JP5108275B2 - Gas appliance discrimination device and discrimination method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a gas appliance discriminating apparatus and a discriminating method that are installed in a gas supply channel to each home and are used for a gas meter having a gas flow meter, and in particular, by identifying the gas appliance in use. , It relates to technology that makes it possible to provide more advanced security functions and services corresponding to gas appliances.

  A gas meter with a built-in gas flow meter is attached to the entrance of the gas supply line to each household. The gas meter measures the gas flow rate passing through the gas supply line, and the measured gas flow rate is used for the periodic calculation of the billed gas charge. In addition to the basic function of measuring the gas flow rate, such a gas meter has a security function of shutting off the gas supply when an abnormal condition occurs. According to this safety function, gas is shut off by a shut-off valve provided in the gas flow path of the gas meter in response to detection of an abnormal use state such as detection of an earthquake, gas leakage or forgetting to turn off the appliance.

  FIG. 24 is a diagram showing a set value of safe continuous use time used for blocking when the safe continuous use time is over, which is one of the security functions. This function assumes that an abnormal usage condition such as a gas leak has occurred if the gas flow is continuously used after the occurrence of the gas flow is detected and the duration is too long. This is a function to shut off the gas.

  As shown in FIG. 24, a large water heater with a large gas flow rate is continuously used only for about 30 minutes, while a stove with a small gas flow rate will be used for a long time. On the premise, the safe continuous use time when the gas flow rate is large is set short, and the safe continuous use time when the gas flow rate is low is set long.

  Then, when the gas flow rate is generated or changed, the gas meter determines that the use of some gas appliance has started, measures the time during which the flow rate continues, and exceeds the safe continuous use time shown in FIG. When the flow rate continues, gas is shut off for security reasons. Therefore, the safety continuous use time over shut-off is performed based on the used gas flow rate without specifying the gas appliance in use.

  However, as shown in FIG. 24, there are different gas appliances such as a stove that is used for a relatively long time and a stove and a small water heater that are used only for a relatively short time in a small gas flow rate range. In the conventional gas meter, since the gas appliance in use cannot be specified, the safe continuous use time is set to be long in accordance with the long-time use stove. Along with this, there has been a lack of suboptimal safety continuous use time for stoves and small water heaters. Therefore, if the gas meter can discriminate the gas appliance in use, it is advantageous because a security function suitable for it can be provided.

  From such a viewpoint, proposals relating to the gas appliance discriminating apparatus have been conventionally made, for example, as shown in Patent Documents 1 to 3. That is, in these conventional techniques, in order to determine the gas appliance in use from the change in gas flow rate when the gas appliance is used, a partial flow rate obtained by dividing a complicated series of gas flow rate changes for each combustion control step is used. It uses the concept of patterns.

  That is, for a plurality of types of gas appliances that can be used, partial flow patterns are classified for each control step and registered in the flow pattern table. Furthermore, combinations of partial flow patterns corresponding to a plurality of types of gas appliances are registered in the appliance table. Then, a partial flow pattern that matches the gas flow pattern detected by the gas flow meter is extracted from the flow pattern table, and a gas appliance that matches the combination of the extracted partial flow patterns is extracted from the instrument table.

  This prior art simplifies a complex series of gas flow patterns associated with gas appliance combustion control into partial flow patterns divided for each control step to facilitate matching with the detected gas flow patterns. Judgment is possible.

In particular, in the inventions described in Patent Documents 1 to 3, the gas appliance is used as a combustion control step based on at least three flow rate patterns of “at the time of ignition”, “the subsequent initial transition period”, and “stable period in which the flow rate is stable”. judge. In addition to this flow rate pattern, the flow rate range (the range of the flow rate) is also monitored for each control step, and the flow rate of the detected gas flow rate pattern falls within the flow rate range registered in advance in the instrument table. Whether or not the instrument is determined is also taken into consideration.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-149019 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-149027 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-149075

  Certainly, although the inventions described in the patent documents as described above are suitable for discriminating certain types of instruments having a clear flow pattern characteristic, both are partial gas flow patterns (or partial flow patterns and flow ranges). ), The gas appliance is discriminated on the basis of the above). Therefore, in the present situation where a wide variety of gas appliances are used as in the present situation, it is not an appropriate discrimination technique.

  In particular, in the case of appliances with large fluctuations in flow rate, such as gas stoves, water heaters, and bathtubs that have been widely used in conventional households, it was possible to identify the appliance by simply monitoring the flow rate pattern and range. However, in the case of appliances with little flow fluctuation over a long period of time, such as floor heating used in recent homes, it is difficult to identify appliances and determine leaks by simply monitoring the flow rate and its pattern. .

  In addition, in the prior art, when comparing the detected flow rate pattern (flow rate change with time) with the data of each gas appliance recorded in advance, the flow rate changes stepwise, over a short time or for a long time. A method has been employed in which a feature point such as a constant flow rate value is captured and compared, or a flow rate pattern is graphed and compared by a pattern matching method.

  However, with such an approach, as the types and manufacturers of gas appliances and the types of gas used (city gas and LPG) increase, the patterns of each gas appliance are diversified. In the present situation where it is also desired to discriminate a state having another flow rate pattern, it is difficult to accurately determine the appliance and gas leakage.

