Flowmeter identification and control method

Abstract

The invention belongs to the technical field of program-controlled flow measurement and control, and particularly discloses a flow meter identification and control method which comprises the following steps: monitoring the rotor position in a glass rotor flow meter by using a camera arranged on the side surface; according to the rotor position, the actual flow is calculated through a preset correction array and a flow calculation algorithm; according to the calculated flow result, a gas circuit valve is adjusted through a stepping motor, and the flow in a flow meter is controlled; traffic data is recorded and displayed while allowing a user to set traffic parameters. Visual operation of the rotor flow meter is reserved, the automatic adjusting function is added, the requirements of different application scenes are met, the research and development and material cost is reduced, and the cost performance of the system is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of program-controlled flow measurement and control, and in particular to a flow meter identification and control method. Background Art

[0002] As a commonly used measuring tool in industry and laboratories, flowmeters are widely used in the measurement and control of gas and liquid flow. In particular, glass rotor flowmeters are widely used in the flow measurement of low flow velocity and small flow media due to their simple structure, rapid response, high measurement accuracy and low cost.

[0003] However, with the rapid development of automation and intelligent technology, the traditional manual adjustment and reading methods can no longer meet the increasing demand for accuracy, efficiency and safety in modern industrial production, especially in some environments where people cannot directly contact, such as toxic and hypoxic special places, the traditional glass rotor flowmeter is not suitable. Electronic flowmeters can accurately control the flow and display the flow value in real time through electrical sensors, microprocessors and other components, and have the functions of remote monitoring and automatic adjustment. However, most of the existing electronic flowmeters use micro-electromechanical system technology. The complexity and high cost of this technology make the manufacturing and maintenance costs of electronic flowmeters high, limiting its popularity in some low-cost applications. In addition, there are two main problems with the current electronic flowmeter solution based on glass rotor flowmeter: First, the traditional flow measurement method based on image recognition usually requires the simultaneous identification of the rotor and the scale, which not only has low recognition accuracy, but is also easily disturbed by factors such as light and environmental changes, resulting in unstable flow measurement; second, the existing flow regulation mostly relies on complex electrical control systems, such as industrial computers and dedicated hardware, which are expensive and complex to operate. Summary of the invention

[0004] The present invention aims to provide a flow meter identification and control method to at least solve or improve one of the above-mentioned problems such as low flow identification accuracy of scale lines, high cost and complexity of the control system, low reproducibility, and poor reliability.

[0005] In view of this, a first aspect of the present invention is to provide a flow meter identification and control method, comprising:

[0006] S1. Use the camera set on the side to monitor the rotor position in the glass rotor flowmeter;

[0007] S2. Calculate the actual flow rate using a preset correction array and flow calculation algorithm according to the rotor position;

[0008] S3. According to the calculated flow results, the gas valve is adjusted by a stepper motor to control the flow in the flow meter;

[0009] S4. Record and display flow data, and allow users to set flow parameters.

[0010] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0011] 1. The present invention realizes high-precision flow recognition and regulation by combining image recognition technology and stepper motor control, thereby improving the accuracy and reliability of flow measurement;

[0012] 2. The present invention adopts a program-controlled and manual dual-use design, which not only retains the intuitive operation of the rotor flowmeter, but also adds an automatic adjustment function to meet the needs of different application scenarios;

[0013] 3. The present invention adopts open source hardware and software platforms, which reduces R&D and material costs, simplifies the production and maintenance process, and improves the cost performance of the system;

[0014] 4. The present invention provides real-time data recording and display functions, supports customized alarms and data storage, and improves the security and convenience of flow monitoring. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] The above and / or additional aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent and easily understood from the description of the embodiments in conjunction with the following drawings, in which:

