JP2008151522A - Flowmeter and its program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To accurately perform a used gas quantity calculation of each of gas instruments connected to the downstream side of a gas meter by measuring a flow rate of a gas flowing in a gas meter without using a waveform pattern. <P>SOLUTION: The flowmeter 10 includes: a flow rate measuring means which measures a flow rate at a fixed time interval; an instrument judgment means which identifies an operating instrument by acquiring a flow rate difference between flow rates of an instruments connected to the downstream side of the flow rate measuring means at two arbitrary time moments; and an instrument flow rate calculation means which acquires the used flow rate of each of the instruments by switching the calculation methods according to the number, the type, the combination, and the priority of currently operating gas instruments which have been identified by the instrument judgment means. <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 technique for discriminating gas appliances inside.

  Conventionally, this type of flow rate measuring apparatus and its program make it possible to set a charge system for each gas appliance and each time zone by utilizing the fact that the gas flow range is limited by the gas appliance ( A flow rate measuring device) has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  The conventional flow rate measuring device described in Patent Document 1 enables setting of a charge system for each gas appliance (group) and for each time zone as follows. In general household gas appliances, for example, water heaters / bath kettles used for hot water supply have a large amount of gas consumption (consumption) per hour, kitchen gas tables, rice cookers, gas stoves, and gas heating / cooling (GHP) Etc. have a small gas consumption (consumption). Since gas appliances with intermediate consumption to the above gas consumption (consumption) are limited to special appliances, the unit flow rate category is determined by setting a fee for each range of flow rate categories and adjusting the rate. It is possible to set a separate fee for the gas appliance (group) that falls under. At this time, for example, by applying a charge system according to the time zone to the unit flow rate classification including specific appliances such as a bath pot, the service to users can be further diversified, and the gas company Etc. can take sales strategies to increase gas consumption.

  In addition, the following proposals have been made as a mechanism for discriminating the types of instruments that have been operated (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

  FIG. 12 shows a conventional gas meter (flow rate measuring device) described in Patent Document 2. As shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 12, the conventional flow rate measuring device includes a flow rate measuring unit 1 that measures the flow rate of gas flowing in the gas flow path, a flow rate storage unit 2 that stores the gas flow rate measured by the flow rate measuring unit 1, and a flow rate measuring unit. 1 is a device discriminating means 3 for discriminating an appliance that is currently using gas from a gas flow rate measured by 1; a flow rate integrating means 4 for integrating the gas flow rate measured by the flow rate measuring means 1; and a value calculated by the flow rate integrating means 4. And a partial flow rate pattern obtained by dividing a series of gas flow rate patterns generated with combustion control for the total number of gas appliances used in each household. The flow rate pattern table 6 categorized for each period and the stable period), and an appliance table 7 in which a plurality of types of gas appliances and corresponding combinations of partial flow rate patterns are associated with each other. That.

  Here, the appliance discriminating means 3 extracts a partial flow rate pattern from the control step determination module 3a for determining each control step from the detected gas flow rate pattern (flow rate waveform with respect to time) and the gas flow rate waveform divided for each control step. And a matching module 3c for extracting a matching gas appliance from the flow pattern table 6 and the appliance table 7 using the partial flow pattern as a clue.

With the above configuration, when the use of a gas combustion instrument is newly started, the waveform of the gas flow rate with respect to time can be specified in the flow rate storage unit 2 and the measurement result measured by the flow rate measurement unit 1 thereafter can be specified in the flow rate storage unit 2. To remember. Then, the control step module 3a analyzes the stored gas flow rate waveform (time change of the gas flow rate), and determines from which to where of the gas flow rate waveform corresponds to which control step of the combustion control. Further, the partial flow rate extraction module 3b divides each gas flow rate waveform for each control step, and extracts feature data of the divided partial flow rate patterns.

  Finally, the matching data is extracted by the matching module 3c and the flow rate pattern of each control step stored in the flow rate pattern table 6 is searched for a matching pattern. The feature data of the three control steps is the flow rate pattern. The use of the gas appliance is determined according to how the table 6 matches. Here, how to match is determined using the instrument table 7.

As a result, it is possible to discriminate the appliance that is currently in use, and therefore, it is possible to perform optimum operation monitoring for each appliance using the discrimination result.
JP 2002-71421 A JP 2003-179027 A

  In the conventional flow rate measuring apparatus in Patent Document 1, the specific determination of the appliance is ambiguous, and it is difficult to make a convenient and convenient fee setting such as charging a fee for the specific appliance. is there. For example, when the gas flow used by a gas stove is integrated and only the charge is used as a discount, the conventional technology is ambiguous in the specific judgment of the appliance, and low consumption including other appliances such as a gas table and rice cooker. It can be obtained only as the amount of gas used by the mass device group.

  In addition, in the conventional flow rate measuring device in Patent Document 2, it is possible to determine the instrument used, but it is necessary to register a flow pattern in advance, and more than one gas instrument is used rather than a single instrument. Because there are more, the pattern is not always a simple change (proportional control, constant, step control). Therefore, when it is going to obtain | require the gas flow rate of each instrument when the several instrument is used simultaneously by the conventional structure, it is necessary to prepare a gas flow rate pattern supposing the combination of an instrument. Therefore, in the conventional flow rate measuring device, since the number of combinations becomes enormous, it takes a long time to discriminate a plurality of instruments and has a problem that it is very difficult. Note that it takes a long time to determine (process) means that the process is performed correspondingly, so that power is required.

  In addition, gas appliances can be started, stopped, and controlled for any time, and it is impossible to prepare a huge number of combinations of flow patterns. I will let you.

