JP2011180031A - Device, method and program for measurement of gas flow rate, and gas supply system using them - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a technology capable of detecting a fault of gas supply, even when using a plurality of gas appliances. <P>SOLUTION: A gas flow measuring device 2 is provided for measuring a gas flow rate for a gas appliance and controlling the gas flow rate. The device includes: a flow rate measuring part 23 for measuring the gas flow rate for the gas appliance; an appliance registration part 27 for registering a flow rate change pattern of each gas appliance; an appliance discrimination part 24 for discriminating a gas appliance using gas by comparing a gas flow rate measured by the flow rate measuring part 23 with the flow rate change pattern registered in the appliance registration part 27; and a fault detection part 28 for detecting a fault in the gas supply by comparing a total value of each flow rate change pattern corresponding to each of a plurality of gas appliances with the gas flow rate measured by the flow rate measuring part 23, when the appliance discrimination part 24 discriminates a plurality of gas appliances using the gas. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for detecting defects in a gas supply system such as insufficient gas supply by monitoring gas consumption.

  Conventionally, various techniques have been proposed for detecting defects in a gas supply system that accompany changes in gas consumption (supply amount). For example, the gas abnormality monitoring device in Patent Document 1 detects an abnormality by a pressure drop in gas supply. As shown in FIG. 5, in the gas abnormality monitoring device 412, the gas pressure adjusted by the pressure adjusting means 420 supplied from the gas supply source 411 is measured by the pressure detecting means 421. If it is confirmed that the gas flow rate measured by the flow rate detection means 422 is 0, the gas pressure in the pipe decreases with time if the gas leaks. The change of the gas pressure is monitored by the pressure detecting means 421, and judged by the judging means 423. If the pressure drop is larger than a predetermined value, it is judged as abnormal. In response to the determination result, the output means 424 as a shutoff valve controls the gas meter 413.

  In addition, it is widely performed to visually determine the lack of gas supply based on a phenomenon such as frost on the outside of the gas container (reliquefaction).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 08-329370

  However, in an actual gas use scene, a plurality of gas appliances are often used simultaneously. When a plurality of gas appliances are used, a shortage of gas supply tends to occur. However, in such a case, the amount of gas used by each gas appliance is rarely greatly reduced, and it is often difficult to detect a shortage of gas supply. That is, in general, when a plurality of gas appliances are used, it is difficult to detect a gas supply failure.

  The present invention provides a technique capable of detecting a gas supply malfunction when a plurality of gas appliances are used.

  A gas flow rate measuring device of the present invention is a gas flow rate measuring device that measures the flow rate of gas for a gas appliance and controls the flow rate of the gas, a flow rate measuring unit that measures the flow rate of the gas for the gas appliance, and a gas The device registration unit for registering the flow rate change pattern for each device, the gas flow rate measured in the flow rate measurement unit, and the flow rate change pattern registered in the device registration unit are compared, and gas is used. When the appliance discriminating unit for discriminating gas appliances and the appliance discriminating unit discriminate a plurality of gas appliances using gas, the total value of the flow rate change patterns corresponding to each of the plurality of gas appliances, A failure detection unit that compares the gas flow rates measured in the flow rate measurement unit and detects that there is a failure in gas supply.

  According to the above configuration, a gas supply failure can be detected when a plurality of gas appliances are used.

  In the above configuration, it is preferable that the total value of the flow rate change patterns corresponding to each of the plurality of gas appliances is a total stable value when the gas flow rate is stabilized.

  According to the said structure, the malfunction of gas supply can be detected correctly.

  The failure detection unit detects that there is a failure in gas supply when the gas flow rate measured by the flow rate measurement unit is smaller than the total stable value by a predetermined amount.

  According to the said structure, the malfunction of gas supply can be detected correctly.

  Furthermore, the present invention is a gas flow rate measuring method executed by a computer, wherein a flow rate measuring step for measuring a gas flow rate for a gas appliance, a measured gas flow rate, and a flow rate change for each gas appliance registered in advance. Comparing the patterns, determining the gas appliances using gas, and when determining a plurality of gas appliances using gas, the sum of the flow rate change patterns corresponding to each of the plurality of gas appliances Comparing the value with the measured gas flow rate and detecting that there is a defect in the gas supply.

