number of determinations is increased, the more the determination accuracy is improved. Then, by performing a plurality of determinations over two days or more, the determination accuracy can be further improved. For example, in a day's judgment, even if a leak due to gas construction or the like is found and a leak judgment is made, if gas construction is not performed the next day,
No leak occurs and no leak determination is made. Therefore, by performing leakage monitoring over two days, the accuracy of leakage determination can be improved.

Further, since the first flow rate information and the second flow rate information are measured by an ultrasonic flow meter which is an instantaneous flow meter,
The measurement is performed at a time when the measurement time of the first ultrasonic flow meter is substantially equal to the time measured by the second ultrasonic flow meter. For example, in monitoring a leak of a minute flow rate, a device such as a membrane flow meter must measure over a long period of time. If there is a leak in the middle of the pipe, the time measured by the second flow rate measuring means on the downstream side is longer than the time measured by the first flow rate measuring means on the upstream side, and the time measured by the first flow rate measuring means is longer. There is a danger that the flow state at the time that was measured and the flow state at the time that is being measured by the second flow rate measuring means would be different conditions, and measurement could not be performed accurately. However, when the measurement is performed using the instantaneous flow meter, the measurement times can be matched, so that the leakage determination can be performed in the same flow state, and the determination accuracy can be improved. In the present invention, since the time information of the measurement time and the flow rate information are paired information, even when the flow rate information is measured over a long period of time, such as a positive displacement flow meter, it is not an instantaneous flow meter, but from when to when. Since the data is clear, the average flow rate per unit time can be calculated. The leak can be determined from the calculated data using the above equation, and the determination accuracy can be improved. FIGS. 3 to 5 show flowcharts of the above measurement and determination means.

Further, since the flow rate information is exchanged by wireless communication, a signal line connecting the determination means between the first ultrasonic flow meter and the second ultrasonic flow meter becomes unnecessary, and
The workability of installation work is greatly improved. As shown in FIG. 6, the same effect can be obtained even when the second ultrasonic flowmeter 21 and the judging means 25 are installed close to each other, and are connected by signal lines without using wireless means. Is obvious.

On the other hand, the first ultrasonic flow meter 20 is provided with a leak test device 32,
By pressing the second test switch 33, a leak test signal is transmitted to the third wireless device as a test mode. For example, as the leak test signal, the current measured flow rate Q
By converting the flow rate to a flow rate greater than 1 by Δq and transmitting it, it is possible to test whether or not the determination means determines that the leakage has occurred. For example, if a leak cannot be determined by the test, various abnormalities such as an abnormal flow measurement, an abnormal communication, an abnormal determination threshold, and an abnormal battery can be found. Also, by including the operation of periodically generating the test signal in the measurement flow of the first flow rate measuring means,
An operation test of the leak monitoring device can be automatically performed. By this test, it is possible to easily check the battery serving as the drive power source of the first ultrasonic flowmeter, the leakage criterion ΔQ, and the like, thereby simplifying the maintenance management work.

Further, a vibration sensor for detecting vibration is installed on the first ultrasonic flow meter 20, and the flow rate is measured when the vibration sensor 26 detects a vibration level equal to or higher than a predetermined level. Then, the leak determination is made by transmitting the information data in the seismic mode.

In such a configuration, by setting the predetermined vibration level to seismic intensity 2 which is a seismic level felt by humans, leakage can be monitored after a vibration of seismic intensity 2 or more occurs. is there. Normally, in many cases, measurement is performed at long-term predetermined intervals such as one-day intervals in consideration of the life of the battery that is the power supply of the leak monitoring device.
Even if an earthquake occurred, the device did not operate for almost one day before the next monitoring time. By setting such a seismic mode, you can check for leaks immediately after the earthquake, Leaks can be found early. In addition, by setting the vibration level, it is possible to detect a trouble due to construction work and a leak due to ground deformation at an early stage.

Although the description has been made using the ultrasonic flow meter as the instantaneous flow rate measuring means, the same effect can be obtained by using a hot wire flow meter or a nozzle flow meter.

The lever described are collectively embodiment as described above,
The following effects can be obtained.

