NL2006387C2 - Arrangement comprising a gas delivery control system and a central heating installation and gas delivery control method. - Google Patents
Arrangement comprising a gas delivery control system and a central heating installation and gas delivery control method. Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- NL2006387C2 NL2006387C2 NL2006387A NL2006387A NL2006387C2 NL 2006387 C2 NL2006387 C2 NL 2006387C2 NL 2006387 A NL2006387 A NL 2006387A NL 2006387 A NL2006387 A NL 2006387A NL 2006387 C2 NL2006387 C2 NL 2006387C2
- Authority
- NL
- Netherlands
- Prior art keywords
- gas
- valve
- control system
- controllable
- pressure
- Prior art date
Links
- 238000009434 installation Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 23
- 238000010438 heat treatment Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 21
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title claims description 38
- 230000011664 signaling Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 23
- 238000001514 detection method Methods 0.000 claims description 86
- 238000004891 communication Methods 0.000 claims description 34
- 230000000903 blocking effect Effects 0.000 claims description 24
- 230000007704 transition Effects 0.000 claims description 18
- 238000012360 testing method Methods 0.000 claims description 13
- 239000000779 smoke Substances 0.000 claims description 10
- 102100031456 Centriolin Human genes 0.000 claims description 6
- 101000941711 Homo sapiens Centriolin Proteins 0.000 claims description 6
- 238000005259 measurement Methods 0.000 claims description 6
- 238000011144 upstream manufacturing Methods 0.000 claims description 6
- 230000008878 coupling Effects 0.000 claims description 4
- 238000010168 coupling process Methods 0.000 claims description 4
- 238000005859 coupling reaction Methods 0.000 claims description 4
- 230000005856 abnormality Effects 0.000 claims description 3
- 230000003213 activating effect Effects 0.000 claims 2
- 230000001629 suppression Effects 0.000 claims 2
- 238000011084 recovery Methods 0.000 claims 1
- 239000007789 gas Substances 0.000 description 476
- 238000009826 distribution Methods 0.000 description 13
- 230000009977 dual effect Effects 0.000 description 6
- 229910052739 hydrogen Inorganic materials 0.000 description 6
- 239000001257 hydrogen Substances 0.000 description 6
- 231100001261 hazardous Toxicity 0.000 description 5
- 239000012528 membrane Substances 0.000 description 5
- UFHFLCQGNIYNRP-UHFFFAOYSA-N Hydrogen Chemical compound [H][H] UFHFLCQGNIYNRP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 4
- 239000000446 fuel Substances 0.000 description 4
- 230000008901 benefit Effects 0.000 description 3
- 238000002485 combustion reaction Methods 0.000 description 3
- 230000008569 process Effects 0.000 description 3
- 230000008439 repair process Effects 0.000 description 3
- 238000003860 storage Methods 0.000 description 3
- 230000033228 biological regulation Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000005540 biological transmission Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000004364 calculation method Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000008859 change Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000007423 decrease Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000007547 defect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000001419 dependent effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000000945 filler Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000002828 fuel tank Substances 0.000 description 2
- 150000002431 hydrogen Chemical class 0.000 description 2
- 238000012423 maintenance Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000007257 malfunction Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000012544 monitoring process Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000012545 processing Methods 0.000 description 2
- UGFAIRIUMAVXCW-UHFFFAOYSA-N Carbon monoxide Chemical compound [O+]#[C-] UGFAIRIUMAVXCW-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 230000002159 abnormal effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000002547 anomalous effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000013475 authorization Methods 0.000 description 1
- 235000013361 beverage Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 230000003139 buffering effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 229910002091 carbon monoxide Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000004020 conductor Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000010411 cooking Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000001816 cooling Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000003247 decreasing effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000003111 delayed effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000009792 diffusion process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000005611 electricity Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000005516 engineering process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000007613 environmental effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000002737 fuel gas Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000003365 glass fiber Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000005484 gravity Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000005286 illumination Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000002347 injection Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000007924 injection Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000007689 inspection Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000010354 integration Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000007726 management method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000007246 mechanism Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000002360 preparation method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000000644 propagated effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000008672 reprogramming Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000004044 response Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000001360 synchronised effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000007 visual effect Effects 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
- F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
- F17C7/00—Methods or apparatus for discharging liquefied, solidified, or compressed gases from pressure vessels, not covered by another subclass
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
- F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
- F17C5/00—Methods or apparatus for filling containers with liquefied, solidified, or compressed gases under pressures
- F17C5/06—Methods or apparatus for filling containers with liquefied, solidified, or compressed gases under pressures for filling with compressed gases
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F23—COMBUSTION APPARATUS; COMBUSTION PROCESSES
- F23N—REGULATING OR CONTROLLING COMBUSTION
- F23N5/00—Systems for controlling combustion
- F23N5/18—Systems for controlling combustion using detectors sensitive to rate of flow of air or fuel
- F23N5/184—Systems for controlling combustion using detectors sensitive to rate of flow of air or fuel using electronic means
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F23—COMBUSTION APPARATUS; COMBUSTION PROCESSES
- F23N—REGULATING OR CONTROLLING COMBUSTION
- F23N5/00—Systems for controlling combustion
- F23N5/20—Systems for controlling combustion with a time programme acting through electrical means, e.g. using time-delay relays
- F23N5/203—Systems for controlling combustion with a time programme acting through electrical means, e.g. using time-delay relays using electronic means
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F23—COMBUSTION APPARATUS; COMBUSTION PROCESSES
- F23N—REGULATING OR CONTROLLING COMBUSTION
- F23N5/00—Systems for controlling combustion
- F23N5/24—Preventing development of abnormal or undesired conditions, i.e. safety arrangements
- F23N5/242—Preventing development of abnormal or undesired conditions, i.e. safety arrangements using electronic means
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
- F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
- F17C2221/00—Handled fluid, in particular type of fluid
- F17C2221/03—Mixtures
- F17C2221/032—Hydrocarbons
- F17C2221/033—Methane, e.g. natural gas, CNG, LNG, GNL, GNC, PLNG
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
- F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
- F17C2223/00—Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel
- F17C2223/01—Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel characterised by the phase
- F17C2223/0107—Single phase
- F17C2223/0123—Single phase gaseous, e.g. CNG, GNC
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
- F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
- F17C2223/00—Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel
- F17C2223/03—Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel characterised by the pressure level
- F17C2223/033—Small pressure, e.g. for liquefied gas
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
- F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
- F17C2223/00—Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel
- F17C2223/03—Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel characterised by the pressure level
- F17C2223/035—High pressure (>10 bar)
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
- F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
- F17C2225/00—Handled fluid after transfer, i.e. state of fluid after transfer from the vessel
- F17C2225/01—Handled fluid after transfer, i.e. state of fluid after transfer from the vessel characterised by the phase
- F17C2225/0107—Single phase
- F17C2225/0123—Single phase gaseous, e.g. CNG, GNC
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
- F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
- F17C2225/00—Handled fluid after transfer, i.e. state of fluid after transfer from the vessel
- F17C2225/03—Handled fluid after transfer, i.e. state of fluid after transfer from the vessel characterised by the pressure level
- F17C2225/033—Small pressure, e.g. for liquefied gas
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
- F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
- F17C2225/00—Handled fluid after transfer, i.e. state of fluid after transfer from the vessel
- F17C2225/03—Handled fluid after transfer, i.e. state of fluid after transfer from the vessel characterised by the pressure level
- F17C2225/035—High pressure, i.e. between 10 and 80 bars
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
- F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
- F17C2250/00—Accessories; Control means; Indicating, measuring or monitoring of parameters
- F17C2250/03—Control means
- F17C2250/034—Control means using wireless transmissions
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
- F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
- F17C2250/00—Accessories; Control means; Indicating, measuring or monitoring of parameters
- F17C2250/03—Control means
- F17C2250/036—Control means using alarms
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
- F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
- F17C2250/00—Accessories; Control means; Indicating, measuring or monitoring of parameters
- F17C2250/04—Indicating or measuring of parameters as input values
- F17C2250/0404—Parameters indicated or measured
- F17C2250/043—Pressure
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
- F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
- F17C2250/00—Accessories; Control means; Indicating, measuring or monitoring of parameters
- F17C2250/04—Indicating or measuring of parameters as input values
- F17C2250/0404—Parameters indicated or measured
- F17C2250/0473—Time or time periods
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
- F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
- F17C2260/00—Purposes of gas storage and gas handling
- F17C2260/03—Dealing with losses
- F17C2260/035—Dealing with losses of fluid
- F17C2260/038—Detecting leaked fluid
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
- F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
- F17C2270/00—Applications
- F17C2270/07—Applications for household use
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F23—COMBUSTION APPARATUS; COMBUSTION PROCESSES
- F23K—FEEDING FUEL TO COMBUSTION APPARATUS
- F23K2900/00—Special features of, or arrangements for fuel supplies
- F23K2900/05001—Control or safety devices in gaseous or liquid fuel supply lines
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F23—COMBUSTION APPARATUS; COMBUSTION PROCESSES
- F23N—REGULATING OR CONTROLLING COMBUSTION
- F23N2225/00—Measuring
- F23N2225/04—Measuring pressure
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F23—COMBUSTION APPARATUS; COMBUSTION PROCESSES
- F23N—REGULATING OR CONTROLLING COMBUSTION
- F23N2231/00—Fail safe
- F23N2231/18—Detecting fluid leaks
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F23—COMBUSTION APPARATUS; COMBUSTION PROCESSES
- F23N—REGULATING OR CONTROLLING COMBUSTION
- F23N2237/00—Controlling
- F23N2237/02—Controlling two or more burners
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
- Measuring Volume Flow (AREA)
- Feeding And Controlling Fuel (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Thermal Sciences (AREA)
- Control Of Combustion (AREA)
Abstract
An arrangement is disclosed of a gas delivery control system (1) and one or more appliances (AP) including a central heating installation. The one or more appliances are arranged for generating a request signal (S1) indicative for a requested supply of gas by at least one of the appliances. The gas delivery control system comprises, - a controllable gas valve (10) having an input (12) to be coupled to a gas supply (GS) via a conduit (22) and having an output (14), - a control device (30) for controlling the controllable valve, wherein the control device controls the controllable valve in accordance with a value of the request signal of the one or more appliances coupled to the output of the valve via a conduit, - a gas pressure sensor (40) for determining whether the gas pressure in the conduit has a value lower than a pressure reference value, - a reference module (50) for determining whether a predetermined time interval has lapsed since a closure of the controllable gas valve, - an error signaling module (60) for issuing an error signal (Error) if it is detected before a lapse of the predetermined time interval that the gas pressure is lower than the pressure reference value. [FIG. 1]
Description
Titel: Arrangement comprising a gas delivery control system and a central heating installation and gas delivery control method
Field of the invention
The present invention relates to a gas delivery control system, in particular to a gas delivery control system for use in domestic environments. In particular the present invention relates to a gas delivery control system 5 that provides for a reliable detection against small leaks as well as a rapid detection against larger leaks and that is simple in use and can be extended easily.