  Furthermore, the present invention provides a gas flow rate measurement program for causing a computer that controls gas supply to execute the following steps, a flow rate measurement step for measuring a flow rate of a gas for a gas appliance, a measured gas flow rate, , Comparing the flow rate change pattern for each gas appliance registered in advance, determining the gas appliance using the gas, and determining the plurality of gas appliances using the gas, the plurality of gas A step of comparing the total value of the flow rate change patterns corresponding to the respective appliances with the measured gas flow rate and detecting that there is a problem with the gas supply.

  Furthermore, the present invention also provides a gas supply system using the gas flow measuring device, the gas flow measuring method, or the gas flow measuring program.

  According to the present invention, even when a plurality of gas appliances are used, it is possible to detect a gas supply malfunction.

The figure of the gas supply system in the embodiment of the present invention Block diagram of gas flow measurement device and gas supply control device Graph showing changes in gas flow rates that differ for each gas appliance Table showing correspondence between gas appliances and ventilation equipment Block diagram of a conventional gas abnormality monitoring device

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a gas supply system including a gas flow rate measuring device of the present invention. The gas supply system supplies gas to each home or office and includes at least a gas flow rate measuring device.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a gas flow measuring device 2 that measures the flow rate of gas for gas appliances and controls the flow rate of gas is installed at the inlet of a gas supply pipe 1 that supplies gas to each home or office. Has been. The gas pipe 3 installed after passing through the gas flow rate measuring device 2 branches and is piped to a place where various gas appliances used in each home are installed, and gas is supplied. For example, a water heater 4 is installed outdoors, and hot water generated by the water heater 4 is supplied to a bath 6 or the like in which a bathtub or a shower device is installed via a water pipe.

  In addition, when indoors, gas is supplied to the gas table 5 installed in the kitchen, the first gas fan heater 7 installed in the living room, and the second gas fan heater 8 installed in the bedroom. It is used accordingly. Of course, the types of gas appliances are not limited to the gas table 5, the first gas fan heater 7, and the second gas fan heater 8.

  The gas supply system is provided with an alarm device 50. The alarm device 50 notifies the resident with an alarm sound or the like when the CO concentration level is higher than a predetermined value. The alarm device 50 receives an alarm activation command in a predetermined case from a communication unit of the gas flow rate measuring device 2 (not shown).

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the gas flow rate measuring device. The gas flow rate measuring device 2 includes a flow channel 21, a flow channel blocking unit 22, a flow rate measurement unit 23, an appliance determination unit 24, a measured flow rate information storage unit 25, an appliance-specific flow rate calculation unit 26, and an appliance registration unit. 27 and a defect detection unit 28. A control unit 200 that controls the operation of the gas flow rate measuring device 2 is controlled by the appliance discriminating unit 24, the measured flow rate information storage unit 25, the appliance-specific flow rate calculation unit 26, the appliance registration unit 27, and the malfunction detection unit 28. Composed. The control unit 200 can process the information input from the flow rate measurement unit 23 and control the flow path blocking unit 22 to block the gas supply.

  The flow rate measuring unit (ultrasonic flow meter) 23 measures the flow rate by emitting ultrasonic waves to the gas as the fluid flowing in the flow path 21 through the gas supply pipe 1. Can be used. The measured flow rate information storage unit 25 includes target flow data (measured flow rate change pattern as shown in FIG. 3) described in association with the measured flow rate value measured by the flow rate measuring unit 23 and the measurement time when the measured flow rate value was measured. ) Is memorized.

  The appliance registration unit 27 registers various appliance information for each gas appliance such as the gas table 5, the first gas fan heater 7, and the second gas fan heater 8 connected downstream of the flow path 21. . Examples of the appliance information include an initial flow rate value that represents a flow rate at the time of activation of the gas appliance, and a change flow value that represents a change flow rate when the operation state changes. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the absolute value A and the absolute value B of the flow rate which are different for each gas appliance (FIG. 3A), the flow rate change C and the flow rate change D which are different for each gas appliance at the start of operation (FIG. 3). Gas appliances can also be specified and registered by appliance information such as (b)).