[0016] Figure 1 A flow chart of a flow meter identification and control method provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0017] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of a USB design of a flow meter provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0018] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of an embedded design of a flow meter provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0019] Figure 4 (a) is a schematic diagram of the flow setting and real-time flow reading interface provided by an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 4 (b) is a schematic diagram of a time-dependent program-controlled flow interface provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0020] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of rotor identification provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 6 A calibration curve provided in an embodiment of the present invention - a schematic diagram of the corresponding relationship between the number of revolutions of a stepping motor and the flow rate;

[0022] Figure 7 A schematic diagram of the structure of an electronic device provided by an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] In order to more clearly understand the above-mentioned purpose, features and advantages of the present invention, the present invention is further described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. It should be noted that the embodiments of the present application and the features in the embodiments can be combined with each other without conflict.

[0024] In the following description, many specific details are set forth to facilitate a full understanding of the present invention. However, the present invention may also be implemented in other ways different from those described herein. Therefore, the protection scope of the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed below.

[0025] Figure 1 A flow chart of a flow meter identification and control method provided by an embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] The following describes a flow meter identification and control method of the present invention. Figure 1 As shown, the method includes:

[0027] S1. Use the camera set on the side to monitor the rotor position in the glass rotor flowmeter;

[0028] In one embodiment, a camera is used to monitor the position of the rotor from the side of the flow meter, avoiding the complexity and error of directly identifying the scale lines in traditional technology. The camera captures the position of the rotor and uses an image processing algorithm to accurately detect the position of the rotor relative to the highest and lowest scales, thereby calculating the flow rate. In order to reduce the impact of environmental factors on the recognition results, the camera needs to be fixed at an appropriate position and angle, and the clarity of the image must be ensured. The present invention has higher accuracy and robustness than traditional scale reading methods through an image-based flow recognition algorithm. Among them, the appropriate position is that the camera height is placed at half the height of the flow meter, with a horizontal distance of about 5-6cm. At this time, the top of the video screen exceeds the maximum scale value of the flow meter by about one-tenth of the flow meter height, and the bottom of the video is below the minimum 0 scale line by about one-tenth of the flow meter height. The camera is horizontal, reducing the error caused by looking up or down.

[0029] The camera in the S1 automatically adjusts its focus to accommodate rotors of varying sizes and positions.

[0030] The camera in the present invention has an automatic focus adjustment function to adapt to rotors of different sizes and positions. Since different models of flow meters and their rotor shapes may vary, the automatic focus adjustment function of the camera can ensure the accuracy of flow recognition in different usage scenarios. Automatic focus adjustment not only improves the adaptability of the system, but also reduces the requirements for the equipment installation environment, so that the system can achieve efficient recognition in a wider range of application scenarios.

[0031] The S1 includes initial settings for automatically calibrating the reference positions of the camera and the stepper motor when the flow meter is started.

[0032] In one embodiment, the present invention introduces an initial setup process for automatically calibrating the reference position of the camera and the stepper motor. This initial calibration ensures that the relative positions of the camera and the stepper motor are accurately aligned when the system is started, thereby avoiding inaccurate flow recognition or inaccurate flow regulation due to equipment errors. Through this automatic calibration function, the system can maintain high-precision performance every time it is started without manual user intervention.

[0033] S2. Calculate the actual flow rate using a preset correction array and flow calculation algorithm according to the rotor position;

[0034] In one embodiment, the position data of the rotor is first obtained through a camera, and then corrected according to a preset correction array. The correction array is pre-set based on experimental data, and is intended to provide accurate flow values ​​based on the differences in different flow meter models and specifications. The correction algorithm maps the position of the rotor to the actual flow value, and processes it through the flow calculation algorithm to ensure accurate calculation of the flow value. This method compensates for the error of the device itself and ensures that the calculation result is consistent with the actual flow.

[0035] The correction array in S2 is preset based on experimental data to adapt to different flow meter models and specifications.