The present invention further relates to a gas delivery control method, in particular to a gas delivery control method for use in domestic 10 environments. In particular, the present invention relates to an implementation by relatively simple means so as to encourage its implementation in domestic environments.
Description of the prior art 15 In particular gas leaks are responsible for serious accidents. Various systems are described that aim to timely detect gas leaks and to interrupt gas supply to avoid a hazardous situation.
For example so called gas leak switches are known that detect the presence of gas in a building and that cause a closure of a main gas valve.
20 As another example US5866802 describes a piping leakage detecting apparatus that includes a high pressure gas supply source, a gas implement connected to the high pressure gas supply source via a pipeline, and a switching device mounted on the pipeline for selectively opening and closing the pipeline. A pressure detecting device is mounted between the gas 25 implement and the switching device for detecting the gas pressure inside the pipeline. A leakage judging device is provided to judge that gas leaks 2 when no gas is being used and when a pressure drop is detected based on an output from the pressure detecting device, while the pipeline is being opened and closed by the switching device. A gas leak is judged if the predetermined pressure drop occurs in a time interval that is longer than a 5 minimum time and shorter than a maximum time. In addition the apparatus may have non-use detection means that confirm a non-use of gas on the basis of an increase in the pressure in the pipeline.
US6725878 describes a gas leakage detection system that includes a flow path, a dual mode valve disposed in the flow path, an ultrasonic 10 measuring section including a pair of ultrasonic transducers, disposed in the flow path upstream from the dual mode valve, a flow rate calculation section for computing a flow rate based on a signal from the ultrasonic measuring section, and a control section for controlling the dual mode valve. The control section closes or opens the dual mode valve instantaneously, and the 15 flow rate calculation section computes a flow rate when the dual mode valve is closed. In an embodiment the gas leakage detection system includes a pressure sensor in addition to a flow rate sensor. The dual mode valve is closed if the detected flow rate is below a minimum value and during the closed state of the valve the leakage pressure is computed. On the basis of 20 the slope of the pressure it is determined whether a leakage is present.
GB2373875 discloses an automated gas shut off system that may include a valve located in a conduit which supplies gas to appliances within a building, such as a boiler and a cooker. Sensors may be associated with the appliances and may include switches which close when a respective 25 appliance is switched on and send signals to a CPU. The CPU then transmits these signals to the valve which opens and allows gas to be supplied to the appliances through the conduit. When the appliances are switched off, the signals from the sensors are terminated and the CPU signals the valve to close. In an alternative embodiment, a flow sensor and a 3 programmable logic controller are used to control the supply of gas into a building.
US5126934 describes an automated gas distribution system for safely and reliably controlling the flow of gaseous fuel to gas appliances. The 5 system implements a "closed-loop" delivery of gas, i.e., the gas is provided to a recognized appliance only when that appliance sends a valid request for gas to a control/communications subsystem. Certain conditions preclude the supply of gas despite a valid request for gas and include an appliance or system malfunction, or a command from the system operator instructing the 10 system to ignore certain gas requests. In addition, emergency conditions, such as a fire or gas leak will also circumvent the closed-loop delivery of gas to appliances. In an embodiment, a pressure sensor is used to detect leaks in the gas distribution subsystem. The pressure sensor monitors the delivery pressure of gas through a home run line. The system is programmed to 15 interpret a pressure drop in the line as a gas leak and respond in kind.
US7210495 discloses a safety valve system that includes a control valve connected to a gas meter and intersecting a gas flow path downstream of the gas meter and upstream of an entry point of a building. The control valve is adaptable between open and closed positions based upon received 20 stimuli. A main gas supply line is mated to the control valve and includes auxiliary lines branching to appliances. A plurality of sensors is coupled in series to the appliances and are in communication with the control valve. A mechanism is included for transmitting a control signal to the control valve and for eliminating a fully charged gas line when the stimuli are detected by 25 one of the sensors such that the control valve can allow and restrict gas flow to the appliances during operating and non-operating modes. Each of the sensors generates a unique control signal when the stimuli are detected.
It is noted that US2006/0283237 discloses a system for evaluating leaktightness applied to a gas storage device for storing high pressure fuel 30 gas delivered from a filling station via a filler hose connected to the gas 4 storage device. The system comprises a pressure-measuring device that is suitable for connection to the filler hose or to the pipework, a processor device for processing values measured by the pressure-measuring device, and a display device for displaying information supplied by the processor 5 device. The device for processing values measured by the pressuremeasuring device includes a device for controlling filling and for suspending filling of the fuel gas storage device from the filling station, a device for controlling the filling flowing rate, a clock, and a unit for comparing the measured pressure relative to predetermined thresholds Si during periods 10 in which filling is suspended.
It is noted that EP1205704 discloses a method that involves determining the instantaneous value of a parameter representing the instantaneous state of filling of a vehicle fuel tank during a gas filling using a temperature sensor and a pressure sensor which are arranged in the 15 vehicle fuel tank. In an embodiment this value is compared with a value determined by a sensor built in the tank. A difference is greater than a threshold may indicate a leakage or an improper functioning sensor.
DE2916550, also published as US4269061 discloses a method wherein a fluid pressure passageway such as a high pressure fuel line in a fuel 20 injection system is pressurized to an upper predetermined value. Then, the passageway is isolated and the length of time for the pressure to drop to a lower predetermined value is measured. The greater the degree of leakage, the shorter the measured length of time. An alarm is energized when the measured length of time is shorter than a predetermined length of time.
25 JP08-313322 discloses a method for leakage detection in downstream pipeline between a gas meter and a gas appliance. In the known method a gas valve at the output of the pipeline is closed and subsequently a gas shut off valve is temporarily opened to even the gas pressure in the downstream pipeline with the gas pressure in a pipeline upstream with respect to the 30 gasvalve. A gas leak is determined if a pressure reducing rate after closure 5 of the gas shut-off valve is a prescribed level or higher. The gas-appliance has no function in the leakage detection procedure.
WOO 169340 discloses a bottle containing liquefiable gas stored under pressure that is supplied to one or more appliances via a regulator and a 5 conduit. Sensing means are provided that include a gas pressure sensor and a remote temperature sensor. Additionally a monitor is provided that contains a micro processor and indication means having a leak test mode. The leak test is performed by opening valve to fully pressurise the gas system, then closing valve and then switching the processor to a leak test 10 mode. Once in leak-test mode the monitor monitors after a predefined fixed period of time whether the pressure held within the system has fallen below a predetermined minimum.
US5440477 discloses a modular bottle-mounted gas management system including computer-controlled valves, actuators, regulators and 15 transducers. The system constantly also provides self-diagnostic and leakchecking functions.
US20060289559 discloses a C02-based beverage dispensing system includes a C02 monitoring unit operative to emit a warning upon detecting excessive consumption of C02 gas. The C02 monitoring unit includes a gas 20 input port, a gas output port, a C02 monitor, an alarm, and in one embodiment a shut-off valve. The C02 monitor may measure C02 gas flow rate or pressure, and indicate excessive C02 gas consumption if the measured C02 gas flow rate is above a predetermined flow rate or the measured C02 gas pressure is below a predetermined pressure level.
25 DE10244139 (Al) discloses a safety system for a test installation for a hydrogen converting device. Accordingly a transport device or pump is controlled by a controller so that its hydrogen throughput is matched to the consumption of the hydrogen converter. The controller also compares a hydrogen transport parameter determined between the transport device and 30 the converter with a parameter synchronized with the hydrogen 6 consumption. If a difference threshold is exceeded, hydrogen supply is immediately switched off.
Despite the fact that these kind of systems reduce the risk of 5 accidents related to gas leaks, their domestic use is not seen or at least not widespread.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
10
It is a first object of the present invention to provide an arrangement of a gas delivery control system and one or more appliances including a central heating installation, in particular a gas delivery control system that can be implemented by relatively simple means so as to 15 encourage its implementation in domestic environments.
It is a second object of the present invention to provide a corresponding gas delivery control method, in particular a corresponding gas delivery control method.
