JP2008107268A - Gas meter device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a gas meter device for enhancing appliance discrimination accuracy, by readjusting the registered determination values, even if the starting characteristics of actual appliance becomes different from the pre-registered determination value for appliance discrimination due to the change in gas pressure, inside gas piping. <P>SOLUTION: This gas meter device comprises an appliance determination means 10 determining a gas appliance being used, a pressure measurement means 6 measuring the gas pressure in a gas supply pipe, and a registered-value changing means 12 that changes the appliance determination value in a registration/storage means 9, by using the measured value obtained by the measurement means 6. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention is installed at the entrance of a gas supply pipe in each home, and is used to provide a new fee and service according to the usage equipment such as a separate fee for gas equipment, etc. in a gas meter for measuring the gas flow rate. The present invention relates to a technology for discriminating and detecting a gas appliance inside.

  Conventionally, as an example of this type of flow rate measuring apparatus, there is a configuration as shown below (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  In general, a gas meter with a gas flow meter is installed at the entrance of a gas supply line in each household.

  When a separate charge is applied to a conventional gas meter, the integrated flow rate when using a plurality of integrating devices connected to the gas meter for a specific time or when a specific range of flow rate is used is calculated. In other words, the flow rate for each time segment and the flow rate for each flow segment are determined, and the charge system is determined based on the integrated value. An example of the fee system will be described based on FIG. A predetermined discount flow rate category and a predetermined discount time zone are set in advance, and the gas rate of the flow rate corresponding to the discount flow rate category and the discount time zone is targeted for discount. That is, the part divided by the oblique line in FIG. However, with this method, the specific determination of the appliance is ambiguous, and it is difficult to make a convenient and easy-to-understand fee setting such as charging a fee for the specific appliance. Then, the following proposals have been made as a method for discriminating a specific instrument (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

The operation of the proposed example will be described. FIG. 12 shows a gas flow rate change pattern when a certain gas appliance is activated and reference values (pattern table) for performing pattern matching based on the pattern. For one gas appliance, this pattern table needs to be prepared for a series of gas flow rate change patterns generated along with the combustion control of the gas appliance, and it is also necessary for the total number of gas appliances used in each household. . A tool is identified by extracting what matches while constantly comparing the change in the flow rate measured by the flow meter of the gas meter with these pattern tables.
JP 2002-71421 A JP 2003-149027 A

  In the above-described configuration, when the gas pressure has changed from the piping gas pressure at the time of registration of the appliance judgment value related to the discrimination of each gas appliance, the volume of the combustion gas changes in the case of an appliance without gas pressure adjustment. Therefore, there is a problem that the activation state is different from the registration data, and there is a high possibility that the device is erroneously identified.

  The present invention solves the above-described problem. Even when there is a pressure change in the gas pipe and the appliance judgment value of the registered data has changed, the pressure measurement means is provided, and the pressure change occurs. In this case, by changing the instrument judgment value in response to pressure changes, it is possible to prevent the instrument from being misidentified even when the piping pressure changes, and to make it easy to maintain the judgment value. The purpose is to do.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, the gas meter device of the present invention is connected to a household gas supply pipe, and stores data registered by a flow rate measuring means for measuring a gas flow rate, an appliance information input means, and an information input means. Compares the gas flow rate value measured by the flow rate measurement means based on the appliance judgment value that is the data in the registration storage means and the registration storage means, and measures the gas pressure in the gas supply pipe and the equipment judgment means for judging the gas equipment to be used. And a registered value changing means for changing the appliance judgment value registration data in the registration means according to the measured value of the pressure measuring means.

  The gas meter device according to the present invention is capable of determining the appliance by revising the registered appliance judgment value even when the judgment value of the appliance discrimination registered when the gas pressure in the gas pipe is changed and the actual activation characteristics of the appliance are changed. Accuracy can be increased.

  You can also use the new price menu prepared by the gas company. Furthermore, since the instrument discrimination function can be updated without changing the specifications of the gas meter, it is possible to easily perform maintenance of future instrument functions.

  The first invention is a flow rate measuring means for measuring a gas flow rate, an instrument information input means, a registration storage means for storing data registered by the information input means, and data of the registration storage means. Compared with the gas flow rate value measured by the flow rate measuring means based on a certain instrument judgment value, the instrument judgment means for judging the gas instrument to be used, the pressure measuring means for measuring the gas pressure in the gas supply pipe, and the pressure measuring means The configuration having the registered value changing means for changing the appliance judgment value in the registration means according to the measured value changes the gas judgment pressure in the gas pipe and changes the registered judgment value of the equipment discrimination and the actual starting characteristics of the equipment. However, it is possible to review the registered appliance determination value.

