Portable inflation control device for sounding balloon

Abstract

The utility model provides a portable air inflation control device for a sounding balloon. The portable air inflation control device comprises a control box connected between an air supply source and the sounding balloon. An electromagnetic valve is assembled in the control box, the electromagnetic valve is connected with an air supply source through an air supply pipeline, and a pressure reducing valve is assembled on the air supply pipeline; a mass flow meter and a communication control module which are connected with the electromagnetic valve are also assembled in the control box; the mass flow meter is connected with the sounding balloon through a gas transmission pipeline; the portable air inflation control device for the sounding balloon further comprises a computer, and the computer controls the electromagnetic valve to be opened or closed after receiving electric signals of the mass flow meter. According to the air sounding meteorological balloon, through simple electric control equipment layout, the air sounding meteorological balloon can be conveniently carried to be installed in different scenes, the air inflation amount of the air sounding meteorological balloon is controlled in the field and severe environment, the lift-off speed of the air sounding balloon is guaranteed, and a guarantee is provided for obtaining needed meteorological parameters.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of air balloon inflation control, and in particular to a portable air balloon inflation control device. Background Art

[0002] Sounding weather balloons are made of rubber or polyester film. They are filled with hydrogen or helium, which has a lower density than air. They are then launched into the air, carrying sounding instruments. During their ascent, they measure atmospheric and space environmental factors (such as atmospheric density, wind direction, wind speed, temperature, humidity, electric field strength, electron density, and ion density). During the launch of a sounding balloon, the launch velocity is a crucial control parameter. To ensure that the launch velocity meets the required launch velocity, existing technologies typically employ two methods: directly measuring the system's net lift force after inflation; and controlling the volume of the gas injected while maintaining a constant pressure. However, these measurement and control requirements cannot be met during field launches, especially in conditions of strong winds and significant temperature fluctuations. These two methods are particularly challenging, making it difficult to control the launch velocity of a sounding balloon. Further research is needed to accurately control the inflation volume and launch velocity of a sounding weather balloon in the field under conditions of strong winds, high temperatures, and intense sunlight. Utility Model Content

[0003] The present application provides a portable inflation control device for a sounding balloon, which can realize precise control of the inflation volume of the sounding meteorological balloon in the wild and harsh environment, ensure the launch speed of the sounding balloon, and provide a guarantee for the targeted acquisition of required meteorological parameters.

[0004] The present application provides a portable inflation control device for a sounding balloon, which includes a control box detachably connected between an air supply source and a sounding balloon; a solenoid valve is installed inside the control box, the solenoid valve is connected to the air supply source via an air supply line, and a pressure reducing valve is installed on the air supply line; a mass flow meter connected to the solenoid valve and a communication control module are also installed inside the control box; the mass flow meter is connected to the sounding balloon via an air supply line; the portable inflation control device for a sounding balloon also includes a computer, which receives an electrical signal from the mass flow meter and controls the opening or closing of the solenoid valve. In the present application, through the simple layout of the electronic control equipment, it is easy to carry and install in different scenarios, so that the inflation volume of the sounding meteorological balloon can be controlled in the wild and in harsh environments, thereby ensuring the launch speed of the sounding balloon and the acquisition of the required meteorological parameters.

[0005] In a specific embodiment, the gas supply line is connected to the solenoid valve via a first quick-connect valve. The installation method is simple and quick.

[0006] In a specific embodiment, the solenoid valve is connected to the computer signal through the communication control module. The computer controls the opening or closing of the solenoid valve.

[0007] In a specific embodiment, the gas pipeline is connected to the mass flow meter via a second quick-connect valve. The installation method is simple and quick.

[0008] In a specific embodiment, the pressure reducing valve controls the air pressure in the air supply pipeline to be between 0.2 and 0.5 MPa, so that the air pressure is in a stable range.

