JP6986673B2 - Gas appliance management device and its operation method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a gas appliance management device and an operation method thereof, and more particularly to a gas appliance management device for managing the number of operating units of a specific gas appliance among gas appliances and an operation method thereof.

Conventionally, some gas meters have a gas shutoff function of shutting off the gas supply because an abnormality such as a gas leak has occurred when the usage time of the gas appliance reaches a predetermined upper limit time. This upper limit time can be different or extended depending on the gas appliance. For example, in the case of a gas fan heater, since it usually tends to be used for a longer time than a gas stove, the upper limit time is set longer than that of a gas stove, or it is set to be extendable. Therefore, it is required to identify a specific gas appliance from the operating gas appliances and manage the number of the specific gas appliances.

As a gas appliance management device that determines the stop of a gas appliance when managing this number, for example, the gas supply system shown in Patent Document 1 is known. In this gas supply system, a flow rate measuring means provided in a gas flow path obtains a gas flow rate to be used based on a flow rate signal. The operation stop of the gas appliance is determined by the change of the difference value of the flow rate value.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2008-145275

The flow rate flowing through the gas flow path changes due to the start and stop of operation of the gas appliance and the change in consumption, and the change differs depending on the type of gas appliance and the usage status. For this reason, when multiple gas appliances are in operation, even if a decrease in gas flow rate is detected, it is determined whether it is due to a gas outage or a change in consumption, and the number of specific gas appliances is determined. Is difficult to manage.

The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a gas appliance management device and an operation method thereof for improving the accuracy of management of the number of operating units of a specific gas appliance.

The gas appliance management device according to an aspect of the present invention starts operation of a measurement unit that measures the flow rate of gas flowing in the flow path and a specific gas appliance among the gas appliances connected to the flow path based on the flow rate. A start determination unit that determines the possibility of stopping the operation of the specific gas appliance based on the flow rate, an equipment management unit that manages the number of operating units of the specific gas appliance, and the specific gas appliance. A device storage unit that stores the number of operating units and the flow rate of the gas appliance is provided, and the device management unit determines the flow rate of the specific gas appliance when it is determined by the start determination unit that the specific gas appliance has started operation. The flow rate is stored in the device storage unit, the number of operating units of the specific gas appliance stored in the device storage unit is increased, and the stop determination unit determines that the specific gas appliance may be stopped. When this is done, the specific value stored in the device storage unit is based on the average value of the flow rate for the past predetermined number of times, the number of operating units of the specific gas appliance stored in the device storage unit, and the determination flow rate. It is configured to compensate for the number of gas appliances in operation.

In this gas appliance management device, the device management unit is based on the presence or absence of a change in the flow rate of a predetermined pattern in addition to the average value of the flow rate, the number of operating units of the specific gas appliance, and the determination flow rate. It may be configured to correct the operating number of the specific gas appliance stored in.

In the operation method of the gas appliance management device according to another aspect of the present invention, there is a measuring unit that measures the flow rate of gas flowing in the flow path, and a specific gas among the gas appliances connected to the flow path based on the flow rate. A start determination unit that determines the start of operation of the appliance, a stop determination unit that determines the possibility of the operation of the specific gas appliance being stopped based on the flow rate, and an equipment management unit that manages the number of operating units of the specific gas appliance. A method of operating a gas appliance management device including a device storage unit that stores the number of operating units and a flow rate of the specific gas appliance. In the device management unit, the specific gas appliance has started operation by the start determination unit. When it is determined, the flow rate of the specific gas appliance is stored in the device storage unit as the determination flow rate, the number of operating units of the specific gas appliance stored in the device storage unit is increased, and the stop determination unit determines. When it is determined that the specific gas appliance may stop operating, the average value of the flow rate for the past predetermined number of times, the number of operating units of the specific gas appliance stored in the device storage unit, and the determined flow rate are used. Based on this, the number of operating units of the specific gas appliance stored in the device storage unit is corrected.

