JP2003149019A - Gas fittings-judging apparatus and gas meter having judgment function of gas fittings - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a gas fittings-judging apparatus for easily discriminating gas fittings being used from a detection gas flow rate. SOLUTION: The gas fittings-judging apparatus comprises a flow rate pattern table for classifying a partial flow rate pattern obtained by dividing a series of gas flow rate pattern that is generated due to combustion control for each control step regarding a plurality of types of gas fittings, a registered fittings table that is registered for each client and has the partial flow rate pattern and gas flow rate for each control step corresponding to the gas fittings, and a registered fittings-judging means for extracting a partial flow rate pattern that matches the detected gas flow rate pattern from the flow rate pattern table, and extracting gas fittings that match the combination of the extracted partial flow rate pattern and the gas flow rate of each control step from the registered fittings table. The registered fittings table is created for the gas fittings connected to the gas meter for each client, and the gas fittings are judged based on it, thus achieving accurate judgment.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a gas appliance determination device which is installed in a gas supply line to each home and is used for a gas meter having a gas flow meter. Gas appliance determination device capable of According to the gas appliance determination device of the present invention, by identifying the gas appliance in use, it becomes possible to provide a higher security function or service corresponding to the gas appliance.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art At the entrance of the gas supply line to each home,
A gas meter with a built-in gas flow meter is installed. The gas meter measures the gas flow rate passing through the gas supply line, and the measured gas flow rate is used to calculate the billing gas charge on a regular basis. In addition to the basic function of measuring the gas flow rate, such a gas meter has a security function of interrupting the gas supply when an abnormal state occurs. According to this security function, the gas is shut off by the shut-off valve provided in the gas flow path of the gas meter in response to the detection of an abnormal use state such as the detection of an earthquake or the forgetting to turn off the gas leak device.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a safe continuous use time set value used for shutting off when the safe continuous use time is over, which is one of the security functions. This function considers that some abnormal usage condition such as gas leakage has occurred if the gas flow rate continues to be used after the occurrence of the gas flow rate is detected and the duration is too long. It is a function to shut off gas. As shown in Fig. 1, a large water heater with a large gas flow rate will be used for about 30 minutes at most, while a stove with a small gas flow rate will be used for a long time. As a premise, the safe continuous use time when the gas flow rate is large is set to be short, and the safe continuous use time when the gas flow rate is set to be long.

When the gas flow rate is generated or changed, the gas meter determines that some kind of gas appliance has started to be used, measures the duration of the flow rate, and continues the safe continuous use time shown in FIG. If the flow rate exceeds the above, the gas is cut off for safety reasons. Therefore, the safe continuous use time (limit time) is cut off based on the flow rate of the used gas without specifying the gas appliance in use.

[0005]

However, as shown in FIG. 1, a stove that is used for a relatively long time and a different gas appliance such as a stove or a small water heater that is used for a relatively short time are used in a small gas flow range. Exists. Since the conventional gas meter cannot identify the gas appliance in use, the safe continuous use time is set long according to the stove that is used for a long time. with this,
As for the stove and small water heater, the safe continuous use time was not always optimal. Therefore, if the gas meter can discriminate the gas appliance in use, it is convenient because it can provide a security function suitable for it.

Conventionally, various proposals have been made to determine the gas appliance in use from the gas flow rate detected by the gas meter. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 3-236513 proposes to combine the information from the flow rate change recognizing means of the gas meter with season information and the like to determine the type of gas appliance by fuzzy inference. However, the discrimination logic is extremely vague and unrealistic. Therefore, the conventional gas appliance determination method cannot determine the gas appliance in use with high accuracy and can be used to provide the optimum security function or other service depending on the determination result. There wasn't.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a gas appliance determination device and a gas meter having the same, which can determine the gas appliance in use with high accuracy.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION To achieve the above object, a gas appliance determination device according to the present invention comprises a gas appliance determination device for determining a gas appliance connected in a gas supply line. For appliances, partial flow patterns obtained by dividing a series of gas flow patterns generated by combustion control are classified for each control step, and registered for each customer, and for each control step corresponding to the gas appliance. A registered instrument table having the partial flow rate pattern and the gas flow rate, and a partial flow rate pattern matching the gas flow rate pattern detected in the gas supply line,
It is characterized by further comprising registered appliance determination means for extracting from the registered appliance table a gas appliance that is extracted from the flow rate pattern table and matches the combination of the extracted partial flow rate patterns and the gas flow rate of each control step.

In the above structure, in order to determine the gas appliance in use from the change in the gas flow rate when the gas appliance is used, a complicated series of changes in the gas flow rate is divided into partial flow rates for each combustion control step. Introduce the concept of patterns. For a plurality of gas appliances that may be used, partial flow patterns are classified for each control step and registered in the flow pattern table. Furthermore, the combination of partial flow rate patterns corresponding to the gas appliances used by the customer and the gas flow rates in each partial flow rate pattern are registered in the registered appliance table.
Then, a gas appliance matching the gas flow pattern and the gas flow rate detected by the gas flow meter is extracted from the registered appliance table.

That is, according to the present invention, a complicated series of gas flow rate patterns associated with combustion control of a gas appliance is simplified into a partial flow rate pattern divided for each control step to facilitate matching with a detected gas flow rate pattern. Further, it is possible to determine the gas appliance in consideration of the gas flow rate in each partial flow rate pattern. The flow rate pattern table and the registered appliance table may be realized by a single table in which partial flow rate patterns are associated with each other for gas appliances.

In a more preferred embodiment of the above invention, the partial flow pattern has characteristic data of the flow waveform with respect to time of the gas flow pattern. The characteristic data is, for example, a criterion index that extracts the characteristics of the flow pattern of each gas appliance, such as the time to reach a certain flow rate, the range of the flow rate at a certain time, and the range and ratio of the changing flow rate. Therefore, the registered appliance determination means extracts (calculates) the characteristic data from the gas flow rate pattern detected by the gas flow meter, and determines whether or not the characteristic data matches the characteristic data of the partial flow rate pattern of the previously registered flow rate pattern table. Make a decision.

In a more preferred embodiment of the above invention, the plurality of control steps have at least an ignition time, an initial transition period after that, and a stable period after which the flow rate stabilizes. Some gas appliances have different flow patterns when ignited, and some have the same. Therefore, the gas appliance cannot be determined only by the flow rate pattern at the time of ignition. The flow pattern during the initial transition period and the flow pattern during the stable period that follow ignition are the same. Therefore, determining the gas appliance from the partial flow rate pattern in at least these three control steps can contribute to the improvement of the determination accuracy.

Further, the ignition is a period from the generation of the gas flow rate to a predetermined time (for example, 10 seconds), and the initial transition period thereafter is a stable period in which the gas flow rate becomes substantially constant after the ignition. It is a period to reach. Therefore, by monitoring the change in the gas flow rate, it is possible to distinguish between the ignition time, the initial transition period, and the stable period, and it is possible to match the divided flow rate patterns divided in these periods.

The gas flow rate registered in the registered instrument table is, for example, a flow rate characteristic of each partial flow rate pattern, such as a fixed value obtained by an average value of a plurality of detections, a maximum value, a minimum value, It is registered in the range.

Then, for the gas appliance judged by the registered appliance judging means, when the predetermined time limit is exceeded, gas shutoff /
The security function of the alarm is executed. Preferably, the time limit is set for each gas appliance. The appliance determination based on the registered appliance table is highly accurate, and a fine security function is realized by the time limit set for each gas appliance. More preferably, even if there is a fluctuation in the detected gas flow rate during monitoring,
Monitoring of the time limit continues.

More preferably, the gas appliance determination device of the present invention further comprises gas leak detection means for detecting a gas leak based on the presence or absence of a change in the gas flow rate corresponding to the fluctuation of the gas supply pressure, and the registered appliance determination device. The gas leakage detection means may detect gas leakage when the means detects an abnormal value of the detected gas flow rate. In addition, the registered device determination means,
When a gas appliance that matches the partial flow rate pattern detected in any control step of the combustion control and the gas flow rate of the control step cannot be extracted from the registered appliance table, the gas leak detection means may perform gas leak detection. . By detecting the gas leak, a higher security level can be secured.

The gas supply pressure varies depending on the usage time and usage status of a plurality of gas consumers. Therefore, most gas appliances have a built-in gas governor as a pressure adjusting means so that combustion will not be affected even if the gas supply pressure fluctuates. Therefore, only when the gas appliance cannot be determined, it is possible to detect the gas leak error by detecting the presence or absence of the gas governor attached to most of the gas appliances from the presence or absence of the change in the gas flow rate when the gas supply pressure changes. Sex can be reduced. On the other hand, unless the pressure is reduced below a certain level, combustion of gas appliances will not be hindered.Therefore, in order to detect gas leakage, it is possible to actively change the gas supply pressure and monitor changes in the gas flow rate. it can. Further, the presence of the gas governor can be detected by monitoring the change in the gas flow rate when the change in the gas supply pressure is detected without actively changing the gas supply pressure.

The flow rate pattern table and the new appliance table may be realized by a single table in which partial flow rate patterns are associated with each other for gas appliances.

