Liquid level monitoring device and method

Abstract

The invention discloses a liquid level monitoring device and method, and relates to the technical field of liquid level monitoring equipment.The liquid level monitoring device comprises a monitoring area arranged in a limited space and a monitoring station arranged in a normal space, a monitoring hydraulic cylinder communicated with to-be-monitored liquid is arranged in the monitoring area, the liquid level in the monitoring hydraulic cylinder is the same as the liquid level of the to-be-monitored liquid, and a water pump is arranged in the monitoring station; a liquid storage cylinder is arranged at the output end of the water pump, a liquid inlet pipe is arranged at the input end of the water pump and extends into the monitoring hydraulic cylinder, a monitoring pipe connected with the liquid inlet pipe is vertically arranged in the monitoring hydraulic cylinder, a plurality of measuring holes are distributed in the side wall of the monitoring pipe in the height direction, and a central controller with a timer is arranged on the water pump. The liquid level is indirectly monitored through the opening design of the measuring hole in the side wall of the vertical monitoring pipe of the monitoring hydraulic cylinder in combination with the change of the suction force of the water pump. According to the device, a safe, reliable and low-cost liquid level monitoring solution is provided in a special environment, and the application requirements of high-risk industries such as coal mines and chemical industrial parks are effectively met.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to the technical field of liquid level monitoring equipment. Background Art

[0002] In confined spaces such as coal mines and underground, electricity consumption is affected by many factors. First, the space is small and poorly ventilated, which easily leads to the accumulation of flammable and explosive gases (such as methane), increasing the risk of fire or explosion caused by electrical equipment. Therefore, electrical equipment must meet explosion-proof requirements and be inspected and maintained regularly. Secondly, a humid and dusty environment may cause the insulation performance of the equipment to deteriorate, increasing the risk of leakage or short circuit, requiring a waterproof and dustproof design and enhanced insulation protection. In addition, the power supply in confined spaces usually relies on long-distance cables, resulting in large voltage drops and line losses, which may affect the normal operation of the equipment. At the same time, the complex electromagnetic environment may interfere with the communication and monitoring systems, affecting the safety monitoring effect.

[0003] In coal mines and chemical parks, where explosive gases exist in restricted environments, there are strict requirements for electrical equipment. Under these requirements, intrinsically safe level sensors must be used to measure liquid levels. This has caused a surge in measurement costs, and some areas cannot provide power supply, making them unusable.

[0004] Therefore, it is necessary to develop suitable liquid level monitoring equipment for this situation. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In order to solve the above technical problems, the present invention provides a liquid level monitoring device and method, which can adapt to liquid level monitoring in various confined spaces and is safe and stable.

[0006] In order to achieve the above-mentioned purpose, the present invention specifically adopts the following technical solutions:

[0007] A liquid level monitoring device includes a monitoring area arranged in a confined space and a monitoring station arranged in a normal space, wherein the monitoring area is provided with a monitoring liquid cylinder connected to the liquid to be measured, and the liquid level in the monitoring liquid cylinder is the same as the liquid level of the liquid to be measured, the monitoring station is provided with a water pump, the output end of the water pump is provided with a liquid storage cylinder, the input end of the water pump is provided with a liquid inlet pipe, the liquid inlet pipe extends into the monitoring liquid cylinder, a monitoring pipe connected to the liquid inlet pipe is vertically provided in the monitoring liquid cylinder, the side wall of the monitoring pipe is provided with a plurality of measuring holes distributed along the height, and the water pump is provided with a central controller with a timer.

