Patent Publication Number: US-2011066387-A1

Title: Appliance monitoring apparatus

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to an appliance monitoring apparatus for computing and determining the amount of CO 2  emissions, etc., generated during combustion by a gas combustion appliance, etc., that utilizes, for example, town gas, LP gas, etc. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Conventionally, appliance monitoring apparatus of this type monitors security information such as an amount of gas consumed by a gas combustion appliance and grounds for a cutoff when a gas is shut off (see, for example, Patent Document 1). 
     Patent Document 1: JP-A-2001-236116 
     DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION 
     Problem to be Solved by the Invention 
     However, the conventional appliance monitoring apparatus merely handles the amount of gas used and security information for the case of a gas cutoff, and does not take into account the influence (e.g., an amount of CO 2  emission) of use of a gas combustion appliance on a terrestrial environment. The appliance monitoring apparatus cannot address social needs for a desire to know the foregoing information against a backdrop of a growing concern about the terrestrial environment. 
     Means for Solving the Problem 
     In order to solve the problem, a safety apparatus of the present invention detects a gas flow by use of a flow detection unit disposed in a gas flow path in a gas meter. Based on the signal, an appliance determination unit determines a gas appliance used by a client by learning a flow value, a gas consumption time, etc, and outputs information about the determined gas appliance and the gas flow signal used by the gas appliance to a subsequent stage. 
     A CO 2  emission data storage unit previously stores an amount of CO 2  emission produced during combustion for each type of the gas appliance as database. A comparative CO 2  emission data storage unit previously stores, as database, an amount of CO 2  emission produced during combustion by an appliance to be compared with a gas appliance used by the client (e.g., a gas appliance that produces the minimum amount of CO 2  emission or electric equipment having a performance similar to that of the gas appliance used by the client). A CO 2  emission calculation unit computes, integrates, and stores an amount of CO 2  emission based on the CO 2  emission data pertaining to a gas appliance selected from the CO 2  emission data storage unit on receipt of a signal from the appliance determination unit, a gas flow of the selected gas appliance, and a gas consumption time of the selected gas appliance. Similarly, the CO 2  emission calculation unit computes, integrates, and stores a comparative amount of CO 2  emission based on CO 2  emission data pertaining to a comparative appliance selected from the comparative CO 2  emission data storage unit, the gas flow of the selected comparative gas appliance, and the gas consumption time of the selected comparative gas appliance. Further, the CO 2  emission calculation unit computes and stores a difference between the amount of CO 2  emission and the comparative amount of CO 2  emission. Accordingly, It is possible to determine an amount of CO 2  emission produced by using the gas appliance by the client and a difference between the amount of CO 2  emission produced by the gas appliance and an amount of CO 2  emission from a gas appliance producing a minimum amount of CO 2  emission or an amount of CO 2  emission produced by electric equipment having a performance similar to that of the gas appliance used by the client. Hence, it becomes possible to address social needs for a desire to know the foregoing information against a backdrop of a growing concern about the terrestrial environment. 
     ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION 
     The appliance monitoring apparatus of the present invention can determine an amount of CO 2  emission produced by using a gas appliance by the client and a difference between the amount of CO 2  emission produced by the gas appliance and an amount of CO 2  emission from a gas appliance producing a minimum amount of CO 2  emission or an amount of CO 2  emission produced by electric equipment having a performance similar to that of the gas appliance used by the client. Hence, it becomes possible to address social needs for a desire to know the foregoing information against a backdrop of a growing concern about the terrestrial environment. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a control block diagram of an appliance monitoring apparatus of a first embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE SIGNS 
     
         
         
           
               1  FLOW DETECTION UNIT 
               2  APPLIANCE DETERMINATION UNIT 
               3  CO 2  EMISSION DATA STORAGE UNIT 
               4  COMPARATIVE CO 2  EMISSION DATA STORAGE UNIT 
               5  CO 2  EMISSION CALCULATION UNIT 
               6  DISPLAY UNIT 
           
         
       
    
     BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
     A first invention provides a flow detection unit disposed in a gas flow path in a gas meter and configured to detect a gas flow; an appliance determination unit configured to determine a gas appliance used by a client by learning a flow value used by the client and a gas consumption time in accordance with a signal from the gas flow detection unit, and to output a gas flow signal used by the gas appliance; a CO 2  emission data storage unit configured to store, as database, an amount of a CO 2  emission previously determined for each type of the gas appliance; a comparative CO 2  emission data storage unit configured to previously store, as database, an amount of CO 2  emission produced during combustion by an appliance to be compared with a gas appliance used by the client; and a CO 2  emission calculation unit configured to: compute, integrate, and store an amount of CO 2  emission based on the CO 2  emission data pertaining to a gas appliance selected from the CO 2  emission data storage unit on receipt of a signal from the appliance determination unit, a gas flow of the selected gas appliance, and a gas consumption time of the selected gas appliance; compute, integrate, and store a comparative amount of CO 2  emission based on CO 2  emission data pertaining to a comparative appliance selected from the comparative CO 2  emission data storage unit, the gas flow of the selected comparative gas appliance on receipt of a signal from the appliance determination unit, and the gas consumption time of the selected comparative gas appliance; and compute and store a difference between the amount of CO 2  emission and the comparative amount of CO 2  emission. Accordingly, it is possible to determine the amount of CO 2  emission produced by using a gas appliance by the client and a difference between the amount of CO 2  emission produced by the gas appliance and an amount of CO 2  emission from a gas appliance producing a minimum amount of CO 2  emission or an amount of CO 2  emission produced by electric equipment having a performance similar to that of the gas appliance used by the client. Hence, it becomes possible to address social needs for a desire to know the foregoing information against a backdrop of a growing concern about the terrestrial environment. 