  In the second invention, in particular, in the first invention, the calculating means for obtaining a difference value between the flow rate values output from the flow measuring means, the difference value calculated by the calculating means, and the appliance determination value registered in the registration storage means It is possible to determine the change in the usage state of the gas appliance at a speed corresponding to the measurement time of the measuring means with a simple algorithm. .

  The third aspect of the invention is a configuration that changes the appliance judgment value in proportion to the gas pressure fluctuation, particularly when the registered value changing means of the first or second invention changes in the gas pressure. Even if the judgment value of the appliance discrimination registered when the pressure changes and the activation characteristic of the actual appliance change, the registered appliance judgment value can be automatically changed corresponding to the fluctuation.

  The fourth aspect of the invention is a configuration that is a registered value changing means that changes the value in proportion to the gas pressure fluctuation with respect to the margin, in particular, the appliance judgment value has a predetermined margin width in the third aspect of the invention. When the pressure fluctuates, not only the appliance judgment value but also the judgment margin associated therewith can be changed in proportion to the fluctuation of the gas pressure, so that a more accurate appliance judgment can be made.

  In particular, the fifth invention has a gas pressure storage means for storing the gas pressure value measured by the pressure measurement means according to any one of the first to fourth inventions, so that it is possible to leave a history of the measured gas pressure. Thus, fluctuations in gas pressure can be clarified.

  In particular, the sixth invention is a registered value changing means for changing the instrument determination value when the measured gas pressure varies more than a predetermined amount from the value stored in the gas pressure storage means in the fifth invention. It can be clarified by the history that the gas pressure has changed.

The seventh aspect of the invention is a configuration in which gas pressure information is also registered when registering instrument information in the registration storage means in the fifth or sixth invention, and the pressure information when the instrument determination value is registered is also registered at the same time. Therefore, the relationship between the instrument judgment value and the pressure is always uniquely determined.

  In the eighth aspect of the invention, in particular, the configuration in which the pressure measuring means measures the gas pressure every predetermined time in the fifth aspect makes it possible to construct a regular appliance judgment value, and reduce the appliance discrimination error due to pressure fluctuation as much as possible. It becomes possible.

  The ninth aspect of the invention is, in particular, a configuration in which the pressure measuring means measures the gas pressure when the measurement flow rate of the measuring means does not correspond to the instrument judgment value when the instrument is started in the fifth invention. If it is a change, the next failure can be prevented in advance.

  According to a tenth aspect of the invention, in particular, in the registration storage means of any one of the first to ninth aspects of the invention, a device for changing a device judgment value when the gas pressure is changed is registered, whereby the device is controlled by the gas pressure. Only the appliance whose gas flow rate at the time of activation needs to be changed, and the appliance judgment value can be updated efficiently.

  In the eleventh aspect of the invention, in particular, when the gas supply to the gas supply pipe is a cylinder system in the fifth aspect of the invention, the pressure measuring means measures the gas pressure when replacing the cylinder, and the pressure fluctuation occurs when the gas cylinder is replaced. Even in such a case, the appliance determination value is updated in response to the pressure fluctuation, so that the appliance determination does not malfunction.

  In the twelfth aspect of the invention, in particular, the flow rate measuring means according to any one of the first to eleventh aspects of the invention is configured by an ultrasonic measurement method, and instantaneous measurement can be performed. Therefore, it is possible to discriminate instruments with higher accuracy.

  In the thirteenth aspect of the invention, in particular, the ultrasonic flow rate measuring means in the twelfth aspect of the invention has a function of measuring the temperature in the pipe, and a registered value for detecting a gas volume change due to a temperature change and revising the appliance discrimination value. It is a changing means, and it becomes possible to review the appliance discriminating value even with respect to a change in activation flow rate due to gas volume expansion due to temperature change.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a gas meter device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a gas meter device, which is provided in the middle of a gas supply pipe, and one or more gas appliances installed in each customer's house are connected to the downstream pipe.

  In the gas meter device, a gas shutoff valve 2, a gas flow rate measuring means 3 and a signal from the gas flow rate measuring means 3 provided in a gas flow path connected to a gas pipe are processed to display the used gas flow rate. 4, a seismic device 5 for detecting vibration such as an earthquake, a pressure measuring means 6 for measuring the pressure in the pipe, and a gas appliance discriminating according to the present invention, a computing means 7, an appliance information input means 8, and information thereof Registration storage means 9 for registering the gas, gas pressure recording means 11 for recording the gas pressure measured by the instrument determination means 10 and the pressure measurement means 6, registration value changing means 12 for changing the registered contents in the registration storage means 9, and seismic sensing A control circuit 13 that performs overall control processing of the operation of the vessel 5 and the pressure measuring means 6, instrument determination, security function, and the like, and a battery (not shown) that serves as a power source for them are incorporated.

