JPH07174594A - Discrimination apparatus for gas appliance - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a discrimination apparatus which can further classify gas appliances belonging to the same flow-rate classification and which can discriminate the gas appliances in more detail. CONSTITUTION:A gas supply pressure is changed actively by an active-pressure-change means 45. A flow-rate-ratio operation means 46 finds the ratio of a flow rate which flows in an appliance equipped with a governor out of the total gas flow rate on the basis of a gas supply pressure and a gas flow rate which are detected by a pressure detection means 41 and a flow-rate detection means 42 before and after a pressure change. On the basis of the ratio and the total gas flow rate, a flow-rate operation means 47 for appliances equipped with gas governors and appliances not equipped with the gas governors finds a flow rate flowing in the appliance equipped with the gas governor and a flow rate flowing in the appliance not equipped with the gas governor. A gas-appliance-attribute-information detection means 48 detects information on the attribute of a gas appliance other than the gas flow rate and the gas supply pressure. A discrimination means 49 discriminates a gas appliance by fuzzy inference on the basis of individual pieces of information from an individual-flow-rate operation means 44, the flow-rate operation means 47 for appliances equipped with gas governors and the applainces not equipped with the gas governors and the gas-appliance-attribute- information detection means 48.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a gas appliance discriminating apparatus for discriminating the type of gas appliance used.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, household gas meters have a function of measuring the flow rate of gas passing through them with a flow meter, and the gas supply pressure is detected by a pressure switch to detect a pressure drop when the gas is not in use. Gas flow rate is detected by the flow meter, or the gas flow rate is detected by the flow meter over the predetermined amount, or when the gas flow rate is detected over the predetermined period, the gas safety is activated by closing the gas flow path. Some have a blocking function. This prevents gas accidents by detecting gas leaks in pipes and unnatural gas outflows.
It guarantees safety.

By the way, when a similar minute gas flow rate continues for a long time, there is a case where the gas is not leaked as in the case of using a fan heater. Therefore, with the gas safety shutoff function that shuts off the gas by simply monitoring only the gas supply pressure and gas flow rate, there is a risk that the gas may be shut off without danger, or the gas may not be shut off even though it is dangerous. There is. Therefore, it is desired to determine the gas appliance used and to determine the presence or absence of gas leakage according to the gas appliance. It should be noted that distinguishing the gas appliances used is also useful for surveying the actual conditions of gas use and forecasting demand.

Here, an example of a conventional gas appliance discriminating apparatus will be described with reference to FIGS. 17 and 18. FIG. 17
As shown in, the gas appliance discriminating apparatus 1 is built in the gas meter 2 and connected to each gas appliance 4 only through the gas pipe 3. As shown in FIG. 18, the gas appliance discriminating apparatus 1 is sent from the flow rate measuring means 5 which emits a signal according to the amount of passing gas of the gas meter 2 provided in the gas supply line, and the flow rate measuring means 5. An individual gas appliance flow rate calculation means 6 for calculating a change flow rate of the gas amount passing through the gas meter based on the signal and separating the flow rate for each individual gas appliance, and for each individual gas appliance separated by the individual gas appliance flow rate calculation means 6. If the gas flow rate increases by a certain amount or more according to the change flow rate, it is judged that the gas appliance corresponding to the increased flow rate has begun to be used, and that gas appliance is registered. The gas appliance registration means 7 deletes the registration when it judges that the use of the gas appliance corresponding to the minute has been stopped. In general, the gas appliance registration means 7 determines the gas appliance by assuming in advance which flow rate category each gas appliance belongs to.

Examples of such a conventional gas appliance discriminating apparatus are disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 3-236513 and 3-217.
No. 716 publication.

[0006]

However, in the conventional gas appliance discriminating apparatus as described above, the gas appliance is discriminated based only on the individual gas appliance flow rate, so that the one having a very large gas flow rate classification is large. Water heater or central heating device, medium sized stove or small water heater,
There is a problem that relatively small things can only be roughly determined, such as a fan heater or a portable stove. Further, there is a problem that gas appliances belonging to the same flow rate category cannot be distinguished from each other.

