Ultrasonic flow meter and fluid line

Abstract

An ultrasonic flow meter and a fluid line are provided. The ultrasonic flow meter includes a housing defining a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet with a fluid passage therebetween, and at least two pairs of ultrasonic sensors, each pair having a first ultrasonic sensor and a second ultrasonic sensor arranged oppositely; at least a portion of the ultrasonic sensors in the at least two pairs of ultrasonic sensors are arranged in a groove at an inner wall of the fluid passage, and a center point of a front end face thereof is located on a cylindrical curved surface defined by the inner wall of the fluid passage.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to the field of fluid metering, and more particularly, to an ultrasonic flow meter and a fluid pipeline comprising the same. BACKGROUND

[0002] Ultrasonic flow meters are widely used in various fields today, and are characterized by high measurement accuracy and wide measurement range. An ultrasonic flow meter uses multiple pairs of ultrasonic sensors arranged in a pipeline, so that ultrasonic waves interact with a medium flowing in the pipeline, and the flow rate of the medium flowing in the pipeline, i.e. the flow, is measured thereby. Generally, the number of ultrasonic sensors depends on the size of the pipeline and the accuracy requirement, because the ultrasonic measurement is largely affected by the flow profile (the flow rate distribution of the flow in the pipeline), the measurement environment and the installation conditions. Multiple pairs of ultrasonic sensors are usually required to cover the entire measurement area, thus increasing the measurement cost and the complexity of rapid measurement control. The same medium flow state is difficult to obtain by ultrasonic sensors started in sequence. SUMMARY

[0003] It is an object of the present application to solve or at least alleviate the problems existing in the prior art.

[0004] According to some aspects, there is provided an ultrasonic flow meter comprising:

[0005] a housing defining a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet with a fluid passage therebetween; and

[0006] at least two pairs of ultrasonic sensors, each pair of the at least two pairs of ultrasonic sensors having a first ultrasonic sensor and a second ultrasonic sensor arranged oppositely;

[0007] wherein at least a portion of the ultrasonic sensors in the at least two pairs of ultrasonic sensors are arranged in a groove at an inner wall of the fluid passage, and a center point of a front end face of at least a portion of the ultrasonic sensors in the at least two pairs of ultrasonic sensors is located on a cylindrical surface defined by the inner wall of the fluid passage.

[0008] Optionally, the connecting lines of the first ultrasonic sensor and the second ultrasonic sensor in each pair of the at least two pairs of ultrasonic sensors are parallel to each other and form an angle of 50 to 60 degrees with a central axis of the fluid passage. Optionally, the connecting lines of the first ultrasonic sensor and the second ultrasonic sensor in each pair of the at least two pairs of ultrasonic sensors form an angle of 53 to 57 degrees, or an angle of 54 to 56 degrees, or substantially an angle of 55 degrees, with the central axis of the fluid passage.

[0009] Optionally, the center point of the front end face of each of the at least two pairs of ultrasonic sensors is located on a cylindrical curved surface defined by the inner wall of the fluid passage.

[0010] Optionally, each of the at least two pairs of ultrasonic sensors is arranged in the same plane.

[0011] Optionally, the cross section of the fluid passage is cylindrical with a radius R, wherein, when 15mm < R < 75mm, the ultrasonic flowmeter is configured with two pairs of ultrasonic sensors, and wherein, when 75mm ≤ R < 250mm, the ultrasonic flowmeter is configured with three pairs of ultrasonic sensors.

[0012] Optionally, when two pairs of ultrasonic sensors are configured, the two pairs of ultrasonic sensors are respectively located on two sides of the central axis, and the distance from the connecting line of each of the two pairs of ultrasonic sensors to the central axis is in the range of 0.48-0.52R, or in the range of 0.49-0.51R, or substantially 0.5R.

[0013] Optionally, when three pairs of ultrasonic sensors are configured, the connecting line of one pair of the three pairs of ultrasonic sensors intersects the central axis, and the other two pairs of the three pairs of ultrasonic sensors are respectively located on two sides of the central axis, and the distance from the connecting line of each of the other two pairs to the central axis is in the range of 0.687-0.727R, or in the range of 0.697-0.717R, or substantially 0.707R.

[0014] Optionally, in the case of no upstream straightener and in the case of a straight pipe within 3 times the pipe diameter 3D upstream, or a single horizontal bend, or a single vertical bend, or a double horizontal bend or a double vertical bend, the error of the ultrasonic flowmeter is ±2% when the flow is less than 0.1Qmax, and the error is ±1% when the flow is greater than or equal to 0.1Qmax.

[0015] Optionally, the ultrasonic flowmeter further comprises a connecting member at both ends of the fluid passage, a temperature sensor in the fluid passage, and a display outside the fluid passage.