The present invention has the above-mentioned configuration, and has an effect that it is possible to provide a gas appliance management device and an operation method thereof for improving the accuracy of management of the number of operating units of the specific gas appliance.

The above objectives, other objectives, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.

It is a functional block diagram which shows schematic structure of the gas appliance management apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the operation method of the gas appliance management apparatus of FIG. It is a graph which shows the time-dependent change of the flow rate of a gas measured by a measuring part. 4 (a) to 4 (c) are tables showing determination criteria in the correction of the number of operating units of the specific gas appliance. 5 (a) and 5 (b) are tables showing the determination criteria in the correction of the number of operating units of the specified gas appliance.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings. In the following, the same or corresponding elements are designated by the same reference numerals throughout all the drawings, and the overlapping description thereof will be omitted.

(Embodiment 1)
First, the configuration of the gas appliance management device 100 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The gas appliance management device 100 is provided in the gas flow path 200. The gas flow path 200 is a pipeline that connects a gas supply source (not shown) and a consumer consumer, and supplies gas from the gas supply source to a gas appliance provided in the consumer. The gas appliance is a device that consumes gas, such as a gas stove 201, a gas water heater 202, and a gas fan heater 203, and is connected to a gas flow path 200.

The gas appliance management device 100 includes a measurement unit 10, an arithmetic processing unit 20, and a storage unit 30, and manages the number of operating units of a specific gas appliance among the gas appliances. The specific gas appliance is a gas appliance that meets predetermined conditions, such as an upper limit of the usage time of a gas fan heater and the like and a gas usage fee different from those of other general gas appliances, and is predetermined.

The measuring unit 10 is a flow meter that measures the volume or mass ((instantaneous) flow rate: L / h) of gas passing through the flow path 200 per unit time. For example, an ultrasonic method is adopted as the measuring method. To. The measuring unit 10 measures the gas flow rate at regular time intervals such as 0.5 seconds, and outputs the measured flow rate to the arithmetic processing unit 20 and the storage unit 30.

The arithmetic processing unit 20 is composed of an arithmetic processing unit such as a CPU, and has a start determination unit 21, a stop determination unit 22, and a device management unit 23. The arithmetic processing unit 20 may be configured by a single arithmetic processing unit that is centrally controlled, or may be configured by a plurality of arithmetic processing units that cooperate with each other to perform distributed control.

The storage unit 30 is accessible from the arithmetic processing unit 20 and is composed of a storage device such as a ROM and a RAM. The storage unit 30 stores information such as a basic program as a gas appliance management device 100 and various fixed data. The operation of each unit of the gas appliance management device 100 is controlled by the arithmetic processing unit 20 reading and executing software such as a basic program stored in the storage unit 30.

The storage unit 30 has a flow rate storage unit 31 and a device storage unit 32. The flow rate storage unit 31 and the device storage unit 32 may be configured by one storage device or may be configured by separate storage devices.

The start determination unit 21 of the arithmetic processing unit 20 determines whether or not the specific gas appliance has started operation based on the flow rate of the gas. The stop determination unit 22 determines the possibility of stopping the operation of the specific gas appliance based on the flow rate of the gas.

The equipment management unit 23 manages the number of operating units of the specific gas appliance based on the determination results of the start determination unit 21 and the stop determination unit 22. That is, when the start determination unit 21 determines that the specific gas appliance has started operation, the device management unit 23 stores the flow rate of the specific gas appliance in the device storage unit 32 and stores it in the device storage unit 32. Increase the number of operating specific gas appliances. Further, when the stop determination unit 22 determines that the specific gas appliance may stop operating, the device management unit 23 sets the average value (average flow rate) of the flow rate for the past predetermined number of times, and the device storage unit 32. The operating number of the specific gas appliance stored in the device storage unit 32 is corrected based on the operating number of the specific gas appliance stored in the device storage unit 32 and the flow rate of the specific gas appliance (determined flow rate FH). The details will be described later.

