JP5559124B2 - Gas diagnostic apparatus and gas diagnostic method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a gas diagnostic apparatus and a gas diagnostic method for diagnosing a mixed state of air in a fluid.

  Ultrasonic waves are emitted from the upstream and downstream sides of the combustible gas supplied through the gas meter, and the propagation speed (the speed of propagation from the upstream side to the downstream side and the speed of propagation from the downstream side to the upstream side) There is a technique for deriving the flow velocity and flow rate of gas by the total velocity or the average velocity). Also disclosed is a technique for detecting whether or not a predetermined substance (for example, combustible gas) constituting a fluid contains a substance (for example, air) of a different type or composition from the substance based on the propagation speed of ultrasonic waves. (For example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).

  In addition, there is also a technology for storing in advance sonic velocity data corresponding to the temperature when no other substance is mixed in the fluid, and detecting whether the fluid is mixed according to the temperature and the sound wave propagation time. Published (for example, Patent Document 3), the sound speed of an ultrasonic wave propagating in a predetermined fluid is obtained, the temperature of the fluid is estimated based on data relating to the temperature dependence of the sound speed, and an abnormality is detected when an abnormality is detected. Techniques that emit or operate a shut-off valve are also disclosed (for example, Patent Document 4).

JP 2010-216725 A JP 2001-281030 A JP 2008-128824 A JP 2008-298802 A

  However, the technique of Patent Document 1 is a technique for avoiding difficulty in measuring air contamination due to the layer of methane gas and air formed in the gas meter, and the technique of Patent Document 2 is mixed with air. Therefore, even if the mixing ratio of the air is within a permissible range, it is uniquely determined to be abnormal.

  Patent Document 3 discloses that the propagation time of ultrasonic waves varies depending on the temperature. However, the propagation time data for each temperature is extracted, and the degree of mixing of combustible gas and air based on the propagation time data. In other words, there is a problem that it is impossible to accurately determine the degree of mixing when there is no need for a complicated calculation of a plurality of stages, such as determining whether or not there is no propagation time data relating to the measured temperature. Patent Document 4 also mentions the relationship between the propagation time of the sound wave and the temperature. However, since the temperature of the fluid is estimated and the abnormality is detected by comparison with the measured temperature, the calculation is only complicated. In other words, it was impossible to accurately grasp the degree of air mixing.

  Furthermore, in the above technique, in order to increase the detection accuracy of the degree of mixing, a high-accuracy temperature sensor must be separately prepared, but not only the manufacturing cost and the occupied volume increase, but the detection value of the temperature sensor is also increased. A new electrical configuration to be taken in as a calculation value is required, resulting in a complicated system.

  By the way, when air is mixed into the combustible gas, the risk of using the combustible gas increases with an increase in the amount of the mixed gas, but the risk decreases as the mixed amount further increases. Conventionally, abnormalities are determined based on the presence of air, so the supply of flammable gas will be stopped even when the amount of air is large but the danger level is small. In some cases, it was an obstacle to the restoration work.

  In view of such a problem, the present invention provides a gas diagnosis capable of quickly and accurately determining an abnormality in the mixing ratio of air with a simple calculation process without newly providing a temperature sensor or a readout mechanism for a detection value. An object is to provide an apparatus and a gas diagnostic method.

In order to solve the above problems, the gas diagnostic apparatus of the present invention corrects the pressure detected by the pressure sensor based on the pressure sensor that detects the pressure of the fluid, the temperature sensor that detects the temperature near the pressure sensor, and the temperature sensor. An ultrasonic sensor for deriving the propagation speed of the ultrasonic wave propagating from the transmission unit to the reception unit via the fluid, the pressure temperature correction unit that performs, the ultrasonic transmission unit and the reception unit are arranged upstream and downstream of the fluid, An upper limit value and a lower limit value obtained by substituting the temperature detected by the temperature sensor into an upper limit function and a lower limit function of the propagation speed , in which the temperature is a variable, and the mixing ratio of a plurality of substances constituting the fluid is abnormal. And a mixing determination unit that determines that the mixing ratio of the plurality of substances constituting the fluid is abnormal if the propagation velocity derived by the ultrasonic sensor is equal to or lower than the upper limit value and equal to or lower than the lower limit value. To do.

