Deep-sea active tracer timed release equipment

Abstract

The invention discloses timed release equipment for a deep-sea active tracer agent. A piston capable of moving in a reciprocating mode is arranged in a liquid storage device, an inner cavity of the liquid storage device is divided into a seawater cavity and a tracer agent cavity, the seawater cavity is communicated with external seawater through a pair of one-way valves opposite in conduction direction, and therefore dynamic balance of internal pressure and external pressure of the liquid storage device is achieved; the water inlet pump is used for injecting seawater into the seawater cavity and pushing the piston to extrude the tracer cavity so as to realize active release of the tracer; and the multi-channel circulating distributor realizes directional release of different liquid storage devices. Through the dynamic pressure balance technology, the deep sea work requirement is met; the overall size and weight are obviously reduced, the system structure is greatly simplified, the operation complexity is further reduced, and the reliability is improved; on the other hand, the release opportunity, the release volume and the release speed of the tracer agent can be controllably adjusted.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of underwater operation, in particular to a deep-sea active tracer timed release device. BACKGROUND

[0002] Since the 1950s, foreign researchers have used the method of releasing chemical tracers and dye tracers in deep sea to observe turbulent mixing and vertical flow movement, and confirmed the existence of strong mixing and vertical upward movement near the seabed. In such observation experiments, the tracer release device is crucial, and its performance directly determines the observation accuracy and reliability: whether the release is successful or not determines whether the tracer can effectively enter the target flow field; the spatiotemporal accuracy controls the accuracy of the initial distribution of the tracer; whether the tracer can be accurately released in the preset isopycnal layer directly affects the authenticity of the tracer reaction mixing and transport process; at the same time, whether the release process is "quiet" enough to avoid additional turbulent disturbance is also very important, and excessive disturbance will lead to distortion of the subsequent observation signal. Therefore, a high-performance release device is an indispensable prerequisite for realizing accurate and reliable turbulent mixing observation.

[0003] The common deep-sea tracer release methods at present include injection release and acoustic control flip release. The injection release system is usually composed of an injection pump, a coupling pipeline and an injection nozzle. When working, the injection pump draws the tracer from the container, transports it to the water through the long pipeline, and sprays it at a specific depth. The injection release system usually uses ship-mounted lowering or dragging method, the release pipeline is long, the flow is generally small, the release time is long, and the nozzle depth needs to be adjusted constantly during the release process to follow the density change of the water body, so it is difficult to be used in deep sea scenes. The acoustic control flip release can be applied to deep sea scenes. The core of the device includes a pressure sealed container and an acoustic release. When working, the release device is lowered to the target depth by the ship-mounted winch, and the release is triggered by acoustic command to start the flip mechanism to invert the sealed barrel and realize the pouring of the tracer. Although this design supports deep sea working environment, the total amount and speed of release cannot be real-time controlled. In addition, the existing tracer release devices all need the support of a mother ship and manual operation, and it is difficult to realize long-term, continuous and autonomous release in deep sea environment.

[0004] In order to break through the above technical limitations, it is urgent to develop a tracer release device with high reliability, high precision and low operation complexity that can be applied to deep sea environment. The device needs to have the functions of long-term, large amount, continuous and autonomous release in deep sea environment, and to realize the controllable adjustment of the release time, release volume and release speed of the tracer. SUMMARY

[0005] Therefore, the present application provides a deep-sea active tracer timed release device with adjustable release time, volume and speed of the tracer.

[0006] The present application comprises:

[0007] At least one reservoir is provided with a reciprocating piston that divides the reservoir cavity into a seawater cavity and a tracer cavity. The seawater cavity is connected to external seawater through a pair of one-way valves with opposite directions of conduction, so as to achieve dynamic balance of pressure inside and outside the reservoir.

[0008] The water inlet pump is used to inject seawater into the seawater chamber, which pushes the piston to squeeze the tracer chamber, thereby realizing the active release of the tracer;

[0009] A multi-channel circulation dispenser includes a rotatable valve core for selectively connecting the tracer chamber to the outlet, enabling directional release from different reservoirs;

[0010] Flow meters are used to monitor the release flow of tracers in real time and provide feedback to the control system;

[0011] The control system, integrated into the electronic compartment, is used to control the speed of the water inlet pump and the angle of the circulation distributor valve core according to preset release parameters, so as to realize closed-loop control of the release timing, release volume and release speed of the tracer;

[0012] The energy system, integrated within the battery compartment, provides power to the equipment.