  The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems, and performs accurate calculation of the gas flow rate for each instrument without having all the waveform patterns in the instrument whose operation has been determined by the instrument discriminating means. Provided is a flow measuring device capable of

  In order to solve the above-described conventional problems, a flow rate measuring device and a program therefor according to the present invention include a flow rate measuring unit that measures a gas flow rate flowing in a flow path at regular time intervals and outputs the flow rate value data, and the flow rate measuring unit. The calculation method is switched according to the discrimination result of the calculation means for determining the difference value of the flow rate value data output from the apparatus, the instrument determination means for determining the use of the instrument based on the difference value determined by the calculation means, and the determination result of the instrument determination means. Instrument flow rate calculating means for obtaining the flow rate used for each instrument.

According to the above invention, the number, type, and combination of the currently operating devices are analyzed from the determination result of the device determining means, and the combination is analyzed when depending on the analysis result. Because the method uses the most accurate calculation method in a timely manner, the discrimination result of the instrument discrimination means (
It is possible to accurately calculate the gas usage flow rate for each instrument rather than determining the usage flow rate of the instrument by comparing only the flow patterns regardless of the operating instrument).

  The flow rate measuring device and the program of the present invention analyze the number and type of currently operating instruments from the discrimination result of the appliance discriminating means, and the combination when multiple instruments are operating, and use flow rate for each appliance according to the discrimination result. Since the calculation method is changed in a timely manner, it is possible to calculate the gas usage flow rate for each instrument more accurately than just determining the instrument flow rate by comparing the flow pattern regardless of the discrimination result of the instrument discrimination means (the instrument that is operating). It can be carried out.

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a flow rate measuring means for measuring a gas flow rate flowing in a flow path at a constant time interval and outputting the flow rate value data, and a calculating means for obtaining a difference value of the flow rate value data output from the flow rate measuring means. Appliance discriminating means for discriminating the use of the appliance based on the difference value obtained by the computing means; and appliance flow rate calculating means for switching the calculation method according to the discrimination result of the appliance discriminating means and obtaining the usage flow rate for each appliance. It is characterized by having.

  Then, from the discrimination result of the appliance discriminating means, analyze the number, type, and combination of devices that are currently operating, and the combination of them. Since the calculation method with high accuracy is adopted, it is possible to calculate the use flow rate more accurately than obtaining the use flow rate only by comparing the flow rate patterns irrespective of the discrimination result of the appliance discrimination means (operating appliance).

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, the appliance flow rate calculation means has a plurality of calculation processing means for executing flow rate calculation in a predetermined step, and when the appliance discrimination means detects a difference value obtained by the calculation means, or the appliance discrimination According to the number of times the flow rate measuring means performed the flow rate measurement after the transition to the state and the number of gas appliances used, the calculation processing means was switched to obtain the used flow rate for each appliance. It is characterized by.

  When two or more instruments are operated, it is necessary to always obtain the waveform for each instrument as in the conventional example by using the change in flow rate (flow rate difference here) measured by the flow rate measuring means. Therefore, according to the present invention, wasteful processing can be omitted and power consumption can be reduced as much as the operation for obtaining the waveform is not performed.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the appliance flow rate calculation means determines from which appliance the flow rate calculation is executed in order while a plurality of appliances are activated based on a flow rate calculation priority storage means preset under a predetermined condition. The flow rate is calculated from a high-priority appliance. And, for example, in the gas table and fan heater used by the user, the gas table has a higher priority than the fan heater. If the gas table operates once, there is no change in the flow rate used once the gas table is operated. Conversely, since the fan heater has a change in the flow rate, the flow rate of the gas table is calculated first and the flow rate measuring means measures it. If the value is subtracted from the measured value, the usage flow of the fan heater can be calculated without looking at the flow rate pattern, so that the usage flow can be calculated with high accuracy.

  The fourth invention is characterized in that the priority is set higher as the flow rate is smaller.

And when a large flow instrument and a small flow instrument are operating, the range (ratio) of the change is larger for the large flow instrument, so the flow change (control) of the small flow instrument while both are operating is The waveform changes due to a large flow rate change (control) and does not appear in the waveform, and the instrument discriminating means cannot discriminate the small flow rate. That is, it is possible to prevent the priority from being used so as not to mistakenly recognize the control of the large flow rate device as the control of the small flow rate device.

  The fifth aspect of the invention is characterized in that the priority is set higher for an appliance having a lower frequency of use flow change after operation.

  For example, in the case where the gas table and the fan heater used by the user have a higher priority than the fan heater when the gas table whose operation flow rate is changed after the operation is lower than the fan heater, the gas table is used. Since there is no change in the flow rate used once the fan heater is operated, the flow rate of the fan heater changes, so calculate the flow rate in the gas table first and subtract that value from the measured value measured by the flow rate measuring means. If this is done, the usage flow of the fan heater can be calculated without looking at the flow rate pattern, so that the usage flow can be calculated with high accuracy.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the appliance flow rate calculation means measures the flow rate measuring means immediately before and immediately after the operation of the large flow rate use instrument when the large flow rate use instrument starts operating while the small flow rate use instrument is operating. Both the flow rates are compared, and the usage flow rate of the small flow rate use tool while the large flow rate use tool is operating is calculated.