  The present invention has been proposed in order to solve the above-described problems of the prior art. The purpose of the present invention is to combine a gas instantaneous flow rate and a time differential value of the instantaneous flow rate, so that more types of gas can be used. An object of the present invention is to provide a gas appliance discriminating apparatus and a discriminating method capable of discriminating an appliance and detecting gas leakage.

In order to achieve the above object, the gas appliance discriminating apparatus of the present invention includes a flow rate measuring unit for measuring an instantaneous flow rate of gas flowing in a gas flow path, and a time differential value of the instantaneous flow rate measured by the flow rate measuring unit. The characteristic of the gas flow is extracted based on the instantaneous flow rate time differential calculating means for calculating the flow rate, the instantaneous flow rate measured by the flow rate measuring unit, and the time differential value of the instantaneous flow rate calculated by the instantaneous flow rate time differential calculating means. A feature extraction means, a gas flow feature extracted by the feature extraction means and a feature data stored in advance for each gas appliance or gas leak, to determine the gas appliance to be used or the gas leak comprising a determination unit, wherein the feature extracting means, graph the relationship between the detected instantaneous flow rate and instantaneous flow time differential value, and extracts a characteristic of the gas flow, the appliance determination The stage graphs the relationship between the instantaneous flow rate and the instantaneous flow rate time differential value for each instrument or gas leak in advance, stores the region including the graph, and the extracted gas flow characteristics are set in advance. The gas appliance used or the gas leak is discriminated based on whether the gas appliance or the gas leak is distributed in each region . Further, a flow rate measuring unit that measures an instantaneous flow rate of the gas flowing in the gas flow path, an instantaneous flow rate time derivative calculating unit that calculates a time differential value of the instantaneous flow rate measured by the flow rate measuring unit, and the flow rate measuring unit Feature extraction means for extracting the characteristics of the gas flow based on the measured instantaneous flow rate and the time differential value of the instantaneous flow rate calculated by the instantaneous flow rate time differential calculation means, and the gas flow extracted by the feature extraction means A feature discriminating means for discriminating a gas appliance to be used or a gas leak by comparing the feature with feature data stored in advance for each gas appliance or gas leak, The relationship between the flow rate and the instantaneous flow time differential value is graphed, and the characteristics of the gas flow are extracted, and the appliance discriminating means preliminarily stores the instantaneous flow rate and the instantaneous flow rate for each appliance or gas leak. The relationship with the flow rate time derivative is represented in a graph divided into a plurality of small areas, a series of small area names through which the graph passes are stored in chronological order, and a series of small areas through which the graph of gas flow characteristics passes. It is also an aspect of the present invention that the area names are acquired in chronological order, and the gas appliances used or gas leaks are determined based on whether or not the preset names correspond to a series of small area names for each instrument or gas leak. .

The gas appliance discrimination method according to the present invention includes an instantaneous flow rate time differential calculation step of measuring an instantaneous flow rate of a gas flowing in a gas flow path and calculating a time differential value of the measured instantaneous flow rate, and the instantaneous flow rate and the instantaneous flow rate. A feature extraction step for extracting the characteristics of the gas flow based on the time differential value, a feature of the gas flow extracted by the feature extraction step, and feature data stored in advance for each gas appliance or gas leak are compared. A step of discriminating a gas appliance to be used or gas leakage, graphing the relationship between the detected instantaneous flow rate and the instantaneous flow time differential value, extracting the characteristics of the gas flow, and each appliance or gas in advance. The relationship between the instantaneous flow rate for each leak and the instantaneous flow time differential value is graphed, the region including the graph is stored, and the characteristics of the extracted gas flow are set in advance. Wherein at whether distributed in the region of each gas appliance or gas leak, and wherein Rukoto comprises the step of determining the use gas appliance or gas leak was. Further, the instantaneous flow rate time differential calculation step for measuring the instantaneous flow rate of the gas flowing in the gas flow path and calculating the time differential value of the measured instantaneous flow rate, and the gas based on the instantaneous flow rate and the time differential value of the instantaneous flow rate. A feature extraction step for extracting a flow feature; a feature of the gas flow extracted by the feature extraction step; and a feature data stored in advance for each gas appliance or gas leak. A step of determining a gas leak,
The relationship between the detected instantaneous flow rate and the instantaneous flow time differential value is graphed, and the characteristics of the gas flow are extracted, and the relationship between the instantaneous flow rate and the instantaneous flow time differential for each instrument or gas leak in advance Represented in a graph divided into regions, a series of small region names through which the graph passes are stored in chronological order, a series of small region names through which the gas flow characteristic graph passes are obtained in chronological order, It is also an aspect of the present invention to include a step of discriminating a gas appliance to be used or a gas leak depending on whether or not it matches a set of small area names for each appliance or gas leak.

  In addition, a gas pressure amount data detector and / or a pressure time differential calculation means for calculating a time differential value of pressure are provided, and an instrument or a gas leak is discriminated based on the gas pressure data and the pressure time differential value. This is also an embodiment of the present invention.

