A wake ball for monitoring flow regime of a water turbine flow passage

Abstract

The present application belongs to the technical field of flow state detection, and discloses a wake ball for flow state monitoring of a water turbine flow channel, which comprises an outer shell, a sensor assembly, a throw mechanism and a counterweight. The outer shell is a hollow spherical structure, and the inside of the outer shell is provided with the sensor assembly and the throw mechanism. One side surface of the outer shell is provided with a recess, and the throw mechanism extends to the recess and is detachably connected with the counterweight. When the throw mechanism is connected with the counterweight, the density of the wake ball is close to that of water, so that the wake ball can flow together with the water flow in the flow channel to obtain flow state data. When the throw mechanism is detached from the counterweight, the density of the wake ball is smaller than that of water, so that the wake ball can float to the water surface without power and wait for recovery. The wake ball can realize wake flow and monitor the whole process of the flow channel, and does not need additional power or artificial control, and can better adapt to the underwater environment with high pressure, high speed and high acceleration. The wake ball will not cause damage to the water turbine unit and the flow channel, and has high practicability and applicability.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the technical field of flow regime detection, and more specifically, relates to a wake ball for flow regime monitoring in a water turbine channel. Background Technology

[0002] my country is a major hydropower producer, with numerous dams and generating units of varying sizes throughout the country. It is projected that by 2030, my country's total installed hydropower capacity will reach approximately 520 million kilowatts, with hydropower development reaching 60%. As a high-power energy conversion facility using fluid as the working medium, a hydropower generating unit system consists of components such as water diversion projects, hydropower generating units, and power transmission projects. The main channel of the hydropower generating unit, composed of the water diversion project and the hydropower generating units, bears the primary fluid load. Experimental data from the core area of ​​the main channel, such as fluid pressure pulsation and streamline flow field, requires actual machine testing to facilitate the operation and maintenance of the hydropower generating unit, as well as the improvement and optimization of the unit design. Currently, common testing methods and means mainly include:

[0003] Finite element method (FEM) simulation analysis is the most commonly used simulation analysis method in flow channel design. With the help of relevant tools, key characteristics reflecting the operating status of hydroelectric generator units in conventional hydropower and pumped storage power stations, such as the flow field, streamlines, and pressure pulsations, can be obtained through simulation. By modeling and simulating the internal flow channels and surrounding environment of the hydropower station, the physical characteristics of the flow field and its impact on the environment can be evaluated to a certain extent. The characteristics of simulation analysis are: ideal design conditions, strictly controllable conditions, relatively few factors affecting the results, and strong repeatability. In contrast, direct experiments are characterized by results close to reality, complex and diverse experimental conditions, many factors affecting the results, and weaker repeatability.

[0004] Traditional flow field data monitoring schemes for hydroelectric generator sets primarily rely on fixed sensors. These underwater monitoring devices are relatively stationary compared to the ground, used to monitor the physical information of a fixed point in an absolute coordinate system. In current fluid data acquisition schemes, contact or non-contact data acquisition via sensors installed near pipelines is a mature and widely used technology. This type of monitoring equipment is extensively used in pipe networks, hydroelectric systems, and other fluid-targeting monitoring systems. However, it suffers from weaknesses such as low flexibility and poor maintainability, making it unsuitable for certain special requirements. For example, it cannot monitor flow field data on the surface of high-speed turbine blades, rendering it unsuitable for monitoring turbine flow channels.

[0005] In addition, underwater autonomous monitoring robots are another widely used fluid monitoring solution. These robots are autonomously powered and capable of operating according to a predetermined procedure or being remotely controlled in real time. However, current underwater robots cannot withstand high-speed, high-pressure, and high-acceleration working environments, and they can cause unpredictable damage to the flow channel; therefore, their use within flow channels is not permitted.

[0006] Given the technical problems existing in the aforementioned flow channel monitoring, there is still no good solution, so there is an urgent need to find an effective solution to solve these problems. Summary of the Invention

[0007] To address the aforementioned deficiencies or improvement needs of existing technologies, this invention provides a wake ball for monitoring the flow state of a water turbine channel. This solves the problem that existing fixed sensors and underwater self-monitoring robots are not suitable for monitoring the flow state of water turbine channels, resulting in missing measured data of the core area flow field in the main channel of a hydroelectric generator unit.

[0008] To achieve the above objectives, according to the present invention, a wake ball for monitoring the flow state of a water turbine channel is provided, comprising a shell, a sensor assembly, a loading mechanism, and a counterweight. The shell is a hollow spherical structure, and the sensor assembly is disposed inside the shell. A recess is provided on one side surface of the shell, and the counterweight is disposed in the recess. The loading mechanism is fixed inside the shell and extends into the recess, and is detachably connected to the counterweight.

[0009] When the throwing mechanism is connected to the counterweight, the density of the wake ball is similar to that of water, so that it can flow with the water in the flow channel and acquire flow data through the sensor assembly; when the throwing mechanism is detached from the counterweight, the density of the wake ball is less than that of water, so that it can float to the water surface without power for easy recovery.

