JP2008128700A - Flow measuring apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To determine connected appliances on the basis of flow rate information on instantaneous flow rate and the durations of flow rate. <P>SOLUTION: A flow measuring apparatus is provided with an appliance determination means 12 for determining that a connected appliance is a registered appliance in the case where flow information of appliance information registered in a storage memory 8 as a flow rate information storage means corresponds to correspondence criteria, that the connected appliance is a registered appliance after a registered appliance information update means 11 has updated the registered appliance information to a value containing its difference in the case where the flow rate information of the registered appliance information does not correspond to the correspondence criteria and where its difference is smaller than a prescribed value, and that the connected appliance is a specific appliance in the case where the flow rate information of the registered appliance information does not correspond to the correspondence criteria and that its difference is equal to the prescribed value or greater. It is possible to determine the appliances of which appliance information and flow rate information have been registered by correcting even errors of flow rate information at the time of appliance registration. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a flow rate measuring device provided with a device discriminating means for discriminating a device connected to a flow path based on flow rate information.

  Conventionally, as shown in FIG. 6, this type of flow rate measuring device includes a gas flow rate measuring unit 1 that measures the flow rate of gas flowing in a gas flow path, and a flow rate increase detecting unit 2 that detects an increase in flow rate from the measurement result. The flow rate increase / decrease detection means 3 for detecting the instantaneous increase / decrease change of the gas flow accompanying the increase of the flow rate, the instrument determination means 4 for determining the start of use of a new gas combustion instrument when the instantaneous increase / decrease change is detected, and the flow rate increase detection means The flow rate registration means 5 for registering the increase in the gas flow rate detected in step 1 as the increase in the gas flow rate associated with the start of use of the new gas combustion appliance (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

With the above configuration, pay attention to the fact that the gas flow rate increases and decreases instantly when it starts to use a new gas combustion device, and it becomes a stable gas flow rate. By determining, it is possible to determine the start of use of a new gas combustion appliance by a simple method and register an increase in gas due to the use of the new gas combustion appliance.
JP 2002-174542 A

  However, in the above-described conventional configuration, there is a problem that the change in the flow rate is detected even when the amount of combustion is changed during the combustion of one device, and the discrimination of the gas device is recognized.

  In order to solve the above-described conventional problems, the flow rate measuring device of the present invention includes a flow rate measuring unit that measures a flow rate flowing through a flow path, and a length of time that the flow rate value of the flow rate measuring unit and the measured flow rate value continue. Flow rate information storage means for storing the flow rate information, appliance registration means for registering the appliance information connected to the flow path, and registered appliance information update means for updating the registered appliance information stored in the flow rate information storage means. If the flow rate information measured by the flow rate measuring means matches the flow rate information of the instrument information registered in the flow rate information storage means and the correspondence criterion, the flow rate information of the registered instrument information is determined as a registered instrument. If the correspondence criteria do not match, but the difference is less than the specified value, the registered device information update means will update the registered device information to a value that includes the difference, then determine that it is a registered device and register it. Is Does not match the flow rate information and the corresponding standard of appliance information, and the difference is that a device determination means for determining a particular instrument is equal to or greater than a predetermined value.

  As a result, it is possible to discriminate the appliances storing the appliance information and the flow rate information by correcting the error of the flow rate information at the time of appliance registration, and it is possible to discriminate various appliances as specific appliances without a corresponding standard. In addition, even if the appliance changes its combustion amount on the way, it can be determined because all the flow rate information for operating the appliance is registered, and if it is not registered, it can be determined as a specific appliance.

The flow rate measuring device of the present invention is determined as a registered device when the correspondence criteria between the flow rate information measured by the flow rate measuring unit and the flow rate information of the device information registered in the flow rate information storage unit match, and the registered device information If the difference is less than the specified value, but the difference is less than the predetermined value, the registered device information update means will update the registered device information to a value that includes the difference.
It is discriminated as a registered appliance, and the appliance information is provided with appliance discriminating means for discriminating a specific appliance when the flow rate information of the registered appliance information does not match the corresponding standard and the difference is not less than a predetermined value. Can be determined by correcting the error of the flow rate information at the time of device registration, and devices that are not registered can be identified as various devices as specific devices. However, even if the combustion amount is changed in the middle, all the flow rate information at which the appliance operates is registered, so that it can be determined, and if it is not registered, it can be determined as a specific appliance.