  The appliance discriminating unit 24 changes the flow rate obtained from the measured flow rate change pattern (corresponding to the measurement time and the measured flow rate value) stored in the measured flow rate information storage unit 25 and the appliance information registered in the appliance registration unit 27. The gas appliance is discriminated by comparing with the pattern. The appliance-specific flow rate calculation unit 26 calculates the flow rate for each gas appliance determined by the appliance determination unit 24.

  The channel blocker (channel block valve) 22 closes the channel 21 in an emergency or the like, and blocks the flowing gas. In a predetermined case, the control unit 200 issues a gas cutoff command for shutting off the gas supply to the flow path cutoff unit 22, and the flow path cutoff unit 22 that has received the gas cutoff command closes the flow path 21 and reduces the gas flow. Cut off.

  In addition, the control unit 200 of the gas flow rate measuring device 2 may transmit an alarm activation command by wireless communication to the alarm device 50 via a communication unit (not shown) when a gas appliance is not operating. it can. Further, it is possible to report to a center (not shown) that manages gas supply.

  In addition, the control unit 200 of the gas flow rate measuring device 2 issues a command to lower the CO detection level (lower the CO concentration threshold for alarm activation) to the alarm device 50 via a communication unit (not shown) in a predetermined case. It can also be transmitted by wireless communication.

  Next, processing of the defect detection unit 28 of the control unit 200 will be described below. When the appliance discriminating unit 24 discriminates a plurality of gas appliances that use gas, the malfunction detection unit 28 measures the total value of the flow rate change patterns corresponding to each of the plurality of gas appliances and the flow rate measuring unit 23. Compare the gas flow rate and detect that there is a problem with the gas supply.

  In actual gas use situations, a plurality of gas appliances are often used simultaneously. That is, at least two or more (a plurality of) gas appliances among the gas table 5, the first gas fan heater 7, and the second gas fan heater 8 are often used at the same time. Thus, when a plurality of gas appliances are used, a shortage of gas supply tends to occur. However, in such a case, since the amount of gas used by each gas appliance is not significantly reduced individually, the following problems may occur.

  That is, the appliance discriminating unit 24 compares the measured flow rate change pattern stored in the measured flow rate information storage unit 25 with the flow rate change pattern registered in the appliance registration unit 27, and uses a gas that is a fluid. Is determined. In this case, if the gas instrument used and the registered gas instrument match, even if there is a slight difference (simple error) between the flow patterns of both instruments, it is determined that both patterns match. In many cases, a margin is provided for the degree of matching. That is, even if there is a slight difference, it is determined that the two patterns match, and the appliance determination unit 24 determines the gas appliance.

  Once the gas appliance is discriminated by the appliance discriminating unit 24, the gas flow rate measuring device 2 continues the process on the assumption that there is no particular problem. Therefore, when the gas appliance used and the registered gas appliance match, there is a slight difference in the flow pattern of both appliances (especially the gas flow of the gas appliance with the registered gas appliance flow rate). Even if the actual reason is the shortage of gas supply, the shortage of gas supply will be left as it is.

  For example, when three gas appliances are used and the gas is supplied correctly, the gas flow rates of the gas appliances are A, B, and C (measured flow rate information storage as shown in FIG. 4A). (Measured flow rate change pattern stored in the unit 25). However, a shortage of gas supply occurs, and the gas flow rates of the gas appliances are A ′, B ′, and C ′, respectively, as shown in FIG. 4B (A> A ′, B> B ′, C>). C ′), each flow rate may be slightly lowered. In this case, although there is a cause of failure such as insufficient gas supply, the amount of reduced gas flow rate (AA ′, BB ′, CC ′, respectively) of each gas appliance is so large. Therefore, the gas appliance discriminating unit 24 discriminates that each of the flow rate patterns A ′, B ′, and C ′ of FIG. 4B matches the flow rate pattern of FIG. Supply shortages will be overlooked.

  In the gas flow rate measuring device 2 of the present embodiment, the total value of the flow rate change patterns corresponding to each of the plurality of gas appliances registered in the appliance registration unit 27 is compared with the gas flow rate measured in the flow rate measurement unit 23, A defect detection unit 28 for detecting that there is a defect in the gas supply is provided. That is, when a plurality of in-use gas appliances are discriminated by the appliance discriminating unit 24, the failure detection unit 28 is based on the flow rate change pattern corresponding to each discriminated gas appliance registered in the appliance registration unit 27. The total value S of the gas flow rates shown in (a) is calculated. Here, the total value S is the total stability of the flow values of all the used gas appliances in the stable period when the gas flow rate is stable after the uneasy period at the start of use (when the flow rate increases). Value.