[0016] In another aspect, a fluid pipe is provided, the fluid pipe comprising the ultrasonic flowmeter according to the respective embodiments. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0017] Embodiments according to the present application will be explained below with reference to the drawings, the disclosure of which will become more readily apparent.

[0018] Figure 1 A perspective view of a flowmeter according to an embodiment of the present application is shown;

[0019] Figure 2 Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a fluid channel and an ultrasonic sensor arrangement therein according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0020] Figure 3 Fig. 2 shows a top view of a fluid channel and an ultrasonic sensor arrangement therein according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0021] Figure 4 Fig. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of a fluid channel and an ultrasonic sensor arrangement therein according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0022] Figure 5 Fig. 4 shows another cross-sectional view of a fluid channel and an ultrasonic sensor arrangement therein according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0023] Figure 6 Fig. 5 shows a perspective view of a fluid channel and an ultrasonic sensor arrangement therein according to another embodiment of the present application;

[0024] Figure 7 Fig. 6 shows a cross-sectional view of a fluid channel and an ultrasonic sensor arrangement therein according to another embodiment of the present application;

[0025] Figure 8 Fig. 7 shows another cross-sectional view of a fluid channel and an ultrasonic sensor arrangement therein according to another embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] It is readily understood that the technical solution according to the present application can have various structural modes and implementation modes which can be replaced with each other without changing the essential spirit of the present application, which can be proposed by those skilled in the art. Therefore, the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings are only exemplary description of the technical solution of the present application, and should not be considered as the whole or as the limitation or restriction of the technical solution of the present application.

[0027] In the present specification, the orientation terms such as up, down, left, right, front, back, front side, back side, top, bottom, etc. mentioned or possibly mentioned are defined with respect to the configuration shown in the drawings, which are relative concepts, and thus can be changed accordingly according to different positions and different use states. Therefore, these or other orientation terms should not be interpreted as limiting terms.

[0028] First, reference is made to Figures 1 to 5 to introduce an embodiment of an ultrasonic flow meter according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 1As shown, the ultrasonic flow meter 10 may include: a housing 13, the housing 13 defining a fluid inlet 14, a fluid outlet 15, and a fluid passage included between the fluid inlet 14 and the fluid outlet 15. Figure 1 (Not shown in the image). The fluid inlet 14 and fluid outlet 15 may include connecting members, such as flanges, for connection to upstream and downstream pipelines. In some embodiments, the ultrasonic flow meter 10 also includes a neck 16 and a meter head 11, which may include a computing device and a display device 12. The computing device can be used to calculate the flow rate value based on acquired data and a predetermined function, while the display device 12 can be used to display the flow rate reading and other status parameters, such as temperature, date, time, etc. In some embodiments, a solar panel may be included on the meter head 11 or housing 13 to power the ultrasonic flow meter. As will be detailed below, the fluid passage includes an ultrasonic sensor and optional components such as a temperature sensor.

[0029] refer to Figures 2 to 5 In this embodiment, the fluid channel 20 includes two pairs of ultrasonic sensors: a first pair and a second pair. The first pair includes a first ultrasonic sensor 31 and a second ultrasonic sensor 32 arranged opposite each other, and the second pair includes a first ultrasonic sensor 41 and a second ultrasonic sensor 42 arranged opposite each other. The first and second ultrasonic sensors in each pair are arranged to interact during measurement, i.e., they are capable of emitting and capturing ultrasonic signals from each other. In some embodiments, the lines L1 and L2 connecting the first and second ultrasonic sensors in each pair are parallel to each other and form an angle α of 50 to 60 degrees with the central axis x (or the axial direction of the fluid channel) (see...). Figure 3 (Top view). In some embodiments, the included angle α may be in the range of 53 to 57 degrees, or in the range of 54 to 56 degrees, or approximately 55 degrees. During the test, the first and second ultrasonic sensors interact to provide information related to flow velocity, thereby assisting in calculating the flow velocity, i.e., the flow rate, in the fluid channel 20. Embodiments of the invention achieve accurate measurement data using as few ultrasonic sensors as possible by employing ultrasonic sensors arranged at specific angles.

