JP6767617B2 - Gas meter system - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a gas meter that measures the flow rate of gas and realizes various security functions.

Conventionally, this type of gas meter detects the flow rate of gas, analyzes the gas usage status based on the flow rate of this gas, and determines the presence or absence of an abnormality in gas usage based on a preset determination value. It was.

For example, the maximum usage time is set for each flow rate of gas, and the gas meter has a function of shutting off the gas by using a shutoff means when the maximum usage time is exceeded (duration over shutoff).

This maximum usage time is set to be long when the consumption is small and short when the consumption is large, depending on the gas consumption of the gas appliance. This is based on the general usage that appliances with low gas consumption such as gas fan heaters are used for a long time, and appliances with large gas consumption such as water heaters are used for a short time. It has been decided.

Since this usage time depends on how it is used, it is set longer than the normally assumed usage time in order to prevent interruption (called erroneous interruption) even though it is used normally. On the other hand, if it is set for a long time, it may lead to unsafety such as long-term use due to forgetting to turn it off.In fact, since the usage differs depending on the household that uses the gas appliance, the flow rate classification after installation A method of optimizing the usage time by learning the usage time for each usage time has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

In addition, when a predetermined change in flow rate is detected, it also has a function of resetting the continuous use time, which is assumed to be normally used and timed.

On the other hand, fuel cells, which have become widespread in recent years, are gas appliances that are continuously used for a long time without causing a large change in flow rate, but since the usage time determined by the flow rate classification is 720 minutes, they are shut off. As a countermeasure, the fuel cell is used by causing a flow rate change at regular intervals (for example, every 12 hours) in the gas control of the fuel cell and detecting this flow rate change with a gas meter. It is determined that this is the case, and measures have been taken such as resetting the continuous usage time that is being measured.

Since the fuel cell cannot change the gas consumption abruptly due to its characteristics, the flow rate changes slowly, and it is necessary to detect this with a gas meter, and the judgment conditions for accurate detection are set. Has been done.

JP-A-2009-97947

However, in the above-mentioned conventional configuration, even if the maximum usage time is optimized and shortened by learning, it is necessary to have a certain margin, so that there is a limit to setting it short, and there is still room for optimization. Further, since the determination condition for determining the flow rate change of the fuel cell requires a plurality of conditions (determination value), there is a problem that it is difficult to set the determination value in order to prevent erroneous determination.

The determination values used in these determination algorithms are held in the ROM or RAM of the gas meter, and some of the determination values can be changed from the outside by communication or the like.

Furthermore, in recent years, ultrasonic gas meters that can measure the instantaneous flow rate using ultrasonic waves have become widespread, and since the instantaneous flow rate can be measured, security functions such as leakage detection have become more sophisticated. Abnormality judgment is possible, and the corresponding judgment values are increasing.

Therefore, at the development stage of the gas meter, various verifications are carried out before the gas meter is introduced to the market, or the data collected from the market is analyzed and the judgment value is reviewed. However, if this judgment value is a value obtained within a limited range that can be verified, or if a considerable period of time has passed to review the judgment value after market recovery, all judgment values are set to the optimum values. There was a problem that it took time to develop.

In addition, such judgment values were standardized and had to be common to all meters, and it was not possible to consider the influence of the installation environment, area, or season.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems. After installing the gas meter, the center device collects data related to the judgment value by communication, analyzes and analyzes the data to optimize the judgment value and install the gas meter. It is an object of the present invention to provide a gas meter capable of setting an optimum judgment value according to the environment, region, or season.

In order to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, the gas meter system of the present invention includes a plurality of gas meters having a determination means for making a determination based on a determination value, a center device for collecting data based on the measurement of the plurality of gas meters, and a center device. The center device analyzes the data to obtain a correction judgment value which is an optimum value of the judgment value, and the gas meter sets the correction judgment value received from the center device as the judgment value. Then, after installing the gas meter, the judgment value can be optimized by collecting the data related to the judgment value by communication with the center device and analyzing / analyzing it.

In the gas meter system of the present invention, after installing the gas meter, the judgment value can be optimized by collecting data related to the judgment value by communication with the center device and analyzing / analyzing the data.

Block diagram of the gas meter system according to the first embodiment of the present invention The figure which shows the correspondence between the function of the security part and the determination value in Embodiment 1 of this invention. (A)-(c) The figure explaining the judgment value which a gas meter has. A graph explaining the gas consumption classification and time limit in the continuous use time excess determination means (A) A graph for explaining a determination operation in the fuel cell presence / absence determination means, and (b) a diagram for explaining optimization of a determination value in the fuel cell presence / absence determination means.