[0019]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. However, such an embodiment does not limit the technical scope of the present invention,
The invention extends to the inventions described in the claims and their equivalents.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of the gas meter according to the present embodiment. The gas meter 10 is installed in the middle of the gas supply pipes 12 and 14, and the gas supply pipe 14 on the downstream side is installed.
Is connected to one or a plurality of gas appliances 18A, B, C installed in the customer's house 16. The gas appliance is, for example, a water heater, a fan heater, a table stove, or the like.

The gas meter 10 includes a gas flow rate detecting means 20 provided in a gas flow path, a gas cutoff valve 22, a proportional valve 35 as a gas pressure fluctuation device, and a gas pressure sensor 34.
And a gas meter control unit 24 which receives a flow rate signal from the gas flow meter to measure the cumulative amount of gas, determines a gas appliance in use, and performs a security function corresponding to the gas appliance. The gas meter control unit 24 is realized by, for example, a microcomputer in which a control program is installed. Accordingly, the battery 26 is connected to the gas meter control unit 24.

Further, in the gas meter 10, a gas amount display unit 28 for displaying the measured integrated gas amount, a seismoscope 30 for detecting the occurrence of an earthquake, and notifying the remote gas of the integrated gas amount. A communication unit 32 for receiving the control of the gas cutoff valve from the monitoring center corresponding to the security function is provided. Other than that, various sensors and actuators are provided.

The gas flow rate detecting means 20 in the present embodiment is not a membrane type flow meter which outputs a pulse signal when a certain volume of gas flows, which has been widely used in conventional gas meters, but is 2 seconds or less. It is a flow meter that can detect the instantaneous gas flow rate at intervals. For example, it is preferable to use an ultrasonic flowmeter that sends out ultrasonic waves bidirectionally along the gas flow path, detects the gas flow velocity from each propagation time, and outputs an instantaneous gas flow signal from the relationship with the cross-sectional area of the gas pipe. . Other than that, even in the case of a fluidic meter that generates a Karman vortex in the gas flow and detects the flow velocity from its vibration frequency, or even with a membrane flow meter, the pulse signal interval is narrower than before and the pulse signal is less than 2 seconds. May be output. Alternatively, it may be a hot wire type flow meter that detects that the temperature distribution from the hot wire has changed according to the gas flow rate.

By using the gas flow meter capable of detecting the instantaneous gas flow rate at a relatively short interval as described above, the waveform of the gas flow rate with respect to time can be detected more accurately. Enables determination of gas appliances based on patterns.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram for explaining the operation of the gas meter of this embodiment. In FIG. 3, the gas meter has three operation modes: a normal determination mode, a new registration mode, and an operation monitoring mode. The gas meter determines the gas appliance being used in the normal determination mode or the new registration mode, and realizes the security function (gas cutoff, alarm output, etc.) suitable for the specified gas appliance in the operation monitoring mode. In order to execute the above three operation modes, the gas meter has a flow pattern table, a new device table, and a registered device table.

The flow rate pattern table 50 stores partial flow rate patterns obtained by dividing a series of gas flow rate patterns generated by combustion control, classified for each control step.
Therefore, the partial flow patterns of as many or all possible gas appliances as possible are pre-analyzed and the partial flow patterns are sorted by control step and stored in the flow pattern table 50.

The new appliance table 52 preferably stores all the gas appliances available to the customer and the combinations of the partial flow rate patterns corresponding thereto in association with each other. Therefore,
The gas meter at each customer's house is the same as the new appliance table 52.
Have.

On the other hand, the registered instrument table 54 is
A gas appliance used for each customer and a combination of the partial flow rate patterns corresponding thereto are stored in association with each other.
As will be described later in detail, the registered appliance table 54 extracts the gas appliance used at the customer's house from the new appliance table 52 by a predetermined process (new registration mode), and extracts the extracted gas appliance. It is created by registering the combination of the partial flow rate patterns corresponding thereto in the registered instrument table 54. Therefore, the registered instrument table 54
Is a different table for each gas meter (each customer).

When the gas meter detects the gas flow rate, the gas meter makes a gas appliance determination based on the registered appliance table in the normal determination mode, and if an appliance matching the appliance registered in the registered appliance table is extracted, it corresponds to that appliance. Switch to the operation monitoring mode. When the matching appliance cannot be extracted, the operation shifts to the new registration mode, gas appliance determination is performed based on the new appliance table, and when the matching appliance is extracted, the operation monitoring mode is entered.

Further, even if the matching appliance cannot be extracted even in the new registration mode, it is determined whether or not there is a gas leak based on whether or not the gas appliance is equipped with a gas governor (pressure regulator), as described later. Then, a predetermined security operation is performed.

As will be described later, the gas meter may not be provided with the new appliance table 52 and the new registration mode using the new appliance table 52, and another method is used to register the registered appliance table for the gas appliance used at the customer's house. 54 may be created.

The gas meter control unit for realizing each of the above operations will be described below, and each operation mode,
Each table will be described in more detail.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the gas meter control unit in this embodiment. Since the gas meter control unit 24 is realized by a microcomputer, its configuration is a ROM in which a control program is stored.
And a RAM for temporarily storing data and an ALU for executing a control program. However, FIG. 4 shows each module of the control program and the data structure stored in the ROM or the RAM.

The gas flow rate signal S20 output from the gas flow rate detecting means, for example, every 2 seconds or less has information on the instantaneous gas flow rate and is stored in the memory 42 for each time. Further, the gas flow rate integration module 40 integrates the gas flow rate of the gas flow rate signal S20 and outputs a display signal S28 to the gas amount display section. Therefore, the gas flow rate integration module 4
0 realizes the basic function of the gas meter.

The gas meter according to the present embodiment can judge from the change in the gas flow rate during use of the gas appliance connected to the gas pipe in the customer's house. The gas appliance determination module 43 has such a gas appliance determination function. Further, the gas meter has a gas leak detection function for detecting that a large amount of gas has flowed and for detecting the presence or absence of the gas governor attached to the gas appliance, and the function is performed by the gas leak detection module 53. .

The gas appliance determination module 43 determines the control step based on the detected gas flow rate pattern (flow rate waveform with respect to time).
And a partial flow rate pattern extraction module 46 that extracts a partial flow rate pattern from the gas flow rate waveform divided for each control step, and a flow rate pattern table 50 and a new instrument table 52 or a registered instrument table 54 based on the partial flow rate pattern. And a matching module 48 for extracting a matching gas appliance from.

In the gas meter of this embodiment, in the normal gas appliance determination process (normal determination mode), the gas appliance is determined based on the registered appliance table 54, and the gas appliance cannot be extracted from the registered appliance table 54. In the new registration mode, a gas appliance is determined by referring to the new appliance table 52 and registered in the registered appliance table 54.

The control step determination module 44 analyzes the waveform of the gas flow rate stored in the memory 42 at regular intervals and determines the change in the combustion control step of the gas appliance. That is, in the present embodiment, the detected gas flow rate pattern is matched with a pre-registered partial flow rate pattern in units of partial flow rate patterns obtained by dividing a series of gas flow rate patterns generated by the combustion control of gas appliances. . Therefore, it is necessary to determine which control step the detected gas flow rate pattern currently corresponds to. Therefore, the control step determination module 44 determines which control step of the combustion control corresponds to where in the gas flow rate waveform with respect to the time stored in the memory 42.

The partial flow rate pattern extraction module 46
The detected gas flow rate pattern is divided for each control step determined by the control step determination module, and the characteristic data of the divided partial flow rate pattern is extracted. The feature data of the partial flow rate pattern is an index used for pattern matching, and is a flow rate waveform characterized by time and flow rate, as will be described in detail later. Therefore, the partial flow rate pattern extraction module 46 extracts the characteristic data from the recorded gas flow rate waveform. This characteristic data is used by the matching module 48 for matching with the partial flow rate pattern.

The matching module 48 searches the flow rate pattern table 50 and extracts the partial flow rate pattern in the flow rate pattern table 50 that matches the partial flow rate pattern extracted from the detected gas flow rate. That is, using the characteristic data of the partial flow rate pattern described above as an index, a matching one of the partial flow rate patterns registered in advance is extracted for each control step. Further, the matching module 48 refers to the registered appliance table 54 to extract the gas appliance that matches the combination of the partial flow rate patterns extracted from the flow rate pattern table.

In that case, more preferably, it is also determined whether or not the detected gas flow rate corresponds to the flow rate value of each gas appliance in the registered appliance table 54. Only a combination of partial flow patterns may match multiple gas appliances,
Gas flow values are also preferably utilized to identify the gas appliance in use from the plurality of gas appliances.

As described above, the gas appliance determination module 4
When the gas appliance 3 can identify the gas appliance, the operation monitoring module 56 can execute the operation monitoring mode and execute the optimum security control for the identified gas appliance.
The most typical security control is a safety continuous use time (time limit) over cutoff function by a specified gas appliance. That is, the operation monitoring module 56 monitors whether or not the specified gas appliance has been used continuously beyond the safe continuous usage time set for each type of gas appliance, and when it exceeds, outputs the cutoff signal S22. To shut off the gas shutoff valve and output an alarm. Therefore, the operation monitoring can be performed based on the safe continuous use time (limit time) optimally set for each gas appliance, instead of setting the safe continuous use time depending on the gas flow rate as in the conventional case.

