JPH0596748U - Leakage monitoring device for gas supply equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] To detect leaks in the gas supply equipment upstream of the gas meter 9. [Constitution] A gas meter 9 and a pressure regulator 15 having a safety valve for releasing gas when the gas adjustment pressure exceeds a predetermined value are housed in a meter cover 17, and the leak gas is contained in the meter cover 17. Gas sensor 1 for detecting
9 is provided. The safety valve port 33 of the pressure regulator 15 is connected to the outside of the meter cover 17 by the discharge pipe 35, and malfunction of the gas sensor 19 due to the operation of the safety valve is prevented.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to a leak monitoring device for a gas supply facility that detects a gas leak in the gas supply facility and performs a predetermined process.

[0002]

[Prior Art]

 As shown in FIG. 6, the liquefied petroleum gas used in general households (hereinafter referred to as LP gas) is stored in a gas cylinder 1 which is a gas supply source, and the liquefied petroleum gas is predetermined by a pressure regulator 3. It is decompressed to the pressure of and is supplied to the combustor such as the gas stove 7 in the house through the gas meter 5. There are the following methods for detecting gas leaks in such gas supply equipment.

(1) When the gas meter is a so-called microcomputer meter with a built-in microcomputer and the micro leak detection function is used by the micro meter, the micro leak detection function is used, for example, at night and at night when the gas consumption is low. Using this, the minute gas flow in this time zone is monitored by the minute leak detection unit, and the leakage is judged by the microcomputer logic installed inside.

(2) When using a pressure detection type gas cutoff valve The gas pressure in the gas supply pipe is detected by the pressure detection type gas cutoff valve, and the cutoff valve is closed to stop the gas supply based on the detected gas pressure. To do.

[0005]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 However, there are the following problems with such conventional gas leak detection.

(1) When using the micro leak detection function This function can detect and display the leak when there is a leak in the downstream of the micom meter, but the leak in the supply facility upstream of the micom meter. Cannot be detected.

(2) When using a pressure detection type gas shutoff valve Leakage on the downstream side of the shutoff valve mounting position can be detected, but when it is detected, it is always necessary to temporarily stop the gas supply for inspection. However, it is not a very realistic method.

Therefore, the present invention aims to enhance the detection of gas leakage in the gas supply facility.

[0009]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides a gas flow rate measuring device for measuring a gas flow rate, and a gas flow rate measuring device provided upstream of the gas flow rate measuring device to release gas when a gas adjusting pressure exceeds a predetermined value. A pressure regulator equipped with a safety valve is housed in a container, a gas detector for detecting leak gas is provided in the container, and the safety valve port of the pressure regulator can be communicated with the outside of the container. is there.

Further, the present invention is directed to a gas flow measuring instrument for measuring the flow rate of gas supplied from a gas supply source, and a gas flow measuring instrument provided upstream of the gas flow measuring instrument when the gas adjusting pressure exceeds a predetermined value. A pressure regulator equipped with a safety valve for releasing gas is housed in a container, and a gas detector for detecting leaked gas is provided in this container, and the supply of gas from the gas supply source is detected by the gas detector. A shutoff valve that can shut off by a signal is provided, and an alarm output means that outputs a warning in response to the detection signal of the gas detector described above is provided, and the gas detector detects leak gas below a predetermined value and When the flow rate measuring device measures a flow rate equal to or higher than a predetermined value, the shutoff valve may be maintained in an open state and a control unit for operating the alarm output means may be provided.

[0011]

According to the leak monitoring device of the gas supply facility having such a configuration, the gas detector detects the leaked gas in the container. In addition, since the safety valve port of the pressure regulator can communicate with the outside of the container, the gas leaking into the container does not affect the safety valve operation of the pressure regulator.

Further, the shutoff valve can be shut off by leak gas in the container detected by the gas detector, but the gas detector detects leak gas below a predetermined value and the gas flow rate measuring device detects above leak gas. When the flow rate is measured, the shutoff valve is kept open and the alarm output means is activated.

