Liquid metal flow measurement calibration device and calibration method

Abstract

The invention relates to a liquid metal flow measurement calibration device and calibration method, and belongs to the technical field of nuclear reactor liquid metal experiment research. The invention provides a liquid metal flow metering calibration device which comprises a metal flowing loop, a weighing machine and a reverser, the metal flowing loop comprises a liquid storage device and a calibration pipeline, and the calibration device enables liquid metal to stably circulate between the liquid storage device and the calibration pipeline; the weighing machine comprises a second pipeline, and the second pipeline is an input pipeline of the weighing machine; the commutator enables the liquid metal to flow to the weighing device or the liquid storage device, the commutator comprises a first pipeline, and the first pipeline is an output pipeline communicated with the weighing device; the pipe diameter of the first pipeline is smaller than that of the second pipeline, and the first pipeline extends into the second pipeline and is spaced from the second pipeline. According to the liquid metal flow measurement calibration device and calibration method provided by the invention, the problem that the calibration precision is easily influenced in related technologies is at least solved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of nuclear reactor liquid metal experimental research, and in particular to a liquid metal flow measurement and calibration device and a calibration method. Background Art

[0002] The liquid metal flow measurement and calibration device is a device used to calibrate the accuracy of the flow meter. The liquid metal flow measurement and calibration device usually detects the volume change or mass change of the liquid metal in the container within a certain period of time, calculates the flow value, and thus calibrates the flow meter and provides the measurement accuracy and reliability of the flow meter.

[0003] Based on the basic definition of flow, devices that use volume or mass as the primary measurement basis and combine time and liquid level measurements to determine volume flow or mass flow, respectively, are called volumetric flow standards and mass flow standards. Flow standards can also be categorized as static or dynamic based on the state of the medium at the time of weighing (static or flowing). Because weighing in a static state eliminates dynamic effects on the measuring instrument, static devices generally have higher measurement accuracy than dynamic devices. The core measuring instruments for mass and volumetric flow standards are electronic scales and level meters, respectively. With the advancement of industrialization, electronic scales have surpassed level meters in terms of measurement accuracy and convenience. Furthermore, compared to direct mass measurement, volume requires length measurement and calculation based on factors such as container size and temperature. Therefore, the static mass method, due to its advantages in calibration accuracy, traceability, and installation process, has become the most commonly used calibration method for flow standards in China.

[0004] Due to the limitations of liquid metal flowmeters' physical properties, they are typically used in high-temperature, enclosed environments. Since variations in the medium's physical properties and operating environment can lead to deviations in flowmeter calibration results, the accuracy of liquid metal flowmeter calibration results using a water flow standard device is questionable. To improve the reliability and accuracy of liquid metal flowmeter calibration results, this application presents a process design and calibration method for a liquid metal flow standard device based on the static mass method. Summary of the Invention

[0005] Based on this, in order to improve the calibration accuracy of the liquid metal flowmeter, a liquid metal flow measurement calibration device and calibration method are provided.

[0006] In a first aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a liquid metal flow measurement and calibration device, which includes a metal flow circuit, a weighing device and a commutator, wherein the metal flow circuit includes a liquid reservoir and a calibration pipe, the calibration pipe is used to install the flow meter to be tested, the metal flow circuit is used to regulate the liquid metal in the liquid reservoir so that the liquid metal circulates stably between the liquid reservoir and the calibration pipe, the liquid reservoir includes a third pipe, and the third pipe is an input pipe of the liquid reservoir; the weighing device is used to weigh the mass of the inflowing liquid metal, and includes The second pipeline and the fourth pipeline, the second pipeline is the input pipeline of the weighing device, and the fourth pipeline is the output pipeline of the weighing device; the commutator is used to control the flow direction of the liquid metal flowing out of the calibration pipeline so that the liquid metal flows to the weighing device or the liquid reservoir, and the commutator includes a first pipeline, and the first pipeline is the output pipeline connected to the weighing device; the diameter of the first pipeline is smaller than the diameter of the second pipeline, the first pipeline extends into the second pipeline and is spaced apart from the second pipeline; and / or the diameter of the fourth pipeline is smaller than the diameter of the third pipeline, the fourth pipeline extends into the third pipeline and is spaced apart from the third pipeline.

[0007] In some embodiments, the commutator includes an isolation cover and a commutation body disposed in the isolation cover; the isolation cover is tubular and is sealedly connected to the weighing device, the calibration pipe and the liquid reservoir respectively; the commutation body is used to change the flow direction of the liquid metal.

[0008] In some embodiments, the liquid metal flow measurement and calibration device also includes a sealed protective cover, which has a accommodating space, and the weighing device is arranged in the accommodating space; the first pipe is sealedly connected to the sealed protective cover, and extends into the accommodating space to communicate with the second pipe; the third pipe is sealedly connected to the sealed protective cover, and extends into the accommodating space to communicate with the fourth pipe.

[0009] In some embodiments, the weighing device includes a container body, a scale body and a weight self-loading mechanism, wherein the container body is used to receive liquid metal and is arranged in the accommodation space, the container body is a columnar tank structure, and four legs are provided at the bottom of the container body; the scale body and the weight self-loading mechanism are arranged outside the accommodation space, the scale body is composed of an electronic scale and a scale platform, the scale platform is supported on the upper surface of the electronic scale by four support columns, and the upper surface of the scale platform is provided with four limit grooves, the four limit grooves are respectively matched with the four legs, the inner diameter of the limit groove is larger than the outer diameter of the legs, and the limit groove is used Provide limit for the support legs; after the support legs pass through the four corresponding through holes at the bottom of the sealing protective cover, they pass through four pressure-resistant flexible bellows respectively, and then fall into the four limit grooves of the scale platform. The inner diameter of each pressure-resistant flexible bellows is larger than the outer diameter of the support legs and completely covers the circumference of the limit grooves. The two ends of each pressure-resistant flexible bellows are respectively connected to the bottom outer wall of the corresponding sealing protective cover and the upper surface of the scale platform to ensure that the two end faces are reliably sealed; the weight self-loading mechanism is arranged in the lower space of the scale body, and consists of weights, hangers, tracks and transmission mechanisms, which are used to calibrate and zero the scale body.

