JPH0894077A - Monitoring system for combustion device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To obviate the sensing means for sensing a gas supplying amount at a combustion device by a method wherein a gas supplying amount calculated value of fuel gas consumed at the combustion device sent from a gas supplying amount calculation device connected to a monitoring means at the combustion device in such a manner that its communication can be performed is received at the monitoring means at the combustion device. CONSTITUTION: A gas meter M for sensing a gas supplying amount and acting as a gas supplying amount calculating device for calculating a gas supplying amount is installed outside a hot water supplying device A. A gas supplying amount calculation value information sensed by the gas meter is communicated with a host computer CMP of an automatic needle reading center CE through a telephone circuit. In addition, a control part H in the hot water feeding device A is constructed such that it can be communicated with the gas meter M through a communication part 14 to enable the gas supplying amount calculated value to be received and further it can be communicated with the host computer CMP in such a manner that a unit gas charge or fee in respect to a unit supplying amount of the fuel gas can be received. In addition, a display part 12 can be changed over to a state in which a gas charge or fee and a hot water feeding temperature are displayed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a gas supply amount integrating device for detecting a supply amount of a fuel gas supplied to a combustion device equipped with a gas burner and obtaining a gas supply amount integrated value based on the detected information. In order to be able to receive the gas supply amount integrated value, it is communicably connected to the gas supply amount integrating device,
A central control unit is provided for obtaining the gas charge of the fuel gas consumed by the combustion device based on the integrated value of the gas supply amount, and the combustion device obtains and displays the gas charge of the fuel gas consumed by the central control device. The present invention relates to a management system for a combustion device, which is provided with management means for displaying the means.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A combustion system management system having the above structure is
The central management device is installed, for example, on the gas supply company side, receives the gas supply amount integrated value from the gas supply amount integrating device, and manages the gas consumption fee of the fuel gas supplied to the combustion device. Thus, the gas fee can be charged without the need for the meter reading work by the meter reading staff.

By the way, conventionally, in a hot water supply apparatus as an example of the above-mentioned combustion apparatus, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-8740.
As shown in Japanese Patent Publication No. 3, a dedicated gas amount sensor for detecting the supply amount of the fuel gas to the gas burner is provided on the combustion device side, or the gas supply amount is calculated by calculation based on the required heat amount of the gas burner. As a gas unit charge setting unit that is equipped with a gas amount detecting unit, etc., and that detects gas amount is integrated by the gas amount integrating unit, and the charge for the unit usage amount of gas is set for the integrated value of the integrated gas supply amount. Some of them are equipped with a numeric value input key or digital switch, etc., and are provided with a gas charge calculation means for calculating the gas charge based on the integrated value of the gas supply amount and the charge for the unit usage amount of gas. It was

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional configuration, when a gas amount sensor is provided as the detection means for detecting the gas supply amount to the gas burner, a special device called a gas amount sensor is required, As the number of points increases, a gas amount sensor must be attached to the gas supply passage that is required to be hermetically sealed for safety, which is disadvantageous in that construction becomes difficult.

Further, in the case of calculating the gas supply amount based on the required heat amount of the gas burner, there is no disadvantage as described above, but the gas amount actually supplied to the gas supply passage is not measured. Therefore, for example, when supplied from a distant gas supply source through a gas pipe buried in the ground, the distance from the gas supply source may be different or the supply pressure of the gas supply source itself may fluctuate. Then, there is a possibility that the gas supply pressure in the gas pipe may fluctuate, and due to such a fluctuation in the gas supply pressure, the actual gas supply amount may change even if the target amount is the same. There was the disadvantage that the gas supply could not be detected well.

The present invention has been made by paying attention to such a point, and its purpose is to effectively use the detection information of the gas supply amount integrating device installed outside the combustion device to obtain the gas charge. The present invention provides a management system for a combustion apparatus that can always obtain an accurate gas consumption charge even when the gas supply pressure varies without complicating the configuration of the combustion apparatus. It is in.

[0007]

The features of the first invention are as follows:
A gas supply amount integrating device that detects the supply amount of the fuel gas supplied to the combustion device including the gas burner and obtains the gas supply amount integrated value based on the detection information, and to be able to receive the gas supply amount integrated value. A central management device that is communicatively connected to the gas supply amount integration device and that determines a gas charge for the fuel gas consumed by the combustion device based on the gas supply amount integration value. A management system for a combustion apparatus, which is provided with management means for obtaining a gas charge of the fuel gas consumed by the display means and displaying the display on a display means, the management means being capable of receiving the integrated gas supply amount value. The gas supply amount integrating device is communicably connected to the gas supply amount integrating device, and the gas charge of the fuel gas consumed by the combustion device is calculated based on the gas supply amount integrating value.