The flow rate storage unit 31 of the storage unit 30 stores the flow rate measured by the measurement unit 10. The device storage unit 32 stores the number of operating units and the flow rate (determination flow rate FH) of the specific gas appliance based on the determination results of the start determination unit 21 and the stop determination unit 22.

Next, the operation method of the gas appliance management device 100 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 5 (b). The operation method of the gas appliance management device 100 shown in FIG. 2 is executed by the arithmetic processing unit 20.

First, the measuring unit 10 measures the flow rate of the gas, outputs this flow rate to the start determination unit 21, and stores it in the flow rate storage unit 31 (step S1). The flow rate storage unit 31 stores the flow rate sequentially in the order in which it is measured, or in association with information in the measurement order such as measurement time. As a result, the start determination unit 21, the stop determination unit 22, and the equipment management unit 23 can acquire the flow rate according to the measurement order.

The start determination unit 21 determines the start of operation of the specific gas appliance based on the flow rate of the gas (step S2). The flow rate of this gas may be a value based on the flow rate measured by the measuring unit 10, the (instantaneous) flow rate of the gas, the average value (average flow rate) of the flow rate for a predetermined number of times, and the flow rate or / and average. Includes at least one of the flow rate differences. As the gas flow rate, the flow rate output from the measuring unit 10 or the latest gas flow rate stored in the flow rate storage unit 31 is used. As the average flow rate, the average value of the flow rate of the measuring unit 10 and the flow rate of the flow rate storage unit 31 for a predetermined number of times, or the average value of the flow rate of the flow rate storage unit 31 for a predetermined number of times is used. The average flow rate may be a moving average of the gas flow rate.

Here, the change over time in the gas consumption at the start of operation and the change over time in the gas consumption due to control during operation such as thermal power adjustment differ depending on the type and model of the gas appliance. Therefore, the start determination unit 21 determines the start of operation of the specific gas appliance based on the change in the flow rate due to the change in the gas consumption with time.

For example, in general gas appliances other than specific gas appliances such as the gas stove 201 and the gas water heater 202, the gas consumption suddenly rises linearly in a short time at the start of operation, and the gas consumption is controlled by the subsequent control during operation. The amount changes sequentially. On the other hand, in a specific gas appliance such as a gas fan heater 203, the gas consumption increases stepwise in a predetermined pattern at the start of operation, and the gas consumption changes stepwise even during subsequent control during operation. do.

Due to the difference between the change in gas consumption at the start of operation and the change in consumption due to control during operation, and the difference in flow rate according to the difference in consumption between general gas appliances and specific gas appliances. , The start determination unit 21 determines the start of operation of the specific gas appliance. For example, when a stepwise change (step change) of a predetermined pattern of gas flow rate is detected at the start of operation, it is determined that the operation of the specific gas appliance starts, assuming that the change in gas flow rate satisfies the predetermined start condition.

The specific gas appliance does not have to have a step change when the gas flow rate changes during operation. In this case, for example, when the flow rate suddenly increases to a predetermined flow rate or more, and then the change in the flow rate becomes smaller than the predetermined flow rate and stabilizes for a certain period of time, the start determination unit 21 satisfies the predetermined start condition for the change in the gas flow rate. Therefore, it is determined that the specific gas appliance has started operation.

In the example of FIG. 3, at the point a, since the flow rate change is stable for a certain period of time after the sudden increase in the flow rate of the predetermined flow rate or more, the start determination unit 21 determines that the operation of the specific gas appliance is started (step S2). : YES). Then, the device management unit 23 increases the number of operating units of the specific gas appliance stored in the device storage unit 32 by one (step S3). Here, the number of specific gas appliances stored in the device storage unit 32 is increased from 0 to 1.