[0030] In some embodiments, the fluid channel 20 comprises a first side wall 201 and a second side wall 202 separated by a vertical Y axis. The first ultrasonic sensor 31, 41 of each pair of ultrasonic sensors is arranged at the first side wall 201, and the second ultrasonic sensor 32, 42 of each pair of ultrasonic sensors is arranged at the second side wall 202. In some embodiments, the inner wall of the fluid channel 20 is provided with grooves 211, 212, 213, 214 to arrange the respective ultrasonic sensors 31, 32, 41, 42, and the center point C of the front end face of at least part of the ultrasonic sensors 31, 32, 41, 42 is located on a cylindrical curved surface defined by the inner wall of the fluid channel 20, and the part missing at the grooves is drawn in dashed lines in Figure 3 and Figure 5 In some embodiments, as shown in Figure 5 , the center point C of the front end face of all ultrasonic sensors of each pair of ultrasonic sensors is located on a cylindrical curved surface defined by the inner wall of the fluid channel. The ultrasonic sensors thus arranged have less protruding parts into the fluid channel 20 to as little as possible affect the dynamic distribution state of the flow medium in the fluid channel, on the other hand, the ultrasonic sensors are not affected due to being blocked by the grooves, ensuring the accuracy of the measurement data.

[0031] In some embodiments, each ultrasonic sensor of each pair of ultrasonic sensors is arranged in the same plane P, which intersects the cross section of the fluid channel 20 at the vertical axis Y, the cross section of the fluid channel 20 referring to the cross section perpendicular to the central axis x of the fluid channel 20. Figure 5 A cross-sectional view along the ultrasonic sensor plane P is shown in In general, the fluid channel 20 is circular in the cross section with a radius R. In some embodiments, when the radius R of the fluid channel satisfies 15mm < R < 75mm, then the ultrasonic flowmeter 10 is configured with two pairs of ultrasonic sensors, and the two pairs of ultrasonic sensors are respectively located on both sides of the central axis x and the distance of the connecting line L1, L2 of each pair of the two pairs of ultrasonic sensors to the central axis x can be within the range of 0.48-0.52R, or for example within the range of 0.49R-0.51R, or for example the distance is substantially 0.5R.

[0032] Another embodiment of the ultrasonic flowmeter according to the present application is introduced with reference to Figures 6 to 8 In this embodiment, the same parts as in the previous embodiments are not described again, and the difference lies in that the radius R of the fluid channel 20 satisfies 75mm < R < 250mm, at this time, the ultrasonic flowmeter is configured with three pairs of ultrasonic sensors, in addition to the previously introduced ultrasonic sensors 31, 32, 41, 42, a pair of ultrasonic sensors 51, 52 is additionally provided. As shown in Figure 6 and Figure 7As shown, the connecting lines L3 of the added pair of ultrasonic sensors 51, 52 can intersect the central axis x of the fluid passage, and the other two pairs of ultrasonic sensors are respectively located on the two sides of the central axis x, the distance from the connecting lines L1, L2 of the ultrasonic sensors of each of the other two pairs to the central axis x is in the range of 0.687-0.727R, or for example in the range of 0.697-0.717R, or for example substantially equal to 0.707R. In addition, as shown, the recesses 51, 52 for the third pair of ultrasonic sensors are respectively arranged on the first side wall 201 and the second side wall 202 (not shown) of the fluid passage, and similarly, the center point C of the front end face of each of the third pair of ultrasonic sensors is located on the cylindrical curved surface defined by the inner wall of the fluid passage. The ultrasonic flowmeter according to the arrangement of the embodiments of the present application can achieve accurate flow measurement with three pairs of ultrasonic sensors in the case of a larger radius R. Figure 8 As shown, the recesses 51, 52 for the third pair of ultrasonic sensors are respectively arranged on the first side wall 201 and the second side wall 202 (not shown) of the fluid passage, and similarly, the center point C of the front end face of each of the third pair of ultrasonic sensors is located on the cylindrical curved surface defined by the inner wall of the fluid passage. The ultrasonic flowmeter according to the arrangement of the embodiments of the present application can achieve accurate flow measurement with three pairs of ultrasonic sensors in the case of a larger radius R.

[0033] The ultrasonic flowmeter according to the embodiments of the present application can achieve accurate measurement in various working conditions with a flow straightener upstream, and the ultrasonic flowmeter according to the embodiments of the present application can also achieve the case of no flow straightener upstream, such as a straight pipe within 3 times the pipe diameter 3D, or a single horizontal bend, or a single vertical bend, or a double horizontal bend, or a double vertical bend, with an error of ±2% when the flow is less than 0.1Qmax, and an error of ±1% when the flow is greater than or equal to 0.1Qmax, Qmax being the maximum flow of the fluid passage. Therefore, the ultrasonic flowmeter according to the embodiments of the present application has the characteristics of being suitable for various working conditions, without the need to cooperate with a flow straightener, and high measurement accuracy. It should be understood that the flow straightener arranged in the pipe will have an additional flow resistance effect on the pipe, and the embodiments according to the present application allow the upstream to be arranged without a flow straightener.

