Compressed air supply mechanism and eductor testing system

Abstract

This application provides a compressed air supply mechanism, belonging to the field of eddy current testing technology, which can improve the pressure stability of the supplied compressed air, as well as the stability and accuracy of eddy current test results, and improve testing efficiency. The compressed air supply mechanism includes a supply pipeline, a compressor, a series-connected air storage unit, a multi-stage gradient filtration unit, and a multi-stage drying unit. The series-connected air storage unit is used to store the compressed air supplied by the compressor, precipitate impurities in the compressed air, and stabilize the pressure of the compressed air. The multi-stage gradient filtration unit includes multiple filtration modules and is used to further remove impurities and moisture from the compressed air. The multi-stage drying unit includes multiple drying modules and is used to remove moisture from the compressed air. The filtration modules, drying modules, and series-connected air storage unit are arranged alternately to enhance the filtration effect. This application also provides an eddy current testing system.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of aero-engine vortex generator testing technology, and in particular relates to a compressed air supply mechanism and a vortex generator testing system. Background Technology

[0002] The vortex generator in an aircraft engine, similar in structure to fan blades, is used to rectify the air entering the engine during aircraft operation, causing it to mix with fuel in a stable and uniform swirling form, thereby organizing combustion. The advantages of the vortex generator are: it greatly increases the contact area and shear force between the air and the fuel jet ejected from the fuel nozzle, resulting in a finer, more uniformly atomized fuel jet; better atomization and mixing mean more complete and faster combustion, thus improving combustion efficiency and reducing the formation of pollutants (such as unburned hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide); the intensity of the swirling flow determines the shape and length of the flame, and the uniform swirling flow keeps the flame within the main combustion zone of the combustion chamber, preventing the flame from being too long and directly eroding the combustion chamber walls and turbine blades, thus providing protection.

[0003] Aero-engine components are complex in structure and require high precision. Furthermore, batches of the same model must meet stringent consistency control requirements, thus demanding extremely high manufacturing standards. The complex shape of vortex generators makes direct measurement and inspection of dimensions and geometric tolerances difficult; therefore, indirect measurement methods are currently the primary inspection approach. For example, flow rate measurement is used to reverse-calibrate the flow area of ​​the vortex generator, and the calculated outlet dimensions are used to determine product qualification. For non-conforming parts, rework and secondary calibration measurements are required until they pass inspection.

[0004] However, the test results of existing eddy current testing systems are unstable and inaccurate, and the testing efficiency is low, which urgently needs to be addressed. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This application provides a compressed air supply mechanism and a vortex generator testing system, which can improve the pressure stability of compressed air, improve the stability and accuracy of vortex generator test results, and significantly improve testing efficiency.

[0006] According to one aspect of this application, a compressed air supply mechanism is provided for supplying compressed air to an eddy current test system, the compressed air supply mechanism comprising: Supply channels; A compressor whose output is connected to the input of a supply pipe and is used to provide compressed air; A series-connected air storage unit is connected in series with the supply pipeline. The series-connected air storage unit includes multiple air tanks connected in series and is used to store compressed air supplied by the compressor, settle impurities in the compressed air, and stabilize the pressure of the compressed air. A multi-stage gradient filtration unit, connected in series in the supply pipe, includes multiple filter modules for further removing impurities from the compressed air; and A multi-drying unit, connected in series with the supply pipeline, includes multiple drying modules and is used to remove moisture from the compressed air; The filter modules, drying modules, and series-connected air storage units are arranged at intervals.

[0007] In an optional embodiment of this application, the multiple filter modules include a pre-filter, a precision filter, a first ultra-precision filter, and a second ultra-precision filter arranged sequentially along the compressed air flow direction, with the filtration accuracy of each filter module gradually increasing along the compressed air flow direction.

[0008] In an optional embodiment of this application, the multi-stage drying unit includes a first refrigerated dryer, a second refrigerated dryer, and an adsorption dryer arranged sequentially along the compressed air flow direction. The first refrigerated dryer is connected in series upstream of the pre-filter, the second refrigerated dryer is connected in series between the pre-filter and the precision filter, and the adsorption dryer is connected in series between the first ultra-precision filter and the second ultra-precision filter.

[0009] In an optional embodiment of this application, a series air storage unit is connected in series between the first refrigerated dryer and the pre-filter, and a first manual valve is provided between the series air storage unit and the pre-filter.

[0010] In an optional embodiment of this application, the output end of the supply pipeline is provided with a buffer tank and a pressure regulating valve connected in series along the direction of compressed air flow. The buffer tank and the pressure regulating valve are used to stabilize the pressure of the air output by the compressed air supply mechanism.

[0011] According to another aspect of this application, an eddy current testing system is also provided, comprising: Any of the aforementioned compressed air supply mechanisms; A mobile testing mechanism, connected to the output of a compressed air supply mechanism and capable of movement, includes an eddy current generator connected in series within the mobile testing mechanism; and The remote control unit is electrically connected to the compressor and the mobile testing mechanism. The remote control unit is used to control the operation of the compressed air supply mechanism and the mobile testing mechanism.

[0012] In an optional embodiment of this application, the mobile testing mechanism includes a testing pipeline, and the input end of the testing pipeline is connected to the output end of the supply pipeline. The input end of the testing pipeline is equipped with a post-filter.

[0013] In an optional embodiment of this application, the mobile testing mechanism further includes an electric regulating valve and a Coriolis mass flow meter connected in series between the post-filter and the vortex generator along the direction of compressed air flow. The electric regulating valve is used to regulate the pressure of the air flowing through it, and the Coriolis mass flow meter is used to measure the mass flow rate of the air flowing through it.