Although it is possible to provide a special data transmitting / receiving means with each gas appliance in order to identify the gas appliance being used, there is a problem that the structure becomes complicated.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a gas appliance discriminating apparatus capable of further classifying gas appliances belonging to the same flow rate classification and enabling more detailed gas appliance discrimination. To provide.

[0009]

A gas appliance discriminating apparatus according to claim 1 is provided in a gas supply path for a gas appliance and passes through the gas pressure detecting means for detecting a gas supply pressure for the gas appliance and the gas supply path. When a change occurs in the gas flow rate detecting means for detecting the gas flow rate and the gas flow rate detected by the gas flow rate detecting means, the change flow rate is calculated, and the flow rate of each individual gas appliance is obtained based on this change flow rate. Individual gas appliance flow rate calculation means, pressure variation means for actively varying the gas supply pressure, and gas supply pressure and gas flow rate detection detected by the gas pressure detection means before and after pressure variation by the pressure variation means, respectively. Of the total gas flow rate based on the gas flow rate detected by the means and the gas flow rate being supplied to the gas appliance equipped with the gas governor. Flow rate ratio calculating means for obtaining the gas flow rate, gas appliance attribute information detecting means for obtaining information related to the attributes of the gas appliance other than the magnitude of the gas flow rate and the magnitude of the gas supply pressure, and the total amount detected by the gas flow rate detecting means. Based on the gas flow rate, the flow rate of each individual gas appliance obtained by the individual gas appliance flow rate calculating means, the ratio obtained by the flow rate ratio calculating means, and the information obtained by the gas appliance attribute information detecting means, the gas appliance being used is determined. And a discriminating means for discriminating.

In this gas appliance discriminating apparatus, the gas supply pressure to the gas appliance is actively varied by the pressure varying means, and the gas supply pressure and the gas flow rate detected by the gas pressure detecting means before and after this pressure variation, respectively. Based on the gas flow rate detected by the detection means, the flow rate ratio calculation means determines the ratio of the gas flow rate supplied to the gas appliance equipped with the gas governor to the total gas flow rate. Further, the gas appliance attribute information detecting means can obtain information related to the attributes of the gas appliance other than the magnitude of the gas flow rate and the magnitude of the gas supply pressure. Then, in the discriminating means, the total gas flow rate detected by the gas flow rate detecting means, the individual gas appliance unit flow rate obtained by the individual gas appliance flow rate calculating means, the ratio obtained by the flow rate ratio calculating means, and the gas appliance attribute information detecting means are set. The gas appliance used is determined based on the obtained information.

A gas appliance discriminating apparatus according to a second aspect is the gas appliance discriminating apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the flow ratio calculating means is configured such that the gas supply pressure before pressure variation is H ₁ , the gas flow rate is Q ₁ , and the pressure variation. When the gas supply pressure afterwards is H ₂ and the gas flow rate is Q ₂ , the ratio of the gas flow rate supplied to the gas appliance equipped with the gas governor to the total gas flow rate is expressed as {Q ₂ √H ₁ -Q ₁ √H ₂ } / {Q ₁ (√H ₁ −
√H ₂ )}.

A gas appliance discriminating apparatus according to a third aspect is the gas appliance discriminating apparatus according to the first or second aspect, wherein the gas appliance attribute information detecting means is used for the information on the time when the gas appliance is used and the gas appliance. At least one of the seasonal information and the information on the change pattern of the flow rate of each individual gas appliance when the gas appliance is ignited is obtained.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings. 1 to 16 relate to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing a schematic configuration of a gas meter including the gas appliance discriminating apparatus of this embodiment. The gas meter 10 has a gas a for a plurality of gas appliances.
A gas pipe 11 for supplying the gas is provided. In this gas pipe 11, an on-off valve 12 such as a valve for changing the pressure of the gas supplied to the downstream side of the gas meter 10 by changing the flow rate of the passing gas, and for shutting off the gas flow path at the time of abnormality Gas shutoff valve 13, a gas pressure sensor 14 for detecting the pressure of the gas in the gas passage, and a gas flow meter 15 for detecting the flow rate of the gas passing through the gas passage.
And are arranged in sequence.