[0036] In one embodiment, in order to ensure the accuracy of flow calculation, the correction array is pre-set by experimental data. Since the models and specifications of flow meters are different, their characteristics and response curves are also different. Therefore, by correcting with experimental data, it can be ensured that each model and specification of flow meter can accurately map the rotor position to flow data. This correction array not only improves the accuracy of measurement, but also can adapt to the changes of different equipment, ensuring that the system can operate stably on various flow meters.

[0037] The flow calculation algorithm of S2 includes compensation for environmental factors.

[0038] In one embodiment, the flow calculation algorithm takes into account the influence of environmental factors, such as temperature, humidity, and light intensity. These environmental factors may interfere with the rotor position identification to a certain extent, so the accuracy of the calculation results is ensured by compensating for these environmental factors in the algorithm. This compensation mechanism enables the system to maintain a high flow measurement accuracy under different working environments and avoid errors caused by changes in external conditions.

[0039] Among them, environmental factors include temperature, humidity, light intensity and pressure.

[0040] S3. According to the calculated flow results, the gas valve is adjusted by a stepper motor to control the flow in the flow meter;

[0041] In one embodiment, program-controlled flow adjustment is implemented. Based on the flow results calculated in S2, the stepper motor is used to adjust the gas path valve of the flow meter. The precise control of the stepper motor makes the flow adjustment more accurate and reliable. The user can accurately adjust the valve opening through the real-time monitored flow data, thereby accurately controlling the flow of gas or liquid. Not only does it have the ability to accurately adjust the flow, but it can also automatically adjust the flow as needed without manual intervention.

[0042] The stepper motor in S3 is operated by receiving commands through wireless signals.

[0043] In one embodiment, the stepper motor is operated by receiving commands from the control system through wireless signals, which improves the flexibility of the system. Wireless control not only simplifies the wiring of the system, reduces the difficulty of installation and maintenance, but also makes the flow regulation operation more convenient and remote. Wireless signal transmission ensures that the stepper motor is accurately controlled on the flow meter at different locations, enhancing the operability and scalability of the entire system.

[0044] The stepper motor control of S3 includes two modes: flow increase and flow decrease.

[0045] In one embodiment, the operation of the stepper motor-controlled flow valve has two modes: flow increase and flow decrease. This two-way control mode ensures accurate flow regulation. Whether the flow needs to be increased or decreased, the stepper motor can make corresponding adjustments based on the flow value fed back in real time. This not only improves the accuracy of flow regulation, but also enables the system to cope with different usage requirements. Through this flexible control mode, users can achieve accurate flow management in different scenarios.

[0046] S4. Record and display flow data, and allow users to set flow parameters.

[0047] In one embodiment, flow data is recorded in real time and presented to the user through a display screen. The user can set different flow parameters as needed, such as flow range, alarm threshold, etc., and view the actual flow value in real time. Through this function, the user can clearly understand the operating status of the device, adjust the settings in time, and monitor the operation of the system. This step also ensures the real-time storage and display of data, which is convenient for subsequent data analysis and use.

[0048] The S4 also includes: using a touch screen interface to receive a flow setting value input by a user and displaying real-time flow data.

[0049] In one embodiment, a touch screen interface is provided, which enables the user to directly input the flow setting value and view the current flow data in real time. Through the touch screen, the user can intuitively interact with the system, set the desired flow value, and monitor the operating status of the system. The touch screen interface provides a convenient and intuitive way to operate and control the flow meter, improves the user experience, and makes operation easier.

[0050] The touch screen interface includes customizable flow alarm settings that sound an alarm when flow rates fall outside of user-defined ranges.

[0051] In one embodiment, the touch screen interface allows users to not only set the flow value, but also customize the alarm settings to ensure that the alarm is issued in time when the flow exceeds the preset range. With this function, users can avoid potential problems caused by too high or too low flow. This safety mechanism ensures that the system's automated control can maintain stable operation under different conditions and prevents human errors or environmental changes from affecting the system. Among them, potential problems include system failures, improper operation, etc.