[0014] In the optional embodiment of this application, pressure sensors are provided at both the input and output ends of the electric regulating valve to detect the pressure values ​​at both ends of the electric regulating valve, pressure sensors are provided at both the input and output ends of the vortex to detect the pressure values ​​at both ends of the vortex, and a temperature sensor is also provided at the input end of the vortex for detecting the temperature of the compressed air.

[0015] In an optional embodiment of this application, the remote monitoring and control unit is electrically connected to each pressure sensor, temperature sensor, Coriolis mass flow meter, pressure relief solenoid valve, electric regulating valve, and pneumatic valve, and is used to control the electrically connected operation of the pressure relief solenoid valve, electric regulating valve, and pneumatic valve based on the data fed back by each pressure sensor, temperature sensor, and Coriolis mass flow meter, and to calculate the flow area of ​​the vortex generator based on the data fed back by each pressure sensor, temperature sensor, and Coriolis mass flow meter.

[0016] In summary, the compressed air supply mechanism provided in this application, by setting up a series air storage unit consisting of multiple air tanks connected in series, can increase the air cushion volume to buffer pressure fluctuations in compressed air. By using a series multi-stage gradient filtration unit, dust and other impurities in the compressed air can be gradually reduced through multiple filtrations, preventing impurities from wearing down pipes and vortex generators, thereby improving the stability of the testing system. By setting up multiple drying units, moisture in the compressed air can be gradually removed in multiple stages, improving the drying effect, preventing moisture condensation from increasing compressed air flow resistance and avoiding pressure fluctuations, and also preventing moisture corrosion of the supply pipes and the equipment connected in series with the supply pipes. By arranging the filter modules, drying modules, and series air storage units alternately, the filtration and drying effects can be enhanced, improving the cleanliness of the compressed air and the stability of the equipment. The combined effect of these features improves the pressure stability of the compressed air and the stability of the vortex generator test results.

[0017] In addition, the eddy current testing system provided in this application does not require manual pressure adjustment, manual counting, or manual calculation, thus maximizing testing efficiency. Attached Figure Description

[0018] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an eddy current testing system provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0019] Figure label: 10. Eddy current testing system; 100. Compressed air supply mechanism; 110. Supply pipeline; 111. First manual valve; 120. Compressor; 130. Series air storage unit; 131. First air tank; 132. Second air tank; 133. Third air tank; 140. Multi-stage gradient filtration unit; 141. Pre-filter; 142. Precision filter; 143. First ultra-precision filter; 144. Second ultra-precision filter; 150. Multiple drying unit; 151. First refrigerated dryer; 152. Second refrigerated dryer; 153. Adsorption dryer; 160. Buffer tank. 170. Pressure stabilizing valve; 180. Second manual valve; 200. Mobile testing mechanism; 210. Test pipeline; 211. Second manual valve; 212. Pneumatic valve; 220. Post-filter; 230. Electric regulating valve; 240. Coriolis mass flow meter; 260. Temperature sensor; 270. Pressure sensor; 271. First pressure sensor; 272. Second pressure sensor; 273. Third pressure sensor; 274. Fourth pressure sensor; 275. First pressure gauge; 276. Second pressure gauge; 290. Pressure relief solenoid valve; 300. Remote control unit; 400. Eddy current generator. Detailed Implementation

[0020] The following specific embodiments illustrate the implementation of the present invention. Those skilled in the art can easily understand other advantages and effects of the present invention from the content disclosed in this specification. Although the description of the present invention is presented in conjunction with preferred embodiments, this does not mean that the features of the invention are limited to these embodiments. On the contrary, the purpose of describing the invention in conjunction with embodiments is to cover other options or modifications that may be derived based on the claims of the present invention. To provide a deep understanding of the invention, many specific details will be included in the following description. The invention may also be implemented without using these details. Furthermore, to avoid confusion or obscuring the focus of the invention, some specific details will be omitted in the description. It should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, the embodiments and features in the embodiments of the present invention can be combined with each other.

[0021] It should be noted that in this specification, similar reference numerals and letters in the following figures indicate similar items. Therefore, once an item is defined in one figure, it does not need to be further defined and explained in subsequent figures.

[0022] In the description of this embodiment, it should be noted that the terms "upper", "lower", "inner", "bottom", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, or the orientation or positional relationship that the product of the invention is usually placed in during use. They are only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limiting the present invention.

[0023] The terms “first”, “second”, etc., are used only to distinguish descriptions and should not be interpreted as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0024] In the description of this embodiment, it should also be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "set up," "connected," and "linked" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection of two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this embodiment based on the specific circumstances.

[0025] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the present invention clearer, the embodiments of the present invention will be described in further detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0026] Existing vortex testing systems suffer from poor stability and accuracy, and low testing efficiency. The workflow of an existing vortex testing system is as follows: Air is compressed by a compressor, pre-dried by a refrigerated dryer, and then stored in an air tank. When testing is required, the pre-operated manual valve is opened, and the compressed air undergoes secondary drying in an adsorption dryer before flowing through a filter to the inlet of the manual pressure reducing valve. The tester adjusts the opening of the manual pressure reducing valve according to a pre-calibrated flow-pressure relationship until the pressure sensor reading reaches the target value. The manual shut-off valve is then opened, and the air flows sequentially through a sonic nozzle, the manual shut-off valve, and a turbine flow meter, finally reaching the vortex under test. Temperature and pressure sensors are located near the vortex inlet, and a pressure sensor is located near the outlet. The tester calculates the actual flow area of ​​the vortex based on the flow meter readings and the pressure and temperature values ​​before and after the vortex.