[0010] According to the present invention, the flow-tracing ball for monitoring the flow state of a turbine channel includes a load-release mechanism, a connecting shaft, and a load-removing hook. The driving mechanism is fixed inside the outer shell and is connected to the connecting shaft to drive the connecting shaft to rotate. The connecting shaft extends out of the outer shell to the recessed portion and the load-removing hook is fixedly connected to the extended portion. The load-removing hook is connected to and disassembled from the counterweight by rotation.

[0011] According to the present invention, the flow-tracing ball for monitoring the flow state of a water turbine channel includes a drive mechanism comprising a bracket, a motor, a lead screw, a slider, a connecting rod, and a connecting arm. The motor and the lead screw are respectively mounted on the bracket, and the bracket is fixedly connected to the outer casing. The motor drives the lead screw to rotate through a transmission assembly. The slider is matched and connected to the lead screw. The slider is rotatably connected to one end of the connecting rod, and the other end of the connecting rod is rotatably connected to one end of the connecting arm. The other end of the connecting arm is connected to one end of the connecting shaft.

[0012] According to the present invention, a wake ball for monitoring the flow state of a water turbine channel is provided, wherein the counterweight block is provided with a clearance groove corresponding to the connecting shaft and the unloading hook, and a fixing rod that matches and connects to the unloading hook is provided in the clearance groove.

[0013] According to the present invention, the concave portion of the flow monitoring ball for a water turbine channel is further provided with a spring sheet, which is in a pressed state when the unloading mechanism is connected to the counterweight block;

[0014] And / or, a matching hook structure is provided between the counterweight and the wall surface of the recess.

[0015] According to the present invention, the wake ball for monitoring the flow state of a water turbine channel is further provided with an indicator light on the outer shell. When the unloading mechanism and the counterweight are in a disassembled state, the center of gravity of the wake ball is located on the side away from the indicator light.

[0016] According to the present invention, the flow-tracing ball for monitoring the flow state of a water turbine channel includes a sensor assembly comprising a strain sensor and an inertial sensor. The inertial sensor is fixed in the middle part of the outer shell, and the strain sensor is disposed in contact with the inner wall of the outer shell.

[0017] The housing also contains a power supply and a circuit board, on which a signal processing circuit and a processor are mounted.

[0018] The housing also includes a positioning module and a wireless communication response module. The positioning module receives satellite signals and transmits location signals outward through the wireless communication response module. The wireless communication response module also receives signals from the host computer.

[0019] According to the present invention, a wake ball for monitoring the flow state of a water turbine channel is provided, wherein the unloading mechanism is used to start working to remove the counterweight when the wake ball completes monitoring, wherein the judgment condition for the wake ball completing monitoring is that the sensor assembly detects that the wake ball has been in a gentle water flow for more than a preset time, and / or, the positioning module is able to receive a first preset number of satellite signals.

[0020] According to the wake ball for monitoring the flow state of a water turbine channel provided by the present invention, the positioning module specifically sends location information to the outside through the wireless communication response module when the wake ball completes the monitoring;

[0021] And / or, the wireless communication response module is further configured to selectively shut down the transmission of the corresponding location signal when a second preset number of location signals are detected; and to strengthen the transmission of the location signal when a location request signal is received from the host computer.

[0022] According to the present invention, a wake ball for monitoring the flow state of a water turbine channel is provided, wherein the outer shell is provided with a first chamber and a second chamber, the inertial sensor, the power supply and the circuit board are respectively disposed inside the first chamber, the first chamber is provided with a slot, and the slot is matched and connected to the circuit board; the positioning module and the wireless communication response module are disposed inside the second chamber.

[0023] In summary, compared with the prior art, the wake ball for monitoring the flow state of a water turbine channel provided by the present invention offers the following advantages:

[0024] 1. Through the overall design and coordination of the shape, density, and sensor components of the wake sphere, it is possible to achieve wake monitoring of the entire flow channel process without additional power or human control. After deployment, it moves with the water flow to monitor the flow parameters of the channel. The operation is simple and effective, enabling accurate and complete monitoring of the flow parameters of the channel. It can also adapt well to the high-pressure, high-speed, and high-acceleration underwater working environment. In addition, during operation, it has the same movement characteristics as the water flow and will not generate a greater impact than the water flow, so it will not cause damage to the turbine unit or the flow channel. It has strong practicality and applicability.

[0025] 2. Through the detachable connection between the counterweight and the throwing mechanism, and the design that the density of the wake ball is less than that of water after throwing, the wake ball can float to the water surface without power after completing the monitoring, making it easy to recover.

[0026] 3. The specific structural design of the unloading mechanism uses the lever principle to amplify the torque provided by the micro motor, so as to ensure that the unloading hook and the fixed rod are tightly engaged during the monitoring process and will not come off during operation, and that the unloading hook can be smoothly rotated by the torque provided by the micro motor when the monitoring is completed, so as to unlock and unload the counterweight.