     In a second invention, the CO 2  emission data storage is configured such that the database of CO 2  emission previously stored for each type of the gas appliance is changeable from an outside. Accordingly, it is possible to address an addition to the database regarding an amount of CO 2  emission for a new type of a gas appliance which has never been before, a change in the database of CO 2  emission caused by an improvement to the appliance, etc. Consequently, an amount of CO 2  emission produced by using the gas appliance by the user can be determined from the updated CO 2  emission database. Therefore, a more accurate amount of CO 2  emission and a difference between the amount of CO 2  emission and the amount of CO 2  emission of the gas appliance producing the minimum amount of CO 2  emission or the amount of CO 2  emission produced by an electric appliance having the performance similar to that of the gas appliance used by the client. 
     In a third invention, the comparative CO 2  emission data storage unit is configured such that the database of comparative CO 2  emission previously stored for each type of gas appliance is changeable from an outside. Accordingly, it is possible to address an addition of new data to the comparative CO 2  emission database when a new type of a gas appliance which has never been before is added, and a change in the database of CO 2  emission caused by an improvement to the appliance e.g., pertaining to the minimum comparative amount of CO 2  emission and the amount of CO 2  emission produced by electric equipment having a performance similar to that of the gas appliance used by the client. Thus, it is possible to determine, from the comparative CO 2  emission database, a difference between the amount of CO 2  emission produced by using the gas appliance by the user and the amount of CO 2  emission produced by a latest gas appliance producing the minimum amount of CO 2  emission or by electric equipment having a performance similar to that of the gas appliance used by the client. Consequently, it is possible to determine more accurate amount of CO 2  emission and difference between the amount of CO 2  emission produced by using the gas appliance by the client and the amount of CO 2  emission produced by the gas appliance producing the minimum amount of CO 2  emission or by the electric equipment. 
     In a fourth invention, when the difference between the integrated and stored amount of CO 2  emission and the comparative amount of CO 2  emission has exceeded a value of preset CO 2  emission difference, the CO 2  emission calculation unit outputs that effect to an outside. Accordingly, it is possible to determine that a difference between the amount of CO 2  emission and the comparative amount of CO 2  emission has exceeded a given value (e.g., a value of standard determined in consideration of influence on an environment) and to send a notification, which can clarify whether the amount of CO 2  emission from the gas appliance used by the client is large. Based on the information, when an appliance producing a large amount of CO 2  emission is used, replacement purchase of the appliance can be promoted, and when the amount of gas consumed by the client is large, self-restraint in a frequency of use of the gas appliance and an operating time of the gas appliance can be induced. Consequently, the amount of CO 2  emission produced by use of the gas appliance can be reduced. 
     In a fifth invention, information about the integrated and stored amount of CO 2  emission and the difference between the amount of CO 2  emission and the comparative amount of CO 2  emission is displayed, which can indicate the amount of CO 2  emission or the difference between an amount of CO 2  emission and a comparative amount of CO 2  emission at the time of watching of the display. As a result, it is possible to readily confirm whether the amount of CO 2  emission produced by the client is large and whether the amount of CO 2  emission produced by the client is larger than the amount of CO 2  emission produced by a latest gas appliance producing a minimum amount of CO 2  emission or the amount of CO 2  emission produced by electric equipment having a performance similar to that produced by the gas appliance used by the client. Consequently, when an appliance producing a large amount of CO 2  emission is used, it becomes much easier to promote replacement purchase of the appliance, and when the amount of gas consumed by the client is large, it becomes much easier to appeal for self-restraint on a frequency of use of the gas appliance and an operating time of the gas appliance. 