  In addition, a storage unit that stores an upper limit threshold and a lower limit threshold of the instantaneous flow time differential value, a threshold value of the pressure time differential value, and a threshold value that stores the instantaneous flow time differential value or the pressure time differential value in the storage unit. Appliance activation detecting means for detecting the activation of the appliance when exceeding the threshold, the instantaneous flow time differential value or the pressure time differential value is below the threshold value stored in the storage unit, and the instantaneous flow rate is near zero flow rate By providing an instrument end detection means for detecting the end of the instrument when detected, it is possible to determine the instruction stoppage of the gas instrument, or to detect and detect the duration of use of the instrument by the instrument activation detection means and the instrument end detection means. Is also an embodiment of the present invention.

  According to the present invention, the type of gas appliance and the gas leakage are determined based on the combination of the instantaneous flow rate data of the gas and the time differential value of the instantaneous flow rate. Even an impossible instrument can be discriminated from the viewpoint of correlation between flow rate, pressure, and temperature. As a result, since it is impossible to identify the gas appliance, there is no inconvenience that the gas leakage is judged unnecessarily, and the security is improved.

In particular, by using the temporal differential value of the instantaneous flow rate, it becomes possible to simplify the comparison target pattern as compared to the conventional technique for determining an instrument by simply matching the flow rate pattern,
(1) Extract the features by dividing the detected instantaneous flow rate and instantaneous flow time differential value into a flat area.
(2) The detected instantaneous flow rate and instantaneous flow time differential value are represented in a plane and divided into regions, and the transition between the instantaneous flow rate and the instantaneous flow time differential value moving in the time series in this divided region is obtained. , Perform feature extraction.
It is possible to freely adopt a feature extraction method such as As a result, it is possible to carry out a simple calculation and a good system judgment as compared with the conventional method of pattern matching by graphing the flow rate pattern itself.

(1) Configuration of Embodiment Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the feature extraction unit and its surroundings according to the present embodiment, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the device activation / termination detecting unit and its surroundings, and FIG. It is a block diagram which shows a structure.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the appliance discriminating apparatus of this embodiment includes a flow rate measuring unit 1 that measures gas flow rate data (instantaneous flow rate Q) in a gas supply channel (gas pipe), and a gas pressure in the channel. And a pressure detector 2 for detection. As the flow rate measuring unit 1, various measuring means can be used. In the present embodiment, an ultrasonic flow meter is used.

  As an example, this ultrasonic flowmeter has a gas inlet, a gas flow path, a gas outlet, a shut-off valve, a display unit, and a control unit. Inside the gas flow path, ultrasonic transducers are provided in the upstream and downstream portions of the gas flow path, respectively. Between the upstream ultrasonic transducer and the downstream ultrasonic transducer, the operation of transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves in the forward and reverse directions of the fluid flow is repeatedly performed, and the propagation of ultrasonic waves in each direction Find the accumulated time. The flow rate measuring unit 1 calculates the instantaneous flow rate based on the difference in propagation time.

  The flow rate measuring unit 1 is connected to an instantaneous flow rate time differential value calculating means 3 for calculating an instantaneous flow rate time differential value (d / dt) Q obtained by differentiating the detected instantaneous flow rate data with respect to time. The pressure time differential calculation means 4 for calculating the pressure time differential value (d / dt) P obtained by differentiating the pressure amount data thus detected and the pressure amount data detected by the pressure detector with respect to time is connected.

  The instantaneous flow rate data Q detected by the flow rate measurement unit 1, the instantaneous flow rate time differential value (d / dt) Q calculated by the instantaneous flow rate time differential value calculation means 3, and the pressure amount data detected by the pressure detection unit P and the pressure time differential value (d / dt) P calculated by the pressure time differential calculation means 4 are input to the feature extraction means 5.

The feature extraction means 5 extracts features of each data obtained from the gas flow path to be determined based on the input instantaneous flow rate data, instantaneous flow rate time differential value, pressure amount data, and pressure time differential value. . That is, the instantaneous flow rate data Q measured by the flow rate measuring unit 1 and the instantaneous flow rate time differential value (d / dt) Q, the pressure amount data P, and the pressure time differential value (d / dt) P at that time are the gas appliance ( Or, the characteristics are different for each gas leakage mode). However, only individual data (for example, only instantaneous flow rate data) may be common with other gas appliances, and accurate appliance determination is impossible.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, the characteristics of individual data are extracted, and the characteristics of a combination of a plurality of data are extracted, so that more accurate appliance determination is performed. Although various combinations are conceivable, in the present invention, at least the characteristics of the combination of the instantaneous flow rate data Q and the instantaneous flow rate time differential value (d / dt) Q are extracted. For example, assign the instantaneous flow rate data Q and the instantaneous flow rate time differential value (d / dt) Q to the X-axis and Y-axis, observe the change over time, and extract the area occupied by both data on the XY plane. Or a transition with time of both data on the XY plane is extracted as a feature.

  In addition to this, the pressure amount data and the pressure time differential value are also extracted as features. In addition, it is possible to extract features from only values under predetermined conditions. For example, feature extraction may be performed with reference to the instantaneous flow rate time differential value under the condition that the instantaneous flow rate is Q1 to Q2 [L / h]. Alternatively, there is a method characterized by referring to the instantaneous flow rate under the condition that the pressure time differential value is P1 to P2 [pa].

  The feature extraction means 5 receives data on the activation and termination of the appliance from the appliance activation / termination detection means 10 shown in FIG. The activation and termination data of the appliance is necessary for extracting features related to data around the appliance activation / termination detection.