Further, the equipment management unit 23 stores the flow rate (determined flow rate FH) of the specific gas appliance when the operation start is determined in the equipment storage unit 32 (step S4). In the example of FIG. 3, since the flow rate has increased from 10 L / h to 110 L / h, the difference of 100 L / h obtained by subtracting the flow rate at the time of operation start determination from the flow rate immediately before the operation start determination: 10 L / h. h is the determined flow rate FH. The flow rate immediately before the operation start determination and the flow rate at the time of the operation start determination are the (instantaneous) flow rates of the gas output by the measuring unit 10. However, at least one of these may be the (instantaneous) flow rate of the latest gas stored in the flow rate storage unit 31, or the flow rate by the measurement unit 10 and the flow rate of the flow rate storage unit 31 for a predetermined number of times. It may be an average value or an average value of the flow rate of the flow rate storage unit 31 for a predetermined number of times.

Here, when the determination flow rate FH of the specific gas appliance is stored in the device storage unit 32, the determination flow rate FH of another specific gas appliance may already be stored. In this case, the device management unit 23 determines the maximum value of the specified gas appliance from among the newly stored determination flow rates FH of the plurality of specific gas appliances, and the minimum value of the determination flow rate FH (maximum determination flow rate FHmax). The determination flow rate FH (minimum determination flow rate FHmin) of the specific gas appliance is specified and stored in the device storage unit 32. Therefore, every time a new determination flow rate FH is stored in the device storage unit 32, the determination flow rate FHmax and the determination flow rate FHmin are updated.

On the other hand, if the predetermined start condition is not detected in step S2, the start determination unit 21 executes the process of step S5 without determining that the operation of the specific gas appliance has started (step S2: NO). Further, when the increase in the number of operating units of the specific gas appliance and the determined flow rate FH are stored (steps S3 and S4), the process proceeds to step S5.

In the process of step S5, the stop determination unit 22 determines whether or not there is a specific gas appliance in operation based on the storage information of the equipment storage unit 32. Here, if there is no specific gas appliance in operation (step S5: NO), the process returns to step S1, and the start determination unit 21 continuously monitors the start of operation of the specific gas appliance.

On the other hand, if there is a specific gas appliance in operation (step S5: YES), the stop determination unit 22 acquires the gas flow rate (step S6), and the specific gas appliance stops operating based on the gas flow rate. Determination (step S7). The flow rate of this gas may be a value based on the flow rate measured by the measuring unit 10, the (instantaneous) flow rate of the gas, the average value (average flow rate) of the flow rate for a predetermined number of times, and the flow rate or / and average. Includes at least one of the flow rate differences. As the gas flow rate, the flow rate output from the measuring unit 10 or the latest gas flow rate stored in the flow rate storage unit 31 is used. As the average flow rate, the average value of the flow rate of the measuring unit 10 and the flow rate of the flow rate storage unit 31 for a predetermined number of times, or the average value of the flow rate of the flow rate storage unit 31 for a predetermined number of times is used. The average flow rate may be a moving average of the gas flow rate.

The stop determination unit 22 monitors the change with time of the flow rate based on the flow rate of the gas, and if this does not satisfy a predetermined stop condition such as a predetermined change with time (step S7: NO), the process returns to the process of step S1. For example, the predetermined stop condition is stabilization of the flow rate change of the predetermined flow rate or less over a certain period of time after the sudden decrease of the flow rate of the predetermined flow rate or more.

On the other hand, in the example of FIG. 3, at the point b, the change in the flow rate is stable for a certain period of time after the sudden decrease in the flow rate equal to or higher than the predetermined flow rate, so that the stop determination unit 22 stops the change in the gas flow rate. It is determined that the specific gas appliance may stop operating as the condition is satisfied (step S7: YES).

Then, the device management unit 23 is stored in the device storage unit 32 based on the average flow rate, the number of operating units of the specific gas appliance stored in the device storage unit 32, and the flow rate of the specific gas appliance (determined flow rate FH). Correct the number of operating specific gas appliances (step S8). As the average flow rate, for example, a moving average of n flow rates is used.

