JP2010216785A - Appliance monitoring device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve a problem in a conventional appliance monitoring device that the appliance deals with only gas usage and security information in cutting off a gas, but cannot cope with social needs of knowing information on an influence (such the efficiency of combustion) of the maintenance of a gas combustion appliance on a global environment. <P>SOLUTION: The efficiency of the gas appliance is calculated from the gas usage received from a flow rate measuring unit and the amount of generated energy received from the gas appliance, and warning for maintenance is displayed when the efficiency becomes lower than a prescribed threshold, so that a customer can know a proper maintenance time. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an instrument monitoring device that calculates, for example, the efficiency of energy generated by a gas combustion instrument that uses city gas, LP gas, or the like during combustion.

Conventionally, in this type of appliance monitoring device, there is a device that monitors the amount of gas consumed by a gas combustion appliance and the reason for shutting down the gas as safety information (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2001-236116 A

  However, conventional instrument monitoring devices only handle gas usage and safety information at the time of gas shut-off, and are not concerned with the effects of the use of gas burning instruments on the global environment (for example, energy consumption). As the interest in the society increased, it was impossible to meet the social needs of the above-mentioned information and effects.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the instrument monitoring apparatus of the present invention communicates with a gas meter and a gas instrument to receive the amount of gas used and the amount of energy generated by the gas instrument. The efficiency, which is the energy generation amount per unit usage amount, is calculated from the gas usage amount and the energy generation amount, and a maintenance warning is displayed on the display unit when the efficiency is lower than a predetermined threshold.

  Moreover, it has a memory | storage part and memorize | stores the efficiency calculated for every use. When the efficiency calculated at the time of use changes by a predetermined value or more than the efficiency at the previous use stored in the storage unit, the maintenance warning of the display unit is stopped.

  In addition, when it is determined that maintenance is to be performed, the previous efficiency is stored as the efficiency before maintenance, and the difference in efficiency before the maintenance is performed and the efficiency at the time of current use, and the product of the current gas consumption, the amount of gas used by maintenance decreases. The effect is calculated and displayed.

  Further, even when the efficiency calculated at the time of use changes by a predetermined value or more than the efficiency at the time of previous use stored in the storage unit, replacement information is displayed when the current efficiency does not satisfy the second threshold value. It is what I did. As a result, customers can know when to maintain gas appliances, and it is possible to find changes in efficiency when they maintain, so they want to know the above information as interest in the global environment increases. Respond to social needs.

  The appliance monitoring device of the present invention can know the energy generation efficiency improved by the maintenance of the gas appliance by the customer, the amount of gas used saved, and the necessity of replacement when the result of maintenance is not improved. Therefore, it is possible to respond to the social needs of wanting to know the aforementioned information as interest in the global environment increases.

1st invention communicates with a gas meter and a gas appliance, and receives the gas usage-amount and the energy generation amount of a gas appliance. By calculating the efficiency, which is the energy generation amount per unit usage amount, from the gas usage amount and the energy generation amount, and displaying a maintenance warning on the display unit when the efficiency is lower than a predetermined threshold, the customer can While using the gas appliance, it is possible to detect a change in energy generation efficiency and warn of an appropriate maintenance time.

  In the second invention, the efficiency calculated for each use is stored. Stops maintenance warnings on the display unit when the efficiency calculated at the time of use changes by more than a predetermined value from the efficiency of the previous use stored in the storage unit. Can be confirmed.

  Further, in the third invention, when it is determined that the maintenance is performed, the efficiency at the previous use is stored as the efficiency before the maintenance is performed, the difference between the efficiency before the maintenance is performed and the efficiency at the current use, and the current gas usage amount. By calculating and displaying the effect of reducing gas usage by maintenance, it is possible to know the effect on gas usage when the customer performs maintenance on the gas appliance.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, even when the efficiency calculated at the time of use changes by a predetermined value or more than the efficiency at the time of previous use stored in the storage unit, the replacement is performed when the current efficiency does not satisfy the second threshold value. Information is displayed. This makes it possible for customers to know that even if they correctly maintain gas appliances, the improvement effect cannot be obtained. Yes.