[0034] It should be understood that the features of the various embodiments according to the present application can be arbitrarily combined with each other as long as they do not contradict each other, and it is intended to include such combinations within the scope of the present application. The specific embodiments described above are only for a clearer description of the principles of the present application, in which various components are clearly shown or described so that the principles of the present application are more easily understood. Those skilled in the art can easily make various modifications or changes to the present application without departing from the scope of the present application. Therefore, it should be understood that these modifications or changes should be included within the scope of the patent protection of the present application.

Claims

1. An ultrasonic flow meter, comprising: a housing defining a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet with a fluid passage therebetween; and at least two pairs of ultrasonic sensors, each pair having a first ultrasonic sensor and a second ultrasonic sensor arranged oppositely; characterized in that at least a portion of the ultrasonic sensors in the at least two pairs of ultrasonic sensors are arranged in a groove at an inner wall of the fluid passage, and a center point of a front face of at least a portion of the ultrasonic sensors in the at least two pairs of ultrasonic sensors is located on a cylindrical surface defined by the inner wall of the fluid passage, wherein a line connecting the first ultrasonic sensor and the second ultrasonic sensor in each pair of the at least two pairs of ultrasonic sensors is parallel to each other and forms an angle of 50 to 60 degrees with a central axis of the fluid passage; wherein a cross section of the fluid passage is circular with a radius R, wherein the radius R satisfies 15 mm < R < 75 mm, the ultrasonic flow meter is configured with two pairs of ultrasonic sensors, the two pairs of ultrasonic sensors are respectively located on two sides of the central axis, and a distance from a line connecting each pair of the two pairs of ultrasonic sensors to the central axis is within a range of 0.48-0.52R; or wherein the radius R satisfies 75 mm ≤ R < 250 mm, the ultrasonic flow meter is configured with three pairs of ultrasonic sensors, a line connecting one pair of the three pairs of ultrasonic sensors intersects the central axis, and the other two pairs of the three pairs of ultrasonic sensors are respectively located on two sides of the central axis, and a distance from a line connecting each pair of the other two pairs to the central axis is within a range of 0.687-0.727R; wherein, in the case of no upstream straightener and a straight pipe within 3 times the pipe diameter 3D upstream, or a single horizontal bend, or a single vertical bend, or a double horizontal bend, or a double vertical bend upstream, the ultrasonic flow meter has an error of ± 2% when the flow is less than 0.1Qmax, and an error of ± 1% when the flow is greater than or equal to 0.1Qmax.

2. The ultrasonic flow meter of claim 1, wherein, The line connecting the first ultrasonic sensor and the second ultrasonic sensor in each pair of the at least two pairs of ultrasonic sensors forms an angle of 53 to 57 degrees with the central axis of the fluid passage.

3. The ultrasonic flow meter of claim 2, wherein, The line connecting the first ultrasonic sensor and the second ultrasonic sensor in each pair of the at least two pairs of ultrasonic sensors forms an angle of 54 to 56 degrees with the central axis of the fluid passage.

4. The ultrasonic flow meter of claim 3, wherein, The line connecting the first ultrasonic sensor and the second ultrasonic sensor in each pair of the at least two pairs of ultrasonic sensors forms an angle of substantially 55 degrees with the central axis of the fluid passage.

5. The ultrasonic flow meter of claim 1, wherein, The center point of the front face of each ultrasonic sensor in the at least two pairs of ultrasonic sensors is located on the cylindrical surface defined by the inner wall of the fluid passage.

6. The ultrasonic flow meter of claim 1, wherein, In the case of two pairs of ultrasonic sensors, the two pairs of ultrasonic sensors are respectively located on two sides of the central axis, and a distance from a line connecting each pair of the two pairs of ultrasonic sensors to the central axis is within a range of 0.49-0.51R.

7. The ultrasonic flow meter of claim 6, wherein, In the configuration of two pairs of ultrasonic sensors, the two pairs of ultrasonic sensors are located on both sides of the center axis, and the distance from the connecting line of each pair of the two pairs of ultrasonic sensors to the center axis is substantially 0.5R.

8. The ultrasonic flow meter of claim 1, wherein, The other two pairs of the three pairs of ultrasonic sensors are located on both sides of the center axis, and the distance from the connecting line of each pair of the other two pairs to the center axis is in the range of 0.697-0.717R.

9. The ultrasonic flow meter of claim 8, wherein, The other two pairs of the three pairs of ultrasonic sensors are located on both sides of the center axis, and the distance from the connecting line of each pair of the other two pairs to the center axis is substantially 0.707R.

10. The ultrasonic flow meter of any one of claims 1-5, wherein, The ultrasonic flowmeter further comprises connecting members at both ends of the fluid channel, a temperature sensor in the fluid channel, and a display outside the fluid channel.

11. A fluid line, characterized by, The fluid pipeline comprises the ultrasonic flowmeter according to any one of claims 1-10.

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