In-situ measurement device and method for material viscosity

Abstract

The invention discloses an in-situ measurement device and method for material viscosity, and belongs to the technical field of precise rheological measurement and acoustochemical process analysis. The in-situ measuring device for the material viscosity comprises a main box body which is hollow, and a measuring groove for storing a material to be measured is formed in the top of the main box body; the ultrasonic generation unit comprises a plurality of ultrasonic transducers and a plurality of rigid conduction rods; the temperature control unit comprises a heating element attached to the outer wall of the measuring groove and a temperature sensor arranged at the bottom of the groove, and is used for keeping the temperature of the material constant; the control unit comprises a processor and a human-computer interaction interface, the processor is arranged in the main box body, and the main box body, the ultrasonic generation unit, the rotary viscosity measurement unit, the temperature control unit and the control unit realize in-situ viscosity measurement under the action of ultrasonic waves through integrated design; the transducer and the titanium alloy conduction rod which are arranged in an axial symmetry mode are adopted to generate a uniform ultrasonic field.

Description

An in-situ measurement device and method for material viscosity Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of precision rheological measurement and sonochemical process analysis technology, specifically to an in-situ measurement device and method for material viscosity. Background Technology

[0002] Viscosity is a crucial rheological parameter for fluid materials, significantly impacting their processing, transportation, and application. In the mining sector, for example, controlling material viscosity presents a dilemma: low-viscosity slurries, such as low-concentration slurries, have good fluidity but are prone to dehydration and sedimentation, leading to voids at the top of goaf areas; high-viscosity pastes, such as high-concentration filling materials, while providing dense filling, cause problems like high transport resistance and pipe blockage due to their high viscosity. For instance, when transporting high-viscosity materials in pipelines, excessively high viscosity significantly increases energy consumption and risk.

[0003] As a form of energy, ultrasound faces numerous technical challenges in obtaining reliable and repeatable experimental data in the field of studying the effect of ultrasound on the viscosity of materials.

[0004] Existing experimental setups cannot separate thermal and mechanical effects because ultrasound generates both thermal and mechanical effects in materials. Conventional setups lack the ability to rapidly and accurately maintain the temperature of the sample during ultrasound treatment, resulting in observed viscosity changes being a mixture of both effects, making accurate attribution impossible. Furthermore, existing techniques typically require transferring the sample between the ultrasound processing equipment and the viscosity measurement equipment, introducing numerous uncontrollable variables and making it difficult to conduct continuous, in-situ, sequential testing of the same sample under different acoustic intensities, leading to poor experimental repeatability. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to overcome the problems in the prior art and provide a fully integrated in-situ measurement device for the viscosity of materials under ultrasonic action.

[0006] This invention provides an in-situ measurement device and method for material viscosity, comprising: a hollow main housing with a cylindrical measuring groove at the top for storing the material to be measured; an ultrasonic generating unit including several ultrasonic transducers and several rigid transmission rods, wherein the ultrasonic transducers are symmetrically arranged about the central axis of the measuring groove and connected to the bottom of the measuring groove through the rigid transmission rods to generate a uniform ultrasonic field; a rotating viscosity measuring unit for detecting the viscosity of the material to be measured in the measuring groove; a temperature control unit including a heating element attached to the outer wall of the measuring groove and a temperature sensor disposed at the bottom of the measuring groove for maintaining a constant material temperature; and a control unit including a processor and a human-machine interface, wherein the human-machine interface is used to adjust the processor and control the heating element and the ultrasonic transducers through the processor.

[0007] Preferably, the ultrasonic transducers are arranged in a ring-shaped, symmetrical, and equally spaced manner.

[0008] Preferably, some of the rigid transmission rods are made of titanium alloy.

[0009] Preferably, the heating element is a graphene electrothermal film, which is covered with ceramic fiber felt insulation material.

[0010] Preferably, the temperature sensor is a patch sensor attached to the center of the bottom side of the measuring groove.

[0011] Preferably, the human-machine interface includes a temperature display screen, an ultrasonic frequency display screen, and up and down buttons for adjusting temperature and ultrasonic frequency, for real-time synchronous display and adjustment of temperature, ultrasonic frequency, and power parameters.

