JP2010160041A - Flow rate measuring apparatus and flow rate measuring system using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To identify a plurality of appliances from flow rate information and its degree of occurrence even when new appliances of the same kind are introduced. <P>SOLUTION: The flow rate measuring apparatus includes: an ultrasonic flow meter 101 for measuring the flow rate of fluid flowing through a flow channel; a flow rate information storage section 102 for storing flow rate information; a flow rate information analysis section 103 for performing an analysis of the flow rate information; and an appliance identification section 104 for identifying an appliance in use on the basis of the analysis result of the flow rate information. The appliance identification section 104 identifies the operation of a plurality of appliances of the same kind through the detection of a plurality pieces of similar characteristic information and their degree of occurrence. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a flow rate measuring device capable of discriminating a gas appliance being used based on, for example, flow rate information of a gas flowing in a gas flow path, and a flow rate measuring system using the same.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been proposed an instrument discrimination system that identifies a used instrument by capturing changes in the flow rate of gas flowing through a gas flow path. In this appliance discrimination system, when a new appliance is introduced in a user's house or the like, a new flow rate pattern is captured and registered (for example, see Patent Document 1).

In addition, even after the manufacture of the gas flow rate measuring device, there is also a system that sequentially takes in information on the usage patterns of new instruments that have appeared on the market and detects the accurate flow rate for each instrument (see, for example, Patent Document 2). ).
Japanese Patent No. 3490064 JP 2007-24753 A

  However, even when introducing new equipment, many users introduce the same equipment as the equipment they already own and use. In other words, it is assumed that they use the same equipment, even though they are multiple equipment. In such a case, in the conventional system as described above, it is impossible to distinguish a plurality of instruments because the flow patterns of the instruments already used and the additionally introduced instruments are the same.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and even when a new instrument of the same type is introduced, a flow measuring device and a flow measuring system capable of discriminating a plurality of instruments from the flow rate information and the degree of occurrence thereof. The purpose is to provide.

  The present invention is the same by detecting a plurality of similar flow rate information and the degree of occurrence thereof under a predetermined condition based on a flow rate measurement unit that measures the flow rate of the fluid flowing in the flow path, and the flow rate measured by the flow rate measurement unit. Provided is a flow rate measuring device including an appliance discriminating unit that discriminates operation of a kind of plural appliances.

  Even if a new instrument of the same type is introduced by detecting a plurality of similar flow rate information and the degree of occurrence thereof under a predetermined condition such as a rising flow rate pattern or a flow rate during stable operation, a plurality of flow rate information can be obtained. It becomes possible to discriminate the instrument.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, even when a new instrument of the same kind is introduced, it is possible to provide a flow measurement device and a flow measurement system that can discriminate a plurality of instruments from the flow rate information and the degree of occurrence thereof.

The first invention detects a plurality of similar flow rate information and the degree of occurrence thereof under a predetermined condition based on a flow rate measurement unit that measures the flow rate of the fluid flowing in the flow path, and the flow rate measured by the flow rate measurement unit. By having a configuration including an appliance discriminating unit that discriminates the operation of multiple appliances of the same type, even when a new appliance of the same type is introduced, it is possible to discriminate multiple appliances from the flow rate information and the degree of occurrence thereof. It becomes possible.

  In the second invention, in particular, in the flow measurement device according to the first invention, the appliance discriminating unit has a continuous generation rate of similar flow rate information that is shorter than a previously detected generation interval, and the generation degree is increased. By detecting this, it is configured to have the function of discriminating the operation of a plurality of instruments of the same type, so that the same flow rate information generation interval was previously detected in instruments that normally perform intermittent operations. When the generation interval is shorter than the generation interval and the generation degree is increased, it is considered that a plurality of instruments are used in parallel. Therefore, it is possible to more reliably discriminate a plurality of instruments.