[0009] In one specific embodiment, after receiving the electrical signal indicating the rated air pressure of the mass flow meter, the computer controls the opening or closing of the solenoid valve. The computer pre-inputs on-site temperature and pressure parameters. Based on the on-site temperature and pressure, the computer calculates, processes, and displays the inflation volume in conjunction with the electrical signal from the mass flow meter, and controls the solenoid valve.

[0010] In a specific embodiment, the gas source is nitrogen or helium, which is a gas with a density less than that of air.

[0011] In a specific embodiment, the mass flow meter is used to detect the pressure of the gas flowing through the gas supply source and convert it into an electrical signal, providing reliable parameters to the computer to calculate the volume of gas filled in the sounding balloon under the current environment.

[0012] In a specific embodiment, the control box is a flip-top box that can be locked and closed, protecting the internal electrical components and allowing it to be deployed and used in any scenario.

[0013] In a specific embodiment, a battery pack is installed inside the control box, and the battery pack is electrically connected to the solenoid valve, the mass flow meter, and the communication control module to provide power supply security. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structure of a portable inflation control device for a sounding balloon provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0015] Figure 2 A flowchart of the inflation process of the portable inflation control device for a sounding balloon provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0016] Figure 3 This is a time-altitude data diagram of a sounding balloon provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0017] Figure Number:

[0018] Control box 100, battery pack 110, communication control module 120, solenoid valve 130, mass flow meter 140;

[0019] Gas supply line-200, first quick-connect valve-210;

[0020] Pressure reducing valve-300;

[0021] Gas transmission pipeline-400, second quick-connect valve-410;

[0022] Weather balloon-500;

[0023] Computer - 600. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] In order to make the objectives, technical solutions and advantages of the present disclosure more clearly understood, the present disclosure is further described in detail below in conjunction with specific embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0025] It should be noted that, unless otherwise defined, the technical terms or scientific terms used in one or more embodiments of this specification should have the usual meanings understood by people with ordinary skills in the field to which this disclosure belongs. The "first", "second" and similar words used in one or more embodiments of this specification do not indicate any order, quantity or importance, but are only used to distinguish different components. "Include" or "comprise" and similar words mean that the elements or objects appearing before the word include the elements or objects listed after the word and their equivalents, without excluding other elements or objects. "Connect" or "connected" and similar words are not limited to physical or mechanical connections, but may include electrical connections, whether direct or indirect. "Up", "down", "left", "right" and the like are only used to indicate relative position relationships. When the absolute position of the object being described changes, the relative position relationship may also change accordingly.

[0026] To facilitate understanding of the portable inflation control device for sounding balloons provided in the embodiments of this application, its application scenarios will first be explained. Specifically, a sounding meteorological balloon is made of rubber or polyester film. During use, it is filled with hydrogen or helium, which has a lower density than air. When launched, it carries a sounding instrument and ascends into the air. During its ascent, it detects atmospheric and space environmental factors (such as atmospheric density, wind direction, wind speed, temperature, humidity, electric field strength, electron density, and ion density). During the launch of a sounding balloon, its launch speed is a crucial control parameter. To ensure that the launch speed meets the required launch speed, existing technologies typically employ two methods: directly measuring the system's net lift force after inflation; and controlling the volume of the injected gas while maintaining a constant pressure. However, these measurement and control conditions cannot be met during field launches, especially in conditions of strong winds and significant temperature fluctuations. These two methods are even more challenging to meet, making it difficult to control the launch speed of the sounding balloon. Further research is needed to accurately control the inflation volume and launch speed of meteorological balloons in the wild, under conditions of strong winds, high temperatures, and intense sunlight. To address this issue, this application provides a portable inflation control device for sounding balloons. This device precisely controls the inflation volume of meteorological balloons in the wild and in harsh environments, ensuring the launch speed and enabling targeted acquisition of required meteorological parameters.