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a flow rate measuring unit for measuring a flow rate of a fluid flowing through a flow path, and a flow rate information storing unit for storing flow rate information of the flow rate value of the flow rate measuring unit and a length of time for which the measured flow rate value continues. Instrument registration means for registering the instrument information of the instrument connected to the flow path, and registered instrument information update means for updating the registered instrument information stored in the flow rate information storage means, and measured by the flow rate measurement means If the flow rate information matches the flow rate information of the appliance information registered in the flow rate information storage means and the correspondence criterion, it is determined as a registered appliance, and the flow rate information of the registered appliance information does not match the correspondence criterion. If the difference is less than the predetermined value, the registered device information update means in the previous period updates the registered device information to a value that includes the difference, then determines that it is a registered device, and the flow rate information of the registered device information Correspondence standard If it does not match and the difference is greater than or equal to a predetermined value, it is configured to include a device discriminating unit that discriminates from a specific device. It is possible to discriminate the error by correcting the error, and it is possible to discriminate various instruments as non-registered instruments, and the flow rate at which the instrument operates even if the instrument changes the combustion amount on the way Since all the information is registered, it can be determined. If it is not registered, it can be determined as a specific instrument.

  According to the second aspect of the invention, in particular, the appliance discriminating means of the flow rate measuring device of the first aspect of the invention has a function of individually setting a predetermined range for updating the registration information by the registration appliance. It becomes possible to update the registered appliance information in accordance with the degree of variation of appliances, and it is possible to accurately discriminate according to the actual conditions of appliances.

  According to a third aspect of the invention, in particular, the appliance discriminating means of the flow rate measuring device according to the first or second invention comprises a discriminating learning means for learning correspondence criteria between flow rate information and appliance information. It is possible to register all the flow rate information generated by the operation, and the correspondence standard is set in a larger flow rate range, and the device can be discriminated with high accuracy and the number of corresponding devices can be increased.

  In the fourth invention, in particular, the discrimination learning means of the flow rate measuring device of the third invention measures the flow rate in a state where the instrument is operated, and inputs the instrument information, whereby the correspondence standard between the flow rate information and the instrument information is obtained. By learning the instrument information and correspondence standards based on the actually measured flow rate, the correspondence standards according to the installation conditions such as gas pressure and temperature change can be obtained. Based on this, it can be determined with high accuracy.

  In the fifth aspect of the invention, in particular, the discrimination learning means of the flow rate measuring device of the third or fourth aspect provides at least one of a flow rate value and a time length as the flow rate information so that the flow rate information and the instrument have a predetermined width. By adopting a configuration that learns the correspondence standard with the information, it is possible to absorb the variation in the measured flow rate due to the gas pressure variation, the variation in the operation time of the instrument, and the like to accurately determine the information.

  The sixth aspect of the invention is particularly configured such that the discrimination learning means of the flow rate measuring device according to any one of the third to fifth aspects automatically determines the specific instrument when detecting flow rate information other than the registered instrument. Thus, even a device that does not meet the correspondence standard can be registered as a specific device and can be identified.

  In the seventh invention, in particular, the instrument registration means of the flow rate measuring device according to any one of the first to sixth inventions includes at least one of a maximum flow rate, a minimum flow rate, and a starting flow rate as the type of the instrument and the usage flow rate of the instrument. Since the relationship between the instrument and a plurality of flow rates can be used as the correspondence standard, the instrument can be discriminated with high accuracy with many correspondence standards.

  In an eighth aspect of the invention, in particular, at least one of the instrument discriminating means and the discriminating learning means of the flow rate measuring device according to any one of the first to seventh aspects operates when the flow rate is greater than or equal to a predetermined flow rate value or less. By doing so, it can be operated only when the flow rate is above the predetermined flow rate value, and can be operated only within the flow rate range in which the instrument can be discriminated below the predetermined flow rate value, thus limiting the operation time. Therefore, low power consumption can be achieved.

