JP2002365119A - Integrator for flow rate of fluid - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an integrator for a gas flow rate capable of calculating an integration value in each flow rate division of the gas flow rate with an error within a calibration tolerance of a gas meter. SOLUTION: This gas flow rate integrator 10 is provided with an ultrasonic gas meter 11 and an electronic integration value counter 12. An momental value of the gas flow rate is detected by the ultrasonic gas meter 11, and the integration value of the respective flow rates or the gas flow rates in the respective flow rate divisions is calculated by tire counter 12 based thereon. The gas flow rate is determined in a moment, and the integration value is calculated accurately with the error within the calibration tolerance of the gas meter, because the detected gas flow rate is supplied directly to the electronic integration value counter 12.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a fluid flow rate accumulating apparatus capable of accumulating a fluid flow rate such as gas or tap water with an accuracy within a verification tolerance for each flow rate or time interval.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a fluid flow integrating device, for example,
2. Description of the Related Art A gas meter equipped with an electronic counter for integrating gas consumption in a general house or the like is known. The gas meter has a flow rate detecting section for detecting a gas flow rate flowing through a gas supply pipe, a flow rate calculating section for calculating a gas flow rate based on a detection output of the flow rate detecting section, and an integrated value calculating section for integrating the calculated gas flow rate. And an integrated value storage unit for storing the calculated gas flow integrated value, and a display unit for displaying the integrated gas flow value. The gas rate is calculated by periodically multiplying the integrated value of the gas flow rate by the rate per unit gas flow rate.

Here, the flow rate detecting section of a general gas meter is of a membrane type, and when detecting the gas flow rate flowing through the gas supply pipe by such a flow rate detecting section, the number of pulses per fixed time is determined. The flow velocity is calculated, and the gas flow rate is calculated based on the flow velocity. Since it is necessary to count the number of pulses, it takes several tens of seconds to determine the gas flow rate even if the gas flow rate is relatively large.

[0004] In the case of using an integrated value by a film-type gas meter, the integrated value at a certain date and time is calculated by starting the integration at a predetermined time, and stopping the integration at the predetermined time. The integrated value of the gas flow rate within a predetermined period can be calculated based on the error within the verification tolerance of the gas meter. Also, when the integrated value exceeds a certain amount, the calculation of the integrated value thereafter is also
Based on the difference between the integrated value before and after the integrated value exceeds a certain amount,
It can be performed accurately with an error within the test tolerance.

[0005]

However, in the gas meter of the membrane type, only the integrated value of the gas flow rate for each predetermined flow rate section (for example, the integrated value of the gas consumption by a certain gas appliance) is calculated. When calculating the integrated value of the excess flow rate exceeding the predetermined flow rate, the integrated value cannot be calculated with the accuracy within the verification tolerance of the gas meter. That is, as described above, it takes 30 seconds to 1 minute to count the number of pulses to determine the gas flow rate, and a time lag occurs at both the integration start time and the integration end time. Accordingly, an error due to a time lag naturally occurs in the integrated weighed value, so that the integrated value cannot be calculated with an accuracy within the verification tolerance of the gas meter.

When an electronic counter is connected via a communication line separately from the detection unit, the following error is further added to the integrated value. In other words, if the integration is performed on the electronic counter side to display the integration result, a certain communication interval (for example, 10 minute interval) is required depending on the battery capacity limitation. Integration errors also occur due to time lag. As a result, the integrated value cannot be calculated with an accuracy within the verification tolerance of the gas meter.

[0007] Such an adverse effect of the gas meter also occurs when it is attempted to calculate a water consumption integrated value for each predetermined flow rate section using a generally used impeller type water meter. .