  One or both of the upper limit function and the lower limit function may be a linear function. Further, the upper limit function and the lower limit function are linear functions, and the slopes thereof may be equal to each other.

When the mixing determination unit determines that the mixing ratio of the plurality of substances constituting the fluid is abnormal, the mixing determination section assumes that the mixing ratio of the plurality of substances configuring the fluid is normal and takes a value larger than the upper limit function. By substituting the temperature detected by the temperature sensor into the cancellation upper limit function and the cancellation lower limit function that takes a smaller value than the lower limit function, the cancellation upper limit value and the cancellation lower limit value are obtained, and the propagation velocity derived by the ultrasonic sensor is If the release upper limit value or more or the release lower limit value or less, it may be determined that the abnormality in the mixing ratio of a plurality of substances constituting the fluid has been released.

In order to solve the above problems, a temperature sensor that detects the temperature in the vicinity of the pressure sensor to correct the temperature of the pressure sensor, and an ultrasonic transmission unit and a reception unit are disposed upstream and downstream of the fluid, and are transmitted via the fluid. The gas diagnostic method of the present invention for diagnosing the state of fluid using an ultrasonic sensor for deriving the propagation speed of ultrasonic waves propagating from the head to the receiver has an abnormal mixing ratio of a plurality of substances constituting the fluid. The upper limit value and the lower limit value are obtained by substituting the temperature detected by the temperature sensor into the upper limit function and the lower limit function of the propagation speed with temperature as a variable, and the propagation speed derived by the ultrasonic sensor is the upper limit value. It is determined whether or not it is less than or equal to the lower limit value below, and if it is less than or equal to the upper limit value and greater than or equal to the lower limit value, it is determined that the mixing ratio of the plurality of substances constituting the fluid is abnormal.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to quickly and accurately determine the abnormality of the air mixing ratio with a simple calculation process without newly providing a temperature sensor or a detection value reading mechanism.

It is the functional block diagram which showed the schematic structure of the gas diagnostic apparatus. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating operation | movement of a pressure temperature correction part. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating operation | movement of a mixing determination part. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating operation | movement of a mixing determination part. It is the flowchart which showed the whole flow of the gas diagnostic method.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The dimensions, materials, and other specific numerical values shown in the embodiments are merely examples for facilitating the understanding of the invention, and do not limit the present invention unless otherwise specified. In the present specification and drawings, elements having substantially the same function and configuration are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted, and elements not directly related to the present invention are not illustrated. To do.

  In a large-scale disaster such as an earthquake, the gas pipes and the like required for supplying the combustible gas may be damaged. In the recovery and repair work for damaged gas pipes, if air enters the combustible gas, incomplete combustion may occur depending on the mixing ratio of the combustible gas and air. May not operate normally, or an error may occur in the flow rate measurement value, resulting in problems such as inability to accurately control the flow rate. In addition, there is a period in which combustible gas and air are mixed even in a new arrangement of a gas pipe or a gas meter (gas diagnostic device). Therefore, the worker is forced to perform a complicated recovery work while confirming the air mixing ratio with a dedicated device in order to ensure safety, and labor and time have been spent.

  Therefore, the gas diagnostic apparatus in the present embodiment detects the mixing ratio of the combustible gas and air, and determines that the combustible gas is abnormal if the mixing ratio is not within the allowable range. Stop supplying sex gas. Moreover, in this embodiment, such a mixing ratio is determined at low cost and effectively, and a highly accurate abnormality determination is enabled. In this way, the worker can quickly grasp the supply state of the combustible gas through the gas pipe, the gas diagnostic device, etc., and can accurately perform the restoration work such as the air purge process and the new installation work. . Hereinafter, the gas diagnostic apparatus 100 of this embodiment will be described in detail.

(Gas diagnostic device 100)
FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the gas diagnostic apparatus 100. The gas diagnostic apparatus 100 includes a shutoff valve 110, a pressure sensor 112, a temperature sensor 114, an ultrasonic sensor 116, a display unit 118, and an arithmetic unit 120.