[0027] The applicant conducted an in-depth exploration of the technical problems in the prior art and found that: the existing eddy current test system contains only one air tank, the air source volume is small, which easily causes pressure fluctuations and affects the stability of the test results; secondly, drying is only carried out at the input and output ends of the air tank, which is not thorough enough for the compressed air. The water vapor in the compressed air condenses and adheres to the pipe wall, which increases the friction resistance and pressure of the compressed air; in addition, it only has a single-stage filter, which cannot completely remove impurities in the compressed air. Excess impurities are prone to wear on the pipe wall and other equipment (such as sensors, sonic nozzles, etc.) during the flow process, resulting in pipe fouling or wear and equipment malfunctions, which in turn affect the stability of the output results of the test system.

[0028] In existing eddy current testing systems, the sonic nozzle is a flow control element. Its inlet pressure corresponds to the medium flow rate, and a flow coefficient calibration is usually required beforehand. All subsequent tests are based on this flow coefficient to calculate the actual flow rate, as shown in equation (1). This testing principle is limited by the throat diameter of the sonic nozzle, resulting in a narrow applicable flow range. Therefore, under the premise of a large target flow range for the eddy current, the sonic nozzle needs to be frequently replaced to match the target flow rate, further leading to poor stability and accuracy of the test results. At the same time, after each replacement of the sonic nozzle, a new airtight pressure test needs to be carried out on the pipeline, resulting in low work efficiency.

[0029] (1) In the formula, m represents the flow rate, μ represents the flow coefficient, A represents the throat area of ​​the sonic nozzle, p0 represents the total pressure at the inlet of the sonic nozzle, T0 represents the total temperature at the inlet of the sonic nozzle, k represents the specific heat ratio of the medium, and R represents the gas constant.

[0030] As can be seen from equation (1), in the prior art, the flow rate of the air medium is controlled by the sonic nozzle. After each test, the measured total pressure and total temperature values ​​need to be substituted into the formula to convert the flow rate data. The workflow is cumbersome and it is easy to introduce human calculation errors.

[0031] Meanwhile, the measurement of eddy current flow rate has high requirements for air humidity. The above formula is only applicable when the air is close to absolute dryness. Otherwise, the throat of the sonic nozzle may not reach the speed of sound. Alternatively, for air with high water content, its specific heat ratio parameter will be different from that of dry air, resulting in inaccurate measurement. In addition, the system needs to be calibrated by introducing temperature and humidity compensation.

[0032] Furthermore, existing technologies rely excessively on manual operation. For example, manual valves, manual pressure reducing valves, and manual shut-off valves all require manual operation, resulting in low efficiency in regulating compressed air pressure. Manual adjustment requires manual observation of readings before operation, leading to delayed feedback and poor accuracy. Manual calibration, manual counting, and manual calculation also contribute to low efficiency and poor accuracy.

[0033] To improve the poor stability of test results in the aforementioned eddy current testing system, according to a first aspect of this application, a compressed air supply mechanism 100 is provided for supplying compressed air to the eddy current testing system 10. The compressed air supply mechanism 100 includes: a supply pipe 110, a compressor 120, a series-connected air storage unit 130, a multi-stage gradient filtration unit 140, and a multi-stage drying unit 150. The output end of the compressor 120 is connected to the input end of the supply pipe 110 and is used to supply compressed air. The series-connected air storage unit 130 is connected in series with the supply pipe 110 and includes multiple air tanks connected in series for storing the compressed air supplied by the compressor 120, settling impurities in the compressed air, and stabilizing the pressure of the compressed air. The multi-stage gradient filtration unit 140 is connected in series with the supply pipe 110 and includes multiple filtration modules for further removing impurities from the compressed air. The multi-stage drying unit 150 is connected in series with the supply pipe 110 and includes multiple drying modules for removing moisture from the compressed air. The filter modules, drying modules, and series-connected air storage units 130 are arranged at intervals.

[0034] Specifically, the number of air storage tanks in the series-connected air storage unit 130 can be 3, 4, 5 or more, according to this application. Figure 1 The example shown uses three air tanks, but the number of air tanks is not limited. Figure 1 In the illustrated embodiment, the series-connected air storage unit 130 includes a first air tank 131, a second air tank 132, and a third air tank 133. By connecting the first air tank 131, the second air tank 132, and the third air tank 133 in series, compared to the prior art which uses only one air tank, this application can increase the amount of compressed air cushion to buffer the pressure fluctuations of compressed air caused by the operating vibration of the compressor 120 and the vibration of the check valve, thereby stabilizing the pressure of the compressed air.

[0035] By employing the above technical solution, a series-connected air storage unit 130, consisting of multiple air tanks connected in series, can increase the air cushion volume to buffer pressure fluctuations in compressed air. The compressed air stored in the series-connected air storage unit 130 experiences almost no disturbance during static conditions, and impurities in the compressed air gradually settle or are adsorbed by the inner wall of the series-connected air storage unit 130. In some embodiments, an adsorption coating can be provided on the inner wall of each air tank to adsorb dust and other impurities in the compressed air; this adsorption coating can be an activated carbon-based composite coating. By connecting multiple-stage gradient filtration units 140, dust and other impurities in the compressed air can be reduced through multiple filtrations, preventing impurities from wearing down the pipes and vortex generator 400, thereby improving the stability of the testing system. Each filtration module can also adsorb some moisture. By setting up multiple drying units 150, moisture in the compressed air can be removed multiple times, improving the drying effect, preventing moisture condensation that increases compressed air flow resistance and avoids pressure fluctuations in the compressed air. It can also prevent moisture corrosion of the supply pipe 110 and the equipment connected in series with the supply pipe 110. The above settings improve the pressure stability of compressed air and the stability of vortex test results. Furthermore, by arranging the filter modules, drying modules, and series-connected air storage unit 130 at intervals, moisture and impurities introduced or remaining from other equipment can be promptly removed. For example, impurities may be introduced during the installation and maintenance of the drying module, which can be removed by the filter module downstream; similarly, moisture may be introduced during the installation and maintenance of the filter module, which can be removed by the drying module downstream. Through repeated alternating removal of moisture and impurities, it is ensured that moisture and impurities in the compressed air are essentially removed, or that their content remains within a safe range that does not affect the test results.

