JP-2026076320-A - Specific equipment determination method

Abstract

[Problem] This disclosure provides a method for identifying specific gas appliances that can improve the accuracy of identifying the type of gas appliance. [Solution] The method for determining a specific appliance in this disclosure includes: a first step of detecting a stable gas flow rate based on the gas flow rate measured at predetermined time intervals; a second step of determining the average gas flow rate after detecting the stable flow rate in the first step; and a third step of determining that a gas appliance that has started operation is a specific appliance if the increase in the gas flow rate relative to the average flow rate is greater than or equal to a first predetermined value, or if the decrease in the gas flow rate relative to the average flow rate is greater than or equal to a second predetermined value. [Selection Diagram] Figure 2

Inventors

• 横畑 光男

Assignees

• パナソニックＩＰマネジメント株式会社

Dates

Publication Date

20260511

Application Date

20260216

Claims (3)

1. A first step of detecting the stable flow rate of the gas based on the gas flow rate measured at predetermined intervals, After detecting the stable flow rate in the first step, a second step is performed to determine the average flow rate of the gas, A third step in which the gas appliance that has started operation is determined to be a specified appliance when the increase in the gas flow rate relative to the average flow rate is greater than or equal to a first predetermined value, or when the decrease in the gas flow rate relative to the average flow rate is greater than or equal to a second predetermined value, A method for determining specific devices, including the method for determining specific devices.
2. The first step involves calculating the difference between two consecutive gas flow rates measured at predetermined time intervals, and detecting the stable flow rate when the difference is less than or equal to a predetermined value for six consecutive times. The method for determining a specific device according to claim 1.
3. The third step determines that a gas appliance that has started operation is a specified appliance if, within a predetermined period, the increase in the gas flow rate relative to the average flow rate is equal to or greater than a first predetermined value, or the decrease in the gas flow rate relative to the average flow rate is equal to or greater than a second predetermined value. The method for determining a specific device according to claim 1 or 2.

Description

This disclosure relates to a method for determining the type of gas appliance that uses gas. Typically, a gas meter is connected to multiple gas appliances, and the gas that passes through the meter is supplied to these appliances. By identifying the type of gas appliance being used among these multiple appliances, it becomes possible to provide users with gas usage information for each appliance and safety information for each appliance, thereby expanding the range of services offered by gas companies. Gas meters measure gas flow rate at regular intervals. One method for identifying the type of gas appliance being used involves comparing the pattern of change in this measured gas flow rate with pre-determined patterns for each type of gas appliance. For example, each type of gas appliance has a specific change in gas flow rate at the start of operation; detecting this change can help determine which type of appliance is operating. Japanese Patent Publication No. 2007-24809 Block diagram showing the configuration of the gas meter in Embodiment 1Flowchart for explaining the operation of the device identification unit in Embodiment 1(1) A graph showing the amount of gas consumed since the start of use of a specific appliance, (2) A diagram showing the number of measurements and flow rate values in the same graph as a table.(1) A graph showing the amount of gas consumed since the start of use of a specific appliance, (2) A diagram showing the number of measurements and flow rate values in the same graph as a table. (Knowledge and other information that formed the basis of this disclosure) With the practical application of so-called ultrasonic flowmeters, which utilize the propagation time of ultrasonic waves to measure instantaneous flow rates, a technology has been developed to identify the type of gas appliance by analyzing the measured flow rate change pattern. Gas appliances refer to categories based on their intended use, such as fan heaters, dryers (clothes dryers), gas stoves (gas cooktops), water heaters, gas stoves, and gas underfloor heating. However, even within the same type of gas appliance, differences in model, output (number), manufacturer, etc., can result in variations in gas flow rate and its changes. Therefore, the selection criteria for each type are set within a certain range to allow for the selection of similar gas appliances as the same type. Consequently, even for different types of gas appliances, there may be a common range of selection criteria. If an appliance falls within this common range, it cannot be selected as a single type; instead, multiple types must be selected. In particular, for fan heaters and dryers, the range of gas flow rates is similar, and the common range of selection criteria is wide, making it difficult to identify the specific type in the appliance selection section. The inventors discovered a phenomenon in certain gas appliances where, after a period of stable flow rate, the flow rate increases or decreases depending on the operating mode. They found that this phenomenon could be used to identify the appliance, which constitutes the subject matter of this disclosure. Therefore, this disclosure provides a gas meter capable of identifying a specific gas appliance based on changes in flow rate within a predetermined period after the start of operation. The embodiments will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. However, unnecessary details may be omitted. For example, detailed explanations of already well-known matters or redundant explanations of substantially identical configurations may be omitted. The attached drawings and the following description are provided to enable those skilled in the art to fully understand this disclosure and are not intended to limit the subject matter described in the claims. (Embodiment 1) Embodiment 1 will be described below with reference to Figures 1 to 3. [1-1. Structure] Figure 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration example of the gas meter according to this embodiment. The gas meter 1 comprises a flow path 10, a flow rate measuring unit 11, and a control unit 12. Multiple types of gas appliances 21-23 are connected to the flow path 10 via external piping 10b. In other words, the flow path 10 is a common gas flow path supplying gas to multiple types of gas appliances 21-23. Note that the gas meter 1 may also be equipped with other known components besides the flow rate measuring unit 11 and the control unit 12, although these are not shown in the diagram. The flow rate measurement unit 11 measures the gas flow rate (instantaneous flow rate) flowing through the flow path 10 at predetermined time intervals and outputs the flow rate data to the control unit 12. A typical example of the flow rate measurement unit 11 is an ultrasonic flow meter. The ultrasonic flow meter transmits and receives ultrasonic waves at regular time intervals to the gas flowing through the flow path 10, thereb