A differential flowmeter

Abstract

The application discloses a differential swing flowmeter, which comprises a base, a slip ring support detachably connected above the base, a stator of a slip ring fixedly connected to the upper portion of the slip ring support, an acceleration sensor fixedly arranged in the rotor of the slip ring, a throttling member fixedly connected to the rotor of the slip ring through a fixedly connected connecting rod, the throttling member being arranged below the base, and a sliding groove arranged on the base and the slip ring support and capable of allowing the connecting rod to pass through and slide with the connecting rod. The application has the advantages that the swing position of the throttling member can be detected, the corresponding flow of fluid in a pipeline can be obtained, the measurement precision is improved, and the maintenance cost is reduced; the design without a pressure tapping hole eliminates the differential pressure signal fluctuation caused by the fluid disturbance of the throttling member, and the problem of pressure introduction of the differential pressure flow sensor in the prior art in the application of the differential pressure flow sensor to the pipeline is solved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the technical field of flow meters, and more specifically, to a differential swing flow meter. Background Technology

[0002] Differential pressure flow meters have undergone a long development process. They are based on phase-separated or homogeneous models to establish the relationship between flow rate and pressure drop. Among them, the throttling differential pressure flow meter has the longest research history, and the differential pressure methods are basically found in the throttling differential pressure flow meter. The throttling differential pressure flow meter has the advantages of convenient installation and reliable operation, and has formed a mature international standard through years of research.

[0003] Traditional differential pressure flow meters, represented by orifice plates, venturi tubes, barometers, and V-cones, have made significant contributions to gas flow measurement. However, in industrial applications, especially in the complex environments of gas pipelines, these flow meters have consistently failed to effectively address practical problems encountered in the field, such as corrosion, wear, scaling, pressure tap blockage, and icing of the throttling elements. These problems are inherent to their structure. Once these issues arise, specific maintenance is required. Regular cleaning is difficult, time-consuming, and labor-intensive, increasing maintenance costs and potentially impacting production. While cleaning is effective initially, its effectiveness diminishes over time, gradually leading to a loss of measurement reliability. Furthermore, the creep problem of differential pressure flow meter transmitters affects the accuracy of measurement results.

[0004] Traditional differential pressure flow meters throttle the fluid by changing the total flow area, which inevitably disturbs the fluid. The differential pressure signal obtained through the pressure tap will be unstable.

[0005] No effective solutions have yet been proposed to address the problems in the relevant technologies. Summary of the Invention

[0006] To address the aforementioned technical problems in related technologies, this invention proposes a differential pendulum flow meter, which can convert the dynamic pressure energy carried by fluid flow into a force acting on a throttling element. This force is then converted into the positional potential energy of the throttling element. By detecting the positional information of the throttling element, the corresponding flow rate of the fluid in the pipeline can be obtained.

[0007] To achieve the above-mentioned technical objectives, the technical solution of the present invention is implemented as follows:

[0008] A differential pendulum flow meter includes a base, a slip ring bracket detachably connected to the top of the base, a stator of a slip ring fixedly connected to the upper part of the slip ring bracket, an acceleration sensor fixedly installed inside the rotor of the slip ring, and a throttling element fixedly connected to the rotor of the slip ring via a fixedly connected connecting rod. The throttling element is located below the base. Both the slip ring bracket and the base have grooves that allow the connecting rod to pass through and slide in cooperation with the connecting rod.

[0009] Furthermore, a ball valve is provided between the base and the slip ring bracket, the bottom of the ball valve is fixedly connected to the top of the base, and the top of the ball valve is detachably connected to the bottom of the slip ring bracket.

[0010] Furthermore, the slip ring bracket is also fixedly connected to a housing protective cover, and both the slip ring and the slip groove are located inside the housing protective cover.

[0011] Furthermore, a groove is provided at the lower part of the rotor, and a bottom plate that can close the groove is fixedly connected to the lower part of the rotor. The groove and the bottom plate together form an accommodating space. The acceleration sensor is located in the accommodating space and is fixedly connected to the bottom plate. The bottom plate is fixedly connected to the upper end of the connecting rod.

[0012] Furthermore, the slip ring bracket includes a support plate, the bottom of which is fixedly connected to the ball valve, and the top of which is fixedly connected to two connecting plates spaced apart from each other. The rotor is located between the two connecting plates, and the stator passes through the connecting plates and is fixedly connected to them.

[0013] Furthermore, the base plate is provided with lead wire holes, and the signal wire of the acceleration sensor is led out from the stator and passes through the lead wire holes.