That is, in the specific gas appliance such as the gas fan heater 203, the gas consumption amount changes stepwise, and the gas flow rate (average flow rate) changes stepwise accordingly. Further, the consumption amount of the specific gas appliance at each stage is estimated from the flow rate at the start of operation (determined flow rate FH). Therefore, the number of operating units can be estimated from the average flow rate, the number of operating units at the time of determination, and the determined flow rate FH.

In the correction of the number of operating units of the specific gas appliance, for example, the determination criteria shown in the tables of FIGS. 4A to 5B are used. The tables of FIGS. 4 (a) to 5 (b) are used to correct the number of operating units when a step change is not detected in the gas flow rate change at the time of determining the start of operation. Since the same judgment criteria as those in the tables of FIGS. 4A to 5B are used to correct the number of operating units when a step change is detected in the gas flow rate change at the time of determining the start of operation. The description is omitted. However, if a step change is detected at the time of determining the start of operation, it is highly possible that the specific gas appliance is operating, so the number of operating units is not corrected to 0.

When the average flow rate is less than the first predetermined value (for example, 40 L / h), the number of operating units of the specific gas appliance is corrected according to the determination criterion of FIG. 4 (a). Here, when the minimum value (minimum determination flow rate FHmin) among the plurality of determination flow rates FH stored in the device storage unit 32 is the second predetermined value (for example, 60 L / h) or more, the second predetermined value or more. If the specified gas appliance with a large determination flow rate FH is operating, the number of operating units is corrected to 0, assuming that the average flow rate does not fall below the first predetermined value. On the other hand, if the minimum determination flow rate FHmin is less than the second predetermined value, the average flow rate may be less than the first predetermined value if a specific gas appliance having a small determination flow rate FH less than the second predetermined value is operating. Therefore, the number of operating units is corrected to one.

When the average flow rate is equal to or more than the first predetermined value and less than the third predetermined value (for example, 120 L / h), the number of operating units of the specified gas appliance is corrected according to the criterion shown in FIG. 4 (b). Here, when the minimum determined flow rate FHmin is the fourth predetermined value (for example, 170 L / h) or more, the average flow rate is the third if a specific gas appliance having a large determined determined flow rate FH of the fourth predetermined value or more is operating. Assuming that the value does not fall below the specified value, the number of operating units is corrected to 0.

Further, when the minimum determined flow rate FHmin is equal to or more than the fifth predetermined value (for example, 120 L / h) and less than the fourth predetermined value, the average flow rate is less than the third predetermined value if the specified gas appliance has the smallest determined flow rate FH. May become. Therefore, the number of operating units is corrected to one, and the smallest determination flow rate FH is left in the device storage unit 32.

Further, when the minimum determination flow rate FHmin is less than the fifth predetermined value, the number of operating units is corrected based on the second smallest determination flow rate FH among the plurality of determination flow rates FH stored in the device storage unit 32. If there is no second smallest determination flow rate FH, that is, the number of operating units is one, a correction is performed to maintain the number of operating units at one.

When the second smallest determination flow rate FH is equal to or higher than the sixth predetermined value, the average flow rate will not be less than the third predetermined value due to the two specific gas appliances including the second predetermined value. Therefore, the number of operating units is corrected to one, and the smallest determination flow rate FH is left in the device storage unit 32. When the second smallest determination flow rate FH is less than the sixth predetermined value, the average flow rate may be less than the third predetermined value even if two specific gas appliances having the smallest determination flow rate FH are operating. Therefore, the number of operating units is corrected to two.

When the average flow rate is equal to or higher than the third predetermined value and less than the seventh predetermined value (for example, 170 L / h), the number of operating units of the specified gas appliance is corrected according to the criterion shown in FIG. 4 (c). Here, if the minimum determination flow rate FHmin is equal to or higher than the eighth predetermined value (for example, 120 L / h), the number of operating units is corrected to one, and the largest determination flow rate FH is left in the device storage unit 32.

