JP5163072B2 - Flow measuring device and program thereof - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a flow rate measuring device such as a gas meter used for measuring an instantaneous flow rate value or an integrated flow rate value of a combustible gas such as city gas or LP gas.

  Conventionally, in this type of flow rate measuring device and its program, a flow rate measuring device (gas meter) is attached to the entrance of a gas supply flow channel (measurement flow channel) to each household. The flow rate measuring device measures the gas flow rate passing through the measurement flow path, and the measured gas flow rate is used for the periodic calculation of the billed gas charge.

  Some of such flow rate measuring devices have an instrument discriminating function for discriminating gas instruments that use gas in addition to the basic function of measuring the gas flow rate (see, for example, Patent Document 1). According to this appliance discrimination function, the gas flow rate can be calculated for each gas appliance that uses gas. For example, it is possible to discount the price of the gas used for heating, diversifying the service to users Gas companies, etc. can take sales strategies to increase gas usage.

  FIG. 9 shows the conventional gas meter (flow rate measuring device), a flow rate measuring unit 101 for measuring the gas flow rate flowing through the measurement flow path, and a flow rate storage unit for storing the gas flow rate measured by the flow rate measuring unit 101. 102, a device discriminating unit 103 for discriminating a gas appliance that is currently using gas from a gas flow rate measured by the flow rate measuring unit 101, a flow rate integrating unit 104 for integrating the gas flow rate measured by the flow rate measuring unit 101, and a flow rate A flow rate notification unit 105 for displaying a value calculated by the integration unit 104; a partial flow rate pattern table 106 obtained by dividing a series of gas flow rate patterns generated in accordance with combustion control for the total number of gas appliances used in each household; The apparatus table 107 includes a plurality of types of gas appliances and combinations of partial flow patterns corresponding thereto.

  Here, the appliance discriminating means 103 includes a control step determination module 103a for determining each control step from the detected gas flow rate pattern (the flow rate corresponding to time is a waveform), and a partial flow rate from the gas flow rate pattern divided for each control step. A partial flow rate pattern extraction module 103b for extracting a pattern and a matching module 103c for extracting a matching gas appliance from the flow rate pattern table 106 and the appliance table 107 using the partial flow rate pattern as a clue.

  With the above configuration, when the use of a gas appliance is newly started, the waveform of the gas flow rate with respect to time can be specified in the flow rate storage unit 102 as to the use start time and the measurement result measured by the flow rate measurement unit 101 thereafter. To remember.

  The control step module 103a analyzes the stored gas flow rate waveform (time change of the gas flow rate), and determines from where to where in the gas appliance waveform corresponds to which control step of the combustion control.

  Further, the partial flow rate extraction module 103b 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 103c and the flow rate pattern of each control step stored in the flow rate pattern table 106 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 discriminated based on how it matches the table 106.

  Here, how to match is determined using the instrument table 107.

As a result, the currently used gas appliance can be discriminated, and the optimum operation monitoring can be performed for each gas appliance using the discrimination result.
JP 2003-179027 A

  However, the configuration in which the operating gas appliance is discriminated based on the presence or absence of matching with various flow patterns registered in the table as in the prior art has the following problems.

  That is, the flow pattern when operating the same gas appliance is slightly different depending on the temperature / operation setting performed by the user, room temperature, and the like.

  Therefore, if it is going to detect the operation | movement of a gas appliance sequentially corresponding to the difference, it is necessary to memorize | store the flow rate pattern corresponding to the different point in the flow measuring device itself about a huge gas appliance.

  This means that a large amount of storage means is installed in the flow rate measuring device, and this increases the price of the flow rate measuring device.

  FIGS. 10 to 12 show the gas flow rate measured by the flow rate measuring means 101 when the gas oven is operated downstream of the flow rate measuring device with different operation settings. There are three operation settings: 35 ° C. setting, 100 ° C. setting, and 300 ° C. setting.

  FIG. 10 shows the time change of the gas flow rate set at 35 ° C., FIG. 11 shows the time change of the gas flow rate set at 100 ° C., and FIG. 12 shows the time change of the gas flow rate set at 300 ° C.

  As can be seen from the figure, the gas flow rate pattern varies depending on the operation setting. Specifically, the time interval between ON (in operation) and ON, the time interval during which ON continues, and the like are different.

  Therefore, it is necessary to prepare a pattern that matches each setting for the same gas appliance. Since the setting can be set, for example, every 10 ° C. or every 5 ° C., matching with each setting means corresponding to those settings.