According to a first aspect of the present invention there is 20 provided an arrangement of a gas delivery system and one or more appliances including a central heating installation, the one or more appliances being arranged for generating a request signal (Si) indicative for a requested supply of gas by at least one of the appliances, wherein the arrangement comprises, 25 - a controllable gas valve having an input to be coupled to a gas supply and having an output, - a control device for controlling the controllable gas valve, wherein the control device controls the controllable gas valve in accordance with a value of the request signal of the one or more appliances to be coupled via a 30 conduit to the output of the controllable gas valve, 7 - a gas pressure sensor for determining whether the gas pressure in the conduit has a value lower than a pressure reference value, - a reference module for determining whether a predetermined time interval has lapsed since a closure of the controllable gas valve, 5 - an error signalling module for delivering an error signal if it is detected before a lapse of the predetermined time interval that the gas pressure is lower than the pressure reference value.
The present invention provides an until now not recognized arrangement of features that enables a simple, effective and reliable 10 detection of gas leaks, in domestic environments. None of the cited documents discloses this arrangement. It is expected that in the near future more sophisticated gas meters will come into use, that will offer functionalities that can be shared with the gas delivery control system according to the present invention. The present invention additionally offers 15 various optional features that enable a smooth transition towards a fully functional implementation in domestic environments.
According to a second aspect of the invention also a gas delivery control method is provided that comprises the steps of - providing a controllable gas valve having an input coupled to a gas 20 supply and having an output, - coupling one or more appliances including a central heating installation via a conduit with the output of the controllable gas valve, - receiving a request signal from the one or more appliances indicative for a requested gas flow by the one or more appliances, 25 - delivering gas via a controllable valve in accordance with the request signal, - determining whether the gas pressure at an output of the valve in a closed state of the valve has a value lower than a pressure reference value, 8 - delivering an error signal if the lower value of the gas pressure is determined within a predetermined time interval after closure of the controllable valve.
The error signal may be used in several ways. In an embodiment 5 the gas delivery control system may be coupled to an internal or external alarm centre for reporting a status of the gas delivery control system to said alarm centre. The alarm centre may subsequently send an engineer to determine the cause of the error-message if this is not yet clear from the error-message itself and to carry out the necessary repairs.
10 In another embodiment the gas delivery control system is coupled with a communication system to enable reporting the presence of an error signal to another party involved, e.g. the owner of a residence where the gas delivery control system is installed. In an embodiment the communication system is an addressable communication system, such as a public phone 15 system. In this way the gas delivery control system may report the status, i.e. the presence of the error signal to one or more addressees, for example by a text or a voice mail message.
In another embodiment the gas delivery control system comprises blocking means for blocking the controllable valve in a closed state upon 20 delivery of the error signal.
This embodiment obviates the use of a gas leakage switch as described in the introductory portion. In this way the delivery of gas is prevented until the blocked state of the system is cancelled by an authorized person, so that a further leakage of gas is prevented. The blocking means 25 may be combined with error signalling means in the embodiments described before. In a particular one of such combination the gas delivery control system has an auxiliary control module with a timer (time delay element) that postpones a blocking of the controllable valve for a predetermined time interval. This gives an entity, for example an employee of the alarm centre 30 the opportunity to confirm that the system will be checked and repaired if 9 necessary and, if that is considered acceptable, to prevent occurrence of a blocked state. Alternatively the entity may signal that the controllable valve must be closed immediately.
The error signal indicative for a detection of a too low gas pressure 5 before a predetermined time interval will in practice occur if the controllable valve is already in a closed state. Nevertheless as will be apparent in the sequel, an error signal (e.g. from another safety facility) may be issued also in an opened state of the controllable gas valve. Accordingly, blocking the controllable valve in a closed state is understood to mean that the 10 controllable valve when already in a closed state is maintained in said closed state and the controllable valve when not yet in the closed state is set into the closed state and maintained in the closed state.
The gas delivery control system according to the present invention may be expanded with additional security facilities for delivering one or 15 more detection signals. In the expanded version of the gas delivery control system the blocking means also block the controllable valve in a closed state upon delivery of at least one of said one or more detection signals. Example of such additional security facilities are a smoke signalling device for delivering a smoke detection signal upon detection of smoke, a fire 20 signalling device for delivering a fire detection signal upon detection of fire, a gas signalling device for delivering a gas detection signal upon detection of gas, and a mains voltage detector for delivering a mains failure signal upon detection of a failure of the mains. Alternatively the gas delivery system may be arranged as a fail-safe system in that it keeps the controllable gas 25 valve in a closed state if a mains voltage is absent, for example by mechanical means, such as a spring, or by using gravity. The gas signalling device may be a device for signalling gas delivered by the gas delivery control system, but alternatively or in addition a gas signalling device may be present that detects gasses resulting from combustion of the delivered 30 gas, for example a CO-detector.
10
In an embodiment of the gas delivery control system the control device has a rest state, an operational state and a safety state, in which rest state the controllable gas valve is maintained in a closed state, in which operational state the controllable gas valve is maintained in an opened state 5 and in which safety state the controllable gas valve is maintained in a closed state, wherein a transition takes place from the rest state to the operational state upon a gas request of a facility, wherein a transition takes place from the operational state to the rest state upon absence of a gas request from a facility, wherein a transition takes place to the safety state in case the error 10 signal is issued, and wherein a transition takes place from the safety state to the rest state in case of a reset signal.
In a particular version of this embodiment the control device further has an initial state wherein the controllable gas valve is maintained in a closed state and wherein the control device maintains the initial state 15 as long as the gas pressure delivered by the gas supply is outside predetermined bounds and the control device assumes the rest state when the supplied gas pressure assumes a value within the predetermined bounds. In this way also protection is offered against hazards associated with a malfunction of the appliances coupled to the gas delivery control 20 system that would be caused by operation at an unsuitable gas pressure.
The apparatus may have additional gas pressure sensors to sense an out of bound value, e.g. an over pressure and/or an under pressure. Alternatively the gas pressure sensor for determining whether the gas pressure in the conduit has a value lower than a pressure reference value 25 also forms the sensor for detecting an under-pressure condition and/or the sensor for detecting an over-pressure condition. When measuring a pressure it may be taken into account that the gas pressure responds with delay to events occurring remote in the conduit. For example the switching of a gas valve stream-downward in the conduit will induce a pressure wave in the 30 conduit that arrives with delay at a position near the controllable gas valve.
11
Likewise, the act of opening the controllable gas valve will result with delay in a pressure increase stream-downward in the conduit. In practice this will generally have no consequences for the determination whether the gas pressure in the conduit has a value lower than the pressure reference value, 5 as this determination always takes place after a predetermined time interval has lapsed since a closure of the controllable gas valve. Temporary pressure fluctuations due to sudden changes in the gas flow in the conduit may be dampened by dampening means, such as reservoirs and additional valves, e.g. bypass valves that allow for a gradual transition of the gas flow.
10 Alternatively or additionally the controllable gas valve may be arranged to gradually change its state from a fully closed state to a fully opened state or vice-versa.
15
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These and other aspects are described in more detail with reference to the drawings. Therein: 20 FIG. 1 schematically shows a first embodiment of an arrangement according to a first aspect of the invention, FIG. 2 schematically shows a second embodiment of an arrangement according to a first aspect of the invention, FIG. 3 schematically shows a third embodiment of an arrangement 25 according to a first aspect of the invention, FIG. 4A shows a first part of an embodiment of an arrangement according to a first aspect of the invention in more detail, FIG. 4B shows a variation of the first part, FIG. 4C shows a second part of an embodiment of an arrangement 30 according to a first aspect of the invention in more detail, 12 FIG. 4D shows a variation of the second part, FIG. 4E shows a third part of an embodiment of an arrangement according to a first aspect of the invention in more detail, FIG. 4F shows a fourth part of an embodiment of an arrangement 5 according to a first aspect of the invention in more detail, FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of method of controlling delivery of gas according to the second aspect of the invention, FIG. 6 shows further aspects of this embodiment, FIG. 7 shows a further embodiment of an arrangement according to a 10 first aspect of the invention integrated with other systems, FIG. 8 shows in more detail integration of a gas delivery control system of an arrangement according to a first aspect of the invention with a smart gas meter.
15
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
In the following detailed description numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention.
20 However, it will be understood by one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well known methods, procedures, and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure aspects of the present invention.
It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, third etc.
25 may be used herein to describe various elements, components, and/or sections, these elements, components, and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element, component, or section from another or section. Thus, a first element, component or section discussed below could be termed a second element, 13 component, or section without departing from the teachings of the present invention.
Embodiments of the invention are described herein with reference to cross-section illustrations that are schematic illustrations of idealized 5 embodiments (and intermediate structures) of the invention. As such, variations from the shapes of the illustrations as a result, for example, of manufacturing techniques and/or tolerances, are to be expected. Thus, embodiments of the invention should not be construed as limited to the particular shapes of regions illustrated herein but are to include deviations 10 in shapes that result, for example, from manufacturing.
Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, 15 should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein. All publications, patent applications, patents, and other references mentioned herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety. In case of conflict, the 20 present specification, including definitions, will control. In addition, the materials, methods, and examples are illustrative only and not intended to be limiting.