  And when a large flow instrument and a small flow instrument are operating, the range (ratio) of the change is larger for the large flow instrument, so the flow change (control) of the small flow instrument while both are operating is The waveform changes due to a large flow rate change (control) and does not appear in the waveform, and the instrument discriminating means cannot discriminate the small flow rate. Therefore, the flow rate of the small-flow-use instrument while the large-flow-use instrument is operating is determined based on both the flow rate measured by the flow-measuring means immediately before and immediately after the operation of the large-flow-use instrument. Therefore, it is possible to calculate the use flow rate with higher accuracy than to obtain the use flow rate only by comparing the flow rate patterns regardless of the discrimination result of the appliance discriminating means (operating appliance).

  In particular, the seventh invention is a program for realizing at least a part of the flow measurement function of any one of the first to sixth inventions by a computer. Since it is a program, hardware resources such as a CPU (microcomputer), RAM, ROM, storage device, I / O, etc., electrical information equipment, a computer, a server, etc. cooperate to at least one of the flow rate measuring devices of the present invention. The part can be easily realized. Also, program distribution and installation can be simplified by recording on a recording medium or distributing a program using a communication line.

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

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a gas meter as a flow rate measuring apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 denotes a flow rate measuring device, which is provided in the middle of a gas supply pipe, and one or more gas appliances 11 installed in each user's house are connected to the downstream pipe.

  Inside the flow rate measuring device 10, a gas cutoff valve 13 and a gas flow rate measuring means 1 are provided in a flow path 12 connected to a gas pipe, and a flow rate signal detected by the flow rate measuring means 1 is processed and processed. Asking for.

Further, a seismic sensor 14 for detecting vibration such as an earthquake is built in, and when a vibration exceeding a predetermined value is detected, the gas shut-off valve 13 is operated to shut off the gas flow path 12.

  Furthermore, among the gas appliances 11 connected to the gas flow path 12 using the flow rate signal detected by the flow rate measuring unit 1, the gas appliance discriminating unit 3 that identifies which gas appliance is used, and the flow rate measuring unit 1 The flow rate integration unit 4 that integrates the gas flow rate measured by the instrument, the calculation unit 15 that calculates the flow rate difference between the flow rate value data that the flow rate measurement unit 1 measures and outputs at regular time intervals, and the gas flow rate that the instrument 11 uses are calculated. Appliance flow rate calculation means 16, flow rate calculation priority storage means 17, appliance flow rate integration means 18 for integrating the gas flow rate of the gas appliance 11 calculated by the appliance flow rate calculation means 16 for each instrument, flow rate integration means 4, and appliance A flow rate notifying unit 5 for notifying the total amount required by the flow rate integrating means 18 and the amount of gas used for each instrument 11, and a control circuit for performing general control processing such as operation of the seismic device 14, instrument discrimination, safety function, etc. 9, and has a built-in battery (not shown) as a power source thereof means.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 2, the flow rate calculation priority storage means 17 stores the name of the appliance, the appliance flow rate calculation priority expressed numerically, and the gas usage [L / [Time] is stored in tabular form. By the way, in this embodiment, the gas table has a priority of 10, the fan heater is 20, the floor heater is 30, the water heater is 40, and the priority is determined in advance. Use instruments. The priority is also related to the frequency of control of the gas appliance. For example, in a gas table, since the frequency of gas flow control is low only by the user to adjust the size of the flame (basically, the probability of control being low immediately after the start of operation is low), the fan It has been decided that the priority is higher than the heater.

  Further, the gas appliance is not limited to the above, and when a gas appliance other than the above, such as a gas stove or a gas cooker, is handled, the gas appliance name and numerical value are displayed in this table of the flow rate calculation priority storage means 17. Priority shall be added.

  In addition, although the ultrasonic measurement means is used for the flow rate measurement means 1 of the present invention, other measurement methods can be continuously measured in a constant cycle in a short time such as a full dick method. Can be used.

  Hereinafter, the operation of the flow rate measuring apparatus according to the first embodiment will be described.

  First, the ultrasonic flow velocity measurement performed by the flow rate measuring means 1 will be described with reference to FIG. The measurement flow path 30 provided in the gas flow path 12 has a rectangular cross section, and a pair of ultrasonic transmission / reception is sandwiched between the measurement flow path 30 and a wall surface perpendicular to the gas flow direction of the measurement flow path 30. The containers 31 and 32 are mounted obliquely facing each other at an angle φ on the upstream side and the downstream side of the flow path. Then, the ultrasonic wave is alternately transmitted / received between the ultrasonic transmitters / receivers 31 and 32 by the measurement control unit (not shown) of the flow rate measuring unit 1 to propagate the ultrasonic waves in the forward direction and the reverse direction with respect to the fluid flow. The time difference is measured at regular intervals and output as a propagation time difference signal. 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. 3, L is a measurement distance, and t1 is the transmission time from the upstream, t2 is the transmission time from the downstream, and C is the speed of sound.

Expression (1) V = (L / 2 cos φ) · ((1 / t1) − (1 / t2))
Although the measurement time interval can be set within a range where ultrasonic waves can be transmitted and received, in this embodiment, the 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. Further, when the measurement interval equal to the membrane type used in the conventional gas meter is equal to the number of seconds on the order of two digits, the instrument discriminating means 3 in the present invention discriminates the gas instrument 11 (apparatus discrimination). In the present invention, the measurement is performed at intervals of 2 seconds as a well-balanced time in terms of cost and performance of device discrimination.

  Next, the use discrimination of the gas appliance 11 performed by the appliance discriminating means 3 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  First, the flow rate measuring means 1 measures the flow rate of gas flowing through the measurement flow path 30 at intervals of 2 seconds. FIG. 4 is a diagram plotting the time change of the flow rate measured by the flow rate measuring means 1 in the present embodiment. The gas table is used from time t2, the fan heater is used from time t5, the gas flow rate is controlled for the fan heater from time t9 to time t16, and the gas table is stopped at time t19. .