[0010] In some embodiments, the liquid metal flow measurement and calibration device further includes an air circuit system and a heating system, wherein the air circuit system is connected to the commutator and the accommodation space; the heating system is used to heat the liquid metal to above the melting point and maintain it.

[0011] In some embodiments, the metal flow circuit further includes a pressure stabilizer, a preheater, a heat exchanger and a pump; the liquid reservoir, the pressure stabilizer, the preheater, the calibration pipeline and the heat exchanger are connected in sequence through pipelines, and the pump is a submersible pump.

[0012] In some embodiments, the pressure stabilizer is a vertical cylindrical tank structure, and includes an upper air space, an inner cylinder, an intermediate cylinder and an outer cylinder. The inner cylinder, the intermediate cylinder and the outer cylinder are arranged in sequence and connected in sequence; the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder are connected to the liquid reservoir through a pipeline, and the intermediate cylinder is connected to the calibration pipeline.

[0013] In some embodiments, the calibration pipeline includes a standard meter and a flow regulating valve, and the flow meter to be tested is configured between the standard meter and the flow regulating valve.

[0014] In some embodiments, the number of calibration pipes is at least two, and each calibration pipe is connected in parallel between the preheater and the heat exchanger.

[0015] In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present application further provides a liquid metal flow measurement and calibration method, providing a liquid metal flow measurement and calibration device as provided in any of the aforementioned embodiments, the liquid metal flow measurement and calibration method comprising the following steps:

[0016] Step S1, controlling the gas circuit system to empty the liquid reservoir, the pressure regulator, and the sealing protective cover and introduce inert gas, so as to control the air pressure in the liquid reservoir, the pressure regulator, and the sealing protective cover to be in a stable state;

[0017] Step S2: Control the heating system to heat the liquid reservoir, the pressure stabilizer, the commutator, the sealing protective cover, and the pipeline to a temperature above the melting point of the liquid metal and maintain the temperature at a stable state;

[0018] Step S3: controlling the commutator to connect the commutator to the metal flow circuit, and controlling the pump to pump the liquid metal out of the liquid reservoir so that the liquid metal circulates in the metal flow circuit to reach the flow calibration point;

[0019] Step S4: Control the operation of the preheater and the heat exchanger, so as to further increase the temperature of the liquid metal flowing into the calibration pipe by using the preheater, and to cool the liquid metal flowing out of the calibration pipe by using the heat exchanger;

[0020] Step S5, control the commutator to switch to communicate with the weighing device and synchronize timing;

[0021] Step S6: When the timer reaches a preset calibration time, the switching commutator is switched to connect with the metal flow circuit;

[0022] Step S7: After the scale reading stabilizes, record the electronic scale reading, calculate the flow rate value based on the preset calibration time and the mass of the liquid metal collected in the scale, open the discharge valve of the scale to allow the liquid metal to flow back to the liquid reservoir, and complete the calibration of a set of flow meters to be tested;

[0023] Step S8: Repeat the above steps until the calibration of other flow points to be calibrated of the flow meter to be tested is completed.

[0024] The liquid metal flow measurement and calibration device provided in the embodiments of the present application brings at least the following beneficial effects:

[0025] By setting the diameter of the first pipe to be smaller than the diameter of the second pipe, the first pipe extends into the second pipe and is spaced apart from the second pipe; and / or the diameter of the fourth pipe is smaller than the diameter of the third pipe, the fourth pipe extends into the third pipe and is spaced apart from the third pipe, contact between the weighing device and the commutator and / or the liquid reservoir is avoided, and the transmission of stress to the weighing device when the commutator is performing a reversing operation is isolated, thereby improving the stability of the weighing device when the commutator is reversing, and making the mass measurement more accurate.

[0026] It should be understood that the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the present application. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present application or the technical solutions in the prior art, the following briefly introduces the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the description of the prior art. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present application. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying any creative work.

[0028] Figure 1 This is a structural diagram of a liquid metal flow measurement and calibration device provided in one embodiment of the present application;

[0029] Figure 2 for Figure 1 An enlarged view of part A of the liquid metal flow measurement and calibration device shown;

[0030] Figure 3 This is a flowchart of a liquid metal flow measurement and calibration method provided in one embodiment of the present application.

[0031] Explanation of the accompanying symbols: 100, liquid metal flow measurement and calibration device; 11, liquid storage tank; 111, third pipeline; 12, calibration pipeline; 121, standard meter; 122, flow regulating valve; 13, pressure stabilizer; 14, preheater; 15, heat exchanger; 16, pump; 20, weighing device; 21, second pipeline; 22, container body; 23, scale body; 24, weight self-loading component; 25, fourth pipeline; 30, commutator; 31, first pipeline; 32, isolation cover; 33, commutation body; 40, air path system; 50, sealing protection cover; 51, accommodating space; 200, flow meter to be inspected. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032] To make the above-mentioned objects, features, and advantages of the present application more clearly understood, the specific embodiments of the present application are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following description sets forth many specific details to facilitate a full understanding of the present application. However, the present application can be implemented in many other ways than those described herein, and those skilled in the art can make similar improvements without violating the scope of the present application. Therefore, the present application is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed below.

[0033] In the description of this application, it should be understood that if the terms "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "length", "width", "thickness", "up", "down", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inside", "outside", "clockwise", "counterclockwise", "axial", "radial", "circumferential", etc. appear, the orientation or position relationship indicated by these terms is based on the orientation or position relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, which is only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and does not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as a limitation on this application.