[0027] 4. The design of the wake ball's center of buoyancy and center of gravity not coinciding after the counterweight is thrown out ensures that the indicator light installed on the inner wall of the wake ball is above the water surface after it floats to the surface, making it easy to recover.

[0028] 5. It has a built-in positioning module, such as GPS and a wireless communication response module, which facilitates the transmission of location signals to achieve positioning and retrieval. Attached Figure Description

[0029] Figure 1 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the wake ball for monitoring the flow state of a water turbine channel provided by the present invention;

[0030] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the loading mechanism provided by the present invention;

[0031] Figure 3 This is a first schematic diagram of the counterweight block provided by the present invention;

[0032] Figure 4 This is a second schematic diagram of the counterweight provided by the present invention;

[0033] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the recessed portion on the surface of the outer shell provided by the present invention;

[0034] Figure 6 This is a partially enlarged schematic diagram of the through hole at the recessed part of the outer shell surface provided by the present invention;

[0035] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the pressure plate at the through-shaft hole provided by the present invention;

[0036] In all the accompanying drawings, the same reference numerals are used to denote the same elements or structures, wherein:

[0037] 1: Hemispherical upper cover; 2: Hemispherical lower cover; 3: Recessed part; 4: First compartment; 5: Second compartment; 6: Strain sensor; 7: Rib structure; 8: Indicator light; 9: Through shaft hole; 10: Connecting shaft; 11: Unloading hook; 12: Bracket; 13: Motor; 14: Integrated wiring harness; 15: Connecting arm; 16: Connecting rod; 17: Slider; 18: Lead screw; 19: Spring; 20: Stop block; 21: Pressure plate; 22: Screw hole; 23: Counterweight block; 24: Clearance groove; 25: Fixing rod; 26: Hook; 27: Fixing hole. Detailed Implementation

[0038] 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 and not intended to limit the invention. Furthermore, the technical features involved in the various embodiments of this invention described below can be combined with each other as long as they do not conflict with each other.

[0039] Please see Figure 1This invention provides a wake sphere for monitoring the flow state of a water turbine channel. The wake sphere includes a shell, a sensor assembly, a loading mechanism, and a counterweight 23. The shell is a hollow spherical structure, and the sensor assembly is located inside the shell. A recess 3 is provided on one side surface of the shell, and the counterweight 23 is disposed in the recess 3. The loading mechanism is fixed inside the shell and extends into the recess 3, detachably connected to the counterweight 23. The shape of the counterweight 23 can match the recess 3, so that the overall shape of the wake sphere is spherical, that is, the shape is spherical after the shell and the counterweight 23 are connected, which facilitates its movement with the water flow.

[0040] When the throwing mechanism is connected to the counterweight 23, the density of the wake ball is similar to that of water, allowing it to flow with the water in the channel and acquire flow data through the sensor assembly. When the throwing mechanism is detached from the counterweight 23, the density of the wake ball is less than that of water, allowing it to float to the surface without power for easy recovery. Specifically, a counterweight 23 with a corresponding shape is stored in the recessed portion 3 on the outer shell surface. This structure works together to adjust the overall density of the wake ball, achieving both initial unpowered wake movement and subsequent throwing and floating.

[0041] Specifically, when using the wake spheres to monitor the flow state in the channel, multiple wake spheres connected to counterweights 23 are initially deployed into the channel. Since their overall density is similar to that of water (i.e., the density difference between the wake spheres and water is within a certain threshold range), they are evenly distributed in the water during batch deployment, preventing all from floating or sinking. This eliminates the need for an additional power source, allowing them to completely follow the fluid's movement to achieve wake flow. Simultaneously, the sensor assembly monitors fluid pressure pulsations and flow field parameters, enabling flow state monitoring. A loading mechanism is activated to remove the counterweights 23 when the wake spheres complete monitoring. Loading changes the density of the wake spheres, allowing them to automatically float after detection, facilitating recovery.

[0042] The accompanying ball for monitoring the flow state of a water turbine channel provided by this invention, through a structure in which the counterweight 23 is detachably connected to the throwing mechanism, can achieve flow accompaniment to monitor the entire process of the flow channel. It requires no additional power or human control. After being deployed, it moves with the water flow to monitor the flow state parameters of the channel. The working method is simple and effective, and it can achieve accurate and complete monitoring of the flow state parameters of the channel. It can also adapt well to the underwater working environment of high pressure, high speed and high acceleration. In addition, during the operation, it has the same energy as the water flow and will not generate a greater impact than the water flow, so it will not cause damage to the water turbine unit and the flow channel. It has strong practicality and applicability.

[0043] This wake ball is not only suitable for flow monitoring in turbine channels, but also for flow monitoring in other channels. It has strong applicability and is not limited to specific application environments.