[0047] Two leakage of the flow rate information measured by the flow rate measuring means from the pipeline based can be determined reliably and accurately.

[0048] Then, it is possible to match the measurement time by measuring in a short time by instant bandwagon amount measuring means to improve the measurement accuracy.

[0049] Further, it is possible to improve the determination accuracy by time by the time information and flow rate information to match the measured time by the flow rate information to pairwise comparison.

[0050] Further, by making it less leakage determination flow rate instrument error of flow rate measurement means, it is possible to detect a minute leakage with high accuracy.

The accuracy of the leak determination can be improved by performing the leak determination based on the information obtained by measuring the flow rate over two days or more.

[0052] Further, by notifying the flow rate information before and after export Okukanro to the determining means by radio signals, it is possible to improve the workability of the installation construction wiring work as required.

Further, according to the eighth means, since the operation check of the leak monitoring device can be checked by the leak test device, the maintenance work of the leak monitoring device can be simplified.

According to the ninth means, the operation inspection of the first flow rate measuring means can be reliably performed.

[0055]

As is apparent from the above description, the present invention
According to the pipe leak monitoring device, measurement is made with two flow rate measuring means
Accuracy from leaks in transportation pipelines based on collected flow rate information
It can be determined well.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a piping leak monitoring device showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a measurement flowchart of a first ultrasonic flow meter of the apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a measurement flowchart of a second ultrasonic flow meter of the apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a determination unit of the apparatus.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram of a conventional pipe leakage monitoring device.

FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram of a pipe leakage monitoring device showing another conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

17 Transportation pipeline 18 Shut-off valve 19 Pipe branching means 20 first ultrasonic flow meter (first flow measuring means) 21. Second ultrasonic flow meter (second flow measuring means) 22. First wireless device (first communication means) 23 Second wireless device (second communication means) 24 Third wireless device (third communication means) 25 Judgment means 26 Seismic sensation 32 Leakage test equipment

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-4-346047 (JP, A) JP-A-4-363638 (JP, A) JP-A-58-85130 (JP, A) 97648 (JP, U) Actually open 58-163847 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G01M 3/28 G01M 3/00

Claims (8)

(57) [Claims] 1. A transportation pipeline for transporting a fluid, a shutoff valve provided upstream of the transportation pipeline, a pipeline branching unit provided downstream, and the shutoff valve and the pipeline branching unit. most of the first instantaneous flow rate measuring means provided on the upstream side, the second instantaneous flow rate measurement provided downstream of the first instantaneous flow rate measuring means between the conduit branch means and the shut-off valve between the Means, first communication means for transmitting first flow rate information obtained by the first instantaneous flow rate measurement means, and second communication means for transmitting second flow rate information from the second instantaneous flow rate measurement means. Communication means for receiving the first flow rate information and the second flow rate information, and the first flow rate information and the second flow rate
A pipe leakage monitoring device including a determination unit configured to compare the first flow rate information and the second flow rate information when any one of the information is equal to or less than a predetermined flow rate to determine leakage of the fluid from the transport pipeline; . 2. The piping leak monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein the first instantaneous flow rate measuring means and the second instantaneous flow rate measuring means are ultrasonic flow meters . 3. A time information and the first flow rate information and piping leakage monitoring system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein including a judging means for performing the leakage determination by the second flow rate information flow information to a pair. 4. A flow rate measuring device difference, measurable first instantaneous flow rate measurement means is less than the leakage determination flow in flow rate range and 3 Noise claim 1 having a second instantaneous flow rate measuring means
2. The pipe leakage monitoring device according to claim 1. 5. A piping leakage monitoring device according to claim 1, any one of 4 having a determination means for performing a plurality of times of leakage determination for over 2 days. 6. The first communication means, the second communication means and the third communication means.
The piping leak monitoring device according to any one of claims 1 to 5 , wherein the communication means includes a wireless device that communicates flow rate information by a wireless signal. 7. A leak test apparatus for generating a test signal for testing a normal operation of leak monitoring.
The pipe leakage monitoring device according to any one of claims 1 to 6 . 8. The piping leak monitoring device according to claim 7, further comprising a leak test device for transmitting a test signal to the first flow rate measuring means.