JP5225892B2 - Leak detection device - Google Patents

Description

  In the present invention, when a gas device is connected downstream from a gas meter, it is determined whether the gas is being used by the gas device or a gas leak, and the safety in using the gas is ensured. The present invention relates to a leak detection device that improves convenience.

  In order to prevent accidents caused by forgetting to turn off gas appliances or gas leaks when using gas appliances, gas companies that manage gas users' homes and gas supply channels will be notified of abnormalities. In addition, systems that shut off gas supply paths are becoming widespread.

  As a conventional gas security device, based on the gas flow rate etc., the gas supply is cut off when a large flow rate flows, the gas supply is cut off when the gas flows for a long time at a minute flow rate, or a predetermined flow rate for each flow category In such a case, a gas that shuts off when gas flows for a predetermined time is used.

  In a gas user's house or the like, a gas meter for measuring a gas flow rate is installed at an inlet portion of a gas supply path.

Conventionally, as this type of gas meter, a membrane-type gas meter that integrates the amount of gas that flows at a predetermined flow rate is generally used. Recently, the flow rate is obtained using an ultrasonic signal, and this flow rate is measured. There is also proposed an ultrasonic gas meter that measures the flow rate of gas by integrating the above (for example, see Patent Document 1).
JP 2006-200802 A

  However, in the conventional configuration, it is possible to estimate the gas appliance by registering the flow pattern of the gas appliance to be used and matching the registered flow pattern. It was difficult to do.

  In addition, in the case of gas leakage, there are various cases of occurrence and it is very difficult to specify the flow pattern. If you want to register the flow pattern of gas leakage, you need to register multiple flow patterns for each flow category. However, depending on the flow pattern of the gas leak, there is a possibility that the gas appliance is erroneously judged as a gas leak and erroneously shut off, which limits the safety and convenience in using the gas.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances. When the flow rate is larger than the predetermined flow rate, the gas leakage and the use of the gas appliance are determined based on the magnitude of the flow rate change of the passing flow rate, and the gas leakage is determined. An object of the present invention is to provide a leak detection device capable of improving the safety and convenience in use.

The first means of the leak detection device of the present invention is connected to a gas supply pipe and measures a flow rate measuring unit for measuring a gas flow rate, a shutoff valve provided in the gas supply pipe and blocking a gas passage, and the flow rate based on the flow rate through the gas measured by the measuring unit determines the flow rate calculation unit for calculating a flow rate value and the operating time of the integrated flow rate value and the gas, and the flow rate value performs appliance determination leak is larger than the flow rate threshold When it is determined that the leakage determination execution flow rate determination unit and the leakage determination execution flow rate determination unit perform leakage device determination, if the flow rate change of the gas passage flow rate is smaller than the flow rate change threshold, it is determined that the gas leaks, A leakage device discriminating unit that determines a gas appliance when the flow rate change is larger than a flow rate change threshold, a control unit that performs gas cutoff or alarm determination and communication control, the flow rate value, the integrated flow rate value, and the leaking appliance discrimination unit The flow rate through the flow rate change of the flow rate change threshold for determining, and a storage unit for storing the flow rate threshold of determining the flow rate value execution whether the leakage appliance determination, when the control unit which determines the alarm or gas shut-off , those having a communication unit that communicates to the gas companies.

  The second means of the leak detection device of the present invention is such that the flow rate threshold value of the flow rate value is 1500 L / h (in the case of gas type: 13A), and the gas appliance when the flow rate change amount is larger than the flow rate change threshold value is used to supply hot water. It is determined as a container.

  According to the present invention, when the gas passage flow rate is larger than the predetermined flow rate, the gas leakage and the gas appliance are determined by the magnitude of the flow rate change of the passage flow rate, and the passage flow rate change is smaller than the flow rate change threshold. Can be determined as a gas leak, and a leak detection device capable of improving the safety and convenience of gas use can be provided.