  According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in particular, the flow rate measuring device according to any one of the first to eighth aspects of the present invention is configured to use an ultrasonic flow meter as an instantaneous flow rate measuring means, so that the instrument at the moment when the flow rate changes. The discriminating operation and the learning operation can be activated, and the appliance that is operating finely can be discriminated.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the present embodiment.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a flow rate measuring apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, the flow rate measuring device includes an ultrasonic flow meter 7 as a flow rate measuring means for measuring a flow rate flowing in the flow path 6, a flow rate value of the ultrasonic flow meter 7, and a time length for which the measured flow rate value continues. Storage memory 8 as flow rate information storage means for storing flow rate information, instrument registration means 10 for registering instrument information of gas instrument 9 connected to flow path 6, and registered instrument information stored in storage memory 8 are updated If the flow rate information measured by the ultrasonic flowmeter 7 matches the flow rate information of the instrument information registered in the storage memory 8 and the corresponding standard is determined as a registered instrument and registered. If the correspondence information does not match the flow rate information of the appliance information, but the difference is less than the predetermined value, the registered appliance information update means 11 updates the registered appliance information to a value including the difference, and then registers Instrument and And another, and if not coincident corresponding reference flow rate information of the registered instrument information, and its difference is not less than the predetermined value is obtained by a appliance determination means 12 determines that a particular instrument. Here, 13 is a discrimination learning means, 14 and 15 are gas appliances, 16 is a gas pipe line, 17 is a gas meter as a flow rate measuring device, 18 is a flow path shut-off valve, and 19 is an operation unit.

  The operation and action of the flow rate measuring apparatus configured as described above will be described below.

  First, the operation of appliance registration of the gas appliance 9 will be described.

The appliance registration operation is performed by operating the connected gas appliance 9. For example, the flow rate information includes the maximum flow rate (1) when the gas appliance 9 is operated at maximum combustion, the minimum flow rate (1) when the minimum combustion operation is performed, and the appliance name (1). Are registered in the storage memory 8. Here, the registration method is performed by setting the appliance registration means 10 to the registration operation mode. For example, the maximum flow rate (1) is obtained by setting the storage memory of the appliance A to the input state of the maximum flow rate (1). The flow rate when the appliance 9 is operated at maximum combustion is measured and stored. Similarly, for the minimum flow rate (1), the memory is set in the input state of the minimum flow rate, and the flow rate when the gas appliance 9 is caused to perform the minimum combustion operation is measured and stored. Furthermore, the appliance name (1) is to select and register, for example, a gas fan heater from the registration menu of the appliance registration means 10. Similarly, the gas appliance 14 is operated and the maximum flow rate (2), the minimum flow rate (2), and the appliance name (2) are registered in the memory of the appliance B.

  And the registration of duration information is performed at the time of the operation | movement which started the gas appliance 9. FIG. For example, the flow rate at the start of the start and the duration for which the flow rate continues are measured, and the start flow rate (1) and the duration (1) are stored. In the operating flow rate pattern shown in FIG. 2a, the flow rate Q1 and the duration T1 become the starting flow rate (1) and starting time (1) of the appliance A. The same applies to the gas appliance 14.

Then, registration is performed so that a predetermined flow rate width and time width are given to the next registered flow rate and duration. For example, FIG. 3 a shows the relationship between the starting flow rate and the starting time of the gas appliance 9 registered in the appliances A and B, and the relationship between the starting flow rate and the starting time of the gas appliance 14. Here, the flow rate width of ΔQa and the time width of ΔTa are set for the device A, and the flow width of ΔQb and the time width of ΔTb are set for the flow rate of the device B. These width settings can be set manually.
Next, the operation of the registered appliance information updating unit 11 and the appliance determining unit 12 will be described.

  When the gas appliance 9 operates, the flow rate changes with time as shown in FIG. 2a, and processing is performed according to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. For example, the flow rate value measured by the ultrasonic flowmeter 7 matches one of the registered minimum flow rate, maximum flow rate, or starting flow rate, and the duration of the flow rate value also matches the registered duration time. It can be determined that the registered instrument has been operated.