A characteristic structure of the second invention is to specify a structure suitable for carrying out the first invention, wherein the management means is
In order to receive a unit gas fee for a unit supply amount of fuel gas, the unit is communicatively connected to the central management unit,
The gas charge is calculated based on the gas supply amount integrated value and the unit gas charge.

A characteristic configuration of the third invention is to specify a configuration suitable for carrying out the first or second invention, wherein the combustion device includes a gas amount adjusting means for adjusting a gas supply amount to the gas burner. An instruction unit for instructing a target amount of the gas supply amount, and a combustion control unit for controlling the gas amount adjusting unit so that the gas supply amount becomes the target amount, and the managing unit is provided. It is possible to switch between a state in which the gas charge is displayed on the display means and a state in which control operation information by the combustion control means is displayed.

[0010]

According to the characterizing feature of the first aspect of the invention, the managing means on the combustion device side allows the integrated value of the gas supply amount of the fuel gas consumed in the combustion device to be communicated from the gas supply amount integration device connected in a communicable manner. Will be received. Then, the management means obtains the gas charge of the fuel gas consumed in the combustion device based on the integrated gas supply amount value, and displays the gas charge on the display means.

Therefore, the gas supply amount accurately determined by detecting and integrating the gas supply amount supplied to the combustion device without providing a special detecting means for detecting the gas supply amount on the combustion device side. The gas charge can be calculated based on the integrated value, and the gas charge can be easily visually confirmed.

According to the characterizing structure of the second invention, the following function is obtained in addition to the function of the characterizing structure of the first invention. The management means on the combustion device side receives the unit gas charge for the unit supply amount of the fuel gas from the central management device that is communicably connected. Then, the management means obtains the gas charge of the consumed fuel gas based on the gas supply amount integrated value received from the gas supply amount integrating device and the unit gas charge received from the central managing device.

According to the characteristic configuration of the third invention, the following operation is provided in addition to the operation of the characteristic configuration of the first or second invention.
The instruction means instructs the combustion control means to the target amount of gas supply, and the combustion control means controls the gas amount adjusting means so that the gas supply amount becomes the target amount. While such control is being executed, the gas supply amount will change as the target amount instructed by the instructing unit is changed, but the display unit displays the control operation information by the combustion control unit. By displaying it, the user can visually confirm such changes in the operating state. Then, in the case where the supply of the fuel gas to the gas burner is stopped, etc.,
By displaying the gas charge on the display means, the user can visually confirm the gas consumption charge for the fuel gas consumed in the combustion device.

[0014]

According to the characterizing feature of the first invention, the detection information of the gas supply amount integrating device which is installed outside the combustion device and detects and integrates the gas supply amount supplied to the combustion device is effectively used. As a result, the structure of the combustion device can be simplified and the gas supply pressure may fluctuate as compared with the case where a special detection means for detecting the gas supply amount is provided on the combustion device side. In addition, it has become possible to provide a management system for a combustion device that makes it possible to always obtain an accurate gas consumption charge.

According to the characterizing structure of the second invention, the following effects are obtained in addition to the effects of the characterizing structure of the first invention. Compared with the case where the unit gas fee is set manually, no special setting operation means is required, and the configuration of the combustion device can be simplified, and even if the unit gas fee is revised, for example. As a result, there is no risk of operation mistakes, and an accurate unit gas charge can always be obtained.

According to the characterizing structure of the third invention, the following effect is obtained in addition to the effect of the characterizing structure of the first or second invention.
Compared to the case where the gas charge and the control operation information can be visually confirmed, the display means for displaying the gas charge and the display means for displaying the control operation information are combined so that they are provided separately. Thus, the structure of the combustion device can be simplified.

[0017]

Embodiments will be described below with reference to the drawings. Figure 2
1 shows a hot water supply device A as an example of a combustion device.
This hot water supply device A includes a hot water supply unit K that performs a hot water supply operation, a control unit H that controls the operation of the hot water supply unit K, and a remote control operation unit R that issues various control information to the control unit H. .