  The feature data extracted by the feature extraction unit 5 is sent to the appliance discrimination unit 6. The appliance discriminating means 6 stores feature data prepared in advance for each gas appliance or gas leak, and features based on the stored feature data and measurement values extracted by the feature extraction means 5. The data is compared with each other to determine which instrument has a measured value or whether a gas leak has occurred. The appliance discriminating means 6 is provided with discriminant result output means 7 such as a display, a printer and a gas leak alarm for outputting the judgment result.

  Further, the appliance discriminating means 6 is connected to an appliance activation duration detecting means 12 that is linked to the appliance activation / termination detecting means 10, and within the appliance continuous use time determined by the appliance activation duration detecting means 12. Perform instrument discrimination. This configuration is not indispensable for the present invention, and the appliance discrimination means 6 may always perform discrimination processing.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the instantaneous flow rate data Q detected by the flow rate measurement unit 1, the instantaneous flow rate time differential value (d / dt) Q calculated by the instantaneous flow rate time differential value calculation means 3, and the pressure detection unit The pressure amount data P detected by the above and the pressure time differential value (d / dt) P calculated by the pressure time differential calculation means 4 are also supplied to the appliance activation / end detection means 10 in addition to the feature extraction means 5. Have been entered.

  The appliance activation / termination detection means 10 is connected to a threshold storage unit 11 that stores the upper and lower thresholds of the instantaneous flow rate, instantaneous flow rate differential value, and pressure time differential value. Then, when the instantaneous flow rate detected by the flow rate measuring unit 1 exceeds the upper limit threshold value in the vicinity of the zero flow rate, it is determined that the gas appliance has started. It is also possible to determine that the gas appliance has been activated when the pressure time differential value exceeds a threshold by referring to information on the pressure time differential value obtained by differentiating the pressure with time.

  The appliance activation / termination detecting means 10 determines that the gas appliance has ended when the instantaneous flow rate time differential value is below the upper threshold value and the instantaneous flow rate is detected near zero. Furthermore, it is possible to determine that the gas appliance has ended when the pressure time differential value exceeds a threshold value by referring to the information of the pressure time differential value obtained by differentiating the pressure with time.

  The output side of the appliance activation / termination detection means 10 is connected to the appliance activation duration detection means 12. The appliance use duration detecting means holds the time when the appliance is activated based on the appliance activation and appliance end information detected by the appliance activation detection means and the appliance end detection means, and measures the appliance usage duration.

  An appliance discrimination execution time storage unit 13 is connected to the appliance discrimination means 6. The appliance discrimination execution time storage unit 13 stores a preset execution time for the appliance determination, so that the appliance use duration detected by the appliance usage duration detection means 12 is set to the appliance determination execution time. In this case, the appliance is determined.

  In other words, since there are many cases where a certain use state such as gas leakage continues in a situation where it is necessary to determine the appliance, there is a case where it is not necessary to perform the discrimination process in the normal use state. In such a case, the burden on the determination device can be reduced by determining the appliance only when the usage time exceeds a certain time.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the appliance discriminating means 6 is provided with means for weighting in consideration of temperature, date, and time in the appliance discriminating process. The weighting means 20 is connected to the temperature detection unit 21 and the control unit 22 for detecting date data and time data. In addition, the weighting means 20 is provided with an appliance usage mode storage unit 23 that stores usage statuses such as usage temperature zones, time zones, and date zones of each appliance. The appliance usage mode storage unit 23 is provided with a storage content update unit 24 for deleting, updating, and adding the usage status of each appliance stored in the storage unit 23.

  In this weighting means 20, a certainty determination is given based on the temperature data detected by the temperature detection unit, the date data and time data detected by the control unit, and the gas appliance to be used is determined. Note that the air temperature can be similarly set by a gas temperature, a water temperature, or the like. For example, the weight value is determined based on the temperature data T detected by the temperature detector 21 and the data as shown in FIG. For example, when T = 8 ° C., the following weighting value is given to the determination result.

Xd (stove) = 1.0
Xd (fan heater) = 0.8
Xd (stove) = 0.8
Xd (floor heating) = 0.8
Xd (dryer) = 1.0

  Further, weighting is performed based on the date data D detected by the control unit 22 and data as shown in FIG. For example, when D = April, the following weight values are assigned.

Xe (stove) = 1.0
Xe (fan heater) = 0.5
Xe (stove) = 0.5
Xe (floor heating) = 0.5
Xe (dryer) = 0.9

  Weighting is performed based on the time data detected by the control unit 22 and data as shown in FIG. For example, when time = 10 o'clock, weighting values are given as follows.

Xf (stove) = 0.2
Xf (fan heater) = 0.8
Xf (stove) = 0.8
Xf (floor heating) = 0.8
Xf (dryer) = 1.0

(2) Operation of the embodiment The appliance discriminating apparatus of the present embodiment has the above-described configuration. Next, an appliance discriminating method based on region division to discriminate the gas appliance to be used will be described. Explained.

