Four sound path transducer applied to ultrasonic water meter

Abstract

The application discloses a four-sound-path transducer applied to an ultrasonic water meter, which is composed of an upstream piezoelectric ceramic transducing sheet, a downstream piezoelectric ceramic transducing sheet, a matching layer, a water meter pipe section and a transducer mounting pipe section, the mounting positions of the two upstream piezoelectric ceramic sheets and the three downstream piezoelectric ceramic sheets are fixed, the two upstream piezoelectric ceramic sheets are distributed in left-right oblique symmetry, the three downstream piezoelectric ceramic sheets are horizontally distributed, a small part of each two piezoelectric ceramic sheets is overlapped, and four ultrasonic wave propagation sound paths with equal lengths are formed. The average flow velocity on the four sound paths is calculated by measuring the time difference of the ultrasonic wave propagation in the fluid in the forward and reverse directions, and the average flow velocity on the cross section of the pipeline to be measured is calculated by measuring the weighted average of the four sound path velocities. The four sound paths can effectively improve the mathematical model accuracy when the ultrasonic flowmeter calculates the average flow velocity and flow, and greatly improve the adaptability to the complex flow channel structure and flow state distribution.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of transducer and ultrasonic water meter technology, and in particular to a four-channel transducer for use in ultrasonic water meters. Background Technology

[0002] With the development of technology, traditional mechanical water meters are gradually being replaced by ultrasonic water meters. Ultrasonic water meters are characterized by high accuracy, high reliability, wide rangeability, long service life, low pressure loss, and high sensitivity. The transducer, as the core component of ultrasonic metering, is used to convert electricity into sound, and includes a transmitting transducer and a receiving transducer. The transducer of an ultrasonic water meter consists of a piezoelectric ceramic transducer and a matching layer.

[0003] Complex flow field structures and flow regime distributions are factors affecting the accuracy of ultrasonic measurement. Multi-path configurations can adapt to complex flow channel structures and flow regime distributions, improving the measurement accuracy of ultrasonic water meters. The position of the piezoelectric ceramic affects the distribution of the acoustic path; therefore, designing a multi-path transducer for ultrasonic water meters is of great significance. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This invention addresses the shortcomings of existing multi-path transducer technology for ultrasonic water meters by proposing a four-path transducer for use in ultrasonic water meters. This invention overcomes the problem of the influence of complex flow field structures and flow regime distributions on ultrasonic metering, achieving high-precision metering functionality in ultrasonic water meters.

[0005] It includes an upstream piezoelectric ceramic transducer, a downstream piezoelectric ceramic transducer, a matching layer, and a water meter pipe section. Five piezoelectric ceramic transducers form four acoustic paths, adapting to complex flow channel structures and flow patterns, thus improving the metering accuracy of the ultrasonic water meter.

[0006] The objective of this invention can be achieved through the following technical solutions:

[0007] A four-path transducer for use in ultrasonic water meters includes an upstream piezoelectric ceramic transducer, a downstream piezoelectric ceramic transducer, a matching layer, a water meter pipe section, and a transducer mounting pipe section, wherein:

[0008] The upstream piezoelectric ceramic transducer has a circular piezoelectric ceramic shape, and two piezoelectric ceramic pieces are obliquely symmetrically distributed and bonded to the matching layer to form a transducer.

[0009] The downstream piezoelectric ceramic transducer consists of three piezoelectric ceramic pieces horizontally distributed in a straight line and bonded to the matching layer to form a transducer.

[0010] Two upstream piezoelectric ceramic sheets and three downstream piezoelectric ceramic sheets overlap slightly between each pair of sheets, forming four ultrasonic propagation paths of equal length. This specific arrangement of piezoelectric ceramic sheets ensures that the four paths are not on the same plane, allowing the ultrasonic signal to travel back and forth along the four paths.

[0011] The matching layer, made of polyphenylene sulfide, serves to improve the energy transmission efficiency of ultrasound between different media, adjust the transducer bandwidth, protect the piezoelectric ceramic, and form a transducer with the piezoelectric ceramic bonded thereon.

[0012] The water meter section is the pipe through which water flows;

[0013] The transducer mounting pipe section is a pipe section used to install the transducer.