[0008] The above-mentioned solution, through innovative design, successfully solves the challenge of liquid level monitoring in challenging environments with explosive gases, such as coal mines and chemical industrial parks. The device's core advantage lies in completely eliminating the need for internal or external level sensors that require power or rely on inductive current, significantly reducing safety risks and costs. The device utilizes a measuring hole in the sidewall of the vertical monitoring tube of the monitoring cylinder, combined with changes in pump suction, to indirectly monitor the liquid level. When the liquid level falls below the measuring hole, air leaks in the inlet pipe cause a decrease in suction, which increases the time it takes to fill the storage cylinder. The control circuit accurately determines the liquid level by recording this change in filling time. This time-based monitoring method offers rapid response and high accuracy, providing real-time information on liquid level status. This device provides a safe, reliable, and low-cost solution for liquid level monitoring in challenging environments, effectively meeting the application needs of high-risk industries such as coal mines and chemical industrial parks. It has broad application prospects and significant economic benefits.

[0009] Furthermore, the distribution range of the measuring holes corresponds to the height of the liquid level to be measured, and the opening size of the measuring holes is positively correlated with the water pump power, the filling time of the liquid storage cylinder, and the diameter of the monitoring tube.

[0010] Through this approach, the device's orifice size was experimentally optimized to ensure significant pumping time variations at varying liquid levels, further enhancing monitoring reliability. The system is also easy to maintain, requiring only regular checks of the suction pipe orifice and calibration of the control circuit to ensure long-term stable operation.

[0011] Furthermore, the volume of the liquid storage cylinder is not greater than the total amount of liquid contained between the two measuring holes in the monitoring liquid cylinder.

[0012] With this solution, the storage cylinder's smaller volume allows for a shorter filling time. If the monitoring cylinder's liquid level drops, causing a leak in the measuring tube, the time it takes to fill the cylinder will rapidly increase. This allows the central controller system to quickly detect this time change and determine whether the monitoring cylinder's liquid level has fallen below a certain sidewall opening.

[0013] A monitoring method using the above-mentioned liquid level monitoring device comprises the following steps:

[0014] Step S1: Preliminary installation of facilities and recording the filling time T1 of the liquid storage tank;

[0015] Step S2: holes are opened in sequence on the side wall of the monitoring tube, with the positions of the measuring holes corresponding to the liquid level of the monitoring fluid cylinder to be monitored, ensuring that the highest position of the measuring holes is lower than the liquid level of the monitoring fluid cylinder;

[0016] Step S3: Manually calibrate and monitor the liquid level of the liquid cylinder, and the central controller determines and records the liquid level signal corresponding to the opening of each measuring hole;

[0017] Step S4: Repeat step S3 to monitor whether the liquid level is lower than each opening position in turn, and whether the opening position of the measuring hole is accurate to complete the calibration;

[0018] Step S5: Perform liquid level monitoring.

[0019] Through the above scheme, measuring holes are set on the side wall of the monitoring tube, and combined with the recording and comparison of the time when the monitoring liquid cylinder is filled with water by the central controller, it is possible to accurately judge whether the liquid level is lower than the opening position of each measuring hole, thereby realizing accurate monitoring of the liquid level in the confined space. The filling time T1 recorded in step S1 provides a basic reference for subsequent monitoring. In step S2, the appropriate opening size is determined according to the characteristics of the water pump and the filling time cycle, ensuring the accuracy of monitoring. The manual calibration process of steps S3 and S4 further verifies the accuracy of the opening position of the measuring hole, making the entire monitoring system more reliable. Finally, in the liquid level monitoring process of step S5, the liquid level changes can be grasped in real time and accurately, and liquid level anomalies can be discovered in time, effectively avoiding safety hazards or other problems caused by inaccurate liquid level monitoring, improving the efficiency and accuracy of liquid level monitoring in confined spaces, and ensuring the safe and stable operation of related equipment or systems. It has significant practical value and promotion and application prospects.

[0020] Furthermore, in step S1 , preliminary commissioning of the installation facilities includes placing a monitoring liquid cylinder in the monitoring area and connecting it to the liquid to be measured, laying pipelines and a water pump system at the monitoring station, filling the monitoring liquid cylinder for the first time, and recording the filling time T1.