[0034] In addition, if the term "and / or" appears, "and / or" is merely a description of the association relationship of associated objects, indicating that three relationships may exist. For example, A and / or B can represent three situations: A exists alone, A and B exist at the same time, and B exists alone. In addition, the character " / " in this article generally indicates that the objects associated with each other are in an "or" relationship. If the terms "first" and "second" appear, these terms are only used for descriptive purposes and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of technical features indicated. Therefore, the features defined as "first" and "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of the features. In the description of this application, if the term "multiple" appears, the meaning of "multiple" is at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise clearly and specifically defined.

[0035] In this application, unless otherwise specified or limited, the terms "mounted," "connected," "connected," "fixed," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, these terms may refer to fixed connections, removable connections, or integration; mechanical connections or electrical connections; direct connections or indirect connections through an intermediary; and internal communication between two components or interaction between two components, unless otherwise specified. Those skilled in the art will understand the specific meanings of these terms in this application based on the specific circumstances.

[0036] In this application, unless otherwise expressly specified or limited, if a first feature is described as being "above" or "below" a second feature, or similar descriptions, this may mean that the first and second features are in direct contact, or that the first and second features are in indirect contact through an intermediate medium. Furthermore, when a first feature is described as being "above," "above," or "above" a second feature, it may mean that the first feature is directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply means that the first feature is at a higher level than the second feature. When a first feature is described as being "below," "below," or "below" a second feature, it may mean that the first feature is directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply means that the first feature is at a lower level than the second feature.

[0037] It should be noted that if an element is referred to as being "fixed to" or "disposed on" another element, it may be directly on the other element or there may be an intermediate element. If an element is considered to be "connected to" another element, it may be directly connected to the other element or there may be an intermediate element. If any, the terms "vertical", "horizontal", "upper", "lower", "left", "right" and similar expressions used in this application are for illustrative purposes only and do not represent the only embodiment.

[0038] The liquid metal flow measurement and calibration device is a device used to calibrate the accuracy of the flow meter. The liquid metal flow measurement and calibration device usually calculates the flow value by measuring the volume change or mass change of the liquid metal entering the container within a certain period of time, thereby calibrating the flow meter and providing the measurement accuracy and reliability of the flow meter.

[0039] In related technologies, flow calibration devices can be categorized into static and dynamic methods based on the state of the medium being weighed (stationary or flowing). Based on the physical parameters being measured, flow calibration devices can be categorized into mass and volumetric methods. The static mass method, due to its advantages in accuracy, traceability, and installation, has become the most commonly used calibration method for flow calibration devices in China.

[0040] However, the related art liquid metal flow meter calibration device based on the static mass method is significantly affected by the physical properties of the medium, and changes in the operating environment can easily lead to deviations in the flowmeter calibration results, resulting in unstable measurement accuracy. In particular, when the liquid metal is weighed on an electronic scale after the liquid is filled, the structure of the scale itself will come into contact with the upstream and downstream calibration pipes or commutator pipes, thereby generating uncontrollable stress, which affects the subsequent weighing of the electronic scale, resulting in a reduction in the measurement accuracy of the related art liquid metal flow meter calibration device and affecting the calibration accuracy.

[0041] Please refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2The embodiment of the present application provides a liquid metal flow measurement and calibration device 100, which includes a metal flow circuit, a weighing device 20 and a commutator 30, wherein the metal flow circuit includes a liquid reservoir 11 and a calibration pipe 12, the calibration pipe 12 is used to install the flow meter 200 to be tested, the metal flow circuit is used to regulate the liquid metal in the liquid reservoir 11, so that the liquid metal circulates stably between the liquid reservoir 11 and the calibration pipe 12, the liquid reservoir 11 includes a third pipe 111, and the third pipe 111 is an input pipe of the liquid reservoir 11; the weighing device 20 is used to weigh the mass of the inflowing liquid metal, and includes a second pipe 21 and a fourth pipe 22. The commutator 30 is used to control the flow direction of the liquid metal flowing out of the calibration pipe 12 so that the liquid metal flows to the weighing device 20 or the liquid reservoir 11. The commutator 30 includes a first pipe 31, which is an output pipe connected to the weighing device 20. The diameter of the first pipe 31 is smaller than that of the second pipe 21, and the first pipe 31 extends into the second pipe 21 and is spaced apart from the second pipe 21. And / or, the diameter of the fourth pipe 25 is smaller than that of the third pipe 111, and the fourth pipe 25 extends into the third pipe 111 and is spaced apart from the third pipe 111.

[0042] The liquid metal flow measurement and calibration device 100 is a device used to calibrate the accuracy of a flow meter. Due to the characteristics of liquid metal being easily oxidized and easily solidified at room temperature, the liquid metal flow measurement and calibration device 100 has certain requirements for air tightness and temperature control.

[0043] The metal flow loop is a structure in the liquid metal flow measurement and calibration device 100 for creating a stable working environment for the flow meter 200 to be tested, so as to simulate a normal working environment and thereby better calibrate the flow meter 200 to be tested.

[0044] Among them, the metal flow circuit includes a liquid reservoir 11, which is a container for storing liquid metal in the metal flow circuit. In these embodiments of the present application, due to the easy solidification characteristics of liquid metal, it is necessary to control the liquid reservoir 11 to always maintain a certain temperature, thereby ensuring the flow properties of the liquid metal.

[0045] Based on this, the liquid reservoir 11 can be, but is not limited to, a can-shaped or cylindrical structure with a certain liquid storage space (sealed). A heating component, a sensor component, etc., acting on the liquid reservoir 11 are also installed to monitor the state of the liquid metal in the liquid storage space of the liquid reservoir 11 in real time to ensure that the liquid metal remains in a liquid state.

[0046] The calibration pipe 12 is a component in the liquid metal flow measurement calibration device 100 for installing the flow meter 200 to be tested, which means that the calibration pipe 12 can be used to install different flow meters 200 to be tested so as to perform flow measurement calibration for different flow meters 200 to be tested.

[0047] In these embodiments of the present application, the metal flow circuit is used to regulate the liquid metal in the liquid reservoir 11 so that the liquid metal circulates stably between the liquid reservoir 11 and the calibration pipe 12. That is, the metal flow circuit can be used to simulate the working environment of different flow meters 200 to be tested, and then calibrate different flow meters 200 to be tested respectively.

