Arrangement comprising a gas delivery control system and a central heating installation and gas delivery control method

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 (S 1 ) 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.

1 . Arrangement of a gas delivery control system ( 1 ) and one or more appliances including a central heating installation, the one or more appliances being arranged for generating a request signal (S 1 ) indicative for a supply of gas requested by at least one of the appliances, the gas delivery control system ( 1 ) comprising,
 a controllable gas valve ( 10 ) having an input ( 12 ) coupled to a gas supply (GS) and having an output ( 14 ),   a control device ( 30 ) for controlling the controllable valve ( 10 ), wherein the control device controls the controllable valve in accordance with a value of the request signal (S 1 ) of the one or more appliances (AP) coupled via a conduit ( 22 ) with the output ( 14 ) of the controllable gas valve ( 10 ),   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.   
     
     
         2 . The arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein the gas delivery control system further comprises blocking means ( 31 ) for blocking the controllable valve in a closed state upon issuance of the error signal (Error, Error′). 
     
     
         3 . The arrangement according to  claim 2 , wherein the gas delivery control system further comprises 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. 
     
     
         4 . The arrangement according to  claim 2  or  3 , wherein the gas delivery control system further comprises or is coupled to one or more additional security facilities (SD, FD, GD, VD) for issuing one or more detection signals (ErrorS, ErrorF, ErrorG, ErrorV), and wherein the blocking means or said one or more additional security facilities ( 31 ) upon issuance of at least one of said one or more detection signals block the controllable valve in a closed state. 
     
     
         5 . The arrangement according to  claim 4 , wherein the one or more additional security facilities comprise one or more of a smoke signaling device (SD) for delivering a smoke detection signal (ErrorS) upon detection of smoke, a fire signaling device (FD) for delivering a fire detection signal (ErrorF) upon detection of fire, a gas signaling 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 mains. 
     
     
         6 . The arrangement according to one of the previous claims, wherein the gas delivery control system is coupled to an alarm centre (AC) for reporting a status of the gas delivery system ( 1 ) to said alarm centre. 
     
     
         7 . The arrangement according to one of the previous claims, wherein the gas delivery control system is coupled to an alarm centre (AC) for allowing the alarm centre to activate and/or deactivate the blocking means ( 31 ). 
     
     
         8 . The arrangement according to one of the previous claims, wherein the gas delivery control system is coupled with a communication system (CS) for transmission of a status of the system. 
     
     
         9 . The arrangement according to  claim 2  up to and including  8 , wherein the gas delivery control system is coupled with a communication system (CS), allowing a user to activate and/or deactivate the blocking means ( 31 ). 
     
     
         10 . The arrangement according to one of the  claims 2  up to and including  9 , wherein the control device ( 30 ) has a rest state (ST 2 ), an operational state (ST 3 ) and a safety state (ST 4 ), in which rest state the controllable gas valve ( 10 ) is maintained in a closed state, in which operational state the controllable gas valve is maintained in an opened state 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 (S 1 ) of an appliance, wherein a transition takes place from the operational state to the rest state upon absence of a gas request (□S 1 ) from an appliance, wherein a transition takes place to the safety state in case the error signal (Error) is issued, and wherein a transition takes place from the safety state to the rest state in case of a reset signal (Reset). 
     
     
         11 . The arrangement according to  claim 10 , wherein the gas delivery control system further comprises an additional gas pressure sensor arranged stream-upwards with respect to the controllable gas valve ( 10 ) for detecting whether a delivered gas-pressure is within predetermined bounds, wherein the control device ( 30 ) has an initial state (ST 1 ) wherein the controllable gas valve is maintained in a closed state and wherein the control device maintains the initial state as long as the additional gas pressure sensor detects a delivered gas-pressure which is outside predetermined bounds and the control device assumes the rest state when the additional gas pressure sensor detects a delivered gas-pressure within the predetermined bounds. 
     