FIG. 1 schematically shows a first embodiment of an arrangement according to a first aspect of the invention. The gas delivery control system 25 of the arrangement comprises a controllable gas valve 10 having an input 12 to be coupled, optionally via a gas pressure regulator GPR, to a gas supply GS. The controllable gas valve 10 further has an output 14. The gas supply may be a public gas distribution system, but may alternatively be a local gas supply facility, that for example provides the gas from a container 30 containing liquid gas. The system also has at least one gas consumption 14 terminal 20 that is coupled via a conduit 22 with the output 14 of the controllable gas valve 10. The gas delivery control system further comprises a control device 30 for controlling the controllable gas valve 10. The control device 30 controls the controllable gas valve 10 in accordance with a value of 5 a request signal Si of a facility AP to be coupled to the gas consumption terminal 20. I.e. during normal circumstances the control device causes the controllable gas valve 10 to open if the facility issues the request signal Si and causes the controllable gas valve 10 to close by issuing a signal S2 if no request signal Si is issued. Typical examples of facilities are a central 10 heating system, and a cooking device. But also other appliances may operate on gas delivered by the system, such as gas driven cooling systems or illumination devices. In case more than one facility is coupled to the gas delivery control system, at least one request signal is sufficient to cause the control device 30 to open the controllable gas valve 10. An appliance may be 15 provided with a controllable proper gas-valve that is opened only during an operational mode of the appliance. A control signal for opening the controllable proper gas-valve may be derived from a gas-request signal issued by the appliance. In an embodiment the control signal for the proper valve is derived via delay element from the gas-request signal. This has the 20 advantage that the proper gas-valve opens later than the controllable gas valve 10, so that the gas-pressure at a side of the appliance is already stabilized at the moment of opening the proper valve.
In many cases gas installations the facility to be coupled has a single gas appliance which requests gas for restricted time periods. By way of 25 example a central heating facility in a typical home application may use about 3.2 m3/hour during a heating phase, whereas its expected annual use is about 1600 m3. Accordingly the exemplary gas appliance only is actually operative during approximately 6% of the time. Accordingly, even if no error is detected the gas delivery control system will in practice close the 30 controllable gas valve during most (94%) of the time and therewith 15 contribute to safety. The facility to be coupled may include additional gas-appliances. In that case the gas request signal is generated if at least one of the gas-appliances included in the facility requests gas. In such an application comprising a plurality of gas-appliances the controllable gas 5 valve may in practice be in an opened state for a larger time-fraction, e.g. for 20, 50 or 95% depending on the number of appliances and a period of the year. However, the conditional opening of the controllable gas valve will anyhow result in an increase safety. Moreover, upon detection of an error the user, or the system automatically closes the controllable gas valve 10 permanently until it is reset and therewith centrally blocks leakages that could occur due to defect appliances and due to cracks and damages in the gas distribution system for example caused by subsidences and collapses.
The controllable gas valve is preferably arranged at a location close to the entrance of the gas supply in the premises for which gas delivery is 15 controlled or even at a location more stream upwards. In this way a closure of the controllable gas valve most effectively protects against leakages. The controllable gas valve is preferably arranged at a location where it is protected against fire and other hazards.
In an embodiment the appliances AP coupled to the gas delivery 20 control system 1 are provided with internal control means to inhibit the request signal Si if an internal error has been detected. Many appliances are already provided with a self test. An error condition from this self test may be used to inhibit the request signal SI.
The gas delivery control system has a gas pressure sensor 40 for 25 determining whether the gas pressure in the conduit 22 has a value lower than a pressure reference value Pref. The gas delivery control system further has a reference module 50 for determining whether a predetermined time interval has lapsed since the last time that the controllable gas valve was closed. The gas delivery control system further has an error signalling 30 module 60 for issuing an error signal Error if it is detected before a lapse of 16 the predetermined time interval that the gas pressure is lower than the pressure reference value.
In the embodiment shown the gas delivery control system is coupled to an alarm centre AC to enable transmission of the error signal 5 Error. The coupling further enables a transmission of a block signal Block from the alarm centre to the control device 30 to enable a remote blocking of the gas supply. The block signal may be issued automatically or may be provided manually by an employee of the alarm centre. After it is determined that the situation is safe a reset signal Reset is generated by a 10 reset facility, such as button RST. The step of resetting may a final step of a protocol according to which various conditions are checked.
In the embodiment described above it is presumed that the appliance AP itself is provided with a facility, e.g. a controller, for generating the gas request signal. The gas request signal generated by the 15 controller is for example a signal that controls an internal gas valve of the appliance.
In an embodiment the appliance AP may be directly coupled to the controllable gas valve 10. In other words the appliance AP may straightforwardly control the controllable gas valve 10 with its gas request 20 signal Si. The gas request signal may be transmitted by a hard-wired connection. In an embodiment the conduit itself may be used in this connection. In an embodiment the gas delivery system has a second controllable gas valve, in series with the controllable gas valve 10 that is controlled by the control device 30. Accordingly gas delivery to the conduit 25 22 can be shut off by the controllable gas valve 10 is a gas request signal Si is absent and by the second controllable gas valve if a block signal is generated.
In case the appliance is not (yet) provided with such a facility for generating a gas request signal, such a facility may be provided externally 30 in the form of a gas usage sensor. Preferably the gas usage sensor coupled to 17 the conduit to the appliance. The gas usage sensor detects a usage of the remaining gas in the conduit when the appliance AP starts to consume gas. The gas usage sensor may be a gas flow sensor 40a, that detects a gas flow to the device, or may be a gas pressure sensor 40b that detects the gas-5 pressure drop due to a gas flow to the device AP. This optional measure provides for a smooth transition towards a final implementation, wherein gas appliances are provided with a module for generating the gas request signal.
As another example of such an optional measure for enabling a 10 smooth transition a pressure sensor 40b is used as the facility for generating the gas request signal Si. This sensor 40b typically has a detection level lower than the detection level of the gas pressure sensor 40. By way of example the normal operation pressure may have a value in the range of 30 to 50 mbar, the gas pressure sensor 40 may have a detection level in the 15 range of 0.7 to 0.8 times the normal operation pressure and the sensor 40b may have a detection level in the range of 0.60 to 0.65 times the normal operation pressure. For example the gas pressure sensor 40 may have a detection level of 0.75 times the normal operation pressure and the detector 40b may have a detection level in the range of 0.62 times the normal 20 operation pressure. For example the normal operation pressure may be 40 mbar, the gas pressure sensor 40 may have a detection level of 30 mbar and the sensor 40b may have a detection level of 25 mbar.
In an embodiment the sensor 40 responds with a hysteresis of time Q. I.e. only if a pressure below the detection level of this sensor occurs 25 during a time interval longer than Q, the sensor 40 issues an underpressure signal.
In an embodiment the sensor 40b has a delay of duration X. I.e. the sensor 40b will immediately generate the gas request signal Si when a pressure below its detection level is detected, and the sensor 40b will 30 continue generating the gas request signal Si until a time period X after the 18 moment that the pressure has decreased below the detection level. In case a gas appliance is switched on, the gas pressure in the conduit will rapidly descend. Accordingly, in that case, before the time period Q is lapsed, the gas pressure will have further descended to the detection level of the sensor 5 40. At the moment the detection level of the sensor 40b is reached the latter generates the gas request signal, so that the controllable gas valve 10 is opened and the gas pressure in the conduit increases rapidly to the normal operation pressure, above the detection level of the pressure sensor 40. Therewith the time interval that the gas-pressure is below the detection 10 level of sensor 40 is too short for this sensor to respond. However, in case of a gas leak, the gas pressure typically drops slowly in after the controllable gas valve 10 is shut. Therewith a relatively long time interval passes between the moment that the detection level of the sensor 40 is reached to the moment that the lower detection level of the sensor 40b is reached. In 15 this case the time interval that the gas-pressure is below the detection level of sensor 40 is longer than the hysteresis time interval of sensor 40 so that it generates an error signal and the controllable gas valve 10 is closed.
The sensor 40 and 40b may be formed by a single measuring device that is capable of detecting the upper and the lower detection level, and that 20 has a hysteresis circuitry for generating the signal indicative for a pressure below the upper detection level with a hysteresis Q.
In case the sensors 40 and 40b are not formed by a single measuring device, the signals obtained from pressure sensor 40 and sensor 40b may further be compared to determine if an abnormal pressure 25 difference is measured. A substantial lower pressure measured by sensor 40b that the pressure measured by 40 is an indication for a leak in the conduit 22 and may be used to generate an error signal.
Also the gas pressure at other locations in the gas distribution may be compared to detect anomalies. For example the gas pressures at the 30 input 12 and the output 14 of the controllable gas valve 10 may be compared 19 when the controllable gas valve 10 is open during a period that no gas request signal is raised. Normally the difference between these gas pressures is at least substantially equal to zero. In case a leak is present in the gas distribution system, the pressure difference will be higher than a 5 predetermined reference value. Upon detection thereof an error signal is raised.
A flow sensor 40a can also be used to determine whether the gas consumption by the appliance AP is within normal bounds. The measured gas flow may for example be compared with a minimum and/or a maximum 10 flow. If the measured gas flow is outside these bounds an error signal FE1 is generated. This error signal can be used to alert an alarm centre that an anomalous situation is present or can be used to directly activate the blocking means 30.
In FIG. 1 the flow-sensor 40a is illustrated near the terminal 20 of 15 the conduit. Alternatively the flow-sensor 40a may be arranged near the input of the conduit 22, for example directly after the controllable gas valve 10. In an embodiment the flow-sensor may be part of a smart gas-meter.
The measured gas flow may be compared with an expected flow. The expected flow may be specified for particular pressure ranges in the conduit 20 and time intervals related to the moments of issuance of the gas request signal.