  In a third aspect of the invention, in particular, in the flow measurement device of the first aspect of the invention, the appliance discriminating unit detects that the degree of occurrence of similar flow rate information in a specific time zone has increased from the degree of occurrence detected previously. By having a function that discriminates the operation of multiple appliances of the same type, the degree of occurrence of similar flow rate information in appliances that are used only a certain number of times in a specific time zone due to lifestyle patterns However, when it increases from the occurrence degree detected previously, since it is thought that the some instrument is used, it becomes possible to discriminate | determine a some instrument more reliably.

  According to a fourth aspect of the invention, in particular, in the flow rate measuring device of the second or third aspect of the invention, the appliance discriminating unit detects that the degree of occurrence of the same flow rate information has increased, By detecting the characteristic information, the configuration having the function of discriminating the operation of a plurality of instruments of the same type has increased the generation rate of the same flow rate information when the operation timing of the instruments does not overlap. When the timing of operation of multiple instruments overlaps, the use of multiple instruments can be detected by detecting multiple similar characteristic information that overlaps. Can be done.

  The fifth aspect of the invention is particularly the flow rate measuring device according to any one of the first to fourth aspects of the present invention, wherein the appliance discriminating unit includes, as characteristic information, a rising waveform of the flow rate pattern, a flow rate during stable operation, and a fall of the flow rate pattern. By adopting a configuration that uses at least one of the waveform and the flow rate pattern during operation control, the most characteristic pattern can be selected in accordance with the characteristics of each appliance, so more than one It becomes possible to identify the appliance.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the flow measurement device according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, the flow rate measurement unit is configured to use an ultrasonic measurement method, so that instantaneous measurement can be performed. The details of the change can be measured, and a plurality of instruments can be discriminated with higher accuracy.

  A seventh invention is the flow measurement device according to any one of the first to sixth inventions, wherein the plurality of pieces of equipment information relating to the introduction and operation of the same type of the plurality of instruments discriminated by the instrument discriminating unit is transmitted to the external management center apparatus. By having a communication unit that performs the same operation, it is possible to grasp information such as the introduction and operation of multiple devices of the same type in an external management center device. Etc. can be used.

  According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the flow rate measuring device according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, a gas business operator is constructed by constructing a flow rate measuring system using a flow rate measuring device that measures the flow rate of the fluid flowing through the flow path. Will be able to use the new price menu prepared by, and to expand sales of gas and gas appliances.

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 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a flow rate measurement system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. Embodiment 1 of the present invention shows a configuration example of a flow rate measuring apparatus using a gas meter installed in a user's house or the like in a gas flow rate measuring system.

  In FIG. 1, the flow rate measurement system includes a user home device 100 configured to include a gas meter provided in a gas user's house and the like, and a management center device 200 that manages the user home device 100. The The user home device 100 and the management center device 200 are connected via a communication line 300 such as a public telephone line, a mobile phone line, an optical communication line, a wired or wireless LAN, and other communication interfaces, and can receive various signals and information. Transmission and reception are possible.

  The user home apparatus 100 is provided in the middle of the gas supply pipe 20 laid in the user's house or the like, and a plurality of gas appliances are provided in the pipes on the downstream side of the gas supply pipe 20 as instruments A1 (21) and A2 ( 22), instrument B (23) is connected. As the gas appliance, various appliances such as a gas table, a fan heater, and floor heating are used. The user home device 100 is installed at a predetermined position outdoors or indoors. The number of gas appliances to be connected is not limited to the illustrated example, and is arbitrary. In addition, the user home includes not only a general residential house but also an apartment house, a store, a factory, and other various facilities.

  The user home device 100 includes an ultrasonic flowmeter 101, a flow rate information storage unit 102, a flow rate information analysis unit 103, an appliance determination unit 104, a processing unit 105, an appliance-specific characteristic information holding unit 106, a communication unit 107, a display unit 108, A shut-off valve 109 and a CO sensor 110 are included. The ultrasonic flowmeter 101 is connected in the path of the gas supply pipe 20, and emits ultrasonic waves at a predetermined time interval (for example, 2 seconds) to the gas as the fluid flowing in the flow path to flow from the ultrasonic signal. A general thing can be used.