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a fluid flow rate integrating device capable of instantaneously determining the flow rate of a fluid flowing through a fluid supply pipe and calculating a fluid flow rate integrated value with an accuracy within a verification tolerance based on the flow rate. Is to do.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an apparatus for integrating a fluid flow rate according to the present invention comprises an ultrasonic flow meter for detecting a flow rate of a fluid flowing through a fluid supply pipe, and an ultrasonic flow meter. A first integrated value calculating section for integrating the detected fluid flow rates, and a second integrated value calculating section for integrating the fluid flow rates detected by the ultrasonic flow meter for each predetermined flow rate section and / or time section.
An integrated value calculation unit, a storage unit for storing and holding the integrated values integrated by the first integrated value calculation unit and the second integrated value calculation unit, and a storage unit that stores the integrated value. And a display unit for displaying the integrated value of

According to the present invention, the flow rate of the fluid flowing through the fluid supply pipe is instantaneously detected by using an ultrasonic flowmeter, and based on this, the integrated value of the fluid flow rate for each predetermined fluid flow rate division and / or time is calculated. We are trying to calculate. Therefore, unlike a gas meter such as a membrane type or a water meter of an impeller type, which requires time for pulse counting to determine the flow velocity, the fluid flow rate for each flow rate category is a verification tolerance. It can be calculated with the accuracy within.

Here, the fluid flow integrating device of the present invention comprises:
An ultrasonic flowmeter and an electronic integrated value counter can be used. In this case, generally, the first and second integrated value calculation units, the storage unit, and the display unit are electronically connected. Built in the formula integrated value counter.

Further, the fluid flow integrating device of the present invention is used for calculating a gas flow rate or a flow rate of tap water.

In the present invention, a flow meter other than an ultrasonic flow meter can be used. That is, any flow meter that detects and integrates the flow velocity of the fluid as the instantaneous flow velocity and that can be integrated may be used.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment of a gas flow rate integrating device for integrating gas usage according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the overall configuration of a centralized gas monitoring system provided with a gas flow integrating device of the present embodiment. The centralized gas monitoring system 1 includes a centralized monitoring center 2 and consumer homes 4 (n) (n = 1, 2, 3,...) Connected to the centralized monitoring center 2 via a telephone line 3. It is composed of The central monitoring center 2 is provided with a center monitoring device 21 and a transmission / reception device 22, and the center monitoring device 21 is connected to the host device 23. The center monitoring device 21 includes a control device 211 mainly composed of a computer, a display device 212, and a printer 2.
13 and other peripheral devices.

At the consumer's house 4 (n), a transmission device 41 having a transmission / reception mechanism, a gas flow integrating device 10 connected to the transmission device 41, and other connected devices such as a gas leak alarm 43 are provided. is set up. The gas flow integrating device 10
Ultrasonic gas meter 11 and electronic integrated value counter 12
It has. The ultrasonic gas meter 11 and the electronic integrated value counter 12 may be of an integrated type or may be of an independent configuration. The ultrasonic gas meter 11 is a gas supply pipe 4 for a gas use instrument 44.
5 is attached. A telephone 46 is provided in the transmission device 41.
Is also connected. Meter reading information, security information, and the like obtained by the gas flow integrating device 10 and the gas leak alarm 43 installed in the consumer home 4 (n) are transmitted from the transmission device 41 to the centralized monitoring center 2 via the telephone line 3. Sent.

On the side of the centralized monitoring center 2, the received information is received by the transmission / reception device 22 and the center monitoring device 21
And performs information processing according to a predetermined monitoring program, and the center monitoring device 21 integrally manages information from each consumer home 4 (n). The basic configuration and operation of such a centralized monitoring system are known.

Next, FIG. 2 shows a gas flow integrating device 1 of this embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an ultrasonic gas meter 11 of zero. Explaining with reference to this figure, the ultrasonic gas meter 11 of the present example detects the parameters required for calculating the gas flow rate flowing through the gas supply pipe 45 by the propagation velocity difference method (111, 112, 113, 114),
And a control device 115 for calculating the gas flow rate and performing other control operations. Also, an input / output unit 11 for outputting the calculated gas flow rate to the electronic integrated value counter 12.
6 is provided.