[0027] refer to Figure 1 As shown in the figure, the portable inflation control device for a sounding balloon provided in an embodiment of the present application includes a control box 100 detachably connected between the gas supply and the sounding balloon 500. In this application, the electrical components are arranged within the control box 100, and the control box is a portable control box, making it easy for personnel to carry. The control box 100 is a flip-top box that can be locked and closed. This protects the internal electrical components and can be deployed for use in a variety of harsh environments. Therefore, when the portable inflation device for the sounding balloon 500 is not in use, it can be locked for protection. When used in different external scenarios, it can be quickly deployed and used in conjunction with a computer 600 (a laptop) to calculate the volume of gas filled in the sounding balloon 500 under the current environment. The calculation system used in this application is relatively comprehensive and is well known to those skilled in the art, so it will not be described in detail here.

[0028] The control box 100 is internally equipped with a solenoid valve 130, which is connected to a gas supply source via a gas supply line 200. A pressure reducing valve 300 is also installed on the gas supply line 200. In this application, the gas supply source is nitrogen or helium. After the gas is loaded into a high-pressure tank and the main valve is opened, the gas inside the high-pressure tank is supplied to the gas supply line 200 through the pressure reducing valve 300. The pressure reducing valve 300 controls the pressure of the gas supply line 200 within a set range. In a specific embodiment of this application, the pressure reducing valve 300 controls the pressure in the gas supply line 200 between 0.2 and 0.5 MPa, thereby maintaining a stable pressure range.

[0029] The solenoid valve 130 is located inside the control box 100. The solenoid valve 130 is exposed by opening the control box 100, and the air supply line 200 is connected to the solenoid valve 130 through the first quick-connect valve 210. The overall installation method is simple and fast.

[0030] The control box 100 also houses a mass flow meter 140 connected to the solenoid valve 130 and a communication control module 120. The mass flow meter 140 is connected to the sounding balloon 500 via a gas pipeline 400. Both the mass flow meter 140 and the communication control module 120 are located within the control box 100. The mass flow meter 140 detects the gas pressure of the gas supply and converts it into an electrical signal. This signal provides reliable data to the computer 600, which then calculates the volume of gas filling the sounding balloon 500 under the current environment.

[0031] In a specific embodiment of the present application, a calibrated gas mass flowmeter 140 samples the mass of the flowing gas and transmits it to a computer 600, which then performs temperature and pressure compensation. The mass flowmeter 140 is calibrated at standard conditions (101.325 kPa, 20°C) and converted to volumetric flow. According to the ideal gas state equation, P1V1 / T1 = P2V2 / T2. P1, V1, and T1 are the pressure, temperature, and volume of the mass flowmeter 140 under calibration, respectively. P2, V2, and T2 are the pressure, temperature, and volume of the mass flowmeter 140 under current conditions, respectively. The volume of gas filling the sounding balloon 500 at that specific environment is calculated. The net lift force of the sounding balloon 500 can also be calculated based on the current air density.

[0032] Furthermore, the gas delivery line 400 is connected to the mass flow meter 140 via a first quick-connect valve 410. The overall installation is simple and quick. The solenoid valve 130 is connected to the computer 600 via a communication control module 120. The computer 600 controls the opening and closing of the solenoid valve 130.

[0033] After receiving the electrical signal from the mass flowmeter 140, the computer 600 calculates the volume of gas filled in the sounding balloon 500 through temperature and pressure compensation. It then controls the opening or closing of the solenoid valve 130. The computer 600 pre-enters the on-site temperature and pressure parameters. Based on the on-site temperature and pressure, the computer 600 calculates, processes, and displays the electrical signal from the mass flowmeter 140, and controls the solenoid valve 130.

[0034] In addition, the control box 100 is internally equipped with a battery pack 110 , which is electrically connected to the solenoid valve 130 , the mass flow meter 140 , and the communication control module 120 , thereby providing a reliable power supply.

[0035] For reference Figure 2 As shown in the figure, the portable inflation control device for the sounding balloon 500 in this application works as follows: the electrical components used in the entire system are placed in the control box 100, and after arriving at the site, they can be assembled in a certain way. The working steps are as follows:

[0036] S101, inflation preparation;

[0037] Inflation preparation: After arriving at the launch site, open the control box 100 containing the equipment, use a special wrench to connect the air supply pipeline 200 and the electrical connections, lay out the inflatable rubber pad and the inflation protection device (protective bag); install the inflation handle of the sounding balloon 500 on the hook and connect it to the gas supply pipeline 400; after the sounding balloon 500 is connected to the inflation handle, prepare to start the device; after starting the device, enter the site temperature, pressure (altitude), and inflation volume on the computer 600.