[0044] Furthermore, when the throwing mechanism is connected to the counterweight 23, the center of gravity and the center of buoyancy of the wake sphere coincide. That is, when the throwing mechanism is connected to the counterweight 23, the center of gravity of the wake sphere coincides with the center of buoyancy at this time. At this time, it is mainly used for flow accompaniment, and the wake sphere flows with the water flow. The center of buoyancy is located at the center of the wake sphere. The initial coincidence of the center of gravity and the center of buoyancy of the wake sphere allows it to change its posture with the fluid during the flow accompaniment process, without tending to remain in a fixed posture or to overturn during the movement, thus generating torque. This is beneficial for better monitoring of flow parameters.

[0045] Furthermore, the outer casing is made of plastic. The hardness of the wake sphere material is much lower than that of materials in any part of its working environment, causing almost no damage to the unit. The wake sphere has a diameter of approximately 60-100mm to ensure smooth flow within the flow channel and facilitate the installation of internal components.

[0046] refer to Figure 2 In some embodiments, the unloading mechanism includes a drive mechanism, a connecting shaft 10, and an unloading hook 11. The drive mechanism is fixed inside the housing and connected to the connecting shaft 10 for driving the connecting shaft 10 to rotate. The connecting shaft 10 extends from the housing to the recess 3, and the unloading hook 11 is fixedly connected to the extended portion. The unloading hook 11 connects to and disconnects from the counterweight 23 by rotation. (Reference) Figure 1 The outer casing has a through-shaft hole 9 at the recessed part 3, through which the connecting shaft 10 can pass to the recessed part 3, and the connecting shaft 10 is rotatably and sealed to the outer casing at the through-shaft hole 9.

[0047] Furthermore, the driving mechanism includes a bracket 12, a motor 13, a lead screw 18, a slider 17, a connecting rod 16, and a connecting arm 15. The motor 13 and the lead screw 18 are respectively mounted on the bracket 12, and the bracket 12 is fixedly connected to the outer casing. The motor 13 drives the lead screw 18 to rotate through a transmission assembly. The slider 17 is matched and connected to the lead screw 18. The slider 17 is rotatably connected to one end of the connecting rod 16, and the other end of the connecting rod 16 is rotatably connected to one end of the connecting arm 15. The other end of the connecting arm 15 is connected to one end of the connecting shaft 10. The bracket 12 can be fixedly connected to the outer casing by bolts. A guide rod can also be provided on the bracket 12, which is parallel to the lead screw 18. The slider 17 can be slidably connected to the guide rod to better realize the translational sliding of the slider 17. The translational sliding of the slider 17 can drive the connecting rod 16 to move, thereby driving the connecting arm 15 and the connecting shaft 10 to rotate, realizing the rotation of the unloading hook 11.

[0048] Furthermore, the unloading hook 11 includes an integrally connected connecting part and a hook body. The connecting part is fixedly connected to the connecting shaft 10, and the angle between the hook body and the connecting part is close to 180°. This ensures the reliability of the unloading hook 11 when connected to the counterweight 23.

[0049] refer to Figure 3 and Figure 4 The counterweight 23 has a clearance groove 24 corresponding to the connecting shaft 10 and the unloading hook 11. A fixing rod 25 that matches and connects to the unloading hook 11 is provided in the clearance groove 24. The unloading hook 11 connects the unloading mechanism and the counterweight 23 by hooking its body onto the fixing rod 25. The unloading mechanism can be disassembled from the counterweight 23 by rotating the unloading hook 11.

[0050] refer to Figure 5 The recessed portion 3 is also provided with a spring piece 19. When the throwing mechanism and the counterweight 23 are connected, the spring piece 19 is in a pressed state; thus, when the throwing mechanism and the counterweight 23 are disassembled, the spring piece 19 can push the counterweight 23 out of the outer shell through elastic force.

[0051] refer to Figure 4 and Figure 5 A matching hook structure is also provided between the counterweight 23 and the wall surface of the recessed portion 3. Specifically, a stop 20 can be provided on the wall surface of the recessed portion 3, and a hook 26 can be provided on the wall surface of the counterweight 23 at a position corresponding to the stop 20. When the throwing mechanism and the counterweight 23 are connected, the hook 26 can be matched and engaged with the stop 20 to ensure the reliability of the connection.

[0052] Furthermore, in other embodiments, the launching mechanism can also be other structures. For example, the counterweight 23 can be a metal block, and the launching mechanism can be an electromagnet structure, connecting with the counterweight 23 through magnetic force, and connecting and disassembling with the counterweight 23 by controlling the on and off of the magnetic force. The specific structure of the launching mechanism is not limited, as long as it can achieve a detachable connection with the counterweight 23 and is easy to control.

[0053] refer to Figure 1 The outer casing is also equipped with an indicator light 8. When the throwing mechanism and the counterweight 23 are detached, the center of gravity of the wake ball is located on the side away from the indicator light 8. This ensures that after throwing, the indicator light 8 will be positioned above the wake ball due to the center of gravity shifting away from it, making recovery easier.