In an embodiment the pressure sensor 40 is used to generate the gas request signal. In said embodiment an output signal Plow of the gas pressure sensor 40 indicative for a gas pressure lower than a minimum 25 value is also used as an indication that gas is requested by the appliance, i.e. as a gas request signal Si. During normal operation it is expected that the signal Plow is repeated after a predetermined reference time interval, for example Tref, which is dependent on an expected use of the appliance AP. However, if a leak occurs the signal Plow will be repeated before the end 20 of said predetermined time interval. Upon detection of this condition an error signal is generated.
FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of an arrangement according to the first aspect of the invention. In this second embodiment the gas delivery 5 control system further comprises blocking means for blocking the controllable gas valve in a closed state upon issuance of the error signal. In particular the control device 30 is arranged to cause the controllable gas valve 10 to block upon reception of the error signal. Despite the fact that the system 1 operates fully autonomously the system 1 may optionally be 10 coupled to an external authority, such as a fire brigade FB or an alarm centre AC indicated by dashed lines. Therewith the authority is informed about the situation. The authority therewith is also informed that the gas supply is interrupted, therewith preventing an unnecessary search for a main valve/tap that has to be closed.
15 FIG. 3 shows a third embodiment. The embodiment shown therein further comprising an auxiliary control module 70 with a time delay element for postponing said blocking until after a predetermined time-interval after issuance of the error signal. Therein the error signal Error is simultaneously transmitted to the alarm centre and to the auxiliary control 20 module 70. Upon receipt of the error signal Error a timer is started that causes the auxiliary control module 70 to issue a block signal Block to the control device 30 after expiry of the predetermined time interval, unless an intervention takes place by the alarm centre AC before expiry of the time-interval. Dependent on a value of the intervention signal Intv the issue of 25 the Block signal is inhibited or the issue of the block signal is advanced. It may be decided at the side of the alarm centre AC to inhibit blocking by a first type of intervention in case an interruption of the gas flow would involve a high risk of damages and wherein already a preparation is made for inspection and/or repair. On the other hand if a serious risk is considered 21 to be involved by a continuation of the gas flow, it may be decided to advance the issue of the blocking signal by a second type of intervention.
Various alternatives are possible to carry out embodiments of the present invention. By way of example one embodiment is worked out in 5 more detail. Due to the fact that it is sufficient to determine whether the gas pressure is below a pressure reference value the unit 40 for asserting this condition can be simple and reliable. For example a membrane sensor 40 may be used as shown in FIG. 4A to determine if the pressure P in the chamber 41, communicating with conduit 22, sufficiently deforms a 10 membrane 42 to cause an electrical contact between the membrane 42 and electric contact 43 (membrane drawn as solid line) or that the pressure is below the pressure reference value (membrane drawn by broken line). The electric contact 43 may be formed by a setscrew, so that the fitter can set the pressure reference value at a proper value for the prevailing circumstances. 15 The presence of an electrical contact is determined via electric lines 46. The embodiment shown in FIG. 4A is fail safe. If due to circumstances the electrical conduction is interrupted, this will be interpreted as a signal that the pressure is below the pressure reference value, so that the error signal is given shortly after the valve closure signal S2 is issued. In the embodiment 20 of FIG. 4A, the sensor 40 has an opening 47, so that the gas pressure in the chamber 41 is measured relative to the environmental pressure.
Nevertheless it would still be possible to use a full fledged manometer 44 instead as indicated in FIG. 4B and to determine by a threshold element 45 25 whether a signal indicative for the measured pressure Sp exceeds a reference value Ref.
FIG. 4C shows a practical implementation for the reference module 50. Therein an RC network R, C and a threshold element 51 is used to determine whether a predetermined time interval has lapsed. After 30 switching the control signal S2 in order to close the controllable gas valve, 22 the signal S2’ decays according to the RC time of the circuit. Once the signal S2’ has decayed below the value Tt, the binary value of Tref inverts, therewith indicating that the predetermined time interval is lapsed.
FIG. 4D shows an alternative embodiment, wherein the reference 5 module is a delay line 52, for example implemented as a clocked shift register. The control signal S2 is delayed by the predetermined time interval. As long as the transition in the control signal S2 is not yet propagated in the delay line 52, the output signal S2’ indicates that the predetermined time interval is not yet lapsed.
10 FIG. 4E shows an example of a control device 30. In the example shown the control device 30 has an RS flip-flop that generates an enable signal En that is combined by AND-gate 32 with request signal Si to obtain valve control signal S2. During normal operation the value of the enable signal En at the output of the flip-flop 31 is a logical “1”, so that the valve 15 control signal S2 is logically equal to the gas request signal Si. An error signal Error causes the flip-flop 31 to assume a state in which the value of the signal En at its output Q is a logical “0”. This forces the control signal S2 at the output of the AND-gate 32 also to a logical “0”, so that the controllable gas valve 10 remains closed even if a request Si is issued by an 20 appliance AP. Once the system is checked and repaired the state of flip-flop 31 can be reset by reset signal Reset so that normal operation of the system can resume. It is noted that other implementations are possible of the control device 30, for example as a programmed general purpose processor, or as a programmable logic circuit. Various logical functions of the system 25 may be combined in particular in an implementation using such a programmed general purpose processor, or programmable logic circuit. It is noted that a logical “1” and a logical “0” may be represented by a high and a low signal value respectively or the other way around.
It is also noted that the system need not necessarily be implemented 30 by electronic components. For example a mechanic, a pneumatic or 23 hydraulic implementation or a hybrid implementation using various technologies may be considered. In view of the fact that the number of logic functions may be relatively modest, the logical functions could for example be implemented by electro-mechanical components, such as a relay.
5 In an embodiment the system of FIG. 2 was implemented with the gas pressure sensor 40 according to FIG. 4A and the reference module 50 as shown in more detail in FIG. 4C. The error signalling module 60 is implemented as an AND-gate. FIG. 5 shows signals occurring during operation. The control device 30 is implemented according to FIG. 4E.
10 As is schematically shown in FIG. 4F the gas delivery control system 1 may be provided with additional security facilities to further improve safety of the environment. Each of these additional devices may issue a respective detection signal if a certain condition is detected. For example the additional security facilities comprise one or more of a smoke signalling 15 device SD for delivering a smoke detection signal ErrorS upon detection of smoke, a fire signalling device FD for delivering a fire detection signal ErrorF upon detection of fire, a gas signalling device GD for delivering a gas detection signal ErrorG upon detection of gas, a mains voltage detector VD for delivering a mains failure signal ErrorV upon detection of a failure of the 20 mains. The detection signals of these facilities may be combined with the error signal provided by error signalling module 60, e.g. by an OR-gate OR, so that a logic 1 of each of the detection signals Error, ErrorS, Error F, ErrorG, ErrorV results in an output signal Error’ that can be provided to the control device 30 instead of the detection signal Error. If any of the error 25 signalling module 60 or the additional security facilities issues a detection signal this results in a blocked state of the controllable gas valve, so that risks for a hazardous situation are minimized or at least an aggravation of the situation is prevented.
In a particular embodiment the gas request signal Si may be 30 transmitted to the controller 30 via a hardwired signal connection. In a 24 particular implementation thereof, the additional security facilities control interrupt contacts that interrupt this hardwired signal connection. Hence, in case one or more of these additional security facilities generate a detection signal, the controllable gas valve 10 is maintained in a closed state 5 even if a gas request is indicated by the gas request signal.
In an embodiment the gas delivery control system has a sensor arranged stream downwards with respect to the controllable gas valve that detects whether an under-pressure condition occurs in the conduit during an opened state of the controllable gas valve. The gas delivery control system is 10 arranged to generate an error signal if the under-pressure condition is detected. A too low gas pressure in an opened state of the controllable gas valve may be indicative of a leak in the conduit stream upwards or stream downwards the controllable gas valve. In any case a too low operational pressure may lead to a hazardous situation due to an unreliable combustion 15 of gas in the appliance coupled to the conduit. In particular this may result in a flow of uncombusted gas out of the appliance. An under-pressure condition may also occur for example during maintenance by the gas provider. Accordingly, the presence of a sensor that detects whether the gas pressure in the conduit has a value below an operational minimum level in 20 an opened state of the controllable gas valve provides an additional safety measure against this hazardous situation and against hazards due to a sudden rupture of a conduit as it enables an immediate closure of the controllable gas valve. In this way the gas-delivery system according to the present invention additionally provides the function of a gas lack valve, also 25 denoted as B-valve. The sensor for this purpose may be identical to the gas pressure sensor for determining whether the gas pressure in the conduit has a value lower than a pressure reference value.
In an embodiment the gas delivery control system has a sensor arranged stream downwards with respect to the controllable gas valve that 30 detects whether an over-pressure condition occurs in the conduit during an 25 opened state of the controllable gas valve. The gas delivery control system is arranged to generate an error signal if the over-pressure condition is detected. A too high operational pressure also may lead to a hazardous situation due to an unreliable combustion of gas in the appliance coupled to 5 the conduit. An over-pressure sensor provides a safety measure to prevent this situation. In an embodiment both an under-pressure and an overpressure sensor may be present.
One sensor may both function as the over-pressure sensor and the under-pressure sensor, E.g. a sensor may be used that issues an electronic 10 signal representative for the measured pressure and that has a first and a second threshold detector that indicate whether the electronic signal is indicative for an over-pressure condition, an under-pressure condition, or a normal pressure.