[0013]

【Example】

 An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a leak monitoring device for an LP gas supply facility showing a first embodiment of the present invention. The gas meter 9 as a gas flow rate measuring device in this gas supply equipment is a so-called microcomputer meter with a built-in microcomputer. It detects a gas flow rate abnormality and causes the display unit to display an abnormality, and also has a built-in on-off valve. It is equipped with a gas usage management function such as closing to stop the supply of gas and sending an alarm signal from the controller 11 to the gas management company via the telephone line 13.

The gas meter 9 and the controller 11 are housed in a meter cover 17 as a container installed outside, together with a pressure regulator 15 provided upstream of the gas meter 9 for depressurizing supply gas from a gas cylinder (not shown). Has been done. At the bottom of the meter cover 17, there is provided a gas sensor 19 as a pressure-resistant explosion-proof gas detector for detecting gas leaking into the meter cover 17. The detection signal of the gas sensor 19 is output to the alarm device 21 installed indoors to inform the user of the gas leak. Further, the alarm device 21 outputs a leak signal from the gas sensor 19 to the controller 11, and the controller 11 notifies the gas management company via the telephone line 13. The gas inlet 23 of the gas meter 9 and the gas outlet 25 of the pressure regulator 15 are connected by a gas pipe 27, and the gas outlet 29 of the gas meter 9 is connected by a gas pipe 31 to a combustor such as a gas stove which is an indoor consumption facility. ing.

The pressure regulator 15 has a function of switching the supply of gas from two gas cylinders (not shown), and when the gas regulation pressure exceeds a predetermined value, the pressure regulator 15 receives this gas pressure to release the gas. A safety valve mechanism for releasing gas is provided, and a safety valve port 33 for releasing gas is drawn out of the meter cover 17 by a discharge pipe 35. A ventilation port 17a is provided on the upper left side of the meter cover 17. The ventilation port 17a is formed so that the gas discharged from the discharge pipe 35 does not flow in.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the pressure regulator 15. In the pressure regulator 15, a diaphragm 41 is provided between the body 37 and the upper cap 39, and a gas inlet chamber 43 is formed between the diaphragm 41 and the body 37. Two gas inlets (not shown) connected to the two gas cylinders are opened in the gas inlet chamber 43. The gas in one of the gas cylinders is consumed to lower the pressure in the gas inlet chamber 43, whereby the diaphragm 41 is pushed by the spring 45 and descends together with the support body 47, the support shaft 49, and the like. At the upper end of the support shaft 49, a switching warning piece (not shown) that can be seen from the outside by the lowering of the supporting shaft 49, that is, consumption of gas in one gas cylinder, is attached. The replacement lever 51 is rotated to use the other gas cylinder.

A face cam 53 is rotatably attached to the support shaft 49 in the gas inlet chamber 43 together with the support shaft 49, and a cam surface 53 a on the lower surface of the face cam 53 is projected from the bottom surface of the gas inlet chamber 43 (not shown). It is possible to press two valve rods. When the switching lever 51 is rotated to a position where the face cam 53 presses one of the two valve rods, one gas inlet communicates with the gas inlet chamber 43, and gas is supplied from one gas cylinder. become.

A gas outlet pipe 55 is attached to a lower portion of the body 37 by a nut 57, and the gas outlet chamber 59 and the gas inlet chamber 43 on the gas outlet pipe 55 side can be communicated with each other through a communication hole 61. There is. A space 63 on the gas outlet chamber 59 side of the communication hole 61 accommodates an actuating body 67 that includes a valve portion 65 that can open and close the communication hole 61 and that can move up and down.

On the other hand, a safety valve mechanism cover 69 is attached to the side portion of the body 37. A diaphragm 71 is interposed between the safety valve mechanism cover 69 and the body 37, and a pressure adjusting chamber 73 is formed between the diaphragm 71 and the body 37. The pressure adjusting chamber 73 communicates with the space 63 on the gas outlet chamber 59 side through a through hole 67 a formed in the actuation body 67. The diaphragm 71 is urged toward the pressure adjusting chamber 73 by a spring 75, and a gas escape chamber 77 containing the spring 75 is communicated with a safety valve port 33 connected to the discharge pipe 35.