The gas supply pipe 45 has a rectangular cross section of a constant value S. The ultrasonic transducer 111 has an end wall on the gas inlet 45a side and an end wall on the gas outlet 45b side facing each other. , 112 are set so that the ultrasonic waves transmitted from one side can be received on the other side.

A temperature sensor 113 and a pressure sensor 114 for detecting the temperature T and the pressure P of the gas flowing through the gas supply pipe 45 are attached to the gas supply pipe 45, respectively.

The control device 115 is mainly composed of a microcomputer, and under the control of the CPU, the RO
By executing a control program stored in advance in M, a gas flow rate calculation process is performed. In this example, the gas flow rate is calculated based on the difference in the transmission speed of the ultrasonic wave propagating in the gas flowing through the gas supply pipe 45, the gas flow velocity flowing through the gas supply pipe 45 is V, the gas passage length is L, the ultrasonic wave is Let C be the ultrasonic velocity output from the transducers 111 and 112. The control device 115 calculates the arrival time of the ultrasonic wave transmitted from each of the ultrasonic transducers 111 and 112 based on the detection output of each ultrasonic transducer 111 and 112. In FIG. 2, the case of traveling in the same direction as the gas flow is represented as a forward sound wave arrival time t1, and the case of the reverse direction is represented as a backward sound wave arrival time t2.

In this case, the flow velocity V of the gas is obtained by the calculation formula shown in FIG. 3. By multiplying the flow velocity V by the cross-sectional area S of the gas passage, the volume flow rate Q per time is obtained. The current film-type gas meter takes 15 to 30 seconds to recognize (determine) the flow rate of the flowing gas. However, according to the ultrasonic gas meter 11 of the present embodiment, because of the integration based on the instantaneous value, The flow can be recognized in a few seconds (2-4 seconds).

Next, FIG. 4 shows a gas flow integrating device 10 of this embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram showing a configuration of an electronic integrated value counter 12 of FIG. Referring to this figure, the electronic integrated value counter 12 of the present embodiment integrates a gas flow based on a gas flow supplied from an ultrasonic gas meter 11 constituting a flow detecting unit and a flow calculating unit. It has a normal integrated value calculating section (first integrated value calculating section) 121 for calculating a value and a normal integrated value storing section (first integrated value storing section) 122 for storing the calculated gas flow integrated value. ing.

In addition to this configuration, the electronic integrated value counter 12 of the present embodiment includes a plurality of second integrated value calculation units for calculating a gas flow rate for each predetermined flow rate section, and a calculated gas flow rate for each section. A plurality of second integrated value storage units for storing the integrated values.

In this embodiment, a time zone integrated value calculating section 123 for integrating the gas flow rate for each predetermined time zone, and a time zone integrated value storing section 124 for storing the calculated time zone integrated values, A flow-section-based integrated value calculating section 125 that integrates for each predetermined flow section, a flow-section-based integrated value storage section 126 that stores the calculated flow section-based integrated value, and an excess gas exceeding a predetermined set gas amount. An excess amount integrated value calculation unit 127 for integrating the amount and an excess amount integrated value storage unit 128 for storing the calculated excess amount integrated value are provided.
The integrated value of the excess flow rate is also an integrated value for each flow rate category in a broad sense.

First, in the time-zone-based integrated value calculating section 123,
For example, an integrated value of the gas flow rate for each time period as shown in FIG. 5 is calculated. The time zone division shown in FIG. 5 is divided into two time zone divisions, namely, Saturday and Sunday, Saturday and Sunday midnight time zone including the time zone from 22:00 to 7:00 on weekdays, and other weekday time zones. The time included in the weekend hours is indicated by a solid black square. Therefore, the time-zone-based integrated value integrating unit 123 calculates the integrated value of the gas usage in the weekday time zone and the integrated value of the gas usage in the weekend nighttime zone. These integrated values are stored and held in the hourly integrated value storage unit 124.