(1) Discrimination by region FIGS. 7 to 14 show a method of discriminating a gas appliance to be used by giving a certainty judgment based on an instantaneous flow rate time differential value obtained by differentiating the instantaneous flow rate data detected by the flow rate measuring unit with time. It is the composition. That is, in this method, for each instrument, the instantaneous flow rate data Q detected by the flow rate measuring unit 1 and the instantaneous flow rate time differential value (d / dt) Q detected by the instantaneous flow rate time differential value calculation means 3 in advance. Is plotted in the instrument discriminating means 6.

  FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing an area for each appliance stored in the appliance discrimination means 6. As can be seen from this figure, since the regions where the instantaneous flow rate Q and the instantaneous flow time differential value (d / dt) Q can be taken are different depending on the devices A to C, the used gas device obtained by the feature extraction means 5 When the instantaneous flow rate data Q and the instantaneous flow rate time differential value (d / dt) Q plotted on the secondary plane are distributed in a predetermined region for each instrument, a probability determination Xb is given.

  For example, FIG. 8 is floor heating, FIG. 9 is a stove, FIG. 10 is a dryer, FIG. 11 is a fan heater, FIG. 12 is a stove, and FIG. 13 is an instantaneous flow rate Q and an instantaneous flow time differential value (d / Dt) indicates a possible area of Q. Therefore, when the instantaneous flow rate Q and the instantaneous flow time differential value (d / dt) Q that have been extracted are distributed in the region S1, 1.0 is assigned as Xb (floor heating). In FIG. 8 and subsequent figures, the vertical axis represents the instantaneous flow rate difference value (L / h / s) per second, and the horizontal axis represents the instantaneous flow rate Q (L / h).

Xb (stove) = 0.1
Xb (fan heater) = 0.1
Xb (stove) = 0.1
Xb (floor heating) = 1.0
Xb (dryer) = 0.1

(2) Discrimination by Transition with Time Next, a method for discriminating the gas appliance to be used based on the transition between the instantaneous flow rate data Q and the instantaneous flow rate time differential value (d / dt) Q will be described.

  14 to 20 plot the instantaneous flow rate time differential value (d / dt) Q obtained by differentiating the instantaneous flow rate data Q detected by the flow rate measuring unit 1 with respect to a known plane in a secondary plane. The secondary plane is divided into regions, and the region names are A1, A2, A3... An, B1, B2... Bn, C1, C2,. .

  FIG. 14 shows that a transition of the instantaneous flow rate Q and the instantaneous flow time differential value (d / dt) Q of a gas appliance can be expressed as a series of region names by plotting on a plane. FIG. 15 shows a stove, FIG. 16 shows a fan heater, FIG. 17 shows a stove, FIG. 18 shows floor heating, FIG. 19 shows a dryer, and FIG. That is, when the instantaneous flow rate and the instantaneous flow rate time differential value fall within the divided region Ni, the region name Ni is obtained and repeated, whereby the transition can be specified by a series of region names.

  In this way, the appliance transition stored in the appliance discriminating means 6 is compared with the state transition obtained based on the instantaneous flow rate and the instantaneous flow rate time differential value, and the appliance is discriminated. . For example, when the state transition is B1 → D1 → D2 → B4 → A8 → C4 → E2 → E1 → C2 → C1 → A1, it is determined that the transition is the same as the stove transition shown in FIG. ) Is given as 1.0.

Xc (stove) = 1.0
Xc (fan heater) = 0.1
Xc (stove) = 0.1
Xc (floor heating) = 0.1
Xc (dryer) = 0.1

(3) Judgment by frequency distribution (reference example)
Next, as a reference example of the present invention, a method of determining the appliance to be used based on the frequency distribution in the appliance discriminating means 6 will be described.
FIG. 21 to FIG. 23 determine the frequency distribution based on the instantaneous flow rate data Q detected by the flow rate measuring unit 1, assign a probability determination from the local variation and the moving average of the relative frequency, and determine the gas appliance to be used It shows how to do. That is, the frequency distribution of the instantaneous flow rate data Q is different for each instrument as shown in FIG. 21 and FIG. Therefore, this frequency distribution is digitized by relative frequency and moving average, and appliance determination is performed.

  First, a frequency distribution is obtained for a certain number of instantaneous flow rate data Q (for example, 1800 data for one hour as shown in FIG. 23) detected by the flow rate measuring unit 1 at a certain time. The data distribution of the frequency distribution is classified as 10 L / h, for example, and the number of instantaneous flow rate data classified into the flow rate category is counted. Note that the instantaneous flow rate data is not continuous time-series data, but may be discrete data (data every several seconds) or an average flow rate in a certain section (an average value of instantaneous flow rates for several seconds).

  Divide the counted number by the total number to obtain a ratio (relative frequency), and further obtain a moving average. If the moving average value is 0.8 or more, for example, the flow rate classification is Qk. In addition, the relationship between the flow rate classification Qk and each instrument is as follows as an example.