[0048] The liquid metal circulates stably between the liquid reservoir 11 and the calibration pipe 12, which means that the metal flow circuit can simulate the working environment, allowing the liquid metal to flow out of the liquid reservoir 11 and return to the liquid reservoir 11 after flowing through the calibration pipe 12 and other components, by controlling the opening of different valves.

[0049] The commutator 30 is used to control the flow direction of the liquid metal flowing out of the calibration pipe 12, so that the liquid metal flows to the weighing device 20 or the liquid reservoir 11. It means that the commutator 30 is a component arranged downstream of the calibration pipe 12 and is used to control the flow direction of the liquid metal, so as to control the liquid metal to flow back to the liquid reservoir 11, or flow into the weighing device 20 for storage, and then be weighed by the weighing device 20.

[0050] In these embodiments of the present application, the weighing device 20 includes a second pipe 21, which is an input pipe of the weighing device 20; the commutator 30 includes a first pipe 31, which is an output pipe connected to the weighing device 20; wherein the diameter of the first pipe 31 is smaller than the diameter of the second pipe 21, and the first pipe 31 extends into the second pipe 21 and is spaced apart from the second pipe 21.

[0051] The diameter of the first pipe 31 is smaller than the diameter of the second pipe 21, that is, the diameter of the output pipe of the commutator 30 (used to communicate with the weighing device 20) is smaller than the input pipe of the weighing device 20, so that when the commutator 30 is connected to the weighing device 20, the first pipe 31 can extend into the second pipe 21 and be spaced apart from the second pipe 21.

[0052] In this way, a contactless connection of inner and outer sleeves is formed between the commutator 30 and the weighing machine 20, and the first pipe 31 with a smaller diameter extends into the second pipe 21 with a larger diameter, which can reduce the impact of structural contact on the weighing accuracy of the weighing machine 20 and further improve the calibration accuracy of the liquid metal flow measurement calibration device 100.

[0053] Correspondingly, the weighing device 20 further includes a fourth pipe 25, which is an output pipe of the weighing device 20, and the liquid reservoir 11 includes a third pipe 111, which is an input pipe of the liquid reservoir 11. The diameter of the fourth pipe 25 is smaller than the diameter of the third pipe 111, and the fourth pipe 25 extends into the third pipe 111 and is spaced apart from the third pipe 111.

[0054] In this way, at the input end of the weighing machine 20, an inner and outer sleeve are formed between the first pipe 31 and the second pipe 21, that is, at the input end and the output end of the weighing machine 20, they are spaced apart from the commutator 30 and the liquid reservoir 11, respectively, to form an inner and outer sleeve structure, thereby reducing the contact between the commutator 30 and the liquid reservoir 11 and the weighing machine 20, reducing the risk of external stress being transmitted to the weighing machine 20 through the commutator 30 or the liquid reservoir 11, and thus further improving the weighing accuracy of the weighing machine 20.

[0055] In these embodiments of the present application, the diameter of the first pipe 31 is smaller than that of the second pipe 21, and the first pipe 31 extends into the second pipe 21 and is spaced apart from the second pipe 21; and / or the diameter of the fourth pipe 25 is smaller than that of the third pipe 111, and the fourth pipe 25 extends into the third pipe 111 and is spaced apart from the third pipe 111. This means that such a contactless sleeve design can be provided only between the weighing device 20 and the commutator 30, or only between the weighing device 20 and the liquid reservoir 11, or simultaneously between the weighing device 20 and the commutator 30 and between the weighing device 20 and the liquid reservoir 11, so as to reduce the transmission of stress at the corresponding positions and reduce the impact of external stress on the measurement accuracy of the weighing device 20.

[0056] According to the liquid metal flow measurement and calibration device 100 provided in the embodiment of the present application, by setting the diameter of the first pipe 31 to be smaller than the diameter of the second pipe 21, the first pipe 31 extends into the second pipe 21 and is spaced apart from the second pipe 21; and / or the diameter of the fourth pipe is smaller than the diameter of the third pipe, the fourth pipe extends into the third pipe and is spaced apart from the third pipe, thereby reducing the contact between the weighing device 20 and the commutator 30 and / or the liquid reservoir 11, reducing the transmission of stress from the inlet and outlet pipes of the weighing device 20 to the weighing device 20 during the weighing process, improving the stability of the weighing device 20 during weighing, and achieving higher measurement accuracy.

[0057] In some embodiments, the commutator 30 includes an isolation cover 32 and a commutator body 33 disposed in the isolation cover; the isolation cover 32 is tubular, and the isolation cover 32 is sealedly connected to the weighing device 20, the calibration pipe 12 and the liquid reservoir 11 respectively; the commutator body 33 is used to change the flow direction of the liquid metal.

[0058] The isolation cover 32 is tubular and is sealedly connected to the weighing device 20, the calibration pipe 12 and the liquid reservoir 11, respectively. This means that the isolation cover 32 is sealedly connected to the pipe in the weighing device 20 for communicating with the calibration pipe 12, the pipe in the calibration pipe 12 for communicating with the weighing device 20, and the pipe in the liquid reservoir 11 for communicating with the calibration pipe 12.

[0059] That is, the commutator 30 is a component for controlling the flow direction of the liquid metal, and a sealing isolation cover 32 is provided on the outside thereof, and the isolation cover 32 is sealedly connected to each component for communication therewith.

[0060] In this way, the commutator body 33 can be set in the isolation cover 32 and used to change the flow direction of the liquid metal. When controlling the flow direction of the liquid metal, the commutator 30 can always be isolated from the outside world under the action of the isolation cover 32, thereby improving the air tightness of the liquid metal at the commutator 30.