  The flow rate information storage unit 102 stores flow rate information including a measured flow rate value measured by the ultrasonic flow meter 101 and a flow rate characteristic value described in association with a measurement time when the measured flow rate value is measured. The flow rate characteristic value includes a flow rate pattern indicating a flow rate change characteristic obtained from a flow rate difference value for each unit time, an absolute flow rate value, time information such as a flow duration time and a change time, and the like. The flow rate information analysis unit 103 analyzes the flow rate information, determines the usage state such as the behavior of the appliance corresponding to the gas flow rate, and detects an abnormal state. The appliance discriminating unit 104 discriminates a gas appliance using a gas as a fluid based on the analysis result of the flow rate information by the flow rate information analyzing unit 103.

  The processing unit 105 performs various processes such as a security process, a charge calculation process, an information input / output process, and an operation control of each part according to the analysis result of the flow rate information and the determination result of the appliance. The appliance-specific characteristic information holding unit 106 holds characteristic information unique to each gas appliance for appliance discrimination for each appliance. The characteristic information includes a flow rate pattern indicating a steady behavior during normal operation, including a rising waveform at startup, a falling waveform at stop, and a waveform at instrument operation control in the flow characteristic value of the flow rate information, and stable operation. The flow rate value of the hourly flow rate, the generation degree of flow rate information, etc. are used. Here, the flow rate information analysis unit 103, the appliance discrimination unit 104, and the processing unit 105 are configured by a processor and an operation program that constitute a microcomputer (microcomputer) and the like, and the processor executes a predetermined operation program and performs a corresponding process. By performing, each function is realized. The flow rate information storage unit 102 and the appliance-specific characteristic information holding unit 106 are configured by a memory such as a flash ROM or a RAM.

  The communication unit 107 has a wired or wireless communication function, and is connected to the management center apparatus 200 via the communication line 300. The communication unit 107 transmits various information and commands such as data on flow rate information acquired by the user home device 100 and information on appliance discrimination results to the management center device 200 and receiving management information from the management center device 200. Signals are exchanged with the management center device 200.

  The display unit 108 includes an LED, a liquid crystal display, and the like, and displays a gas flow rate, an operating state of the gas appliance, a warning, and the like. The shutoff valve 109 is connected in the path of the gas supply pipe 20 and closes the gas supply pipe 20 based on an instruction from the processing unit 105 to shut off the gas supply. The CO sensor 110 detects CO when, for example, CO (carbon monoxide) leaks from the gas appliances 21 to 23, and transmits a CO detection signal indicating the detection of CO to the communication unit 107 by wire or wirelessly. The communication unit 107 transmits the received CO detection signal to the processing unit 105. Of course, a separate transmission / reception unit for the CO detection signal may be provided so that the signal is sent to the processing unit 105.

  The management center apparatus 200 performs various processes related to the management of the fluid supply system using the flow rate information data, the appliance discrimination result, the processing content information, and the like transmitted from the user home apparatus 100. Processing in the management center device 200 includes analysis of flow rate information for each user home, calculation of appliance-specific charges as special charges, security processing when an abnormal state is detected, management of gas appliances, and the like. The management center device 200 is configured to include a computer and the like including a processor and an operation program, and each function is realized by executing a predetermined operation program and performing corresponding processing in the processor.

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

  In the user home device 100 including a gas meter, first, the flow rate is measured by the ultrasonic flow meter 101, a time-series measured flow value is obtained at regular time intervals, and the measured flow value and the measurement time are associated with each other and calculated. The flow characteristic value such as the flow pattern is obtained. The flow rate information including the measured flow rate value and the flow rate characteristic value is stored in the flow rate information storage unit 102 including the degree of occurrence. Next, the flow rate information analysis unit 103 analyzes the flow rate information using a gas meter. The appliance discriminating unit 104 discriminates the gas appliance being used based on the analysis result of the flow rate information. Thereafter, various types of information acquired in the user home device 100 such as introduction of new appliances, appliance discrimination results, and flow rate information corresponding to each appliance are transmitted from the communication unit 107 to the management center device 200 via the communication line 300. .