If the minimum judgment flow rate FHmin is less than the eighth predetermined value and the number of operating units at the time of determination is 3 or more, the number of operating units is corrected to 2 and the first and second largest judgment flow rates FH are used as equipment. It is left in the storage unit 32.

Further, when the minimum determination flow rate FHmin is less than the eighth predetermined value and the number of operating units at the time of determination is two, the maximum value (maximum determination) among the plurality of determination flow rates FH stored in the device storage unit 32. It is corrected based on the flow rate FHmax). If the maximum determination flow rate FHmax is 9th predetermined value (for example, 120 L / h) or more, the number of operating units is corrected to one, and the smallest determination flow rate FH is left in the device storage unit 32. On the other hand, if the maximum determination flow rate FHmax is less than the ninth predetermined value, the number of operating units is corrected to two.

Further, when the minimum determination flow rate FHmin is less than the eighth predetermined value, if the number of operating units at the time of determination is one, the correction is performed to maintain the number of operating units at one.

When the average flow rate is equal to or higher than the 7th predetermined value and less than the 10th predetermined value (for example, 210 L / h), the number of operating units of the specified gas appliance is corrected according to the criterion of FIG. 5 (a). Here, when the maximum determined flow rate FHmax is the eleventh predetermined value (for example, 170 L / h) or more, the number of operating units is corrected based on the minimum determined flow rate FHmin. If the minimum determination flow rate FHmin is 12th predetermined value (for example, 110 L / h) or more, the number of operating units is corrected to one, and the largest determination flow rate FH is left in the device storage unit 32. On the other hand, if the minimum determination flow rate FHmin is less than the twelfth predetermined value, the number of operating units is corrected to two, and the first and second largest determination flow rates FH are left in the device storage unit 32.

Further, when the maximum determination flow rate FHmax is equal to or more than the 13th predetermined value (for example, 110 L / h) and less than the 11th predetermined value, the operating number is corrected based on the operating number at the time of determination. If the number of operating units at the time of determination is 3 or more, the number of operating units is corrected to 2, and the first and second largest determination flow rates FH are left in the device storage unit 32. On the other hand, if the number of operating units at the time of determination is 2 or less, correction is performed to maintain the number of operating units. That is, if the number of operating units at the time of determination is two, the number of operating units is corrected to two, and if the number of operating units at the time of determination is one, the number of operating units is corrected to one.

Further, when the maximum determination flow rate FHmax is less than the thirteenth predetermined value, the number of operating units is corrected based on the number of operating units at the time of determination. If the number of operating units at the time of determination is 4 or more, the number of operating units is corrected to 3 and the first to third largest determination flow rate FH is left in the device storage unit 32. On the other hand, if the number of operating units at the time of determination is 3 or less, correction is performed to maintain the number of operating units. That is, if the number of operating units at the time of judgment is 3, the number of operating units is corrected to 3, and if the number of operating units at the time of judgment is 2, the number of operating units is corrected to 2 and the number of operating units at the time of judgment is 2. If it is one, the number of operating units is corrected to one.

When the average flow rate is equal to or higher than the tenth predetermined value, the number of operating units of the specified gas appliance is corrected according to the criterion shown in FIG. 5 (b). Here, correction is performed to maintain the number of operating units regardless of the determined flow rate FH or the like.

For example, in the example of FIG. 3, at the point b, the average flow rate is 45 L / h, which is equal to or higher than the first predetermined value and is the third predetermined value. Therefore, FIG. 4 (b) is used for the correction. .. Here, only the flow rate of 100 L / h of the specific gas appliance whose operation start is determined at the point a is stored in the device storage unit 32. Therefore, the minimum determination flow rate FHmin of the determination flow rate FH stored in the device storage unit 32 is 100 L / h, which is less than the fifth predetermined value. In addition, there is only one specific gas appliance in operation, and there is no second smallest determination flow rate FH. Therefore, the device management unit 23 makes a correction to maintain the number of operating units stored in the device storage unit 32 to one, and leaves the determined flow rate FH: 100 L / h.