In practice temporary perturbations of the gas-pressure in the gas 15 distribution net may occur, for example during maintenance of the gas distribution net or during an extremely high gas consumption by an other user coupled to the gas distribution net. The gas distribution net is understood to be the provider of the gas to the gas delivery system, for example a public gas distribution net. Such temporary perturbations are not 20 dangerous as long as no appliance coupled to the gas delivery system is activated.
An embodiment wherein the over-pressure sensor and/or the underpressure sensor are arranged stream downwards the controllable gas valve and therewith only responds during an opened state of the controllable gas 25 valve has the advantage that such temporary pressure perturbations do not result in an error condition, provided that gas requests are absent and the controllable gas valve is closed.
It is another advantage of this embodiment that the gas pressure sensor for determining whether the gas pressure in the conduit has a value 30 lower than a pressure reference value may also serve as the sensor for 26 detecting an under-pressure condition and/or the sensor for detecting an over-pressure condition. In this way the total number of components can be modest, while still additional protection against extreme pressure fluctuations during an activated state of the appliances is provided.. The 5 latter combined gas pressure sensor may for example have different detection levels, including an operational minimum level, an operational maximum level and a non-operational minimum level.
Nevertheless an embodiment is possible wherein the gas delivery control system alternatively or in addition has a sensor arranged stream 10 upwards with respect to the controllable gas valve 10 that detects whether an under-pressure condition occurs in the conduit, said gas delivery control system being arranged to generate an error signal if said under-pressure condition is detected. Such an under pressure sensor will always respond irrespective whether the controllable gas valve is opened or closed.
15 Also an embodiment is possible wherein the gas delivery control system alternatively or in addition has a sensor arranged stream upwards with respect to the controllable gas valve 10 that detects whether an overpressure condition occurs in the conduit, said gas delivery control system being arranged to generate an error signal if said under-pressure condition 20 is detected. Such an over pressure sensor will always respond irrespective whether the controllable gas valve is opened or closed.
The under pressure sensor and the over pressure sensor may be formed by a combined gas pressure sensor that has different detection levels, including an operational minimum level and an operational 25 maximum level.
FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of method of controlling delivery of gas according the second aspect of the invention.
In FIG. 5 the horizontal axis indicates a time t and the vertical axis indicates a value of the various signals. During a first time period until 30 tl it is signalled with a first value of signal Si by a gas appliance AP that
Tl gas is demanded. In accordance therewith the control device 30 maintains the controllable gas valve 10 in an open state, by a first value of signal S2. Accordingly gas is delivered via the conduit 22 to the appliance AP. In the time period tl to t2 the appliance AP indicates by a second value of signal 5 Si that no gas is demanded. The control device 30 thereupon closes the controllable gas valve 10 by signalling this with a second value of the signal S2. In practice the pressure P will decrease after closure of the switch due to normal diffusion. However if the pressure decreases relatively rapidly, this indicates the presence of a leak. In order to verify this, it is determined 10 whether the momentary value of the pressure reaches a lower threshold value Pt, and this is indicated with signal Plow. Furthermore a reference signal Tref for the lapse of a predetermined time interval is generated. In the present case Tref is generated as the output signal of a comparison between the RC filtered signal S2’ and threshold value Tt. In FIG. 1 it can 15 be seen that the predetermined time interval lapses at ta and that the pressure P drops below the lower threshold value Pt at a point in time tb later than ta. Accordingly it is determined that there is no leakage. At point in time t2 the appliance AP indicates a new request for gas with signal Si, and since no error condition has occurred, the control device switches the 20 controllable gas valve 10 in an open state with the signal S2. The pressure P therewith rises again above the threshold level Tt. In the time interval t3 to t4 the appliance AP indicates by the second value of signal Si that no gas is demanded. The control device 30 thereupon closes the controllable gas valve 10 by signalling this with a second value of the signal S2. However, in this 25 case it is found that the pressure drops below the lower threshold value Pt at a point in time tc before the predetermined time interval is lapsed at point in time td. Accordingly the error signal Error is raised. Now, in case of a further gas demand the control circuit 30 maintains the controllable gas valve 10 in a closed position even if a gas demand is signalled by appliance 30 AP, as is illustrated in FIG. 5 for point in time t4.
28
It is an advantageous aspect of the gas delivery control system according to the present invention that the higher the leakage, the more rapidly this will cause the pressure P to drop and the more rapidly the condition occurs that the pressure is below the lower threshold value Pt.
5 Accordingly the present gas delivery control system provides a rapid detection in case of serious leaks.
FIG. 6 schematically shows operational states of a control device in a gas delivery control system according to the present invention. The control device 30 has a rest state ST2, an operational state ST3 and a safety state 10 ST4. In the rest state ST2 the controllable gas valve 10 is maintained in a closed state. In the operational state ST3 the controllable gas valve 10 is maintained in an opened state and in the safety state ST4 the controllable gas valve 10 is maintained in a closed state. A transition takes place from the rest state ST2 to the operational state ST3 upon a gas request Si of a 15 facility AP. A transition takes place from the operational state ST3 to the rest state ST2 upon absence of a gas request DSl from the facility AP. A transition takes place to the safety state ST4 in case the error signal Error is issued. In the embodiments described above, the error signal is issued when the control device 30 has assumed the rest state ST2 and the gas 20 pressure drops rapidly after switching of the controllable gas valve 10.
However additional conditions may be verified that result in the generation of an error signal when the system is in another state, for example in the operational state ST3. Also in that case a transition takes place to the safety state. Once the gas delivery control system is checked and repaired a reset 25 signal can be provided by an authorized technician for causing a transition from the safety state to the rest state so that normally operation can be resumed.
The control device in the gas delivery control system of FIG. 6 further has an initial state ST1 wherein the gas valve is maintained in a 30 closed state and wherein the control device maintains the initial state as 29 long as the gas pressure delivered by the gas supply is outside predetermined bounds (indicated by a signal PNOK) and the control device assumes the rest state ST2 when the supplied gas pressure assumes a value within the predetermined bounds (indicated by a signal POK).
5 FIG. 7 schematically shows how the gas delivery control system 1 may be integrated in a larger system. Parts therein corresponding to those of FIG. 1 to 4E have the same reference number.
In the embodiment of FIG. 7 the gas delivery control system 1 is integrated with a fire sensor FD, an alarm centre AC and a communication 10 system CS. In this example the communication system is an addressable communication system CS, which in this example enables the gas delivery control system to submit an SMS message with status information about the system to the owner or to another addressee.
The gas supply GS is coupled to the gas delivery control system via a 15 main valve/tap MV and a pressure regulator PR. The latter serves to regulate the pressure within acceptable bounds for normal operation of the appliances provided by the system. In an embodiment the functionality of the main valve/tap MV may be integrated in the controllable gas valve 10. Authorized entities, for example, the fire department may be authorized to 20 close the controllable gas valve 10 remotely in case of a fire hazard. Also the controllable gas valve may be integrated in another device, e.g. a smart gas meter or a gas payment terminal. A gasmeter GM is arranged to measure the gas consumption. Gas consumption may be measured by mechanical means, for example by counting a number of times a bellows is filled, but 25 alternatively by contactless sensing, e.g. using an UV-measurement. In embodiments the gas consumption may be measured indirectly, e.g. with a calorimeter that measures an amount of heat generated by devices supplied by the gas delivery system. In another embodiment gas may be delivered for a fixed price, so that a measurement of gas-consumption is superfluous. In 30 the present embodiment the gasmeter GM is coupled with an energy meter EM for measuring the electric power consumption.
Downstream the system appliances are arranged, such as a central heating installation AP and other appliances OAP.
5 The gas delivery control system 1 has apart from the components earlier mentioned a power supply PO. Various alternatives are suitable, comprising a mains power supply in particular wherein the gas delivery system is integrated with components of a mains power supply system, e.g. the energy meter in this case. Alternatively other energy sources may be 10 used, such as batteries or solar cells. It may also be consider to use the gasflow itself as a source of energy. Various communication facilities COMl, COM2, COM3 are provided to couple the gas delivery control system 1 with other facilities. In this case a first communication system COMl provides for communication between the components of the gas delivery control 15 system, e.g. the controllable gas valve 10, the control device, the gas pressure sensor 40, and the reference module 50. The first communication system COMl may further provided for communication with external facilities coupled to the system 1, such as the pressure regulator PR, the gas meter GM, the energy meter EM and external safety facilities, such as a fire 20 detector FD. A second communication system COM2 provides for communication with the facility AP to be provided with gas by the gas delivery control system 1. In this way the facility AP can for example provide the request signal Si to indicate that gas is requested. In practice more facilities OAP may be coupled to the gas delivery control system 1. For 25 that purpose one or more additional communication systems COM3 may be present, for example to receive a request signal indicative for a demand of gas. Typically the communication systems are wired or wireless electronic systems. For that purpose also existing communication means may be used, such as public phone net, a glass fiber net and or/an internal home bus, e.g. 30 according to one of the BCI, the EHSA or the EIBA standard. Nevertheless 31 signals could also be transmitted by other means, e.g. by electrical, mechanical, pneumatical or hydraulical communication means. Facilities already present may be reused for this purpose, e.g. the gas-conduit may be used as an electrical conductor for transmitting signals.
5 In case more than one facility AP, OAP is coupled to the system the request signal Si is replaced by a combined request signal Si’ that indicates whether at least one of the facilities requests a gas supply.