[0012] Preferably, the control unit is integrated into the control box, the human-machine interface is disposed on the surface of the control box, and the main box is fixedly connected to the top of the control box or located on one side of the control box and connected via a data cable.

[0013] Preferably, the rotational viscosity measuring unit includes a rotational viscometer main unit, a rotating shaft, and a rotor. The rotational viscometer main unit is mounted on the top of the main housing via a bracket. The rotational viscometer main unit is fixedly connected to the rotating shaft, and the lower end of the rotating shaft is fixedly connected to the rotor. When performing viscosity detection on the material to be tested, the rotor is placed in the material to be tested.

[0014] A preferred experimental method for an in-situ measurement device of material viscosity includes the following steps: injecting the material to be tested into the measuring groove; setting the target temperature, ultrasonic frequency, and ultrasonic power parameters through the human-machine interface; activating the temperature control unit, monitoring the material temperature in real time through the temperature sensor, and dynamically heating the material using the heating element to stabilize the material temperature to the set value; synchronously triggering the ultrasonic generating unit and the rotational viscosity measuring unit through the processor, wherein the ultrasonic generating unit generates a uniform ultrasonic field acting on the material to be tested through multiple ultrasonic transducers and a rigid conductive rod, and the rotational viscosity measuring unit measures the viscosity value of the material in real time in situ; during the ultrasonic action, displaying the material temperature, ultrasonic parameters, and viscosity readings in real time through the human-machine interface, and manually or automatically recording the viscosity change data over time; based on the recorded viscosity change data, adjusting the ultrasonic frequency or power parameters to reduce or stabilize the material viscosity.

[0015] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are: it integrates an ultrasonic generating unit, a rotational viscosity measuring unit, a temperature control unit, and a control unit to form an integrated platform, which can measure the viscosity of materials in real time and accurately in a dynamic ultrasonic environment, while eliminating interference caused by temperature fluctuations; the cylindrical measuring groove on the top of the main housing provides a stable storage space for materials, ensuring that the measurement environment is controllable; the ultrasonic generating unit generates a uniform ultrasonic field in an axisymmetric manner through multiple ultrasonic transducers and rigid transmission rods, avoiding the measurement errors caused by the non-uniform sound field commonly found in traditional ultrasonic equipment.

[0016] The temperature control unit maintains a constant material temperature through the coordinated operation of heating elements and temperature sensors. The human-machine interface of the control unit allows users to adjust parameters in real time, and the processor synchronously triggers the ultrasonic generator unit, rotational viscosity measurement unit, temperature control unit, and control unit. In-situ measurement avoids variables introduced by sample transfer, improving experimental repeatability and reliability. Attached Figure Description

[0017] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the present invention.

[0018] Figure 2 is a bottom view of the measuring groove of the present invention.

[0019] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the main body of the present invention.

[0020] Figure 4 is a detailed view of the rigid transmission rod of the present invention.

[0021] Figure 5 is a control flowchart of the present invention. Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of the connection between the main housing and the control housing of the present invention when they are separated.

[0022] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached diagram: 1. Main housing; 2. Measuring groove; 3. Ultrasonic generating unit; 31. Ultrasonic transducer; 32. Rigid transmission rod; 4. Rotational viscosity measuring unit; 41. Rotational viscometer main unit; 42. Rotating shaft; 43. Rotor; 5. Support; 6. Temperature control unit; 61. Heating element; 62. Temperature sensor; 7. Human-machine interface; 71. Temperature display screen; 72. Ultrasonic frequency display screen; 73. Up and down adjustment buttons; 8. Data cable; 9. Control housing. Detailed Implementation

[0023] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the accompanying drawings of Figures 1 to 6 will be used to clearly and completely describe the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some, not all, of the embodiments of the present invention. Based on the described embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention. Unless otherwise defined, the technical or scientific terms used herein should have the ordinary meaning understood by those skilled in the art.