     In a sixth invention, information about the integrated and stored amount of CO 2  emission, the comparative amount of CO 2  emission, and the difference between the amount of CO 2  emission and the comparative amount of CO 2  emission is output to an outside. By obtaining the information in this way, the integrated and stored amount of CO 2  emission, the comparative amount of CO 2  emission, and the difference between the amount of CO 2  emission and the comparative amount of CO 2  emission can be confirmed in real time. Further, by providing a gas billing statement, etc., with the information, when an appliance producing a large amount of CO 2  emission is used, it becomes much easier to promote replacement purchase of the appliance, and when the amount of gas consumed by the client is large, it becomes much easier to appeal for self-restraint on a frequency of use of the gas appliance and an operating time of the gas appliance. 
     Embodiments of the present invention are described below with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention shall not be limited to the embodiments. Although CO 2  generated by combusting operation of a gas appliance is described in the embodiments of the invention, the present invention may be embodied as an appliance monitoring apparatus for a substance affecting terrestrial environment by combustion gases, such as CO, NO x , and SO x , which is not limited to CO 2 . 
     First Embodiment 
       FIG. 1  is a control block diagram of an appliance monitoring apparatus of a first embodiment of the present invention. 
     In  FIG. 1 , reference numeral  1  designates a flow detection unit disposed in a gas flow path in a gas meter. Reference numeral  2  designates an appliance determination unit configured to determine a gas appliance used by a client. Reference numeral  3  designates a CO 2  emission data storage unit configured to store, as database, an amount of CO 2  emission previously determined for each type of gas appliance. Reference numeral  4  designates a comparative CO 2  emission data storage unit configured to previously store, as database, an amount of CO 2  emission produced during combustion by an appliance to be compared with the gas appliance used by the client. Reference numeral  5  designates a CO 2  emission calculation unit configured to compute, integrate, and store an amount of CO 2  emission based on the data pertaining to an amount of CO 2  emission of a gas appliance selected from the CO 2  emission data storage unit, a gas flow of the selected gas appliance, and a gas consumption time of the selected gas appliance. Similarly, the CO 2  emission calculation unit is configured to compute, integrate, and store a comparative amount of CO 2  emission based on the CO 2  emission data pertaining to a comparative appliance selected from the comparative CO 2  emission comparative data storage unit, a gas flow of the selected comparative gas appliance, and a gas consumption time of the selected comparative gas appliance. Further, the CO 2  emission calculation unit configured to compute and store a difference between the amount of CO 2  emission and the comparative amount of CO 2  emission. The display unit  6  is provided so as to display the CO 2  emission data and the difference between the amount of CO 2  emission and the comparative amount of CO 2  emission. 
     Operations and effects of the appliance monitoring apparatus are now described. The flow detection unit  1  is disposed in a gas flow path (not shown in the drawing) of the gas meter and detects the amount of gas flow. In accordance with a gas flow detection signal, the appliance determination unit  2  learns a flow value, a gas consumption time, etc, thereby determining a gas appliance used by a client and outputting the gas flow signal used by the gas appliance. The CO 2  emission data storage unit  3  stores, as database, an amount of CO 2  emission previously determined for each type of the gas appliance. The comparative CO 2  emission data storage unit  4  previously stores, as database, an amount of CO 2  emission produced during combustion by an appliance to be compared with a gas appliance used by the client (e.g., a gas appliance that produces the minimum amount of CO 2  emission or electric equipment having a performance similar to that of the gas appliance used by the client). On receipt of the signal from the appliance determination unit  2 , the CO 2  emission calculation unit  5  computes, integrates, and stores an amount of CO 2  emission from the CO 2  emission data pertaining to a gas appliance selected from the CO 2  emission data storage unit  3 , a gas flow of the selected gas appliance, and a gas consumption time of the selected gas appliance. Similarly, on receipt of the signal from the appliance determination unit  2 , the CO 2  emission calculation unit  5  computes, integrates, and stores a comparative amount of CO 2  emission from CO 2  emission data pertaining to a comparative appliance selected from the comparative CO 2  emission data storage unit  4 , the gas flow of the selected comparative gas appliance, and the gas consumption time of the selected comparative gas appliance. Further, the CO 2  emission calculating unit  5  computes and stores the difference between the amount of CO 2  emission and the comparative amount of CO 2  emission. Accordingly, it is possible to determine the amount of CO 2  emission produced by using the gas appliance by the client and the difference between the amount of CO 2  emission produced by the gas appliance and an amount of CO 2  emission from the gas appliance producing a minimum amount of CO 2  emission or an amount of CO 2  emission produced by electric equipment having a performance similar to that of the gas appliance used by the client. Hence, it becomes possible to address social needs for a desire to know the foregoing information against a backdrop of a growing concern about the terrestrial environment. 