The first invention includes a plurality of gas meters having a determination means for making a determination based on a determination value, and a center device for collecting data based on the measurement of the plurality of gas meters, and the center device collects the data. After installing the gas meter, the gas meter is a gas meter system that analyzes and obtains a correction judgment value which is an optimum value of the judgment value and sets the correction judgment value received from the center device as the judgment value. , The judgment value can be optimized by collecting the data related to the judgment value by communication with the center device and analyzing / analyzing it.

The second invention is a flow rate measuring means for measuring a gas flow rate, and a safety unit for determining the presence or absence of an abnormality based on various algorithms based on a gas usage status obtained from the gas flow rate measured by the flow rate measuring means. A gas meter having a determination value storage means, a communication means, and a center device for holding the determination value used in the algorithm, and the center device receives the usage status as data from the gas meter and receives the gas meter. The data was analyzed to obtain a correction judgment value optimized for the judgment value and transmitted to the gas meter, and the gas meter holds the correction judgment value received from the center device in the judgment value storage means. It is a gas meter system characterized by rewriting the above-mentioned determination value.

A third invention, particularly in the second invention, is characterized in that data is transmitted from the gas meter to the center device based on a request for the data from the center device. By controlling communication, communication can be distributed and traffic concentration can be prevented.

A fourth invention, particularly in the second or third invention, is characterized in that the gas meter includes temperature detecting means, and the data includes temperature data detected by the temperature detecting means. The center device can further optimize the judgment value by performing the analysis in consideration of the temperature data.

A fifth invention, particularly in any one of the second to fourth inventions, is characterized in that the data includes an identifier that can identify the installation location of the gas meter, whereby the center device is a region or a gas. The judgment value can be further optimized by performing the analysis in consideration of the supply route of.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The present invention is not limited to this embodiment.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a gas meter system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, the gas meter 1 has a gas inflow pipe 2 and an outflow pipe 3, and a flow rate measuring means 4 is configured on a path from the inflow pipe 2 to the outflow pipe 3. Further, a plurality of gas appliances A5a, gas appliances B5b, and gas appliances C5c are connected to the downstream of the outflow pipe 3. Further, the gas meter 1 also includes a temperature detecting means 6 for detecting the temperature of the gas or the ambient temperature.

The flow rate measuring means 4 detects the flow rate of the gas at predetermined intervals (for example, every 2 seconds) and outputs the flow rate data. The security unit 8 is provided with various anomaly determination algorithms, and determines the presence or absence of an abnormality using the determination value held by the determination value storage means 9 based on the flow rate data measured by the flow rate measuring means 4. Then, if the abnormality requires the gas to be shut off, the gas is shut off by using the shutoff means 12.

The flow rate data measured by the flow rate measuring means 4 and the temperature data measured by the temperature detecting means 6 are transmitted to the center device 11 via the net network by the communication means 10.

Then, in the center device 11, the data from the plurality of gas meters obtained by the communication means 14 is stored in the data storage means 15, and the analysis means 16 analyzes the data, so that the determination value storage means 9 stores the data. The correction determination value with the optimized value is obtained and transmitted to the gas meter 1 via the communication means 14.

Then, the gas meter replaces the correction determination value obtained by the communication means 10 with the determination value stored in the determination value storage means 9.

The security unit 8 and each means in the gas meter 1 are controlled by the control means 13 configured by the microcomputer.

Further, although only one gas meter 1 is shown in FIG. 1, this gas meter system is composed of a plurality of gas meters having the same configuration.

FIG. 2 shows a determination means included in each security function (duration over-blocking function, total flow rate over-blocking function, individual flow rate over-blocking function) in the security unit 8 and a determination value set corresponding to the determination means (any of them). Is stored in the determination value storage means 9).

In the continuous use time excess blocking function, the continuous use time excess determination means 8a determines whether or not the time limit set for each flow rate category is exceeded, and the flow rate change determination means 8b determines that the flow rate has changed. In some cases, or when the fuel cell presence / absence determining means 8c determines that the fuel cell is being used, the timing is reset to determine whether or not there is abnormal continuous use.

Similarly, the total flow rate over determination value for the total flow rate over determination means 8d that realizes the total flow rate over cutoff function, and the individual flow rate over determination value for the individual flow rate over determination means 8e that realizes the individual flow rate over cutoff function. Is set as a determination value and is stored in the determination value storage means 9.