  The registration storage means 7 records an appliance determination value that is a comparison determination value as to whether or not a flow rate change has occurred. The storage means for storing and holding recorded data uses a semiconductor memory in the present invention. However, a magnetic recording medium or the like can be used as long as recording can be added or rewritten.

  In addition, regarding the flow rate measuring means 3 of the present invention, an ultrasonic type measuring means is used, but as a measuring method, other flow rate measuring methods can be continuously measured in a constant cycle in a short time such as a full dick method. Can be used.

  The operation will be described below.

  First, ultrasonic flow velocity measurement will be described with reference to FIG. The measurement channel 14 has a rectangular cross section, and a pair of ultrasonic transmitters / receivers 15 and 16 are located upstream of the channel with the measurement channel 10 sandwiched between walls perpendicular to the gas flow direction of the measurement channel 14. The side and the downstream side are mounted to face each other at an angle φ. Ultrasonic waves are alternately transmitted and received between the ultrasonic transmitters / receivers 15 and 16, and the difference between the propagation times of the ultrasonic waves in the forward direction and the reverse direction with respect to the flow of the fluid is measured at regular intervals, and output as a propagation time difference signal. Have a job. In response to this propagation time difference signal, the calculation means (not shown) calculates the flow velocity and flow rate of the fluid to be measured.

  The calculation formula is shown below.

In FIG. 2, L is a measurement distance, where t1 is the transmission time from the upstream, t2 is the transmission time from the downstream, and C is the speed of sound, the flow velocity V is expressed by the equation (1) V = L / (2cosφ ((1 / t1 )-(1 / t2)))
Although the measurement time interval can be set in a range where ultrasonic waves can be transmitted and received, in the present invention, measurement is performed at intervals of 2 seconds. Furthermore, it is possible to reduce the time interval in terms of the measurement principle. Depending on the gas instrument, there are instruments that start up in less than 2 seconds, so reducing the measurement time interval is advantageous in terms of instantaneous instrument discrimination. However, if the measurement interval is shortened, there is a problem that the battery consumption increases, and the measurement interval equivalent to the membrane type used in the conventional gas meter is a second digit order interval. Therefore, it becomes difficult to make a judgment by looking at the difference in flow rate change of the algorithm of the present invention, and in the present invention, it is performed by measuring at intervals of 2 seconds as a well-balanced time from the viewpoint of cost and instrument discrimination performance.

  In the ultrasonic measurement method, since the transmission time changes due to a temperature change, it is possible to detect a temperature change from the time difference.

  Next, the procedure for determining the operating state of the gas appliance will be described with reference to FIG.

  In the gas meter device, as described above, the gas flow rate is measured every 2 seconds, the data is sent to the calculation means, and the flow rate value is differentiated and output as the difference data of the flow rate every 2 seconds.

  The difference data is sent to the successive approximation determination means and compared with the change determination value registered in the storage means. When the difference value exceeds the comparison determination value, it is determined that the gas appliance has changed state. When a change is detected, in order to further determine which gas appliance is in what state, the comparison / determination means compares the change value according to the state of each gas appliance registered in the storage means to determine the appliance and Determine the state of the appliance.

  FIG. 4 shows changes in the gas flow rate and changes in the difference value when an actual gas appliance is used.

  In the graph of FIG. 4, the solid line indicates the gas flow rate value measured by the flow rate measuring means and the broken line indicates the differential value at that time, that is, the difference value every 2 seconds. The difference value is expressed with a peak on the plus side when the gas appliance is started, and is expressed with a peak on the minus side when the gas appliance is stopped.

In the above embodiment, when the difference value is greater than or equal to a predetermined value (change determination value), it is assumed that there is a change as shown in FIG. Although the determination is performed, in the case of the determination for the limited instrument registered in advance and the processing speed is fast, the difference value data from the calculation means is left as it is, and the comparison with the change point determination value data of all the gas appliances is 2 If possible within a second, it is also possible to determine the changed gas appliance or state directly from the difference value as shown in FIG.