  Next, a configuration example is shown in which it is possible to determine that a plurality of identical instruments have been used based on the flow rate information. Discrimination of the use of a plurality of the same appliances is performed by discriminating whether or not the same appliances are additionally used by the appliance discriminating unit 104 based on characteristic information relating to a predetermined flow rate.

  As an embodiment of the present invention, an operation when a plurality of similar characteristic information based on a flow rate pattern or the like is used will be described. Here, as an example, as a plurality of similar characteristic information, a rising waveform of a flow rate pattern at the time of activation of the instrument is used.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a flow rate pattern in the embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 2 (a), the flow rate pattern when intermittent operation is performed at intervals of 20 minutes in the single use of the device A1, and in FIG. 2 (b), 20 minutes each in parallel use of the same type of device A1 and the device A2. The flow pattern when performing intermittent operation at intervals is shown.

First, when the appliance A1 is used alone, the appliance discriminating unit 104 first detects a flow rate pattern that stops after the appliance A1 is used and started normally. After that, the same flow rate pattern of starting and stopping of the appliance A1 is continuously detected at intervals of 20 minutes, so that the property information holding unit 106 for each appliance has 20 minutes as characteristic information of the degree of generation of the flow rate information of the appliance A1. Memorize in the form of intermittent operation at intervals.

  Next, when an instrument A2 of the same type as the instrument A1 is added, the instrument discriminating unit 104 first detects a flow rate pattern that stops after the instrument A1 is used and started normally. Thereafter, when the appliance A2 is used 10 minutes after the activation of the appliance A1, a flow pattern of starting and stopping similar to that of the appliance A1 is generated, and apparently the same flow rate of starting and stopping of the appliance A1 at intervals of 10 minutes. The pattern will be detected continuously.

  Here, compared with the information of intermittent operation at intervals of 20 minutes, which is characteristic information of the degree of generation of flow rate information of the device A1 stored in the device-specific property information holding unit 106, the generation interval of the same continuous flow information is 10 minutes. Since it is an interval, shorter than the previously detected occurrence interval and the degree of occurrence is increasing, it is determined that the same type of device A2 as the device A1 has been introduced, and the second addition of the same device Detect typical use.

  When the appliance discriminating unit 104 detects the introduction of the same new appliance and discriminates the use of a plurality of identical appliances as described above, the processing unit 105 registers the characteristic information of the newly introduced appliance. That is, the processing unit 105 stores information indicating that the same type of instrument A2 as the instrument A1 is introduced and a plurality of instruments A are used as the characteristic information for each instrument in the instrument-specific characteristic information holding unit 106. To do.

  Note that the generation intervals of the same continuous flow rate information do not need to be equal intervals, and may be arbitrarily set within a predetermined range.

  In addition, it is possible to arbitrarily set how much it is determined that the same type of appliance has been added when the generation interval is shortened.

  FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a flow rate pattern in the embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 3 (a), the flow rate pattern when the device A1 is used alone once in the morning and at night, and in FIG. 3 (b), the same type of device A1 and device A2 are respectively used in the morning and night. The flow pattern when using in parallel one by one is shown.

  First, if you are using the device A1 alone with the morning time zone from 5 to 10 o'clock, the daytime time zone from 10 o'clock to 18 o'clock, and the night time zone from 18 o'clock to 5 o'clock, In the determination unit 104, first, a flow rate pattern is detected in which the instrument A1 starts at 5:30 and then stops at 7:00. After that, when the flow rate pattern in which the device A1 starts at 19:00 and stops at 21:00 is detected, the device-specific property information holding unit 106 sets the flow rate information of the device A1 as characteristic information about the degree of occurrence of 1 in the morning time zone. It is memorized in the form of using it once in the night time.