30 ≦ Qk ≦ 50 then cooktop 0.8
30 ≦ Qk ≦ 40 then fan heater 0.8
60 ≦ Qk ≦ 80 then Fan heater 0.8
110 ≦ Qk ≦ 120 then cooktop 0.8
90 ≦ Qk ≦ 110 then stove 0.8
130 ≦ Qk ≦ 140 then fan heater 0.9
190 ≦ Qk ≦ 210 then dryer 0.8
190 ≦ Qk ≦ 200 then stove 0.8
200 ≦ Qk ≦ 220 then fan heater 0.9
230 ≦ Qk ≦ 270 then stove 1
270 ≦ Qk ≦ 290 then floor heating 1
30 ≦ Qk ≦ 270 then cooktop 0.3

  The flow rate classification Qk for such a known gas appliance is compared with the flow rate classification Qk based on the instantaneous flow rate data Q detected for the used gas appliance, and when the detected flow rate classification Qk is a predetermined flow rate classification, the probability is high. Determination Xa is given. For example, when Qk is 70, 0.8 is given as Xa (fan heater), and 0.1 is given as another probability.

Xa (stove) = 0.3
Xa (fan heater) = 0.8
Xa (stove) = 0.1
Xa (floor heating) = 0.1
Xa (dryer) = 0.1

(4) Determination by Maximum Value In this embodiment, as a determination method by the appliance determination means, a method of determining an appliance based on the maximum value of the instantaneous flow rate time differential value can be used. For example, as described below, the range of the instantaneous flow rate time differential value obtained by differentiating the instantaneous flow rate data with respect to time for each appliance is stored in the appliance discrimination means. This range is determined from known instrument test data.

200 ≦ (d / dt) Q ≦ 260 then fan heater 0.8
40 ≦ (d / dt) Q ≦ 70 then fan heater 1.0
5000 ≦ (d / dt) Q then floor heating 1.0
210 ≦ (d / dt) Q ≦ 260 then stove 0.7
110 ≦ (d / dt) Q ≦ 370 then stove 0.6
230 ≦ (d / dt) Q ≦ 270 then dryer 0.7

  By comparing such stored data with the maximum value of the instantaneous flow time differential value obtained by the feature extraction means 5, the certainty of appliance discrimination is given. For example, when (d / dt) Q = 60 L / h, 1.0 is given as Xg (fan heater).

Xa (stove) = 0.2
Xa (fan heater) = 1.0
Xa (stove) = 0.2
Xa (floor heating) = 0.2
Xa (dryer) = 0.2

(5) Other methods The discrimination method in the appliance discrimination means is not limited to the above-mentioned method. For example, the instantaneous flow rate time differential value based on the rise or fall time from the vicinity of 0 L / h or the instantaneous flow rate value or It is also possible to use the maximum value of the instantaneous flow time differential value.

(3) Effects of the Embodiment According to the present embodiment, it is possible to determine the activation and termination of the instrument from the instantaneous flow rate and the instantaneous flow time differential value or the pressure time differential value. As a result, it is possible to measure the time during which the instrument is continuously used, and it is possible to obtain an appropriate warning means when the gas instrument is used for a long time.

  Further, the appliance discrimination execution time storage unit 13 stores a preset time for executing the appliance judgment, so that the appliance usage duration detected by the appliance usage duration detection means 12 is the appliance judgment execution time. Then, it becomes possible to perform appliance determination, and the appliance is discriminated only when the usage time exceeds a certain time, thereby reducing the burden on the discrimination device.

  In particular, in this embodiment, features are not extracted only from conventional time-series data of instantaneous flow rate, but instantaneous flow rate and instantaneous flow time differential value or instantaneous flow rate and pressure, instantaneous flow rate and pressure time differential value, instantaneous flow rate time differential value By extracting features from the value and pressure, the instantaneous flow time differential value and the pressure time differential value, and the pressure and pressure time differential value, it is possible to extract the features for each appliance, and to discriminate the appliance.

  Moreover, although each said embodiment demonstrated taking the example of the discrimination | determination of an instrument, even if it hits discrimination | determination of an instrument and gas leak, or the discrimination | determination of the type of gas leak, the feature data was memorize | stored beforehand and it was detected. A similar method of comparing with feature data can be employed.