The hot water supply unit K includes a heat exchanger 1 for heating water,
A gas burner 2 for heating water passing through the heat exchanger 1, a fan 3 for supplying combustion air to the gas burner 2, an inlet W1 for supplying water to the heat exchanger 1, a hot water heated by the heat exchanger 1. Is provided with a hot water outlet W2 for supplying a hot water tap (not shown), a gas supply passage G that is buried in the ground and is connected to a gas pipe to which gas is supplied from a distant gas supply source, and supplies combustion gas to the gas burner 2. It is configured. An ignition igniter 4 for igniting the gas burner 2 is provided near the gas burner 2.
And a frame rod 5 for detecting the ignition.

The water inlet W1 is provided with a water amount sensor S1 for detecting the amount of water and a water inlet temperature sensor S2 for detecting the water inlet temperature, and the hot water outlet W2 is provided with a hot water temperature sensor S3 for detecting the hot water temperature. Has been. In addition, in the gas supply path G,
There are provided two electromagnetically operated on-off valves 6 and 7, and an electromagnetically operated gas proportional valve 8 whose opening can be changed and adjusted in proportion to the supplied current value.

In the remote control operation unit R, an operation switch 9 for instructing the control unit H to start / stop operation, an operation lamp 10 for displaying an operation state, a hot water supply temperature setting switch 11 for setting a target hot water supply temperature, a hot water supply temperature, etc. The display unit 12 serving as a display unit for displaying, and a changeover switch 13 for changing the display content of the display unit 12 as described later are provided.

The control unit H includes the sensors S1 and S.
2, S3, based on the detection information of the frame rod 5, the ignition igniter 4, the on-off valves 6, 7, the gas proportional valve 8 and the fan 3 are controlled so as to perform an appropriate hot water supply operation. There is. That is, when the hot water tap is opened after the operation switch 9 is turned ON and the detection value of the water input sensor S1 exceeds the set amount, the opening / closing valves 6 and 7 and the gas proportional valve 8 are opened to set the ignition igniter. The ignition operation by 4 is started. When ignition is confirmed by the frame rod 5,
Stop the ignition operation. Then, the detected value of the water amount sensor S1 and the required combustion amount of the gas burner 2 depending on the target hot water supply temperature,
That is, the gas supply amount target value is calculated, the gas proportional valve 8 is adjusted and controlled so that the gas supply amount becomes the target value, and the target fan speed is obtained based on the predetermined control characteristic. The rotation speed of the fan 3 is controlled. When the hot water tap is closed and the detected value of the water amount sensor S1 falls below the set value, the on-off valves 6 and 7 are closed to stop the combustion of the gas burner 2 and then the fan 3 is operated for a set time. After that, the post-purge is executed to end the hot water supply operation.

A gas meter M as a gas supply amount integrating device for detecting the gas supply amount to the hot water supply device A and integrating the gas supply amount outside the hot water supply device A.
Is provided. Then, the gas supply amount integrated value information detected by the gas meter M is used as a host computer CMP (an example of a central management unit) installed in an automatic meter reading center CE in a gas supply company via a telephone line.
And the host computer CMP manages the gas charge consumed by the hot water supply device A. FIG. 1 shows a gas charge management system in the water heater A. The integrated value information of the gas meter M is configured to be communicated to the host computer CMP via the network control unit (NCU), the general telephone line L, and the network control unit (C-NCU) on the automatic meter reading center CE side. There is. The network control unit (NCU) on the gas meter M side is housed together with the gas meter M in the same case. In the automatic meter reading center CE,
The gas charge information obtained by the host computer CMP is separately notified to the user of the hot water supply device, or the charge is automatically transferred at a financial institution.

The control unit H is communicable with the gas meter M so that the integrated value of the gas supply amount can be received via the communication unit 14 as a communication unit.
The host computer CMP is communicable so as to receive a unit gas charge for a unit supply amount of fuel gas.

Further, in the control section H, the combustion control means 100 for adjusting and controlling the gas proportional valve 8 to the adjustment state set according to the target amount so that the gas supply amount becomes the target amount.
Based on the heat quantity instruction means 101 for instructing the combustion control means 100 about the necessary heat quantity of the gas burner 2, the gas supply amount integrated value received from the gas meter M, and the unit gas charge received from the host computer CMP. A gas charge calculating means 102 for calculating and a time measuring means 103 for measuring time while the controller H is energized and having a calendar function are provided. Moreover, the control unit H displays the gas charge on the display unit 12 of the remote control operation unit R and the state of displaying the hot water supply temperature (an example of the control operation) on the basis of the operation of the changeover switch 13. It is configured to switch states. Therefore, the control unit H constitutes the management means.

