Gas Meter Fuel Cell Determiner Flow Pattern Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional gas meter devices struggle to accurately identify the change pattern of fluid flow at the start of fuel cell activation, leading to potential misdetermination of instruments using the fluid.
Innovation Solution
A flow meter device with a fuel cell determiner unit that measures flow values at specified intervals, storing them in a memory and determining if the instrument is a fuel cell based on conditions A and B, where condition A assesses the maximum flow value and condition B evaluates the difference value relative to an average, ensuring accurate identification of the fuel cell's gradual flow increase.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional gas meter devices use difference value calculation to determine instrument usage, then general instrument identification is achieved, but fuel cell activation patterns cannot be correctly identified
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the flow value determination process into two distinct paths: one for general instruments using difference value calculation, and another for fuel cells using gradual change pattern detection. This segmentation allows each path to be optimized for its specific target, resolving the contradiction between general identification accuracy and fuel cell-specific adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces dynamic adaptation by detecting whether the measured flow pattern matches the characteristic gradual increase pattern of fuel cell activation. Based on this detection, the system dynamically switches between different determination methods (difference value calculation vs. gradual change pattern detection), enabling the system to adapt to different instrument types and resolve the identification accuracy contradiction.
2Productivity
If the flow meter device uses difference value calculation method, then calculation speed is maintained, but gradual flow increase pattern of fuel cell cannot be detected
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically selects the determination method based on the detected flow pattern. When a gradual increase pattern is detected (indicative of fuel cell activation), the system switches to the gradual change pattern determination method. For other patterns, it maintains the faster difference value calculation method, thus balancing calculation speed with detection accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the determination parameter from fixed difference value calculation to adaptive gradual change pattern detection based on the characteristics of the measured flow. This parameter change allows the system to accurately detect fuel cell activation while maintaining efficient processing for other instruments.
3Ease of operation
If conventional determination methods are used, then general instrument classification is achieved, but misidentification of fuel cell occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The invention performs preliminary detection of the flow pattern characteristics before final determination. By first detecting whether the flow exhibits a gradual increase pattern, the system prepares the appropriate determination method in advance, preventing misidentification and improving reliability before the actual classification decision is made.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback by continuously monitoring the flow pattern and comparing it against the characteristic gradual increase pattern of fuel cell activation. This feedback mechanism allows the system to correctly identify fuel cells and adjust its determination approach, thereby improving identification reliability while maintaining ease of operation.
Data Source
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AI summary
A gas meter (1) of the present invention includes a flow measuring section (12) for measuring a flow value of a gas flowing through a fluid passage 2 connected to a gas instrument (4a to 4c) at each specified time interval; a measurement flow memory (13) for storing the measured flow value; and a fuel cell determiner section (14) for determining that the instrument (4a to 4c) using a gas is a fuel cell, when a condition A and a condition B are satisfied, in which the condition A is such that a maximum value of determination target flow values is equal to or less than a second predetermined value, the determination target flow values being a predetermined number of flow values measured before and after a reference flow value which is equal to or greater than a first predetermined value and is closest to the first predetermined value, the determination target flow values being included in stored flow values, and the condition B is such that a difference value derived by subtracting from each of all of the determination target flow values, an average value found from the each determination target flow value and a predetermined number of measurement flow values measured before the each determination target flow value, is equal to or less than a third predetermined value.