At point c, the average flow rate is 10 L / h, which is less than the first predetermined value. Therefore, FIG. 4A is used as the determination criterion for the correction. Since the start of operation of the specific gas appliance has not been determined from the previous determination time point b, the determination flow rate FHmin remains at 100 L / h, which is equal to or higher than the second predetermined value. Therefore, the equipment management unit 23 makes a correction to reduce the number of operating specific gas appliances stored in the equipment storage unit 32 to 0.

At point d, since the flow rate has increased from 45 L / h to 150 L / h, the number of operating units of the specific gas appliance increases by one to one. Further, 105 L / h of the flow rate difference is stored in the device storage unit 32 as the determined flow rate FH.

At the point e, the average flow rate is 120 L / h, which is equal to or more than the third predetermined value and less than the seventh predetermined value. Therefore, FIG. 4 (c) is used as a determination criterion for the correction. Since the start of operation of the specific gas appliance has not been determined from the previous determination time d, the determination flow rate FH: 105L / h stored in one is the minimum determination flow rate FHmin. Therefore, the minimum determination flow rate FHmin is less than the eighth predetermined value, and the number of operating units at the time of determination is one. Therefore, the equipment management unit 23 makes a correction to maintain the number of operating specific gas appliances stored in the equipment storage unit 32 as one.

At point f, since the flow rate increases from 120 L / h to 235 L / h, the number of operating specific gas appliances increases by one to two. Further, the flow rate of 115 l / h, which is the difference between the flow rates, is stored in the device storage unit 32 as the determined flow rate FH.

At the point g, the average flow rate is 210 L / h, which is equal to or higher than the tenth predetermined value (for example, 210 L / h). Therefore, FIG. 5 (b) is used as the determination criterion for the correction. In this case, regardless of the determination flow rate FH, the equipment management unit 23 makes a correction to maintain the number of operating units of the specific gas appliance stored in the equipment storage unit 32 at two.

At the point h, the average flow rate is 175 L / h, which is equal to or more than the 7th predetermined value and less than the 10th predetermined value. Therefore, FIG. 5A is used as a determination criterion for the correction. In this case, since the determination flow rate FH: 105L / h at the previous determination time point d and the determination flow rate FH: 115L / h at the point f are stored, the maximum determination flow rate FHmax is 115L / h. Therefore, the maximum determination flow rate FHmax is equal to or more than the 13th predetermined value and less than the 11th predetermined value, and the number of operating units at the time of determination is two. Therefore, the equipment management unit 23 makes a correction to maintain the number of operating specific gas appliances stored in the equipment storage unit 32 at two.

According to this embodiment, when the start determination unit 21 determines that the specific gas appliance has started operation, the device management unit 23 stores the flow rate of the specific gas appliance as the determination flow rate FH in the device storage unit 32. , Increase the number of operating specific gas appliances stored in the device storage unit 32. Further, when the stop determination unit 22 determines that the specific gas appliance may stop operating, the equipment management unit 23 determines the average value of the flow rate (average flow rate), the number of operating units of the specific gas appliance, and the determination flow rate FH. Based on this, the number of operating units of the specific gas appliance stored in the device storage unit 32 is corrected. As a result, even if it is difficult to determine the flow rate change due to stoppage of operation or control during operation, the number of operating units of the specified gas appliance is corrected by correcting the number of operating units based on the average flow rate, the number of operating units, and the determined flow rate FH. Can be managed accurately.

Further, the equipment management unit 23 is the equipment storage unit 32 based on the presence or absence of a change (step change) in the flow rate of a predetermined pattern in addition to the average value (average flow rate) of the flow rate, the number of operating units of the specific gas appliance, and the determination flow rate FH. Correct the operating number of specific gas appliances stored in. When such a flow rate change (step change) peculiar to the specific gas appliance at the start of operation is detected, it is highly possible that the specific gas appliance is operating. Therefore, by using this information for correcting the operating number of the specific gas appliance, it is possible to improve the accuracy of managing the operating number of the specific gas appliance.