[0061] In these embodiments of the present application, an isolation cover 32 can be provided to connect the liquid inlet of the commutator 30 (the port connected to the calibration pipe 12) with the pipe of the calibration pipe 12 by a flange, and the ports of the two outlet ends of the isolation cover 32 (flowing to the liquid reservoir 11 and the weighing device 20) are respectively connected to the pipe of the liquid reservoir 11 and the pipe of the weighing device 20 by flanges to improve the sealing performance.

[0062] The reversing body 33 is a liquid distributor structure arranged in the isolation cover 32. The liquid distributor is driven to rotate or horizontally displace by a motor or cylinder to change the flow direction of the liquid metal in the reversing body 33, so that the liquid metal flowing into the calibration pipe 12 flows to the liquid reservoir 11 or the weighing device 20.

[0063] In some embodiments, the liquid metal flow measurement and calibration device 100 also includes a sealed protective cover 50 having a accommodating space 51, and the weighing device 20 is arranged in the accommodating space 51; the first pipe 31 is sealedly connected to the sealed protective cover 50, and extends into the accommodating space 51 to communicate with the second pipe 21; the third pipe 111 is sealedly connected to the sealed protective cover 50, and extends into the accommodating space 51 to communicate with the fourth pipe 25.

[0064] The sealing protective cover 50 has a receiving space 51 , and the weighing device 20 is disposed in the receiving space 51 , which means that the sealing protective cover 50 is a closed hollow structure, and the internal hollow structure thereof is the receiving space 51 .

[0065] The weighing device 20 is arranged in the accommodating space 51. A possible implementation method is that the weighing device 20 can be detachably connected to the sealing protective cover 50 through connecting parts such as bellows, screws, bolts, double-headed studs, etc.

[0066] The first pipe 31 is sealedly connected to the sealing protective cover 50, and the third pipe 111 is sealedly connected to the sealing protective cover 50. A possible implementation method is that the first pipe 31 and the third pipe 111 respectively pass through the wall of the sealing protective cover 50 and then extend into the accommodating space. At the same time, the outer walls of the first pipe 31 and the third pipe 111 are welded and sealed to the sealing protective cover 50.

[0067] In these embodiments of the present application, the first pipe 31 is connected to the second pipe 21, and at the same time, the third pipe 111 is connected to the fourth pipe 25, so as to form a "large and small pipe" connection mode at the input end and the output end of the weighing machine 20 respectively, so that during the weighing process of the weighing machine 20, the risk of stress in the inlet and outlet pipes of the weighing machine 20 being transmitted to the weighing machine 20 is reduced, thereby improving the weighing accuracy of the weighing machine 20.

[0068] In some embodiments of the present application, a weighing device 20 can be provided including a container body 22, a scale body 23 and a weight self-loading mechanism 24, so that the container body 22 can be used to receive the liquid metal flowing in from the calibration pipe 12, and the mass of the liquid metal can be obtained by reading the reading on the scale body 23. The weight self-loading mechanism 24 is used to regularly calibrate the scale body 23 to ensure that the measurement accuracy of the scale body 23 is within the allowable range.

[0069] At this time, the container body 22 of the weighing device 20 for actually receiving the liquid metal can be set in the accommodating space 51, the legs of the container body 22 can be set to pass through the sealing protective cover 50 and extend out of the accommodating space 51, and the scale body 23 and the weight self-loading mechanism 24 can be set outside the accommodating space 51 to reduce the impact of the high temperature environment on the scale body 23 and the weight self-loading mechanism 24. Among them, the weight self-loading mechanism 24 can be set in the lower space of the scale body 23 and connected to the scale body through a connecting rod. The container body 22 and the sealing protective cover 50 are sealed by a bellows to further improve the sealing performance of the weighing device 20.

[0070] Exemplarily, the container body 22 is a columnar tank structure, and four legs are provided at the bottom of the container body 22 (not shown); the scale body 23 and the weight self-loading mechanism 24 are arranged outside the accommodating space 51, and the scale body 23 is composed of an electronic scale (not shown) and a scale platform (not shown), and the scale platform is supported on the upper surface of the electronic scale by four supporting columns, and the upper surface of the scale platform is provided with four limiting grooves, which are respectively matched with the four legs, and the inner diameter of the limiting groove is larger than the outer diameter of the legs, and the limiting groove is used to provide a limit for the legs; the legs pass through the sealing protection After passing through the four corresponding through holes at the bottom of the protective cover 50, they pass through four pressure-resistant flexible bellows respectively and then fall into the four limit grooves of the scale platform. The inner diameter of each pressure-resistant flexible bellows is larger than the outer diameter of the support leg and completely covers the perimeter of the limit groove. The two ends of each pressure-resistant flexible bellows are respectively connected to the bottom outer wall of the corresponding sealing protective cover 50 and the upper surface of the scale platform to ensure that the two end faces are reliably sealed; the weight self-loading mechanism 24 is set in the lower space of the scale body and consists of weights, hangers, tracks and transmission mechanisms, which are used to calibrate and reset the scale body 23

[0071] The first pipe 31 is sealed and connected to the sealing protective cover 50, and extends into the accommodating space 51 to communicate with the weighing device 20, which means that the pipe in the commutator 30 used to communicate with the weighing device 20 can pass through the sealing protective cover 50 and enter the accommodating space 51, and be connected to the container body 22 accommodated in the accommodating space 51.

[0072] In these embodiments of the present application, the second pipe 21 and the fourth pipe 25 are respectively connected to the container body 22, wherein the second pipe 21 is the input pipe of the container body 22, and the fourth pipe 25 is the output pipe of the container body 22. After the weighing of the liquid metal in the container body 22 is completed, the liquid metal in the container body 22 can be discharged through the fourth pipe 25, so that it can flow back into the liquid reservoir 11 through the third pipe 111 connected to the fourth pipe 25.

[0073] In some embodiments, the liquid metal flow measurement and calibration device 100 further includes an air circuit system 40 and a heating system (not shown). The air circuit system 40 is connected to the commutator 30 and the accommodating space 51 . The heating system is used to heat the liquid metal to above the melting point and maintain it.