Further, in the gas meter 10, there is provided a control section 16 for inputting respective outputs of the gas pressure sensor 14 and the gas flow meter 15 and controlling the on-off valve 12 and the gas cutoff valve 13.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control unit 16 and its surroundings which constitute the gas appliance discriminating apparatus of this embodiment. As shown in this figure, the control unit 16 includes a CPU (central processing unit) 30, a ROM (read only memory) 3
1, a RAM (random access memory) 32 and an input / output port 34, which are connected to each other by a bus 35. The gas pressure sensor 14, the gas flow meter 15, and a gas appliance attribute information detecting means for obtaining information related to the attributes of the gas appliance other than the magnitude of the gas flow rate and the magnitude of the gas supply pressure are provided at the input / output port 34. Sensor 1
7, a drive circuit 36 for driving the gas cutoff valve 13, and a drive circuit 37 for driving the open / close valve 12 are connected. In the control unit 16, the CPU 30 realizes the function as the gas appliance determination device by executing the program stored in the ROM 31 using the RAM 32 as a working area.

In the present embodiment, the sensor 17 includes a timer for obtaining information on the time when the gas appliance was used and information on the season when the gas appliance was used. In addition to this, as the sensor 17, a sensor for detecting the outside air temperature or the like may be provided.
Further, in the present embodiment, as the gas appliance attribute information detection means, further, means for obtaining information on the change pattern of the flow rate of each individual gas appliance when the gas appliance is ignited is provided,
This means is realized by the gas flow meter 15 and the control unit 16. That is, the control unit 16 sequentially samples the gas flow rate detected by the gas flow meter 15 when the gas appliance is ignited to determine the change pattern of the flow rate of each individual gas appliance.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram showing the function of the gas appliance discriminating apparatus of this embodiment. As shown in this figure, the gas appliance discriminating apparatus of the present embodiment has a gas pressure detecting means 41 for detecting a gas supply pressure, a gas flow rate detecting means 42 for detecting a gas flow rate, the gas pressure detecting means 41 and the gas. Storage unit 43 for storing each detection value of the flow rate detection unit 42
It has and. The gas pressure detection means 41 is realized by the gas pressure sensor 14, the gas flow rate detection means 42 is realized by the gas flow meter 15, and the storage means 43 is RAM3.
It is realized by 2.

The gas appliance discriminating apparatus further calculates a change flow rate when a change occurs in the gas flow rate detected by the gas flow rate detecting means 42, and based on this change flow rate, the flow rate of each individual gas appliance (hereinafter , Individual flow rate calculation means 44, active pressure change means 45 for actively changing the gas supply pressure, and before and after pressure change by the active pressure change means 45, respectively. When the gas flow rate in the gas pipe 11 is stable, based on the gas supply pressure detected by the gas pressure detection means 41 and the gas flow rate detected by the gas flow rate detection means 42, the gas governor among the total gas flow rates is And a flow rate ratio calculating means 46 for obtaining the ratio of the flow rate of gas supplied to the equipped gas appliance. The individual gas appliance flow rate calculation means 44 and the flow rate ratio calculation means 46 store the values of the gas flow rate and gas supply pressure required for the calculation in the storage means 43.
It is designed to read from. The individual gas appliance flow rate calculation means 44 and the flow rate ratio calculation means 46 are realized by the control section 16, and the active pressure fluctuation means 45 is realized by the control section 16, the drive circuit 37 and the on-off valve 12.

