JP2007024809A - Gas utilization system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem that needs of improvement in service cannot be satisfied even a gas supplying enterprise entity intends to improve the service because of limitation of performance of a gas utilization system in the conventional gas utilization system. <P>SOLUTION: The gas utilization system comprises a gas meter 20 provided with an equipment discrimination function and the detection devices 22 and 23 for detecting the operation of the equipment. Herein, an ultrasonic type gas meter is used as the gas meter so as to make possible to measure an instantaneous flow, and to determine which equipment is working according to the changed portion of the instantaneous flow rate. The gas meter discriminates the gas equipment under operation while referring to the information from the detection devices 22 and 23 and determines the gas consumption. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a gas utilization system comprising, for example, city gas or LP gas used at home as an energy source, a plurality of appliances that consume such gas, and a gas meter that measures the amount of gas used. is there.

  A general household is taken as an example, and the configuration diagram of the gas utilization system is shown in FIG. A gas 1 supplied from a gas distribution entity passes through a gas meter 2 and is supplied to each gas appliance through an indoor pipe 3. Examples of the gas appliance include a water heater 4, a gas table 5, a gas fan heater 6, and the like. In addition, the water heater 4 functions as a hot water supply 7 to the kitchen, a hot water supply 8 to the bathroom, a hot water supply 9 to the bathroom heater / dryer, a hot water supply 10 to the bathtub, and a hot water supply to the floor heater. It has many functions such as 11 functions. The gas meter 2 integrates the gas usage amount so that the gas supply entity charges the consumer according to the gas usage amount. The gas meter 2 uses a membrane gas meter. A membrane gas meter is a gas filled into a certain volume of film, and exhaling it is counted as one cycle, that is, one cycle of expansion and contraction is counted as one cycle, and the number of times is counted. Is used to calculate the amount of gas used.

  Gas supply entities offer a variety of services to increase gas use by consumers or to increase demand for gas appliances. One of them is a gas rate discount system. For example, a certain amount of discount can be given to a consumer who purchases and uses a specific device. Patent Document 1 describes the content of calculating the gas usage of a special fee gas appliance.

  The gas meter is equipped with a security function. This is because when the piping is disconnected and excessive gas leaks, the gas meter function stops the gas supply. It is a function that stops the gas supply.

  Various methods have been proposed for such a security function. In Patent Document 2, it is an object to have a long period of 30 days for minute leak detection, and gas is detected by detecting the presence or absence of a gas flow less than the minimum combustion amount of a gas combustion appliance installed as a solution. The presence or absence of leakage is judged. For this reason, the pressure regulators C and D and the pressure sensor E are used for investigating the minimum combustion amount for each of the various types of gas burning appliances and determining the presence or absence of gas leakage as shown in FIG.

Patent Document 3 describes a leak detection method with a large flow rate when using a large device. In this publication, there is a system that always introduces a device that consumes a large amount of gas, such as a large combustor or a fuel cell. In this case, in the conventional method, whether a large amount of leakage due to a broken gas pipe continues, A gas meter that measures the gas flow rate of the plurality of gas appliances and shuts off the gas flow according to the relationship between the total flow rate and the duration as a solution to the problem that it is not easy to determine whether the gas appliance is continuously used When a certain gas device is operated among the plurality of gas devices, correction means for correcting the total flow rate from the operation information of the gas device is used. For this reason, in order to transmit the operation information of each gas appliance to a gas meter, as shown in FIG. 8, communication terminals 9-1 to 9-n are provided in each of a plurality of gas devices 7-1 to 7-n. It is a large-scale system.
JP 9-318407 A JP 7-332599 A JP 2001-255192 A

  However, in the conventional gas utilization system, when the gas supply company considers improvement of service, there is a problem that the needs for improvement of service cannot be satisfied due to the limit of gas utilization system performance. For example, when considering a service for setting a price for each gas appliance, it is necessary to accurately measure which gas appliance has been operated and how much gas has been used. If only a gas meter that integrates the total amount of gas used in a plurality of gas appliances is installed in one of the conventional gas utilization systems, of course, how much gas is used in which gas appliance. I don't know if it was used. Some gas meters of conventional gas utilization systems have a gas appliance discrimination function. Some of these determine the operating gas appliance, noting that the flow range used by the gas appliance is limited. However, when the flow rates used are similar, such as a gas table and a gas fan heater, an estimation may be made with reference to the usage time. For example, since the gas table is rarely used continuously for a long time of 3 hours or more, it is a case where it is determined that the gas appliance used in this way is a gas fan heater.