  Next, when an appliance A2 of the same type as the appliance A1 is added, the appliance discriminating unit 104 first detects a flow rate pattern that stops at 7 o'clock after the appliance A1 starts at 5:30. After that, a similar flow rate pattern is detected that stops at 9:30 after the device A2 starts at 7:30, and after the device A1 starts at 19:00, the flow pattern stops at 21:00, and the device A2 stops at 21:30. Since a similar flow pattern that stops at 23:00 is detected after starting up, the same flow pattern for starting and stopping the appliance A1 appears to be twice in the morning and twice in the evening. Will be detected.

Compared with the information that is used once in the morning time zone and once in the night time zone that is the characteristic information of the degree of occurrence of the flow rate information of the appliance A1 stored in the appliance-specific characteristic information holding unit 106, the morning It is used twice in the time zone, and twice in the night time zone, and since the occurrence is increasing, it is judged that the same type of device A2 as the device A1 has been introduced. Detect additional use of.

  When the appliance discriminating unit 104 detects the introduction of the same new appliance and discriminates the use of a plurality of identical appliances as described above, the processing unit 105 registers the characteristic information of the newly introduced appliance. That is, the processing unit 105 stores information indicating that the same type of appliance A2 as that of the appliance A1 is introduced and a plurality of appliances A are used as characteristic information for each appliance in the appliance-specific characteristic information holding unit 106. To do.

  Note that the number of times of use in each time zone is not fixed, and may be arbitrarily set within a predetermined range.

  In addition, the time zone may be set to an arbitrary number and an arbitrary length.

  FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a flow rate pattern in the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 shows a flow rate pattern when the operation timings of two devices of the same type of device A1 and device A2 overlap and are used in combination. In the appliance discriminating unit 104, first, the appliance A1 is used to perform normal operation, and a flow pattern of steady behavior from start to stop is detected.

  Thereafter, the rising waveform of the appliance A1 is detected, and subsequently, the rising waveform of the appliance A2 having the same characteristics as the appliance A1 is detected. In this case, the appliance discriminating unit 104 determines that the appliance A2 of the same type as the appliance A1 has started in parallel based on two similar characteristic information (the rising waveform in this case) generated in succession, and two identical Detects complex use of equipment.

  As the characteristic information, using the rising waveform of the flow pattern of the portion surrounded by an ellipse in FIG. 4 and the flow rate at the time of stable operation after each device has started up (stable flow rate, Qa1 = Qa2), etc. By detecting duplication of the characteristic information, it is possible to determine the operation of a plurality of identical instruments.

  As described above, when the operation timings of a plurality of the same appliances of the flow rate patterns as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 do not overlap with each other, the operation timings of the plurality of the same appliances of the flow rate pattern as shown in FIG. 4 overlap. By mutually complementing the determination, it is possible to more reliably determine the operation of a plurality of identical instruments.

  In addition to the rising waveform at start-up and the stable flow rate, the characteristic information used for discrimination may be a falling waveform at stop, a flow rate pattern for increasing or decreasing the flow rate during operation control of the appliance, etc. Good.

  It should be noted that the number of the same type of instruments that can be discriminated is not limited to two, but can be similarly applied to three or more instruments.

In addition, the communication unit 107 transmits information about the use of a plurality of appliances of the same type and information about the flow rate from the user home device 100 to the management center device 200 that is an external device via the communication line 300. And the management center device 200 can manage the gas appliances at the user's home. In this case, various types of equipment of the same type, such as grasping and confirming the usage status of gas, calculation of charges for each equipment, maintenance such as periodic inspection of gas equipment, safety treatment in case of abnormality such as gas leakage or equipment failure, etc. The transmission information from the user home device 100 can be used for this processing.