  For example, in the flow rate pattern as shown in FIG. 2a, the flow rate values Q1, Q2, Q5, and Q6 match the registered flow rate of the device A. Among them, the flow rate values Q1 and Q6 are determined that the registered appliance has been operated because the operation duration is equal to the duration of the registered appliance A. However, since the flow rates Q2 and Q5 are equal in flow rate but have different durations, the flow rate values Q2 and Q5 are determined as specific appliances and the flow rate values match, so the duration is additionally registered by the learning process. By this learning process, the apparatus is determined as the registered apparatus A when the flow rates are Q2 and Q5 from the next time and the durations are T2 and T5. In this way, since appliance information that can be learned and discriminated by automatically registering additional information increases, appliances of many conditions can be discriminated.

  Next, in the flow rate pattern as shown in FIG. 2b, the difference between the flow rate value Q1 ′ and the registered flow rate of the appliance A is ΔQa ′. If this value is less than a predetermined value that is considered to be within the error range, the registered instrument information updating means 11 causes the registered instrument to update the flow width of the instrument A to the flow width obtained by combining ΔQa and ΔQa ′ as shown in FIG. Information is updated. In this way, the appliance registered with the appliance information and the flow rate information can be determined by correcting the error of the flow rate information at the time of appliance registration.

  Further, the flow rate values Q3 and Q4 are automatically determined as specific appliances if the difference from the registered flow rate information is a predetermined value or more. Then, the registration information of the flow rate determined to be the specific instrument is added or updated by the discrimination learning means. For example, when a flow rate other than the registered flow rate is detected, the device information is waited for. Here, the specific flow rate is updated as registered instrument information by manually inputting instrument information from the outside. If there is no registered device, new device information is registered as additional information. Here, the registration information of the gas appliance 9 has been described, but the same applies to the case of the gas appliance 15 which is not newly registered. The device is identified as a specific device, and in the state waiting for device information input, registration from the outside is accepted and registered. In this way, even when a new gas appliance is connected, the number of appliance discrimination models can be increased by being registered.

In addition, although it demonstrated by the method of inputting manually, the method by which instrument information is transmitted by the wireless means from the connected gas appliance is also considered, In this case, the gas meter 17 is equipped with a transmission / reception means such as a wireless device. There is a need. It is obvious that if a wireless device is mounted on the gas meter 17, the registration operation can be performed by an instruction operation from the gas supply center side in addition to the wireless means from the gas appliance.

  In this way, it is possible to measure the operating time and gas flow rate of gas appliances operated by appliance discrimination, so it is possible to determine which appliances are used and how much gas is consumed. It can be used to enhance the hourly fee or the safety function by device.

  The appliance registration is additionally updated by the discrimination learning means 13 as described above, but it is possible to change while learning the flow rate value and the flow rate information of the duration as the correspondence standard. Although it has been described that the correspondence criteria match, in practice, it cannot be realized unless a certain range of determination criteria is given a width. For example, in the flow rate value, a flow rate width of ± 2% of the registered flow rate value is used as a determination criterion. The duration is used as a criterion for determination with a duration of ± 5%. By providing such a width, it is possible to absorb variations in flow rate information caused by differences in gas pressure and temperature when the gas appliance is operated, so that it can be discriminated even if the values do not match exactly. become. Furthermore, it is also possible to learn and change the flow rate value as a determination criterion and the width given to the duration.

  Moreover, although the flow rate width was demonstrated by setting a width | variety with the ratio with respect to a registration flow rate, you may change a width | variety according to a flow rate. That is, the width is set large for a flow rate with a large registered flow rate, and the width is set small for a small flow rate. By setting in this way, by changing the width according to the flow rate, it is possible to finely register the instruments in the low flow rate region and increase the number of discriminating instruments. Similarly, by setting the width according to the duration, the registered appliances can be set in detail, and many appliances can be identified.

  And as shown in FIG. 5, the apparatus discrimination | determination means 12 was set as the structure which operate | moves only when more than predetermined flow volume. For example, by configuring so as to operate only when the flow rate is equal to or higher than the minimum flow rate registered in the appliance, useless processing operations can be reduced, and power consumption can be reduced. In addition, even when the appliance discriminating means 12 operates at a predetermined flow rate or less, for example, below the maximum flow rate registered in the appliance, wasteful processing operations can be similarly reduced and power consumption can be reduced. For example, in the gas meter 17 driven by a battery, useless processing can be reduced, so that the battery life can be extended.