  Further, during the hot water supply operation of the water heater, the amount of gas used is very large, and furthermore, hot water supply at a constant temperature is performed in response to changes in the water temperature and the water amount, so that combustion control with extremely rapid changes is performed. Along with this combustion control, the flow rate change increases. This flow rate change is comparable to the gas flow rate used in the gas table and gas fan heater. For this reason, even if the water heater starts operating during the operation of the gas table or gas fan heater and the gas table or gas fan heater stops during the operation of the water heater, it cannot be determined and If the flow rate measured after the device stops operating is zero, it is determined that the gas table or the gas fan heater has stopped.

  In any case, it is difficult to determine whether or not different types of gas appliances with the same specification flow rate are in operation, and whether or not to operate a gas appliance with a low flow rate when operating a gas appliance with a high flow rate. There are challenges.

  If a gas meter is attached to each gas appliance to be used, the amount used in each gas appliance can be accurately obtained. Then, if the flow rate information is sent wirelessly from the gas meter attached to each gas appliance to the overall gas meter, the overall flow rate and the usage amount of each gas appliance can be known. However, if such a gas utilization system is used, a gas meter is required for each gas instrument, and there are problems of the installation location of the gas meter and high cost.

  In order to solve the above-described conventional problems, a gas utilization system of the present invention includes a gas meter having a function of discriminating a gas appliance, and a detection device that detects whether or not the gas appliance is in operation, and the detection device is attached to the gas appliance. The gas meter is informed of whether or not the gas appliance is in operation. The gas meter is an algorithm for discriminating the type of gas appliance provided in the gas meter, and calculates the amount of gas used by the operating gas appliance by referring to the information. The gas meter uses an ultrasonic gas meter to enable measurement of an instantaneous flow rate, and to determine what gas appliance is operating with the change in the instantaneous flow rate.

The gas utilization system of the present invention includes an ultrasonic gas meter provided with an algorithm for discriminating the type of gas appliance by instantaneous flow rate change, and a gas usage pattern by including a detection device that detects whether or not the gas appliance is in operation. This makes it possible to accurately discriminate between different types of gas appliances that are similar to each other, and to improve the service for setting the price for each gas appliance and the security function for each gas appliance.

  1st invention is equipped with the gas meter which is connected to the said gas meter, consumes gas, and the detection apparatus which detects the driving | running state of the said gas appliance, The said gas meter discriminate | determines the kind of gas appliance from the flow volume change If it is difficult to determine the operating state of the gas appliance from the change in flow rate, the algorithm determines the operating state of the gas appliance based on information on whether or not the gas appliance is operating from the detection device. And calculate the amount of gas used by the equipment that was in operation. Accordingly, there is an effect that it is possible to accurately discriminate different types of gas appliances having similar gas usage patterns, and to improve the service for the fee setting for each appliance and the security function for each gas appliance.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, the detection means of the detection device for detecting the presence or absence of operation of the gas appliance uses vibration, sound, temperature, light, or an electrical signal emitted from the gas appliance, or gas appliance due to operation of the gas appliance. Detect at least one of the electrical signals of other instruments that are linked to the. Thereby, there exists an effect that the presence or absence of the driving | operation of a gas appliance can be detected.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, an ultrasonic gas meter is used as a gas meter, so that an instantaneous gas flow rate can be measured, and the ultrasonic gas meter is capable of controlling the output when starting or stopping the gas appliance. There is an effect that it is possible to mount an algorithm that catches a change in flow rate that occurs sometimes, finds a change specific to the gas appliance, and discriminates the type of the gas appliance.

  4th invention is the algorithm which discriminate | determines the kind of gas appliance mounted in the ultrasonic type gas meter, and in the case of the gas appliance which is difficult to judge, the presence or absence of the operation of the gas appliance is estimated from the flow rate change, and By using the information on the presence or absence of operation of the gas appliance from the detection device, there is an effect that the type of gas appliance and the amount of gas used can be determined.

  In the fifth invention, the algorithm for determining the type of gas appliance mounted on the ultrasonic gas meter is determined in consideration of the time delay of information sent from the detection device. This eliminates the need to constantly transmit information from the detection means. For example, information can be transmitted at regular intervals, so that power can be saved and battery operation is possible. Become.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, a storage device is provided in the detection device, and information unique to the gas appliance necessary for detecting the operation state of the appliance is stored in advance. Accordingly, even if the installation of the detection device is intentionally changed to another gas appliance, it is no longer possible to detect whether the gas appliance is in operation, thereby preventing the unauthorized use of the detection device.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, information including an appliance identification signal is transmitted so that it is possible to identify what the gas appliance attached to the detection device is. Thereby, the discrimination algorithm of the gas appliance mounted on the ultrasonic gas meter can easily match the flow rate change specific to each gas appliance with the information from the detection device, and has an effect of making an accurate judgment. .