The diaphragm 71 is sandwiched by support plates 79, 81, and a through hole 81 a formed in the support plate 81 is provided with a valve body 83 serving as a safety valve so as to be movable in the left-right direction. A gap is formed between the valve body 83 and the through hole 81a to allow the pressure regulating chamber 73 and the gas escape chamber 77 on both sides of the diaphragm 71 to communicate with each other.

A spring bearing 87 supported by a nut 85 is attached to the end of the valve body 83 on the gas escape chamber 77 side, and the valve body 83 is allowed to escape between the spring bearing 87 and the diaphragm 71. A spring 89 that biases the chamber 77 side is interposed. The spring 89 is set to be stronger than the spring force of the spring 75. Due to this bias, the flange 83a formed on the pressure adjusting chamber 73 side of the valve body 83 is in close contact with the support plate 81, and the pressure adjusting chamber 73 is Communication with the gas escape chamber 77 is cut off.

One end of the actuating piece 91 is attached to the end of the valve body 83 on the pressure regulating chamber 73 side, and the other end of the actuating piece 91 is inserted into the through hole 67 a of the actuating body 67. The actuating piece 91 is rotatably supported near the end on the actuating body 67 side by a support pin 93 fixed to the body 37 side.

A pipe fitting 95 is attached to a lower portion of the safety valve mechanism cover 69 in which the safety valve port 33 is formed. As shown in the enlarged cross-sectional view of FIG. 3, the pipe fitting 95 has a protrusion 97, and by fastening a nut 99 on the discharge pipe 35 side to a screw 97a formed on the protrusion 97, The discharge pipe 35 is connected to the safety valve opening 33.

In such a pressure regulator, when the combustor such as the gas stove is not used, the gas pressure in the gas outlet chamber 59 is high, and therefore the gas pressure in the pressure regulating chamber 73 is also high. Moves rightward against the spring 75, and the actuating piece 91 pulled by the valve element 83 moving with it rotates clockwise around the pin 93 in the drawing. The clockwise rotation of the actuating piece 91 moves the actuating body 67 upward, the valve portion 65 closes the communication hole 61, and the gas supply is stopped.

When the combustor is used, the gas pressure in the gas outlet chamber 59 decreases and the gas pressure in the pressure adjusting chamber 73 also decreases, so that the diaphragm 71 is pushed by the spring 75 and displaced to the left, Along with this, the operating piece 91 pulled by the moving valve element 83 rotates about the pin 93 in the counterclockwise direction in the figure. By rotating the operating piece 91 in the counterclockwise direction, the operating body 67 moves downward, the valve portion 65 opens the communication hole 61, and gas can flow from the gas inlet chamber 43 into the gas outlet chamber 59. ..

After that, the diaphragm 71 is displaced in the left-right direction according to the gas pressure in the pressure adjusting chamber 73 to which the gas is supplied from the gas inlet chamber 43. That is, when the gas pressure increases, the diaphragm 71 is displaced to the right and the moving body 67 moves in the closing direction, while when the gas pressure decreases, the diaphragm 71 is displaced to the left and the moving body 67 opens. Move to. By repeating such operations, the amount of gas flowing from the gas inlet chamber 43 to the gas outlet chamber 59 is adjusted.

At this time, when the gas pressure in the pressure regulating chamber 73 moves the moving body 67 to the upper limit and exceeds a predetermined value exceeding the urging force of the spring 89, the diaphragm 71 causes the valve body 83 to move toward the spring 89. It displaces in the right direction against the contact force, and the close contact of the flange portion 83a of the valve body 83 with the support plate 81 is released. As a result, the gas in the pressure regulation chamber 73, which has become a high pressure, flows into the gas escape chamber 77 through the through hole 81a, flows out to the safety valve port 33 side, and the safety valve mechanism operates.