On the other hand, the matching module 48 may not be able to extract the gas appliance from the registered appliance table 54. For example, in the initial state in which nothing is registered in the registered appliance table 54, or after the gas appliance used by the customer is registered in the registered appliance table 54, the customer additionally purchases a new gas appliance. This is the case. In such a case, the matching module 48 identifies the new gas appliance from the new appliance table 52, and registers the combination of the identified gas appliance and its partial flow rate pattern in the registered appliance table 54 (new registration mode ( (See below)).

The gas leak detection module 53 executes a gas leak check when an appliance cannot be extracted from either the registered appliance table 54 or the new appliance table 52. Specifically, the proportional valve 35 in the gas flow path is controlled to change the supply gas pressure, and it is monitored whether or not the gas flow rate changes, and the presence or absence of the gas governor attached to the gas appliance is monitored. To check. If the gas flow rate does not fluctuate, there is a gas governor, some kind of gas appliance is used, or an error in the gas appliance determination itself has occurred, but it is not registered in the flow pattern table, new appliance table, or registered appliance table. It can be considered that various gas appliances are used. When the gas flow rate fluctuates, it can be considered that there is no gas governor, and gas leakage due to gas pipe disconnection or the like occurs. It should be noted that the table stove to which the governor is not attached is determined by the gas appliance determination, and is therefore excluded from the gas leak check here.

The gas flow rate pattern, partial flow rate pattern, flow rate pattern table, new instrument table, and registered instrument table will be described in detail below.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of gas flow rate patterns in a plurality of gas appliances. In FIG. 5, (1) a hot-water supply side burner of a water heater which is a large-scale water heater (hereinafter referred to as a water heater (hot water supply)), (2) a small water heater, and (3) a bath-fired burner of a water heater (hereinafter referred to as a water heater ( Bath heating),
A series of gas flow rate waveforms generated by the combustion control of (4) fan heater, (5) gas stove, and (6) table stove are shown. In all the gas flow rate waveforms, the horizontal axis represents time and the vertical axis represents gas flow rate, and ignition time A, initial transition period B, and stable period C are shown as control steps.

FIGS. 6, 7, and 8 are diagrams showing examples of partial flow patterns during ignition, during initial transition, and during stable periods. Figure 5
The gas flow rate patterns of the respective gas appliances shown in FIG. 6 will be described, and also examples of the partial flow rate patterns shown in FIGS.

In the gas flow rate pattern of the water heater (hot water supply) shown in FIG. 5 (1), at ignition time A, the gas flow rate is controlled to be the optimum gas flow rate for ignition so that slow ignition is performed and the gas flow rate of slow ignition is maintained for a predetermined period. After that, the feedforward and feedback control is started with the maximum gas flow rate Qmax (or any gas flow rate).
Eventually, a stable period C in which the gas flow rate is constant while the gas flow rate converges is reached. Initial transition period B between ignition time A and stable period C
Then, although the way of changing the gas flow rate differs depending on the feedforward control and the feedback control of the water heater,
In this example, the first pattern is such that the maximum input amount Qmax (or an arbitrary gas flow rate) is vertically fluctuated and converges to a constant flow rate in a stable period. Other than that, the second pattern that gradually decreases from the maximum input amount Qmax (or any gas flow rate) and converges to a constant flow rate in the stable period,
There is a third pattern that gradually increases from an arbitrary gas flow rate different from the maximum input amount Qmax and converges to a constant flow rate in the stable period.

In the partial flow rate pattern at the time of ignition in FIG. 6, the above-mentioned slow ignition pattern A-1 is shown. That is, in the slow ignition pattern A-1, the state of the ignition gas flow rate Q1 corresponding to 70 to 90% of the maximum gas flow rate Qmax at the time of ignition continues for a predetermined time t, and thereafter, the maximum gas flow rate Qmax (or an arbitrary gas flow rate Q2). ) Is changed. That is, when the water temperature is low,
When the maximum input is used, heating is performed rapidly, and hot water at the set temperature can be controlled in a short time. Further, when the water temperature is not low, the flow rate is controlled to a controlled arbitrary gas flow rate.

Therefore, the characteristic data of the slow ignition pattern A-1 is that the predetermined time t at which the slow ignition gas flow rate Q1 continues once is
Within the range from less than 0.5 seconds to 10 seconds (0.5sec ≦ t ≦ 10s
ec), the slow ignition gas flow rate Q1 is the maximum gas flow rate Q
Within 70 to 90% of max (Q1 = K (n / 3) Qmax, 0.
7 ≦ K ≦ 0.9). However, the maximum gas flow rate Qmax differs depending on the number n of the slowly ignited burners. If there are three burners and all three are ignited during slow ignition (n = 3), Q1 = KQmax and 2
When only surface is ignited (n = 2), Q1 = K (2/3)
If Qmax and only one surface is ignited (n = 1), then Q1 =
Either K (1/3) Qmax. When the burner has two sides, Q1 = KQmax or Q1 = K (1 /
2) Qmax. If there is only one burner, Q1 = KQm
It is ax. Furthermore, the maximum input amount Qmax differs depending on the capacity of the water heater (No. 16, No. 20, No. 24, No. 32, etc.).

Further, in the partial flow rate pattern in the initial transition period of FIG. 7, the first pattern B-1 in which the flow rate converges to a constant flow rate Q3 while hunting up and down from the maximum gas flow rate Qmax (or an arbitrary gas flow rate) described above. And a second pattern B-2 that gradually decreases from the maximum gas flow rate Qmax (or an arbitrary gas flow rate) to a constant flow rate Q3, and gradually increases from an arbitrary gas flow rate Q2 to a constant flow rate Q3. A third pattern B-3 is shown.

Further, the partial flow rate pattern in the stable period of FIG. 8 shows the pattern C-1 in which the above constant gas flow rate is maintained. In this stable period, as long as the amount of water used for hot water supply is constant, a substantially constant gas flow rate Q3 is maintained, but since feedforward and feedback control is maintained, the flow rate slightly fluctuates above and below the gas flow rate Q3. Become a pattern.

Returning to FIG. 5, (2) CF using an exhaust stack
In the flow pattern of a BF type hot bath or a balanced type BF type hot bath that does not require an exhaust pipe, the ignition time A becomes a pilot ignition pattern, and then a stable period C of a constant flow rate does not occur after the initial transition period. Move. At ignition time A, the pilot is first ignited, producing a very small gas flow for the pilot burner. The duration of this small amount of gas flow is about 3 seconds or more, and then the gas flow becomes the gas flow corresponding to the number of burner surfaces, and the burner ignites. In the stable period C, the output of the CF bathtub or the BF bathtub is controlled not by the control using the proportional valve but by the surface switching of the burner. Therefore, stable period C
In, the gas flow rate is constant, but can be switched stepwise by switching the burner surface. The example of FIG. 5B is an example of a two-sided burner. Further, after the burner is extinguished after the stable period C, the gas flow rate of only the pilot igniter is consumed. Further, in another CF type bathtub or BF type bathtub, direct ignition may occur at the time of ignition. In that case, the maximum gas flow rate Q2 rises directly at the time of ignition.

A flow pattern as shown in FIG. 5 (2) occurs in a small water heater as well as the CF bath heater and the BF bath heater.

The ignition flow pattern A-2 is shown in the partial flow rate pattern at the time of ignition in FIG. With this igniting pattern A-2,
During the first few seconds (about 3 seconds or more), a small gas flow rate Q1 for pilot (60 Kcal / h ≦ Q1 ≦ 400 Kcal / h) is maintained, and thereafter, the maximum gas flow rate Qmax (or an arbitrary gas flow rate Q2) is increased. Gas flow Q1 of the igniter burner
Is much smaller than the gas flow rate Q1 at the time of slow ignition. Further, FIG. 6 also shows a fixed flow rate ignition pattern A-3, which is a flow rate pattern that rises to the maximum gas flow rate Qmax (or an arbitrary gas flow rate Q2) in a short time (about 1 second). is there. Further, a constant pattern C-2 is shown in the partial flow rate pattern in the stable period in FIG. There is a burner surface switching control, but otherwise constant flow rate Q3
Therefore, the partial discharge pattern in the stable period corresponds to the constant pattern C-2.

The hot water supply device (bath reheating) shown in FIG. 5 (3) is a gas flow rate pattern when the reheating heating burner that heats and circulates the hot water in the bathtub is burned. Similar to the water heater (hot water supply), a gas flow pattern for slow ignition is generated at the time of ignition A, and then maintained at the maximum gas flow Qmax of the additional burner. Therefore, in this case, at ignition A
Then, the slow ignition pattern becomes A-1, and without passing through the initial transition period,
In the stable period C, the pattern becomes C-2. However, the maximum gas flow rate Qmax is considerably smaller than that in the case of (1) the water heater (hot water supply). In the reheating operation, normally, when the bath temperature reaches the set temperature, the operation is stopped and the gas flow rate is automatically cut off.