Here, in the case of adopting a Saturday / Sunday midnight rate system which is higher or lower than the weekday usage fee as the gas usage fee, the gas usage fee can be calculated as follows.

Charge = (Integrated value of weekend and midnight × unit price of weekend and midnight) + (normal integrated value-integrated value of weekend and midnight) × (unit price of normal fee) A gas flow integrated value is calculated for each flow rate category as shown. The flow rate section shown in FIG. 6 includes 13 sections. The integrated value calculating section 125 for each flow rate section in this example includes integrated value calculating sections corresponding to the flow rate sections 1 to 13. Further, the integrated value storage unit 126 for each flow rate section also includes an integrated value storage unit for storing the integrated values corresponding to the flow rate categories 1 to 13.

Here, for example, as shown in FIG. 7, the used gas appliance at the consumer's house 4 (n) has a used gas flow rate of Q1.
, A gas heat pump (GHP) with a use gas flow rate of Q2, and a water heater with a use gas flow rate of Q3. In this case, for example, when the gas heat pump is used, the gas flow rate division is determined according to the combination of the gas appliances used in each consumer's house, for example, the flow rate division 5 in FIG. This makes it possible to grasp the actual usage of each gas appliance for each time zone.

On the other hand, the excess amount integrated value calculating section 127
As shown in (1), only the excess gas amount exceeding a preset gas amount set value is integrated. Regarding this excess gas amount, a discount rate can be applied as compared with the normal rate. Applying a discount rate can promote an increase in gas consumption. Conversely, the use of a higher fee can promote gas consumption averaging.

Here, the above-mentioned time zone classification, flow rate classification,
The excess amount setting value may be set and changed from the centralized monitoring center 2 via the communication line 3.
In addition, operations such as resetting the storage units 124, 126, and 128, and periodically calling integrated values held in the storage units may be performed from the central monitoring center 2 via the communication line. Good.

Next, the gas flow integrating device 10 of this embodiment is provided with display units 131 to 134 for displaying integrated values. Further, a charge calculation unit 135 is provided, and based on the set normal charge unit price, Saturday and Sunday late-night charge unit price, GHP charge unit price, and the integrated value held in each of the storage units 122, 124, 126, and 128, the gas charge is calculated. Calculate and display unit 1
If it is configured so that it can be displayed at 35, the consumer can check the gas rate when necessary, which is convenient.

As described above, in the gas flow integrating device 10 of the present embodiment, the flow rate can be instantaneously determined by using the ultrasonic flow meter in the measuring section, and the display is detected not by the communication with the detecting section but by the detecting section. By directing from the section, the integration of a constant flow rate can be started and stopped from the point when the flow rate occurs, and the error is the same as the measurement error of the measuring instrument (that is, within the verification tolerance of the ultrasonic flowmeter). ).

Further, it is possible to realize a meter conforming to the measurement method including the integration of a constant flow rate. When using a single instrument and the total flow rate, the flow rate detection is also directly detected as it is, and when using a specific instrument while using multiple instruments, the specific instrument is limited based on the flow rate difference. In addition, it is possible to accumulate only for a specific device, or when using a specific device, it is also possible to accumulate the total as a total, and also to discount the charges including other devices.

Further, according to the configuration of this embodiment, the demand management
It can also be applied to a multi-function electronic counter configured to perform with a single meter. Not only does the total integrated value be within the test tolerance, but also the total when using specific equipment is a test tolerance that conforms to the Measurement Law. Can be implemented within

Although this embodiment is an example applied to the case of calculating the integrated value of the gas flow rate, the same applies to the case where the volume of a constant flow rate is measured and integrated with another fluid such as tap water or kerosene. Of course, it can be applied. Further, in this example, the second integrated value calculating section for integrating the fluid flow rate for each predetermined flow rate section is provided, but instead or together with this, the fluid flow rate is integrated for each predetermined time section. A configuration including an integrated value calculation unit may be employed.