The hot water supply device A is provided with a non-volatile memory 15 as a storage means for storing the integrated value of gas supply amount,
The non-volatile memory 15 is composed of, for example, an EEPROM or a flash memory, and is configured to be able to retain the data storage state even in a non-energized state such as when power supply is stopped due to power failure or transfer. There is.

The combustion control means 100 is configured to calculate the target quantity based on the required heat quantity indicated by the heat quantity indicating means 101, and to control the gas proportional valve 8 according to the target quantity. There is.

Next, the control operation of the control unit H will be described with reference to the control flowcharts of FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 3, when the operation switch 9 is turned on and the detected value of the water amount sensor S1 exceeds the set value, it is determined that the hot water tap is opened. Start the ignition operation (steps 1, 2,
3). That is, when the opening / closing valves 6 and 7 are opened, the ignition operation is started by the ignition igniter 4, and the ignition is confirmed by the frame rod 5, the ignition operation is ended.

Then, the required heat quantity of the gas burner 2 is calculated based on the detected value of the water amount sensor S1, the detected value of the incoming water temperature sensor S2 and the hot water supply temperature set value set by the hot water supply temperature setting switch 11. A target gas amount for the gas burner 2 is obtained from the required heat amount (step 4).
Based on the preset characteristics, the target supply current to the gas proportional valve 8 with respect to the gas target amount is obtained, and the gas proportional valve 8
The feed-forward control is performed so that the current of 1 becomes the target supply current, and the gas supply amount is adjusted (step 5). In addition, based on the preset setting characteristics, for the gas target amount,
The fan rotation speed is adjusted and controlled so that the amount of air blown for maintaining the proper combustion state is obtained (step 6). Then, as will be described later, the gas consumption amount calculation control is executed based on the integrated value of the gas supply amount of the gas meter M (step 7), and when the detected value of the water amount sensor S1 falls below the set value, the hot water tap is closed. Then, the combustion of the gas burner 2 is stopped, and after the combustion is stopped, the post-purge is performed to rotate the fan 3 for a set time (tens of seconds to several minutes) (step 8,
9, 10).

Next, the gas consumption calculation control will be described. The calculation of the gas consumption amount is configured to obtain the gas consumption amount on a daily basis and on a monthly basis. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, first, the control unit H is set so as to be in a state in which it can communicate with the gas meter M via the communication unit 14 (step 11). In the initial state, the gas meter M
The gas supply amount integrated value of is read and stored in the memory 15 as the first data initial value (step 12,
13 and 14), and after that, when 24 hours have passed since the first data (old data) was stored last time based on the measurement information of the time measuring means 103, the integrated value of the gas supply amount at that time is read and the value is read as the first value. Memory 15 as data (new data)
(Steps 12, 15, 16, 17). Then, the difference between the first data stored last time and the first data newly stored this time is calculated (step 18). This difference corresponds to the gas consumption during 24 hours (1 day). Then, this difference is stored in the memory 15 as data for the first period for one day (step 19). When the number of times data is stored exceeds the set number, which is the limit of storage capacity, old data is updated to new data as needed.

When January has passed since the initial value of the first data was stored, the integrated value of the gas supply amount at that time is read,
The value is stored in the memory 15 as the second data initial value which is the integrated value data for each month (steps 20, 21,
22) and thereafter, every January, the integrated value of gas supply is read and the second data is stored (step 23,
24, 25, 26). Then, the difference between the old second data stored last time and the new second data newly stored this time is calculated, and this difference is stored in the memory 15 as data for each second period (steps 27 and 28). . This difference is
It is equivalent to the gas consumption during January. When the number of times data is stored exceeds the set number, which is the limit of storage capacity, old data is updated to new data as needed.

Next, the operation of displaying the gas charge will be described. FIG. 6 shows a control flow chart for displaying the gas charge, and this control is a control routine that is appropriately executed by interruption based on the operation of the changeover switch 13.

If there is a gas charge display command by operating the change-over switch 13 provided in the remote control operation unit R, the host computer CMP is requested to communicate the unit gas charge information via the communication unit 14 (step 29, Three
0). When the unit gas fee information is received, based on the first period data and the second period data (gas consumption amount) stored in the memory 15, and the unit gas fee information (gas fee for the unit gas consumption amount). , Gas consumption fee is calculated (steps 31 and 32). Then, the gas charges corresponding to the first period-specific data (for one day) are displayed in order from the newest one on the display unit 12 of the remote controller operation unit R, and if there is a switching command by the operation of the changeover switch 13, the second The gas charges corresponding to the period-specific data (for one month) are displayed on the display unit 12 in order from the newest one (steps 33 to 3).
5).