  The appliance discriminating means 3 is zero again from the difference between the gas flow rate measured by the flow rate measuring means 1 calculated by the computing means 15 and the gas flow rate (change amount: Δ2) 2 seconds before and when the change amount changes from 0. Based on the amount of increase (decrease) in the flow rate until it becomes, the gas appliance that started operation is determined. FIG. 5 is a time change of this change amount.

  Specifically, when the amount of change is other than 0 (at time t2), a determination state is entered, and the amount of change is analyzed until the amount of change becomes 0 again (time t3). The used gas appliance 11 is determined by comparing the maximum value, the flow rate (Qa) changed from time t2 to time t3, and the reference flow rate of FIG.

  The appliance discriminating means 3 recognizes that the gas table has been used when Δ2 exhibits a characteristic of around 0 [L / hour] → near 100 [L / hour] → near 0 [L / hour]. Is set to Further, when Δ2 indicates the characteristics of around 0 [L / hour] → around 60 [L / hour] → around 60 [L / hour] → around 0 [L / hour], it is recognized that the fan heater is used. It is set to be. It is assumed that the Δ2 characteristic for each gas appliance 11 is also incorporated in advance for other appliances. The vicinity here refers to a case where the error is within 10%, for example.

  The characteristics of each gas appliance of the gas flow rate difference between this reference time and an arbitrary time before are incorporated in the appliance discriminating means 3 in advance, and discriminating the operating appliance is not directly related to the present invention. Description is omitted. Furthermore, the appliance discriminating means 3 discriminates that the gas appliance 11 that has been determined to be used has started to be used at the flow rate Qa at the time t2, and exits the discriminating state.

  The appliance discriminating means 3 does not have to limit the time interval for obtaining the change amount to 2 seconds, 4 seconds before, 6 seconds before, ... (flow measurement time interval) x (any integer) seconds before It may be. Also, it takes several seconds for the appliance discriminating means 3 to enter the discriminating state and discriminate the appliance because of the time interval of the change amount and the time it takes for the change amount to return to 0 again. Therefore, the time (referred to as T1) required for use start determination differs for each gas appliance 11.

  Next, a method for calculating the gas flow rate for each appliance performed by the appliance flow rate calculation unit 16 when the gas appliance 11 is used by a user will be described. 6 to 10 are flowcharts showing the operation of the flow rate measuring apparatus 10 in the present embodiment.

Before explaining, let us first assume the following. The first is that the operation start / stop of the gas appliance 11 does not occur simultaneously. Secondly, the appliance discriminating means 3 must accurately discriminate the start and stop of use of the appliance by analyzing the flow rate measured by the flow rate measuring means 1. Are all identified as controls on the instrument in use.

  The determination of stop is handled as follows. The appliance discriminating means 3 discriminates that the gas appliance 11 has stopped when the reduced flow rate Qa is within 5 [L / hour] of the absolute value of the error with respect to the currently used flow rate of the gas appliance 11. To do.

  The operation of the instrument flow rate calculation means 16 will be described below.

  At time t1 (the state in which there is no operating instrument), the flow rate measuring means 1 measures the flow rate Qall (S101), calculates the change amount (Δ2) (S102), analyzes the value (S103), Since Δ2 is 0, the value of the variable Tcnt is confirmed (S104).

  Here, the variable Tcnt is the number of times that the flow rate measurement unit 1 performs flow rate measurement after transitioning to the appliance determination state and exiting the state (counts the measurement at the time of transition). The initial value is 0, and is the initial value at time t1. Since Tcnt is 0, the flow rate calculation process X is performed (S105), and the flow rate calculation unit 18 adds the flow rate of the gas appliance 11 being used, which is obtained in S105 (S105a), and the next 2 seconds (flow rate measurement) (S100).

  Here, the flow rate calculation X is the flowchart of FIG. 7, and since there is no gas appliance currently operating (S200), the flow calculation X ends without performing any processing. The use flow rate integration in S105a is not integrated because there is no operating gas appliance.

  At time t2 (gas table operation start), the flow rate measuring means 1 measures the flow rate Qall (S101), calculates the change amount (Δ2) (S102), analyzes the value (S103), and Δ2 is 0 Therefore, the value of the variable Tcnt is confirmed (S113).

  Since Tcnt is 0, a transition is made to a discrimination state (S114), Tcnt is counted up (S115), and a wait state is entered until the next 2 seconds (flow rate measurement time) comes (S100).

  At time t3 (during gas table operation), the flow rate measuring device 1 measures the flow rate Qall (S101), calculates the amount of change (Δ2) (S102), analyzes the value (S103), and Δ2 is 0. The variable Tcnt is confirmed (S104).

  Since Tcnt is 1, the discrimination process is performed (S106), and the change in the flow rate Qall measured by the flow rate measurement unit 1 immediately before and immediately after the transition to the discrimination state and the change amount (Qa) of the flow rate Qall is measured. The discriminating means 3 discriminates that the gas table has started to be used (the number of units in operation is set to 1). Then, the determination state is exited (S107). Since the start determination is made (S108), the flow rate calculation Y is performed (S109), the count value of Tcnt is cleared so that the next determination can be made (S110), and the instrument flow rate integration means 18 is obtained in S109. The operating flow rates of the operating gas appliances are integrated (S110a), and the system waits for the next 2 seconds (flow measurement time) (S100).