  According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, when the gas meter is provided with a display indicating the number of installed detection devices and the installation tools, when the detection device is additionally attached, the type of the gas appliance to which the detection device is attached is indicated. Setting to the value has the effect that it can be executed without fail.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. In addition, the same reference numerals are used for elements common to the background art drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a gas utilization system of the present invention. The gas 1 supplied from the gas distribution business entity passes through the gas meter 20 and is supplied to each gas appliance through the indoor pipe 3. Examples of the gas appliance include a water heater 4, a gas table 5, a gas fan heater 6, and the like. In addition, the water heater 4 functions as a hot water supply 7 to the kitchen, a hot water supply 8 to the bathroom, a hot water supply 9 to the bathroom heater / dryer, a hot water supply 10 to the bathtub, and a hot water supply to the floor heater. It has many functions such as 11 functions. The gas meter 20 integrates the gas usage amount so that the gas supply entity charges the consumer according to the gas usage amount.

  An ultrasonic gas meter is used as the gas meter 20. The ultrasonic gas meter includes the components shown in FIG. The gas 1 passes through the flow path 31 shown in FIG. A pair of ultrasonic sensors 33a and 33b are arranged in the flow path 31 so as to face each other at an angle with respect to the gas flow. The control circuit 32 transmits a transmission signal to be supplied to the ultrasonic sensors 33a and 33b, a reception circuit that processes reception signals from the ultrasonic sensors 33a and 33b, and ultrasonic waves generated by the ultrasonic sensors 33a and 33b. A measurement circuit for obtaining a propagation time when propagating through the flow path and a display circuit are provided, and these are controlled by a microcomputer. The control circuit 32 is driven by a lithium battery 34.

  The measurement principle of the ultrasonic gas meter will be briefly described. When the flow of gas 1 is in the direction shown in the figure, the ultrasonic wave emitted from the ultrasonic sensor 33a reaches the ultrasonic sensor 33b at time T1 because the flow of gas 1 becomes a tailwind and the propagation speed increases. On the other hand, the ultrasonic wave emitted from the ultrasonic sensor 33b is slow in propagation speed because the flow of the gas 1 becomes a counterwind, and reaches the ultrasonic sensor 33a in the propagation time T2. Since the reciprocal of the time difference (T2-T1) is proportional to the flow velocity V of the gas 1, the flow rate is calculated by multiplying this by the flow path cross-sectional area. Therefore, the control circuit 32 drives the ultrasonic sensor 33a under the control of the microcomputer, measures the time T1 until the ultrasonic wave emitted from the ultrasonic sensor 33b is received, and conversely, the ultrasonic sensor 33b. , And a flow rate Q is calculated by measuring a time T2 from when the ultrasonic wave generated thereafter is received by the ultrasonic sensor 33a. Since the ultrasonic wave propagation time in the flow path 31 of the ultrasonic gas meter used in a general home is about 200 μs, one measurement includes the transmission / reception sensor switching time and the processing time for flow rate calculation. Can be performed in about 4 ms, and instantaneous measurement is possible. In the conventional membrane gas meter, since the flow rate is counted from the number of times of membrane expansion and contraction, such instantaneous measurement cannot be performed. The ultrasonic meter 20 is capable of instantaneous measurement and can capture a change in gas flow rate instantaneously. However, in order to save power, the measurement time interval is set at intervals of 2 seconds. This measurement time interval is set in order to be able to discriminate what kind of gas appliance is in operation by the power saving or the rate of instantaneous change in flow rate.

  Gas appliances have their own flow rate changes, and by detecting this, it is possible to determine which appliance is operating. For example, the flow rate change at the start of operation of the gas appliance is as shown in FIG.