The fan heater of FIG. 5 (4) has a slow ignition pattern at the time of ignition A. Then, the gas flow rate rapidly increases the heating capacity at the maximum input amount Qmax or more, and raises the room temperature. After that, as the temperature of the room rises, the gas flow rate is gradually reduced by the stepwise proportional control to reach the constant flow rate Q3. In the stable period C, stepwise proportional control in which the amount of input gas is determined with respect to the temperature of the room is usually performed, and the gas flow rate fluctuates by a constant gas flow rate around the constant flow rate Q3.

Therefore, in the case of this fan heater, the ignition time A is the slow ignition pattern A-1, the initialization transition period B corresponds to the step decrease pattern B-4, and the stable period C is the step control pattern C-. It corresponds to 3.

Depending on the usage of another fan heater,
As shown in FIG. 5 (4), there may be a case where the slow ignition pattern A-1 becomes a stable period pattern C-2 which is a constant control pattern in which Qmax is constant without passing through the initial transition period. For example, when the fan heater is used in a room with a low temperature. In this way, even when the state of the maximum input amount Qmax continues for a long time after ignition, matching with the stable period pattern C-2 can be detected, and it can be distinguished from the water heater (bath cooker) by the flow rate range at that time. it can. Also, the maximum input amount Qmax depends on the capacity of the fan heater,
For 6-8 tatami mats, 8-14 tatami mats, and large rooms, the maximum input amount Qmax gradually increases.

The above step control pattern C-3 is shown in the partial flow rate pattern in the stable period in FIG. In the step control pattern C-3, the gas flow rate is controlled up and down in a stepwise manner from the constant flow rate Q3 by following changes in the room temperature and the like. Since the step type proportional valve is used, the change ΔQi in the gas flow rate is determined by the step width Δ of the proportional valve.
It becomes Q (ΔQi = ± ΔQ), and it is a stable period, so it will definitely decrease after the increase and always increase after the decrease (ΔQi × Δ
Qi + 1 <0).

5 (5), at the time of ignition A, the stove is ignited at a gas flow rate Q2 obtained by adding the pilot gas flow rate to the maximum gas flow rate Qmax, and the gas flow rate is maintained for a certain period of time. Eventually, gas flow rate ΔQ for pilot burner
It decreases only to the stable period C. This pilot burner only burns for a certain period of time at the time of ignition, and is provided as an extinguishing safety function of preventing the burner on the combustion side from extinguishing without igniting and escaping gas as it is at ignition. Therefore, in the stable period C, this pilot burner does not burn. Further, in the stable period C, the gas flow rate is kept constant, and the gas flow rate is controlled in two steps, large and small, but in that case, the gas flow rate is kept constant in each step.

A fixed flow rate ignition pattern may be used as a gas flow rate pattern at the time of ignition of another stove. In this case, since the ignition takes place together with the pilot burner and the pilot burner does not disappear thereafter, there is no decrease ΔQ in gas flow rate corresponding to the pilot burner, and only the maximum gas flow rate is reached at ignition.

In the ignition pattern of FIG. 6, the above-mentioned extinguishing safety ignition pattern A-4 and fixed flow rate ignition pattern A-3 are used.
And are indicated. In the fixed flow rate ignition pattern A-3, as described above, the maximum gas flow rate Qmax (or any gas flow rate Q2) rises in a short time (within about 1 second), whereas in the extinguishing safety device fire pattern A-4. , After a certain gas flow rate Q2 rises, the state is kept for several seconds (2 seconds ≤ t ≤
5 seconds), and then the gas flow rate Qp for the ignition pilot
It gradually decreases by (100Kcal / h ≦ Qp ≦ 400Kcal / h).

In the table stove (6) of FIG. 5, the direct ignition flow pattern (fixed flow ignition pattern A-3) is obtained at the ignition time A, and in the subsequent initial transition period B, the gas flow rate is largely changed. Eventually, a stable period C is reached. However,
Even in the stable period, the flow rate may be manually adjusted depending on cooking. Further, there is another table cooker which, at the time of ignition A, has a fire pattern A-4 for the safety device.

The stove transition period pattern B-5 is shown in the partial flow rate pattern of the initial transition period in FIG. Since the input is adjusted manually, the maximum gas flow rate Qmax (or any gas flow rate Q2) at ignition can be changed for several seconds (0.5
sec ≤ t ≤ 3 sec), and then irregularly fluctuates, then a constant flow rate Q
Up to 3. The constant flow rate Q3 is lower than the flow rate at the time of ignition by ΔQ. Therefore, ΔQ <0.

As described above, when the gas flow rate patterns associated with the combustion control of a plurality of gas appliances are examined, at the time of ignition A, the slow ignition pattern A-1, the ignition pattern A-2, the fixed flow rate ignition pattern A- 3, lit fire pattern A-4 for extinguishing safety device
Can be classified into four patterns. Therefore, the partial flow rate pattern at the time of ignition of the flow rate pattern table is as shown in FIG.
As shown in, four types of partial flow rate patterns are registered.

An example of characteristic data of each flow rate pattern is as shown in FIG. 6, and the slow ignition pattern A-1
Then, the time t of the slow ignition gas flow rate Q1 is 0.5 sec ≦ t ≦ 10se
At c, the slow ignition gas flow rate Q1 is Q1 = K (n / k) Qmax (k is the number of burner surfaces, 0.7 ≦ K ≦ 0.9). Fire pattern A-
In 2, the ignition gas flow rate Q1 is 60 Kcal / h ≦ Q1 ≦ 400 Kcal /
In h), the time t is 3 sec ≦ t. In the fixed flow ignition pattern A-3, the rise time t of the gas flow is t ≦ 1 sec.
Is. And the fire pattern A-4 for the safety device
Then, the rising gas flow rate time t is 2 sec ≦ t ≦ 5 sec, and the decreasing gas flow rate Qp is 100 Kcal / h ≦ Qp ≦ 400 Kcal / h.

Further, in the initial transition period B, the hunting pattern B-1, the monotone decrease pattern B-2, and the monotone increase pattern.
B-3, step decrease pattern B-4, stove transition pattern
It can be classified into 5 types of partial flow patterns of B-5. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 7, the above-mentioned five types are registered as the partial flow rate patterns in the initial transition period of the flow rate pattern table.

An example of characteristic data of each flow rate pattern is as shown in FIG.
In B-1, the absolute value of the up / down change amount ΔQi gradually decreases (|
ΔQi |> | ΔQi + 1 |), and the increase and decrease are repeated (ΔQi
× ΔQi + 1 <0). Further, in the simple decrease pattern B-2, the amount of change at the constant time interval t gradually decreases (ΔQi> Δ
Qi + 1), and the amount of change ΔQi is always negative (ΔQi <0).
In the simple increase pattern B-3, the change amount at the constant time interval t gradually decreases (ΔQi> ΔQi + 1), and the change amount ΔQi
Is always positive (ΔQi> 0). Step reduction pattern B-
In 4, the change in gas flow rate ΔQi is the unique step flow rate ΔQi.
Is an integral multiple of (ΔQi = NΔQ), the change amount ΔQi is always negative (ΔQi <0). The step flow rate ΔQ can be obtained from the gas flow rate change amount in the stable period C. And in the stove transition period pattern B-5, a short time t (0.5 sec ≦ t
The flow rate is reduced by an arbitrary flow rate ΔQ (≦ 3 sec) (ΔQ <0).

In the stable period C, the proportional control pattern C-1, the constant pattern C-2, and the step control pattern C-
It can be classified into three types of three partial flow patterns. Along with this, as shown in FIG. 7, the three types of partial flow patterns in the stable period are registered.

An example of characteristic data of each flow rate pattern is as shown in FIG. Proportional control pattern C-
1, the amount of change in gas flow rate (| Qi-Qi-1 |) at a certain fixed time (for example, X = 10 sec) is the average flow rate during that period.
It is suppressed within several% (M = 0.03) of Qave, and the difference between the maximum and minimum flow rate (Qmax-Qmin) within a certain fixed time is 10
It is about 0 Kcal / h (= L) or more. That is, in the proportional control, the gas flow rate changes to some extent. Constant pattern
In C-2, the amount of change in the gas flow rate is smaller than that in the proportional control pattern, and the difference (Qmax-Qmin) between the maximum and minimum flow rates within a fixed time (for example, X = 10 sec) is within about 100 Kcal / h (= L). In the step control pattern C-3, the change amount ΔQi of the gas flow rate is the step width ± ΔQ, and the increase and the decrease are alternately repeated (ΔQi × ΔQi + 1 <0).

FIG. 9 is a table showing an example of the new instrument table in the present embodiment. The new gas appliance table 52 preferably includes, for each and every gas appliance, a combination of partial flow patterns, a flow range corresponding to each partial flow pattern, and a time limit for continuous use.

For example, in this diagram, the combinations of the partial flow patterns of the water heater (hot water supply) are as follows: the ignition time A is the slow ignition pattern A-1, the initial transition period B is the hunting pattern B-1,
Either the simple decrease pattern B-2 or the simple increase pattern B-3, the stable period C is the proportional control pattern C-1. And
The flow range for each pattern is shown.