  Here, the flow rate calculation Y is the flowchart of FIG. 8, the number of currently operating gas appliances is confirmed (S300), and since the number of operating gas appliances is one, the loop is turned Tcnt + 1 times, In addition, from the older time (here, in order of t2 and t3), the flow rate for each device of the target device (here, only the gas table) at the target time is obtained (S301). At this time, since there is only one unit in operation, the measurement value Qall of the flow rate measuring means 1 at t2 and t3 is set as the flow rate at t2 and t3 of the target instrument (gas table).

  At time t4 (the gas table is still operating), the flow rate measuring means 1 measures the flow rate Qall (S101), calculates the change amount (Δ2) (S102), analyzes the value (S103), and Δ2 is 0. Therefore, the variable Tcnt is confirmed (S104). Since Tcnt is 0, the flow rate calculation process X is performed (S105), and the flow rate calculation means 18 adds up the operating flow rate of the operating gas appliance obtained in S105 (S105a) for the next 2 seconds (flow rate). It waits until the measurement time comes (S100).

  Here, the flow rate calculation X is the flowchart of FIG. 7, and the number of gas appliances currently in operation is confirmed (S200). Since the number of units in operation is one, the measurement value Qall of the flow rate measurement means 1 at t4 is calculated. It is set as the flow volume in t4 of an object instrument (gas table).

  At time t5 (the gas table is still operating and the fan heater starts operating), the flow rate measuring device 1 measures the flow rate Qall (S101), calculates the change amount (Δ2) (S102), and analyzes the value (S102). (S103) Since Δ2 is not 0, the value of the variable Tcnt is confirmed (S113).

  Since Tcnt is 0, a transition is made to a discrimination state (S114), Tcnt is counted up (S115), and a wait state is entered until the next 2 seconds (flow rate measurement time) comes (S100).

  At time t6 (both the gas table and the fan heater are operating), the flow rate measuring means 1 measures the flow rate Qall (S101), calculates the change amount (Δ2) (S102), and analyzes the value (S103). Since Δ2 is not 0, the value of the variable Tcnt is confirmed (S113).

  Since Tcnt is 1, it is further compared with T1max (S116). T1max refers to the longest time (T1) necessary for the appliance discrimination means 3 that differs for each gas appliance 11 to perform appliance discrimination. In the present embodiment, T1 of the gas table is 4 [s] and 6 [s] for the fan heater, so T1max is 6 [s]. This also leads to the following: If the appliance discriminating means 3 does not discriminate the start / stop of operation of the gas appliance 11 even after T1max has passed since the transition to the appliance discriminating state, the change in the gas flow rate during that period is the flow rate for the currently operating appliance. Indicates that control has been performed.

  At this time, since the maximum time for performing the operation start / stop determination has not elapsed in the determination of S116, this flow rate change cannot be determined as the flow control for the operating device, so Tcnt is further counted up ( S120), and waits for the next 2 seconds (flow measurement time) (S100).

  At t7 (both the gas table and fan heater are operating), the flow rate Qall is measured by the measuring means 1 (S101), the amount of change (Δ2) is calculated (S102), and the value is analyzed (S103). Since it is 0, the variable Tcnt is confirmed (S104).

  Since Tcnt is 2, the discrimination process is performed (S106), and the change in the flow rate Qall measured by the flow rate measurement unit 1 immediately before and immediately after the change to the discrimination state and the change amount (Qa) of the flow rate Qall is measured. The discriminating means 3 discriminates that the fan heater has started to be used (the number of units in operation is set to 2). Then, the determination state is exited (S107). Since the start determination is made (S108), the flow rate calculation Y is performed (S109), the count value of Tcnt is cleared so that the next determination can be made (S110), and the instrument flow rate integration means 18 is obtained in S109. The operating flow rates of the operating gas appliances are integrated (S110a), and the system waits for the next 2 seconds (flow measurement time) (S100).

  Here, the flow rate calculation Y is the flowchart of FIG. 8, and the number of gas appliances currently in operation is confirmed (S300). Since the number of gas appliances in operation is two, the appliance in operation is identified. Inquiries to the means 3 are ascertained that the gas table and the fan heater are currently operating one by one, and that the appliance that has determined the current method is the fan heater of the two (S302). The flow rate of each of the target appliances (gas table and fan heater) at the target time is determined (S304, S305).

  The Tcnt + 1 loop is a loop that calculates the flow rate from the oldest time (here, in order of t5, t6, and t7). Make the loop with the heater) last.

  Also, if the flow rate is calculated first from the gas table that has already been operated and the flow rate of 2 [s] before is always inherited (whether the approximate expression that there is no change in the flow rate is used), first the gas appliance This is to prioritize the determination of the start / stop of the operation. This is because the accumulated usage flow is calculated in a long time of about one month, for example, so that the time required to determine the operation start / stop is considered to be extremely short compared to one month and does not significantly affect the accuracy. And if it is going to calculate use flow volume by a waveform pattern like a prior art example, since it must have the operation pattern of all the combinations about all the gas appliances, it is not realistic.

  At t8 (both the gas table and fan heater are operating), the flow rate Qall is measured by the measuring means 1 (S101), the amount of change (Δ2) is calculated (S102), the value is analyzed (S103), and Δ2 is Since it is 0, the variable Tcnt is confirmed (S104). Since Tcnt is 0, the flow rate calculation process X is performed (S105), and the flow rate calculation means 18 adds up the operating flow rate of the operating gas appliance obtained in S105 (S105a) for the next 2 seconds (flow rate). It waits until the measurement time comes (S100).