[0038] S102, inflation process;

[0039] After completing the inflation preparation, open the main valve of the gas supply source and observe the value of the pressure gauge on the pressure reducing valve 300 in the gas supply pipeline 200. The value should be within the range of 0.2-0.5 MPa. Inflation begins. The mass flow meter 140 detects the pressure of the gas flowing through and sends an electrical signal to the computer 600. The computer 600 processes the signal based on the various input parameters to obtain the inflation volume under the current conditions. When the inflation volume reaches the set value, a light and sound prompt will be displayed, and the solenoid valve 130 will be closed, completing the inflation process. Manually close the main valve of the gas supply source, exhaust the remaining gas between the solenoid valve 130 and the pressure reducing valve 300, and then you can prepare for the release.

[0040] S103, end work;

[0041] After the deployment is completed, turn off the power supply; use a special wrench to remove the pressure reducing valve 300, disconnect various quick connectors, and disconnect the electrical connections; organize and pack the equipment before completion.

[0042] Combine Figure 3As shown in , in a specific embodiment of the present application, after the computer receives the electrical signal of the rated air pressure of the mass flow meter and controls the opening or closing of the solenoid valve, the computer pre-enters the temperature and pressure parameters of the site. For example, on the afternoon of November 5, 2023, the field sounding balloon inflation and release operation was carried out:

[0043] Calculation process of inflation volume:

[0044] According to the meteorological data measured in real time by the meteorological station, the local temperature is T1 = 25°C, the air pressure is P1 = 99.725 kPa, the balloon mass is 760 g, and the station requires a hydrogen filling force of 2500 g. First, calculate the actual required inflation volume V1 based on the ideal gas state equation:

[0045] It is known that the density of air under standard conditions is 1.29 g / L (101.325 kPa, 0°C). Based on the ideal gas state equation PV=nRT, the air density under the real-time conditions of the station (99.725 kPa, 25°C) is calculated to be ρempty=1.1647 g / L.

[0046] It is known that the density of hydrogen under standard conditions is 0.08988 g / L (101.325 kPa, 0°C). Based on the ideal gas state equation PV=nRT, the hydrogen density under the real-time conditions of the station (99.725 kPa, 25°C) is calculated to be ρhydrogenactual=0.08115 g / L.

[0047] V1=F / (ρempty-ρhydrogen)=(2500+760) / (1.1647-0.08115)=3008.6L.

[0048] At the same time, the volume V2 of the mass flow meter at the calibration state (101.325 kPa, 20°C) is calculated based on the ideal gas state equation PV=nRT:

[0049] V2=V1T2P1 / T1P2; V2=3008.6*293.15*99.725 / (298.15*101.325)=2910.9L=2.9109m3;

[0050] Therefore, the actual metering volume of the flow meter is calculated.

[0051] After arriving at the inflation site, open the suitcase, use a special wrench to connect the inflation pipeline and electrical connections, lay an inflatable rubber mat, input the local temperature T1=25℃, air pressure P1=99.725 KPa, and inflation volume of 3260g, then the computer automatically calculates the measured volume of 2.9109 m3.

[0052] After connecting the balloon, open the main valve of the gas source to make the pressure value in the inflation pipeline within the range of 0.2~0.5MPa. When the inflation volume reaches the set value, it will stop automatically, close the solenoid valve, manually close the main valve of the gas source, and exhaust the remaining air between the solenoid valve and the pressure reducing valve. The inflation is completed and ready for release.

[0053] After the deployment is completed, turn off the power supply; use a special wrench to remove the pressure reducing valve, disconnect various quick connectors, and disconnect the electrical connections; organize and pack the equipment before completion.