  In addition, although the flow rate value and difference value at the time of using three apparatuses (ABC) simultaneously in FIG. 5 are shown on a graph, it can confirm that the change at the time of starting and a stop of three apparatuses is read.

  The discriminated information is any means that can confirm information from the storage means on the display unit via the control circuit or data transfer to an external terminal (not shown). It can be used.

  FIG. 6 shows the change in the piping gas pressure and the change in the starting flow rate of the gas appliance.

  As shown in FIG. 6, when the piping gas pressure changes, the activation flow rate changes depending on the gas appliance (instruments A, B, and C), so the appliance judgment value registered in the discrimination method described above and the actual startup flow rate are changed. Changes and becomes a factor of misclassification.

  Therefore, the present invention has a configuration in which the determination value of the instrument is changed when there is a change in gas pressure. The configuration will be described below.

  First, a method for measuring gas pressure according to the present invention will be described.

  As shown in the flow of FIG. 7, first, it is confirmed that there is no change in the gas flow rate. If there is no change in the flow rate, pressure measurement is started, and the measured value is stored in the gas pressure storage means.

  Next, the procedure for examining the gas pressure fluctuation will be described with reference to FIG.

  The gas pressure is measured, compared with the value registered in the gas pressure storage means, and if there is a difference greater than a predetermined value between them, a new gas pressure is registered assuming that there is a difference in gas pressure.

  As a newly registered appliance determination value, for example, there is a method of determining an appliance determination value as shown in Expression (2) in proportion to a pressure change.

When the new instrument discriminating value is Qold and the instrument discriminating value before Qnew is the gas pressure Pold before the newly measured gas pressure Pnew, Equation (2) Qnew = Qold × (Pnew / Pold)
It can be calculated with

  In addition, it is possible to give stability to the determination result by having a predetermined margin in the determination value when determining the appliance, but the margin is also set to a value according to the pressure change. It is ideal and can be obtained by equation (3) in the same manner as the appliance discrimination value.

If the margin of the appliance discrimination value is Mold before revision and Mnew is after change,
Formula (3) Mnew = Mold × (Pnew / Pold)
Calculated by

  In the above example, the determination value to be newly registered is calculated and calculated in proportion to the change in pressure. However, a method of determining from a correlation table prepared in advance for the pressure value and the determination value is also possible.

  It is necessary to record the instrument information in the registration means in order to perform the instrument discrimination, but when the instrument is installed and registered on site, the instrument registration setting button (not shown) is operated. When performed, the control means measures the gas pressure and records the gas pressure value at the same time, so the relationship between the instrument judgment value and the pressure is always uniquely determined by a single operation. It is no longer possible to make an erroneous determination.

  It should be noted that a time measuring means (not shown) is provided in the apparatus, and by performing this pressure measurement at regular intervals, it becomes possible to configure a regular instrument judgment value, and even when pressure fluctuations occur Therefore, it is possible to reduce instrument discrimination errors as much as possible.

  If a gas appliance is activated and there is a change in the flow rate of gas used and some appliance is activated, but there is no instrument that matches the instrument judgment value registered at the instrument discrimination, The device determines that a gas pressure fluctuation has occurred, measures the gas pressure, and if there is a difference from the previous registered value, it is assumed that there is a gas pressure fluctuation. It becomes possible to have an automatic correction function in the case of misjudgment.

  Note that when the gas pressure is changed, the gas flow rate of the appliance changes when the gas appliance is not equipped with a gas pressure adjustment device, and conversely, an appliance with a gas pressure adjustment mechanism (FIG. 6). In the case of equipment D), it is not necessary to change the equipment judgment value even if the gas pressure fluctuates. It is possible to increase the efficiency of the re-registration process without performing the process.

  FIG. 10 shows a registration table as an example of appliance registration.

  In addition, when the gas supply is a cylinder system, the gas pressure to be supplied may change by replacing the cylinder. Therefore, when the cylinder is replaced, a cylinder replacement operation button (not shown) is provided. By operating the button or notifying the gas meter device that the cylinder has been replaced by some other means, it is possible to automatically remeasure the pressure and review the instrument discrimination value if there is a difference from the previous time. It is possible to prevent problems that may occur during cylinder replacement.

  In addition, as described above, when the flow rate measuring means is an ultrasonic measurement, it is possible to measure the temperature change of the gas in the supply pipe, so that it is possible to know the gas flow rate change due to the gas volume expansion. Even when the appliance is activated at a flow rate different from the appliance discrimination value registered due to volume expansion due to a temperature change, it is possible to review the appliance discrimination value, thereby preventing erroneous discrimination.