The block diagram which shows the structure of the characteristic extraction means and its periphery in one Embodiment of the gas appliance discrimination | determination means of this invention. The block diagram which shows the structure of the instrument starting / end detection means in this embodiment, and its periphery. The block diagram which shows the structure of the weight determination part in this embodiment, and its periphery. The figure which shows the relationship between the air temperature referred to determining the weighting value in this invention, and the use condition of an instrument. The figure which shows the relationship between the date referred in determining the weighting value in this invention, and the use condition of an instrument. The figure which shows the relationship between the time referred to determining the weighting value in this invention, and the use condition of an instrument. The figure which shows that the area | region which each instrument can take differs by plotting the instantaneous flow rate Q and the instantaneous flow rate time differential value (d / dt) Q on a plane about several gas appliances. The figure which shows the area | region which the instantaneous flow rate Q and the instantaneous flow time differential value (d / dt) Q can take when a gas appliance is floor heating. The figure which shows the area | region which the instantaneous flow volume Q and the instantaneous flow time time differential value (d / dt) Q can take when a gas appliance is a stove. The figure which shows the area | region which the instantaneous flow rate Q and the instantaneous flow rate time differential value (d / dt) Q can take when a gas appliance is a dryer. The figure which shows the area | region which the instantaneous flow volume Q and the instantaneous flow time time differential value (d / dt) Q can take when a gas appliance is a fan heater. The figure which shows the area | region which the instantaneous flow rate Q and the instantaneous flow time time differential value (d / dt) Q can take when a gas appliance is a stove. The figure which shows the area | region which the instantaneous flow volume Q and the instantaneous flow time differential value (d / dt) Q can take when a gas appliance is a water heater. The figure which shows that the transition can be expressed as a series of area names by plotting the transition of the instantaneous flow rate Q and the instantaneous flow rate time differential value (d / dt) Q on a plane for a certain gas appliance. The figure which shows the transition of the instantaneous flow rate Q of a stove, and the instantaneous flow rate time differential value (d / dt) Q. The figure which shows the transition of the instantaneous flow rate Q of a fan heater, and the instantaneous flow rate time differential value (d / dt) Q. The figure which shows the transition of the instantaneous flow rate Q of a stove, and the instantaneous flow time differential value (d / dt) Q. The figure which shows the transition of the instantaneous flow rate Q of floor heating, and the instantaneous flow rate time differential value (d / dt) Q. The figure which shows the transition of the instantaneous flow rate Q and instantaneous flow rate time differential value (d / dt) Q of a dryer. The figure which shows the transition of the instantaneous flow rate Q and instantaneous flow rate time differential value (d / dt) Q of a water heater. The graph which shows the method of performing determination of an instrument based on frequency distribution based on the instantaneous flow rate data Q. 21 is a graph showing a method for determining an appliance based on a frequency distribution based on instantaneous flow rate data Q, and shows a distribution pattern different from FIG. The figure which shows the number of distribution and a moving average in the method of determining an instrument based on frequency distribution based on the instantaneous flow rate data Q. The figure which shows the time limit setting value used for the determination at the time of the conventional safety continuation use time over.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Flow measurement part 2 ... Pressure detection part 3 ... Instantaneous flow time differential value calculation means 4 ... Pressure time differential calculation means 5 ... Feature extraction means 6 ... Instrument discrimination means 7 ... Result output means 10 ... Instrument start / end detection means 11 ... threshold storage unit 12 ... appliance activation duration detection means 13 ... appliance discrimination execution time storage unit 20 ... weighting value determination unit 21 ... temperature detection unit 22 ... control unit 23 ... weighting value storage unit 24 ... stored content update unit

Claims (15)