The flow rate range at the time of ignition of the water heater (hot water supply) is
The range of the slow ignition gas flow rate Q1 is shown. Further, the flow rate range in the initial transition period is a range of gas flow rates that are actually detected, such as hunting, monotonous decrease and monotonous increase. The flow rate range in the stable period is also the range of gas flow rates to be detected. The gas flow rate range in this stable period varies due to the difference in the above applications. In this way, the flow rate range set in the new appliance table 52 is a relatively wide range that each gas appliance can have.

Further, the combination of the partial flow patterns of the BF type bath kettle, the CF type bath kettle, and the small water heater is such that at the time of ignition A, either the ignition pattern A-2 or the fixed flow rate ignition pattern A-3, the initial transition period B The stable period C is a constant pattern C-2. The flow rate range at ignition indicates the flow rate range in the fixed flow rate ignition pattern. In the case of a fire pattern,
As shown in A-2 of FIG. 6, the flow range of the igniting gas flow rate Q1 is included in the characteristic data, and therefore need not be shown in the appliance table. In case of fixed flow ignition,
The flow rate range is the same during ignition and during the stable period.

As shown in the figure, the combination of the partial flow patterns of the water heater (bath heating) is as follows: slow ignition pattern A-1 during ignition A, no initial transition period B, and constant pattern C- during stable period C. Is 2. The flow rate range at the time of ignition is the range of the slow ignition gas flow rate.

The combination of the partial flow patterns of the fan heater is a slow ignition pattern A-1 during ignition, a step decrease pattern B-4 during the initial transition period B, and a step control pattern C-3 during the stable period C. . Also, the flow rate range at ignition is
The range of the slow ignition gas flow rate, and the flow range of the initial transition period and the stable period is the range of the detected gas flow rate.
As described above, the initial transition period may not exist depending on the usage status of the fan heater.

Next, the combination of the partial flow patterns of the stove is the direct ignition pattern A-3 at ignition A or the ignition pattern A-4 for the extinguishing safety device, there is no initial transition period B, and the stable period C is a constant pattern. It is C-2. The flow rate range at ignition is the range of gas flow rate at ignition.

Further, the combination of the partial flow patterns of the table stove is the direct ignition pattern A-3 or the ignition pattern for the safety device A-4 at the time of ignition, and the initial transition period B is the stove transition period pattern B-5. , The stable period C is a constant pattern C-2. The gas flow rate range during ignition and the initial transition period are in the same range, and the flow rate range during the stable period is wider.

Thus, in the new instrument table,
A combination of partial flow rate patterns corresponding to each gas appliance is registered. Therefore, from the combination of partial flow patterns,
Gas appliances can be determined. However, some gas appliances may have the same combination of partial flow patterns. For example, the small water heater and the stove have the same combination as the fixed flow rate ignition pattern A-3 at the time of ignition A and the constant pattern C-2 at the stable period C without the initial transition period. Even in this case, since the gas flow range of the small water heater is higher than that of the stove, both gas appliances can be distinguished by comparing the gas flow rates.

FIG. 10 is a table showing an example of the registered appliance table in the present embodiment. Registered equipment table 5
4 is for each gas appliance used by each customer,
It includes at least a combination of partial flow patterns, a characteristic flow rate in each partial flow pattern, and a time limit.

The registered appliance table 54 is created by, for example, setting by a business operator (gas meter administrator) who manages the gas meter. More specifically, the customer notifies the gas meter administrator of the type (name, model number, etc.) of each gas appliance being used. Notifications are verbal notifications by telephone or FA
X may be used, or a predetermined home page may be accessed and notified via the Internet. Whenever a gas appliance is added or changed later, the customer notifies the gas meter administrator. When the gas meter has a communication function with a remote center managed by the gas meter manager, the gas meter manager needs to register information from the center in the registered appliance table 54 (a part about the gas appliance notified by the customer). The combination of the flow rate patterns, the characteristic flow rate in each partial flow rate pattern, the time limit, etc.) are transmitted via the communication line and registered in the gas meter registration tool table 54. When the gas meter does not have a communication function, the person in charge of the gas meter administrator may directly visit the customer's house that has received the notification and directly input the information to be registered in the gas meter. The center has a combination of flow patterns for each gas appliance to be registered in the registered appliance table 54, and an appliance database that stores characteristic flow rate information in each partial flow pattern.

As described above, the gas meter does not need to store the new instrument table 52, but has the flow rate pattern table 50 and the registered instrument table 54 (or a table in which these are integrated). The gas appliance determination (normal determination mode) based on is executed. Then, when the gas appliance cannot be identified, the gas leak detection process is executed. If the gas appliance cannot be identified, a predetermined notification may be given to the center via the communication line. The notification includes, for example, information indicating that a new appliance not registered in the registered appliance table 54 has been extracted. Thereby, for example, the center side calls the customer's house to check whether or not a new appliance is installed, and when the new appliance is installed, the information to be registered in the registered appliance table 54 for the new appliance can be registered. The notification to the center may be performed together with the gas leak detection process, and in this case, this notification is performed when there is no gas leak. If it is determined that there is a gas leak, as described later, gas shutoff, alarm output,
Security operations such as notification of the center are performed.

The registered device table 54 may be created by specifying the device in the new registration mode, as will be described in detail below. That is, the device registered in the registered device table 54 is the device specified in the new registration mode, and the characteristic flow rate in the partial flow rate pattern registered for each device is also actually detected in the new registration mode. The flow rate to be registered is registered. That is, since the flow rate (or the flow rate range) peculiar to the instrument is registered instead of the relatively wide flow rate range registered in the new instrument table 52, the instrument can be determined more accurately. The characteristic flow rate in each partial flow rate pattern for each appliance stored in the appliance database provided in the gas meter manager's center is also a value substantially similar to the flow rate detected in this new registration mode. Gas meter managers can
For example, it can be obtained by an experiment in advance.

In FIG. 10, for example, the combination of the partial flow patterns of the stove is the ignition pattern A-4 for the safety device at the time of ignition, there is no initial transition period B, and the stable period C is the constant pattern C-2. . At this time, the flow rate characteristic of the igniting safety device fire pattern A-4 is the flow rate Q at ignition.
2 and the reduced flow rate (pilot flow rate) Qp from there, two fixed flow rates are registered.

When the registered flow rate is a fixed flow rate, whether or not each detected flow rate corresponding to each fixed flow rate substantially matches each fixed flow rate at the time of the normal determination for determining an instrument using the registered instrument table. Is determined. For example, if the detected flow rate is within ± 3% of the corresponding fixed flow rate, it is determined that the flow rates match.

Since the stove has no initial transition period, both the partial flow pattern and the flow rate are blank. The flow rate characteristic of the constant pattern C-2 during the stable period is the constant flow rate Q.
3 and, for example, if the stove is a two-sided switching combustion, 2
Has one fixed flow rate.

Further, the combination of the partial flow patterns of the fan heater is a slow ignition pattern A-1 during ignition A, a step decrease pattern B-4 during the initial transition period B, and a step control pattern C-3 during the stable period C. . At this time, the flow rate characteristic of the slow ignition pattern A-1 at the time of ignition A is the flow rate Q1 at the time of ignition, which is registered as the fixed flow rate.

Step control pattern C- during stable period C
The flow rate characteristic of 3 is a detected flow rate for each step, and a plurality of flow rates for each step are fixed flow rates, and may match at least one of the registered fixed flow rates. Step reduction pattern in early transition period
As the characteristic flow rate in B-4, the maximum step flow rate and the minimum step flow rate of each step flow rate in the stable period are registered as a flow rate range.

When the registered flow rate is within the flow rate range, it is determined whether or not the detected flow rate is within the flow rate range during the normal determination for determining the instrument using the registered instrument table. If so, it is determined that the flow rates match.

Further, the combination of partial flow patterns of the water heater (hot water supply) is as follows: slow ignition pattern A-1 during ignition A, hunting pattern B-1 during initial transition period B, and proportional control pattern C-1 during stable period C. Is. At this time, the flow rate characteristic of the slow ignition pattern A-1 at the time of ignition A is the flow rate Q1 at the time of ignition similarly to the fan heater, and this is registered as the fixed flow rate.

Hunting pattern B- in the initial transition period
As the characteristic flow rate in 1, the maximum flow rate and the minimum flow rate detected in the initial transition period are registered as the flow rate range. Proportional control pattern C-1 in stable period C
As for the characteristic flow rate, the maximum flow rate and the minimum flow rate among the flow rates detected in the stable period are registered as the flow rate range.

As described above, in the registered instrument table 54,
In addition to the combination of partial flow patterns of each device, the actual flow rate unique to that device is registered as a fixed flow rate or flow range as a characteristic flow rate in each partial flow pattern, and the partial flow pattern in each control step is registered. Since the device determination is performed based on and the flow rate peculiar to the device, the possibility of erroneous determination is extremely small, and highly accurate device determination is possible.