  In order to avoid mounting storage means in the flow measurement device, even if it is attempted to detect while receiving necessary data from the server by installing communication means for communicating with the external server in the flow measurement device, It is necessary for a business operator or a flow measurement device manufacturer to construct and manage the external server, which also leads to a factor of increasing the price of the flow measurement device.

  In addition, for example, overshoot (the maximum gas flow rate value and the gas flow rate value at which the flow rate is stable) may or may not occur even in the same setting, so it is necessary to prepare a pattern that matches the waveform in advance. Yes, it requires a huge storage means.

Further, there are many cases where there are a plurality of gas appliances such as one water heater, one gas table, two gas fan heaters, and one gas oven in a normal household. Furthermore, even if it is rare to start up at the same time at the same time, there are many scenes where a normal user uses a plurality of units at the same time, specifically using a gas oven while using a gas table.

  Therefore, considering the flow rate pattern corresponding to the combination of gas appliances held by the user, such as the flow rate pattern when the oven is operated while the gas appliance is operating, the flow rate pattern when the gas table is operated while the oven is operating, Considering differences and combinations due to the type of appliance, operation settings, room temperature, etc., the flow rate pattern is enormous and requires enormous storage means.

  As described above, the gas flow rate pattern generated when the gas appliance is operated is enormously affected by the operation setting, the operation environment, the variation of each operation, and the like. Requires storage means.

  On the other hand, when the gas appliance is activated, the flow rate immediately after activation is stabilized at a substantially constant gas flow rate (this flow rate is referred to as the activation flow rate) even if there is an overshoot although there are some fluctuations. For example, in the case of a gas oven, it can be seen from FIG. 12 that it is constant around 230 [L / h].

  Even if the gas appliance is a gas table, if it is a push type (one that is ignited when the user presses the button), when the user presses the ignition button to ignite in order to make it difficult to turn off immediately after ignition, The thermal power control lever automatically moves in the maximum direction so that a certain amount of gas flows wherever the thermal power control lever is located.

  Therefore, the starting flow rate of the gas table is stable at a gas flow rate close to the maximum gas consumption. Even if the gas appliance is a fan heater, the fan heater has a hot dash function (a function that consumes gas at the maximum gas consumption and warms the room regardless of the room temperature for a few minutes immediately after startup). The starting flow rate is also stable at a gas flow rate close to the maximum gas consumption.

  Therefore, it is possible to determine to some extent which gas appliance has been operated with the magnitude of the activation flow rate.

  However, immediately after starting up the gas appliance, as can be seen from the time characteristics of the gas flow rate when the gas appliance is actually operated, there is an overshoot, there is no portion where the gas flow rate is stable, or it is short. In all cases, it is difficult to obtain an accurate startup flow rate if the startup flow rate is calculated in the same way in all cases, and in this case, there is a possibility that the activated gas appliance is mistakenly identified as a different gas appliance. It will be high.

  The present invention solves the above-described conventional problems, and provides a flow rate measuring device that determines the activation of a gas appliance connected downstream of itself without requiring an enormous flow rate pattern. In addition, the gas appliances that are operating are misidentified by using different methods for determining the starting flow rate during the time period when the gas appliances that repeat ON / OFF at least in a short time or the ON time is short may operate. An object of the present invention is to provide a flow rate measuring device capable of lowering the probability of establishment.

In order to solve the above conventional problems, the flow rate measuring apparatus of the present invention includes a flow rate measuring means for measuring the gas flow rate at fixed time intervals T, the start gas flow rate based on the gas flow in which the flow rate measuring means for measuring The flow rate calculation means for calculating the actual measurement value of the gas, the instrument activation information storage means for storing in advance the registered value of the startup gas flow rate when starting the gas appliance, the actual measurement value calculated by the measurement flow rate calculation means, and the appliance activation information storage and appliance determination means to determine the actual activated gas appliance by comparing the stored registered value to the means, in the configuration, after the appliance determination unit has determined an operation of a specific gas appliance, the gas appliance when the use rate is 0, the flow rate calculating means in the predetermined time from the stopped time is obtained by a and changes the calculation method of the measured value of the starting gas flow.

  As a result, it is possible to determine the activation of the gas appliance connected downstream of itself without specifying an enormous flow rate pattern by specifying the gas appliance activated at the activation flow rate, and at least repeat ON / OFF in a short time. The probability of misjudging operating gas appliances by making the method for determining the startup flow rate in the time zone where gas appliances with a short ON time or the possibility of operation differ from other time zones Can be lowered.