[0054] Furthermore, when the jetting mechanism and counterweight 23 are detached, the center of gravity is located below the center of buoyancy; that is, the center of gravity is located on the side of the center of buoyancy away from the indicator light 8. The design that the center of buoyancy and center of gravity of the wake ball do not coincide after jetting ensures that the LED indicator light 8 installed on the inner wall of the wake ball can remain stably above the water surface after the jetting floats out of the water, making it easy to recover.

[0055] Furthermore, the sensor assembly includes a strain sensor 6 and an inertial sensor. The inertial sensor is fixed in the middle of the housing, and the strain sensor 6 is attached to the inner wall of the housing. The strain sensor 6 can monitor the pressure pulsation parameters of the flow channel, and the inertial sensor can monitor the streamline or flow field parameters of the flow channel.

[0056] The casing also houses a power supply and a circuit board, on which a signal processing circuit and a processor are mounted. This flow-tracing ball can detect the fluid state parameters of the accompanying flow in real time. Through the built-in strain sensor 6, inertial sensor, signal processing circuit, and microprocessor, it can detect fluid pressure pulsations and streamlines / flow fields. Powered by its own battery, and due to the extremely low power consumption of all electrical components, it can operate for extended periods.

[0057] The casing also houses a positioning module and a wireless communication response module. The positioning module receives satellite signals and transmits location signals outwards via the wireless communication response module. The wireless communication response module also receives signals from a host computer. Having a built-in positioning module, such as GPS, and a wireless communication response module facilitates the transmission of location signals, enabling location tracking and retrieval.

[0058] The power supply provides power to all power-consuming components of the wake sphere, such as the sensor assembly, the ejection mechanism, the positioning module, the wireless communication response module, and indicator light 8. The signal processing circuit processes the monitoring data from the sensor assembly. The processor provides overall control of the wake sphere's operation, including controlling signal transmission from the wireless communication response module, controlling the operation of the ejection mechanism, and controlling the operation of indicator light 8.

[0059] Furthermore, the unloading mechanism is used to remove the counterweight 23 when the wake ball completes monitoring. The criteria for determining when the wake ball completes monitoring are that the sensor assembly detects the wake ball being in a gentle water flow for more than a preset time, and / or that the positioning module receives a first preset number of satellite signals.

[0060] If the sensor assembly detects that the wake ball has been in a gentle current for more than a preset time, it can determine this by monitoring the velocity, turning angle, and acceleration parameters within the flow channel. When these parameters decrease to within a preset range, it can be determined that the wake ball is in a gentle current. Furthermore, because the main channel is usually obstructed by mountains, concrete structures, or other engineering works, the wake ball is unlikely to receive satellite signals within it. Therefore, when the positioning module receives a first preset number of satellite signals, it indicates that the wake ball has left the main channel, and the main channel monitoring is complete.

[0061] Specifically, when the wake ball completes monitoring, the positioning module sends location information to the outside through the wireless communication response module; that is, when the processor determines that monitoring is completed according to the judgment conditions for the wake ball to complete monitoring, it can control the wireless communication response module to send a location signal so that the remote host computer can receive the location signal to realize the positioning of the wake ball, which is convenient for recovery and conducive to energy saving.

[0062] The wireless communication response module is also used to selectively shut down the transmission of the corresponding location signal when a second preset number of location signals are detected; and to strengthen the transmission of the location signal when a location request signal is received from the host computer.

[0063] This wake ball features active positioning and wireless response for easy retrieval. It has a built-in GPS positioning and wireless communication response module. After passing through the flow channel area, it determines whether it has reached open water by detecting the number of received satellite signals and / or the time spent in a straight channel. Once the conditions are met, it actively transmits a position signal. When a large number of similar position signals are detected nearby, indicating a large number of wake balls, the system can control and actively stop signal transmission from some wake balls to conserve energy. When the wake ball receives a response signal from the host computer, it amplifies its signal output to facilitate retrieval.

[0064] Specifically, upon determining that the wake sphere has completed monitoring, the launching mechanism actively releases the counterweight 23 to ensure that the wake sphere itself can float to the water surface. Combining the location information data from the positioning module, the wireless communication response module will broadcast a radio location signal at 5-second intervals. Simultaneously, to avoid channel congestion, after the processor determines that the wireless communication response module has detected a broadcast location signal of the same type exceeding a certain intensity, it will actively control some wake spheres to remain radio silent for a period of time. Upon detecting a response request signal (a signal from the host computer's signal receiver requesting active location broadcasting), the wake sphere will terminate its silence state and, disregarding the satellite number limit, continuously emit a higher-intensity broadcast location signal at 1-second intervals.

[0065] Furthermore, when the wireless communication response module detects a second preset number of position signals, it can selectively shut down the transmission of position signals corresponding to some of the multiple wake spheres in proportion or by quantity.