FIG. 3A shows a gas consumption classification which is a judgment value in the continuous use time excess judgment means 8a (in the judgment value storage means 9, the heat quantity is converted into a flow rate and stored) and the gas consumption classification. It is a table showing the time limit corresponding to.

Further, FIG. 3B shows a flow rate change determination value for determining that the flow rate has changed in the flow rate change presence / absence determining means 8b, and changes between a predetermined time interval and the change flow rate value within the predetermined time interval. The rate is set as a determination value, and the flow rate change presence / absence determining means 8b is based on the flow rate measured by the flow rate measuring means 4, and whether the flow rate change within 30 seconds of the time interval is a change flow rate value of 51.82 L / h or more. Alternatively, when the rate of change (the ratio of the changed flow rate to the flow rate at that time) is 3% or more, it is determined that the flow rate has changed.

FIG. 3C is a determination value for detecting a change in the flow rate of the gas periodically performed by the fuel cell in the fuel cell presence / absence determining means 8c, and is a time interval and a change flow rate and a change amount (per hour) during that period. The change flow rate) is set, and the fuel cell presence / absence determining means 8c has a change flow rate within a time interval of 40 seconds based on the flow rate measured by the flow rate measuring means 4, and the change amount is 20 L / h or more. Is a determination value of 0.4 L / h / s or more, it is determined that the fuel cell is used.

Then, when the continuous use time excess determination means 8a determines that the flow rate change has occurred by the flow rate change presence / absence determination means 8b, or when the fuel cell presence / absence determination means 8c determines that the fuel cell is being used. , It has a function to reset the count of continuous use time.

Next, regarding the method of optimizing the determination value stored in the determination value storage means 9 in the present invention, first, the time limit in the continuous use time excess determination means 8a will be described.

First, the gas meter 1 periodically transmits the longest time that the flow rate does not change and the flow rate at that time to the center device 11 via the communication means 10 without the flow rate change determination and the fuel cell use determination. Send to.

The center device 11 receives similar data from a plurality of gas meters, stores the data in the data storage means 15, and stores the data. Then, the analysis means 16 statistically processes the relationship between the stored flow rate and the longest time. Find the average of the longest usage time for each flow rate and its variation.

Hereinafter, the specific method will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 4, the stepped graph A shown by the solid line shows the relationship between the gas consumption classification and the time limit in FIG. 3 (a). Further, the curve B shown by the solid line shows the relationship between the flow rate obtained by the above-mentioned statistical processing and the average of the longest usage time.

Then, when the graph of the maximum usage time (for example, statistically 3σ) including the variation obtained by the statistical method becomes the curve C shown by the dotted line, the actual usage time is less than 19.8 kW. It can be seen that it is possible to shorten the usage time of.

Since the gas meter 1 stores the determination value storage means 9 as the table shown in FIG. 3A, the center device 11 corrects the maximum usage time for each gas consumption category based on this curve C. As a result, the gas meter 1 is transmitted to the gas meter 1, and the gas meter 1 optimizes the time limit of the measurement usage time based on the actual measurement data by rewriting the judgment value stored in the judgment value storage means 9 with this correction judgment value. Can be done.

The time limit obtained by this optimization is a shaded portion of the optimized time limit shown in FIG. 3A, and the graph is a step-like graph D shown by the dotted line in FIG.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the gas meter 1 can improve the safety performance by optimizing the determination value, and shuts off the gas even though it is normally used and safe. It is possible to prevent accidental blocking.

In the above example, the characteristics of the season and the region are not considered, but by adding the conditions such as the calendar and the region or the temperature to the judgment value setting, it is possible to optimize for each season and the region.

Next, a method of optimizing the determination value of the fuel cell in the fuel cell presence / absence determining means 8c will be described.

Some fuel cells are equipped with gas flow control to avoid the interruption of the gas meter over the duration. At this time, for example, as shown by the solid line A in FIG. 5A, the gas flow rate temporarily becomes higher than the reference flow rate and is maintained for a certain period of time, and then becomes a constant flow rate below the reference flow rate over time and is maintained for a certain period of time. After that, the flow rate changes to return to the reference flow rate.

On the other hand, the gas meter 1 determines whether or not the fuel cell is used by the fuel cell presence / absence determining means 8c provided with the algorithm for detecting the flow rate change.