The gas appliance discriminating apparatus further comprises the gas flow rate detecting means 42 and the ratio obtained by the flow rate calculating means 46.
Based on the total gas flow rate detected by the gas governor, the gas flow rate supplied to the gas appliance equipped with the gas governor and the gas flow rate supplied to the gas appliance not equipped with the gas governor are determined. Separate flow rate calculation means 47, gas appliance attribute information detection means 48 for obtaining information related to the attributes of gas appliances other than the magnitude of gas flow rate and the magnitude of gas supply pressure, and individual gas appliance flow rate calculation means 4
4 based on the individual flow rate obtained by 4 and the gas flow rate obtained by the gas governor equipment non-equipped flow rate calculating means 47 and the information obtained by the gas appliance attribute information detecting means 48, It is provided with a discriminating means 49 for discriminating. The gas flow rate calculated by the gas governor non-equipped flow rate calculation means 47 is a value based on the ratio calculated by the flow rate ratio calculation means 46 and the total gas flow rate detected by the gas flow rate detection means 42. The means 49 is a total gas flow rate detected by the gas flow rate detecting means 42, a flow rate of each individual gas appliance calculated by the individual gas appliance flow rate calculating means 44, a ratio calculated by the flow rate ratio calculating means 46, and a gas appliance attribute information detecting means. Based on the information obtained by 48,
It will determine the gas appliances used. The gas-governor-equipped / non-equipped flow rate calculation means 47 reads out the value of the total gas flow rate required for calculation from the storage means 43. The flow rate calculation means 47 and the discrimination means 49 for each equipment without gas governor are realized by the controller 16. Also,
As described above, the gas appliance attribute information detecting means 48 is realized by the timer for obtaining the time information and the season information, the gas flow meter 15, and the control unit 16.

Next, the operation of the gas appliance discriminating apparatus of this embodiment will be described.

The gas pressure detecting means 41 and the gas flow rate detecting means 42 always detect the gas supply pressure and the gas flow rate.
The individual gas appliance flow rate calculation means 44 is the gas flow rate detection means 4
When the gas flow rate detected by 2 changes,
The change flow rate is calculated, and the individual flow rate is obtained based on this change flow rate. That is, when the changed flow rate exceeds a predetermined value, the changed flow rate is set as the individual flow rate F1.

Further, the active pressure changing means 45 drives the opening / closing valve 12 to actively change the gas supply pressure when the use of a new gas appliance is started. The flow rate ratio calculation means 46 detects the gas supply pressure by the gas pressure detection means 41 and the gas flow rate detection means 4 when the gas flow rate is stable before and after the pressure fluctuation.
The gas flow rate is detected by 2 and the ratio of the gas flow rate supplied to the gas appliance equipped with the gas governor is calculated based on the gas supply pressure and the gas flow rate.

Here, the operations of the active pressure changing means 45 and the flow rate calculating means 46 will be described in detail with reference to the flow chart shown in FIG.

First, the flow rate calculating means 46 detects that the changed flow rate exceeds a predetermined value, and detects the use start state of a new gas appliance (step S101). Next, the flow rate ratio calculation means 46 waits for the gas flow rate detected by the gas flow rate detection means 42 to stabilize (step S10).
2) When the gas flow rate is stabilized, the gas pressure detection means 41 and the gas flow rate detection means 42 are used to detect the gas supply pressure H ₁ and the gas flow rate Q ₁ before the active pressure fluctuation (step S103), and the memory is stored. It is stored in the means 43.

Next, the active pressure changing means 45 changes the gas supply pressure stepwise (step S104).
Next, the flow rate calculation means 46 waits for the gas flow rate detected by the gas flow rate detection means 42 to stabilize (step S105), and when the gas flow rate stabilizes, the gas pressure detection means 41 and the gas flow rate detection means 42 are connected. The gas supply pressure H ₂ after the active pressure change and the gas flow rate Q ₂ are detected (step S106) and stored in the storage means 43.

Next, the flow rate ratio calculating means 46 is stored in the storage means 4.
Based on the gas supply pressures H ₁ and H ₂ before and after the active pressure fluctuation stored in 3 and the gas flow rates Q ₁ and Q ₂ ,
The ratio of the gas flow rate supplied to the gas appliance equipped with the gas governor (hereinafter referred to as the flow rate ratio) of the total gas flow rate is obtained (step S107), and the operation is ended.
In order to improve the accuracy of gas supply pressure and gas flow rate,
You may obtain | require the average value of predetermined time.

The flow rate ratio is specifically obtained by the following equation.