     
         12 . The arrangement according to one of the previous claims, wherein the gas delivery control system further comprises a gas flow sensor ( 40   a ) arranged in the conduit ( 22 ). 
     
     
         13 . The arrangement according to  claim 12 , wherein the gas flow sensor ( 40   a ) generates a request signal (S 1 ) if the detected gas flow exceeds a predetermined reference value for the gas flow. 
     
     
         14 . The arrangement according to one of the previous claims, wherein the gas delivery control system further comprises an additional gas pressure sensor ( 40   b ) arranged to measure a gas pressure in the conduit ( 22 ), preferably near the appliance (AP). 
     
     
         15 . The arrangement according to  claim 14 , wherein the additional gas pressure sensor ( 40   b ) generates the request signal (S 1 ) if the detected pressure is lower than a further predetermined reference pressure. 
     
     
         16 . The arrangement according to one of the previous claims, wherein the gas delivery control system is at least partly integrated with/in a gas meter (SGM), the gas meter (SGM) comprising a controllable gas valve ( 10 ) and/or a gas flow sensor ( 40   a ). 
     
     
         17 . The arrangement according to  claim 16 , the gas meter (SGM) further comprising communication and/or control means (COMM & CNTRL) arranged for remote measurement of the gas flow and/or for remote control of the controllable gas valve ( 10 ). 
     
     
         18 . The arrangement according to  claim 16  or  17 , wherein a controllable gas valve of the gas meter also serves as the controllable gas valve ( 10 ) of the gas delivery control system. 
     
     
         19 . The arrangement according to  claim 17  or  18 , wherein the communication and/or control means (COMM & CNTRL) is arranged to receive the request signal of the appliance (AP). 
     
     
         20 . The arrangement according to  claim 17 ,  18  or  19 , wherein the communication and/or control means (COMM & CNTRL) is further arranged to receive the output signal (Error/block) of the error signaling module ( 60 ) and/or one or more detection signals (ErrorS, ErrorF, ErrorG, ErrorV), from one or more additional security facilities (SD, FD, GD, VD). 
     
     
         21 . The arrangement according to one of the  claims 17  up to and including  20 , wherein the reference module ( 50 ) and/or the error signaling module ( 60 ) are integrated in the communication and control means (COMM & CNTRL) of the gas meter (SGM). 
     
     
         22 . The arrangement according to  claim 21 , wherein the gas pressure sensor ( 40 ) is integrated with/in the gas meter (SGM). 
     
     
         23 . The arrangement according to one of the previous claims wherein the gas delivery control system has a gas pressure sensor arranged stream downwards with respect to the controllable gas valve ( 10 ) that detects whether an under-pressure condition occurs in the conduit during an opened state of the controllable gas valve, said gas delivery control system being arranged to generate an error signal if said under-pressure condition is detected. 
     
     
         24 . The arrangement according to one of the previous claims wherein the gas delivery control system has a gas pressure sensor arranged stream downwards with respect to the controllable gas valve ( 10 ) that detects whether an over-pressure condition occurs in the conduit during an opened state of the controllable gas valve, said gas delivery control system being arranged to generate an error signal if said over-pressure condition is detected. 
     
     
         25 . The arrangement according to  claim 23  or  24 , wherein the gas pressure sensor for determining whether the gas pressure in the conduit has a value lower than a pressure reference value also serves as the gas pressure sensor for detecting an under-pressure condition and/or the gas pressure sensor for detecting an over-pressure condition. 
     
     
         26 . The arrangement according to one of the previous claims, wherein the gas delivery control system has an gas under pressure sensor arranged stream 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. 
     
     
         27 . The arrangement according to one of the previous claims, wherein the gas delivery control system has a gas over pressure sensor arranged stream upwards with respect to the controllable gas valve ( 10 ) that detects whether an over-pressure condition occurs in the conduit, said gas delivery control system being arranged to generate an error signal if said over-pressure condition is detected. 
     
     
         28 . The arrangement according to  26  and  27 , wherein the gas under pressure sensor and the gas over pressure sensor are formed by a combined gas pressure sensor that has different detection levels, including an operational minimum level and an operational maximum level. 
     