[0054] The balloon was launched at 19:44, and the balloon time and altitude data are as follows Figure 3 As shown in the figure, the explosion arrived at 28,349 meters at 20:58, and the detection was completed.

[0055] In this application, through the simple layout of the electronic control equipment, it is easy to carry and install in different scenes, so that the inflation volume of the sounding weather balloon can be controlled in the wild and harsh environment, ensuring the launch speed of the sounding balloon 500 and providing a guarantee for the acquisition of the required meteorological parameters.

[0056] Those skilled in the art should understand that the discussion of any of the above embodiments is merely illustrative and is not intended to imply that the scope of the present disclosure (including the claims) is limited to these examples. Based on the concept of the present disclosure, the technical features in the above embodiments or different embodiments may be combined, the steps may be implemented in any order, and there are many other variations of different aspects of one or more embodiments of the present specification as described above, which are not provided in detail for the sake of simplicity.

[0057] In addition, to simplify the description and discussion, and to avoid obscuring one or more embodiments of this specification, well-known power / ground connections of other components may or may not be shown in the provided figures. In addition, devices may be shown in block diagram form to avoid obscuring one or more embodiments of this specification, and this also takes into account the fact that the details of the implementation of these block diagram devices are highly dependent on the platform on which one or more embodiments of this specification will be implemented (i.e., these details should be fully within the scope of understanding of those skilled in the art). Where specific details are set forth to describe exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that one or more embodiments of this specification may be implemented without these specific details or with variations in these specific details. Therefore, these descriptions should be considered illustrative rather than restrictive.

[0058] The one or more embodiments of this specification are intended to cover all such substitutions, modifications, and variations that fall within the broad scope of the appended claims. Therefore, any omissions, modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc. made within the spirit and principles of one or more embodiments of this specification shall be included within the scope of protection of this disclosure.

Claims

1. A portable inflation control device for a sounding balloon, comprising a control box detachably connected between an air supply source and the sounding balloon; characterized in that: The control box is internally equipped with a solenoid valve, which is connected to the air supply source via an air supply pipeline, and the air supply pipeline is equipped with a pressure reducing valve; The control box is also equipped with a mass flow meter and a communication control module connected to the solenoid valve; The mass flow meter is connected to the sounding balloon via a gas pipeline; The portable inflation control device for the sounding balloon further includes a computer. After receiving the electrical signal of the rated air pressure of the mass flow meter, the computer controls the solenoid valve to open or close.

2. The portable inflation control device for a sounding balloon according to claim 1, characterized in that: The air supply pipeline is connected to the solenoid valve through a first quick-connect valve.

3. The portable inflation control device for a sounding balloon according to claim 2, characterized in that: The solenoid valve is connected to the computer signal through the communication control module.

4. The portable inflation control device for a sounding balloon according to claim 1, characterized in that: The gas transmission pipeline is connected to the mass flow meter through a second quick-connect valve.

5. The portable inflation control device for a sounding balloon according to claim 1, characterized in that: The pressure reducing valve controls the air pressure in the air supply pipeline to be between 0.2 and 0.5 MPa.

6. The portable inflation control device for a sounding balloon according to claim 1, characterized in that: After the computer receives the electrical signal of the rated air pressure of the mass flow meter and controls the solenoid valve to open or close, The computer is pre-input with on-site temperature and pressure parameters.

7. The portable inflation control device for a sounding balloon according to claim 6, characterized in that: The gas supply source is nitrogen or helium.

8. The portable inflation control device for a sounding balloon according to claim 1, characterized in that: The mass flow meter is used to detect the gas pressure of the gas supply source flowing through the gas supply source and convert it into an electrical signal.

9. The portable inflation control device for a sounding balloon according to claim 1, characterized in that: The control box is a flip-top box that can be locked and closed.

10. The portable inflation control device for a sounding balloon according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that: A battery pack is installed inside the control box, and the battery pack is electrically connected to the solenoid valve, the mass flow meter and the communication control module.

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