[0052] After S4, the process also includes: recording the current flow value, accumulating flow data, and providing real-time data display and storage functions for subsequent analysis.

[0053] In one embodiment, in addition to displaying the current flow value in real time, it also records data such as the cumulative flow and stores these data for subsequent analysis and query. This allows users to track the use of the device over a long period of time, analyze the changing trend of flow data, and help with device maintenance and performance optimization. The real-time data display and storage function provides more use value and improves the functionality and practicality of the system.

[0054] Embodiments of the second aspect of the present invention provide electronic equipment. In some embodiments of the present invention, such as Figure 7 As shown, an electronic device is provided, which includes: electronic devices such as desktop computers, notebooks, handheld computers, and cloud servers. The electronic device 7 may include but is not limited to a processor 701 and a memory 702. Those skilled in the art will understand that Figure 7 The electronic device 7 is merely an example and does not limit the electronic device 7 , and may include more or less components than those shown in the figure, or different components.

[0055] The processor 701 can be a central processing unit (CPU), or other general-purpose processors, digital signal processors (DSP), application-specific integrated circuits (ASIC), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA) or other programmable logic devices, discrete gate or transistor logic devices, discrete hardware components, etc.

[0056] The memory 702 may be an internal storage unit of the electronic device 7, for example, a hard disk or memory of the electronic device 7. The memory 702 may also be an external storage device of the electronic device 7, for example, a plug-in hard disk, a smart memory card (Smart Media Card, SMC), a secure digital (Secure Digital, SD) card, a flash card (Flash Card), etc. equipped on the electronic device 7. The memory 702 may also include both an internal storage unit of the electronic device 7 and an external storage device. The memory 702 is used to store computer programs and other programs and data required by the electronic device.

[0057] The embodiment of the third aspect of the present invention proposes a computer-readable storage medium. In some embodiments of the present invention, a computer-readable storage medium is provided, and when the computer-readable storage medium is executed by the processor 701, the steps of the above method are implemented. Therefore, the computer-readable storage medium provided by the third aspect of the present invention has all the technical effects of the above steps, which will not be repeated here.

[0058] The technicians in the relevant field can clearly understand that for the convenience and simplicity of description, only the division of the above-mentioned functional units and modules is used as an example for illustration. In practical applications, the above-mentioned function allocation can be completed by different functional units and modules as needed, that is, the internal structure of the device can be divided into different functional units or modules to complete all or part of the functions described above. The functional units and modules in the embodiment can be integrated in a processing unit, or each unit can exist physically separately, or two or more units can be integrated in one unit. The above-mentioned integrated unit can be implemented in the form of hardware or in the form of software functional units. In addition, the specific names of the functional units and modules are only for the convenience of distinguishing each other, and are not used to limit the scope of protection of this application. The specific working process of the units and modules in the above-mentioned system can refer to the corresponding process in the aforementioned method embodiment, which will not be repeated here.

[0059] Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the units and algorithm steps of each example described in conjunction with the embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented in electronic hardware, or a combination of computer software and electronic hardware. Whether these functions are performed in hardware or software depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Professional and technical personnel can use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be considered to be beyond the scope of this disclosure.

[0060] In the embodiments provided in the present disclosure, it should be understood that the disclosed devices / electronic devices and methods can be implemented in other ways. For example, the device / electronic device embodiments described above are merely schematic. For example, the division of modules or units is only a logical function division. There may be other division methods in actual implementation. Multiple units or components may be combined or integrated into another system, or some features may be ignored or not executed. Another point is that the mutual coupling or direct coupling or communication connection shown or discussed may be through some interfaces, indirect coupling or communication connection of devices or units, which may be electrical, mechanical or other forms.