[0074] The function of the gas circuit system 40 is to fill inert gas into each component of the liquid metal flow measurement and calibration device 100, and to perform multiple filling and releasing of inert gas to replace the air, so as to control the oxygen concentration in the liquid metal flow measurement and calibration device 100 within a certain range to reduce the probability of liquid metal contact with air.

[0075] In these embodiments of the present application, inert gas is introduced into the commutator 30 and the accommodating space 51 through the gas circuit system 40 so that the commutator 30 and the accommodating space 51 obtain good air isolation performance and reduce the probability of liquid metal oxidation.

[0076] In these embodiments of the present application, a gas circuit system 40 may be provided consisting of an inert gas cylinder, a gas main pipe, and a plurality of gas branches, so as to utilize the gas circuit system 40 to transport the inert gas to various components of the liquid metal flow measurement and calibration device 100 .

[0077] The heating system is a preheating system in the liquid metal flow measurement and calibration device 100, which is used to heat the liquid metal to above the melting point and maintain it so that the liquid metal can obtain good flow properties.

[0078] In these embodiments of the present application, a heating system may be provided to preheat the different components through which the liquid metal needs to pass, so that the liquid metal does not lose heat when flowing through these components and is kept at a temperature above the melting point.

[0079] Illustratively, in these embodiments of the present application, a heating system may be provided that includes a plurality of heating zones (not shown). It is to be understood that the plurality of heating zones may be provided, but not limited to, on the liquid reservoir 11, the pressure stabilizer 13, the commutator 30, the sealing protective cover 50, and the pipelines between any two of these components, so that the temperature of the liquid metal can be maintained above the melting point when flowing through these parts, thereby reducing the risk of the liquid metal losing heat and solidifying.

[0080] In some embodiments, the metal flow circuit also includes a pressure stabilizer 13, a preheater 14, a heat exchanger 15 and a pump 16; the liquid reservoir 11, the pressure stabilizer 13, the preheater 14, the calibration pipe 12 and the heat exchanger 15 are connected in sequence through pipes, and the pump 16 is a submersible pump.

[0081] The function of the pressure stabilizer 13 is to provide a stable flow. When the pressure or flow fluctuation at the source of the flow device is large, the pressure stabilizer can reduce the fluctuation to a certain range to meet the stability requirements of the device.

[0082] The preheater 14 and the heat exchanger 15 are both heat exchange components in the metal flow circuit, which are designed to heat the liquid metal before it flows into the calibration pipe 12 so that it can obtain better flow performance, and to cool the liquid metal after flowing through the calibration pipe 12, thereby reducing the impact of temperature on the subsequent commutator 30 or weighing machine 20, which can effectively improve the service life of the weighing machine 20 and the commutator 30.

[0083] Pump 16 is a power component in the metal flow circuit, driving the circulation of liquid metal within the liquid reservoir 11. In these embodiments of the present application, by arranging pump 16 upstream of the pressure regulator 13, the pressure regulator 13 can be used to reduce the impact of pressure or flow fluctuations of pump 16 on the overall circulation stability of the metal flow circuit.

[0084] At the same time, in these embodiments of the present application, by setting the pump 16 as a submersible pump, the air space in the pump chamber is connected to the air space in the liquid reservoir 11, so that the liquid level in the pump chamber is consistent with the liquid level in the liquid reservoir 11, which can prevent the liquid level from rising due to sudden changes in the pump chamber pressure, thereby improving the safety and reliability of the operation of the pump 16.

[0085] In the embodiments of the present application, the pump 16 may be, but is not limited to, a vertical centrifugal pump.

[0086] In some embodiments, the pressure stabilizer 13 includes an inner cylinder, an intermediate cylinder and an outer cylinder, which are sequentially arranged and connected in sequence; the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder are both connected to the liquid reservoir 11 through a pipeline, and the intermediate cylinder is connected to the calibration pipeline.

[0087] In these embodiments of the present application, the pressurizer 13 can be designed as a plurality of sleeves arranged in a nested manner, wherein the output pipe of the liquid reservoir 11 is directly connected to the inner cylinder, so that when the pump is working, the liquid metal can be directly pumped out and flow into the inner cylinder of the pressurizer 13. Due to the structural form of the multiple sleeves inside the pressurizer 13, the liquid metal pumped into the inner cylinder can overflow into the intermediate cylinder, and then flow to the calibration pipe 12 through the intermediate cylinder. The overflow design of the multiple sleeves reduces the impact of the pressure or flow fluctuation of the pump 16 on the overall circulation stability of the metal flow circuit, so that regardless of the flow rate and pressure of the liquid metal at the input end of the pressurizer 13, the pressure and flow stability of the liquid metal flowing out of the pressurizer 13 can be maintained.

[0088] At the same time, in these embodiments of the present application, the outer cylinder is used to receive the liquid metal overflowing from the inner cylinder, that is, when the liquid metal pumped out by the pump 16 flows into the inner cylinder, it overflows into the intermediate cylinder and the outer cylinder in turn, and then flows back into the liquid reservoir 11 through the connecting pipe between the outer cylinder and the liquid reservoir 11.

[0089] In this way, by designing the liquid metal to flow out of the intermediate cylinder and connect with the subsequent calibration pipe 12, the liquid metal can flow out after overflowing from the inner cylinder to the intermediate cylinder, reducing the impact of the pressure or flow fluctuation of the pump 16 on the outflow of the liquid metal; at the same time, the liquid metal in the intermediate cylinder continuously overflows into the outer cylinder, and the overflow surface of the intermediate cylinder to the outer cylinder and the part of the intermediate cylinder connected to the calibration pipe 12 are relatively fixed, so that the hydraulic pressure of the liquid metal in the intermediate cylinder can be kept stable, further improving the reliability of the liquid metal flow measurement and calibration device 100.

[0090] In some embodiments, the calibration pipeline 12 may include a standard meter 121 and a flow regulating valve 122 , and the flow meter 200 to be tested is configured to be disposed between the standard meter 121 and the flow regulating valve 122 .