[0014] Furthermore, the piezoelectric ceramic transducer is an information-functional ceramic material capable of converting mechanical energy and electrical energy into each other, serving to generate and receive ultrasonic waves. The two upstream piezoelectric ceramic transducers and the three downstream piezoelectric ceramic transducers are fixed in position, with the two upstream transducers obliquely symmetrically distributed and the three downstream transducers horizontally distributed. The average flow velocity along the four acoustic paths is calculated by measuring the time difference of ultrasonic wave propagation in the fluid along and against the flow, and the average flow velocity on the cross-section of the pipe under test is calculated by measuring the weighted average of the velocities along the four acoustic paths. Ultrasonic flow meters require complex calculations to obtain the final average flow velocity and flow rate. The four acoustic paths effectively improve the accuracy of the mathematical model, and combined with neural network algorithms, improve the accuracy of flow calculation.

[0015] Furthermore, the matching layer is circular in shape, and its diameter is designed to satisfy the distance for the two upstream piezoelectric ceramic transducers to be placed and bonded obliquely and symmetrically, and the distance for the three downstream piezoelectric ceramic transducers to be placed and bonded horizontally along the diameter direction of the matching layer.

[0016] Furthermore, the transducer installation pipe section, used to install the transducer, is designed as an integral part of the water meter pipe section. The upstream and downstream transducer installation pipe sections are designed with oblique symmetry, allowing ultrasonic waves to be emitted from the upstream piezoelectric ceramic transducer plate to the downstream piezoelectric ceramic transducer plate through the pipe section. Attached Figure Description

[0017] Figure 1 This is a side view of the four-channel transducer of the ultrasonic water meter of the present invention.

[0018] Figure 2 This is a top view of the piezoelectric ceramic arrangement upstream of the four-channel transducer in the ultrasonic water meter of the present invention.

[0019] Figure 3 This is a top view of the downstream piezoelectric ceramic arrangement of the four-channel transducer in the ultrasonic water meter of the present invention.

[0020] Figure 4 This is a top view of the piezoelectric ceramic arrangement of the four-channel transducer in the ultrasonic water meter of the present invention.

[0021] Figure 5 This is a side view of the piezoelectric ceramic arrangement of the four-channel transducer in the ultrasonic water meter of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0022] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this invention clearer, the invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of the invention and do not limit the scope of the invention. Example

[0023] like Figure 1 As shown, a four-path transducer for an ultrasonic water meter includes upstream piezoelectric ceramics 11 and 12, and downstream piezoelectric ceramics 21, 22, and 23. These piezoelectric ceramics are used to convert electrical signals into ultrasonic signals. Together with a matching layer 3, they form the upstream and downstream transducers of the water meter. Ultrasonic waves are emitted from the upstream transducer to the downstream transducer and then back to the upstream transducer, forming four acoustic paths in the water. The four acoustic paths are of equal length. The flow velocity and flow rate are calculated by measuring the time difference between the downstream and upstream propagation of the ultrasonic waves in the fluid. The matching layer 3 serves as... It improves the energy transmission efficiency of ultrasonic waves between different media, adjusts the transducer bandwidth, and protects the piezoelectric ceramics. It is composed of upstream piezoelectric ceramics 11 and 12, and downstream piezoelectric ceramics 21, 22, and 23 bonded to it to form a transducer; water meter pipe section 4 is the pipe through which water flows; transducer installation pipe section 5 is used to install the upstream and downstream transducers, and is designed as an integral part of the water meter pipe section. The upstream and downstream transducer installation pipe sections are designed with oblique symmetry, and ultrasonic waves can be transmitted from the upstream piezoelectric ceramic transducer plate 1 to the downstream piezoelectric ceramic transducer plate 2 through the pipe section; water meter pipe section 6 is the pipe through which water flows.

[0024] like Figure 2 As shown, piezoelectric ceramics 11 and 12 are obliquely symmetrically distributed and adhered to the matching layer 3. Figure 3 As shown, piezoelectric ceramics 21, 22 and 23 are horizontally distributed and attached to the matching layer 4.

[0025] like Figure 4 As shown, the two upstream piezoelectric ceramics and the three downstream piezoelectric ceramics overlap slightly between each pair of piezoelectric ceramics. This ensures a relatively high signal-to-noise ratio while preventing the four acoustic paths from being on the same plane, which is beneficial for the computation of neural network algorithms.