[0036] As a further preferred embodiment, based on the above-mentioned solution, the specific embodiments of this application may also include one or more of the following additions or combinations.

[0037] In an optional embodiment of this application, multiple filter modules include those along the compressed air flow direction ( Figure 1 The pre-filter 141, precision filter 142, first ultra-precision filter 143, and second ultra-precision filter 144 are arranged sequentially (in the direction indicated by the middle arrow A). The filtration precision of each filter module gradually increases along the direction of compressed air flow. By gradually increasing the filtration precision of the filter modules, large-diameter impurities can be filtered first, followed by small-diameter impurities, thereby improving filtration efficiency, fully utilizing the filtration capacity of each filter module, and extending the service life of each filter module.

[0038] Specifically, the pre-filter 141 is located downstream of the series-connected air storage unit 130. The pre-filter 141 has a filtration accuracy of 80 mesh (with an 80-100μm stainless steel filter screen). It is used for preliminary filtration (or coarse filtration) of the compressed air output from the series-connected air storage unit 130 to remove larger solid impurities (diameter ≥80μm) such as rust and dust from the compressed air, pipelines, and equipment, as well as most of the water vapor. Understandably, after the compressor 120 compresses the air, the water vapor density in the compressed air increases. When the compressed air flows through the pre-filter 141, the water vapor will adhere to the filter media, achieving the effect of coarse filtration of water vapor. The precision filter 142 preferably has a filtration accuracy of 0.1μm / 1PPM. Its filter element can effectively intercept solid particles with a diameter ≥0.1μm, and the liquid content in the filtered fluid is ≤1PPM (PPM is one part per million). The precision filter 142 is used to remove residual impurities and a small amount of water vapor from the compressed air. The first ultra-precision filter 143 and the second ultra-precision filter 144 have a filtration accuracy of 0.01μm / 0.01PPM, and their filter elements can effectively intercept impurities with a diameter ≥0.01μm and a small amount of water vapor. The second ultra-precision filter 144 is used to remove impurities and a small amount of water vapor that the first ultra-precision filter 143 did not completely remove. After filtration, the liquid content in the fluid is ≤0.01PPM, which plays a "double insurance" role, ensuring that the size and content of impurities in the compressed air are within a safe range and do not affect the stability of the test. A drying module is also provided between the first ultra-precision filter 143 and the second ultra-precision filter 144. The second ultra-precision filter 144 is also used to remove impurities and water vapor that may be introduced by the drying module. The water vapor or impurities introduced in this application specifically refer to water vapor and impurities carried from the external environment when the various devices (such as filter modules, drying modules, etc.) are installed in series on the supply pipeline 110, water vapor and impurities attached to the various devices, and water vapor and impurities left by the installation personnel when touching the various devices.

[0039] In an optional embodiment of this application, the multi-stage drying unit 150 includes a first refrigerated dryer 151, a second refrigerated dryer 152, and an adsorption dryer 153 arranged sequentially along the compressed air flow direction. The first refrigerated dryer 151 is connected in series upstream of the pre-filter 141; specifically, it is connected in series between the compressor 120 and the series-connected air storage unit 130. The second refrigerated dryer 152 is connected in series between the pre-filter 141 and the precision filter 142, and the adsorption dryer 153 is connected in series between the first ultra-precision filter 143 and the second ultra-precision filter 144.

[0040] Specifically, the first refrigerated dryer 151 has a processing capacity of 3.8m³. 3The second refrigerated dryer 152 has a capacity of 3.8 m³ / min, a rated power of 0.97 kW, a rated pressure of 1.3 MPa, and a dew point temperature of 2~10℃. It is used for the initial removal of moisture from the compressed air output by compressor 120, specifically moisture introduced from the external environment by compressor 120. 3 With a rated power of 1.0 kW, rated pressure ≤ 1.0 MPa, and dew point temperature of 2~10℃, the adsorption dryer 153 is used to further remove moisture from the compressed air output from the series-connected air storage unit 130 and the pre-filter 141. This moisture specifically includes moisture not completely removed by the first refrigerated dryer 151, as well as moisture introduced by the series-connected air storage unit 130 and the pre-filter 141. The adsorption dryer 153 has a processing capacity of 3.8 m³ / min. 3 / min, rated power 1.0kW, rated pressure 0.6~1.0MPa, dew point temperature -10~-40℃, used for further deep purification of water vapor in compressed air, removing most of the water vapor in the system, basically making the air medium reach the standard of dry and clean.