  The shut-off valve 110 is configured by, for example, a solenoid valve using a solenoid or a stepping motor, and controls the supply of combustible gas by shutting off or opening the gas flow path 150. The pressure sensor 112 is provided downstream from the shut-off valve 110 and detects the pressure of combustible gas. The temperature sensor 114 is arranged in association with the pressure sensor 112, and measures the temperature T in the vicinity of the pressure sensor 112 or the pressure sensor 112. Since the detected value of the pressure sensor 112 varies depending on the temperature T even at the same pressure, temperature correction is performed by the pressure temperature correction unit 130 described later. Therefore, it is sufficient that the temperature sensor 114 can detect the temperature T at a position correlated with the temperature of the pressure sensor 112 itself.

  The ultrasonic sensor 116 is disposed at a predetermined position on the upstream side surface and the downstream side surface of the gas flow path 150, and functions as an ultrasonic wave transmission unit and a reception unit that are ultrasonic waves of 20 kHz or higher. , 116b and the propagation time for detecting the propagation time of the ultrasonic wave propagating between the ultrasonic vibrators 116a and 116b via the combustible gas and deriving the propagation velocity v based on the distance between the ultrasonic vibrators 116a and 116b. And a speed deriving unit 116c. For example, the propagation speed deriving unit 116c detects the propagation time based on the phase difference between the zero cross points in the waveforms of the ultrasonic wave transmitted from the transmission unit and the ultrasonic wave received by the reception unit.

  Since the ultrasonic vibrators 116 a and 116 b are fixed to the gas flow path 150 and the combustible gas or a mixture of the flammable gas and air is uniformly filled in the gas flow path 150, the ultrasonic waves The velocity of propagation v varies depending on the flow rate of the fluid in the gas flow path 150 and the mixing ratio of the combustible gas and air. Therefore, by grasping the propagation velocity v, it is possible to grasp the flow rate and flow rate of the combustible gas, and also the air mixing ratio.

  For example, the two ultrasonic transducers 116a and 116b function alternately as a transmitter and a receiver, respectively, measure the forward propagation time and the backward propagation time, and derive the flow rate of the combustible gas based on the difference therebetween. Furthermore, the flow rate can also be derived by multiplying the flow velocity by the cross-sectional area. It is also possible to derive the mixing ratio of air by adding or averaging the forward propagation time and the backward propagation time to cancel the parameter depending on the fluid flow velocity.

  The display unit 118 includes a liquid crystal display, an organic EL (Electro Luminescence) display, and the like, and is used to notify an integrated value of the supply amount (use amount) of the combustible gas and an abnormality such as leakage of the combustible gas. The arithmetic unit 120 manages the entire gas diagnostic apparatus 100 by a central processing unit (CPU), a semiconductor integrated circuit including a program, a ROM storing information on upper limit functions and lower limit functions described later, a RAM as a work area, and the like. And control. The arithmetic unit 120 also functions as a pressure temperature correction unit 130, a pressure determination unit 132, a mixing determination unit 134, an abnormality notification unit 136, and a gas cutoff unit 138.

  The pressure temperature correction unit 130 corrects the actual measured value of the pressure detected by the pressure sensor 112 based on the temperature T detected by the temperature sensor 114 arranged in association with the pressure sensor 112, and serves as a pressure reference value. To derive.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the operation of the pressure temperature correction unit 130. In FIG. 2, the measured value of the pressure actually detected by the pressure sensor 112 is shown on the horizontal axis, and the reference value after pressure correction is shown on the vertical axis. If the pressure sensor 112 can accurately measure the pressure regardless of the temperature, as shown by the broken line 160 in FIG. However, it actually depends on temperature, and temperature correction is performed to maintain the linearity. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, temperature characteristics are specified in advance for a plurality of predetermined temperatures T ₁ , T ₂ , T ₃ , and the detection values of the temperature sensor 114 are the temperatures T ₁ , T ₂ , T ₃ . In any case, the reference value is derived from the actual measurement value with reference to the temperature characteristic corresponding to the temperature. Also, if other than the detection value of the temperature _{T 1,} T 2, _{T 3} of the temperature sensor 114, the reference of the individual temperature by interpolating the reference value of the temperature _{T 1,} T 2, _{T 3} (e.g., linear interpolation) A value can be derived.