[0024] The terms "first," "second," and similar words used in this patent application and claims do not indicate any order, quantity, or importance, but are merely used to distinguish different components. Terms such as "comprising" or "including" mean that the element or object preceding the word encompasses the elements or objects listed after the word and their equivalents, without excluding other elements or objects. Terms such as "inner," "outer," "upper," "lower," "far," "near," "front," and "rear" are only used to indicate relative positional relationships. When the absolute position of the described object changes, the relative positional relationship may also change accordingly. The drawings in this invention are not strictly drawn to scale; the specific dimensions and quantity of each structure can be determined according to actual needs. The drawings described in this invention are merely structural schematic diagrams.

[0025] The present invention provides an in-situ measurement device and method for material viscosity, as shown in Figures 1 to 5. It includes a hollow main housing 1 with a cylindrical measuring groove 2 at the top for storing the material to be measured; an ultrasonic generating unit 3, including several ultrasonic transducers 31 and several rigid transmission rods 32, wherein the ultrasonic transducers 31 are symmetrically arranged about the central axis of the measuring groove 2 and connected to the bottom of the measuring groove 2 via the rigid transmission rods 32 to generate a uniform ultrasonic field; a rotating viscosity measuring unit 4 for detecting the viscosity of the material to be measured in the measuring groove 2; a temperature control unit 6, including a heating element 61 attached to the outer wall of the measuring groove 2 and a temperature sensor 62 disposed at the bottom of the measuring groove 2, for maintaining a constant material temperature; and a control unit, including a processor and a human-machine interface 7, wherein the human-machine interface 7 is used to adjust the processor and control the heating element 61 and the ultrasonic transducers 31.

[0026] In this embodiment, an ultrasonic generating unit 3, a rotational viscosity measuring unit 4, a temperature control unit 6, and a control unit are integrated to form an integrated platform. This platform can measure the viscosity of materials in real time and accurately in a dynamic ultrasonic environment, while eliminating interference caused by temperature fluctuations. The cylindrical measuring groove 2 on the top of the main housing 1 provides a stable storage space for the material, ensuring that the measurement environment is controllable. The ultrasonic generating unit 3 generates a uniform ultrasonic field in an axisymmetric manner through multiple ultrasonic transducers 31 and rigid transmission rods 32, avoiding measurement errors caused by uneven sound fields common in traditional ultrasonic equipment.

[0027] The temperature control unit 6 maintains a constant material temperature through the coordinated operation of the heating element 61 and the temperature sensor 62. The human-machine interface 7 of the control unit allows users to adjust parameters in real time, and the processor synchronously triggers the ultrasonic generator unit 3, the rotational viscosity measurement unit 4, the temperature control unit 6, and the control unit. In-situ measurement avoids variables introduced by sample transfer, thus improving the repeatability and reliability of the experiment.

[0028] In this invention, the starting point of the heating unit in the temperature control unit 6 is higher than the temperature of the thermal effect generated when the material to be tested is subjected to ultrasonic viscosity detection.

[0029] Preferably, as shown in Figures 1 to 4, a plurality of ultrasonic transducers 31 are arranged in a ring-shaped symmetrical and equally spaced manner.

[0030] In this embodiment, by arranging the ultrasonic transducers 31 axially symmetrically, the ultrasonic energy is evenly distributed in the central area of ​​the measuring groove 2, ensuring the consistency of the ultrasonic action on the material. The uniform sound field reduces the formation of hot spots and prevents local overheating or uneven reaction of the material, thereby improving the repeatability and accuracy of viscosity measurement.

[0031] Preferably, as shown in Figures 1 to 3, several rigid transmission rods 32 are made of titanium alloy.

[0032] In this embodiment, the rigid conduction rod 32 is made of titanium alloy. The high sound velocity and low damping characteristics of titanium alloy reduce energy loss and avoid phase shift caused by differences in the conduction path, thereby improving the stability of the ultrasonic field. The equal-length sound conduction path also simplifies the calibration process and reduces maintenance costs.

[0033] Preferably, as shown in Figures 1 to 3, the heating element 61 is a graphene electrothermal film, which is covered with ceramic fiber felt insulation material.