Further, in this embodiment, an ultrasonic flowmeter is used, but in the present invention, a flowmeter other than the ultrasonic flowmeter can be used. That is, any "flow meter that detects and integrates the flow velocity as the instantaneous flow velocity" that can detect and integrate the flow velocity of the fluid as the instantaneous flow velocity can be used in the present invention.

[0038]

As described above, the fluid flow accumulator according to the present invention uses a flow meter such as an ultrasonic flow meter capable of instantaneously detecting the flow velocity in the flow rate detecting section. Based on the flow rate, a fluid flow integrated value for each predetermined flow rate section and / or each time section is calculated. Therefore, according to the present invention, unlike the related art, the integrated value for each flow rate section can be accurately calculated with an error within the test tolerance.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a centralized gas monitoring system incorporating a gas flow rate integrating device to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an ultrasonic gas meter of the integrating device in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a flow rate calculation principle in the ultrasonic gas meter of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram of an electronic integrated value counter of the integrating device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of time zone division in a time zone integrated value calculation section of an electronic integrated value counter.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of flow rate classification in a flow-rate-division-based integrated value calculation unit.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a correspondence relationship between a flow rate section and a used gas appliance.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing an integrated value of an excess amount in an excess amount integrated value calculation unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10 Gas flow integrating device 11 Ultrasonic gas meter 12 Electronic integrated value counter 111, 112 Ultrasonic transducer 113 Temperature sensor 114 Pressure sensor 115 Controller 116 Input / output unit 121 Normal integrated value calculation unit 122 Normal integrated value storage unit 123 By time zone Integrated value calculation unit 124 Integrated value storage unit for each time zone 125 Integrated value calculation unit for each flow rate 126 Integrated value storage unit for each flow rate 127 Excess amount integrated value calculation unit 128 Excess amount integrated value storage unit 131, 132, 133, 134 Display Department

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2F030 CA03 CB02 CC02 CC03 CC13 CE02 CE04 CE09 CE25 CE32 CF11 2F031 AA01 AE07 AE11 AF01 AF04 AF10 2F035 DA14

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A flow meter for detecting a flow rate of a fluid flowing through a fluid supply pipe, a first integrated value calculating section for integrating a flow rate of the fluid detected by the flow meter, and a flow rate detector for calculating a flow rate of the fluid detected by the flow meter. A second integrated value calculating section that integrates for each predetermined flow rate section and / or predetermined time section; and an integrated value calculated by the first integrated value calculating section and the second integrated value calculating section. A storage unit for storing and holding, and a display unit for displaying an integrated value in the first and second integrated value calculation units, wherein the flow meter detects a flow rate of the fluid as an instantaneous flow rate and integrates the detected flow rate. A fluid flow integrating device, which is a flow meter that detects and integrates a possible flow rate as an instantaneous flow rate. 2. An ultrasonic flowmeter for detecting a flow rate of a fluid flowing through a fluid supply pipe, a first integrated value calculating unit for integrating a flow rate of the fluid detected by the ultrasonic flowmeter, and an ultrasonic flowmeter. A second integrated value calculating unit that integrates the detected fluid flow rate for each predetermined flow rate section and / or predetermined time section, and the first integrated value calculating unit and the second integrated value calculating unit. An apparatus for integrating a fluid flow rate, comprising: a storage unit for storing and holding an integrated value, and a display unit for displaying an integrated value in the first and second integrated value calculation units. 3. The electronic integrated value counter according to claim 1, further comprising an electronic integrated value counter to which a fluid flow rate detected by the ultrasonic flow meter is supplied, wherein the electronic integrated value counter includes the first and second integrated value counters. , The storage unit, and the display unit. 4. The fluid flow integrating device according to claim 1, wherein the fluid is gas, tap water, or liquid fuel.