[0014] Furthermore, the throttling element is streamlined, and its outer surface is coated with a Teflon coating.

[0015] Furthermore, the top of the base is a flat surface, and the bottom of the base is an arc surface corresponding to the pipe.

[0016] The beneficial effects of this invention are as follows: By detecting the swing position of the throttling element, the corresponding flow rate of the fluid in the pipeline can be obtained, improving measurement accuracy and reducing maintenance costs; the design without pressure tapping holes eliminates the differential pressure signal fluctuations caused by fluid disturbance caused by the throttling element, solving the pressure tapping problem existing in the application of differential pressure flow sensors in measuring pipelines; the throttling element can return to zero by its own gravity, avoiding the influence of transmitter creep on the measurement results and improving measurement accuracy; the throttling element has a Teflon coating, effectively avoiding corrosion, wear, and structural problems, eliminating the need for daily maintenance of the throttling element and ensuring the reliability of the detection actuator; the throttling element has a streamlined shape and small size, swings with the fluid, greatly reducing the throttling effect, minimizing pressure loss on the pipeline fluid, and reducing additional energy consumption. Attached Figure Description

[0017] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the drawings used in the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0018] Figure 1 This is a front view of the differential swing flow meter according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0019] Figure 2 This is a side view of the differential swing flow meter according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0020] Figure 3 This is a top view of the differential swing flow meter according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the differential swing flowmeter oscillating according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] In the picture:

[0023] 1. Throttling device; 2. Accelerometer; 3. Slip ring; 4. Connecting rod; 5. Base; 6. Ball valve; 7. Slip ring bracket; 8. Housing protective cover. Detailed Implementation

[0024] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of the present invention are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0025] like Figure 1-4As shown, a differential pendulum flow meter according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a base 5, a slip ring bracket 7 detachably connected to the upper part of the base 5, a stator of a slip ring 3 fixedly connected to the upper part of the slip ring bracket 7, an acceleration sensor 2 fixedly installed inside the rotor of the slip ring 3, and a throttling element 1 fixedly connected to the rotor of the slip ring 3 through a fixedly connected connecting rod 4. The throttling element 1 is located below the base 5. Both the slip ring bracket 7 and the base 5 are provided with a sliding groove that allows the connecting rod 4 to pass through and slides with the connecting rod 4.

[0026] In one specific embodiment of the present invention, a ball valve 6 is provided between the base 5 and the slip ring bracket 7, the bottom of the ball valve 6 is fixedly connected to the top of the base 5, and the top of the ball valve 6 is detachably connected to the bottom of the slip ring bracket 7.

[0027] In one specific embodiment of the present invention, the slip ring bracket 7 is also fixedly connected to a housing protective cover 8, and the slip ring 3 and the sliding groove are both located inside the housing protective cover 8.

[0028] In a specific embodiment of the present invention, a groove is provided at the lower part of the rotor, and a bottom plate that can close the groove is fixedly connected to the lower part of the rotor. The groove and the bottom plate together form an accommodating space. The acceleration sensor 2 is located in the accommodating space and is fixedly connected to the bottom plate. The bottom plate is fixedly connected to the upper end of the connecting rod 4.

[0029] In one specific embodiment of the present invention, the slip ring bracket 7 includes a support plate, the bottom of the support plate is fixedly connected to the ball valve 6, the top of the support plate is fixedly connected to two connecting plates spaced apart from each other, the rotor is located between the two connecting plates, and the stator passes through the connecting plates and is fixedly connected to the connecting plates.

[0030] In one specific embodiment of the present invention, a lead wire hole is provided on the base plate, and the signal wire of the accelerometer 2 is led out from the stator and passes through the lead wire hole.

[0031] In one specific embodiment of the present invention, the throttling element 1 is streamlined, and the outer surface of the throttling element 1 is provided with a Teflon coating.

[0032] In one specific embodiment of the present invention, the top of the base 5 is a flat surface, and the bottom of the base 5 is an arc surface corresponding to the pipe.

[0033] To facilitate understanding of the above technical solutions of the present invention, the following detailed description of the above technical solutions of the present invention will be provided through specific usage methods.

[0034] The differential pendulum flow meter of the present invention includes a throttling element 1, an acceleration sensor 2, a slip ring 3, a connecting rod 4, a base 5, a ball valve 6, a slip ring bracket 7, and a protective cover 8, etc.