Note that the flow rate calculation means changes the calculation method of the actual measurement value of the starting gas flow rate for a predetermined time from the stop time because there is a gas appliance with overshoot, so when the gas flow rate is stabilized. This is because it is possible to more accurately discriminate an instrument that has started up when the gas flow rate is set as the startup flow rate.

  The flow measurement device of the present invention can determine the activation of a gas appliance connected downstream thereof without requiring a huge flow pattern, repeats ON / OFF at least in a short time, and has a short ON time. By making the method for obtaining the startup flow rate in the time zone in which the gas appliance to be operated different from the method in other time zones, the probability of misjudging the operating gas appliance can be reduced.

The first invention includes a flow rate measuring means for measuring the gas flow rate at fixed time intervals T, and the flow rate calculating means and said flow rate measuring means for calculating a measured value of the initiation gas flow rate in the preparative even gas flow to be measured, a gas appliance The appliance activation information storage means for preliminarily storing the registration value of the activation gas flow rate at the time of activation, and the actual value calculated by the flow rate calculation means and the registered value stored in the appliance activation information storage means are actually compared. In the flow rate measuring device configured to discriminate the activated gas appliance, after the appliance discriminating means discriminates the operation of a specific gas appliance that repeats the ON state and the OFF state, the flow rate of use of the gas appliance If There stopping, the said flow rate calculation means at a predetermined time determined in accordance with the time of the oN state of the specific gas appliance from the stopped time to change the calculation method of the measured value of the starting gas flow rate And it is characterized in and.

  As a result, it is possible to determine the activation of the gas appliance connected downstream of itself without specifying an enormous flow rate pattern by specifying the gas appliance activated at the activation flow rate, and at least repeat ON / OFF in a short time. The probability of misjudging operating gas appliances by making the method for determining the startup flow rate in the time zone where gas appliances with a short ON time or the possibility of operation differ from other time zones Can be lowered.

Also , for example, when the gas appliance is a gas oven, the initial internal temperature is about room temperature and the difference from the set temperature is large, so if the set temperature is high, it must be warmed up for a long time and the set temperature is maintained. To do this, it must be frequently turned on. In particular, the first operation must be in the ON state for a long time.

  On the other hand, if the set temperature is low, the difference between the initial chamber temperature and the set temperature is small, so it can be warmed up in a shorter time than when the set temperature is high, and reheating to maintain the temperature must be performed frequently. Absent.

  Therefore, the time zone A can be set to an optimal time by determining the time zone A according to the length of the first operation time.

In the second invention, in particular, the flow rate calculating means of the flow rate measuring device of the first invention calculates a difference value from the flow rate before the difference time N every time the flow rate measuring means measures the gas flow rate. And the flow rate Qa before the difference time N from the time a when the difference value calculated by the first calculation means is greater than a predetermined positive threshold, and after the time a The flow rate Qb at time b when the absolute value of the difference value calculated by the first calculation means becomes smaller than the positive threshold value is obtained, and the flow rate difference (Qb−Qa) is calculated as the actual measured value of the starting gas flow rate. Second flow rate calculation means, wherein the flow rate calculation means changes the calculation method by changing the difference time N at a predetermined time from the time when the specific gas appliance is stopped, Gas flow stability is long Enough to be if it is continued, the probability that a gas appliance is activated completely increases, it is possible to determine the activation flow more reliably.

  On the other hand, if the gas flow rate is short, some gas appliances start with a slow ignition, so there is a possibility that the gas flow rate when the gas flow rate is the optimal gas flow rate value for the ignition (during the start) will be the start flow rate. Get higher.

  If it does so, it will discriminate | determine since it will discriminate | determine the gas appliance which operate | moved with the incorrect starting flow volume.

  The slow ignition is an ignition method in which the maximum gas flow rate (starting flow rate) is reached after a predetermined time at which the gas flow rate is optimal for ignition smaller than the maximum gas flow rate (consumption) at the time of ignition.

  However, some specific gas appliances repeatedly turn on and off in a short time. If such gas appliances were waiting for the same flow rate stability as other gas appliances, the gas appliances would be turned off. There is a possibility.

  Therefore, by shortening the time during which the gas flow rate is stabilized only during the time period when the gas device may operate as described above, it is possible to cope with a gas device with a short stabilization time. It is possible to determine the gas appliance that was activated by using it.