[0026] like Figure 5As shown, the first acoustic path is formed between piezoelectric ceramic transducer 21 and piezoelectric ceramic transducer 11, with ultrasonic waves transmitted from downstream to upstream; the second acoustic path is formed between piezoelectric ceramics 11 and 22, with ultrasonic waves transmitted from upstream to downstream; the third acoustic path is formed between piezoelectric ceramics 22 and 12, with ultrasonic waves transmitted from downstream to upstream; and the fourth acoustic path is formed between piezoelectric ceramics 12 and 23, with ultrasonic waves transmitted from upstream to downstream. Due to the arrangement of the piezoelectric ceramics, the four acoustic paths have the same length. The average flow velocity along the four acoustic paths is calculated by measuring the time difference of ultrasonic wave propagation in the fluid in both upstream and downstream directions. The average flow velocity along the cross section of the pipe under test is calculated by measuring the weighted average of the velocities of the four acoustic paths. Ultrasonic flow meters require complex calculations to obtain the final average flow velocity and flow rate. The four acoustic paths effectively improve the accuracy of the mathematical model, thereby improving the accuracy of flow rate calculation.

[0027] The above embodiments are descriptions of specific implementations of the present invention, and not limitations thereof. Those skilled in the art can make various modifications and changes without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention to obtain corresponding equivalent technical solutions. Therefore, all equivalent technical solutions should be included in the patent protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A four-path transducer for use in ultrasonic water meters, characterized in that, This includes upstream piezoelectric ceramic transducers, downstream piezoelectric ceramic transducers, matching layers, water meter pipe sections, and transducer installation pipe sections, among which: Upstream piezoelectric ceramic transducer, the piezoelectric ceramic is circular in shape, two piezoelectric ceramics are obliquely symmetrically distributed and bonded to the matching layer to form a transducer; Downstream piezoelectric ceramic transducer: Three piezoelectric ceramic pieces are horizontally distributed in a straight line and bonded to the matching layer to form a transducer; Two upstream piezoelectric ceramic sheets and three downstream piezoelectric ceramic sheets overlap slightly between each pair of sheets, forming four ultrasonic propagation paths of equal length. This specific arrangement of piezoelectric ceramic sheets ensures that the four paths are not on the same plane, allowing the ultrasonic signal to travel back and forth along the four paths. The matching layer, made of polyphenylene sulfide, serves to improve the energy transmission efficiency of ultrasound between different media, adjust the transducer bandwidth, protect the piezoelectric ceramic, and form a transducer with the piezoelectric ceramic bonded to it. Water meter section, the pipe through which water flows; Transducer installation pipe section, used to install the transducer.

2. A four-path transducer for ultrasonic water meters according to claim 1, wherein the piezoelectric ceramic transducer is an information functional ceramic material capable of converting mechanical energy and electrical energy into each other, and its function is to generate and receive ultrasonic waves; the upstream two piezoelectric ceramic plates and the downstream three piezoelectric ceramic plates are fixed in position, the upstream two piezoelectric ceramic plates are obliquely symmetrically distributed left and right, and the downstream three piezoelectric ceramic plates are horizontally distributed; the average flow velocity on the four sound paths is calculated by measuring the time difference of ultrasonic waves propagating in the fluid with and against the current, and the average flow velocity on the cross section of the pipe under test is calculated by measuring the weighted average of the velocities of the four sound paths. Ultrasonic flow meters require complex calculations to obtain the final average flow velocity and flow rate. The four-path transducer can effectively improve the accuracy of the mathematical model, and combined with the neural network algorithm, improve the accuracy of flow calculation.

3. The four-path transducer for ultrasonic water meters according to claim 1, wherein the matching layer is circular in shape, and its diameter is designed to satisfy the distance for the obliquely symmetrical placement and bonding of two upstream piezoelectric ceramic transducers, and the distance for the horizontal placement and bonding of three downstream piezoelectric ceramic transducers along the diameter direction of the matching layer.

4. A four-path transducer for use in an ultrasonic water meter according to claim 1, wherein the transducer mounting pipe section is used to install the transducer and is designed as an integral part of the water meter pipe section, and the upstream and downstream transducer mounting pipe sections are designed to be obliquely symmetrical, so that ultrasonic waves can be emitted from the upstream piezoelectric ceramic transducer plate to the downstream piezoelectric ceramic transducer plate through the pipe section.

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