[0035] Throttling element 1 and slip ring 3 are connected by connecting rod 4. Grooves are present on both the upstream and downstream surfaces of the connecting rod 4 to facilitate the connection between throttling element 1 and slip ring 3. The slip ring 3 has a hollow interior to house the acceleration sensor 2. After the acceleration sensor 2 is installed, the slip ring is sealed with a base plate. Slip ring 3 is fixedly mounted on slip ring bracket 7. After the throttling element 1, acceleration sensor 2, slip ring 3, and connecting rod 4 are connected, the slip ring 3 can swing as a whole on the slip ring bracket 7 with the fluid flow. Base 5 is welded to the pipe being measured. Ball valve 6 is fixed to base 5, and slip ring bracket 7 is fixed to ball valve 6. Protective housing 8 is fixed to slip ring bracket 7.

[0036] The throttling element 1 is placed inside the fluid pipe being measured, perpendicular to the flow direction of the fluid (such as gas). When the fluid flows through the throttling element, it oscillates along the flow direction. The throttling element 1 adopts a solid cylindrical structure with a streamlined shape, effectively preventing the fluid from abrading the edges of the throttling element 1 and reducing the influence of the Karman vortex street on the disturbance of the throttling element 1, thus ensuring the accuracy of the measurement results. The outer surface of the throttling element 1 has a Teflon coating, which can effectively prevent a series of problems such as corrosion, wear, and scaling caused by the measured fluid.

[0037] Accelerometer 2 is a triaxial accelerometer that can measure acceleration values ​​on the X, Y, and Z axes.

[0038] The slip ring 3 includes a stator and a rotor. The stator is fixed to the slip ring bracket 7, and the rotor oscillates with the throttling device. A groove is provided at the bottom of the rotor for placing the accelerometer 2. After the accelerometer 2 is installed, the groove is sealed with a base plate to ensure the stability of the working environment of the accelerometer 2.

[0039] The connecting rod 4 is the span connection between the throttling device 1 and the slip ring 3. The connecting rod 4 is made of a cylinder with an ultra-fine diameter of 6mm and has moderate toughness and strength.

[0040] The throttling device 1, acceleration sensor 2, slip ring 3, and connecting rod 4, when connected as a whole, oscillate along the direction of fluid movement, depending on the dynamic pressure energy carried by the fluid.

[0041] The top of base 5 is flat, while the bottom of base 5 is an arc surface with a specific curvature to match the pipe being measured. Base 5 is a complete mounting platform.

[0042] The slip ring bracket 7 serves two purposes: it supports the slip ring and it has a lead wire hole. The signal line of the acceleration sensor 2 is led out from the stator of the slip ring 3 through the slip ring lead wire and then output through the lead wire hole.

[0043] The outer casing 8 is made of a single-sided cylindrical opening. Mounted on the slip ring bracket 7, the outer casing 8 isolates the fluid inside the measured pipe from the external environment. The outer casing 8, slip ring bracket 7, throttling element 1, accelerometer 2, base plate, slip ring 3, and connecting rod 4 together form a replaceable measuring assembly after installation.

[0044] The top and bottom of ball valve 6 are flat, and the side of ball valve 6 has a manual control for opening and closing. When ball valve 6 is in the open state, it can be penetrated by connecting rod 4, and there is space for connecting rod 4 to swing. Under normal use, ball valve 6 is in the open state, and the swing of connecting rod 4 is not affected. When it is necessary to replace the measuring component, the slip ring bracket 7 is separated from ball valve 6, the measuring component is removed, and then ball valve 6 is closed. The fluid in the measured pipeline is effectively isolated by the ball valve 6. After a suitable measuring component is found, ball valve 6 is reopened, and slip ring bracket 7 is connected to ball valve 6.

[0045] When fluid flows through the throttling device 1, according to Bernoulli's equation, the fluid on both sides of the throttling device 1 will generate a pressure difference perpendicular to the surface of the throttling device 1, and the magnitude of the pressure difference is:

[0046]

[0047] Where C is the drag coefficient, ρ is the fluid density, v is the average fluid velocity, and A is the cross-sectional area of ​​the throttling element perpendicular to the fluid flow direction. θ is the swing angle of the throttling element. C, ρ, and A are known quantities after the differential pendulum flowmeter design is completed.

[0048] The fluid creates a pressure difference on the surface of the throttling device 1. During the oscillation of the throttling device 1, the dynamic pressure energy carried by the fluid is reflected. When the fluid velocity is constant, the dynamic pressure energy of the fluid and the gravitational potential energy of the throttling device 1 are dynamically balanced. The displacement of the throttling device 1 along the flow direction is reflected by the oscillation angle.