  The leak detection device of the present invention is connected to a gas supply pipe and is measured by a flow rate measurement unit that measures the passage flow rate of gas, a shut-off valve that is provided in the gas supply pipe and blocks a gas passage, and the flow rate measurement unit. A flow rate calculation unit that calculates a flow rate value, an integrated flow rate value, and a gas usage time, and a leak determination execution flow rate determination unit that performs leakage device determination when the flow rate value is greater than a flow rate threshold, When it is determined that the leakage determination execution flow rate determination unit performs leakage device determination, if the flow rate change of the gas passage flow rate is smaller than the flow rate change threshold value, it is determined as gas leak, and the flow rate change is greater than the flow rate change threshold value. A leakage device discriminating unit for determining a gas appliance in case, a control unit for determining gas cutoff or alarm and controlling communication, and the flow rate value, the integrated flow rate value, and the passing flow rate for determining the leaking device discrimination A storage unit that stores a flow rate change threshold value for flow rate change, a flow rate threshold value for determining whether or not the leakage determination execution flow rate determination unit is executed, and a gas business when the control unit determines a gas cutoff or an alarm. It has a communication part which communicates with a person.

  As a result, when the gas flow rate is greater than the specified flow rate, the gas leakage and gas appliance judgment function is used based on the magnitude of the change in the flow rate of the flow rate, improving the safety and convenience of gas use. It becomes possible to make it.

  Further, the flow rate threshold value of the flow rate value of the leakage determination execution flow rate determination unit is 1500 L / h (in the case of gas type: 13A), and is determined when the flow rate change amount of the leaking device determination unit is larger than the flow rate change threshold value. The gas appliance is determined as a water heater.

  Thereby, in the flow rate range larger than 1500 L / h (in the case of 13A) which is the said flow rate threshold value, the said leak device discrimination | determination part compares a flow rate change with a flow rate change threshold value, and determines whether it is a gas leak or a water heater. It is possible to improve the safety and convenience of gas use.

(Embodiment 1)
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a leak detection apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing a schematic configuration of an ultrasonic flowmeter according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. In the present embodiment, a configuration example of a leak detection apparatus using a gas meter installed in a gas user's house or the like is shown.

  The leak detection device 10 of this embodiment is provided in the middle of a gas supply pipe 20 laid in a user's house or the like, and a plurality of gas appliances are provided in the downstream side of the gas supply pipe 20 as instruments A21 and B22. Instrument C23 is connected. The leak detection device 10 is installed at a predetermined position outdoors or indoors.

  The leak detection device 10 includes a flow rate measurement unit 11, a flow rate calculation unit 12, a leak determination execution flow rate determination unit 13, a leak device determination unit 14, a control unit 15, a storage unit 16, a communication unit 17, a seismic device 18, and a shut-off valve 19. It is comprised. The ultrasonic flowmeter 11 is connected in the path of the gas supply pipe 20 and, as will be described later, calculates the propagation time difference caused by the gas flow in the gas supply pipe 20 using the ultrasonic signal, and detects the flow rate of the gas. To do. The flow rate calculation unit 12 calculates a flow value based on the average of the passing flow rate based on the detected passing flow rate, calculates an integrated flow value by integrating the passing flow rate, Various calculations related to the flow rate such as calculation are performed.

  Next, the operation will be described. When the flow rate is measured by the flow rate measurement unit 11, the flow rate calculation unit 12 calculates the flow rate, and is the flow rate threshold (for example, 1500 L / h (in the case of 13A)) stored in the storage unit 16 or higher? This is determined by the leakage determination execution flow rate determination unit 13.

When the leakage determination execution flow rate determination unit 13 determines that the flow rate threshold value is larger than the flow rate threshold value stored in the storage unit 16, the leak device determination unit 14 stores the flow rate change of the gas passage flow rate stored in the storage unit 16. When it is smaller than the change threshold, it is determined that the gas leaks, and when the flow rate change is larger than the flow rate change threshold stored in the storage unit 16, it is determined that the gas appliance (for example, a gas water heater).

  When it is determined that there is a gas leak, the control unit 15 alerts the gas company via the communication unit 17 or drives the shut-off valve 19 to close the gas supply pipe.

  The ultrasonic flowmeter 11 has a measurement flow path 35 having a rectangular cross section communicating with the gas supply pipe 20, and a pair of super flow meters is provided on the upstream side and the downstream side of the flow path walls facing each other. Sonic transmitters / receivers 36 and 37 are arranged. These ultrasonic transmitters / receivers 36 and 37 are set so that the ultrasonic propagation path obliquely crosses the gas flow flowing through the measurement flow path 35, and by sequentially transmitting / receiving ultrasonic waves, the ultrasonic wave transmission / reception is sequentially performed with respect to the gas flow. Propagation of ultrasonic waves in the opposite direction.