  As described above, the flow rate measuring apparatus according to the present invention is connected to a household gas supply pipe, and stores the data registered by the flow rate measuring means, the instrument information input means, and the information input means for measuring the gas flow rate. Pressure to measure the gas pressure in the gas supply pipe and the device judgment means for judging the gas appliance to be used by comparing with the gas flow rate value measured by the flow rate measurement means based on the equipment judgment value which is the data of the means and the registration storage means Judgment of instrument discrimination that has been registered by changing the gas pressure in the gas pipe with the measuring means and the registered value changing means for changing the instrument judgment value registration data in the registration means according to the measured value of the pressure measuring means Even if the value and the actual activation characteristics of the appliance change, it is possible to improve the accuracy of appliance discrimination by reviewing the registration determination value.

  You can also use the new price menu prepared by the gas company. Furthermore, since the instrument discrimination function can be updated without changing the specifications of the gas meter, it is possible to easily perform maintenance of future instrument functions.

Configuration diagram of a flow rate measuring device according to an embodiment of the present invention Configuration diagram of flow rate measurement unit in an embodiment of the present invention Flowchart of discrimination operation (1) in the embodiment of the present invention Characteristics of flow rate and calculated value in the embodiment of the present invention Characteristics of flow rate and calculated value in the embodiment of the present invention Correlation diagram between pressure change and gas flow rate in an embodiment of the present invention Functional explanatory diagram in the embodiment of the present invention Functional explanatory diagram in the embodiment of the present invention Functional explanatory diagram in the embodiment of the present invention Registration data configuration diagram in the embodiment of the present invention Discrimination method conceptual diagram of conventional flow measurement devices Discrimination method data structure diagram of conventional flow measurement device

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Gas meter apparatus 2 Gas shut-off valve 3 Flow measuring means 4 Display part 5 Seismic device 6 Pressure measuring means 7 Calculation means 8 Instrument information input means 9 Registration storage means 10 Appliance judgment means 11 Gas pressure storage means 12 Registered value change means 13 Control Circuit 14 Measurement channel 15, 16 Ultrasonic transceiver

Claims (13)

A flow rate measuring means connected to a household gas supply pipe for measuring a gas flow rate, an appliance information input means, a registration storage means for storing data registered by the appliance information input means, and registered in the registration storage means A device determination means for determining a gas appliance to be used by comparing with a gas flow rate value measured by the flow rate measurement means based on an appliance determination value, a pressure measurement means for measuring the gas pressure in the gas supply pipe, and A gas meter device having registered value changing means for changing the registered value of the appliance judgment value in the registering means according to the measured value. The appliance determination means compares the magnitude of the difference value calculated by the calculation means and the difference calculation value calculated by the calculation means and the appliance determination value registered in the registration storage means to obtain the difference value of the flow rate value output from the flow measurement means, The gas meter device according to claim 1 which judges use of a gas appliance. The gas meter device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein when the gas pressure fluctuates, the registered value changing means changes the appliance determination value in proportion to the gas pressure fluctuation. 4. The gas meter device according to claim 3, wherein the appliance judgment value has a predetermined margin width, and is a registered value changing means for changing the value in proportion to the gas pressure fluctuation with respect to the margin. The gas meter device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a gas pressure storage unit that stores a gas pressure value measured by the pressure measurement unit. 6. The registered value changing means for changing the instrument discriminating value when the gas pressure measured by the pressure measuring means is different from a value stored in the gas pressure storing means by a predetermined amount or more. Gas meter device. The gas meter device according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the gas pressure information is also registered in the gas pressure storage means simultaneously with registering the instrument information in the registration storage means. 6. The gas meter device according to claim 5, wherein the pressure measuring means measures the gas pressure every predetermined time. 6. The pressure measurement means measures the gas pressure when the measured flow rate of the flow rate measurement means at the time of starting the appliance does not correspond to the appliance judgment value registered in the registration storage means, and the registered value changing means changes the appliance judgment value. The gas meter device described. The gas meter device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein an appliance that changes an appliance determination value when the gas pressure changes is registered in registration information of a registration storage unit. 6. The gas meter device according to claim 5, wherein when the gas supply to the gas supply pipe is a cylinder system, the pressure measuring means measures the gas pressure when replacing the cylinder. The gas meter device according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the flow rate measuring means includes an ultrasonic measurement method. 13. The gas meter device according to claim 12, wherein the flow rate measuring means is a registered value changing means that has a function of measuring a temperature in the pipe, detects a gas volume change due to a temperature change, and reviews an appliance determination value.