If there is no gas charge display command by operating the change-over switch 13, the display unit 12 is controlled to display the hot water supply temperature as hot water supply operation information (step 3).
6). As described above, in the hot water supply apparatus A, based on the integrated value information of the gas meter M that detects and integrates the supply amount of the fuel gas supplied to the hot water supply apparatus A and the unit gas charge information by the host computer CMP that manages the gas charge. Since the gas consumption charge of the consumed fuel gas is obtained and displayed on the display unit 12 of the remote control operation unit R, the accurate gas consumption charge can always be easily visually confirmed.

[Other Embodiment] (1) In the above embodiment, the unit gas charge is received from the host computer each time there is a gas charge display command based on the operation of the changeover switch. The unit gas charge may be automatically received from the host computer every preset time. For example, the unit gas charge may be automatically received from the host computer at midnight when the water heater is not normally used. (2) In the above embodiment, the unit gas fee for the unit supply amount of the fuel gas is received from the host computer and the gas fee is obtained. However, instead of such a configuration, a key input device for the hot water supply device is used. Providing operation setting means such as
The unit gas fee may be artificially input and set.

(3) In the above embodiment, the gas amount calculation control is executed when the gas burner is in combustion operation. However, instead of such a structure, when the post purge is executed. May be configured to execute the gas amount calculation control, or may be configured to execute the gas amount calculation control during a hot water supply standby period in which the operation switch is ON but the hot water tap is not opened. .

(4) In the above embodiment, the gas consumption charge is
Although it is automatically calculated on a daily basis or on a monthly basis, for example, an operation setting means such as a key input device is provided and a gas consumption fee is calculated within a set period in which a start time and an end time are designated. It may be configured as follows.

(5) In the above-described embodiment, the display unit 12 of the remote controller operation unit R is also used as the display unit for displaying the gas charge. However, in addition to this display unit 12, a dedicated gas charge display unit is provided. May be provided.

(6) In the above embodiment, the hot water supply device is illustrated as an example of the combustion device, but the present invention is not limited to the hot water supply device and can be applied to a management system for various heating devices such as a gas heating device and a gas stove. .

It should be noted that reference numerals are added to the claims for facilitating the comparison with the drawings, but the present invention is not limited to the configurations of the accompanying drawings by the entry.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a control block diagram.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a hot water supply device.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of control operation

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of control operation.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of control operation

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of control operation

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 gas burner 8 gas amount adjusting means 12 display means 100 combustion control means 101 instructing means A combustor CMP central management device H management means M gas supply amount integrating device

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A gas supply amount integrating device (M) for detecting a supply amount of a fuel gas supplied to a combustion device (A) having a gas burner (2) and obtaining a gas supply amount integrated value based on the detected information. ), And is communicably connected to the gas supply amount integration device (M) so that the combustion device (A) consumes the gas supply amount integration value so as to receive the gas supply amount integration value. Central Management Unit (CMP) for gas charges for burned fuel gas
And a management means (H) for obtaining the gas charge of the fuel gas consumed by the combustion means (A) and displaying the gas charge on the display means (12). The management means (H) is communicably connected to the gas supply amount integration device (M) so as to receive the gas supply amount integration value, and the combustion device is based on the gas supply amount integration value. A combustor management system configured to determine a gas charge for fuel gas consumed by (A). 2. The management means (H) is communicably connected to the central management unit (CMP) so as to receive a unit gas charge for a unit supply amount of fuel gas, and the integrated value of the gas supply amount. The management system for a combustion apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the gas fee is calculated based on the unit gas fee. 3. The combustion apparatus (A) comprises a gas amount adjusting means (8) for adjusting a gas supply amount to the gas burner (2), and an instructing means (101) for instructing a target amount of the gas supply amount.
And a combustion control unit (100) that controls the gas amount adjustment unit (8) so that the gas supply amount becomes the target amount, and the management unit (H) includes the display unit ( The combustion system management system according to claim 1 or 2, which is configured to be switchable between a state in which the gas charge is displayed in 12) and a state in which control operation information by the combustion control means (100) is displayed.