Furthermore, by registering the registered flow rate for each season, it is possible to make a more detailed determination and reduce the possibility that a plurality of appliances will be extracted. Specifically, the registered flow rate for each season can be obtained as follows. The season at the time of initial registration is stored, and the registration flow rate is corrected in consideration of a predetermined coefficient for the current season. Alternatively, the registered flow rate corrected for each season is registered in the registered device table. The registered flow rate of the device is detected and additional registration is performed at a predetermined time when the season from the initial registration to another season. Applying both of the above, for the time being, while the registered flow rate for other seasons cannot be actually detected, is used and the registered flow rate is overwritten and registered by the process when another season comes. In addition to the season (for example, month or calendar), the outside temperature can be a factor for correction.

11 and 12 are flow charts of judgment in the gas appliance judgment module 43 in the present embodiment. Specifically, FIG. 11 is a flowchart of a normal determination mode for determining a gas appliance based on the registered appliance table, and FIG. 12 is a new registration table 52 when the gas appliance cannot be extracted from the registered appliance table.
It is a flowchart about the new registration mode which determines a gas appliance with reference to FIG. This flowchart also includes the functions of the modules 44, 46, and 48 that make up the gas appliance determination module 43 shown in FIG. Further, here, as a premise, the case where a plurality of gas appliances are used at the same time is excluded. The judgment method is shown only when each gas appliance is used alone.

In FIG. 11, when the gas flow rate is detected (S100), first, the gas leak detection module checks whether or not the flow rate is a large flow rate that is not used at the time of ignition of a normal gas appliance (S101). If a large flow rate is detected, a gas leak detection process described below is executed. In the present embodiment, the determination of whether or not the flow rate is large is, for example, exceeding 10,000 Kcal / h,
In addition, when the partial flow rate pattern at ignition is other than the water heater pattern A-1, it is considered as a large flow rate due to gas leakage. further,
The step S101 of checking whether the flow rate is large or not is continuously performed in the background. That is, the abnormal gas flow rate is continuously detected for each control step.

When the gas flow rate is detected, the time (start time) at that time is recorded in the memory 42 as the use start time, and the gas flow signal S20 from the gas flow meter 20 is sequentially recorded in the memory 42 ( S102). For example, the instantaneous gas flow rate detected at intervals of 2 seconds or less is recorded in the memory 42. Thereby, the waveform of the gas flow rate with respect to time can be specified.

The instantaneous gas flow rate detected at a constant sampling interval is monitored, and the end of combustion control at ignition is detected by the control step determination module 44. Specifically, a predetermined time (for example, 10
It can be determined that the ignition has ended when (seconds) has elapsed. Alternatively, as another method, it may be possible to determine that the ignition has ended when the gas flow rate reaches a peak value after ignition.

When the end of combustion control at ignition is detected,
Characteristic data is generated from the detected gas flow waveform at the time of ignition. Then, the partial flow rate pattern that matches the characteristic data is extracted from the flow rate pattern table 50 as illustrated in FIG. 6 (S104).

Various methods are conceivable as the matching processing for determining whether or not the partial flow rate pattern matches. As an example, there is a method of extracting the characteristic data of the detected gas flow rate waveform and checking whether it matches the characteristic data of the registered partial flow rate pattern. In the example shown in FIG. 6, in the slow ignition pattern A-1, the gas flow rate Q1 for slow ignition is first detected, and that state continues for time t. After that, the gas flow rate changes to a certain gas flow rate Q2 or Qmax. Therefore, as described above, the slow ignition gas flow rate Q1 is 0.7 times the maximum gas flow rate Qmax.
The characteristic data of the slow ignition pattern A-1 can be the range of 0.9 to 0.9, and the time t of 0.5 to 10 seconds. Therefore, the slow ignition gas flow rate Q1 and the time t are obtained as characteristic data from the detected gas flow rate waveform, and by checking whether or not the values fall within the range of the characteristic data of the flow rate pattern table, Matching processing is performed.

In the ignition pattern A-2, the initial ignition gas flow rate Q1 has a very small absolute value. For example, the ignition gas flow rate Q1 is in the range of 60 to 400 Kcal / h, and the ignition gas flow rate Q1 is The characteristic data is that the maintained time t is in the range of 3.0 seconds or more. Therefore, from the detected gas flow rate waveform, the first flow rate Q1 and the time t during which it is maintained are obtained as characteristic data, and it is checked whether or not the value falls within the range of the characteristic data of the flow rate pattern table. Thus, the matching process is performed.

In the direct ignition pattern A-3,
The time t to rise to the peak flow rate Q2 is as short as 1.0 second or less, and in addition, in the fire extinguishing device fire pattern A-4,
There is a slight decrease in the flow rate Qp after the time t has risen to the peak flow rate Q2, the time t is in the range of 2.0 to 5.0 seconds, and the decreased flow rate Qp is 100 to 400 Kcal / h. Therefore, matching is performed by obtaining these characteristic data t and Qp from the detected gas flow rate waveform and determining whether or not they correspond to the characteristic data of the flow rate pattern table.

Returning to FIG. 11, when the partial flow rate pattern is extracted, an appliance having the partial flow rate pattern and the detected flow rate is searched from the registered appliance table (S106).
If a matching device is not extracted, the process shifts to a new registration mode described later. Alternatively, the process may be shifted to a gas leak detection process described later.

When the matching device is extracted, the number of the matching devices is determined (S108), and when it is one, the device currently in use is specified as the extracted device. When there are a plurality of devices, the device determination based on the flow rate pattern is further performed in the next control step.

After ignition, it is detected whether the change in the detected flow rate is constant, that is, whether the gas flow rate is stable (S110). When stable is detected, it is known that the stable period has been reached, and the period from the ignition flow rate to the stable period is determined as the initial transient period.

Therefore, the characteristic data of the detected partial flow rate pattern in the initial transition period is obtained and compared with the partial flow rate patterns classified in the initial transition period of the flow rate pattern table 50 to extract the partial flow rate pattern (S112). The comparison method is performed depending on whether the characteristic data is applicable, as in the case of ignition.

Therefore, with reference to FIG. 7, the characteristic data of the partial flow rate pattern in the initial transition period will be described. In the case of the hunting pattern B-1, the flow rate difference ΔQi between the peak flow rates is obtained and its absolute value is The characteristic data is that the flow rate gradually decreases and the sign of the flow rate difference ΔQi changes alternately. Therefore, by detecting each peak flow rate value from the detected series of gas flow rate values and determining their flow rate differences ΔQi, ΔQi + 1,
Characteristic data can be generated.

In the case of the simple decrease pattern B-2, when the change flow rate ΔQi of the detected gas flow rate at every constant time t is calculated, the absolute value of the change flow rate ΔQi gradually decreases and the sign of the change flow rate ΔQi. Are all negative. Similarly, in the case of the simple increase pattern B-3, the absolute value of the change flow rate ΔQi gradually decreases, and its sign becomes all positive. In the case of the step decrease pattern B-4, the flow rate change ΔQi is an integral multiple of a certain unit flow rate ΔQ, and the signs of the flow rate change ΔQi are all negative. In the stove hand transition pattern B-5, time t
A flow rate change ΔQ occurs within the time period, the time is in the range of 0.5 to 3.0 seconds, and the sign of the change ΔQ is negative.

Regarding the partial flow rate pattern in the initial transition period,
The characteristic data is calculated from the detected gas flow rate so that it can be compared with the pattern so as to be compared with the above characteristic data.

Returning to FIG. 11 again, when the partial flow rate pattern in the initial transition period is extracted, the appliance having the detected partial flow rate pattern and the detected flow rate is searched from the registered appliance table as in the case of ignition ( S114). If a matching device is not extracted, the process shifts to a new registration mode described later.
Alternatively, the process proceeds to a gas leak detection process described later.

When the matching device is extracted, the number of the matching devices is determined (S116), and when it is one, the device currently in use is specified as the extracted device. When the number is plural, the device determination based on the flow rate pattern in the next control step (that is, the stable period) is further performed.

Next, the characteristic data of the partial flow rate pattern in the stable period is obtained, and the partial flow rate pattern in the stable period is extracted from the flow rate pattern table 50 (S118). As shown in the partial flow rate pattern in the stable period of FIG. 8, in the case of the proportional control pattern C-1, the average value Qave, the maximum value Qmax, and the minimum value Qmin are updated from a plurality of detected flow rates Qi for a fixed time X seconds. However, if the adjacent detected flow rate difference (| Qi-Qi-1 |) is within several% (example 3%) of the average value Qave, and there is a difference between the maximum and minimum values (L = 100Kcal / h) or more. It is the characteristic data.

In the case of the constant pattern C-2, there is a difference between the maximum value and the minimum value similarly obtained (L = 100 Kcal /
h) The characteristic data is as follows. Further, in the case of the step control pattern C-3, the step width ΔQi is characterized in that its sign is alternately changed at a constant step width.

In this way, when the partial flow rate pattern in the stable period is extracted, the appliance having the detected flow rate and the partial flow rate pattern is searched from the registered appliance table, as in the case of ignition (S120). If a matching device is not extracted, the process shifts to a new registration mode described later. Alternatively, the process may be shifted to a gas leak detection process described later.

When a matching device is extracted, the device currently in use is specified to the extracted device. There is one combination of each control step, that is, each partial flow rate pattern during ignition, initial transition period, and stable period, and the characteristic flow rate corresponding to each flow rate pattern.
If a matching device is extracted at 20, it is specified as one device.