According to a third aspect of the invention, in particular, the flow rate calculation means of the first aspect of the invention is configured to calculate a difference value from a flow rate before a difference time N every time the flow rate measurement means measures a gas flow rate. The flow rate Qa before the difference time N before the time a when the difference value calculated by the calculation means and the first calculation means is greater than a predetermined positive threshold, and the first calculation means after the time a The second calculation for obtaining the flow rate Qb at the time b when the absolute value of the difference value calculated by is smaller than the positive threshold, and calculating the flow rate difference (Qb−Qa) as the actual measurement value of the starting gas flow rate. And the flow rate measuring means is configured to measure the flow rate measuring device at the predetermined time interval T during a predetermined time from the time when the specific gas appliance is stopped. Instantaneous gas flow Since measured, may be affected by this time interval, it is to cope with it.

  For example, a case where the time during which the gas flow rate is stabilized is slightly longer than the predetermined time interval T is taken as an example. At this time, there may be a case where the measurement by the flow rate measuring means is performed twice during the stabilization time, or the measurement is performed once immediately before stabilization (a value slightly smaller than the stable gas flow rate value). There may be only one measurement of time that is stable.

  In order to cope with this latter case, in a time zone in which a gas appliance that repeats ON / OFF in a short time may operate, the stabilization time is increased by making the positive threshold value larger than other time zones. A short gas appliance can also be handled, and the activated gas appliance can be discriminated using the startup flow rate at that time.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, in particular, the second calculation means of the second or third flow rate measuring device has a flow rate difference (Qb−Qa) at a predetermined time from the time when the specific gas appliance is stopped being zero. In the case of being close, by setting the largest difference between the measured flow rate between time a and time b and the flow rate Qa before time N as the measured value of the starting gas flow rate, the stabilization time is The starting flow rate is obtained when the time interval is shorter than the predetermined time interval T or not, and the activated gas appliance can be determined based on the gas flow rate.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the flow rate measuring means of the flow rate measuring device according to any one of claims 1 to 4 is the moment when the flow rate is changed by the configuration using the ultrasonic flowmeter as the instantaneous flow rate measuring means. The appliance discriminating operation and the learning operation can be activated, and the appliance discriminating accuracy can be improved by capturing the flow rate change finely.

The sixth invention can be easily realized by a personal computer or the like by causing a computer to execute at least a part of the flow rate measuring device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, Using a recording medium on which the program is recorded makes it easy to install the software at each user's home.

  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)
In FIG. 1, a measurement flow path 2 for supplying gas to a plurality of gas appliances A, B, and C (for example, a fan heater, a gas table, a stove, and a gas oven) is provided inside the flow rate measuring device 1. It is arranged.

  The measurement channel 2 mainly detects a gas shut-off valve 3 that shuts off the measurement channel itself at the time of an abnormality, a display unit 4 that visually notifies the user, and a gas flow rate that flows through the measurement channel. A flow rate measuring means 5 is arranged.

  Further, a control unit 6 for inputting the output of the flow rate measuring means 4 and for controlling the gas cutoff valve 3 is provided.

  The control unit 6 includes a CPU (central processing unit) 7, a ROM (read only memory) 8, a RAM (random access memory) 9, and an input / output port 10, which are connected to each other by a bus 11. Has been.

  Connected to the input / output port 10 are a flow rate measuring means 5, a drive circuit 12 for driving the gas cutoff valve 3, and a drive circuit 13 for driving the display unit 4.

  In the control unit 6, the CPU 7 realizes the function as the flow rate measuring device 1 by executing the program stored in the ROM 8 using the RAM 9 as a working area.

  Here, the operation of the flow rate measuring means 5 will be described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 2, the measurement channel 2 has a rectangular cross section, and a pair of ultrasonic transmitters / receivers 14, 15 are located on the upstream side and the downstream side across the measurement channel 2 on the wall surface perpendicular to the gas flow direction. And are mounted diagonally opposite each other with an angle φ. That is, the ultrasonic wave propagating between the ultrasonic transceivers 14 and 15 is set so as to cross the measurement flow path 2 obliquely.

  The function of transmitting ultrasonic waves alternately between the ultrasonic transmitters / receivers 4 and 5 to measure the ultrasonic propagation time difference between the forward direction and the reverse direction with respect to the flow of the fluid at a constant interval and outputting as a propagation time difference signal have.

  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. 2, L is a measurement distance, where t1 is the transmission time from the upstream, t2 is the transmission time from the downstream, and C is the speed of sound, the flow velocity V at time T of the measurement point is V = (L / 2cosφ) ( (1 / t1)-(1 / t2)) (1)
It is.