[0034] In this embodiment, the graphene electrothermal film has high thermal conductivity and corrosion resistance, which can accurately control the material temperature to avoid local overheating; the ceramic fiber felt insulation layer prevents heat loss and ensures the efficient operation of the temperature control unit 6.

[0035] Preferably, as shown in Figures 1 to 3, the temperature sensor 62 is a patch sensor attached to the center of the bottom side of the measuring groove 2.

[0036] In this embodiment, high-precision real-time monitoring of material temperature is achieved. The patch design ensures close contact between the sensor and the material, reducing response delay and enabling the temperature control unit 6 to dynamically adjust the heating power to maintain a stable set temperature. This avoids the hysteresis error found in traditional external temperature measurements, which is particularly crucial for viscosity measurements under ultrasonic conditions, as temperature fluctuations significantly affect viscosity values.

[0037] Preferably, as shown in Figures 1 to 6, the human-machine interface 7 includes a temperature display screen 71, an ultrasonic frequency display screen 72, and temperature and ultrasonic frequency up and down adjustment buttons, used to display and adjust temperature, ultrasonic frequency, and power parameters in real time; the control unit is integrated in the control box 9, the human-machine interface 7 is set on the surface of the control box 9, and the main box 1 is fixedly connected to the top of the control box 9 or located on one side of the control box 9 and connected via a data cable 8.

[0038] This embodiment provides intuitive parameter display and adjustment functions, enabling users to display and adjust temperature, ultrasonic frequency, and power in real time. This enhances the ease of operation of the device, supports manual or automatic data recording, and facilitates rapid optimization during experiments. For example, adjusting ultrasonic parameters can stabilize material viscosity. The temperature display screen 71 and the ultrasonic frequency display screen 72 allow operators to intuitively observe the temperature and ultrasonic frequency displayed during the experiment. The real-time readings of key experimental parameters (temperature, ultrasonic parameters, and response variable viscosity) are centrally and synchronously displayed, ensuring strict alignment of manually recorded data on the timeline and providing a reliable data foundation for subsequent accurate analysis.

[0039] Preferably, as shown in Figure 1, the rotational viscosity measuring unit 4 includes a rotational viscometer main unit 41, a rotating shaft 42, and a rotor 43. The rotational viscometer main unit 41 is mounted on the top of the main housing 1 via a bracket 5. The rotational viscometer main unit 41 is fixedly connected to the rotating shaft 42, and the lower end of the rotating shaft 42 is fixedly connected to the rotor 43. When the viscosity of the material to be tested is measured, the rotor 43 is placed in the material to be tested.

[0040] In this embodiment, the high-precision in-situ viscosity detection rotor 43 is placed in the material and driven by the rotating shaft 42, avoiding errors caused by sample transfer; the mounting method of the bracket 5 ensures stability and is suitable for dynamic measurement in an ultrasonic environment.

[0041] The in-situ material viscosity measurement device of the present invention is used as follows: The material to be tested is injected into the cylindrical measuring groove 2 at the top of the main box 1, ensuring that the liquid surface of the material covers part of the rotor 43; then the target temperature, ultrasonic frequency and power parameters are set through the human-machine interface 7. The display screen on the interface will display the current values ​​in real time. The user can make fine adjustments by using the up and down adjustment buttons to match the experimental requirements; after the temperature control unit 6 is started, the heating element 61 attached to the outer wall of the groove starts to work, and the temperature sensor 62 at the bottom dynamically monitors the material temperature, so that the temperature quickly stabilizes to the set value.

[0042] After the temperature stabilizes, the processor synchronously triggers the ultrasonic generating unit 3 and the rotational viscosity measuring unit 4. Multiple ultrasonic transducers 31 in the ultrasonic generating unit 3 operate in phase and with equal amplitude, applying a uniform ultrasonic field to the measuring groove 2 via a rigid transmission rod 32, acting on the material to be tested to simulate a sonochemical process. Simultaneously, the rotor 43 of the rotational viscometer main unit 41 rotates within the material, measuring the viscosity value in real time, and displaying the temperature, ultrasonic parameters, and viscosity readings through the human-machine interface 7. Throughout the ultrasonic process, the user can manually record or the control unit can automatically save the viscosity change data over time, facilitating analysis of the correlation between ultrasonic intensity and viscosity.