  Here, the flow rate calculation X is the flowchart of FIG. 7, the number of currently operating gas appliances is confirmed (S200), and since the number of operating appliances is two, the appliance discriminating means 3 is inquired about the appliance in operation. Then, grasp that the gas table and the fan heater are currently operating one by one (S202), and refer to the flow rate calculation priority storage means 17, and confirm which gas appliance 11 the flow rate calculation is prioritized. (S203) While comparing the priority given to each gas appliance in the loop of the number of times (S204), the flow rate of the target appliance (gas table and fan heater) for each appliance at time t8. Is obtained (S205, S206).

  In addition, it is difficult to accurately distribute the amount of change due to the control from Δ2 to the two gas units when the control is performed simultaneously on the two gas appliances. Therefore, since it is highly probable that the flow rate for each device is matched when Δ2 is reflected on a gas device that is frequently controlled, the flow rate used can be calculated with high accuracy.

  At t9 (both the gas table and the fan heater are operating and the fan heater control is started), the flow rate measuring means 1 measures the flow rate Qall (S101), calculates the change amount (Δ2) (S102), Analysis is performed (S103), and since Δ2 is not 0, the value of the variable Tcnt is confirmed (S113).

  Since Tcnt is 0, a transition is made to a discrimination state (S114), Tcnt is counted up (S115), and a wait state is entered until the next 2 seconds (flow rate measurement time) comes (S100).

At time t10 (both the gas table and the fan heater are operating and the fan heater is under control), the flow rate Qall is measured by the measuring means 1 (S101), the amount of change (Δ2) is calculated (S102), and the value is calculated. Analysis is performed (S103), and since Δ2 is not 0, the value of the variable Tcnt is confirmed (S113).

  Since Tcnt is 1, it is further compared with T1max (S116). At this time, since the maximum time for performing the operation start / stop determination has not elapsed in the determination of S116, this flow rate change cannot be determined as the flow control for the operating device, so Tcnt is further counted up ( S120), and waits for the next 2 seconds (flow measurement time) (S100).

  At time t11 (both the gas table and the fan heater are operating and the fan heater is under control), the flow rate Qall is measured by the measuring means 1 (S101), the amount of change (Δ2) is calculated (S102), and the value is calculated. Analysis is performed (S103), and since Δ2 is not 0, the value of the variable Tcnt is confirmed (S113).

  Since Tcnt is 2, it is further compared with T1max (S116). Since the maximum time for performing the operation start / stop determination has elapsed in the determination of S116 at this time, this flow rate change cannot be determined as the flow control for the operating device. Therefore, the process of the flow rate calculation Z is performed (S118), the count value of Tcnt is cleared so that the next determination can be performed (S119), and the use of the operating gas appliance obtained by the appliance flow rate integrating means 18 in S118 is used. The flow rate is integrated (S119a), and the process waits until the next 2 seconds (flow measurement time) comes (S100).

  Here, the flow rate calculation Z is the flowchart of FIG. 9, and the number of gas appliances currently in operation is confirmed (S400). Since the number of units in operation is two, the characteristic of Δ2 after entering the discrimination state is shown. Analyzing and analyzing which instrument the change in flow rate is (S402), inquiring the instrument in operation to the instrument discriminating means 3, and grasping that one gas table and one fan heater are currently operating. Then, the flow rate calculation priority storage means 17 is further referred to, and it is confirmed which gas appliance 11 the flow rate calculation is to be prioritized (S404).

  Then, in the double loop (Tcnt + 1 time loop and loop of the number of operating appliances), the priority given to each gas appliance is compared (S405), and the analysis result in S402 is further reflected. (S406), the flow rate of the target appliances (gas table and fan heater) for each appliance at the target time is obtained (S407, S408, S409).

  The Tcnt + 1 loop is a loop that calculates the flow rate from the oldest time (here, in the order of t9, t10, and t11), and the loop of the number of fixtures is a loop that calculates the flow rate in descending order of priority. And

  Further, in S402, for example, the method of determining which flow rate control the change is based on the characteristic of Δ2 is, for example, when the state where | Δ2 | is within 10 [L / hour] continues for T1max or more, the fan heater It is assumed that it is predetermined for each gas appliance and is set in the appliance flow rate calculation means.

  About t12 to t14, since it is the same as the process from t9 to t11, description is abbreviate | omitted.

  At t15 (both the gas table and the fan heater are operating and the fan heater is under control), the flow rate measuring means 1 measures the flow rate Qall (S101), calculates the change amount (Δ2) (S102), and calculates the value. Analysis is performed (S103), and since Δ2 is not 0, the value of the variable Tcnt is confirmed (S113).

  Since Tcnt is 0, a transition is made to a discrimination state (S114), Tcnt is counted up (S115), and a wait state is entered until the next 2 seconds (flow rate measurement time) comes (S100).

  At time t16 (both the gas table and the fan heater are in operation and the fan heater is under control), the flow rate Qall is measured by the measuring means 1 (S101), the change amount (Δ2) is calculated (S102), and the value is calculated. Analysis is performed (S103), and since Δ2 is not 0, the value of the variable Tcnt is confirmed (S113).

  Since Tcnt is 1, it is further compared with T1max (S116). At this time, since the maximum time for performing the operation start / stop determination has not elapsed in the determination of S116, this flow rate change cannot be determined as the flow control for the operating device, so Tcnt is further counted up ( S120), and waits for the next 2 seconds (flow measurement time) (S100).

  At time t17 (both the gas table and the fan heater are operating and the fan heater is in control), the flow rate Qall is measured by the measuring means 1 (S101), the change amount (Δ2) is calculated (S102), and the value is calculated. Analysis is performed (S103). Since Δ2 is 0 and Δ2 is 0, the variable Tcnt is confirmed (S104).