[0029]

[Equation 1] {Q ₂ √H ₁ −Q ₁ √H ₂ } / {Q ₁ (√H ₁
−√H ₂ )}

The meaning of the above equation will be described. Generally, in a gas meter, when the gas supply pressure is actively fluctuated, when the gas appliance used is equipped with a gas governor (pressure regulator), such as a gas grill, fluctuations in the gas supply pressure. Since the gas governor absorbs the gas, the influence does not appear on the gas flow rate. On the other hand, when there is nothing obstructing the flow of gas inside the gas appliance used, that is, when the gas governor is not equipped, for example, in the case of a gas table, there is a theoretical difference between the square root of the gas supply pressure and the gas flow rate. There is a proportional relationship.

Therefore, when a plurality of gas appliances are used, the gas flow rate Q ₁ before active pressure fluctuation is expressed by the following equation.

[0032]

[Formula 2] Q ₁ = A'√H ₁ + B ₁ = A√H ₁

However, A'and A are constants, and A = A '
There is a relationship of + (B ₁ / √H ₁ ). Further, B ₁ is the flow rate of the gas appliance equipped with the gas governor.

The gas flow rate Q ₂ after the active pressure fluctuation is expressed by the following equation.

[0035]

[Equation 3] Q ₂ = A'√H ₂ + B ₁

Here, if the difference between Q ₂ and A√H ₂ is taken, the following equation is obtained.

[0037]

[Equation 4] Q ₂ −A√H ₂ = B ₁ {1-√ (H ₂ / H ₁ )}

If the left side is zero, the plurality of gas appliances do not all have the gas governor, otherwise, the gas flow rate B ₁ flowing through the gas appliance having the gas governor is as follows.

[0039]

## EQU5 ## B ₁ = {Q ₂ −Q ₁ √ (H ₂ / H ₁ )} / {1
_{-√ (H 2 / H 1)} }

If this is divided by the total flow rate Q ₁ , the ratio of the flow rate (flow rate ratio) flowing through the gas appliance having the gas governor to the total flow rate is obtained by the following equation.

[0041]

[Equation 6] B ₁ / Q ₁ = {Q ₂ √H ₁ −Q ₁ √H ₂ } /
{Q ₁ (√H ₁ −√H ₂ )}

FIG. 5 shows experimental data for verifying the validity of the calculated value of the above-mentioned flow rate ratio. In this experiment, the total flow rate of the gas appliances with a gas governor (gas grill, fan heater) and the gas appliances without a gas governor (gas table) was set to 240 liters / hour, and the gas supply pressure was actively increased from 200 mm water column to 10 mm water column. It caused fluctuation. And before and after the pressure fluctuation 3
The flow rate ratio (calculated value) is obtained by taking the average value of the gas flow rate and the gas supply pressure for 0 seconds for 60 seconds (600 data is sampled). FIG. 5 shows the results of eight experiments. In addition, in FIG. 5, "actual value"
Is the set flow rate ratio, and the "calculated value" is B ₁ /
This is the flow rate ratio calculated from the calculation of Q ₁ . From this result, it is understood that the calculated value of the flow rate ratio in this embodiment is appropriate.

Next, the flow rate calculating means 47 for each equipment without gas governor, based on the flow rate ratio obtained by the flow rate calculating means 46 and the total flow rate detected by the gas flow rate detecting means 42 as described above, Among them, the total sum Y of the flow rates flowing through the gas appliance having the gas governor and the total sum Z of the flow rates flowing through the gas appliance having no gas governor among the total flow rates are calculated.

On the other hand, the gas appliance attribute information detecting means 48 is
Information on the time when the gas appliance is used, information on the season when the gas appliance is used, and information on the change pattern of the individual flow rate when the gas appliance is ignited are obtained. Note that the information on the change pattern of the individual flow rate when the gas appliance is ignited is specifically information on whether or not a slow ignition mode as described below is recognized in the change pattern of the individual flow rate.

FIG. 16 is a characteristic diagram showing the relationship between time and gas flow rate. In this figure, as indicated by reference numeral 51, in a gas appliance such as a gas stove or a gas stove in which the gas flow rate is manually changed, the gas flow rate reaches a constant flow rate immediately when the use of the gas appliance is started at time t ₀ . On the other hand, reference numeral 5
As shown by 2a to 52c, in the gas appliance with the automatic gas flow rate control function, when the use of the gas appliance is started at time t ₀ , there is a slow ignition state 52a until ignition at time t ₁ , and after ignition, The gas flow rate reaches the maximum flow rate (52b), after which the gas flow rate is controlled (52c). In this embodiment,
The patterns indicated by reference numerals 52a to 52c are referred to as the slow ignition mode.