[0043] Based on the recorded data, users can adjust the ultrasonic frequency or power parameters through the human-machine interface 7 to reduce or stabilize the viscosity of materials. For example, increasing the ultrasonic power for high-viscosity pastes can reduce conveying resistance. After the experiment, the device can generate a report to analyze the viscosity change patterns under different conditions, providing optimization basis for industrial applications such as mine backfilling or chemical processes.

[0044] Although embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, substitutions and alterations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. An in-situ measuring device for material viscosity, characterized in that, include: The main housing is hollow inside, with a cylindrical measuring groove on the top for storing the material to be tested. An ultrasonic generating unit includes several ultrasonic transducers and several rigid transmission rods. The ultrasonic transducers are symmetrically arranged about the central axis of the measuring groove and connected to the bottom of the measuring groove via the rigid transmission rods to generate a uniform ultrasonic field. A rotational viscosity measuring unit is used to detect the viscosity of the material to be tested in the measuring groove. A temperature control unit includes a heating element attached to the outer wall of the measuring groove and a temperature sensor located at the bottom of the measuring groove to maintain a constant material temperature. A control unit includes a processor and a human-machine interface. The human-machine interface is used to adjust the processor, which in turn controls the heating element and the ultrasonic transducers.

2. The in-situ measuring device for material viscosity as described in claim 1, characterized in that, Several of the ultrasonic transducers are arranged in a ring-shaped, symmetrical, and equally spaced manner.

3. The in-situ measuring device for material viscosity as described in claim 1, characterized in that, Some of the rigid conductive rods are made of titanium alloy.

4. The in-situ measuring device for material viscosity as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The heating element is a graphene electrothermal film, which is covered with ceramic fiber felt insulation material.

5. The in-situ measuring device for material viscosity as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The temperature sensor is a patch sensor that is attached to the center of the bottom side of the measuring groove.

6. The in-situ measuring device for material viscosity as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The human-machine interface includes a temperature display screen, an ultrasonic frequency display screen, and buttons for adjusting the temperature and ultrasonic frequency, which are used to display and adjust the temperature, ultrasonic frequency, and power parameters in real time.

7. The in-situ measuring device for material viscosity as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The control unit is integrated into the control box, the human-machine interface is set on the surface of the control box, and the main box is fixedly connected to the top of the control box or located on one side of the control box and connected via a data cable.

8. The in-situ measuring device for material viscosity as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The rotational viscosity measurement unit includes a rotational viscometer main unit, a rotating shaft, and a rotor. The rotational viscometer main unit is mounted on the top of the main housing via a bracket. The rotational viscometer main unit is fixedly connected to the rotating shaft, and the lower end of the rotating shaft is fixedly connected to the rotor. When performing viscosity testing on the material to be tested, the rotor is placed in the material to be tested.

9. An experimental method for an in-situ measuring device for material viscosity based on any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that, The procedure includes the following steps: injecting the material to be tested into the measuring groove; setting the target temperature, ultrasonic frequency, and ultrasonic power parameters through the human-machine interface; activating the temperature control unit, monitoring the material temperature in real time through the temperature sensor, and dynamically heating the material using the heating element to stabilize the material temperature to the set value; synchronously triggering the ultrasonic generating unit and the rotational viscosity measuring unit through the processor, wherein the ultrasonic generating unit generates a uniform ultrasonic field acting on the material to be tested through multiple ultrasonic transducers and a rigid conductive rod, and the rotational viscosity measuring unit measures the viscosity value of the material in situ in real time; during the ultrasonic action, displaying the material temperature, ultrasonic parameters, and viscosity readings in real time through the human-machine interface, and manually or automatically recording the viscosity change data over time; based on the recorded viscosity change data, adjusting the ultrasonic frequency or power parameters to reduce or stabilize the material viscosity.

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