One or more components of the gas delivery control system 1 may be integrated, for example with or within other components, for example a gas 10 meter, for example with a so called “smart energy meter”. A smart gas meter may be provided with communication facilities with the energy provider. Such a smart energy meter may for example enable the provider to read out energy use remotely and/or to locally control gas supply. Local control of gas supply may take place via the controllable gas valve 10 of the 15 gas delivery control system 1.
A smart gas meter may include one or more of an under/overpressure switch, to detect an out of boundary condition of the gas pressure and to shut of gas-delivery upon detection of the condition.
The smart gas meter may further provide the pressure sensor for use 20 in the gas delivery control system. The gas delivery control system may be integrated within a housing of the smart gas meter. The smart gas meter may additionally be provided with power supply means for the gas delivery control system 1. The smart gas meter is for example a smart energy meter that not only serves for measuring a gas use, but additionally measures use 25 of electricity. In that embodiment the smart energy meter is inherently coupled to the mains, which may also form the power supply for the gas delivery control system. The smart gas meter may have a gas flow sensor which is also used by the gas delivery control system.
The gas delivery control system 1 as shown comprises a display DP 30 for displaying a status of the gas delivery control system 1 and possibly also 32 of facilities coupled thereto. A control panel may be provided to change settings of the gas delivery control system 1. The control panel may for example comprise a reset button RS to reset the system after an error condition was signalled and repair has taken place. In an embodiment an 5 authorization is required to reset the system 1, so that gas delivery cannot be erroneously resumed before the cause of the error condition is cancelled. The control panel may further be provided with a facility to enable the system 1 during first use. In this situation a false error could be generated due to the fact that the gas pressure in the system is not yet at its normal 10 level. A button may be provided to temporarily overrule the blocking facility 31 incorporated in the control device 30, FIG. 4E. The display and the control panel may be integrated, for example in the form of a touch screen display.
FIG. 8 shows a further embodiment, wherein the gas delivery control 15 system is integrated with a smart gas meter SGM. Accordingly the gas delivery control system and the smart gas meter share one or more functionalities. In an embodiment the one or more functionalities may be integrated in a single housing. Parts therein corresponding to those in the previous embodiments have a similar reference. In this embodiment, 20 functionalities available or to be added in the smart gas meter SGM are reused or used, therewith facilitating implementation of the gas delivery control system. Functionalities may be added for example by hardware components having said functionality e.g. an integrated circuit or having software with instructions to be carried out by a programmable processor 25 already present in the smart gas meter SGM. In again another embodiment functionalities may added by downloading new control software. The downloading process may be controlled remotely, for example by the energy supplier.
A smart gas meter SGM may have a gas flow sensor 40a and a 30 controllable valve 10. The smart gas meter SGM further has communication 33 and control facility COMM & CNTRL, coupled to a power source PWR, e.g. a mains supply and a communication net COMM NET that enables a gas provider GP to remotely read the use of the gas consumption and to remotely control the controllable gas valve 10. In a further embodiment the 5 gas pressure sensor 40 is also integrated in the smart gas meter SGM. In the embodiment shown the controllable gas valve 10 of the smart gas meter SGM also serves as the controllable gas valve 10 of the gas delivery control system, and the gas delivery control system uses the communication net COMM NET to communicate the error signal Error/block as well as the gas 10 request signal Si to the control facility of the smart gas meter SGM. The communication net COMM NET may be any wired or wireless communication system. The power source available for the smart gas meter SGM may also be reused as the power source for the gas delivery control system. In a particular embodiment the reference module 50 and the error 15 signalling module 60 may be fully integrated in the smart gas meter SGM. The communication and control facility of the smart gas meter may be a programmable controller or other and the functions of these modules 50, 60 can be implemented by a reprogramming of the controller COMM & CNTRL. Alternatively part or all functions may be implemented in 20 dedicated hardware. It is not necessary that the controller of the smart gasmeter is physically present in its housing. The controller of the smart gas meter may for example be a common control facility of the gas supplier that remotely controls the operation of the smart gas meter. Other functionalities may be provided in the gas delivery system, such as visual and auditive 25 display means. Reset and other control facilities may also be included.
The gas delivery control facility 1 may have other features in accordance with prevailing safety and installation regulations and recommendations.
Summarizing, a gas delivery control system is disclosed comprising a 30 controllable gas valve. The controllable gas valve has an input to be coupled 34 to a gas supply and having an output that is coupled via a conduit to a facility. A control device is provided that controls the controllable gas valve in accordance with a value of a request signal of the facility. An error signalling module issues an error signal if it is detected before a lapse of the 5 predetermined time interval that the gas pressure is lower than the pressure reference value.
The installation costs of the gas delivery control system may be further reduced by combining functions with those of other provisions, such as (smart) gas/energy meters, gas using appliances, computers, alarm 10 installations and available communication means. For example the controllable gas valve may also be the main gas valve/tap. Electronics present in various devices provided with, arranged with or coupled to the gas distribution system may be used. For example a central heating system may already issue a control signal for opening an internal valve inside. This 15 control signal can be used as the gas request signal. As an alternative, a pressure detection device may be arranged in the conduit, preferably close to the appliance that detects a lowering of the pressure in the conduit when an internal valve of the appliance is opened and in response generates a gas request signal.
20 In embodiments a gas buffering container may be coupled to the conduit 22.
In an embodiment the gas delivery control system includes a gas flow sensor that generates an error signal upon detection of abnormalities in a gas flow. In an embodiment the gas flow sensor is part of a (smart) gas 25 usage meter. The results of the gas flow measurements may be compared with an expected flow that is estimated on the basis of the detected on-time of the attached gas-appliances. Also the measurement results may be compared with reference data. An error signal is generated in case of a significant deviation detected during the comparison.
35
The gas delivery control system provides for a reliable detection against small leaks and a rapid detection against larger leaks. The system is simple in use and can be extended easily. As a further extension for example the system may be amended to interrupt gas-delivery by fail safe 5 facilities, also in the following situations.
- A power supply failure, - A gas supply failure, - A failure of any of the devices coupled to the gas distribution control system, such as detectors, sensors, measuring devices, 10 communication devices, - A defect in a gas-appliance, - Detection of gas/smoke/carbon monoxide/fire, etc, - Detection of a too low or a too high pressure in the conduit.
The gas delivery control system and or any additional security 15 facilities may include an auto-diagnostic module for internally testing the gas delivery control system and the additional security facilities. The autodiagnostic module may automatically be activated periodically or at power-up. In addition or alternatively a facility may be included to activate the auto-diagnostic module manually.
20 Upon detection of an error during a test carried out by the auto diagnostic module, the latter may cause the blocking means to block the controllable gas valve in a closed state.
The gas delivery system may be coupled to other alert or control systems.
25 Any error signal may communicated to one or more of a user, an inhabitant, a caretaker, the fire brigade, an alarm centre or any other entity that may have an interest to receive this information.
Provided that the prevailing installation regulations allow this, the function of the main gas valve/tap, as shown in FIG. 8 for example, may be 30 carried out by the controllable gas valve 10. This can for example be realized 36 by a separate control means for the controllable gas valve 10. The separate control means may be a button, a touch screen, or a remote control facility to be operated by the gas provider or other entities, such as a fire brigade.
As used herein, the terms "comprises," "comprising," "includes," 5 "including," "has," "having" or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements is not necessarily limited to only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. Further, unless 10 expressly stated to the contrary, "or" refers to an inclusive or and not to an exclusive or. For example, a condition A or B is satisfied by any one of the following: A is true (or present) and B is false (or not present), A is false (or not present) and B is true (or present), and both A and B are true (or present).