[0091] The calibration pipe 12 is a component in the liquid metal flow measurement calibration device 100 used to represent the reading of the flow meter 200 to be tested. The flow meter 200 to be tested is configured to be located between the standard meter 121 and the flow control valve 122. That is, the standard meter 121, the flow meter 200 to be tested, and the flow control valve 122 are connected in series. The standard meter 121 acts as an intermediate link, transmitting the value of the national flow standard or a higher-precision measurement standard to the flow meter 200 to be tested. This ensures uniformity and consistency of the values ​​between different flow meters 200 to be tested, making the flow measurement results comparable and reliable.

[0092] In some embodiments, the number of calibration pipes 12 is at least two, and each calibration pipe 12 is connected in parallel between the preheater 14 and the heat exchanger 15 .

[0093] In these embodiments of the present application, the difference between different calibration pipes 12 can be set only in the pipe specifications, which is equivalent to using multiple calibration pipes 12 to design multiple different flow selection ranges for the liquid metal flow measurement calibration device 100.

[0094] In these embodiments of the present application, there are two calibration pipes 12 , and two weighing systems are respectively provided for the two calibration pipes 12 , thereby improving the applicability of the liquid metal flow measurement and calibration device 100 .

[0095] Please refer to Figures 1 to 3 The present application also provides a method for measuring and calibrating a liquid metal flow rate, and provides a liquid metal flow rate measurement and calibration device 100 as provided in any of the above embodiments. The method for measuring and calibrating a liquid metal flow rate includes the following steps:

[0096] Step S1 , controlling the gas circuit system 40 to operate, so as to empty the liquid reservoir 11 , the pressure regulator 13 and the sealing protective cover 50 and introduce inert gas, and controlling the gas pressure in the liquid reservoir 11 , the pressure regulator 13 and the sealing protective cover 50 to be in a stable state.

[0097] In this step, the gas reservoir 11 , the pressure regulator 13 and the sealing protective cover 50 may be replaced with gases multiple times through the gas circuit system to control the oxygen concentration in the liquid reservoir 11 , the pressure regulator 13 and the sealing protective cover 50 .

[0098] In some embodiments, after inert gas is introduced into the liquid reservoir 11, the regulator 13 and the sealed protective cover 50 through the air system, the weight self-loading mechanism 24 can be used to calibrate and reset the scale body 23 to reduce the impact of the air system on the calibration accuracy.

[0099] Step S2: Control the heating system to heat the liquid reservoir 11, the pressure stabilizer 13, the commutator 30, the sealing protection cover 50 and the pipeline to a temperature above the melting point of the liquid metal and maintain the temperature at a stable state.

[0100] In these embodiments of the present application, the liquid reservoir 11, the pressure stabilizer 13, the commutator 30, the sealing protective cover 50 and the pipeline refer to that the heating system can cover the liquid reservoir 11, the pressure stabilizer 13, the commutator 30, the sealing protective cover 50, and the pipeline between any two of these components, so that the temperature of the liquid metal can be maintained above the melting point when flowing through these parts, thereby reducing the risk of the liquid metal losing heat and solidifying.

[0101] Step S3, control the commutator 30 to connect the commutator 30 with the metal flow circuit, control the pump 16 to pump the liquid metal out of the liquid reservoir 11, so that the liquid metal circulates in the metal flow circuit to reach the flow calibration point.

[0102] In these embodiments of the present application, the flow calibration points are implemented in accordance with the provisions for calibration flow points in the flow meter calibration regulations.

[0103] Step S4 , controlling the preheater 14 and the heat exchanger 15 to operate, so as to further increase the temperature of the liquid metal flowing into the calibration pipe 12 by using the preheater 14 , and to reduce the temperature of the liquid metal flowing out of the calibration pipe 12 by using the heat exchanger 15 .

[0104] The function of the preheater 14 is to further heat the liquid metal, allowing it to remain at a relatively low temperature within the reservoir 11. After passing through the preheater 14, the liquid metal is heated again before entering the subsequent calibration pipe 12. This reduces the need for high-temperature protection for the reservoir 11, pump 16, and pressure regulator 13, thereby improving the overall reliability of the device. Similarly, after passing through the calibration pipe 12, the liquid metal can be cooled by heat exchange in the heat exchanger 15 before flowing to subsequent components, similarly reducing the need for high-temperature protection for the subsequent commutator 30 and weigher 20.

[0105] Step S5: Control the commutator 30 to switch to communicate with the weighing device 20 and synchronize timing.

[0106] In this step, a photoelectric sensor matching the commutator 30 can be provided to enable the commutator 30 to start timing while switching the flow direction of the liquid metal; at the same time, when the commutator 30 rotates, the timing can also be stopped by the photoelectric sensor.

[0107] Step S6: When the timer reaches the preset calibration time, the switching commutator 30 is switched to be connected to the metal flow circuit.

[0108] Step S7: After the reading of the weighing device 20 stabilizes, record the reading of the electronic scale, calculate the flow value based on the preset calibration time and the mass of the liquid metal collected in the weighing device 20, open the discharge valve of the weighing device to allow the liquid metal to flow back to the liquid reservoir, and complete the calibration of a set of flow meters to be measured.

[0109] Step S8: Repeat the above steps S3 to S7 until the calibration of other flow points to be calibrated of the flow meter to be tested is completed.

[0110] The technical features of the above-mentioned embodiments can be combined arbitrarily. In order to make the description concise, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above-mentioned embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, they should be considered to be within the scope of this specification.