A gas leak occurs from the pressure regulator 15 functioning in this way, the gas meter 9 and the equipment such as the controller 11 and the gas pipes 27 and 31, and the gas is stored in the meter cover 17 that houses them. When the gas stays, the gas sensor 19 detects this leaked gas. The leak signal detected by the gas sensor 19 is output to the indoor alarm device 21 to inform the user of the gas leak. Further, the alarm device 21 outputs a leak signal from the gas sensor 19 to the controller 11, and the controller 11 notifies the gas management company via the telephone line 13.

In this case, it is possible to detect a leak in the gas supply facility upstream of the gas meter 9, and it is possible to combine the leak detection downstream of the gas meter 9 with the micro leak detection function using the microcomputer of the gas meter 9. The gas leak monitoring function will be enhanced by using it. Even if the safety valve mechanism in the pressure regulator 15 operates, the gas flowing from the pressure adjusting chamber 73 to the safety valve port 33 side through the gas escape chamber 77 flows through the discharge pipe 35 and is discharged to the outside of the meter cover 17. Therefore, the malfunction of the gas sensor 19 due to the operation of the safety valve mechanism is prevented.

FIG. 4 is an overall configuration diagram of a leakage monitoring device for LP gas supply equipment showing a second embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, together with a gas meter 9 which is a microcomputer meter, a controller 11 and a pressure regulator 15, a gas cylinder 101 which is a gas supply source is housed in a cylinder container 103 as a container, and a detection is made at the bottom of the cylinder container 103. There are provided three gas sensors 105, 107, 109, which are first, second, and third gas detectors in which the amount of leaked gas is leveled in three levels from level 1 to level 3. The first gas sensor 105 detects the highest level of leaked gas, and outputs a signal when the leaked gas is detected and continues for 2 minutes or more. The second gas sensor 107 detects an intermediate amount of leaked gas, and outputs it as a signal when the leaked gas is detected and continues for 1 minute or more. The third gas sensor 109 detects the lowest level of leaking gas, and outputs a signal at the same time as detecting the leaking gas.

The detection signals of these gas sensors 105, 107, 109 are sent to an alarm device 111 as an alarm output means provided indoors. A gas flow rate signal measured by the gas meter 9 is also input to the alarm device 111. The alarm device 111 outputs an alarm indoors based on a combination of the input signals of the three gas sensors 105, 107, 109 and the gas meter 9 indicating whether or not there is a gas flow rate, in other words, whether or not the gas is in use. A control circuit 117 having a function of issuing an alarm, reporting the gas from the alarm device 111 to the gas management company via the controller 11 or shutting off the high pressure shutoff valve 113 provided at the gas outlet of the gas cylinder 101 is built in. There is. Regarding the presence or absence of the gas flow rate by the gas meter 9, the flow rate is 3 liters / hour or more and the flow rate is less than 3 liters / hour. Other configurations are similar to those of the first embodiment. Reference numeral 103a is a ventilation port.

FIG. 5 shows an example of processing by the control circuit 117.

When the first, second, and third gas sensors 105, 107, and 109 respectively operate independently, it is assumed that the amount of leaked gas in the container 103 is small and the flow rate by the gas meter 9 is small. An alarm is issued by the alarm device 111 regardless of the presence or absence of a signal, or the gas management company is notified via the controller 11. In this case, since the high-pressure shutoff valve 113 is not closed with the flow rate signal indicating that the gas is in use, the trouble due to the stop of gas supply during use of gas is prevented.

When the three gas sensors 105, 107, 109 operate in combination, it is considered that the amount of leaked gas in the container 103 is larger than that in the single operation. For this reason, when the two gas sensors are simultaneously activated and the flow rate is zero, the high pressure shutoff valve 113 is closed to stop the gas supply and notify the gas management company. On the other hand, when two gas sensors are operating at the same time and there is a flow rate, only an alarm or notification is given to prevent problems caused by the gas supply being stopped while the gas is in use. The amount of leaked gas at this time is larger than that when the gas sensor operates independently, but is less than a predetermined value and is relatively small. Therefore, there is no problem with only an alarm or a notification without closing the high pressure shutoff valve 113.