  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. In addition, although the embodiment of the present invention describes the efficiency of energy conversion of gas appliances, the present invention is not limited to the efficiency of energy conversion, and the generation of substances that affect the global environment by gas combustion such as CO2, CO, NOX, SOX, etc. It may be an instrument monitoring device that monitors efficiency.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a control block diagram of the instrument monitoring apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, an instrument monitoring device, 2 is a gas instrument, and 3 is a meter, which are connected by a wired or wireless communication path 4. A communication unit 11 transmits and receives data from gas appliances, meters, and the like. An efficiency calculation unit 12 calculates the energy generation efficiency of the gas appliance from the amount of gas used and the energy generation amount of the gas appliance received by the communication unit. A determination unit 13 is a determination unit that compares the calculated value with a predetermined value. A data storage unit 14 stores the previous value and the efficiency before maintenance. Reference numeral 15 denotes a display unit that displays various types of information.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the instrument monitoring apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  Next, the operation and action will be described. When the use of the gas appliance 2 is started, the communication unit 11 receives the gas usage amount from the meter 3 and the generated energy amount from the gas appliance 2 via the communication path 4 (s1, s2). ). The efficiency calculation unit 12 divides the generated energy amount by the usage amount to calculate the energy generation efficiency (hereinafter referred to as efficiency) per unit amount of the gas appliance (s3). The determination unit 13 compares this efficiency with the first threshold value, and when it is equal to or less than the threshold value (s4, No), displays a maintenance request on the display unit 15 (s5). Further, when compared with the previous efficiency stored in the data storage unit 14 and the difference is equal to or greater than the second threshold value (s6, Yes), the maintenance request of the display unit 15 is not displayed (s7). In this case, the previous efficiency is stored in the data storage unit 14 as the efficiency before the maintenance (s8). Furthermore, when the efficiency calculated this time is equal to or less than the third threshold value (s9, No), replacement information is displayed on the display unit 15 (s10).

  If the effect calculated this time is higher than the effect before maintenance stored in the data storage unit 14, the effect of gas consumption by maintenance is calculated from the product of the difference and the amount used (s14) and displayed. It is displayed on the part 15 (s13). Finally, the current efficiency is stored in the data storage unit 14 as the previous efficiency.

  Now, in a state where the gas appliance is sufficiently maintained, since it is burned efficiently, the combustion efficiency becomes high and does not fall below the first threshold value (s4, No). Further, the amount of change does not exceed the second threshold (s6, No). However, when the gas appliance is used, if sufficient air is not sent in due to, for example, clogging of the filter, the efficiency is lowered, and becomes lower than the first threshold (S4, Yes), maintenance is performed on the display unit 15. Display a warning. As a result, it becomes possible to detect a change in energy generation efficiency while the customer uses the gas appliance and warn of an appropriate maintenance time, thereby improving convenience for the customer.

  Next, when the customer confirms the maintenance display and performs appropriate maintenance, the efficiency at the next use changes by a second threshold or more than the previous efficiency stored in the data storage unit 14 (s6, Yes). Accordingly, by stopping the maintenance warning on the display unit 15, the customer can confirm the end of the maintenance without troublesome settings. Improve customer convenience.

  In this case, the efficiency at the previous use is stored as the efficiency before the maintenance is performed, and the difference between the efficiency before the maintenance and the efficiency at the current use and the product of the current gas consumption reduces the gas usage by the maintenance. By calculating the effect (s12) and displaying it (s13), it becomes possible to know the effect on the amount of gas used when the customer performs the maintenance of the gas appliance. Obtainable. In addition, by displaying specifically the effect of performing maintenance at the same time, there is also an effect of impressing the customer on the importance of maintenance.

  However, there is also a deterioration of the device itself, and when used for a long time, even if it is improved by performing maintenance, the effect may be weak. Even when the efficiency calculated at the time of use changes by a predetermined value or more than the efficiency at the previous use stored in the data storage unit 14 (s6, Yes), the current efficiency does not satisfy the third threshold ( The replacement information is displayed on the display unit 15 in (s9, No) (s10). This makes it possible for customers to know that even if they correctly maintain gas appliances, the improvement effect cannot be obtained. Yes.

FIG. 1 is a control block diagram of the instrument monitoring apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a control flow diagram of the instrument monitoring apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Appliance monitoring apparatus 2 Gas appliance 3 Meter 4 Communication path 11 Communication part 12 Efficiency calculation part 13 Judgment part 14 Data storage part 15 Display part

Claims (4)

Connected by communication with a flow meter and gas appliance that measure the amount of gas used, and calculates the efficiency of the gas appliance by dividing the amount of generated energy received from the gas appliance by the amount of gas received from the flow meter. An apparatus monitoring device that displays a maintenance warning when the efficiency falls below a predetermined threshold. Connected by communication with a flow meter and gas appliance that measure the amount of gas used, and calculates the efficiency of the gas appliance by dividing the amount of generated energy received from the gas appliance by the amount of gas received from the flow meter. An instrument monitoring device that stops a maintenance warning when the efficiency is improved by a predetermined value or more compared to the previous use. Connected by communication with a flow meter and gas appliance that measure the amount of gas used, and calculates the efficiency of the gas appliance by dividing the amount of generated energy received from the gas appliance by the amount of gas received from the flow meter. An apparatus monitoring device that determines that maintenance is performed when the efficiency is improved by a predetermined value or more from the previous use, and calculates and displays the effect of the maintenance from the efficiency before the maintenance and the efficiency at the time of use. Connected by communication with a flow meter and gas appliance that measure the amount of gas used, and calculates the efficiency of the gas appliance by dividing the amount of generated energy received from the gas appliance by the amount of gas received from the flow meter. An appliance monitoring device that warns of replacement information when the efficiency is less than a predetermined value after appliance maintenance.

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