  Then, when the total flow rate S ′ measured by the flow rate measurement unit 23 shown in FIG. 4B is smaller than the total stable value S by a predetermined amount Δ or more, the malfunction detection unit 28 It is determined that there is a problem with the supply of the product.

  That is, the flow rate when viewed in terms of the total value even when the amount of decrease in the individual gas flow rate of each gas appliance (AA ′, BB ′, and CC ′, respectively) is not so large. The difference in values is as large as Δ. Since the defect detection unit 28 verifies the gas supply from the viewpoint of the total value of the flow rates, it is possible to determine a defect such as an insufficient gas supply.

  In addition, in order to implement the gas flow rate measuring method executed by the gas flow rate measuring device 2 described above, a program (computer) (not shown) of the gas flow rate measuring device 2 executes each step of the gas flow rate control method. Is remembered.

  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 various embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the matters shown in the above-described embodiments, and those skilled in the art can make modifications and applications based on the description and well-known techniques. This is also the scope of the present invention, and is included in the scope for which protection is sought.

  As described above, according to the present invention, in the case where a plurality of gas appliances are used, a gas flow rate measuring device, a gas flow rate measuring method, a gas flow rate measuring program, and these that can detect a gas supply failure can be used. Gas supply systems can be provided.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Gas supply pipe 2 Gas flow measuring device 3 Gas piping 4 Water heater 5 Gas table 6 Bath 7 1st gas fan heater 8 2nd gas fan heater 21 Flow path 22 Flow path interruption | blocking part 23 Flow measurement part 24 Instrument discrimination | determination part 25 Measurement flow rate information storage unit 26 Flow rate calculation unit 27 by appliance 27 Device registration unit 28 Defect detection unit 50 Alarm

Claims (6)

A gas flow measuring device that measures the flow rate of gas for gas appliances and controls the flow rate of gas,
A flow rate measuring unit for measuring the flow rate of gas for gas appliances;
An appliance registration unit for registering a flow rate change pattern for each gas appliance;
An appliance discriminating unit that discriminates a gas appliance that uses gas by comparing the flow rate of gas measured in the flow rate measuring unit with the flow rate change pattern registered in the appliance registration unit;
When the appliance discriminating unit discriminates a plurality of gas appliances using gas, the total value of the flow rate change pattern corresponding to each of the gas appliances and the gas flow rate measured by the flow rate measuring unit And a failure detection unit that detects that there is a failure in the gas supply,
A gas flow measuring device comprising: The gas flow rate measuring device according to claim 1,
The gas flow rate measuring device, wherein a total value of the flow rate change patterns corresponding to each of the plurality of gas appliances is a total stable value when the gas flow rate is stabilized. A gas flow rate measuring device according to claim 2,
The gas flow measurement device is configured to detect a gas supply failure when the gas flow rate measured by the flow rate measurement unit is smaller than the total stable value by a predetermined amount. A gas flow measurement method executed by a computer,
A flow rate measuring step for measuring a flow rate of gas for the gas appliance;
Comparing the measured gas flow rate with a flow rate change pattern for each gas appliance registered in advance to determine which gas appliance is using the gas;
When a plurality of gas appliances using gas is determined, the total value of the flow rate change patterns corresponding to each of the plurality of gas appliances is compared with the measured gas flow rate, and there is a problem in the gas supply. Detecting that, and
A gas flow rate measuring method comprising: A gas flow measurement program that causes a computer that controls gas supply to execute the following steps:
A flow rate measuring step for measuring a flow rate of gas for the gas appliance;
Comparing the measured gas flow rate with a flow rate change pattern for each gas appliance registered in advance to determine which gas appliance is using the gas;
When a plurality of gas appliances using gas is determined, the total value of the flow rate change patterns corresponding to each of the plurality of gas appliances is compared with the measured gas flow rate, and there is a problem in the gas supply. Detecting that, and
A gas flow measurement program comprising:   A gas supply system using the gas flow rate measuring device, the gas flow rate measuring method, or the gas flow rate measuring program according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

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