     The CO 2  emission data storage unit  3  may be configured such that the database of CO 2  emission previously stored for each type of gas appliance. Accordingly, it is possible to address an addition to the database regarding an amount of CO 2  emission for a new type of a gas appliance which has never been before, and a change in the database of CO 2  emission caused by an improvement to the appliance, etc. Consequently, an amount of CO 2  emission produced by using the gas appliance by the user can be determined from the updated CO 2  emission database. Therefore, more accurate amount of CO 2  emission and difference between the amount of CO 2  emission and the amount of CO 2  emission of a gas appliance producing the minimum amount of CO 2  emission or the amount of CO 2  emission produced by the electric appliance having a performance similar to that of the gas appliance used by the client can be determined. 
     The comparative CO 2  emission data storage unit  4  may be configured such that the database of comparative CO 2  emission previously stored for each type of gas appliance is changeable from an outside. Accordingly, it is possible to address an addition of new data to the comparative CO 2  emission database when a new type of a gas appliance which has never been before is added, and a change in the database of CO 2  emission caused by an improvement to the appliance, e.g., pertaining to the minimum comparative amount of CO 2  emission and the amount of CO 2  emission produced by electric equipment having a performance similar to that of the gas appliance used by the client. Thus, it is possible to determine, from the comparative CO 2  emission database; a difference between the amount of CO 2  emission produced by using the gas appliance by the user and the amount of CO 2  emission produced by a latest gas appliance producing the minimum amount of CO 2  emission or by electric equipment having a performance similar to that of a latest gas appliance used by the client. Consequently, it is possible to determine more accurate amount of CO 2  emission and difference between the amount of CO 2  emission produced by using the gas appliance by the client and the amount of CO 2  emission produced by the gas appliance producing the minimum amount of CO 2  emission or by the electric equipment having a performance similar to that of the gas appliance used by the client. 
     When the difference between the integrated and stored amount of CO 2  emission and the comparative amount of CO 2  emission has exceeded a value of preset CO 2  emission difference, the CO 2  emission calculation unit  5  may output that effect to an outside. Accordingly, it is possible to determine that a difference between the amount of CO 2  emission and the comparative amount of CO 2  emission has exceeded a given value (e.g., a value of standard determined in consideration of influence on an environment) and to send a notification, which can clarify whether the amount of CO 2  emission from the gas appliance used by the client is large. Based on the information, when an appliance producing a large amount of CO 2  emission is used, replacement purchase of the appliance can be promoted, and when the amount of gas consumed by the client is large, self-restraint in a frequency of use of the gas appliance and an operating time of the gas appliance can be induced. Consequently, the amount of CO 2  emission produced by use of the gas appliance can be reduced. 
     Information about the integrated and stored amount of CO 2  emission and the difference between the amount of CO 2  emission and the comparative amount of CO 2  emission may also be displayed. Accordingly, on watching the display unit  6 , a person associated with the gas appliance (e.g., a gas appliance retail dealer, a common user, etc) can know an amount of CO 2  emission or a difference between an amount of CO 2  emission and a comparative amount of CO 2  emission, at the time of watching the display. As a result, it is possible to readily confirm whether the amount of CO 2  emission produced by the client is large and whether the amount of CO 2  emission produced by the client is larger than the amount of CO 2  emission produced by a latest gas appliance producing a minimum amount of CO 2  emission or the amount of CO 2  emission produced by electric equipment having a performance similar to that produced by the gas appliance used by the client. Consequently, when an appliance producing a large amount of CO 2  emission is used, it becomes much easier to promote replacement purchase of an appliance, and when the amount of gas consumed by the client is large, it becomes much easier to appeal for self-restraint on a frequency of use of the gas appliance and an operating time of the gas appliance. 
     Information about the integrated and stored amount of CO 2  emission, the comparative amount of CO 2  emission, and a difference between the amount of CO 2  emission and the comparative amount of CO 2  emission may be output to the outside. By obtaining the information in this way, the integrated and stored amount of CO 2  emission, the comparative amount of CO 2  emission, and the difference between the amount of CO 2  emission and the comparative amount of CO 2  emission can be confirmed in real time. Further, by providing a gas billing statement, etc., with the information, when an appliance producing a large amount of CO 2  emission is used, it becomes much easier to promote replacement purchase of the appliance, and when the amount of gas consumed by the client is large, it becomes much easier to appeal for self-restraint on a frequency of use of the gas appliance and an operating time of the gas appliance. Further, information may be reported to the outside of a gas cutoff apparatus, e.g., an alarm system (not shown) of a gas supplying company, via a communication network such as a phone line. 
     The present patent application is based on Japanese Patent Application (Application No. 2008-132130) filed on May 20, 2008 in Japan, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
     As described above, the appliance monitoring apparatus of the present invention can report an amount of CO 2  emission of each appliance. Therefore, it is useful for enlightening the user on an environmental consciousness.