  The pressure determination unit 132 refers to the reference value of the pressure corrected by the pressure temperature correction unit 130 and always monitors whether or not the pressure of the combustible gas flowing through the gas flow path 150 is within a predetermined allowable range. When an abnormality is detected, this is communicated to an abnormality notification unit 136 described later. When a large-scale earthquake or the like occurs, the gas passage 150 is shut off by the shut-off valve 110 and the reference value of the pressure is referred to, so that the combustible gas leaks in the gas passage 150 downstream from the shut-off valve 110. It is determined whether or not there is a problem.

The mixing determination unit 134 uses the information about the upper limit function and the lower limit function, which are stored in the ROM of the arithmetic unit 120, using the temperature T as a variable, and the temperature T _d detected by the temperature sensor 114, and uses the temperature T _d. The upper limit value and the lower limit value of the propagation speed indicating the danger range of the mixing ratio in the above are obtained, and the obtained upper limit value and lower limit value are compared with the propagation speed v derived by the ultrasonic sensor 116 to determine the combustible gas. It is determined whether the mixing ratio of air and air is abnormal. A specific operation will be described below. Here, as an example of combustible gas, methane gas which is a main component of city gas is taken as an example, but city gas is not limited to 100% methane gas, and other gases may be mixed. Further, the combustible gas is not limited to city gas, but here, for the sake of simplicity, an example of 100% methane gas will be described.

  3 and 4 are explanatory diagrams for explaining the operation of the mixing determination unit 134. In the present embodiment, for example, methane gas is used as the combustible gas. Ultrasonic waves have a characteristic that their propagation speed changes according to the density of the propagating fluid. Therefore, if the propagation velocity measured by the ultrasonic sensor 116 is the same as the propagation velocity of the ultrasonic wave in 100% methane gas, the fluid can be identified as methane gas.

  However, the propagation speed of ultrasonic waves in methane gas changes depending on the temperature of the fluid. For example, the propagation speed of ultrasonic waves in methane gas increases as the temperature rises as shown in FIG. Therefore, if the propagation velocity measured by the ultrasonic sensor 116 is the same as the propagation velocity of the ultrasonic wave in the methane gas shown in FIG. 3 corresponding to the temperature at that time, the fluid can be identified as methane gas. It becomes.

  Further, not only methane gas but also air that is considered to be mixed when a gas pipe or the like is damaged, the propagation speed of ultrasonic waves changes depending on temperature as shown in FIG. However, the propagation speed of ultrasonic waves in air is slower than that of methane gas. In addition, although the transition of the propagation speed of ultrasonic waves with respect to the temperature of methane gas and air is strictly different, the increasing tendency of the propagation speed with respect to the temperature rise is roughly approximated, and FIG. 4 shows “methane gas 100%” and “air 100 % ”, The transition 162 of the ultrasonic wave propagation speed with respect to the temperature when the fluid is only methane gas (100%), and the ultrasonic wave propagation speed with respect to the temperature when the fluid is only air (100%). Can be approximated by a linear function.

  Further, when methane gas and air are mixed, the transition of the propagation velocity v also changes according to the mixing ratio. Here, the transition 162 of the methane gas 100% and the transition 164 of the air 100% are apportioned according to the mixing ratio. As a typical example, the methane gas is 2%, 5%, 14%, FIG. 4 shows the transition of the propagation velocity v when 20% is mixed.

By the way, depending on the mixing ratio of methane gas and air, there are a mixing ratio in which ignition occurs if there is an ignition source, and a mixing ratio in which ignition or explosion does not occur even if there is an ignition source. The former mixing ratio is said to be 5% to 14% (explosion limit) for methane gas with respect to air. Therefore, when 5% to 14% of methane gas is mixed with air, the mixing determination unit 134 determines that there is a risk of ignition and affects safe combustion of the gas equipment. This is determined by whether or not the propagation velocity v _d detected by the ultrasonic sensor 116 and the temperature T _d detected by the temperature sensor 114 are included in a range 166 indicated by cross-hatching in FIG.

  In the present embodiment, the upper limit of the range 166 indicated by cross hatching in FIG. 4 is represented by a linear function as an upper limit function, and the lower limit is represented by a linear function as a lower limit function. Therefore, the ROM of the arithmetic unit 120 is mixed with a linear function f (T) = a · T + b slope a and offset b as an upper limit function with respect to the temperature T when 14% of methane gas is mixed, and 5% of methane gas. A linear function f (T) = c · T + d slope c and offset d as a lower limit function for the temperature T in this case are stored in advance.