     
         29 . The arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the gas delivery control system is at least partly integrated within a housing of a smart gas meter. 
     
     
         30 . The arrangement of  claim 29 , wherein the smart gas meter is additionally provided with power supply means for the gas delivery control system. 
     
     
         31 . The arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the controllable gas valve is a main gas valve/tap. 
     
     
         32 . The arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the request signal is generated by a controller that controls an internal or optional gas valve of the central heating installation or other appliance. 
     
     
         33 . The arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the request signal is generated by a gas usage sensor provided external to the central heating installation or other appliance. 
     
     
         34 . The arrangement of  claim 32 , wherein the gas usage sensor provided external to the central heating installation or other appliance is a gas pressure detection device arranged in the conduit, 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 request signal. 
     
     
         35 . The arrangement of  claim 32 , wherein the gas usage sensor provided external to the central heating installation or other appliance is a gas flow sensor that detects a gas flow to the central heating installation or other appliance. 
     
     
         36 . The arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the gas delivery control system and or any additional security facilities includes an auto-diagnostic module for internally testing the gas delivery control system and optionally the additional security facilities. 
     
     
         37 . The arrangement of  claim 36 , wherein the auto-diagnostic module is automatically activated, periodically or at power-up or after each gas request. 
     
     
         38 . The arrangement of  claim 36  or  37 , wherein the auto-diagnostic module can be activated manually. 
     
     
         39 . The arrangement of  claim 36 ,  37  or  38 , wherein the gas delivery control system has blocking means and wherein the auto-diagnostic module is capable of causing the blocking means to block the controllable gas valve in a closed state upon detection of an error during a test carried out by said auto-diagnostic module. 
     
     
         40 . The arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the appliances AP coupled to the gas delivery control system are provided with internal control means to inhibit the request signal S 1  if an internal error has been detected. 
     
     
         41 . The arrangement of  claim 12  comprising means for estimating an expected gas flow on the basis of the detected on-time of the coupled appliances, and for comparing the results of gas flow measurements with said expected gas flow, and wherein the gas flow sensor is arranged to generate an error signal upon detection of abnormalities in the gas flow. 
     
     
         42 . The arrangement according to any one of  claims 1  up to and including  5 , a communication facility being provided that includes a notification selection facility, for selectively notifying an error- or detection signal to one or more addressees. 
     
     
         43 . The arrangement according to  claim 42 , wherein said one or more addressees are selected from an addressee database, that may further comprise indications for a relation of the addressee to the gas delivery control system. 
     
     
         44 . The arrangement according to  claim 43 , wherein said notification selection facility selects one or more addressees that are closest to a location controlled by the gas delivery control system. 
     
     
         45 . The arrangement according to  claim 43 , wherein said addressees are provided with a facility that reports their availability to the communication facility. 
     
     
         46 . The arrangement according to  claim 42  up to and including  45 , wherein said one or more addressees are addressed via mail, sms, twitter, amber alert, via a social medium, such as facebook, hyves, or via any other communication mode. 
     
     
         47 . The arrangement according to any one of  claims 42  up to and including  46 , wherein the arrangement is coupled to a power supply meter that is provided with the communication means. 
     
     
         48 . The arrangement according to  claim 47 , wherein the communication means of the power supply means are communicatively coupled to further communication means. 
     
     
         49 . The arrangement according to any one of  claims 42  up to and including  48 , wherein said notification by the communication facility activates a software app installed on a mobile device, which software app initiates a protocol for handling the situation associated with the error- or detection signal. 
     
     
         50 . The arrangement according to any one of  claims 42  up to and including  49 , wherein said notification by the communication facility activates a software application installed on a mobile device, which software application initiates a communicative coupling of the mobile device with other devices including a corresponding software application, that are notified, allowing the involved persons to communicate with each other. 
     