15
Claims (56)
Priority Applications (5)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
NL2006387A NL2006387C2 (en) | 2011-03-14 | 2011-03-14 | Arrangement comprising a gas delivery control system and a central heating installation and gas delivery control method. |
EP12707941.6A EP2686601B1 (en) | 2011-03-14 | 2012-02-21 | Arrangement comprising a gas delivery control system and a central heating installation and gas delivery control method |
PCT/NL2012/050100 WO2012125022A2 (en) | 2011-03-14 | 2012-02-21 | Arrangement comprising a gas delivery control system and a central heating installation and gas delivery control method |
US14/004,764 US20140231531A1 (en) | 2011-03-14 | 2012-02-21 | Arrangement comprising a gas delivery control system and a central heating installation and gas delivery control method |
RU2013145604/28A RU2013145604A (en) | 2011-03-14 | 2012-02-21 | DEVICE CONTAINING GAS SUPPLY CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD OF GAS SUPPLY CONTROL AND INSTALLATION OF CENTRAL HEATING |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
NL2006387 | 2011-03-14 | ||
NL2006387A NL2006387C2 (en) | 2011-03-14 | 2011-03-14 | Arrangement comprising a gas delivery control system and a central heating installation and gas delivery control method. |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
NL2006387C2 true NL2006387C2 (en) | 2012-09-17 |
Family
ID=45811598
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
NL2006387A NL2006387C2 (en) | 2011-03-14 | 2011-03-14 | Arrangement comprising a gas delivery control system and a central heating installation and gas delivery control method. |
Country Status (5)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20140231531A1 (en) |
EP (1) | EP2686601B1 (en) |
NL (1) | NL2006387C2 (en) |
RU (1) | RU2013145604A (en) |
WO (1) | WO2012125022A2 (en) |
Families Citing this family (19)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US10215722B2 (en) | 2014-06-10 | 2019-02-26 | Honeywell International Inc. | Providing appliances with gas quality information |
US9980222B2 (en) * | 2015-12-15 | 2018-05-22 | Itron, Inc. | High data low latency communications with minimized power consumption |
JP7113303B2 (en) * | 2017-06-08 | 2022-08-05 | パナソニックIpマネジメント株式会社 | gas shutoff device |
US11041779B1 (en) * | 2018-09-11 | 2021-06-22 | Synapse Wireless, Inc. | Systems and methods for detecting leaks in a compressed gas system |
EP3739346B1 (en) | 2019-05-14 | 2023-07-12 | Landis+Gyr AG | Load control module for a utility meter and meter arrangement comprising same |
DE102019117658A1 (en) * | 2019-07-01 | 2021-01-07 | Vaillant Gmbh | Method for suppressing interference in a device via a user interface of the device |
GB201913698D0 (en) * | 2019-09-23 | 2019-11-06 | Bboxx Ltd | Improvements in or relating to a metering device |
US20230097136A1 (en) * | 2020-03-04 | 2023-03-30 | Hubbell Incorporated | System and Method for Monitoring Operation of a Heating System for a Space |
MX2020004235A (en) * | 2020-04-23 | 2022-01-14 | Edison Effect Company Sapi De Cv | System for the supply, monitoring, and control of fluids from sources of supply to fixed locations. |
US11320336B2 (en) * | 2020-06-22 | 2022-05-03 | Pavan Vipul THAKKAR | Gas shutoff system |
US11385212B2 (en) * | 2020-09-25 | 2022-07-12 | Honeywell International Inc. | Smoke detection sample point |
US11733075B2 (en) | 2020-12-18 | 2023-08-22 | Itron, Inc. | Disaggregation of gas load to determine meter or service under-sizing |
US11601506B2 (en) | 2020-12-18 | 2023-03-07 | Itron, Inc. | Disaggregation of gas load to determine gas appliance performance |
US11982373B2 (en) | 2020-12-18 | 2024-05-14 | Itron, Inc. | Gas regulator diaphragm-position and pressure-relief detection |
US11971285B2 (en) | 2020-12-18 | 2024-04-30 | Itron, Inc. | Detection of low gas pressure without pressure sensors |
US11971291B2 (en) | 2020-12-18 | 2024-04-30 | Itron, Inc. | Gas regulator pressure-relief monitor |
US11594117B2 (en) * | 2020-12-18 | 2023-02-28 | Itron, Inc. | Network edge detection and notification of gas pressure situation |
EP4249804A1 (en) * | 2022-03-24 | 2023-09-27 | BDR Thermea Group B.V. | Gas detection method for a gas boiler |
CN117307987B (en) * | 2023-11-29 | 2024-02-20 | 常州市潞城燃气设备股份有限公司 | 5G-based gas pressure regulator fault detection system |
Citations (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE2916550A1 (en) * | 1978-04-24 | 1979-10-25 | Diesel Kiki Co | DEVICE FOR MEASURING THE LEVEL OF LEAKAGE IN A FLUID LEAKAGE |
US5440477A (en) * | 1991-05-20 | 1995-08-08 | Creative Pathways, Inc. | Modular bottle-mounted gas management system |
JPH08313322A (en) * | 1995-05-19 | 1996-11-29 | Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd | Gas leakage detector |
WO2001069340A2 (en) * | 2000-03-15 | 2001-09-20 | Gaslow International Limited | Monitoring system |
EP1205704A1 (en) * | 2000-11-08 | 2002-05-15 | GreenField AG | Process for filling a vehicle tank with gas |
DE10244139A1 (en) * | 2002-09-23 | 2004-04-01 | Bayerische Motoren Werke Ag | Safety system for a test installation for a hydrogen converting device, especially a hydrogen engine test bed, has means for comparing hydrogen delivery with hydrogen consumption |
US20060283237A1 (en) * | 2005-06-16 | 2006-12-21 | Olivier Courrieu | Evaluating the leaktightness of a device for storing fuel gas under high pressure |
US20060289559A1 (en) * | 2005-06-20 | 2006-12-28 | South-Tek Systems | Beverage dispensing gas consumption detection with alarm and backup operation |
Family Cites Families (9)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5126934A (en) * | 1989-06-09 | 1992-06-30 | Smart House, L.P. | Gas distribution system |
US5437180A (en) * | 1993-11-19 | 1995-08-01 | Sowinski; Richard F. | Detection of natural gas within a customer's domain |
JP3105433B2 (en) * | 1995-10-17 | 2000-10-30 | 松下電器産業株式会社 | Piping leak detection device |
CN1190654C (en) | 1998-09-11 | 2005-02-23 | 松下电器产业株式会社 | Gas leak detection system |
GB0103707D0 (en) | 2001-02-15 | 2001-04-04 | Cardwell Arthur | Fluid shut-off system |
US20060272704A1 (en) * | 2002-09-23 | 2006-12-07 | R. Giovanni Fima | Systems and methods for monitoring and controlling fluid consumption |
US7210495B1 (en) * | 2005-01-21 | 2007-05-01 | Olson Vaughn F | Gas line safety valve system |
US8545216B2 (en) * | 2006-12-22 | 2013-10-01 | Continental Appliances, Inc. | Valve assemblies for heating devices |
US8174398B2 (en) * | 2009-07-31 | 2012-05-08 | Abraham Wien | Leak sensor monitor |
-
2011
- 2011-03-14 NL NL2006387A patent/NL2006387C2/en not_active IP Right Cessation
-
2012
- 2012-02-21 US US14/004,764 patent/US20140231531A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2012-02-21 WO PCT/NL2012/050100 patent/WO2012125022A2/en active Application Filing
- 2012-02-21 RU RU2013145604/28A patent/RU2013145604A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 2012-02-21 EP EP12707941.6A patent/EP2686601B1/en not_active Not-in-force
Patent Citations (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE2916550A1 (en) * | 1978-04-24 | 1979-10-25 | Diesel Kiki Co | DEVICE FOR MEASURING THE LEVEL OF LEAKAGE IN A FLUID LEAKAGE |
US5440477A (en) * | 1991-05-20 | 1995-08-08 | Creative Pathways, Inc. | Modular bottle-mounted gas management system |
JPH08313322A (en) * | 1995-05-19 | 1996-11-29 | Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd | Gas leakage detector |
WO2001069340A2 (en) * | 2000-03-15 | 2001-09-20 | Gaslow International Limited | Monitoring system |
EP1205704A1 (en) * | 2000-11-08 | 2002-05-15 | GreenField AG | Process for filling a vehicle tank with gas |
DE10244139A1 (en) * | 2002-09-23 | 2004-04-01 | Bayerische Motoren Werke Ag | Safety system for a test installation for a hydrogen converting device, especially a hydrogen engine test bed, has means for comparing hydrogen delivery with hydrogen consumption |
US20060283237A1 (en) * | 2005-06-16 | 2006-12-21 | Olivier Courrieu | Evaluating the leaktightness of a device for storing fuel gas under high pressure |
US20060289559A1 (en) * | 2005-06-20 | 2006-12-28 | South-Tek Systems | Beverage dispensing gas consumption detection with alarm and backup operation |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
EP2686601A2 (en) | 2014-01-22 |
WO2012125022A4 (en) | 2013-03-14 |
WO2012125022A2 (en) | 2012-09-20 |
RU2013145604A (en) | 2015-04-20 |
US20140231531A1 (en) | 2014-08-21 |
WO2012125022A3 (en) | 2013-01-17 |
EP2686601B1 (en) | 2015-04-01 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
NL2006387C2 (en) | Arrangement comprising a gas delivery control system and a central heating installation and gas delivery control method. | |
JP6005062B2 (en) | Fluid leak detection system | |
US9938698B2 (en) | Fluid leak detection and shutdown apparatus | |
US10677674B2 (en) | Device and methodology for early detection of fluid loss and notification and system shutdown for a closed loop fluid heat transfer system | |
US8720481B2 (en) | Fluid leak detection and shutdown apparatus | |
US20100212752A1 (en) | Shut Off Protection For Hot Water Heater | |
JP3105433B2 (en) | Piping leak detection device | |
US8746043B2 (en) | Method for permanently monitoring pressurized pipelines and line systems which carry fluid media | |
CN101743441B (en) | Gas cut-off device | |
KR100257672B1 (en) | Gas safety management system | |
US20140196802A1 (en) | Fluid Leak Detection and Shutdown Apparatus | |
JP2009527742A (en) | Method and apparatus for determining gas leaks | |
US20120016527A1 (en) | Gas shutoff device | |
KR101552495B1 (en) | Freeze protection system, alarming and maintaining apparatus for freeze protection system using smart device and the method thereof | |
US20240280272A1 (en) | Device and methodology for early detection of fluid loss and notification and system shutdown for a closed loop fluid heat transfer system | |
JP4956391B2 (en) | Fluid leak detection method | |
CN102374661B (en) | Safety detection method for water heater | |
KR101129865B1 (en) | Residual gas detection and gas state detection apparatus in the gas tank and method thereof | |
JP2009097948A (en) | Gas meter | |
KR200361569Y1 (en) | Multi-Function Display/Control Apparatus for Checkup/Control Indoors | |
JP2713066B2 (en) | Gas supply equipment abnormality detector | |
US20230168117A1 (en) | Apparatus for the delivery of gas to a user | |
US20240093871A1 (en) | Gas Leak Detector in Gas Appliances | |
JP3569583B2 (en) | Gas water heater with abnormality detection function | |
WO2020107600A1 (en) | Smart pipeline |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
SD | Assignments of patents |
Effective date: 20140425 |
|
MM | Lapsed because of non-payment of the annual fee |
Effective date: 20170401 |