The figure shows the data obtained by measuring the flow rate at intervals of 2 seconds using an ultrasonic gas meter. The figure (a) shows the flow rate change at the start of gas table operation, and the gas flow rate is about 100 liters per hour. The flow rate is stable at (L / h). FIG. 2B shows a change in flow rate during hot water supply to the kitchen of the water heater, and the operation start and stop are repeated twice. The gas flow rate is different in the first case when the amount of hot water is large and when the second time is small. Further, when the amount of hot water in the first hot water supply is large, control is performed to keep the hot water temperature constant, and the gas flow rate changes within a maximum width of 300 (L / h). FIG. 2C shows a period from the start to the stop of the hot water filling operation to the bathtub of the water heater. The gas flow rate is about 2300 (L / h), and the operation is continuous for 20 minutes or more. FIG. 4D shows the gas flow rate change at the start of hot water supply operation for floor heating of the water heater. After reaching the maximum combustion capacity at a gradual rise, the combustion capacity is adjusted instantaneously and controlled to keep the temperature constant at a low flow rate. FIG. 5E shows the flow rate change at the start of the operation of the gas fan heater. The rise is two steps, and the maximum gas flow rate is slightly over 300 (L / h). In this way, each gas appliance has a flow rate characteristic at the start of operation, and by detecting this, it is possible to determine what type of gas appliance is operating. An algorithm for determining such a gas appliance is mounted on a microcomputer in the control circuit 32 of the ultrasonic gas meter.

  However, even when the gas table starts operating during the hot water supply operation of the water heater shown in FIG. 5B, the maximum width of 300 (L / h) is controlled by the control for keeping the hot water temperature of the water heater constant. However, while the flow rate is changing, it is difficult to detect the flow rate change due to the operation of the stemble. When the gas table starts operation, the average gas flow rate changes from 100 (L / h) to 300 (L / h), so it is possible to detect the start of operation of another appliance even during operation of the hot water supply of the water heater. However, since it is difficult to detect the rise of the gas fan heater in two stages, it is difficult to determine whether it is a gas table or a gas fan heater because the gas flow range used by both is similar. . Therefore, in the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, the detectors 22 and 23 are attached to two gas appliances (gas table 22 and gas fan heater 23) having similar operating gas flow ranges.

  The detection device 22 detects the operation of the gas table and transmits the signal to the ultrasonic gas meter 20 by the wireless communication means 44. The detection device 23 detects the operation of the gas fan heater and transmits the signal to the ultrasonic gas meter 20 wirelessly. A radio device 21 is attached to the ultrasonic gas meter 20 and receives radio signals from the detection devices 22 and 23. The detection means shall detect the presence or absence of operation of the gas appliance, and the detection means may be vibration caused by the operation of the appliance, or sound, temperature, light, or an electrical signal emitted from the appliance, or other appliance that is linked to the appliance. Use the electrical signal of a ventilator (for example, a ventilator linked to a gas table).

  FIG. 4 is a circuit block diagram showing the configuration of the detecting means 22. The control means 40 is configured using a microcomputer and controls each circuit block. As the sound detection means 41, a microphone for detecting the combustion sound of the gas table is used. When the initial setting means 43 attaches the detection device to the gas table, the gas table is experimentally operated, the combustion sound is detected by the sound detection means 41, and the characteristic elements of the sound, such as frequency, intensity, This is used when the generation pattern is stored in the storage means 42. The appliance setting means 44 transmits a gas appliance identification signal indicating that it is a gas table by the wireless communication means 45 so that the ultrasonic gas meter can recognize that the gas appliance to which the detection device is attached is a gas table. It is a means for setting. A circuit block composed of these circuit elements uses a battery as a power source.

FIG. 5 is a timing chart showing the operation of the gas appliance and the timing of each signal, and the horizontal axis is time. The figure (a) shows the change in flow rate measured with an ultrasonic gas meter. As a gas appliance, the change in the total flow rate of the gas when the gas table starts and stops while the water heater is in operation. Is shown. FIG. 5B shows the gas flow rate change of only the gas table. FIG. 3C shows a radio signal from the detection device attached to the gas table. Gas table operation detection is not always performed, but is performed at 10-second intervals to save power, and the information is transmitted wirelessly to an ultrasonic gas meter. FIG. 4D shows the operation timing of the receiving circuit of the ultrasonic gas meter that receives a radio signal from the detection device, and this also performs an intermittent operation for power saving. The radio signal from the detection device received by this receiving circuit is indicated by hatching or black in FIG. The hatched signal is a signal indicating that the gas table is stopped, and the black signal is a signal indicating that the gas table is operating. Due to the intermittent operation of the circuit, there is a delay of time Td1 from the start of the actual gas table to the reception of the start information of the gas table by the receiving circuit of the ultrasonic gas meter. There is a delay of time Td2 until the gas table stop information is received by the receiving circuit of the gas meter. The algorithm for discriminating the equipment used for the ultrasonic gas meter is the delay time (Td1 and Td2 in the figure) from when the total flow rate changes (TGS and TGE in the figure) until the receiving circuit receives the information of the detector. In consideration of this, the operation period of the gas table is determined.