  Since Tcnt is 2, discrimination processing is performed (S106). However, in this case, the appliance discriminating means 3 does not discriminate that the operation of the appliance has started since it is not a time change of Δ2 registered in advance. In addition, the change in the flow rate during this time is different from the flow rate of the currently operating instrument, and therefore it is not determined that the operation has stopped. And since it turned out that the flow volume change until then was based on flow control, it leaves | separates from a discrimination state (S107).

  Next, since the operation start / stop determination is not executed (S108), the flow rate calculation Z is performed (S111), and the count value of Tcnt is cleared so that the next determination can be performed (S112). The flow rate integrating means 18 integrates the operating flow rate of the operating gas appliance obtained in S111 (S112a), and waits for the next 2 seconds (flow rate measurement time) (S100). Since time t18 is the same as t8, description thereof is omitted.

  At time t19 (the fan heater is operating and the gas table is stopped), the flow rate measuring device 1 measures the flow rate Qall (S101), calculates the change amount (Δ2) (S102), and analyzes the value ( (S103) Since Δ2 is not 0, the value of the variable Tcnt is confirmed (S113).

  Since Tcnt is 0, a transition is made to a discrimination state (S114), Tcnt is counted up (S115), and a wait state is entered until the next 2 seconds (flow rate measurement time) comes (S100).

  At time t19 (the fan heater is operating), the flow rate measuring device 1 measures the flow rate Qall (S101), calculates the change amount (Δ2) (S102), analyzes the value (S103), and Δ2 is 0. Therefore, the variable Tcnt is confirmed (S104).

  Since Tcnt is 1, the discrimination process is performed (S106), and the change in the flow rate Qall measured by the flow rate measurement unit 1 immediately before and immediately after the transition to the discrimination state and the change amount (Qa) of the flow rate Qall is measured. The discriminating means 3 discriminates that the gas table has stopped (the number of units in operation is set to 1). For example, it is determined that the stop has occurred when Δ2 is negative and Qa and the flow rate of 2 [s] before the operating device are within 10% error.

Then, since the determination state is exited (S107) and the stop determination is made (S108), the flow rate calculation Y is performed (S109), and the count value of Tcnt is cleared so that the next determination can be performed (S11).
0) Then, the appliance flow rate integrating means 18 integrates the operating flow rate of the operating gas appliance obtained in S109 (S110a), and waits until the next 2 seconds (flow rate measurement time) comes (S100). .

  About time t20, although the gas appliance 11 which is operate | moving differs, about the process, since it is the same as t3, it abbreviate | omits.

  At time t21 (the fan heater is operating and control is started), the flow rate measuring means 1 measures the flow rate Qall (S101), calculates the change amount (Δ2) (S102), and analyzes the value (S103). , Δ2 is not 0, the value of the variable Tcnt is confirmed (S113).

  Since Tcnt is 0, a transition is made to a discrimination state (S114), Tcnt is counted up (S115), and a wait state is entered until the next 2 seconds (flow rate measurement time) comes (S100).

  At time t22 (the fan heater is operating and the control is finished), the flow rate measuring means 1 measures the flow rate Qall (S101), calculates the change amount (Δ2) (S102), and analyzes the value (S103). , Δ2 is 0, so the variable Tcnt is confirmed (S104).

  Since Tcnt is 1, the discrimination process is performed (S106), and the change in the flow rate Qall measured by the flow rate measurement unit 1 immediately before and immediately after the transition to the discrimination state and the change amount (Qa) of the flow rate Qall is measured. The discriminating means 3 makes the following discrimination. That is, since Qa is different from the current flow rate of the fan heater, it is determined that the fan heater is not stopped but controlled. Since the operation start / stop determination is not performed (S108), the flow rate calculation Z is performed (S111), the count value of Tcnt is cleared so that the next determination can be performed (S112), and the instrument flow rate integration means 18 accumulates the used flow rate of the operating gas appliance obtained in S111 (S112a), and waits for the next 2 seconds (flow measurement time) (S100).

  As described above, the calculation method is changed in order to accurately calculate the flow rate for each gas appliance according to the determination contents of the appliance determination means 3. Further, the determination that Δ2 performed in S103 is near 0 is determined to be near 0 when | Δ2 | is 2 [L / hour] or less. And when the number of operating gas appliances 11 is one, unconditionally setting the measured value of the flow rate measuring means 1 as the flow rate of the operating gas appliance 11 is obtained by obtaining the flow rate for each appliance using the flow rate pattern. This is because it is possible to obtain the flow rate for each appliance in a short time and with high accuracy.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 10 is a diagram plotting the time change of the flow rate measured by the flow rate measuring means 1 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The configuration diagram of the flow rate measuring device is the same as that of the first embodiment.

  FIG. 10 shows that the water heater starts operating at time t4 and stops at t18 while the fan heater is operating. Here, since the water heater generally has a larger gas flow rate than the fan heater and a larger flow rate, the value fluctuated by the control is also large. Therefore, once the water heater is operated, the control to the other operating gas appliances 11 becomes invisible on the waveform of the measurement value measured by the flow rate measuring means 1, and the time when the control is performed. And the amount of change cannot be specified. Furthermore, there is no regularity.

Therefore, in the appliance flow rate calculation priority storage means 17 of FIG. 2, the priority of the water heater is lowered, and the flow rate of the appliance during operation of the water heater is basically approximated to be constant. The reason for this is that if the flow control of the water heater is determined to be the control to other gas appliances, the error in the flow rate of use of other gas appliances will increase, and conversely, the flow control of gas appliances other than the water heater will be controlled. This is based on the idea that the error is small in the flow control of the vessel.