  Furthermore, since the gas flowing in the measurement flow path 2 changes suddenly depending on the point at which the flow velocity is measured, it may be larger or smaller than the flow velocity seen from the entire flow path, and the previous measurement was performed to reduce the effect. The measured flow velocity is the average of the measured flow velocity V ′.

  As the flow rate measuring means 5, an ultrasonic type measuring means is used. However, other flow rate measuring methods such as a full dick method can be used as long as they can be continuously measured in a constant cycle in a short time. is there.

  Although the measurement time interval in the present embodiment can be set within a range where ultrasonic waves can be transmitted and received, for example, measurement is performed at intervals of 2 seconds.

  Furthermore, although it is possible to reduce the time interval in terms of the measurement principle, reducing the measurement time interval is advantageous in that the instrument discrimination is performed instantaneously, but there are problems such as an increase in battery consumption.

  Also, if the measurement interval is the same as the membrane method used in the conventional gas meter, and the second interval is in the order of two digits, the operating gas appliance is identified by looking at the difference value of the flow rate change. In this embodiment, the measurement is performed at intervals of 2 seconds as a well-balanced time from the viewpoint of cost and instrument discrimination performance.

  FIG. 3 shows the function of the flow rate measuring apparatus 1 in the first embodiment. As shown in this figure, the flow rate measuring device 1 according to the present embodiment first includes a flow rate measuring means 5 for measuring a gas flow rate, and instrument information for storing various instrument information registered in advance for at least activation determination. Storage means 16, measurement flow history storage means 17 for storing a history of measurement flow rates measured by the flow measurement means 5, instrument discrimination means 18 for identifying the gas appliance when at least the gas appliance is used, and measurement flow rate And a flow rate calculation means 19 for calculating various information necessary for the instrument discrimination means 18 to make a discrimination from the measured flow rate history information.

  The flow rate measuring means 5 is realized by the flow rate measuring unit and the control unit 6. Then, the flow rate measuring means 5 stores the gas flow rate flowing in the measurement flow path 2 measured every 2 seconds in the measured flow rate history storage means 17.

The measured flow rate history storage unit 17 is realized by the RAM 9 and stores the measured gas flow rate for several minutes as history information so that the gas appliance in which the appliance discriminating unit 18 is operating can be specified.

  In the present embodiment, the measured flow rate history storage means 17 stores the gas flow rate measured as history information until 30 seconds ago.

  The appliance information storage means 16 is realized by the RAM 9, and stores the gas flow rate when the appliance is activated, that is, the starting gas flow rate and the control pattern as registered values for each appliance as shown in FIG.

  The starting gas flow rate (registered value) is information used for determining the activation of the gas appliance, and is stored in the appliance activation information storage unit 16a. The control pattern is information used for determining the control of the gas appliance, and therefore the appliance control information storage unit 16b. Shall be stored in

  This information is stored in the appliance information storage means 16 by a gas company registering in advance using a terminal or the like.

  In the present embodiment, the sudden / slow control pattern means that the gas flow rate change due to the control is continuously generated for 8 seconds or more in the period during which the flow rate change is occurring (the previous time continuously for 8 seconds or more). The difference (absolute value) between the measured gas flow rate value and the current measured gas flow rate value is 3 [L / h] or more) The pattern is “slow”, and the pattern in which the gas flow rate change ends in less than 8 seconds is “sudden” And 8 seconds can be changed.

  And about the instrument which temperature-controls by repeating ON / OFF like FIGS. 10-12, it is set as "ON / OFF."

  However, it is limited to the case where the difference value calculated by all the first calculation means (described later) in the target period is less than 80 [L / h].

  The boundary value of 80 [L / h] is variable, such as 50 [L / h], 60 [L / h], 70 [L / h], and 100 [L / h]. It can be set by the combination of appliances.

  The flow rate calculation means 19 includes a first calculation means 19 a and a second calculation means 19 b, both of which are realized by the control unit 6.

  The first calculation means 19a is a calculation means that refers to the measured flow rate history storage means 17 and calculates a difference between the current flow rate value and the measured flow rate value two times before (4 seconds).

  The second calculation means 19b refers to the measured flow rate 4 seconds before the time a when the difference value calculated by the first calculation means 19a with reference to the measured flow rate history storage means 17 is greater than a predetermined positive threshold value. The flow rate difference (Qb−Qa) between Qa and the measured flow rate Qb at time b when the absolute value of the difference value calculated by the first calculation means 19a after the time a becomes smaller than the positive threshold is calculated as the starting flow rate. It is a processing part which calculates as an actual measurement value.