  Further, when the introduction of a plurality of the same types of appliances is determined by the user home device 100, the determination may be made by detecting the operation of the plurality of the same appliances a plurality of times. Thereby, even when there is a case where there is a case where there is a mistake in a single determination, the accuracy of the determination result of a plurality of identical instruments can be increased by a plurality of determinations. In addition, when notifying the management center apparatus 200 of the determination results of a plurality of identical appliances, a determination process may be performed a plurality of times, and notification may be made after a plurality of determination results are accumulated. Thereby, the reliability of the notification information of the determination result can be improved.

  In order to implement the flow rate measurement method as described above, the flow rate information analysis unit 103, the appliance determination unit 104, the processing unit 105, the management center device 200, or a computer (not shown) that realizes these functions in the user home device 100 ) Stores a program for executing each step of the flow rate measuring method of the present invention. In addition, a fluid supply system including a fluid (gas) supply source using the flow measurement device, the flow measurement method, and the flow measurement program of the present invention is also included in the present invention.

  Although the above explanation has been given for the case where an ultrasonic flowmeter is used, it is obvious that the same effect can be obtained with other instantaneous flow rate measuring devices.

  Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to those shown in the above-described embodiments, and those skilled in the art will be able to understand based on the description in the specification and well-known techniques. Modifications and applications are also within the scope of the present invention and are within the scope of seeking protection.

  Since the present invention makes it possible to discriminate a plurality of instruments even when a new instrument of the same type is introduced based on the flow information and the degree of occurrence thereof, not only gas, but also water and other fluids, Alternatively, it is useful as a flow rate measuring device and a flow rate measuring system capable of discriminating appliances based on flow rate information such as current.

The block diagram which shows the structure of the flow volume measurement system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. Schematic which shows an example of the flow rate pattern in embodiment of this invention Schematic which shows an example of the flow rate pattern in embodiment of this invention Schematic which shows an example of the flow rate pattern in embodiment of this invention

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 20 Gas supply pipe 21, 22, 23 Instrument 100 User home apparatus 101 Ultrasonic flow meter 102 Flow rate information memory | storage part 103 Flow rate information analysis part 104 Instrument discrimination | determination part 105 Processing part 106 Instrument-specific characteristic information holding part 107 Communication part 108 Display part 109 Shut-off valve 110 CO sensor 200 Management center device 300 Communication line

Claims (8)

A flow measuring unit that measures the flow rate of the fluid flowing in the flow path, and a plurality of similar instruments by detecting a plurality of similar flow rate information and the degree of occurrence thereof under a predetermined condition based on the flow rate measured by the flow rate measuring unit. A flow rate measuring device comprising an appliance discriminating unit for discriminating the operation of the apparatus. The appliance discriminating unit discriminates the operation of a plurality of appliances of the same type by detecting that the occurrence interval of continuous similar flow rate information is shorter than the occurrence interval detected previously and the degree of occurrence is increased. The flow rate measuring device according to claim 1 provided with a function. The appliance discriminating unit has a function of discriminating the operation of a plurality of appliances of the same type by detecting that the occurrence rate of similar flow rate information in a specific time zone is increased from the occurrence rate detected previously. The flow rate measuring device according to claim 1. The appliance discriminating unit detects the operation of multiple appliances of the same type by detecting a plurality of overlapping similar characteristic information in addition to detecting that the generation degree of the same flow rate information is increased. The flow rate measuring device according to claim 2 or 3 provided with. The said apparatus discrimination | determination part discriminate | determines using at least one of the rising waveform of a flow pattern, the flow volume at the time of stable operation, the falling waveform of a flow pattern, and the flow pattern at the time of operation control as said characteristic information. The flow measuring device according to any one of the above. The flow rate measurement device according to claim 1, wherein the flow rate measurement unit is configured by an ultrasonic measurement method. The flow measuring device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising a communication unit that transmits information on a plurality of appliances related to introduction and operation of the plurality of appliances of the same type determined by the appliance determination unit to an external management center device. . A flow rate measurement system using the flow rate measurement device according to claim 1.

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