The mixing determination unit 134 substitutes the temperature T _d detected by the temperature sensor 114 into the upper limit function and the lower limit function, and obtains the upper limit value a · T _d + b and the lower limit value c · T _d + d. The mixing determination unit 134 compares the propagation velocity v _d detected by the ultrasonic sensor 116 with the upper limit value a · T _d + b and the lower limit value c · T _d + d, and a · T _d + b ≧ v _d ≧ If the relationship of c · T _d + d is satisfied, it is determined that the mixing ratio of combustible gas and air is abnormal.

  In this way, it is possible to perform highly accurate abnormality determination while reducing the processing load by simple calculation such as obtaining the upper limit value and the lower limit value by simple multiplication with temperature and comparing the upper limit value and the propagation speed. Become.

In addition, when the rate of change of the propagation velocity v with respect to the temperature T of a plurality of target fluids, here methane gas and air, is approximate, the slopes of the upper limit function and the lower limit function are made equal (here, slope a). Can do. Then, the relationship between the _{a · T d + b ≧ v} d ≧ c · T d + d can be substituted with _{a · T d + b ≧ v} d ≧ a · T d + d, subtracts a · _{T d} from all terms B ≧ v _d −a · T _d ≧ d. Under such conditions, the multiplication can be narrowed down to one multiplication of the temperature T _d detected by the temperature sensor 114 and the inclination a, and the mixing determination unit 134 determines the propagation velocity v _d detected by the ultrasonic sensor 116. By simply subtracting the product of the temperature _Td and the slope a and comparing the subtracted value with the offsets b and d, it is possible to determine an abnormality in the mixing ratio of combustible gas and air. With this configuration, it is possible to execute a highly accurate abnormality determination while further reducing the processing load.

  In addition, when the mixing determination unit 134 determines that the mixing ratio of the combustible gas and air in the fluid is once abnormal, the mixing determination unit 134 does not immediately release the state that is determined to be abnormal even if it is out of the range. Only when the mixing ratio of methane gas is 2% or less, or 20% or more, as indicated by hatching in FIG. By providing such hysteresis, it is possible to reliably maintain a state in which the mixing ratio is determined to be abnormal even when the mixing ratio increases or decreases near the upper limit value or the lower limit value, thereby improving safety. Is possible.

  The abnormality notifying unit 136 detects that air is mixed and determines that it is dangerous, that is, the mixing ratio of combustible gas (methane gas) to air becomes 5% to 14%. Until the return to the safe range of 2% or less or 20% or more, information indicating an alarm is continuously displayed on the display unit 118, and sound indicating that is continuously output to a speaker (not shown). Thus, the worker or user can visually or audibly grasp the abnormality in the mixing ratio of the combustible gas and air. Further, when the mixing ratio of methane gas becomes 20% or more, the alarm is canceled, so that the worker can quickly grasp that the purge of air as a situation that may cause an explosion has been completed.

  This concept can be used not only for the above-mentioned explosion limit range but also for the mixing ratio of methane gas that does not affect the safety and effective use of gas equipment used downstream of the gas meter. For example, the release condition can be set so that methane gas is replaced with 95% or more and the alarm is released when the condition is satisfied. In this case, if the alarm is canceled, the worker can finish the work after confirming that the mixing ratio of methane gas, for example, less than 5%, which does not affect the gas equipment, is reached.

  The gas blocking unit 138 blocks the gas flow path 150 by driving the blocking valve 110 while the mixing determination unit 134 determines that the mixing ratio is abnormal.

(Gas diagnostic method)
Below, the gas diagnostic method which diagnoses the state of a fluid using the gas diagnostic apparatus 100 mentioned above is explained in full detail.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the overall flow of the gas diagnostic method. In the gas diagnosis method, after the abnormality flag is initially set to OFF, the process is started by a periodic timer interruption at a predetermined time interval. When the timer interruption occurs, first, the temperature sensor 114 of the gas diagnostic apparatus 100 detects the temperature _Td in the vicinity of the pressure sensor 112 (S200), and the ultrasonic sensor 116 transmits ultrasonic waves as a transmission unit via the fluid. The propagation speed v _d is derived by detecting the propagation time of the ultrasonic wave propagating from the vibrator 116a to the ultrasonic vibrator 116b as a receiving unit (S202).