[0061] If the integrated module / unit is implemented in the form of a software functional unit and sold or used as an independent product, it can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the present disclosure implements all or part of the processes in the above-mentioned embodiment method, and can also be completed by instructing the relevant hardware through a computer program. The computer program can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium, and the computer program can implement the steps of the above-mentioned various method embodiments when executed by the processor. The computer program may include computer program code, and the computer program code may be in source code form, object code form, executable file or some intermediate form. The computer-readable medium may include: any entity or device capable of carrying computer program code, recording medium, U disk, mobile hard disk, magnetic disk, optical disk, computer memory, read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), electric carrier signal, telecommunication signal and software distribution medium. It should be noted that the content contained in the computer-readable medium can be appropriately increased or decreased according to the requirements of legislation and patent practice in the jurisdiction. For example, in some jurisdictions, according to legislation and patent practice, the computer-readable medium does not include electric carrier signals and telecommunication signals.

[0062] The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present disclosure, rather than to limit them. Although the present disclosure has been described in detail with reference to the aforementioned embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that they can still modify the technical solutions described in the aforementioned embodiments, or make equivalent replacements for some of the technical features therein. These modifications or replacements do not deviate the essence of the corresponding technical solutions from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present disclosure, and should all be included in the protection scope of the present disclosure.

[0063] Example 1

[0064] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of a USB design of a flow meter provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0065] Figure 4 (a) is a schematic diagram of a flow setting and real-time flow reading interface provided in an embodiment of the present invention, and (b) is a schematic diagram of a time-related program-controlled flow interface provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0066] in, Figure 4 (a) and (b) have nothing to do with the specific programming language and can be implemented in Python and MATLAB.

[0067] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of rotor identification provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0068] Among them, the rotor identified after image processing, the height of the entire image is the position of the lowest and highest scale lines of the flow meter scale.

[0069] S1. Use the camera set on the side to monitor the rotor position in the glass rotor flowmeter;

[0070] Placement method: The camera is placed about 5-6cm from the side of the flow meter, with its height level with the center of the flow meter. The pump, flow meter, and valve are connected with rubber hoses. The computer, controller, and motor are connected with wires. The motor and valve are connected with a rigid shaft. A slide rail is placed under the motor and valve so that the rotation of the motor does not affect the movement of the valve.

[0071] The first method is to collect the Arduino calibration array, turn on the power supply of the pump, make the rotor levitate, and the initial value is about 0.3-0.5. Turn the stepper motor clockwise by 100, 50, 50, 100, 100, 150, 250, 350, 350, 350, 350, 400, 800, 800, 1400. After each step is executed, wait for 10 seconds before executing the next step. The number of cycles 2 is used for comparison to ensure data accuracy.

[0072] Among them, the power supply is 12V; Arduino is the name of a single-chip microcomputer, and the computer controls the stepper motor through Arduino and the motor controller.

[0073] Figure 6 A calibration curve provided in an embodiment of the present invention - a schematic diagram of the corresponding relationship between the number of revolutions of a stepping motor and the flow rate;

[0074] in, Figure 6 Different motors and flow meters are used, therefore, the calibration arrays are different and are only relevant to the stepper motors and flow meters.

[0075] S2. Calculate the actual flow rate using a preset correction array and flow calculation algorithm according to the rotor position;

[0076] The flow meter readings are calculated step by step according to the position of the rotor and stored as a correction array. The stored flow meter readings are 0.516, 0.77, 0.883, 0.946, 1.086, 1.23, 1.32, 1.38, 1.48, 1.72, 1.93, 2.11, 2.34, 2.466, and 2.55.

[0077] Wherein, the correction array and the above implementation method are stored in a computer.

[0078] S3. According to the calculated flow results, the gas valve is adjusted by a stepper motor to control the flow in the flow meter;

[0079] In the first method, Arduino presets the flow meter readings and lets the computer automatically adjust according to the calibration array. The preset values ​​are 0.8, 1.1, 1.4, 1.7, and 2. The data obtained from the three experiments are 0.761, 1.168, 1.384, 1.7467, and 2.0231 for the first group, 0.753, 1.145, 1.392, 1.732, and 2.0236 for the second group, and 0.742, 1.104, 1.391, 1.746, and 2.017 for the third group. The errors of the three groups are all less than 10%.