[0111] The above-described embodiments merely represent several implementation methods of the present application. While the descriptions are relatively specific and detailed, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of the patent application. It should be noted that a person of ordinary skill in the art may make various modifications and improvements without departing from the spirit of the present application, and these modifications and improvements fall within the scope of protection of the present application. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present patent application shall be determined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A liquid metal flow measurement and calibration device, characterized in that: include: A metal flow circuit, comprising a liquid reservoir and a calibration pipe, wherein the calibration pipe is used to install the flow meter to be tested, and the metal flow circuit is used to regulate the liquid metal in the liquid reservoir so that the liquid metal circulates stably between the liquid reservoir and the calibration pipe. The liquid reservoir includes a third pipe, which is an input pipe of the liquid reservoir; A weighing device for weighing the mass of the inflowing liquid metal, and comprising a second pipe and a fourth pipe, wherein the second pipe is an input pipe of the weighing device, and the fourth pipe is an output pipe of the weighing device; A commutator, configured to control the flow direction of the liquid metal flowing out of the calibration pipe so that the liquid metal flows toward the weighing device or the liquid reservoir, wherein the commutator comprises a first pipe, which is an output pipe connected to the weighing device; The diameter of the first pipeline is smaller than that of the second pipeline, the first pipeline extends into the second pipeline and is spaced apart from the second pipeline; and / or the diameter of the fourth pipeline is smaller than that of the third pipeline, the fourth pipeline extends into the third pipeline and is spaced apart from the third pipeline.

2. The liquid metal flow measurement and calibration device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The commutator includes an isolation cover and a commutation body arranged in the isolation cover; The isolation cover is tubular and is sealed and connected to the weighing device, the calibration pipe and the liquid reservoir respectively; The reversing body is used to change the flow direction of the liquid metal.

3. The liquid metal flow measurement and calibration device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The liquid metal flow measurement and calibration device further includes a sealing protective cover having a receiving space, and the weighing device is arranged in the receiving space; The first pipe is sealed and connected to the sealing protection cover, and extends into the accommodating space and communicates with the second pipe; The third pipe is sealed and connected to the sealing protection cover, and extends into the accommodating space and communicates with the fourth pipe.

4. The liquid metal flow measurement and calibration device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The weighing device includes a container body, a scale body, and a weight self-loading mechanism, wherein the container body is used to receive liquid metal and is arranged in the accommodation space, the container body is a columnar tank structure, and the bottom of the container body is provided with four legs; The scale body and the weight self-loading mechanism are arranged outside the accommodating space, the scale body is composed of an electronic scale and a scale platform, the scale platform is supported on the upper surface of the electronic scale by four supporting columns, the upper surface of the scale platform is provided with four limiting grooves, the four limiting grooves are respectively matched with the four supporting feet, the inner diameter of the limiting groove is larger than the outer diameter of the supporting foot, and the limiting groove is used to provide a limit for the supporting foot; after the supporting foot passes through the four through holes corresponding to the bottom of the sealing protective cover, it passes through four pressure-resistant flexible The bellows is then located in the four limit grooves of the scale platform. The inner diameter of each pressure-resistant flexible bellows is larger than the outer diameter of the support leg and completely covers the circumference of the limit groove. The two ends of each pressure-resistant flexible bellows are respectively connected to the bottom outer wall of the corresponding sealing protective cover and the upper surface of the scale platform to ensure that the two end surfaces are reliably sealed; the weight self-loading mechanism is arranged in the lower space of the scale body, and consists of weights, a hanger, a track and a transmission mechanism, which is used to calibrate and zero the scale body.

5. The liquid metal flow measurement and calibration device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The liquid metal flow measurement and calibration device also includes: an air circuit system, the air circuit system being in communication with the commutator and the accommodating space; Heating system used to heat liquid metal to above melting point and maintain it.

6. The liquid metal flow measurement and calibration device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The metal flow circuit also includes a pressure stabilizer, a preheater, a heat exchanger and a pump; The liquid reservoir, the pressure stabilizer, the preheater, the calibration pipeline and the heat exchanger are connected in sequence through pipelines, and the pump is a submersible pump.

7. The liquid metal flow measurement and calibration device according to claim 6, characterized in that: The pressurizer is a vertical columnar tank structure, and includes an upper air space, an inner cylinder, an intermediate cylinder and an outer cylinder, wherein the inner cylinder, the intermediate cylinder and the outer cylinder are sequentially sleeved and connected in sequence; The inner tube and the outer tube are both connected to the liquid reservoir through pipelines, and the middle tube is connected to the calibration pipeline.

8. The liquid metal flow measurement and calibration device according to claim 6, characterized in that: The calibration pipeline includes a standard meter and a flow regulating valve, and the flow meter to be tested is configured to be arranged between the standard meter and the flow regulating valve.

9. The liquid metal flow measurement and calibration device according to claim 8, characterized in that: There are at least two calibration pipes, and each calibration pipe is connected in parallel between the preheater and the heat exchanger.

10. A liquid metal flow measurement and calibration method, providing a liquid metal flow measurement and calibration device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that: The steps include: Controlling the operation of the gas circuit system to evacuate the liquid reservoir, the pressure regulator and the sealing protective cover and introduce inert gas, thereby controlling the air pressure in the liquid reservoir, the pressure regulator and the sealing protective cover to be in a stable state; Control the operation of the heating system to heat the liquid reservoir, pressure regulator, commutator, sealing protection cover and pipeline to above the melting point of liquid metal and maintain the temperature at a stable state; controlling the commutator to connect the commutator to the metal flow circuit, and controlling the pump to pump the liquid metal out of the liquid reservoir so that the liquid metal circulates in the metal flow circuit to reach a flow calibration point; Controlling the operation of the preheater and the heat exchanger to further heat the liquid metal flowing into the calibration pipe by the preheater and to cool the liquid metal flowing out of the calibration pipe by the heat exchanger; Controlling the commutator to switch to communication with the weighing device and synchronize timing; When the timer reaches a preset calibration time, the switching commutator is switched to connect with the metal flow circuit; After the scale reading stabilizes, the electronic scale reading is recorded, the flow rate is calculated based on the preset calibration time and the mass of the liquid metal collected in the scale, and the discharge valve of the scale is opened to allow the liquid metal to flow back to the liquid reservoir, thereby completing the calibration of a set of flow meters to be tested; Repeat the above steps until the calibration of other flow points to be calibrated of the flow meter to be tested is completed.

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