Then, the mixing determination unit 134 determines whether or not the abnormality flag is OFF (S204), and if it is determined to be OFF (YES in S204), the slope a and the offset b of the upper limit function from the ROM, and the lower limit function Slope c and offset d are read out (S206), and upper limit value a · T _d + b and lower limit value c · T _d + d are obtained using temperature _Td detected by temperature sensor 114 (S208).

  Subsequently, the mixing determination unit 134 determines whether or not the propagation speed is equal to or lower than the upper limit value and equal to or higher than the lower limit value (S210), and if it is equal to or lower than the upper limit value and equal to or higher than the lower limit value (YES in S210), configures the fluid. It is determined that the mixing ratio of the plurality of substances is abnormal, and the abnormality flag is turned on (S212). And it returns to the standby state of a timer interruption.

If it is determined in the abnormality flag determination step S204 that the abnormality flag is not OFF (abnormal flag ON) (NO in S204), this corresponds to a case where the mixing ratio of methane gas indicating one boundary of the safe range from the ROM is 20%. And the function gradient g and offset h corresponding to the case where the mixing ratio of methane gas indicating the other boundary of the safe range is 2% is read (S214) and detected by the temperature sensor 114. The first release value e · t _d + f and the second release value g · t _d + h are obtained using the measured temperature t _d (S216).

Subsequently, the mixing determination unit 134 determines whether or not the propagation velocity v _d is equal to or higher than the first release value or lower than or equal to the second release value (S218). (YES in S218), it is determined that the mixing ratio abnormality has been canceled, and the abnormality flag is turned OFF (S220). And it returns to the standby state of a timer interruption.

  By such a gas diagnostic apparatus 100 and a gas diagnostic method, the temperature sensor used for temperature correction of the pressure sensor 112 is also used, and the mixing ratio of combustible gas and air is a dangerous range quickly and accurately by a simple calculation process. It is possible to determine whether or not it is included. Therefore, in the restoration work of the damaged portion of the gas diagnostic apparatus 100 upper and lower gas flow path 150 and the new installation work of the gas diagnostic apparatus 100, the operator does not separately check the mixing ratio of the combustible gas and the air. By simply referring to the diagnostic device 100, it is possible to accurately grasp the work state and perform the work efficiently.

  Further, even when the air purge process is performed, the worker can quickly grasp that the air mixing ratio is within a safe range (less than 80% air and 20% or more methane gas) by the purge. Therefore, it is possible to improve work efficiency while ensuring safety.

  Furthermore, when the mixing ratio of methane gas is less than 5%, it is not determined as abnormal as in the conventional case, so that the shut-off valve 110 is unnecessarily shut off in new arrangements, The occurrence of an alarm can be suppressed, and the work efficiency can be further improved.

  Further, by using the temperature sensor 114 in both the temperature correction of the pressure sensor 112 and the air mixing abnormality determination, the air mixing abnormality determination can be performed using the interface between the pressure sensor 112 and the arithmetic unit 120. The temperature sensor 114 and its interface do not need to be newly installed for air mixture abnormality determination, and the cost can be reduced. In addition, since the failure detection logic of the pressure sensor 112 can be used to detect the failure of the temperature sensor 114, it is not necessary to prepare the failure detection logic of the temperature sensor 114 separately. Furthermore, since there is no need to newly install the temperature sensor 114, it is not necessary to secure the mounting location of the temperature sensor 114, the gas diagnostic apparatus 100 can be reduced in size and weight, and the use material can be reduced, and transportation and storage costs can be reduced. It becomes.

  In addition, since a function is used to calculate whether or not it falls within the danger range, the required memory area is smaller than when a correction table is incorporated, and the memory capacity can be reduced. It becomes possible. In addition, since it is possible to omit searching for a large amount of memory when referring to the correction table, it is not necessary to continuously start up the arithmetic unit 120 during the time required for the search, and it is possible to reduce power consumption. It becomes.