  The appliance discriminating means 18 discriminates that the flow rate change has occurred when the absolute value of the difference value calculated by the first calculating means 19a is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold (for example, 3 [L / h]), When the absolute value of the difference value is less than 3 [L / h], it is determined that the flow rate change has converged, and the gas appliance that has caused this flow rate change is specified.

  And it is comprised by the starting determination means 18a, the control determination means (not shown), and the stop determination means (not shown). These means are realized by the control unit 6.

  The activation determination means 18a compares the flow rate difference with the actual measurement value of the activation flow rate calculated by the second calculation means 19b with the registered value of the activation flow rate registered in the appliance activation information storage means 16a. It is determined that the flow rate change targeted for the error of 5 [L / h] (or the closest one if there are multiple) is due to the activation of the gas appliance.

  The reason for considering the error is that the gas pressure in the measurement channel 2 slightly changes depending on the outside air temperature and the number of gas appliances used.

  Next, FIG. 5 shows the time characteristic of the gas flow rate measured by the flow rate measuring means 5 when the fan heater is operated.

  As can be seen from FIG. 5, immediately after startup, a certain gas flow rate flows by the hot dash function (there is a period during which the startup gas flow rate is constant), and then the gas flow rate (time characteristic) changes depending on the outside air temperature and operation settings. The gas flow rate changes while taking a certain amount of time (between the 70th and 116th seconds) from about 130 [L / h] to around 40 [L / h].

  In addition, since the timing at which this flow rate change occurs depends on the outside air temperature / operation setting, the timing at which the flow rate change occurs cannot be estimated in advance.

  Further, FIG. 6 shows the time characteristics of the gas flow rate measured by the flow rate measuring means 5 when the gas table is operated.

  At this time, after the gas table is ignited, the heating power adjustment lever is changed from “strong” → “medium” → “weak” → “medium” → “strong” → “weak” → “strong”.

  As can be seen from FIG. 6, the user can change the gas flow rate by the heating power adjustment lever, and the timing of the control can be changed.

  And unlike the case of a fan heater, since a gas flow rate change generate | occur | produces when a user operates a thermal-power adjustment lever, it turns out that the gas flow rate is changing in a comparatively short time.

  Many push-type gas tables are designed to make it difficult for them to go out immediately after ignition. The adjustment lever is a mechanism that automatically moves the heating power in the maximum direction.

  Therefore, immediately after the ignition of the gas table, the starting flow rate is close to the maximum gas consumption.

  And operation | movement of the flow volume measuring apparatus in this Embodiment is demonstrated. Here, it demonstrates using the flowchart of FIG.

  In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the gas oven shown in FIG. It starts from the time 0 [s].

In addition, the specific gas appliance mentioned later means a gas oven in this Embodiment. In addition, the specific gas appliance is not limited to the gas oven, but may be floor heating, and indicates a gas appliance that warms an object (inside the cabinet or panel) to a set temperature while repeating ON / OFF. To do.

First, the flow rate measuring means 5 measures the gas flow rate flowing through the measurement flow path 2 every 2 seconds (S701). Further, since the flow rate change does not occur until the gas oven is started, nothing is done until the flow rate change occurs, and the process waits until the next measurement time.

  Then, when a change in the flow rate is detected when the difference value from the measured flow rate before 4 seconds calculated by the first calculation means 19a after the gas oven starts operating is 3 [L / h] or more (S702), the gas flow rate is detected. Waits until it becomes stable (S708).

The gas flow rate is stable when time zone A is considered to be stable when the difference from the measured flow rate 2 seconds ago is less than 3 [L / h], and in time zones other than time zone A (time zone B), When the difference from the measured flow rate 4 seconds ago is less than 3 [L / h], it is considered stable.

  The time zone A is the length of the time zone A according to the ON state duration (operation time) when the gas oven, which is a specific gas appliance, is turned on (the gas flows) for the first time after the user operates the gas oven. Determined.

  FIG. 8 shows a table showing the correspondence between the operation time and the length of the time zone A. In the present embodiment, this table is referred to as a time zone determination table.

  The starting point of the time zone A starts from the point where the gas oven is turned off.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the gas oven is turned on / off by its own control when the user operates the gas oven. Therefore, the starting point of the time zone A is each time point when it is turned OFF.