[0013] The reservoir is made of lightweight, pressure-resistant material, and the piston is equipped with a sealing structure and a liquid guide hole to balance the pressure on both sides of the sealing ring and prevent the piston from jamming.

[0014] The beneficial effects of this invention are as follows: On the one hand, this invention meets the needs of deep-sea operations through dynamic pressure balancing technology; it significantly reduces the overall volume and weight, greatly simplifies the system structure, thereby reducing operational complexity and improving reliability; on the other hand, it enables controllable adjustment of the release timing, release volume, and release rate of the tracer.

[0015] In summary, this invention possesses the function of long-term, large-scale, continuous, and autonomous release in deep-sea environments, which can fully meet the technical requirements for the release of active tracers in deep sea. Attached Figure Description

[0016] To clearly understand the manner in which the features described above are employed in this application, the content described above can be described in more detail from several aspects, some of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. However, it should be noted that the drawings only depict certain typical aspects of this application and should not be considered as limiting its scope, as this description may allow for other equally valid aspects.

[0017] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the combined structure of the present invention.

[0018] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the invention in detail.

[0019] Figure 3a This is a schematic diagram of the liquid reservoir structure.

[0020] Figure 3b for Figure 3a Partial view of section A in the middle.

[0021] Figure 3c for Figure 3a Partial view of section B in the middle.

[0022] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the inlet pump structure.

[0023] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of a four-channel cyclic distributor.

[0024] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the pressure hull structure of the electronics compartment.

[0025] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the working principle of the present invention.

[0026] Figure 8 This is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the present invention.

[0027] Figure 9 This is a flowchart illustrating the timed release process of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0028] To make the technical solutions and advantages of the embodiments of this application clearer, the exemplary embodiments of this application will be described in further detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of this application, and not an exhaustive list of all embodiments. It should be noted that, unless otherwise stated, the embodiments and features in the embodiments of this application can be combined with each other.

[0029] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, a deep-sea active tracer timed release device of this application includes:

[0030] Four liquid storage tanks 1, which are balanced by internal and external pressure to meet the needs of deep-sea operations;

[0031] An intake pump 3, which meets the requirements of deep-sea operations, serves as the power source for the entire system;

[0032] A four-channel circulation distributor 4 is used for directional gating of the reservoir;

[0033] Two check valves 11 are used to connect with seawater to achieve pressure balance;

[0034] A flow meter 5 is used to measure the amount of tracer released, thereby enabling precise closed-loop control of the amount of tracer released;

[0035] An energy control system is integrated in the battery compartment 10, which uses a large-capacity lithium battery with a capacity of 2 kWh for power supply.

[0036] In non-operating states, the control system can automatically cut off power to unnecessary loads, putting the power system into a low-power sleep mode. During sleep, power consumption is less than 0.5 W, significantly reducing standby power loss. This design effectively improves the equipment's energy efficiency, enabling it to support long-term (at least 30 days), multiple, and continuous operations in complex environments such as the deep sea.

[0037] The control system is integrated into Electronics Compartment 9 and mainly includes a main control board, power control board, attitude sensors, digital input / output acquisition modules, pump drivers, and power conversion modules. These modules work together to provide overall system control. The battery and the electronic compartment's titanium alloy pressure-resistant shell can withstand the high pressure of a 4000m deep-sea environment.

[0038] A fixed frame 2, featuring a hollow titanium alloy perforated design, has openings in each closed thin-walled titanium alloy pipe to achieve pressure balance and meet the pressure requirements of deep-sea operations. The top of the frame has eight fixing points, which can be connected to the shipborne CTD winch ring via U-shaped locking buckles 7, allowing the equipment to be lowered via the shipborne CTD winch. The fixed frame 2 can be mounted on a mobile chassis 8.

[0039] To reduce the size and weight of the tracer storage device, the reservoir is made of transparent acrylic material. This material is not only lightweight and high-strength, but its high transparency also allows operators to observe the tracer filling status in real time.

[0040] The liquid storage system consists of four 117-liter acrylic storage tanks, with a total capacity of 468 liters, enabling large-scale, controlled, and continuous release operations in deep-sea environments. This is to meet the needs of deep-sea operations.