[0041] In an optional embodiment of this application, a series-connected air storage unit 130 is connected in series between the first refrigerated dryer 151 and the pre-filter 141, and a first manual valve 111 is provided between the series-connected air storage unit 130 and the pre-filter 141. The first refrigerated dryer 151 removes most of the moisture from the compressed air before it enters the series-connected air storage unit 130, thus initially drying the compressed air and preventing excessive condensation and water accumulation in the storage unit. This prevents impurities deposited in the storage unit 130 from mixing with the accumulated water to form dirt or corrosive solutions that could corrode the inner wall of the storage unit 130, and also prevents safety accidents. The first manual valve 111 is used to manually close the supply pipeline 110, disconnecting the series-connected air storage unit 130 from downstream equipment during maintenance, equipment replacement, and shutdown testing, preventing compressed air leakage from the series-connected air storage unit 130. It is worth mentioning that the input end of the series air storage unit 130 is equipped with a check valve, so the compressed air input from the compressor 120 to the series air storage unit 130 will not leak from the input end of the series air storage unit 130. When not being tested, the series air storage unit 130 is in a standby state. At this time, the first manual valve 111 is closed and engages with the check valve to seal the series air storage unit 130, so as to preserve the compressed air and allow impurities to settle in the compressed air within the series air storage unit 130.

[0042] In an optional embodiment of this application, the output end of the supply pipeline 110 is equipped with a buffer tank 160 and a pressure regulating valve 170 connected in series along the compressed air flow direction. The buffer tank 160 and the pressure regulating valve 170 are used to stabilize the pressure of the air output by the compressed air supply mechanism 100. Specifically, after the compressed air pressure fluctuations are buffered by multiple air tanks in the series-connected air storage unit 130, the compressed air pressure has been basically stabilized. Furthermore, setting a buffer tank 160 at the output end of the compressed air supply mechanism 100 can further stabilize the compressed air pressure to meet testing requirements and achieve safety redundancy.

[0043] Specifically, the buffer tank 160 is essentially a small-volume air reservoir that absorbs pressure fluctuations in newly input compressed air through its internal compressed air. Specifically, when the pressure of the newly input compressed air increases, the compressed air in the buffer tank 160 is compressed, thereby absorbing excess pressure and reducing the amplitude of pressure fluctuations. When the pressure of the newly input compressed air decreases, the compressed air in the buffer tank 160 expands, releasing energy to compensate for the insufficient pressure of the newly input compressed air. This mechanism allows the buffer tank 160 to operate smoothly, protecting pipelines and equipment from excessive impact pressure. The pressure regulating valve 170 mainly regulates the flow and pressure of compressed air through the movement of its valve core. When compressed air passes through the pressure regulating valve 170, the valve core automatically adjusts its opening degree according to pressure changes in the pipeline: when the pressure in the pipeline exceeds a set value, the valve core automatically reduces the opening to reduce the fluid flow and lower the pipeline pressure. When the pipeline pressure is lower than the set value, the valve core automatically increases the opening to increase the fluid flow and raise the pipeline pressure. Specifically, the pressure regulating valve 170 can be a mechanical pressure regulating valve that does not require electrical control or an electrically controlled pressure regulating valve that requires electrical control. Mechanical pressure regulating valves rely on the pressure changes of the medium (such as compressed air) itself and mechanical structures (such as diaphragms, pistons, and springs) to automatically adjust and achieve pressure regulation, requiring no external power supply or electrical control system. Its working principle is as follows: when the outlet pressure increases, the internal diaphragm or piston is pushed, automatically reducing the valve opening; when the pressure decreases, the spring or reverse force increases the valve opening, thereby maintaining a stable outlet pressure. Electrically controlled pressure regulating valves integrate electronic control components, precisely adjusting the valve core position by receiving electrical signals to achieve more complex pressure or flow control. Their working principle typically includes a valve core drive device (such as a motor or electromagnetic actuator) that can precisely adjust the opening based on set values ​​or external signals (such as pressure sensor feedback). Electrically controlled pressure regulating valves offer high control precision, enabling remote control, programmed adjustment, and data feedback, making them suitable for industrial automation systems with extremely high pressure stability requirements.

[0044] According to another aspect of this application, an eddy current testing system 10 is also provided, including any of the aforementioned compressed air supply mechanisms 100, a mobile testing mechanism 200, and a remote control unit 300. The mobile testing mechanism 200 is connected to the output end of the compressed air supply mechanism 100 and is movable, and an eddy current generator 400 is connected in series within the mobile testing mechanism 200. The remote control unit 300 is electrically connected to the compressor 120 and pressure regulating valve 170 of the compressed air supply mechanism 100 and the mobile testing mechanism 200, and is used to control the operation of the compressed air supply mechanism 100 and the mobile testing mechanism 200. Specifically, the electrical connection between the remote control unit 300 and the mobile testing mechanism 200 means that the remote control unit 300 is electrically connected to each sensor and electric drive device in the mobile testing mechanism 200, and is used to collect compressed air parameters through each sensor and control the operation of each electric drive device based on the feedback from each sensor. Figure 1 The interactive arrow B in the middle indicates the interaction between the remote control unit 300, the compressed air supply unit 100, and the mobile testing unit 200.

[0045] In an optional embodiment of this application, the mobile testing mechanism 200 includes a test pipe 210, with an eddy current generator 400 connected in series on the test pipe 210. The input end of the test pipe 210 is movably connected to the output end of the supply pipe 110, and a post-filter 220 is provided at the input end of the test pipe 210. By movably connecting the test pipe 210 to the supply pipe 110, the orientation and layout of the mobile testing mechanism 200 are easily adjusted, and the mobile testing mechanism 200 is easily disassembled and assembled. The post-filter 220 is used to filter impurities generated and introduced during the disassembly and assembly of the mobile testing mechanism 200. Furthermore, the post-filter 220 needs to be replaced each time the mobile testing mechanism 200 is disassembled and assembled. The filtration accuracy of the post-filter 220 can be the same as that of the pre-filter 141 or the precision filter 142. In addition, the output end of the post-filter 220 is equipped with a second manual valve 180. The second manual valve 180 is connected in series with the test pipe 210 and is used to close the test pipe 210 when the test mechanism 200 is disassembled or moved, to prevent external moisture and impurities from entering the test pipe 210. It is worth mentioning that before testing the eddy current generator 400, compressed air needs to be introduced to flush the test pipe 210 to remove moisture and impurities that entered the test pipe 210 during the installation process.