  At this time, the distance between the ultrasonic transceivers 36 and 37, that is, the measurement distance is L, the angle of the ultrasonic propagation path with respect to the gas flow is φ, and the ultrasonic propagation time from the upstream to the downstream of the ultrasonic transceivers 36 and 37 is If t1, the ultrasonic propagation time from downstream to upstream is t2, and the sound velocity is C, the flow velocity V can be obtained by the following equation.

V = L / 2 cos ((1/1/1)-(1 / t2))
The passage flow rate of the gas flow is calculated from the flow velocity V and the cross-sectional area of the measurement channel 35. The control unit 15 has a function of a security processing unit, and performs security processing such as operation control of each part of the leakage detection device, communication, warning, and gas cutoff.

  The storage unit 16 includes instrument discrimination information such as a judgment value used for leak instrument discrimination, passing flow rate value information measured by the ultrasonic flowmeter 11, gas flow rate value information and integrated flow rate information calculated by the flow rate calculation unit 12, and the like. Various information used in the leak detection device 10 such as flow rate information and history information on the appliances used and usage status are stored.

  Here, the control unit 15, the flow rate calculation unit 12, the leakage determination execution flow rate determination unit 13, and the leakage appliance determination unit 14 are configured by a processor and an operation program that constitute a microcomputer (microcomputer) and the like. By executing the above, each function is realized.

  The leak determination execution flow rate determination unit 13 and the storage unit 16 are configured by a memory such as a flash ROM or a RAM.

  The communication unit 17 is discriminated by the flow rate value, the integrated flow rate value, the flow rate integration time, and the appliance determination unit sent from the storage unit when the safety control unit determines gas cutoff or alarm. It communicates data such as equipment to the gas company.

  The seismoscope 18 detects vibration such as an earthquake and outputs a detection signal to the control unit 15. The shut-off valve 19 is connected in the path of the gas supply pipe 20 and shuts off the gas supply by closing the gas supply pipe 20 based on an instruction from the control unit 15.

  The present invention uses a function of determining leakage device discrimination when the passing flow rate is larger than a predetermined flow rate, and a function of determining gas leakage or gas appliances by the magnitude of the flow rate change of the passing flow rate. This is useful for a leak detection device that can improve the safety and convenience of the camera.

The block diagram which shows the structure of the leak detection apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. The block diagram which shows schematic structure of the ultrasonic flowmeter in Embodiment 1 of this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Leak detection apparatus 11 Ultrasonic flow meter 12 Flow rate calculation part 13 Leakage determination execution flow rate determination part 14 Leakage device discrimination | determination part 15 Control part 16 Memory | storage part 17 Communication part 18 Seismic device 19 Shut-off valve 20 Gas supply pipe 21, 22, 23 Instrument 35 Measurement channel 36, 37 Ultrasonic transceiver

Claims (2)

A flow rate measuring unit connected to the gas supply pipe for measuring the flow rate of the gas;
A shut-off valve provided in the gas supply pipe for shutting off the gas passage;
Based on the gas flow rate measured by the flow rate measurement unit, a flow rate calculation unit that calculates a flow rate value, an integrated flow rate value, and a gas usage time;
And determining leakage determination execution flow determination unit and the flow rate value performs appliance determination leak is larger than the flow rate threshold,
When it is determined that the leakage determination execution flow rate determination unit performs leakage device determination, if the flow rate change of the gas passage flow rate is smaller than the flow rate change threshold value, it is determined as gas leak, and the flow rate change is greater than the flow rate change threshold value. A leaking appliance discriminating unit that judges that it is a gas appliance,
A control unit that performs gas cutoff or alarm determination and communication control;
A storage unit for storing the flow rate value, the integrated flow rate value, a flow rate change threshold value of the flow rate change of the passing flow rate for determining the leakage device discrimination , and a flow rate threshold value of the flow rate value for determining whether or not the leakage device discrimination is performed;
When the control unit determines the gas shut-off or alarm, leakage detection device having a communication unit that communicates to the gas companies.   The leak detection device according to claim 1, wherein the flow rate threshold value of the flow rate value is 1500 L / h (gas type: 13A), and the gas appliance when the flow rate change amount is larger than the flow rate change threshold value is determined as a water heater.

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