[0021] The above solution provides a liquid level monitoring device and method suitable for confined spaces. By monitoring the measuring hole in the pipe and the changes in the pump's suction force, liquid level changes can be accurately determined. Its innovation lies in the design of the measuring hole, which is linked to factors such as pump power and the time it takes for the liquid storage tank to fill, as well as the timing function of the central controller, ensuring accurate and reliable liquid level monitoring. This device is suitable for liquid level monitoring in confined or confined spaces and has high practical value.

[0022] Furthermore, in step S2, the appropriate opening size is determined through experiments based on the working characteristics of the water pump and the time period for the liquid storage cylinder to be filled with water, ensuring that when the liquid level in the monitoring liquid cylinder is lower than the opening, there is a significant change in the pumping time to accurately judge the liquid level.

[0023] Furthermore, in step S3, when the liquid level in the monitoring liquid cylinder is lower than the highest measuring hole opening position, the liquid inlet pipe leaks through the measuring hole, and the suction force decreases. The central controller records the time T2 when the monitoring liquid cylinder is filled with water and compares it with T1, and determines that the liquid level is lower than the highest measuring hole opening position. When the liquid level continues to drop to the next measuring hole opening position, the monitoring tube further leaks and the suction force further decreases. The central controller records the time T3 when the monitoring liquid cylinder is filled with water, and records each water injection time in turn to complete the marking and recording of the liquid level of each measuring hole.

[0024] The beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows:

[0025] 1. The present invention has a simple structure and successfully solves the problem of liquid level monitoring in special environments such as coal mines and chemical parks where explosive gases exist. The core advantage of the device is that it completely avoids the installation of liquid level sensors that require power or rely on induced current inside or outside the monitoring liquid cylinder, thereby significantly reducing safety risks and costs. The device realizes indirect monitoring of the liquid level by designing a measuring hole opening on the side wall of the vertical monitoring tube of the monitoring liquid cylinder, combined with the change in the suction of the water pump. When the liquid level is lower than the position of the measuring hole opening, the suction force decreases due to air leakage in the liquid inlet pipe, and the time for the liquid storage cylinder to be filled with water becomes correspondingly longer. The control circuit accurately determines the liquid level height by recording the change in the water filling time. This monitoring method based on time changes not only responds quickly, but also has high accuracy and can reflect the liquid level status in real time. The device provides a safe, reliable, and low-cost liquid level monitoring solution in special environments, effectively meeting the application needs of high-risk industries such as coal mines and chemical parks, and has broad application prospects and significant economic benefits. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] Figure 1 It is a structural schematic diagram of the present invention;

[0027] Figure numerals: 11, monitoring area; 12, monitoring station; 13, monitoring liquid cylinder; 14, water pump; 15, liquid storage cylinder; 16, liquid inlet pipe; 17, monitoring pipe; 18, measuring hole; 19, central controller. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention more clear, the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. Generally, the components of the embodiments of the present invention described and shown in the drawings herein can be arranged and designed in various different configurations.

[0029] Therefore, the following detailed description of the embodiments of the present invention provided in the accompanying drawings is not intended to limit the scope of the invention as claimed, but rather merely represents selected embodiments of the present invention. All other embodiments derived by persons of ordinary skill in the art based on the embodiments of the present invention without creative effort shall fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0030] Example 1