In this fuel cell presence / absence determination means 8c, a plurality of determination values shown in FIG. 3C are used.
In FIG. 5A, T corresponds to the time interval, X corresponds to the change flow rate, and ΔY corresponds to the amount of change (corresponding to the slope of the graph).

However, since it is difficult to control the gas flow rate of a fuel cell to cause a large change in flow rate, the change flow rate must be reduced. On the other hand, depending on the installation status of the gas meter, it is generated by using other gas appliances. Since it is affected by pulsation and the like, it does not actually have a clean waveform as shown by the solid line in the figure, and the flow rate is measured by the gas meter 1 as a distorted waveform shown by the dotted line B.

Therefore, the determination value is determined in advance based on the assumed installation environment and the field test and stored in the determination value storage means 9, but there is a problem that it is difficult to deal with all situations, and to some extent. It is set to a value that does not cause erroneous judgment with a margin of. However, if there is a margin, it is judged that the flow rate change other than the fuel cell is the use of the fuel cell, which is not preferable for safety.

In the present invention, this determination value can be optimized by analyzing data acquired by communication from a plurality of gas meters, and a specific method will be described below with reference to FIG. 5 (b).

FIG. 5B shows data of the change flow rate and the amount of change when it is determined that the fuel cell is used in the gas meter 1 from a plurality of meters (meters 1 to n) and is stored in the data storage means 15. It is a table of stored data.

In the center device 11, based on the data represented by the table of FIG. 5B, the correction judgment value, which is the optimum value of each judgment value, is obtained by a statistical method in consideration of the variation, and is communicated with the gas meter 1. Send. The gas meter 1 can improve the discrimination accuracy of the fuel cell by rewriting the judgment value currently stored by itself with this correction judgment value.

In addition, since the flow rate measured as described above is affected by other gas appliances, each data used for optimizing the judgment value may be affected by the gas supply route, so it is set for each supply route. It is also useful.

That is, by adding an identifier that can identify each gas meter to the data transmitted from the gas meter 1, the installation location can be specified. For example, for each of the supply routes A to C shown in FIG. 5 (b), the gas meter Further optimization can be achieved by analyzing the data.

Needless to say, the determination values can be optimized in the same manner for the total flow rate over judgment value and the individual flow rate over judgment value.

The embodiments of the present invention have been described above. The above description of the embodiments is an example of the present invention and does not limit the present invention. In addition, an embodiment in which each component described in the above-described embodiment is appropriately combined is also possible. The present invention can be modified, replaced, added, omitted, etc. within the scope of claims or equivalent.

As described above, according to the gas meter system according to the present invention, after installing the gas meter, the judgment value can be optimized by collecting the data related to the judgment value by communication with the center device and analyzing / analyzing it. Therefore, it is possible to optimize the determination value not only in the gas meter but also in the device that makes various determinations using the determination value based on the measured data.

1 Gas meter 4 Flow rate measuring means 6 Temperature detecting means 8 Safety unit 8a Continuous use time excess judgment means 8b Flow rate change presence / absence judgment means 8c Fuel cell presence / absence judgment means 8d Total flow rate over judgment means 8e Individual flow rate over judgment means 9 Judgment value storage means 10 Communication means 11 Center device 12 Blocking means

Claims (4)

A plurality of gas meters having a judgment means for making a judgment based on the judgment value,
A center device for collecting data based on the measurements of the plurality of gas meters is provided.
The data includes an identifier that can identify the location of the gas meter.
The center device analyzes the data and obtains a correction judgment value, which is an optimum value of the judgment value, for each supply route based on the installation location of the gas meter .
The gas meter is a gas meter system that sets the correction determination value received from the center device as the determination value. A flow rate measuring means for measuring the flow rate of gas, a safety unit for determining the presence or absence of an abnormality based on various algorithms based on the gas usage status obtained from the flow rate of gas measured by the flow rate measuring means, and the algorithm. A gas meter having a determination value storage means for holding a determination value and a communication means,
Equipped with a center device,
The center device receives the usage status as data from the gas meter, analyzes the received data, obtains a correction judgment value that optimizes the judgment value, and transmits the correction judgment value to the gas meter.
The gas meter system according to claim 1, wherein the gas meter rewrites the determination value held in the determination value storage means with the correction determination value received from the center device. The gas meter system according to claim 2, wherein data transmission from the gas meter to the center device is performed based on a request for the data from the center device. The gas meter system according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the gas meter includes temperature detecting means, and the data includes temperature data detected by the temperature detecting means.

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