[0041] This application employs pressure-balanced sealing technology and, combined with a modular design concept, proposes a modular pressure-balanced liquid receiver. The seawater chamber of the liquid receiver is connected to seawater through a pair of one-way valves with opposite directions of conduction. During equipment lowering, as the external water pressure gradually increases, the inlet one-way valve opens accordingly, dynamically adjusting the internal pressure of the liquid receiver to maintain pressure balance inside and outside the chamber. During equipment recovery, as the external water pressure gradually decreases, the outlet one-way valve opens accordingly, again dynamically adjusting the internal pressure of the liquid receiver to maintain pressure balance inside and outside the chamber. Therefore, even if some gas is present inside the liquid receiver, it will not affect the normal operation of the equipment.

[0042] Furthermore, the one-way valve at the outlet can open and release pressure externally when the piston becomes stuck due to increased internal pressure in the reservoir, preventing damage to the end cap seal caused by excessive pumping. Based on the above design, the reservoir does not need to withstand additional external water pressure; it only needs to be made of lightweight acrylic material that can withstand pump pressure to meet the usage requirements. This improvement significantly reduces the overall weight and volume of the reservoir.

[0043] like Figure 3a , Figure 3b and Figure 3c As shown, in one embodiment, the tracer chamber end cap 1-3 and the seawater chamber end cap 1-4 are provided with sealing grooves, and sealing rings are installed in the grooves. The end caps are fastened to both ends of the acrylic cylinder 1-1 by bolts to form sealed chambers. The end caps have mounting holes for installing seawater inlet 1-7, seawater end ball valve 1-8, tracer outlet 1-9, proximity switch 1-10, tracer end ball valve 1-11, and exhaust valve 1-12. These valves and sensors are fixed to the end caps by specific bolts and sealing structures. The diameter of piston 1-2 is matched with the inner diameter of acrylic cylinder 1-1, and X-shaped sealing rings 1-13 fill the gap between piston 1-2 and the inner wall of acrylic cylinder 1-1, so that the tracer chamber 1-5 and seawater chamber 1-6 inside the cylinder are independent of each other.

[0044] The reservoir employs a dynamic pressure balance structure: seawater inlets 1-7 are connected to the inlet pump 3 and check valve 11 via water pipes. During the lowering of the equipment into the deep sea, as the water pressure increases, the inlet check valve in check valve 11 opens, allowing seawater to enter the seawater chamber 1-6, thus increasing the internal pressure of the reservoir and maintaining a dynamic pressure balance between the inside and outside. During the lifting of the equipment, as the water pressure decreases, the outlet check valve in check valve 11 opens, allowing seawater to flow out of the seawater chamber 1-6, thus decreasing the internal pressure of the reservoir and maintaining a dynamic pressure balance between the inside and outside.

[0045] Piston 1-2 employs a double-end sealing structure, dividing the cylinder into two chambers: a seawater chamber 1-6 and a tracer chamber 1-5. A pair of X-shaped sealing rubber rings 1-13 on the piston provide a seal, preventing liquid mixing between the two sides. To prevent the two sealing rings from deforming inwards under the pressure of the high-pressure liquid on both sides, a liquid guide hole 1-14 is provided on the seawater chamber side. Seawater from the seawater chamber enters the gap between the two sealing rings 1-13 through the liquid guide hole 1-14, maintaining pressure balance. The height of piston 1-2 is set above 100mm, effectively preventing the piston from tilting during pushing and thus preventing it from becoming immobile.

[0046] Furthermore, such as Figure 4As shown, in one embodiment, the pump body 3-1 is connected to the oil-filled housing 3-3 via a flange, the brushless motor 3-2 is fastened to the flange by bolts, the inner rotor of the magnetic coupling 3-7 is fixed to the pump body 3-1, and the outer rotor is fixed to the output shaft of the brushless motor 3-2. The rotation of the motor is transmitted to the pump through the magnetic coupling 3-7, forming a water inlet pump system.

[0047] In particular, in order to reduce the weight of the system, the oil-filled housing 3-3 is designed to be thinner and needs to be filled with oil inside to achieve internal and external pressure balance. Therefore, the communication and power supply cables of the motor are also oil-filled connectors 3-5, which are fixed to the end cover of the oil-filled housing 3-3 by threads. The end cover is also provided with an oil filling hole 3-6. The clamp 3-4 fixes the water pump to the equipment frame with bolts. The above components together form the water pump structure.