  Although the above explanation has been given for the case where the ultrasonic flowmeter 7 is used, it is obvious that the same effect can be obtained by other instantaneous flow rate measuring means such as a fluidic method or a flow sensor method. . And by using an instantaneous flow meter, the measurement timing can be set regardless of the flow rate, so that the measurement timing can be changed when determining the instrument. In addition, although the description of the processing after the appliance is identified has been omitted, the gas meter 17 can measure the integrated flow rate for each registered appliance and set the safety management (security function) processing for each registered appliance. It is obvious. Moreover, although demonstrated with the gas meter 17, it can be used for discrimination | determination of the instrument used connected to the downstream of a flow measuring device similarly in an industrial flow meter and a water meter.

  As described above, the flow rate measuring device according to the present invention can determine the appliance registered with the appliance information and the flow rate information by correcting the error of the flow rate information at the time of appliance registration. Similarly, in a water meter, it can be used for discrimination of appliances connected to the downstream side of the flow rate measuring device.

The block diagram of the flow measuring device in Embodiment 1 of the present invention. (A) Flow rate pattern diagram measured by the same flow rate measuring device (b) Flow rate pattern diagram measured by the same flow rate measuring device when the registered instrument information is updated (A) Explanatory drawing which shows the information range registered with the same flow measuring device (b) Explanatory drawing which shows the information range registered with the same flow measuring device when updating registered appliance information Flow chart showing processing of the flow rate measuring device Flow chart showing other processing of the flow rate measuring device Block diagram of a conventional flow measurement device

Explanation of symbols

7 Ultrasonic flow meter (flow rate measuring means)
8 Memory (Flow information storage means)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 9 Gas appliance 10 Appliance registration means 11 Registered appliance information update means 12 Appliance discrimination means 13 Discrimination learning means 14, 15 Gas appliance 17 Gas meter (flow rate measuring device)

Claims (9)

A flow rate measuring means for measuring a flow rate of the fluid flowing in the flow path; a flow rate information storage means for storing flow rate information of a flow rate value of the flow rate measuring means and a time length for which the measured flow rate value continues; and The apparatus registration means for registering the instrument information of the connected instrument, and the registered instrument information update means for updating the registered instrument information stored in the flow rate information storage means, the flow rate information measured by the flow rate measurement means and the If the correspondence standard with the flow rate information of the instrument information registered in the flow rate information storage means matches, it is determined as a registered instrument, and the flow rate information of the registered instrument information does not match the correspondence standard, but the difference is less than the predetermined value If it is, the registered device information update means updates the registered device information to a value that includes the difference, then determines that it is a registered device, and matches the flow rate information of the registered device information with the corresponding criteria. Z And flow measuring apparatus that difference with a appliance discriminating means for discriminating a particular instrument is equal to or greater than a predetermined value. The flow rate measuring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the appliance discriminating means has a function of individually setting a predetermined range in which the registered appliance information is updated by the registered appliance. The flow rate measuring device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the appliance discriminating means has a function of learning correspondence criteria between flow rate information and appliance information. 4. The flow measurement device according to claim 3, wherein the discrimination learning means performs flow rate measurement in a state where the appliance is operated and inputs appliance information to learn by adding or updating a correspondence standard between the flow rate information and the appliance information. . The flow rate measuring apparatus according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the discrimination learning means learns a correspondence standard between the flow rate information and the instrument information by giving a predetermined width to at least one of the flow rate value and the time length as the flow rate information. The flow measurement device according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the discrimination learning means automatically determines that the specific instrument is used when flow rate information other than the registered instrument is detected. The flow rate measuring device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the device registration means registers at least one of a maximum flow rate, a minimum flow rate, and a starting flow rate as the type of device and the flow rate of use of the device. The flow rate measuring device according to any one of claims 3 to 7, wherein at least one of the appliance discriminating means and the discriminating learning means operates when the flow rate value is not less than the predetermined flow rate value or not more than the predetermined flow rate value. The flow rate measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the flow rate measuring unit uses an ultrasonic flowmeter as an instantaneous flow rate measuring unit.

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