[0031] like Figure 1 As shown, this embodiment provides a liquid level monitoring device comprising a monitoring area 11 located within a confined space and a monitoring station 12 located within a normal space. Monitoring area 11 is required to minimize circuit usage. Monitoring area 11 is provided with a monitoring liquid cylinder 13 connected to the liquid to be measured. In some embodiments, monitoring liquid cylinder 13 can also be used alone to observe the liquid level within monitoring liquid cylinder 13. The liquid level within monitoring liquid cylinder 13 is the same as the liquid level of the liquid to be measured. Monitoring station 12 is provided with a water pump 14. A liquid storage cylinder 15 is provided at the output end of water pump 14. A liquid inlet pipe 16 is provided at the input end of water pump 14. Liquid inlet pipe 16 extends into monitoring liquid cylinder 13. A monitoring pipe 17 connected to liquid inlet pipe 16 is vertically installed within monitoring liquid cylinder 13. The sidewall of monitoring pipe 17 has several measuring holes 18 distributed along its height. A central controller 19 with a timer is provided on water pump 14. This device successfully solves the problem of liquid level monitoring in special environments with explosive gases, such as coal mines and chemical parks. The core advantage of the device is that it completely avoids the installation of liquid level sensors that require power or rely on induced current inside or outside the monitoring cylinder 13, thereby significantly reducing safety risks and costs. The device realizes indirect monitoring of the liquid level by designing the measuring hole 18 opening on the side wall of the vertical monitoring tube 17 of the monitoring cylinder 13, combined with the change in the suction of the water pump 14. When the liquid level is lower than the opening position of the measuring hole 18, the suction force decreases due to leakage in the liquid inlet pipe 16, and the time for the liquid storage cylinder 15 to be filled with water becomes correspondingly longer. The control circuit accurately determines the liquid level height by recording the change in the water filling time. This monitoring method based on time changes not only responds quickly, but also has high accuracy and can reflect the liquid level status in real time. The present device provides a safe, reliable, and low-cost liquid level monitoring solution in special environments, effectively meeting the application needs of high-risk industries such as coal mines and chemical parks, and has broad application prospects and significant economic benefits.

[0032] Reference Figure 1The range of measuring holes 18 corresponds to the measured liquid level. The opening size of measuring holes 18 is positively correlated with the power of water pump 14, the filling time of liquid storage cylinder 15, and the diameter of monitoring tube 17. Specifically, the greater the height difference of the measured liquid level, the longer the vertical range of measuring holes 18. At the same time, for a given diameter of monitoring tube 17, a higher power of water pump 14 shortens the filling time of liquid storage cylinder 15. Therefore, the opening of measuring holes 18 can be appropriately enlarged to facilitate a significant change in filling time. In specific experiments and operations, the opening size of measuring holes 18 can be adjusted to achieve a significant change in filling time according to actual needs. At the same time, when the liquid level is below the lowest measuring hole 18, water pump 14 can still draw liquid from monitoring cylinder 13 and fill liquid storage cylinder 15. This facilitates detection and recording. This ensures a significant change in pumping time at different liquid levels, further improving monitoring reliability. The system is easy to maintain, requiring only regular inspection of the suction pipe opening and calibration of the control circuit to ensure long-term stable operation.

[0033] Reference Figure 1 The volume of the liquid storage cylinder 15 is no greater than the total amount of liquid contained between the two measuring holes 18 in the monitoring liquid cylinder 13. Due to the small volume of the liquid storage cylinder 15, it takes a short time to fill the liquid storage cylinder 15. If the liquid level in the monitoring liquid cylinder 13 drops, causing the measuring tube to leak, the time it takes to fill the liquid storage cylinder 15 will rapidly increase. This allows the central controller 19 system to quickly detect this time change and promptly determine whether the liquid level in the monitoring liquid cylinder 13 has fallen below a certain sidewall opening.

[0034] A monitoring method using the above-mentioned liquid level monitoring device comprises the following steps:

[0035] Step S1: Preliminary installation of facilities and recording the filling time T1 of the liquid storage tank 15;

[0036] Step S2: The side wall of the monitoring tube 17 is opened in sequence, and the opening position of the measuring hole 18 corresponds to the liquid level height of the monitoring liquid cylinder 13 to be monitored, ensuring that the highest opening position of the measuring hole 18 is lower than the liquid level of the monitoring liquid cylinder 13;

[0037] Step S3: Manually calibrate the liquid level of the monitoring cylinder 13, and the central controller 19 determines and records the liquid level signal corresponding to the opening of each measuring hole 18;

[0038] Step S4: Repeat step S3 to monitor whether the liquid level is lower than each opening position in turn, and whether the opening position of the measuring hole 18 is accurate, and complete the calibration;

[0039] Step S5: Perform liquid level monitoring.