[0066] Furthermore, the outer shell contains a first compartment 4 and a second compartment 5. The inertial sensor, the power supply, and the circuit board are respectively located inside the first compartment 4, which has slots that are matched and connected to the circuit board. The positioning module and the wireless communication response module are located inside the second compartment 5. This compartment structure allows for better fixation of the components, resulting in an orderly internal structure and improved structural stability.

[0067] In one specific embodiment, considering that real-time monitoring of the flow channel of a hydroelectric generator unit inevitably faces a high-pressure, high-speed, and high-acceleration underwater working environment, and the need to ensure the reliability and completeness of the flow monitoring data while avoiding damage to the turbine unit and the flow channel, as well as the considerable difficulties of existing technologies in this area, this invention relates to an intelligent monitoring ball for flow field and flow state detection in a hydroelectric turbine flow channel. This monitoring ball has a built-in power supply and intelligent monitoring system, and accompanies the fluid through the flow channel in a non-powered mode, while realizing real-time detection of the flow field and flow state. Specifically, it proposes a structure for a flow-accompanying ball for hydroelectric turbine flow state monitoring, aiming to solve the problem of difficulties in existing hydroelectric turbine flow state monitoring.

[0068] refer to Figure 1 The outer shell of the wake sphere includes a hemispherical upper cover 1 and a hemispherical lower cover 2 that are spliced ​​together. The upper and lower covers of the wake sphere are engaged by protrusions and grooves on the contact surfaces. This part has at least one sealing method, forming a closed space inside. For example, a tight connection is achieved by ultrasonic welding to form a cavity to ensure that the density of this part is less than that of water, ensuring that it can successfully float after being jettisoned. At the same time, it can also ensure the stability of the internal and external structures in the working environment of the flow channel area, and protect the internal electronic equipment from damage or detachment from the sphere.

[0069] The outer shell also features an internal rib structure 7. This rib structure 7 within the upper and lower covers enables an internal grid design, providing support for the entire sphere and significantly improving impact resistance. It is characterized by high strength and ease of manufacturing. Simultaneously, the rib structure 7 allows for the creation of pre-drilled grooves to accommodate different components, greatly simplifying manufacturing. It increases strength while also providing positioning for various modules. The reinforcing ribs within the sphere ensure overall strength while limiting the internal compartments. The rib design allows for adjustment of the center of gravity and reduces the need for additional fixing parts.

[0070] Furthermore, a large cubic sealed box, namely the core compartment or the first compartment 4, is fixed within the enclosed space formed by the upper and lower covers of the hemisphere. It is located in the center of the sphere and contains necessary electronic components such as inertial sensors, signal processing circuits, microprocessors, and power supplies. Strain sensors 6 are installed on the outside of the compartment, attached to the inner wall of the outer shell, to detect the pressure pulsation and streamlines / flow field of the fluid. Between the core compartment and the upper cover of the hemisphere 1, there is a cuboid area smaller than the core compartment, namely the second compartment 5, which is used to house the positioning module and the wireless communication response module, which locates and transmits position information during recovery.

[0071] The bottom of the hemispherical lower cover 2 has a recessed space, namely the recessed part 3. A jettisoning mechanism is installed between the hemispherical lower cover 2 and the core compartment. The jettisoning mechanism is partially exposed outside the recessed part of the hemispherical lower cover 2. Through the operation of the jettisoning mechanism, the connection between the sphere and the counterweight 23 is achieved in the early stage, and the counterweight 23 is released in the later stage. After jettisoning, the density is less than that of water, and the center of gravity is deviated from the center of buoyancy, ensuring that the LED indicator lights on the surface of the wake sphere are exposed above the water surface. The strong light of the LEDs shines through the outer shell of the wake sphere, achieving the function of flashing indication.

[0072] After jettisoning, the center of gravity no longer coincides with the center of buoyancy, ensuring that the lower hemispherical cover 2, where the LED is located, remains above the water surface for easy recovery and identification. Through the asymmetrical design of the upper and lower covers, and the asymmetrical distribution of components in the upper and lower hemispheres, and the different materials, specifically, the area of ​​the upper hemispherical cover 1 mainly contains electronic components, while the relatively large battery in the core compartment is installed in the area close to the upper hemispherical cover 1.