  As mentioned above, although preferred embodiment of this invention was described referring an accompanying drawing, it cannot be overemphasized that this invention is not limited to this embodiment. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made within the scope of the claims, and these are naturally within the technical scope of the present invention. Understood.

  Also provided are a program for causing the computer to function as the gas diagnostic apparatus 100, and a storage medium such as a computer-readable flexible disk, magneto-optical disk, ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, CD, DVD, or BD on which the program is recorded. The Here, the program refers to data processing means described in an arbitrary language or description method.

  Note that each step in the gas diagnostic method of the present specification does not necessarily have to be processed in time series in the order described in the flowchart, and may include processing in parallel or by a subroutine.

  The present invention can be used for a gas diagnostic apparatus and a gas diagnostic method for diagnosing a mixed state of air in a fluid.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Gas diagnostic apparatus 110 ... Shutoff valve 112 ... Pressure sensor 114 ... Temperature sensor 116 ... Ultrasonic sensor 116a ... Ultrasonic vibrator 116b ... Ultrasonic vibrator 116c ... Propagation speed deriving part 118 ... Display part 120 ... Arithmetic unit 130 ... Pressure temperature correction unit 132 ... Pressure determination unit 134 ... Mixing determination unit 136 ... Abnormality notification unit 138 ... Gas blocking unit 150 ... Gas flow path

Claims (5)

A pressure sensor for detecting the pressure of the fluid;
A temperature sensor for detecting the temperature in the vicinity of the pressure sensor;
A pressure temperature correction unit for correcting the pressure detected by the pressure sensor based on the temperature;
An ultrasonic sensor in which an ultrasonic transmission unit and a reception unit are arranged upstream and downstream of the fluid, and derives a propagation speed of ultrasonic waves propagating from the transmission unit to the reception unit via the fluid;
The upper limit value and the lower limit value obtained by substituting the temperature detected by the temperature sensor into the upper limit function and the lower limit function of the propagation velocity with the temperature as a variable , the mixing ratio of a plurality of substances constituting the fluid being abnormal. A mixing determination unit that determines that the mixing ratio of a plurality of substances constituting the fluid is abnormal if the propagation velocity derived by the ultrasonic sensor is equal to or lower than the upper limit value and equal to or lower than the lower limit value;
A gas diagnostic apparatus comprising:   The gas diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein one or both of the upper limit function and the lower limit function is a linear function.   The gas diagnostic apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the upper limit function and the lower limit function are linear functions, and the slopes thereof are both equal. The mixing determination unit
When it is determined that the mixing ratio of the plurality of substances constituting the fluid is abnormal, the mixing ratio of the plurality of substances constituting the fluid is determined to be normal, and the release upper limit that takes a value larger than the upper limit function The propagation velocity derived by the ultrasonic sensor is obtained by substituting the temperature detected by the temperature sensor for the function and the cancellation lower limit function that takes a value smaller than the lower limit function to obtain the cancellation upper limit value and the cancellation lower limit value. If it is more than this cancellation | release upper limit value or less than this cancellation | release minimum value, it determines with the abnormality of the mixing ratio of the some substance which comprises this fluid having been cancelled | released , The any one of Claim 1 to 3 characterized by the above-mentioned. The gas diagnostic apparatus according to 1. A temperature sensor for detecting the temperature in the vicinity of the pressure sensor to correct the temperature of the pressure sensor, and an ultrasonic transmission unit and a reception unit are disposed upstream and downstream of the fluid, and the reception unit is connected to the reception unit via the fluid. A gas diagnostic method for diagnosing a fluid state using an ultrasonic sensor for deriving a propagation speed of ultrasonic waves propagating to
The upper limit value and the lower limit value obtained by substituting the temperature detected by the temperature sensor into the upper limit function and the lower limit function of the propagation velocity with the temperature as a variable , the mixing ratio of a plurality of substances constituting the fluid being abnormal. And
Determining whether the propagation speed derived by the ultrasonic sensor is equal to or lower than the upper limit and equal to or higher than the lower limit;
A gas diagnostic method characterized by determining that the mixing ratio of a plurality of substances constituting the fluid is abnormal if it is not more than the upper limit and not less than the lower limit.

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