[0046] In an optional embodiment of this application, the mobile testing mechanism 200 further includes an electric regulating valve 230 and a Coriolis mass flow meter 240 connected in series between the post-filter 220 and the vortex generator 400 along the direction of compressed air flow. The electric regulating valve 230 is used to regulate the flow rate of the air, and the Coriolis mass flow meter 240 is used to measure the mass flow rate of the air.

[0047] The existing testing principle is limited by the throat diameter of the sonic nozzle, resulting in a narrow applicable flow range. Therefore, given the large target flow range of the vortex generator 400, the sonic nozzle needs to be frequently replaced to match the target flow. Furthermore, after each replacement of the sonic nozzle, a new airtightness test is required for the pipeline, leading to low efficiency. This application employs a high-precision electric regulating valve 230 (with a test accuracy of ±1%) for flow control, effectively solving the above problems. The electric regulating valve 230 can receive the pressure threshold range sent by the remote control unit 300 and automatically adjust the pressure of the compressed air in the test pipeline 210 to this threshold range, thereby improving efficiency. Compared to replacing the sonic nozzle in the existing technology, this application uses the electric regulating valve 230 to control the pressure of the compressed air in the test pipeline 210, which is more efficient and faster. Additionally, in the existing technology, controlling the flow of the air medium through the sonic nozzle requires substituting the measured total pressure and total temperature values ​​into formula (1) to calculate the flow data after each test, making the workflow cumbersome and prone to introducing human error. Compared to existing technologies, this application employs a Coriolis mass flow meter 240, which directly outputs real-time mass flow data without conversion, ensuring the accuracy of the measurement results. The introduction of the Coriolis mass flow meter 240 eliminates the need to convert flow rate based on pressure before the sonic nozzle during testing, and also eliminates the need to consider temperature and humidity compensation, significantly improving both testing accuracy and efficiency.

[0048] In the optional solutions of this application, such as Figure 1 As shown, pressure sensors 270 are installed at both the input and output ends of the electric regulating valve 230 to detect the pressure values ​​at both ends of the electric regulating valve 230. Pressure sensors 270 are also installed at both the input and output ends of the vortex generator 400 to detect the pressure values ​​at both ends of the vortex generator 400. A temperature sensor 260 for detecting the temperature of compressed air is also installed at the input end of the vortex generator 400. Figure 1 As shown, the pressure sensor 270 includes a first pressure sensor 271, a second pressure sensor 272, a third pressure sensor 273, and a fourth pressure sensor 274.

[0049] Specifically, the electric regulating valve 230 has a third pressure sensor 273 at its input end to detect the pressure of compressed air at its front end, and a fourth pressure sensor 274 at its output end to detect the pressure of compressed air at its rear end. The third pressure sensor 273 collects the actual pressure value at the input end of the electric regulating valve 230 and feeds it back to the remote control unit 300. Upon receiving the pressure value output by the third pressure sensor 273, the remote control unit 300 compares the actual pressure value with the target pressure value and outputs a control command. Then, the electric regulating valve 230 automatically adjusts its opening according to the command given by the remote control unit 300 to regulate the pressure of the compressed air at its output end. The fourth pressure sensor 274 collects the actual pressure value at the output end of the electric regulating valve 230 and feeds it back to the remote control unit 300. The remote monitoring and control unit 300 is used to detect whether the actual pressure value at the output end of the electric regulating valve 230 meets the target pressure value requirement, in order to determine whether the electric regulating valve 230 is operating normally. When the actual pressure value at the output end of the electric regulating valve 230 does not meet the target pressure value requirement, the remote monitoring and control unit 300 can issue a reminder to adjust the electric regulating valve 230 or automatically fine-tune the opening of the electric regulating valve 230 until the actual pressure value at the output end of the electric regulating valve 230 meets the target pressure value requirement. In addition, the third pressure sensor 273 and the fourth pressure sensor 274 are connected in parallel with pressure gauges for on-site operators to observe the pressure values ​​before and after the electric regulating valve 230 to determine whether the electric regulating valve 230 is working normally. For example, a first pressure gauge 275 is connected in series on the side of the third pressure sensor 273, and a second pressure gauge 276 is connected in series on the side of the fourth pressure sensor 274.

[0050] The input end of the vortex generator 400 is equipped with a first pressure sensor 271, which is used to detect the pressure of the compressed air entering the vortex generator 400 and output it to the remote monitoring and control system. The output end of the vortex generator 400 is equipped with a second pressure sensor 272, which is used to detect the pressure of the compressed air output by the vortex generator 400. The pressure values ​​output by the first pressure sensor 271 and the second pressure sensor 272 are the main parameters for the remote monitoring and control unit 300 to calculate the flow area of ​​the vortex generator 400. Specifically, there are two first pressure sensors 271, and the two first pressure sensors 271 are symmetrically arranged. Specifically, they can be connected to the test pipe 210 through a cross-shaped four-way fitting, and both first pressure sensors 271 are perpendicular to the test pipe 210. The pressure values ​​measured by the two first pressure sensors 271 can be calibrated with each other. When the difference between the two is large, it is necessary to stop the machine for inspection and replace the faulty first sensor. When the difference between the pressure values ​​measured by the two first pressure sensors 271 is within the allowable error range, the remote monitoring and control system takes the average of the two pressure values ​​as the pressure value of the compressed air at the input end of the vortex generator 400.