The discriminating means 49 includes the individual flow rate F1 obtained by the individual gas appliance flow rate calculating means 44, the gas flow rates Y and Z obtained by the gas governor non-equipment flow rate calculating means 47, and the gas appliance attribute information detecting means. Based on the information obtained by 48, the type of gas appliance used is determined. In the present embodiment, the discriminating means 49 weights which input information has a significant meaning among a plurality of input information, and quantitatively expresses the suitability for the estimated type of gas appliance. For that purpose, the discrimination means 49 uses, for example, fuzzy inference.

A method of determining the type of gas appliance used by fuzzy inference will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 to 15.

First, in fuzzy inference according to the present embodiment, for example, the following rules are adopted.

(Rule 1) If the individual flow rate F1 is larger than the sum Z of the flow rates of the gas appliances not equipped with the gas governor among the total gas flow rates, and the individual flow rate F1 is a small flow rate, the season is midwinter. If the slow ignition mode is recognized in the change pattern of the individual flow rate when the gas appliance is ignited, it is very likely that the heating appliance is equipped with a gas governor.

(Rule 2): If the individual flow rate F1 is larger than the sum Y of the flow rates of the gas appliances equipped with the gas governor out of the total gas flow rate, the individual flow rate F1 is a small flow rate, and the time is at meal time. If the slow ignition mode is not recognized in the change pattern of the individual flow rate when the gas appliance is ignited, the cookware without the gas governor (for example, a gas table) is very likely.

(Rule 3): If the individual flow rate F1 is larger than the sum Z of the flow rates of the gas appliances not equipped with the gas governor among the total gas flow rates, and the individual flow rate F1 is a large flow rate, the ignition of the gas appliance is performed. If the slow ignition mode is recognized in the change pattern of the individual flow rate at that time, it is very likely that the gas heater is equipped with a gas governor.

In addition to the above-mentioned rules, a rule for discriminating the likelihood of a heating appliance (for example, a gas stove) not equipped with a gas governor or the like of a cooking appliance (for example, a gas grill) equipped with a gas governor may be adopted.

In Rules 1 to 3, the individual flow rate F
The reason for comparing 1 with the sum Y of the flow rates of the gas appliances equipped with the gas governor and the sum Z of the flow rates of the gas appliances not equipped with the gas governor is as follows. That is, when the individual flow rate F1 is larger than the sum Y of the flow rates flowing through the gas appliances equipped with the gas governor among the total flow rates, it is clear that the gas appliances used are not likely to be equipped with the gas governor. Moreover, when the individual flow rate F1 is larger than the total sum Z of the flow rates of the gas appliances without the gas governor among the total flow rates,
Gas appliances used are likely to be equipped with gas governors.

In order to determine the type of gas appliance by fuzzy inference using the above rules, the membership functions F1-Y, F1-Z and F1 to F4 of the antecedent part and the consequent part as described below are used. Membership functions F5 to F8 are defined.

FIG. 6 shows the membership functions of F1-Y, and FIG. 7 shows the membership functions of F1-Z. In this figure, PB means "very large".

FIG. 8 shows the individual flow rate function F1. In the individual flow rate function F1, membership values of NB (very small), ZO (medium), and PB (very large) are given according to the individual flow rate.

FIG. 9 shows the meal time function F2. This meal time function F2 indicates the degree at meal time, and the membership value of PB (very large) is larger as it fits at meal time.

FIG. 10 shows the seasonal function F3. This seasonal function F3 expresses the degree of winter in NB (very small),
The degree of summer is represented by PB (very large).

FIG. 11 shows the deviation function F4 with respect to the slow ignition mode. In the deviation function F4 with respect to the slow ignition mode, NB (very small), ZO (medium), PB (extremely small) depending on the deviation between the variation pattern of the individual flow rate and the slow ignition mode as shown in FIG. Each greater membership value is given. The smaller the deviation from the slow ignition mode, the greater the degree of recognition as the slow ignition mode.