Further, when the three gas sensors 105, 107, 109 are operated at the same time, the amount of leaked gas is considered to be considerably large, so the high pressure cutoff valve 113 is closed to stop the gas supply regardless of the flow rate signal. At the same time, notify the gas management company.

Also in this embodiment, similarly to the first embodiment of FIG. 1, it is possible to detect a leak in the gas supply facility upstream of the gas meter 9, and a minute leak using the microcomputer of the gas meter 9 is possible. When used in combination with the leak detection downstream of the gas meter 9 by the detection function, the gas leak monitoring function is enhanced. Further, even if the safety valve mechanism in the pressure regulator 15 operates, the gas flowing out to the safety valve port 33 side flows through the discharge pipe 35 and is discharged to the outside of the cylinder storage 103. , The second and third gas sensors 105, 107, 109 are prevented from malfunctioning.

[0038]

[Effect of the device]

 As described above, according to the present invention, the gas flow rate measuring device for measuring the gas usage amount and the gas flow rate measuring device provided upstream of the gas flow rate measuring device when the gas adjustment pressure exceeds a predetermined value. Since a pressure regulator equipped with a safety valve to release the gas was stored in the container and a gas detector was installed to detect leaked gas in this container, gas leakage at the gas supply equipment upstream of the gas flow rate measuring device was prevented. It is possible to detect, and the gas leak monitoring function will be enhanced. Further, even if the safety valve mechanism in the pressure regulator operates, the gas escaped from the safety valve opening is discharged to the outside of the container, so that the malfunction of the gas detector due to the operation of the safety valve mechanism can be prevented.

When the gas detector in the container detects a leak gas below a predetermined value and the gas flow meter measures a flow rate above the predetermined value, the gas supply from the gas supply source is shut off. Since the possible shutoff valve is kept open and the alarm output means is operated, even if there is a small amount of leaked gas in the container, it is possible to prevent problems caused by stopping the supply gas while using gas. ..

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a leak monitoring device for an LP gas supply facility showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a cross-sectional view of a pressure regulator used in the leak monitoring device of FIG.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the pressure regulator of FIG. 2 near a safety valve opening.

FIG. 4 is an overall configuration diagram of a leakage monitoring device for LP gas supply equipment showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of treatment by leak gas detection in the embodiment of FIG.

FIG. 6 is an overall configuration diagram of a leakage monitoring device for an LP gas supply facility showing a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 9 Gas Meter (Gas Flow Meter) 15 Pressure Regulator 17 Meter Cover (Container) 19 Gas Sensor (Gas Detector) 33 Safety Valve Port 83 Valve Disc (Safety Valve) 103 Cylinder (Container) 105, 107, 109 Gas Sensor (Gas Detector) ) 111 alarm device (alarm output means) 113 high pressure shutoff valve 117 control circuit (control unit)

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Shinobu Adachi 23 Minamikashima, Futamatata-cho, Tenryu City, Shizuoka Prefecture

Claims (2)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A gas flow rate measuring device for measuring a gas flow rate, and a pressure regulator provided upstream of the gas flow rate measuring device and provided with a safety valve for releasing gas when the gas regulating pressure exceeds a predetermined value. Leakage monitoring of gas supply equipment, characterized in that it is housed in a container, a gas detector for detecting leaked gas is provided in the container, and a safety valve opening of the pressure regulator can be communicated with the outside of the container. apparatus. 2. A gas flow rate measuring device for measuring the flow rate of gas supplied from a gas supply source, and a safety valve provided upstream of the gas flow rate measuring device for releasing gas when the gas adjustment pressure exceeds a predetermined value. A pressure regulator equipped with is housed in a container, a gas detector for detecting leak gas is provided in the container, and the supply of gas from the gas supply source can be shut off by a detection signal of the gas detector. A valve is provided, and alarm output means for outputting an alarm in response to a detection signal of the gas detector is provided, the gas detector detects leak gas of a predetermined value or less, and the gas flow rate measuring device has a predetermined value or more. A leak monitoring device for gas supply equipment, comprising: a control unit that maintains the shutoff valve in an open state and operates an alarm output unit when the flow rate is measured.