  By adopting such a configuration, it is possible to intermittently drive the operation of the detection device and the operation of the reception circuit of the ultrasonic gas meter that receives a radio signal from the detection device. It is possible to operate without battery replacement for a year.

  The display unit mounted on the control circuit 32 of the ultrasonic gas meter displays not only the flow rate display but also a display indicating whether the detection device is used and what gas appliance is attached to the detection device. Has been made. Thereby, when it becomes necessary to newly install a detection device by purchasing a new gas appliance, the setting of the detection device is facilitated. For example, when there is an existing gas fan heater A to which a detection device is attached and another gas fan heater B is purchased, the type of appliance is stored in the initial setting of the detection device attached to the gas fan heater B. In this case, it can be easily recognized that the name needs to be changed from that of the first gas fan heater A, and correct initial setting can be performed.

  As described above, the gas appliance utilization system according to the present invention includes an ultrasonic gas meter having an algorithm for determining the type of gas appliance, and a detection device that is attached to the gas appliance and detects whether the appliance is in operation. By having it, it can be deployed in applications aimed at improving and enhancing services in gas utilization.

The block diagram which shows the gas utilization system of this invention Overview perspective view showing components of an ultrasonic gas meter of the present invention (A) Flow rate characteristic diagram of gas table (b) Flow rate characteristic diagram during hot water supply of water heater (c) Flow rate characteristic diagram when hot water is filled in bathtub of water heater (d) During hot water supply to floor heating of water heater Flow characteristics chart (e) Flow characteristics chart of gas fan heater The circuit block diagram which shows the structure of the detection apparatus of this invention (A) Comprehensive flow characteristic diagram during operation of gas table and water heater (b) Flow characteristic diagram of gas table (c) Timing chart of radio signal transmission from detection device attached to gas table (d) Ultrasonic type Operation timing chart of radio meter receiver circuit Configuration diagram showing a conventional gas utilization system Configuration diagram showing a conventional method of detecting minute flow leakage Configuration diagram showing a conventional method of detecting large flow leaks

Explanation of symbols

4 Gas appliance (water heater)
5 Gas appliance (gas table)
6 Gas appliance (gas fan heater)
20 Gas meter (ultrasonic gas meter)
22, 23 Detector 32 Algorithm for discriminating gas appliances and control circuit provided with display unit 42 Memory means of detector

Claims (8)

A gas meter, a gas appliance connected to the gas meter and consuming gas; and a detection device for detecting an operating state of the gas appliance, wherein the gas meter has an algorithm for determining an appliance for determining the type of the gas appliance from a flow rate change. Provided, when it is difficult to determine the operating state of the gas appliance from the flow rate change, the type of the gas appliance is determined from the information on whether or not the gas appliance is operated from the detection device, and the gas appliance that was operating Gas utilization system that calculates the amount of gas used in The detection device shall detect the presence or absence of operation of the gas appliance, and the detection means is interlocked with vibration, sound, temperature, light, or an electrical signal emitted from the gas appliance, or gas appliance due to operation of the gas appliance. The gas utilization system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of electrical signals of other instruments is detected. The gas meter uses an ultrasonic gas meter to enable instantaneous gas flow rate measurement, and the ultrasonic gas meter is capable of measuring flow rate changes that occur at the start, stop, and output control of gas appliances. The gas utilization system according to claim 1, wherein an algorithm for detecting a change specific to the gas appliance and determining the type of the gas appliance is installed. In the case of a gas appliance that is difficult to determine, the algorithm for determining the type of gas appliance mounted on the ultrasonic gas meter estimates the presence or absence of operation of the gas appliance from the flow rate change, and The gas utilization system according to claim 3, wherein the type of gas appliance and the amount of gas used are determined by utilizing information on whether or not the gas appliance is in operation. The gas utilization system according to claim 4, wherein the algorithm for determining the type of gas appliance mounted on the ultrasonic gas meter is determined in consideration of a time delay of information sent from the detection device. The gas utilization system according to claim 2, wherein the detection device has a storage device, and stores information specific to the device necessary for detecting an operation state of the device in advance. 3. The gas utilization system according to claim 2, wherein the detection device transmits information including a gas appliance identification signal so that the appliance to which the detector is attached can be identified. The gas utilization system according to claim 3, wherein the gas meter includes a display indicating the number of installed detection devices and installation equipment.

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