FIG. 12 shows a heating appliance-like function F5,
13 shows a cooking appliance like function F6, and FIG. 14 shows a hot water appliance like function F7. In these figures, the numerical values on the horizontal axis indicate the respective instrument-likeness (the larger the numerical value, the greater the respective instrument-likeness). NB (very small), ZO (medium)
Each membership value of PB (very large) is given.

FIG. 15 is a function F of the gas governor equipment
8, the numerical value on the abscissa indicates the gas governor-equipped device-likeness (the larger the value, the greater the gas governor-equipped device-likeness). NB corresponding to this gas governor equipment
Membership values of (very small) and PB (very large) are given.

Using the above membership function, the above-mentioned rules 1 to 3 can be expressed by the following equations. (Rule 1): IF F1-Z = PB AND F1 =
NB AND F3 = NB AND F4 = NB TH
EN F5 = PB AND F8 = PB (Rule 2): IF F1-Y = PB AND F1 =
NB AND F2 = PB AND F4 = PB TH
EN F6 = PB AND F8 = NB (Rule 3): IF F1-Z = PB AND F1 =
PB AND F4 = NB THEN F7 = PB A
ND F8 = PB

The membership functions shown in FIGS. 6 to 15 are
For example, an experiment is performed in advance, and an appropriate shape is set so that the determination result of each gas appliance likeness matches the actual gas appliance. Further, each membership function may be changed according to the actual condition.

In this embodiment, using such rules and membership functions, the individual flow rate F1 obtained by the individual gas appliance flow rate calculation means 44 and the gas flow rates Y, Z obtained by the gas governor non-equipped flow rate calculation means 47 are used. And the information obtained by the gas appliance attribute information detection means 48, the discrimination means 49 infers the type of gas appliance used by fuzzy inference. As the inference method, for example, the MIN (logical product) -MAX (logical sum) -centroid synthesis method is used.

As described above, according to the gas appliance discriminating apparatus of the present embodiment, not only the individual flow rate but also the ratio of the gas flow rate supplied to the gas appliance equipped with the gas governor to the total gas flow rate, Since the type of gas appliance is determined based on the information related to the attribute of the gas appliance, even gas appliances belonging to the same flow rate category can be further classified, and a special data transmission / reception means with each gas appliance. It is possible to identify the gas appliance in more detail without the provision of.

Further, according to the gas appliance discriminating apparatus of the present embodiment, it is possible to discriminate the presence or absence of the risk of gas leakage from the discrimination result regarding the presence or absence of the gas governor equipment. That is, when all the gas appliances used are gas appliances equipped with a gas governor, it can be determined that there is no danger of gas leakage. Therefore, when the gas appliance discriminating apparatus of the present embodiment is combined with a gas safety shutoff device, even if a similar minute flow rate is detected for a long time, "only a gas appliance equipped with a gas governor (for example, a fan heater) is used. If the gas is not equipped with gas governor is used, it is judged as a gas leak and the gas is shut off.
It is possible to provide a more sophisticated gas safety shutoff device. As a result, it is possible to prevent problems such as accidentally shutting off the gas even if it is safe and danger of not shutting off the gas.

By adding a communication function to the gas appliance discriminating apparatus of this embodiment, the usage status of the gas appliances in each home can be grasped from a remote location. It is possible to provide various services and use it for demand forecasting.

[0068]

As described above, according to the gas appliance discriminating apparatus of the present invention, the ratio of the gas flow rate supplied to the gas appliance equipped with the gas governor is calculated by the flow rate ratio calculating means. Further, the gas appliance attribute information detecting means obtains information related to the attributes of the gas appliance other than the magnitude of the gas flow rate and the magnitude of the gas supply pressure, and the total gas flow rate detected by the gas flow rate detecting means and the individual information. Based on the flow rate of each individual gas appliance obtained by the gas appliance flow rate calculating means, the ratio obtained by the flow rate ratio calculating means, and the information obtained by the gas appliance attribute information detecting means, the gas appliance being used is determined. Therefore, even gas appliances belonging to the same flow rate category can be further classified, and there is an effect that more detailed gas appliance determination can be performed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of a gas meter including a gas appliance discriminating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control unit in FIG. 1 and its peripherals.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram showing functions of the gas appliance discriminating apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the active pressure fluctuation means and the flow rate ratio calculation means in FIG.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing experimental data for verifying the validity of the calculated value of the flow rate ratio by the flow rate ratio calculating means in FIG.