When the appliance in use is specified, the use start time is written in the start time recording area of the registered appliance table corresponding to the appliance, and the start time stored in step S102 is written to suit the gas appliance. The operation shifts to the operation monitoring mode (S128). As a specific example, it is monitored whether or not the usage time exceeds a time limit (safety continuous usage time) set for each gas appliance. If it exceeds, an alarm is output or the gas shutoff valve is shut off. Further, the monitoring of the time limit is continued even if the gas flow rate changes during the monitoring. In the conventional gas meter, if the gas flow rate changes, it is determined that continuous use has ended. However, in the present embodiment, the appliance can be specified with high accuracy, and the flow rate pattern of the appliance is grasped. Therefore, even if the gas flow rate varies as in the proportional control pattern, for example. , It can be determined to be continued use.

As described above, in the present embodiment, a registered instrument table is created in which the combinations of partial flow rate patterns for the instruments used at each customer's house and the instrument-specific flow rates are registered, and the instrument table is used to create the registered instrument table. A decision is made. Therefore,
More accurate device determination is possible than when using a combination of flow patterns for a huge number of gas appliances covering all types and a new appliance table with a relatively wide flow range set. Becomes

Next, the new registration mode of FIG. 12 will be described. In the normal determination mode of FIG. 11, the appliance registered in the registered appliance table is identified from one of the extracted partial flow patterns of the ignition time (A), the initial transition period (B), and the stable period (C). If not, the new registration mode is executed.

In FIG. 11, the partial flow rate pattern of each control step that has not been acquired is extracted by the necessary processing according to the stage where the mode has shifted to the new registration mode (S20).
0, S202, S204).

When the partial flow patterns of the ignition time, the initial transition period, and the stable period are acquired, the gas appliances matching the combination of the partial flow patterns are extracted from the new appliance table 52 (S206). New equipment table 5
Since almost all appliances currently used in the world are registered in 2, the possibility of extracting a gas appliance that matches the combination of partial flow rate patterns by searching the new appliance table 52 is extremely high. . If no matching appliance is extracted, the process proceeds to a gas leak detection process shown in FIG. 14 described later.

In step S206, the instruments extracted from the new instrument table are stored in a predetermined temporary storage memory,
Each partial flow rate pattern and the characteristic flow rate in each partial flow rate pattern (flow rate registered in the registered device table) are stored (S208).

In this way, once the device is specified from the new device table, the device is once stored in the temporary storage memory, and the specified number of times for the device is incremented by +1.
Add (S210). Then, each time a device is specified from the new device table 52, the number of times the same device is specified is determined.
(S212). When the specific number of times reaches a predetermined number (N is, for example, about 5 to 10), the device is registered in the registered device table 54 (S214). In the registered instrument table 54, an instrument name, a partial flow rate pattern for each control step, a characteristic flow rate (fixed flow rate or flow rate range) in each partial flow rate pattern,
This is the time limit, and the registered flow rate is not the value of the flow rate range registered in the new appliance table 52, but the characteristic flow rate (preferably, a plurality of flow rates in each partial flow rate pattern of the actually detected flow rates). It is the average value of each characteristic flow rate in one time).

Since a large number of instruments are registered in the new instrument table 52 as compared with the registered instrument table, there is a possibility that the wrong instrument can be determined by specifying the instrument once. More specifically, there is a possibility that the partial flow rate pattern may be erroneously recognized due to the deviation of the sampling timing of the flowmeter, and the wrong instrument may be determined.
Registered device table 54 for the first time by specifying the device multiple times
It was decided to register at.

When the specified appliance is registered in the registered appliance table, the operation monitoring mode based on the time limit registered for each gas appliance is executed (S216).

FIG. 13 is a flowchart of the operation monitoring mode. When the gas appliance is specified from the registered appliance table 54 (or when the gas appliance is registered in the registered appliance table), the operation monitoring module 56 displays the time limit T and the operation start time set for the appliance. Acquired (S30
0), while the gas flow rate Q is detected (S302), it is determined whether or not the time limit T has elapsed from the start time (S304), and if it does, a safety operation such as shutoff or alarm is executed (S30).
6). If the gas flow rate is no longer detected before the time limit T elapses, it is considered that the use of the instrument has stopped, and the monitoring operation ends.

In step S212 of FIG. 12, if the specified number of times for the device is less than the predetermined number of times, the device cannot be completely specified. Therefore, the operation based on the safe continuous use time depending on the flow rate as in the conventional case. Monitoring is performed (S218).

FIG. 14 is a flowchart of the gas leak detection process. The gas leak detection process is performed when the appliance cannot be identified in the new registration mode (step S206 in FIG. 12), but in the gas meter without the new registration mode (gas meter without the new appliance table), in the normal determination mode, Implemented when the device cannot be identified. In the normal determination mode, when the device cannot be specified, it is a case of shifting to the new registration mode in FIG.

The gas leak detection module 53 outputs the proportional valve control signal S53 to change the valve opening of the proportional valve to change the gas supply pressure (S400). Then, it is checked whether the output of the gas flow meter at that time fluctuates (S40
2). Even if the gas supply pressure is not actively changed using the proportional valve, the gas supply pressure constantly changes depending on the gas usage state of the gas consumer. When a change is detected, it may be checked whether or not the output of the gas flow meter 20 fluctuates.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing the relationship between the gas supply pressure and the gas flow rate. In each of the four graphs, the horizontal axis represents time, and the vertical axis represents gas supply pressure and gas flow rate. (1) and (2) in the figure show the relationship when there is no gas governor (pressure regulator). In the figure, (3) and (4) show the relationships when the gas governor is present.

In FIG. 15 (1), when the gas supply pressure is reduced, the gas governor does not exist, and accordingly, the gas flow rate is reduced. Also in FIG. 15 (2), when the gas supply pressure increases, the gas governor does not exist, and accordingly, the gas flow rate increases.

In FIG. 15 (3), when the gas supply pressure is decreased, the gas governor is present, so that the gas flow rate does not change. In FIG. 15 (4), when the gas supply pressure is increased, the gas governor is present. Therefore, there is no change in the gas flow rate. In reality, due to the delay in the response characteristics of the gas governor, a slight change occurs in the gas flow rate, and eventually the original flow rate is restored.

When the gas supply pressure is actively fluctuated, the gas meter control unit 24 can monitor the detected flow rate from the gas flow rate detection means 20 to see if the gas flow rate changes correspondingly. it can. Also, when the fluctuation of the gas supply pressure which is not active and is generated by some factor is detected by the detected pressure from the gas pressure gauge 34,
It is possible to monitor whether the gas flow rate changes correspondingly. In the former case, the gas supply pressure is mainly reduced by narrowing the valve openings of the proportional valve and the gas cutoff valve.

The gas leak detection module 53 detects the fluctuation of the gas flow rate in response to the fluctuation of the gas supply pressure.
It is determined that a gas leak is occurring from a device other than the gas appliance, and a gas shutoff or gas leak alarm is output (S406). Further, it is preferable to notify the center of the gas leak.

When the gas leak detection module 53 does not detect the fluctuation of the gas flow rate in response to the fluctuation of the gas supply pressure, some error occurs in the gas appliance determination, the flow rate pattern table or the registered appliance table 54 or the new appliance It is possible that a gas appliance that is not registered in the appliance table 52 is being used. Therefore, in that case, it is monitored whether or not the safe continuous use time depending on the flow rate has been exceeded as in the conventional case (S404). Furthermore, in this case, preferably the center is notified of the extraction of a new gas appliance (S40
Five).

It is expected that a new gas appliance which is not registered in the flow rate pattern table or the new appliance table will be used and the gas appliance cannot be repeatedly specified.
Therefore, in this embodiment, it is preferable that a new partial flow rate pattern or gas appliance can be added to the flow rate pattern table or appliance table in the gas meter. The addition can be performed, for example, by transmitting the data from a remote center using a communication line and recording the data in each table in the gas meter control unit.

FIG. 16 is a schematic configuration diagram of a gas appliance determination device according to another embodiment. FIG. 2 shows the configuration of a gas meter provided with a gas meter control unit having a gas appliance determination function.
100 does not have the function of a gas meter that integrates the gas flow rate,
Gas appliance determination control unit 124 with gas appliance determination function
Based on the gas flow rate detected by the gas flow rate detection means 20, the gas appliance is determined by the same method as described above. Then, the gas shutoff valve 22 is shut off as necessary. The gas appliance determination control unit 124 is realized by, for example, a microcomputer. The other configurations of FIG. 16 are the same as those of the gas meter of FIG. 2, and the same reference numerals are given.

FIG. 17 is a block diagram of the gas appliance determination control unit 124 incorporated in the gas appliance determination apparatus of FIG. Since the gas appliance determination device 100 does not have the function of integrating and displaying the gas flow rates, the gas appliance determination control unit 124 also omits the gas flow rate integration module 40 from the configuration of FIG. 4. The other configuration is the same as that of FIG.

The gas appliance determination device shown in FIG. 16 is attached to a gas supply line separately from the gas meter and can determine the gas appliance in use. Then, necessary operation monitoring or the like can be performed on the determined gas appliance.