[0073] refer to Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 4The ejection mechanism is mounted inside the hemispherical lower cover 2 via a fixed bracket 12, which is secured to the hemispherical lower cover 2 with three screws. A micro motor and a lead screw sliding assembly are mounted on the bracket 12. The micro motor and the lead screw 18 are connected via gears. The lead screw sliding assembly is connected to the connecting rod 16. The connecting rod 16 has two bends near the end of the connecting arm 15 to facilitate the rotation of the connecting arm 15 and to avoid interference with other components inside the housing. The connecting rod 16 is connected to the connecting arm 15. One end of the connecting arm 15 is connected to the connecting rod 16 via a spherical hinge, and the other end of the connecting arm 15 is clamped to one end of the connecting shaft 10 with screws. (Reference) Figure 5 The ejection mechanism connects the inside and outside of the housing via a steel connecting shaft 10 passing through a through-shaft hole 9 on the housing. This steel connecting shaft 10 undergoes special waterproofing treatment using a miniature silicone rubber ring. The rubber ring is fitted over the connecting shaft 10, and with the force of the pressure plate 21 and the rubber ring, the rubber ring is tightly pressed against the surface of the rotating shaft and the outer edge of the rotating shaft through-hole, achieving a seal. (Reference) Figure 6 and Figure 7 The pressure plate 21 is connected to the outer casing via bolts at the screw hole 22, so that the rubber ring is pressed tightly against the through-shaft hole 9 of the outer casing. The side of the pressure plate 21 facing the outer casing has a fixing hole 27 that matches the rubber ring for accommodating and placing the rubber ring. The middle of the connecting shaft 10 is fitted with an unloading hook 11 by an interference fit. The unloading hook 11 rotates with the rotation of the unloading rod. Its hook shape is arc-shaped and bends at nearly 180 degrees. When the unloading hook 11 is working, it hooks the fixing rod 25 on the counterweight block 23.

[0074] Furthermore, the counterweight 23 is made of metal. Through structural design and counterweight, the overall density of the outer shell connected to the counterweight 23 is similar to the density of the water being measured, and its shape matches the recess reserved in the hemispherical lower cover 2. The counterweight 23 is connected to the outer shell through the embedded fixing rod 25 and two protruding hooks 26 on the edge; the outer shell has small spring pieces 19 made using sheet metal technology to provide the initial unloading force for the counterweight 23.

[0075] like Figures 1 to 5As shown, this invention provides a wake sphere structure, which can be used for flow monitoring in the flow channel of a turbine unit. Specifically, the wake sphere structure includes a hemispherical upper cover 1 and a hemispherical lower cover 2 that are engaged by bosses and grooves. After fixing and calibrating the internal modules, an enclosed space is formed by ultrasonic welding. On the inner wall of the hemispherical lower cover 2, on the four sides of the groove reserved for the counterweight 23, an LED indicator 8 is installed on the side without other parts. After entering the recovery stage, the LED light starts to flash. The enclosed space of the wake sphere is filled with ribs to achieve reserved slots, and a positioning module, a circular strain rosette, a core chamber, and a release mechanism are fixed therein. The circular strain rosette measures the external pressure by detecting the strain of the wake sphere shell. The core chamber has slots that match the thickness of the PCB board to limit and fix the internal circuit board. It also contains an IMU posture sensor (i.e., an inertial sensor), a battery, a main control unit, signal processing circuits, etc. The second chamber 5 contains a positioning module and a wireless communication response module. After the positioning module receives a certain number of satellite signals, it determines the distance the wake ball has traveled by combining the IMU module. The wake ball then enters the recovery process. In this process, the wake ball will discard the counterweight 23, and the wireless response module will start to continuously send signals, and the LED lights will start to flash.

[0076] Furthermore, a recessed space is reserved at the bottom of the hemispherical lower cover 2 to accommodate the counterweight 23; furthermore, the fixing rod 25 on the counterweight 23 is connected to the hemispherical lower cover 2 via the unloading hook 11 of the throwing mechanism, and is locked and thrown by the throwing mechanism; the micro motor in the throwing mechanism is the power source, and the control signal and energy are transmitted through the integrated wiring harness 14. The power of the micro motor is transmitted to the micro screw assembly through gears; the micro slider installed on the screw assembly converts rotation into translation, and transmits the displacement to the connecting arm 15 through the connecting rod 16; there is no relative rotation between the connecting arm 15, the connecting shaft 10, and the unloading hook 11. The throwing mechanism is connected from the inside to the outside groove through the through shaft hole 9. The rotation of the connecting arm 15 drives the unloading hook 11 to rotate, thereby locking and unlocking the fixing rod 25 on the counterweight 23; the spring piece 19 in the bottom groove of the hemispherical lower cover 2 ejects the counterweight 23 after the throwing mechanism is unlocked.

[0077] Through structural design, unpowered buoyancy can be achieved. Specifically, the jettison mechanism is controlled by a preset program. When the program detects that the preset trigger conditions are met, the jettison mechanism starts to work. The unloading hook 11 releases the fixing rod 25 of the counterweight 23, and the spring 19 provides outward elastic force to eject the counterweight 23, thereby achieving jettison and changing the density of the wake ball, causing the wake ball to float automatically.

[0078] The main materials used in this water feature are environmentally friendly and pollution-free. The main body is made of PA66 nylon through injection molding and sealed using ultrasonic welding to ensure that internal components are not lost to the environment during operation. The counterweight 23 is made of common materials such as cast iron, making it environmentally friendly after disposal. The choice of materials ensures that even if lost, it will not cause serious pollution to water bodies. Through material selection and structural design, maximum recyclability is ensured, and non-recyclable parts will not impact the environment. The plastic material has a hardness far less than the metal material of the flow channel, thus preventing damage to the flow channel.