6 is an explanatory diagram showing a membership function of an antecedent part for fuzzy inference performed by the discrimination means in FIG.

7 is an explanatory diagram showing a membership function of an antecedent part for fuzzy inference performed by the discriminating means in FIG. 3. FIG.

8 is an explanatory diagram showing a membership function of an antecedent part for fuzzy inference performed by the discriminating means in FIG. 3. FIG.

9 is an explanatory diagram showing a membership function of an antecedent part for fuzzy inference performed by the discriminating means in FIG. 3. FIG.

10 is an explanatory diagram showing a membership function of an antecedent part for fuzzy inference performed by the discrimination means in FIG. 3. FIG.

11 is an explanatory diagram showing a membership function of an antecedent part for fuzzy inference performed by the discriminating means in FIG. 3. FIG.

12 is an explanatory diagram showing a membership function of a consequent part for fuzzy inference performed by the discrimination means in FIG.

13 is an explanatory diagram showing a membership function of a consequent part for fuzzy inference performed by the discrimination means in FIG.

14 is an explanatory diagram showing a membership function of a consequent part for fuzzy inference performed by the discriminating means in FIG. 3. FIG.

15 is an explanatory diagram showing a membership function of a consequent part for fuzzy inference performed by the discrimination means in FIG.

FIG. 16 is a characteristic diagram showing the relationship between time and gas flow rate for explaining the slow ignition mode.

FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram showing a system including a conventional gas appliance determination device.

FIG. 18 is a functional block diagram showing a configuration of a conventional gas appliance determination device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 gas meter 12 on-off valve 14 gas pressure sensor 15 gas flow meter 16 control unit 17 sensor

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A gas pressure detecting means provided in a gas supply path for a gas appliance and detecting a gas supply pressure for the gas appliance; a gas flow rate detecting means for detecting a gas flow rate passing through the gas supply path; When a change occurs in the gas flow rate detected by the flow rate detection means, the changed flow rate is calculated, and based on this changed flow rate, the individual gas appliance flow rate calculation means for determining the flow rate of each individual gas appliance unit and the gas supply pressure are activated. Based on the gas supply pressure detected by the gas pressure detecting means and the gas flow rate detected by the gas flow rate detecting means before and after the pressure change by the pressure changing means. , A flow ratio calculation means for obtaining a ratio of the gas flow supplied to the gas appliance equipped with the gas governor to the total gas flow, Gas appliance attribute information detection means for obtaining information related to the attributes of gas appliances other than the magnitude of gas flow rate and the magnitude of gas supply pressure, the total gas flow rate detected by the gas flow rate detection means, and the individual gas appliance flow rate Discriminating means for discriminating the gas appliance being used, based on the flow rate of each individual gas appliance obtained by the calculating means, the ratio obtained by the flow rate ratio calculating means, and the information obtained by the gas appliance attribute information detecting means. A gas appliance discriminating apparatus comprising: 2. When the gas supply pressure before pressure change is H ₁ , the gas flow rate is Q ₁ , the gas supply pressure after pressure change is H ₂ , and the gas flow rate is Q ₂ , the flow rate ratio calculating means is The ratio of the gas flow rate supplied to the gas appliance equipped with the gas governor to the gas flow rate is calculated as {Q ₂ √H ₁
The gas appliance discriminating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the gas appliance discriminating apparatus is obtained as -Q ₁ √H ₂ } / {Q ₁ (√H ₁ -√H ₂ )}. 3. The gas appliance attribute information detecting means, information on the time when the gas appliance is used, information on the season when the gas appliance is used, and a change pattern of the flow rate of each individual gas appliance when the gas appliance is ignited. 3. The gas appliance discriminating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the above information is obtained.