A flow rate measurement unit for measuring the instantaneous flow rate of the gas flowing in the gas flow path;
An instantaneous flow rate time differential calculating means for calculating a time differential value of the instantaneous flow rate measured by the flow rate measuring unit;
Feature extraction means for extracting the characteristics of the gas flow based on the instantaneous flow rate measured by the flow rate measurement unit and the time differential value of the instantaneous flow rate calculated by the instantaneous flow rate time differential calculation means;
The gas flow feature extracted by the feature extraction means is compared with the characteristic data stored in advance for each gas appliance or each gas leak, and a device discrimination means for discriminating the gas appliance used or the gas leak is provided. ,
The feature extraction means graphs the relationship between the detected instantaneous flow rate and the instantaneous flow rate time differential value, and extracts the characteristics of the gas flow,
The appliance discriminating means graphs the relationship between the instantaneous flow rate and the instantaneous flow rate time differential value for each gas appliance or gas leak in advance, stores the region including the graph, and the extracted gas flow has a characteristic. A gas appliance discriminating apparatus that discriminates a gas appliance to be used or a gas leak depending on whether or not the gas appliances or gas leaks are distributed in a predetermined region .   A flow rate measurement unit for measuring the instantaneous flow rate of the gas flowing in the gas flow path;
  An instantaneous flow rate time differential calculating means for calculating a time differential value of the instantaneous flow rate measured by the flow rate measuring unit;
  Feature extraction means for extracting the characteristics of the gas flow based on the instantaneous flow rate measured by the flow rate measurement unit and the time differential value of the instantaneous flow rate calculated by the instantaneous flow rate time differential calculation means;
  The gas flow feature extracted by the feature extraction means is compared with the characteristic data stored in advance for each gas appliance or each gas leak, and a device discrimination means for discriminating the gas appliance used or the gas leak is provided. ,
  The feature extraction means graphs the relationship between the detected instantaneous flow rate and the instantaneous flow rate time differential value, and extracts the characteristics of the gas flow,
  The appliance discriminating means represents the relationship between the instantaneous flow rate and the instantaneous flow rate time derivative for each gas appliance or gas leak in advance in a graph divided into a plurality of small regions, and a series of small region names through which the graph passes are time-series Store in order, acquire a series of small area names through which the graph of the gas flow characteristics passes, in time series order, and whether or not it matches a preset series of small area names for each gas appliance or gas leak A gas appliance discriminating apparatus for discriminating a gas appliance to be used or a gas leak. A pressure detection unit that detects the amount of gas pressure in the gas flow path,
2. The feature extraction means extracts a feature of a gas flow based on the instantaneous flow rate, a time differential value of the instantaneous flow rate, and gas pressure amount data detected by the pressure amount detection unit. Or the gas appliance discrimination device of Claim 2 . A pressure detection unit for detecting the gas pressure in the gas flow path, and a pressure time differential calculation means for calculating a time differential value of the pressure detected by the pressure detection unit ,
The feature extraction unit extracts a feature of the gas flow based on the instantaneous flow rate, a time differential value of the instantaneous flow rate, and a time differential value of the pressure calculated by the pressure time differential calculation unit. The gas appliance discrimination device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 . A storage unit for storing an upper limit threshold and a lower limit threshold of the instantaneous flow time differential value, and a threshold value of the pressure time differential value;
Instrument activation detection means for detecting activation of the instrument when the instantaneous flow time differential value or the pressure time differential value exceeds a threshold value stored in the storage unit;
Instrument end detection means for detecting the end of the instrument when the instantaneous flow time differential value or the pressure time differential value falls below a threshold value stored in the storage unit and the instantaneous flow rate is detected near zero flow rate; The gas appliance discriminating apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the gas appliance discriminating apparatus is provided. An instrument use duration detecting means for holding the time when the instrument is activated and counting the duration of use of the instrument based on the instrument activation and instrument end information detected by the instrument activation detecting means and the instrument end detecting means. The gas appliance discriminating apparatus according to claim 5 . A storage unit for storing a time for executing a predetermined instrument determination;
The gas appliance determination device according to claim 6 , wherein the appliance determination is performed when the appliance usage duration detected by the appliance usage duration detection means reaches the appliance determination execution time. The feature extraction means uses peripheral time-series data in which the instrument activation is detected by the instrument activation detection means or peripheral time-series data in which the instrument termination is detected by the instrument termination detection means for appliance discrimination. The gas appliance discrimination device according to claim 5 , wherein The appliance discriminating means includes a storage unit for weighting values determined according to use conditions of the gas appliance, and features of detection data extracted by the feature extraction unit and features of each appliance recorded in the storage unit by comparing the data Upon determining gas appliance, in consideration of the weight value stored in the storage unit of the weighting values, we claim 1, characterized in that adjusting the likelihood of appliance determination 8 The gas appliance discrimination device according to any one of the above. The appliance discriminating means includes a weight value determination unit stored in the weight value storage unit, and the weight value determination unit includes a use temperature zone, a use time zone, a use season zone, date data, weather data for each gas appliance. It is connected to usage condition acquisition means for acquiring at least one of information, gas temperature detection means, meter number, and accumulated usage amount, and a weight value is determined based on data obtained from the usage condition acquisition means. The gas appliance discriminating apparatus according to claim 9 . An instantaneous flow time differential calculation step for measuring an instantaneous flow rate of the gas flowing in the gas flow path and calculating a time differential value of the measured instantaneous flow rate;
A feature extraction step of extracting the characteristics of the gas flow based on the instantaneous flow rate and the time differential value of the instantaneous flow rate;
Comparing the features of the gas flow extracted by the feature extraction step with the feature data stored in advance for each gas appliance or gas leak, and determining the gas appliance used or gas leak ;
Graphing the relationship between the detected instantaneous flow rate and the instantaneous flow rate time differential value, and extracting the characteristics of the gas flow;
The relationship between the instantaneous flow rate and the instantaneous flow time differential value for each instrument or gas leak is graphed in advance, the area including the graph is stored, and the extracted gas flow characteristics are set in advance for each gas. on whether distributed in the region of each instrument or a gas leak, the gas appliance discriminating method comprising Rukoto comprises the step of determining the use gas appliance or gas leak. An instantaneous flow time differential calculation step for measuring an instantaneous flow rate of the gas flowing in the gas flow path and calculating a time differential value of the measured instantaneous flow rate;
A feature extraction step of extracting the characteristics of the gas flow based on the instantaneous flow rate and the time differential value of the instantaneous flow rate;
Comparing the features of the gas flow extracted by the feature extraction step with the feature data stored in advance for each gas appliance or gas leak, and determining the gas appliance used or gas leak;
Graphing the relationship between the detected instantaneous flow rate and the instantaneous flow rate time differential value, and extracting the characteristics of the gas flow;
The relationship between the instantaneous flow rate and the instantaneous flow rate time differential for each instrument or gas leak is represented in advance in a graph divided into a plurality of small regions, a series of small region names that the graph passes are stored in chronological order, and the gas A series of small area names through which the flow characteristics graph passes are obtained in chronological order, and gas appliances or gas leaks to be used are determined by whether or not they match the preset small area names for each instrument or gas leak. gas appliance discriminating method comprising Rukoto comprises a step of judging that determination. Detecting a gas pressure in the gas flow path and calculating a time differential value of the detected pressure;
The instantaneous flow rate, the gas appliance determination according to claim 1 1 or claim 12, characterized in that it comprises a step of extracting features of the gas flow based on the time differential value of the time differential value and the pressure of the instantaneous flow rate Method. Store the upper and lower thresholds of the instantaneous flow time differential value, and the pressure time differential value threshold,
Detecting activation of the instrument when the instantaneous flow time differential value or pressure time differential value exceeds a stored threshold;
Detecting the end of the instrument when the instantaneous flow time differential value or the pressure time differential value falls below a threshold value stored in the storage unit, and the instantaneous flow rate is detected near zero flow rate. The gas appliance discriminating method according to any one of claims 11 to 13, characterized in that the gas appliance is discriminating. The weighting value determined according to the use condition of the gas appliance is stored, and stored when the extracted detection data feature is compared with the stored feature data of each appliance to discriminate the gas appliance. gas appliance determination method according to any one of claims 1 1 to claim 1 4, characterized by adjusting the likelihood of appliance determination weighting values are considered.

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