In the gas meter control unit of the gas meter of FIG. 2 and the gas appliance determination control unit of FIG. 16 alone, the gas appliance determination apparatus of the present invention is configured by supplying the detected gas flow rate from the gas flow rate detection means. To do.

The gas flow rate pattern and partial flow rate pattern of the gas appliance described above are merely examples, and the present invention is not limited thereto. In the above embodiment, the control step is divided into the ignition time, the initial transition period, and the stable period, but it may be divided into other divisions. Further, the characteristic data used as an index of matching between the detected flow rate pattern and the partial flow rate pattern of the flow rate pattern table is also an example, and other characteristic data may be used. Furthermore, other matching techniques may be used. For example, the gas flow rate waveform itself may be matched using a pattern matching technique used for voice recognition or the like (for example, a dynamic programming method in which matching is performed by moving the time axis).

In the above embodiment, the series of gas flow rate patterns generated by the combustion control is divided into partial flow rate patterns for each control step, and the flow rate patterns are matched for each control step. Therefore, since the matching of the partial flow rate patterns is simplified, the detection becomes easy, and the detection accuracy and the detection probability can be increased. Then, since the gas appliance is determined from the combination of the partial flow rate patterns that match in a plurality of control steps, the detection becomes easy.

[0142]

As described above, according to the present invention, the gas appliance in use can be easily determined from the change in the detected gas flow rate. Therefore, optimal operation monitoring can be performed for the determined gas appliance.

Since the registered appliance table for the gas appliance to be connected to the gas meter for each customer is created and the gas appliance determination is performed based on the registered appliance table, a highly accurate determination is possible.

Further, even if the device is not specified, the gas leak detection process operates, so that a high security level can be secured.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a conventional safe continuous use time (limit time) set value used for shutting off when the safety continuous use time is over.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a gas meter in the present embodiment example.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating an operation of the gas meter according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a gas meter control unit in the present embodiment example.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of gas flow patterns in a plurality of gas appliances.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a partial flow rate pattern at the time of ignition of a flow rate pattern table.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a partial flow rate pattern at the initial transition of the flow rate pattern table.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a partial flow rate pattern in a stable period of the flow rate pattern table.

FIG. 9 is a chart showing an example of a new appliance table in the present embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a chart showing an example of a registered appliance table in the present embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a determination flowchart (normal determination mode) in the gas appliance determination module according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a determination flowchart (new registration mode) in the gas appliance determination module according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart of a driving monitoring mode.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart of gas leak detection processing.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a relationship between a gas supply pressure and a gas flow rate.

FIG. 16 is a schematic configuration diagram of a gas appliance determination device according to another embodiment.

17 is a configuration diagram of a gas appliance determination control unit 124 incorporated in the gas appliance determination device of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 gas meter 18 gas appliance 20 gas flow meter 43 gas appliance determination module (registered appliance determination means) 50 flow rate pattern table 52 new appliance table 54 registered appliance table 53 gas leak detection module 56 operation monitoring module

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) G01M 3/28 G01M 3/28 A G08B 21/16 G08B 21/16 (72) Inventor Tatsuo Fujimoto Tokyo Port 1-5-20 Kaigan, Tokyo Within Tokyo Gas Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor, Katsuto Sakai Minato-ku, Tokyo 1-5-20 Kaigan, Tokyo Gas Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor, Kazuto Otakane Minato-ku, Tokyo 1-5-20 Kaigan Tokyo Gas Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Kenichiro Yuasa 1-5-20 Kaigan, Tokyo Minato-ku Tokyo Gas Co., Ltd. (72) Hiroshi Matsushita Hirano-cho, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka 4-1-2, Osaka Gas Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor, Shuichi Okada 4-1-2, Hirano-cho, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Prefecture (72) In-house (72) Inventor, Shigeru Tagawa, Osaka-shi, Osaka 4 1-2 Hiranocho, Oo-ku, Osaka Gas Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Atsuko Kadowaki 4-1-2, Hiranocho, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka (72) Inventor, Yukio Kimura Aichi Prefecture 507-2 Shinhomachi, Tokai City Toho Gas Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Toru Hiroyama 507-2 Shintakamachi, Tokai City, Aichi Toho Gas Co., Ltd. F Term (reference) 2F030 CB02 CB03 CC13 2G067 AA34 BB25 CC04 DD04 3K068 NA01 5C086 AA02 BA01 CA10 CA21 CB28 DA01 DA16 DA20 DA26 EA11 EA41 EA45 FA02

Claims (19)

[Claims] 1. A gas appliance determination device for determining a gas appliance connected to a gas supply line, wherein a partial flow rate pattern obtained by dividing a series of gas flow rate patterns generated in accordance with combustion control for a plurality of types of gas appliances, A flow rate pattern table classified for each control step, a registered instrument table registered for each customer and having the partial flow rate pattern and the gas flow rate for each control step corresponding to the gas instrument, and the gas detected in the gas supply line A registered appliance determination is performed by extracting a partial flow rate pattern that matches a flow rate pattern from the flow rate pattern table, and extracting a gas appliance that matches the combination of the extracted partial flow rate patterns and the gas flow rate of each control step from the registered appliance table. And a gas appliance determination device. 2. A gas appliance determination device for determining a gas appliance connected to a gas supply line, wherein a series of gas flow patterns generated by combustion control are divided for gas appliances registered and used for each customer. The registered instrument table having the partial flow rate pattern and the gas flow rate for each control step, and the partial flow rate pattern that matches the gas flow rate pattern detected in the gas supply line are extracted from the registered instrument table, and further extracted. A gas appliance determination device, comprising: a registered appliance determining unit that extracts a gas appliance that matches the combination of the selected partial flow patterns and the gas flow rate of each control step from the registered appliance table. 3. The gas appliance determination device according to claim 2, wherein the registered appliance table includes a flow rate pattern table in which the partial flow rate patterns are classified for each control step. 4. The plurality of control steps in the flow rate pattern table and the registered instrument table according to claim 1, characterized in that they have at least an ignition time, an initial transition period thereafter, and a stable period thereafter. Gas appliance determination device. 5. The plurality of control steps in the registered device table according to claim 2,
A gas appliance determination device comprising at least an ignition time, an initial transition period thereafter, and a stable period thereafter. 6. The registration device determination means according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the gas flow rate pattern detected until a predetermined time elapses from ignition is the gas flow rate pattern in the control step at the time of ignition. Gas appliance determination device. 7. The registered appliance determination means according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the gas flow rate pattern detected until the detected gas flow rate stabilizes after the end of the ignition is controlled in the initial transition period. A gas appliance determination device, wherein the gas flow rate pattern in the step is used. 8. The registration device determining means according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the gas flow rate pattern detected when the detected gas flow rate is stable is the gas flow rate pattern in the control step in the stable period. Characteristic gas appliance determination device. 9. The gas appliance determination according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising gas leak detection means for detecting a gas leak based on the presence or absence of a change in gas flow rate corresponding to a change in gas supply pressure. apparatus. 10. The partial flow rate pattern and the control step according to claim 9, wherein the registered device determination means detects an abnormal value of the detected gas flow rate or the partial flow rate pattern detected in any one of the control steps of combustion control. The gas appliance determination device, wherein the gas leak detection means performs gas leak detection when a gas appliance matching the gas flow rate of No. 1 cannot be extracted from the registered appliance table. 11. The gas leakage detection means according to claim 9, wherein the gas pressure fluctuation means in the gas supply line fluctuates the supply gas pressure and monitors a change in the gas flow rate corresponding thereto. Gas appliance determination device. 12. The gas appliance according to claim 9, wherein the gas leak detection means monitors a change in the gas flow rate corresponding to the fluctuation in the gas pressure in the gas supply line when the fluctuation is detected. Judgment device. 13. The method according to claim 9, wherein when the gas leak detection means detects a change in gas flow rate in response to a change in supply gas pressure, at least gas shutoff, alarm output, or communication with a center is performed. A gas appliance determination device characterized by performing one. 14. The center according to claim 9, wherein when the gas leak detection means does not detect a change in gas flow rate in response to a change in supply gas pressure,
A gas appliance determination device characterized by notifying the extraction of a new appliance. 15. The gas appliance according to any one of claims 1 to 14, further comprising a gas shutoff or an alarm output when the gas flow rate is detected over a predetermined time limit for the gas appliance determined by the registered appliance determination means. A gas appliance determination device having an operation monitoring means for performing a safety operation including the operation. 16. The gas appliance determination device according to claim 15, wherein the time limit is set for each gas appliance. 17. The gas appliance determination device according to claim 15, wherein the operation monitoring means continues to monitor the time limit even if the detected gas flow rate fluctuates. 18. The gas flow rate detector according to any one of claims 1 to 17, further comprising a gas flow rate detector installed in the gas supply line, wherein the registered device determination unit receives the gas flow rate value from the gas flow rate detector. A gas appliance determination device characterized by being supplied. 19. A gas appliance determination device according to any one of claims 1 to 17, a gas flow rate detection means installed in said gas supply line, and a gas flow rate detected by said gas flow rate detection means. And a gas flow rate integrating means for controlling the gas flow rate.