[0051] Furthermore, a pneumatic valve 212 is provided between the Coriolis mass flow meter 240 and the first pressure sensor 271. The pneumatic valve 212 is used to open and close the test pipeline 210 according to the instructions of the remote monitoring and control unit 300. This allows the pneumatic valve 212 to complete its opening and closing actions according to a pre-programmed sequence, thereby automatically controlling the flow time of compressed air in the pipeline. When the remote monitoring and control unit 300 closes the pneumatic valve 212, it stops receiving data from the pressure sensors 270, temperature sensors 260, and flow meters.

[0052] In an optional embodiment of this application, a pressure relief solenoid valve 290 is further provided between the second manual valve 180 and the electric regulating valve 230. The input end of the pressure relief solenoid valve 290 is connected to the test pipeline 210, and its output end can be connected to the external environment to expel some compressed air and reduce the pressure inside the test pipeline 210. When the remote monitoring and control unit 300 compares the pressure value detected by the third pressure sensor 273 with the warning pressure value and determines that the actual pressure value is too high and exceeds the regulating capacity of the electric regulating valve 230, the remote monitoring and control unit 300 controls the pressure relief solenoid valve 290 to open for a certain period of time (such as 0.1 seconds) to reduce the pressure inside the test pipeline 210.

[0053] The pressure relief solenoid valve 290 can also pass the discharged compressed air into the input of the compressor 120 to recycle clean air. Furthermore, the compressed air output from the test pipeline 210 during the test (or air that has been converted to atmospheric pressure; hereinafter, recyclable compressed air will be referred to as recyclable air) can also be recycled. Since the recyclable air has already been filtered and dried, reusing this air can greatly reduce test costs. For example, the recyclable air can be passed into an atmospheric pressure storage tank, pressurized by the compressor 120, and then integrated into the series-connected air storage unit 130 for later use. It is important to note that the output of the test pipeline 210 should not be directly connected to the input of the compressor 120 to avoid the compressor 120 affecting the pressure within the test pipeline 210, especially to prevent the negative pressure generated by the compressor 120 from affecting the pressure of the compressed air within the vortex generator 400, thereby affecting the stability of the test results.

[0054] In an optional embodiment of this application, the remote monitoring and control unit 300 is electrically connected to each of the pressure sensors 270, temperature sensors 260, Coriolis mass flow meters 240, pressure relief solenoid valves 290, electric regulating valves 230, and pneumatic valves 212. Specifically, the electrical connection can be made via wires and communication lines, or wirelessly via Bluetooth, local area networks, etc., to collect data fed back from each of the pressure sensors 270, temperature sensors 260, and Coriolis mass flow meters 240, and to control the electrically connected operation of the pressure relief solenoid valves 290, electric regulating valves 230, and pneumatic valves 212 based on the data fed back from each of the pressure sensors 270, temperature sensors 260, and Coriolis mass flow meters 240, as well as to calculate the flow area of ​​the vortex generator 400 based on the data fed back from each of the pressure sensors 270, temperature sensors 260, and Coriolis mass flow meters 240.

[0055] Specifically, the remote testing unit calculates the flow area of ​​the vortex generator 400 based on formula (2) and the data fed back by each pressure sensor 270, temperature sensor 260, and Coriolis mass flow meter 240. Formula (2) is as follows: (2) Where ACd is the flow area, Wa is the flow rate measured by the Coriolis mass flow meter 240, Pt1 is the pressure value at the input end of the vortex generator 400 measured by the first pressure sensor 271, Ps0 is the total ambient pressure measured by the second pressure sensor 272, and T1 is the temperature value measured by the temperature sensor 260.

[0056] For example, the hardware of the remote monitoring and control unit 300 mainly includes a power supply module, a data acquisition module (NI brand board), and a PLC control module. The data acquisition module is electrically connected to the PLC control module, each pressure sensor 270, temperature sensor 260, and Coriolis mass flow meter 240, and is used to feed back the data acquired by these sensors to the PLC control module. The PLC control module has both digital outputs (used to control the opening and closing of pneumatic valve 212 and pressure relief solenoid valve 290) and analog outputs (which can linearly control the opening of electric regulating valve 230 and pressure regulating valve 170 via voltage signals, adjusting the opening between 0% and 100%). Additionally, the PLC control module also controls the start and stop of compressor 120 according to preset programs or manual commands.

[0057] During actual testing, since both the pressure relief solenoid valve 290 and the pneumatic valve 212 are powered by 28V DC, the PLC control module outputs a momentary 28V pulse voltage after receiving the signal from the control software, thus opening or closing the valve. For the electric regulating valve 230, the software interface of the remote control unit 300 allows setting the valve opening percentage, such as "20%". Based on the specifications of the electric regulating valve 230 (typically a 0~10V control range), the software outputs a 2V control signal via PLC analog signal, causing the electric regulating valve 230 to open 20%, thereby regulating the pressure. The remote control unit 300 controls the pressure regulating valve 170 in the same way as it controls the electric regulating valve 230. The ranges of each pressure sensor 270, temperature sensor 260, and Coriolis mass flow meter 240 are linearly mapped to the 4~20mA current signal range in the remote measurement and control unit 300. The NI acquisition card will capture the data of each channel and store it in the processor according to the real-time data collected by the sensors. It will also call the collected parameters according to the pre-edited formula (2), calculate and store them. The specific steps are as follows: 1. Establish the test name and database location in the measurement and control software interface; 2. Input the target "pressure ratio (Ps0 / Pt1)" or the regulating valve opening value in the measurement and control system interface, and press the Enter key to execute the action. In fact, the pressure ratio and the regulating valve opening value are both used to control the regulating valve to adjust the pressure value after the regulating valve. 3. Input the test time and click Start Test. 4. The pneumatic valve 212 will open automatically. After the acquisition program is completed according to the above time, the pneumatic valve 212 will close automatically and the electric regulating valve 230 will return to the closed state. 5. The system will automatically calculate and save the data to the target folder.