[0079] The wake sphere structure provided by this invention can be used for flow state monitoring of the flow channel of 13 sets of hydro-generators. Its material and density can effectively solve the problem of damage to the flow channel when it is inside the flow channel. The throwing mechanism solves the problem of recovery after a large number of throws. The throwing density and internal sensors can effectively ensure the accuracy of the measured data.

[0080] This invention provides a wake sphere structure with a bright color. The main structure includes a wake sphere body for housing sensors, power supply, actuators, etc. The wake sphere body is connected to a counterweight 23 via a throwing mechanism. By tightening and releasing the counterweight 23 at different stages, it achieves uniform distribution within the water body during the initial wake sphere phase and autonomous buoyancy without power by throwing the counterweight 23 in the later stages. The wake sphere does not have an external propulsion device and requires no control; it moves with the water flow, ensuring that the sphere's kinetic energy is similar to that of the water flow. Furthermore, because it is made of plastic, it ensures strength without damaging the flow channel.

[0081] Those skilled in the art will readily understand that the above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, and improvements made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A wake ball for monitoring the flow regime in a water turbine channel, characterized in that, The device includes a housing, a sensor assembly, a throwing mechanism, and a counterweight. The housing is a hollow spherical structure, and the sensor assembly is located inside the housing. A recess is provided on one side surface of the housing, and the counterweight is located in the recess. The throwing mechanism is fixed inside the housing and extends into the recess, where it is detachably connected to the counterweight. When the throwing mechanism is connected to the counterweight, the density of the wake ball is similar to that of water, so that it can flow with the water in the flow channel and acquire flow data through the sensor assembly; when the throwing mechanism is detached from the counterweight, the density of the wake ball is less than that of water, so that it can float to the water surface without power for easy recovery. The unloading mechanism includes a drive mechanism, a connecting shaft, and an unloading hook. The drive mechanism is fixed inside the housing and is connected to the connecting shaft to drive the connecting shaft to rotate. The connecting shaft extends out of the housing to the recess and the unloading hook is fixedly connected to the extended part. The unloading hook is connected to and disassembled with the counterweight by rotating. The driving mechanism includes a bracket, a motor, a lead screw, a slider, a connecting rod, and a connecting arm. The motor and the lead screw are respectively mounted on the bracket, and the bracket is fixedly connected to the housing. The motor drives the lead screw to rotate through a transmission assembly. The slider is matched and connected to the lead screw. The slider is rotatably connected to one end of the connecting rod, and the other end of the connecting rod is rotatably connected to one end of the connecting arm. The other end of the connecting arm is connected to one end of the connecting shaft.

2. The wake ball for monitoring the flow pattern of a water turbine channel as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The counterweight has a clearance groove corresponding to the connecting shaft and the unloading hook, and a fixing rod that matches and connects to the unloading hook is provided in the clearance groove.

3. The wake ball for monitoring the flow pattern of a water turbine channel as described in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The recessed portion is also provided with a spring sheet, which is in a pressed state when the throwing mechanism is connected to the counterweight; And / or, a matching hook structure is provided between the counterweight and the wall surface of the recess.

4. The wake ball for monitoring the flow regime in a turbine channel as described in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The outer casing is also equipped with an indicator light. When the throwing mechanism and the counterweight are detached, the center of gravity of the wake ball is located on the side away from the indicator light.

5. The wake ball for monitoring the flow regime in a turbine channel as described in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The sensor assembly includes a strain sensor and an inertial sensor. The inertial sensor is fixed in the middle of the housing, and the strain sensor is attached to the inner wall of the housing. The housing also contains a power supply and a circuit board, on which a signal processing circuit and a processor are mounted. The housing also includes a positioning module and a wireless communication response module. The positioning module receives satellite signals and transmits location signals outward through the wireless communication response module. The wireless communication response module also receives signals from the host computer.

6. The wake ball for monitoring the flow regime in a turbine channel as described in claim 5, characterized in that, The unloading mechanism is used to start working and remove the counterweight when the wake ball completes monitoring. The judgment condition for the wake ball completing monitoring is that the sensor component detects that the wake ball has been in a gentle water flow for more than a preset time, and / or the positioning module is able to receive a first preset number of satellite signals.

7. The wake ball for monitoring the flow state of a water turbine channel as described in claim 5, characterized in that, Specifically, the positioning module sends location information outward through the wireless communication response module when the wake ball completes monitoring; And / or, the wireless communication response module is further configured to selectively shut down the transmission of the corresponding location signal when a second preset number of location signals are detected; and to strengthen the transmission of the location signal when a location request signal is received from the host computer.

8. The wake ball for monitoring the flow state of a water turbine channel as described in claim 5, characterized in that, The outer shell contains a first compartment and a second compartment. The inertial sensor, the power supply, and the circuit board are respectively located inside the first compartment. The first compartment has a slot that matches and connects to the circuit board. The positioning module and the wireless communication response module are located inside the second compartment.

Images