[0049]

[0050] Where L is the distance between the center of gravity of the throttling element 1 and the center of the slip ring stator, m is the mass of the throttling element 1, and g is the gravitational acceleration, a constant. L and m are known quantities after the design of this differential pendulum flowmeter is completed.

[0051] The swing angle of the throttle element 1 can be measured by the accelerometer 2. The angle value can be obtained by measuring the signal output by the accelerometer 2 through the corresponding measurement circuit. The calculation formula is as follows:

[0052]

[0053] in, , , These are the acceleration values ​​measured by the accelerometer on the X, Y, and Z axes, respectively.

[0054] Then, by combining the pipe's geometric parameters, the flow rate of the fluid inside the pipe can be obtained. The calculation formula is as follows:

[0055]

[0056]

[0057] Where Q is the volumetric flow rate passing through the pipe cross-section per unit time, and D is the diameter of the pipe being measured.

[0058] In summary, by utilizing the above-mentioned technical solution of the present invention, a throttling device that swings along the fluid flow direction is installed inside the pipe being measured. When the fluid flows through the throttling device, the fluid on both sides of the throttling device generates a pressure difference perpendicular to the surface of the throttling device, causing the throttling device to swing. During the swinging process of the throttling device, the dynamic pressure energy carried by the fluid is reflected. When the fluid velocity is constant, the dynamic pressure energy of the fluid and the gravitational potential energy of the throttling device are dynamically balanced. The displacement of the throttling device along the flow direction is reflected by the acceleration of the swing, which can be measured using an acceleration sensor 2 and a corresponding measuring circuit. Combined with the fluid properties and the geometry of the pipe being measured, the displacement can be calculated. Flow rate; the design without pressure taps eliminates differential pressure signal fluctuations caused by fluid disturbance due to the throttling element, solving the pressure tapping problem present in existing differential pressure flow sensors applied to pipelines; relying on the throttling element's own gravity to return to zero avoids the influence of transmitter creep on measurement results, improving measurement accuracy; the throttling element has a Teflon coating, effectively preventing corrosion, wear, and structural problems, eliminating the need for daily maintenance of the throttling element, and ensuring the reliability of the detection actuator; the throttling element has a streamlined shape and small size, swinging with the fluid, greatly reducing the throttling effect, minimizing pressure loss on the pipeline fluid, and reducing additional energy consumption.

[0059] The above are merely preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A differential flowmeter characterized by, The application relates to a flow regulating device, which comprises a base (5), a slip ring support (7) detachably connected to the upper portion of the base (5), a stator of a slip ring (3) fixedly connected to the upper portion of the slip ring support (7), an acceleration sensor (2) fixedly arranged in a rotor of the slip ring (3), a throttling piece (1) fixedly connected to the rotor of the slip ring (3) through a connecting rod (4), wherein the throttling piece (1) is arranged below the base (5), a sliding groove is arranged in the base (5) and the slip ring support (7) and can be passed through and slidably matched with the connecting rod (4), a ball valve (6) is arranged between the base (5) and the slip ring support (7), the bottom of the ball valve (6) is fixedly connected with the top of the base (5), the top of the ball valve (6) is detachably connected with the bottom of the slip ring support (7), the top of the base (5) is a plane, the bottom of the base (5) is an arc surface corresponding to a pipeline, the slip ring support (7) comprises a support plate, the bottom of the support plate is fixedly connected with the ball valve (6), the top of the support plate is fixedly connected with two connecting plates spaced from each other, the rotor is arranged between the two connecting plates, the stator penetrates through the connecting plates and is fixedly connected with the connecting plates, a recess is arranged in the lower portion of the rotor, the lower portion of the rotor is fixedly connected with a bottom plate capable of sealing the recess, the recess and the bottom plate jointly form a containing space, the acceleration sensor (2) is arranged in the containing space and is fixedly connected with the bottom plate, the bottom plate is fixedly connected with the upper end of the connecting rod (4), a lead hole is arranged in the bottom plate, and a signal line of the acceleration sensor (2) is led out from the stator and then passes through the lead hole.

2. The differential drag flow meter of claim 1, wherein, The slip ring support (7) is further fixedly connected with a shell protection cover (8), and the slip ring (3) and the sliding groove are arranged in the shell protection cover (8).

3. The difference gear flowmeter of claim 1 wherein, The throttling piece (1) is in a streamline shape, and a Teflon coating is arranged on the outer surface of the throttling piece (1).

Images