[0058] The eddy current testing system provided in this application employs the following control methods, including: The pre-dried compressed air is introduced into a series-connected air storage unit; The air output from the series-connected air storage unit is subjected to multi-stage gradient filtration, and multiple drying processes are nested between the multi-stage gradient filtration processes. The air supply is prepared by stabilizing the pressure of the air after multiple drying and multi-stage gradient filtration through a buffer tank and a pressure regulating valve. Prepared air is introduced into the vortex generator, and the air flow rate into the vortex generator is adjusted by an electric regulating valve. The air mass flow rate is detected by a Coriolis mass flow meter. Collect the pressure and temperature values ​​at the inlet and outlet of the vortex generator, as well as the air mass flow rate in the test pipeline; The equivalent area of ​​the vortex is calculated based on the pressure and temperature values ​​at the inlet and outlet of the vortex, the air mass flow rate in the test pipeline, and the above formula (2).

[0059] Although embodiments of this application have been shown and described above, it is understood that the above embodiments are exemplary and should not be construed as limiting this application. Those skilled in the art can make changes, modifications, substitutions and variations to the above embodiments within the scope of this application.

Claims

1. A compressed air supply mechanism for supplying compressed air to an eddy current test system, characterized in that, The compressed air supply mechanism includes: Supply channels; A compressor, the output of which is connected to the input of the supply pipe and is used to provide compressed air; A series-connected air storage unit is connected in series with the supply pipe. The series-connected air storage unit includes multiple air tanks connected in series and is used to store compressed air supplied by the compressor, settle impurities in the compressed air, and stabilize the pressure of the compressed air. A multi-stage gradient filtration unit, connected in series with the supply pipe, includes multiple filtration modules for further removing impurities from the compressed air; and A multi-drying unit is connected in series with the supply pipe. The multi-drying unit includes multiple drying modules and is used to remove moisture from the compressed air. The filter modules, drying modules, and series-connected air storage units are arranged at intervals.

2. The compressed air supply mechanism as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The plurality of filter modules include a pre-filter, a precision filter, a first ultra-precision filter and a second ultra-precision filter arranged sequentially along the compressed air flow direction, and the filtration accuracy of each filter module gradually increases along the compressed air flow direction.

3. The compressed air supply mechanism as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The multiple drying unit includes a first refrigerated dryer, a second refrigerated dryer, and an adsorption dryer arranged sequentially along the compressed air flow direction. The first refrigerated dryer is connected in series upstream of the pre-filter, the second refrigerated dryer is connected in series between the pre-filter and the precision filter, and the adsorption dryer is connected in series between the first ultra-precision filter and the second ultra-precision filter.

4. The compressed air supply mechanism as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The series-connected air storage unit is connected in series between the first refrigerated dryer and the pre-filter, and a first manual valve is provided between the series-connected air storage unit and the pre-filter.

5. The compressed air supply mechanism as described in claim 4, characterized in that, The output end of the supply pipeline is provided with a buffer tank and a pressure regulating valve connected in series along the direction of compressed air flow. The buffer tank and the pressure regulating valve are used to stabilize the pressure of the air output by the compressed air supply mechanism.

6. An eddy current generator testing system, characterized in that, include: The compressed air supply mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 5; A mobile testing mechanism is connected to the output end of the compressed air supply mechanism and is movable, and the vortex generator is connected in series in the mobile testing mechanism; as well as A remote monitoring and control unit is electrically connected to the compressed air supply mechanism and the mobile testing mechanism. The remote monitoring and control unit is used to control the operation of the compressed air supply mechanism and the mobile testing mechanism.

7. The eddy current test system as described in any one of claims 6, characterized in that, The mobile testing mechanism includes a testing pipeline, and the input end of the testing pipeline is connected to the output end of the supply pipeline. The input end of the testing pipeline is provided with a post-filter.

8. The eddy current test system as described in claim 7, characterized in that, The mobile testing mechanism also includes an electric regulating valve, a Coriolis mass flow meter, and a pneumatic valve connected in series between the post-filter and the vortex generator along the direction of compressed air flow. The electric regulating valve is used to regulate the pressure of the air flowing through it, the Coriolis mass flow meter is used to measure the mass flow rate of the air flowing through it, and the pneumatic valve is used to control the opening and closing of the testing pipeline according to the instructions of the remote monitoring and control unit.

9. The eddy current testing system as described in claim 8, characterized in that, The electric regulating valve is equipped with pressure sensors at both its input and output ends to detect the pressure values ​​at both ends of the electric regulating valve. The vortex generator is also equipped with pressure sensors at both its input and output ends to detect the pressure values ​​at both ends of the vortex generator. The input end of the vortex generator is also equipped with a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the compressed air.

10. The eddy current generator testing system as described in claim 9, characterized in that, The remote monitoring and control unit is electrically connected to each of the pressure sensors, temperature sensors, Coriolis mass flow meters, electric regulating valves, and pneumatic valves, and is used to control the electric regulating valves and pneumatic valves to operate based on the data fed back by each of the pressure sensors, temperature sensors, and Coriolis mass flow meters, and to calculate the flow area of ​​the vortex generator based on the data fed back by each of the pressure sensors, temperature sensors, and Coriolis mass flow meters.

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