  However, the length of the time zone A is determined only by the ON state duration when the user enters the ON state (the state in which gas flows) for the first time.

  That is, it is initialized when the user does not detect the starting flow rate of the gas oven within the defined time zone A, for example, when the user manually turns off the gas oven or finishes cooking.

  The initialization means that there is no time zone A (all time zone B), and that the flow measuring device 1 recognizes that there is no operation of the gas oven.

  When the flow rate change is detected (S702), the ON state duration (operation time) when the specific gas appliance (gas oven) is turned ON for the first time is referred to (S703), and the time zone determination table is referred to. (S704).

  In the present case, the time zone is determined to be time zone B because the gas oven was not operating. Since the time zone is the time zone B (S705), the stable condition is determined to be stable for 4 seconds (S707).

  Until the stable condition determined in step S707 is satisfied after the flow rate change occurs in the measured flow rate, nothing is performed until the next flow rate measurement (S708), and when the stable condition is satisfied, the second calculation unit 103b calculates ( S709).

Then, the activation determination unit 18a compares the actual value of the activation flow rate with the activation flow rate registered in advance in the appliance activation information storage unit 16a, and determines a gas appliance that may have been activated (S710).

  In the present embodiment, since the actual measured value of the activation flow rate is around 230 [L / h], it is determined that the gas oven has been activated.

  Then, since it is determined that the gas oven is activated in the time zone B, the flow rate measuring device stores the time during which the ON state is continued. This time is 2 minutes in this embodiment.

  Thereafter, when a flow rate change that turns on the gas oven occurs (S702), the operation time (2 minutes) of the gas oven that is the specific gas appliance is referred to, and the time zone determination table is referenced (S704). ) And determine the length of time zone A (1 minute).

  In the present embodiment, since the target flow rate change occurs about 30 seconds after the previous stop time of the gas oven, it can be considered that the time point when the flow rate change occurs is in the time zone A (S705). ). Then, the stable condition is determined to be stable for 2 seconds (S706).

  Until the stable condition determined in step S706 is satisfied after the flow rate change occurs in the measured flow rate, nothing is performed until the next flow rate measurement (S708), and when the stable condition is satisfied, the second calculation means 19b calculates ( S709).

  Then, the activation determination unit 18a compares the actual value of the activation flow rate with the activation flow rate registered in advance in the appliance activation information storage unit 16a, and determines a gas appliance that may have been activated (S710).

  In the present embodiment, in the time zone A, the absolute value of the difference value between the measured flow rate two seconds before and the current measured flow rate is less than 3 [L / h] in the time zone A, and the time zone B Then, the absolute value of the difference value between the measured flow rate 4 seconds ago and the current measured flow rate is assumed to be less than 3 [L / h].

  However, the length of time during which the gas flow rate is stable may be changed. In time zone A, the absolute value of the difference between the measured flow rate 4 seconds ago and the current measured flow rate is less than 6 [L / h]. In time zone B, the measured flow rate 4 seconds ago and the current flow rate The magnitude of the difference value may be changed so that the absolute value of the difference value from the measured flow rate is less than 3 [L / h].

  Further, in order to correspond to the 35 ° C. setting of the gas oven of FIG. 10, the starting flow rate is recalculated as follows only when a certain condition is satisfied as described below. Also good.

  A certain condition is a case where a flow rate change occurs in the time zone A and the starting flow rate calculated under the determined stable condition is approximately 0 [L / h].

  In that case, the flow rate difference between the largest gas flow rate value and the gas flow rate immediately before the flow rate change in the process of the generated flow rate change is recalculated as the starting flow rate.

  As a result, it is possible to cope with the case where the flow rate is turned on and off in a short time without a stable flow rate.

  In addition, since there is a gas appliance with an overshoot in the gas flow rate change at startup, this method is not effective except for a gas appliance that is turned on / off in a short time.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, by determining the gas appliance that has been operated based on the startup gas flow rate that is consumed when the gas appliance is started up, it is connected downstream of itself without requiring a huge flow pattern. And the gas appliance used (activated) by the user can be determined.

  Further, the gas appliance that controls the temperature of the object to be controlled by repeating ON / OFF in a short time has various flow patterns depending on the operation setting, and the time during which the flow rate is stable is short. Therefore, considering the characteristics of gas appliances with overshoot by making the method for determining the starting flow rate in the time zone in which the gas appliance with a short ON time or the possibility of operation differ from other time zones, Furthermore, the starting gas flow rate can be calculated corresponding to the characteristics of the gas appliance having a short ON time.