[0040] Therefore, by setting a measuring hole 18 on the side wall of the monitoring tube 17 and combining the recording and comparison of the time when the monitoring liquid cylinder 13 is filled with water by the central controller 19, it is possible to accurately determine whether the liquid level is lower than the opening position of each measuring hole 18, thereby realizing accurate monitoring of the liquid level in the confined space. The filling time T1 recorded in step S1 provides a basic reference for subsequent monitoring. In step S2, the appropriate opening size is determined according to the characteristics of the water pump 14 and the filling time cycle, ensuring the accuracy of monitoring. The manual calibration process of steps S3 and S4 further verifies the accuracy of the opening position of the measuring hole 18, making the entire monitoring system more reliable. Finally, in the liquid level monitoring process of step S5, the liquid level changes can be grasped in real time and accurately, and liquid level anomalies can be discovered in time, effectively avoiding safety hazards or other problems caused by inaccurate liquid level monitoring, improving the efficiency and accuracy of liquid level monitoring in confined spaces, and ensuring the safe and stable operation of related equipment or systems. It has significant practical value and promotion and application prospects.

[0041] In step S1, the initial commissioning of the installation facilities involves placing the monitoring liquid cylinder 13 within the monitoring area 11 and connecting it to the liquid to be measured, laying the pipeline and water pump 14 system at the monitoring station 12, initially filling the monitoring liquid cylinder 13, and recording the filling time T1. A liquid level monitoring device and method suitable for confined spaces are provided. By monitoring the measurement hole 18 on the pipe 17 and the suction changes of the water pump 14, changes in the liquid level can be accurately determined. The innovation lies in the connection between the design of the measurement hole 18 and factors such as the power of the water pump 14 and the filling time of the liquid storage cylinder 15, as well as the timing function of the central controller 19, which ensures the accuracy and reliability of liquid level monitoring. This device is suitable for liquid level monitoring in closed or confined spaces and has high practical value.

[0042] In step S2, based on the working characteristics of the water pump 14 and the time period for the liquid storage cylinder 15 to be filled with water, the appropriate opening size is determined through experiments to ensure that when the liquid level in the monitoring liquid cylinder 13 is lower than the opening, there is a significant change in the pumping time to accurately judge the liquid level.

[0043] In step S3, when the liquid level in the monitoring liquid cylinder 13 is lower than the opening position of the highest measuring hole 18, the liquid inlet pipe 16 leaks through the measuring hole 18, and the suction force decreases. The central controller 19 records the time T2 when the monitoring liquid cylinder 13 is filled with water and compares it with T1, and determines that the liquid level is lower than the opening position of the highest measuring hole 18. When the liquid level continues to drop to the opening position of the next measuring hole 18, the monitoring tube 17 further leaks and the suction force further decreases. The central controller 19 records the time when the monitoring liquid cylinder 13 is filled with water as T3, and records each water filling time in turn to complete the marking and recording of the liquid level of each measuring hole 18.

[0044] This liquid level detection method can effectively realize the accurate monitoring of the liquid level in a confined space through the linkage mechanism between the measuring hole 18 on the monitoring tube 17 and the suction change of the water pump 14. Its core advantage is that it utilizes the suction change and filling time difference caused by the leakage of the measuring hole 18, combined with the timing function of the central controller 19, to accurately judge whether the liquid level is lower than the position of a specific measuring hole 18, thereby realizing stratified monitoring of the liquid level. This method has high sensitivity and reliability, and is particularly suitable for closed or confined environments where the liquid level cannot be directly observed. In addition, the detection accuracy is further improved by experimentally optimizing the size and distribution of the measuring holes 18, ensuring the real-time and accuracy of the liquid level changes. Overall, this method is simple in structure, easy to operate, and has strong practicality and adaptability, and can meet the needs of liquid level monitoring under complex working conditions.