[0048] During the release operation, the control module inside the electronic compartment 9 powers the brushless motor 3-2 via the oil-filled connector 3-5. The brushless motor drives the pump body 3-1 through the magnetic coupling 3-7, causing seawater to flow from the water pump inlet 3-8 through the water pipe and seawater inlet 1-7 into the seawater chamber 1-6. This increases the pressure inside the seawater chamber 1-6, pushing the piston 1-2 towards the tracer chamber 1-5, thus releasing the tracer from the reservoir selected by the distributor 4. If the piston 1-2 becomes stuck during the release operation, the pressure inside the reservoir will abnormally increase under the action of the inlet pump 3, exceeding the opening pressure of the outlet check valve in the check valve 11. The check valve 11 will then open to release pressure, preventing damage to the reservoir.

[0049] To simplify the system structure and improve system feasibility, this application designs a four-channel circulation distributor, which uses only one deep-sea servo motor to drive a planar rotating single-channel sealed valve core, which can select between the seawater control chamber and the tracer release chamber of each reservoir.

[0050] Specifically, the four inlets of the circulation distributor are connected to four reservoirs via water pipes. The four channels are set to 0°, 90°, 180°, and 270° respectively. In the non-operating state, the single-channel sealing valve core rotates to 315°, keeping all four inlets closed. When the control module selects a reservoir for release, the circulation distributor motor drives the single-channel valve core to rotate to the corresponding angle, aligning the valve core channel with the corresponding circulation distributor inlet of that reservoir, while the other inlets are closed, achieving directional selection of the reservoir. This design avoids the complex system design problems associated with using numerous deep-sea control valves, significantly simplifies the system structure, and improves system feasibility.

[0051] Furthermore, such as Figure 5As shown, in one embodiment, four distributor inlets 4-3 are connected to four tracer outlets 1-9 of the reservoirs via water pipes. Each inlet channel is pre-set to a specific angle position, namely 0°, 90°, 180°, and 270°. The distributor drive motor 4-1, distributor inlets 4-3, and distributor outlets 4-4 are connected to the valve seat via flanges and threads, respectively. The distributor valve core 4-2 is made of polytetrafluoroethylene and is embedded inside the valve seat with an interference fit to form a sealing structure.

[0052] During the release operation, the control module integrated in the electronics compartment 9 selects the distributor to release the target liquid reservoir: the battery in the battery compartment 10 powers the distributor drive motor 4-1, which drives the distributor valve core 4-2 to rotate via a coupling, aligning its internal channel with the corresponding inlet of the target liquid reservoir, while the other inlets are sealed by the valve core wall, thus achieving directional selection of the liquid reservoir. Before and after the operation, the valve core rotates to a 315° position, at which point all inlets are sealed, ensuring the system is in a safe and isolated state.

[0053] In this application, all pressure chambers underwent multiple simulations and high-pressure tests to ensure their watertight reliability in deep-sea environments. All control modules within the electronics compartment are fixed to the compartment via mounting brackets, and the docking plugs are designed to prevent loosening, ensuring the reliability of the electrical control system in complex deep-sea environments.

[0054] Furthermore, such as Figure 6 As shown, in one embodiment, the entire cabin is made of titanium alloy, which is lightweight and has high strength. The front and rear end covers are sealed with two sealing rings to ensure watertight reliability. The connector protective cover 9-1 is bolted to the front end cover 9-2 and the rear end cover 9-5. The watertight connector 9-6 is threaded onto the end cover. Both the front and rear end covers have two sealing ring grooves, and O-rings 9-4 are placed in these grooves. The O-rings and the cylinder wall are pressed together to form a sealing structure. The two end covers are connected to the cabin 9-3 by screws 9-7. These components together constitute the pressure-resistant cabin of the electronics compartment.

[0055] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the working principle of this application, combined with Figure 1 - Figure 5This explains the main working principle of this application. Before the equipment officially starts working, open the seawater end ball valve 1-8, the tracer end ball valve 1-11, and the vent valve 1-12. Use an external water pump to pump the prepared tracer into the tracer chamber 1-5 via the tracer end ball valve 1-11 until the piston 1-2 is pushed to the seawater chamber end cap 1-4. Continue pumping tracer until there are no large air bubbles in the reservoir, at which point the reservoir filling is considered complete. Turn off the external water pump, and close the seawater end ball valve 1-8, the tracer end ball valve 1-11, and the vent valve 1-12. Connect the external water pump to the next reservoir and repeat the above operation until all four reservoirs have been filled with tracer.