In addition, all the said embodiments may be combined with each other as long as they do not exclude each other. From the above description, many improvements and other embodiments of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the above description should be construed as an example only and is provided for the purpose of teaching those skilled in the art the best aspects of carrying out the present invention. The details of its structure and / or function can be substantially changed without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

The gas appliance management device and its operation method of the present invention are useful as a gas appliance management device and its operation method for improving the accuracy of management of the number of operating units of a specific gas appliance.

10: Measurement unit 21: Start determination unit 22: Stop determination unit 23: Equipment management unit 32: Equipment storage unit 100: Gas appliance management device 200: Flow path 201: Gas stove (gas appliance)
202: Gas water heater (gas appliance)
203: Gas fan heater (gas appliance, specific gas appliance)

Claims (3)

A measuring unit that measures the flow rate of gas flowing in the flow path,
A start determination unit that determines the start of operation of the gas fan heater among the gas appliances connected to the flow path based on the flow rate, and
A stop determination unit that determines the possibility of stopping the operation of the gas fan heater based on the flow rate,
The equipment management unit that manages the number of operating gas fan heaters,
A device storage unit that stores the number of operating gas fan heaters and the flow rate is provided.
The equipment management unit
When it is determined by the start determination unit that the gas fan heater has started operation, the flow rate of the gas fan heater is stored in the device storage unit as a determination flow rate, and the gas fan stored in the device storage unit is stored. While increasing the number of operating heaters,
When the stop determination unit determines that the gas fan heater may be stopped, the average value of the flow rate for the past predetermined number of times and the number of operating gas fan heaters stored in the device storage unit. And, based on the determined flow rate, the number of operating gas fan heaters stored in the device storage unit is corrected .
In the correction of the number of operating units, when the number of operating units of the gas fan heater is 1 or more and the average value of the flow rates is less than the first predetermined value.
When the minimum value of the stored determination flow rates is greater than or equal to the second predetermined value larger than the first predetermined value, the operating number is corrected to 0.
A gas appliance management device configured to correct the number of operating units to 1 when the minimum value of the stored determination flow rates is less than the second predetermined value. The device management unit stores the device based on the average value of the flow rate, the number of operating gas fan heaters, the determined flow rate, and the presence or absence of a predetermined step change of the flow rate in which the flow rate changes stepwise. The gas appliance management device according to claim 1, which is configured to correct the operating number of the gas fan heaters stored in the unit. A measuring unit that measures the flow rate of gas flowing in the flow path,
A start determination unit that determines the start of operation of the gas fan heater among the gas appliances connected to the flow path based on the flow rate, and
A stop determination unit that determines the possibility of stopping the operation of the gas fan heater based on the flow rate,
The equipment management unit that manages the number of operating gas fan heaters,
A method of operating a gas appliance management device including a device storage unit that stores the number of operating gas fan heaters and a flow rate.
The equipment management unit
When it is determined by the start determination unit that the gas fan heater has started operation, the flow rate of the gas fan heater is stored in the device storage unit as a determination flow rate, and the gas fan stored in the device storage unit is stored. While increasing the number of operating heaters,
When the stop determination unit determines that the gas fan heater may be stopped, the average value of the flow rate for the past predetermined number of times and the number of operating gas fan heaters stored in the device storage unit. And, based on the determined flow rate, the number of operating gas fan heaters stored in the device storage unit is corrected .
In the correction of the number of operating units, when the number of operating units of the gas fan heater is 1 or more and the average value of the flow rates is less than the first predetermined value.
When the minimum value of the stored determination flow rates is greater than or equal to the second predetermined value larger than the first predetermined value, the operating number is corrected to 0.
A method for operating a gas appliance management device, which corrects the number of operating units to 1 when the minimum value of the stored determination flow rates is less than the second predetermined value.

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