[0080] Among them, the preset value in S3 is for checking accuracy and does not need to be stored.

[0081] S4. Record and display flow data, and allow users to set flow parameters.

[0082] Enter any flow value, the computer will adjust it according to the calibration array to reach the input flow value and display the input flow value and current flow value at the same time.

[0083] Example 2

[0084] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of an embedded design of a flow meter provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0085] S1. Use the camera set on the side to monitor the rotor position in the glass rotor flowmeter;

[0086] In the second method, the Raspberry Pi calibration array collects power to turn on the pump to levitate the rotor, with an initial reading of around 30-50. The Raspberry Pi dedicated motor rotates clockwise in the order of 10, ...6 times each time, wait 10 seconds after each step, and then execute the next step.

[0087] Among them, the power supply is 12V.

[0088] S2. Calculate the actual flow rate using a preset correction array and flow calculation algorithm according to the rotor position;

[0089] The flow meter readings are calculated step by step according to the position of the rotor and stored as a correction array. The stored flow readings are 41.33, 55.66, 71.33, 88.66, 116, 131.66, 145, 155.66, 167.66, 180.33, 198, 219.33, 237, 253, 264.33, and 278.33.

[0090] Wherein, the correction array and the above implementation method are stored in a computer.

[0091] S3. According to the calculated flow results, the gas valve is adjusted by a stepper motor to control the flow in the flow meter;

[0092] The second method is to set the preset flow meter readings of the Raspberry Pi to 80, 120, 160, 200, and 240. The first group of experimental data is 81.1, 124.1, 166.2, 206.3, and 245.3. The second group is 82, 112.8, 162.4, 196.4, and 238.9. The third group is 77.3, 117, 157.9, 194.3, and 234.5. According to the three groups of verification, the error is less than 10%.

[0093] Among them, the preset value in S3 is for checking accuracy and does not need to be stored.

[0094] S4. Record and display flow data, and allow users to set flow parameters.

[0095] Enter any flow value, the computer will adjust it according to the calibration array to reach the input flow value and display the input flow value and current flow value at the same time.

Claims

1. A flow meter identification and control method, characterized in that: include: S1. Use the camera set on the side to monitor the rotor position in the glass rotor flowmeter; S2. Calculate the actual flow rate using a preset correction array and flow calculation algorithm according to the rotor position; S3. According to the calculated flow results, the gas valve is adjusted by a stepper motor to control the flow in the flow meter; S4. Record and display flow data, and allow users to set flow parameters.

2. The identification and control method according to claim 1, characterized in that: The camera in the S1 automatically adjusts its focus to accommodate rotors of varying sizes and positions.

3. The identification and control method according to claim 1, characterized in that: The correction array in S2 is preset based on experimental data to adapt to different flow meter models and specifications.

4. The identification and control method according to claim 1, characterized in that: The flow calculation algorithm of S2 includes compensation for environmental factors.

5. The identification and control method according to claim 1, characterized in that: The stepper motor in S3 is operated by receiving commands through wireless signals.

6. The identification and control method according to claim 1, characterized in that: The stepper motor control of S3 includes two modes: flow increase and flow decrease.

7. The identification and control method according to claim 1, characterized in that: The S4 also includes: using a touch screen interface to receive a flow setting value input by a user and displaying real-time flow data.

8. The identification and control method according to claim 7, characterized in that: The touch screen interface includes customizable flow alarm settings that sound an alarm when flow rates fall outside of user-defined ranges.

9. The identification and control method according to claim 1, characterized in that: After S4, the process also includes: recording the current flow value, accumulating flow data, and providing real-time data display and storage functions for subsequent analysis.

10. The identification and control method according to claim 1, characterized in that: The S1 includes initial settings for automatically calibrating the reference positions of the camera and the stepper motor when the flow meter is started.

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