  As a result, it is possible to reduce the probability of misidentifying the operating gas appliance.

  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 including 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 thereof 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. Therefore, when it cannot be identified as a gas appliance, the possibility of gas leakage or the like can be suspected, and as a result, it is monitored whether the gas appliance is used properly. In other words, it can also be applied to uses such as security services for gas users.

Configuration diagram of a flow rate measuring device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention Configuration diagram of flow rate measuring means in Embodiment 1 of the present invention Functional block diagram of the flow rate measuring apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention The figure which shows the information memorize | stored in the instrument information storage means in Embodiment 1 of this invention The figure which shows the time characteristic of the gas flow volume which flows at the time of the fan heater operation | movement in Embodiment 1 of this invention. The figure which shows the time characteristic of the gas flow volume which flows at the time of the gas table operation | movement in Embodiment 1 of this invention. Flowchart of the flow rate measuring device in Embodiment 1 of the present invention The figure which shows the content of the time slot | zone determination table in Embodiment 1 of this invention. Configuration diagram of a conventional flow measurement device The figure which shows the time characteristic of the gas flow which flows at the time of gas oven operation (35 degreeC setting) The figure which shows the time characteristic of the gas flow which flows at the time of gas oven operation (100 degreeC setting) The figure which shows the time characteristic of the gas flow which flows at the time of gas oven operation (300 degreeC setting)

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Flow measuring device 5 Flow measuring means 18 Appliance discriminating means 18a Activation discrimination means 16 Appliance information storage means 16a Appliance activation information storage means 19 Flow rate calculating means 19a First computing means 19b Second computing means

Claims (6)

A flow rate measuring means for measuring the gas flow rate at a constant time interval T;
And flow rate calculating means and said flow rate measuring means for calculating a measured value of the initiation gas flow rate in the preparative even gas flow to be measured,
Appliance activation information storage means for storing in advance a registered value of the activation gas flow rate at the time of activation of the gas appliance;
In a flow rate measuring device comprising: an instrument discriminating unit that discriminates an actually activated gas appliance by comparing an actual measurement value calculated by the flow rate computing unit and a registered value stored in the appliance activation information storage unit ,
After said appliance determination unit has determined an operation of a specific gas appliance repeating ON and OFF states, when the use flow rate of the gas appliance is stopped, the time from the stopped time of the ON state of the specific gas appliance The flow rate calculation means changes the calculation method of the measured value of the starting gas flow rate for a predetermined time determined according to the above. The flow rate calculation means is
A first calculation unit configured to calculate a difference value from the flow rate before the difference time N every time the flow rate measurement unit measures the gas flow rate;
The flow rate Qa before the difference time N from the time a when the difference value calculated by the first calculation means is greater than a predetermined positive threshold, and the difference calculated by the first calculation means after the time a A second computing means for obtaining a flow rate Qb at time b when the absolute value of the value becomes smaller than the positive threshold value and calculating a flow rate difference (Qb−Qa) as an actual measurement value of the starting gas flow rate; Configured,
The flow rate measurement device according to claim 1 , wherein the flow rate calculation unit changes the calculation method by changing the difference time N in a predetermined time from the time when the specific gas appliance is stopped. The flow rate calculation means is
A first calculation unit configured to calculate a difference value from the flow rate before the difference time N every time the flow rate measurement unit measures the gas flow rate;
The flow rate Qa before the difference time N from the time a when the difference value calculated by the first calculation means is greater than a predetermined positive threshold, and the difference calculated by the first calculation means after the time a The flow rate Qb at time b when the absolute value of the value becomes smaller than the positive threshold is obtained.
And a second calculation means for calculating these flow rate differences (Qb-Qa) as the actual measured values of the starting gas flow rate,
Wherein the predetermined time from the time that a particular gas appliance has stopped, the flow rate measuring device according to claim 1, the magnitude of said positive threshold is different. When the flow rate difference (Qb−Qa) at a predetermined time from the time when the specific gas appliance is stopped is close to 0, the second calculation means calculates the measured flow rate and time N between time a and time b. The flow rate measuring device according to claim 2 or 3 , wherein the largest difference among the previous flow rates Qa is the measured value of the starting gas flow rate. The flow rate measuring device according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , wherein the flow rate measuring means uses an ultrasonic flowmeter. The program which makes a computer perform at least one part of the flow measuring device of any one of Claim 1 to 5 .

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