     
         51 . The arrangement according to any one of  claims 1  up to and including  5 , further comprising an emergency illumination system, arranged for switching on illumination upon activation of an error- or detection signal. 
     
     
         52 . The arrangement according to  claim 16 , wherein the controllable gas valve ( 10 ) is arranged stream upwards with respect to the gas meter (SGM). 
     
     
         53 . The arrangement according to  claim 16 , wherein the gas delivery control system is part of a plurality of gas delivery control systems that are integrated with/in the gas meter, and wherein each one of said plurality of gas delivery control systems is arranged to supply gas to a respective set of appliances. 
     
     
         54 . The arrangement according to one of the previous claims, wherein the gas request signal indicates requested gas flow level, and wherein the control device allows the controllable valve to provide a gas flow according to a gas flow level that does not differ more than a predetermined amount, e.g. in time and volume, from the requested gas flow level, the error signaling module being arranged to issue an error signal if the difference is larger than the predetermined amount and being further arranged to activate blocking means to block the valve in a closed state. 
     
     
         55 . Gas delivery control method comprising
 providing a controllable gas valve ( 10 ) having an input ( 12 ) coupled to a gas supply (GS) and having an output ( 14 ),   coupling one or more appliances including a central heating installation (AP) via a conduit ( 22 ) with the output ( 14 ) of the controllable gas valve ( 10 ),   receiving a request signal from the one or more appliances indicative for a requested gas flow by the one or more appliances,   delivering gas via a controllable gas valve in accordance with the request signal,   determining whether the gas pressure at an output of the controllable gas valve in a closed state of the valve has a value lower than a pressure reference value,   delivering an error signal if the lower value of the gas pressure is determined within a predetermined time interval after closure of the controllable gas valve.   
     
     
         56 . Gas delivery control method according to  claim 55 , wherein the request signal is generated by a controller that controls an internal gas valve of the central heating installation or other appliance. 
     
     
         57 . Gas delivery control method according to  claim 55 , wherein the request signal is generated by a gas usage sensor provided external to the central heating installation or other appliance. 
     
     
         58 . Gas delivery control method according to  claim 57 , wherein the gas usage sensor provided external to the central heating installation or other appliance is a gas pressure detection device 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 request signal. 
     
     
         59 . Gas delivery control method according to  claim 55  up to and including  58 , comprising the steps of providing a smart gas meter. 
     
     
         60 . Gas delivery control method according to  claim 59 , wherein the smart gas meter is provided with a controllable gas valve that also serves as the controllable gas valve to deliver gas in accordance with the request signal. 
     
     
         61 . Gas delivery control method according to  claim 59 , comprising the step of adding functionalities. 
     
     
         62 . Gas delivery control method according to  claim 61 , wherein the step of adding functionalities comprises the step of adding hardware components 
     
     
         63 . Gas delivery control method according to  claim 61 , wherein the step of adding functionalities comprises the step of downloading new control software to be carried out by a programmable processor already present in the smart gas meter. 
     
     
         64 . Gas delivery control method according to  claim 63 , wherein the step of downloading is controlled remotely. 
     
     
         65 . Gas delivery control method according to  claim 64  comprising the step of estimating an expected gas flow on the basis of the detected on-time of the coupled appliances, and comparing the results of gas flow measurements with said expected flow, and wherein the gas flow sensor generates an error signal upon detection of abnormalities in the gas flow. 
     
     
         66 . Gas delivery control method according to  claim 65  comprising the step of automatically activating an auto-diagnostic module periodically or at power up. 
     
     
         67 . Gas delivery control method according to  claim 65  comprising the step of manually activating an auto-diagnostic module. 
     
     
         68 . Gas delivery control method according to  claim 66  or  67 , wherein upon detection of an error during a test carried out by the auto-diagnostic module, the latter causes blocking means to block the controllable gas valve in a closed state. 
     
     
         69 . Gas delivery control method according to  claim 65 , comprising the appliances coupled to the gas delivery control system carry out a self test and inhibit their request signal S 1  if an internal error has been detected.