  However, if there is a difference in the flow rate Qall measured by the flow rate measuring means 1 before and after the operation period of the water heater (t4, t17), the flow rate control is performed for other gas appliances that are operating while the water heater is operating. Since it is obvious that the flow of the other gas appliance (here, the fan heater) in operation is calculated as follows. In addition, since the flow rate of the water heater during this period is an appliance determined to be stopped, the flow rate of the other gas appliance is subtracted from the measured value Qall of the flow rate measuring means 1.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the operation of the appliance flow rate calculation means 16 in the present embodiment, and replaces the processing after S302 (processing group X) of the flow rate calculation Y processing in the first embodiment.

  When the water heater stops at time t17 (S500), dQ (difference in measured values measured by the flow rate measuring means 1 before and after the water heater operation) is calculated (S501), and when dQ is not 0 (S502), Among the double loops (the loop for the hot water heater operating time and the number of operating appliances), the fan heater flow rate calculation is calculated by adding φ to the flow rate 2 seconds before the target time (S504). The flow rate calculation of the water heater is obtained by subtracting the sum of used flow rates of other gas appliances from the measured value Qall of the flow rate measuring means 1 (S505). Note that φ is a value obtained by dividing dQ by the time during which the water heater is operating.

  If the stop determination is not made in S500, the processing of the processing group X is performed as in the first embodiment.

  Thus, even if the flow rate Qall waveform does not exist in all patterns in which the gas appliance is operated, the usage flow rate calculation method of the operating gas appliance is changed based on the discrimination result of the appliance discrimination means 3 to change the usage flow rate. The calculation can be performed with high accuracy. And, by determining the gas appliances used based on the measured flow rate of the ultrasonic flowmeter, it is possible to calculate the flow rate for each gas appliance, and to realize customer service such as the appliance fee It is something that can be done.

  The means described above are implemented in the form of a program for cooperating hardware resources such as a CPU (or microcomputer), RAM, ROM, storage / recording device, electrical / information device equipped with I / O, computer, server, etc. May be. In the form of a program, new functions can be distributed / updated and installed easily by recording them on a recording medium such as magnetic media or optical media or distributing them using a communication line such as the Internet.

  As described above, the flow rate measuring device and the program according to the present invention can accurately calculate the amount of gas used (flow rate) at each time by the gas appliance connected downstream of the gas meter. It can also be applied to security and other uses for monitoring proper use.

Configuration diagram of a flow rate measuring device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention Data configuration diagram of flow rate calculation priority storage means in Embodiment 1 of the present invention Configuration diagram of flow rate measuring means in Embodiment 1 of the present invention Plot diagram of the flow rate measured by the flow rate measurement means in Embodiment 1 of the present invention Plot diagram of amount of change calculated by calculation means in Embodiment 1 of the present invention The flowchart which shows operation | movement of the flow measuring device in Embodiment 1 of this invention. The flowchart which shows operation | movement of the flow measuring device in Embodiment 1 of this invention. The flowchart which shows operation | movement of the flow measuring device in Embodiment 1 of this invention. The flowchart which shows operation | movement of the flow measuring device in Embodiment 1 of this invention. Plot diagram of the flow rate measured by the flow rate measurement means in Embodiment 1 of the present invention The flowchart which shows operation | movement of the flow measuring device in Embodiment 2 of this invention. Configuration diagram of a conventional flow measurement device

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Flow rate measuring means 2 Flow volume memory means 3 Appliance discriminating means 4 Flow rate integrating means 5 Flow rate notifying means 6 Flow rate pattern table 7 Instrument table 10 Flow rate measuring device 11 Gas appliance 15 Calculation means 16 Appliance flow rate calculating means 17 Flow rate calculation priority storage means 18 Instrument flow rate integration means 19 Control circuit

Claims (7)

A flow rate measuring means for measuring the flow rate of gas flowing in the flow path at regular time intervals and outputting it as flow rate value data, a calculation means for determining a difference value between the flow rate value data output from the flow rate measurement means, A flow rate measuring device comprising: appliance discriminating means for discriminating use of an appliance based on a difference value obtained; and appliance flow rate calculating means for switching a calculation method according to a discrimination result of the appliance discriminating means to obtain a use flow rate for each appliance. The appliance flow rate calculation means has a plurality of calculation processing means for executing flow rate calculation in a predetermined step, and when the appliance discriminating means detects a difference value obtained by the calculation means or after transitioning to the appliance discriminating state. 2. The flow rate measurement according to claim 1, wherein the calculation processing unit is switched depending on the number of times the flow rate measurement unit performs the flow rate measurement before exiting the same state and the number of gas appliances used to determine the usage flow rate for each appliance. apparatus. The appliance flow rate calculation means determines from which appliance the flow calculation is executed in order while a plurality of appliances are activated based on the flow rate calculation priority storage means preset under a predetermined condition, and has a high priority. The flow rate measuring device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the flow rate used is calculated from the instrument. 4. The flow rate measuring device according to claim 3, wherein the priority is set higher as the flow rate usage is lower. The flow rate measuring device according to claim 3, wherein the priority is set higher for an appliance having a lower frequency of use flow change after operation. The appliance flow rate calculation means compares both the flow rate measured by the flow rate measuring means immediately before and immediately after the operation of the large flow rate use instrument when the large flow rate use instrument starts operating while the small flow rate use instrument is operating. The flow rate measurement device according to claim 1, wherein the flow rate of the small flow rate use tool is calculated while the large flow rate use tool is operating. The program which makes a computer perform at least one part of the flow measuring device of any one of Claim 1 to 6.

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