[0045] It should be noted that the component connection relationships not specifically mentioned in this application are all assumed to adopt the existing technology. Since they do not involve the invention points and are widely used in the existing technology, the structural connection relationships are not described in detail.

Claims

1. A liquid level monitoring device, characterized in that: The invention comprises a monitoring area (11) arranged in a confined space and a monitoring station (12) arranged in a normal space, wherein a monitoring liquid cylinder (13) connected to the liquid to be measured is provided in the monitoring area (11), and the liquid level in the monitoring liquid cylinder (13) is the same as the liquid level of the liquid to be measured, a water pump (14) is provided in the monitoring station (12), the output end of the water pump (14) is provided with a liquid storage cylinder (15), the input end of the water pump (14) is provided with a liquid inlet pipe (16), the liquid inlet pipe (16) extends into the monitoring liquid cylinder (13), a monitoring pipe (17) connected to the liquid inlet pipe (16) is vertically provided in the monitoring liquid cylinder (13), a side wall of the monitoring pipe (17) is provided with a plurality of measuring holes (18) distributed along the height, and a central controller (19) with a timer is provided on the water pump (14).

2. The liquid level monitoring device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The distribution range of the measuring holes (18) corresponds to the height of the liquid level to be measured, and the opening size of the measuring holes (18) is positively correlated with the power of the water pump (14), the filling time of the liquid storage cylinder (15), and the diameter of the monitoring tube (17).

3. The liquid level monitoring device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The volume of the liquid storage cylinder (15) is no greater than the total amount of liquid contained between the two measuring holes (18) in the monitoring liquid cylinder (13).

4. A liquid level monitoring method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The following steps are included: Step S1: Preliminary installation of facilities and recording the filling time T1 of the liquid storage tank (15); Step S2: The side wall of the monitoring tube (17) is opened in sequence, and the opening position of the measuring hole (18) corresponds to the liquid level height of the monitoring liquid cylinder (13) to be monitored, ensuring that the highest opening position of the measuring hole (18) is lower than the liquid level of the monitoring liquid cylinder (13); Step S3: Manually calibrate and monitor the liquid level of the liquid cylinder (13), and the central controller (19) determines and records the corresponding liquid level signals of the openings of each measuring hole (18); Step S4: repeat step S3, monitor in turn whether the liquid level is lower than each opening position, and whether the opening position of the measuring hole (18) is accurate, and complete the calibration; Step S5: Perform liquid level monitoring.

5. The liquid level monitoring method according to claim 4, characterized in that: In step S1, the initial commissioning of the installation facility includes placing the monitoring liquid cylinder (13) in the monitoring area (11) and connecting it to the liquid to be measured, laying the pipeline and water pump (14) system at the monitoring station (12), filling the monitoring liquid cylinder (13) for the first time, and recording the filling time T1.

6. The liquid level monitoring method according to claim 4, characterized in that: In step S2, the appropriate opening size is determined through experiments based on the working characteristics of the water pump (14) and the time period for the liquid storage cylinder (15) to be filled with water, ensuring that when the liquid level in the monitoring liquid cylinder (13) is lower than the opening, there is a significant change in the pumping time to accurately judge the liquid level.

7. The liquid level monitoring method according to claim 4, characterized in that: In step S3, when the liquid level of the monitoring liquid cylinder (13) is lower than the opening position of the highest measuring hole (18), the liquid inlet pipe (16) leaks air through the measuring hole (18), and the suction force decreases. The central controller (19) records the time T2 when the monitoring liquid cylinder (13) is filled with water and compares it with T1, and determines that the liquid level is lower than the opening position of the highest measuring hole (18). When the liquid level continues to drop to the opening position of the next measuring hole (18), the monitoring pipe (17) further leaks air, and the suction force further decreases. The central controller (19) records the time T3 when the monitoring liquid cylinder (13) is filled with water, and records each water filling time in sequence, completing the marking and recording of the liquid level of each measuring hole (18).

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