[0056] After the equipment starts operating, keep seawater inlet 1-7 open, and close seawater end ball valve 1-8, tracer end ball valve 1-11, and vent valve 1-12. Figure 6 As shown, after the timer expires, the circulation distributor valve core 4-2 rotates to the first channel. The control module checks whether this channel is recorded as released successfully. If it is, the circulation distributor valve core 4-2 rotates 90° clockwise to the second channel. If this channel is not recorded as released successfully, the inlet pump 3 starts pumping seawater into the seawater chamber 1-6 of this channel, increasing the water pressure inside the chamber and pushing the piston 1-2 towards the tracer chamber 1-5, pushing the tracer out through the tracer outlet 1-9, the distributor inlet 4-3, the valve core 4-2, the distributor outlet 4-4, and the outlet 6. This continues until the reservoir release timer expires, ending the release process and recording the channel as released successfully. If the proximity switch 1-10 is triggered before the release timer expires, the release process ends prematurely, and the channel is also recorded as released successfully. If the release timer has not expired and the proximity switch 1-10 has not been triggered, but the current of the inlet pump 3 abnormally increases beyond the limit, the release process ends, and the channel is recorded as released successfully. The inlet pump 3 stops working, the circulation distributor valve core 4-2 turns to the next channel, and the equipment automatically repeats the above operation until all four liquid reservoirs have been released.

[0057] During the release process, flow meter 5 monitors the tracer's flow rate and cumulative flow in real time, feeding the data back to the control system integrated within the electronics compartment 9. The system compares the current flow rate with the target flow rate and dynamically adjusts the rotation speed of the inlet pump 3 based on a PID algorithm, thereby achieving precise flow rate control. Through this closed-loop feedback mechanism, the system can accurately release the target tracer dose within a specified time.

[0058] In actual operation, based on the working principle of the equipment, the operator needs to perform the following: Figure 8 The steps shown are as follows:

[0059] The first step is to complete the equipment inspection. The specific steps are as follows: check whether the fastening screws of the components are loose, whether the connectors are properly connected, whether the battery power is sufficient, whether the equipment communication is normal, and whether the valve status is correct.

[0060] The second step is to complete the addition of the tracer to the device following the above procedures.

[0061] The third step is to complete the equipment debugging. The specific steps are: connect the debugging network cable, set the device parameters on the host computer, and start the device's operation timer. Disconnect the network cable and insert a watertight plug into the debugging port.

[0062] The fourth step is the lowering and retrieval of the equipment. The specific steps are as follows: connect the lowering winch cable, lower the equipment to the predetermined depth, suspend it for a period of time, and wait for the equipment to be released before pulling it up for retrieval.

[0063] Fifth, observe and record the device release status, and export the device log.

[0064] Step 6: Clean the equipment with fresh water and store it in a shaded area.

[0065] Those skilled in the art will readily understand that the above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, and improvements made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A deep-sea active tracer timed release device, characterized in that, include: At least one reservoir (1) is provided with a reciprocating piston (1-2) that divides the reservoir cavity into a seawater cavity (1-6) and a tracer cavity (1-5). The seawater cavity is connected to the external seawater through a pair of one-way valves (11) with opposite directions of conduction, so as to achieve dynamic balance of pressure inside and outside the reservoir. The water inlet pump (3) is used to inject seawater into the seawater cavity, push the piston to squeeze the tracer cavity, and realize the active release of the tracer; The multi-channel circulation distributor (4) includes a rotatable valve core (4-2) for selectively connecting the tracer chamber to the outlet (6) to achieve directional release from different reservoirs; A flow meter (5) is used to monitor the tracer release flow rate in real time and feed it back to the control system; The control system is integrated into the electronic compartment (9) and is used to control the speed of the water inlet pump and the angle of the valve core of the circulation distributor according to the preset release parameters, so as to realize the closed-loop control of the release timing, release volume and release speed of the tracer. The energy system, integrated within the battery compartment (10), is used to provide power support for the equipment; The reservoir is made of lightweight and pressure-resistant material, and the piston is equipped with a sealing structure and a liquid guide hole (1-14) to balance the pressure on both sides of the sealing ring and prevent the piston from jamming.

2. The deep-sea active tracer timed release device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The liquid storage tank (1) is a transparent acrylic liquid storage cylinder, there are four of them, with a total volume of 468 liters, which can support large-scale, controllable and continuous release operations in the deep sea environment.

3. A deep-sea active tracer timed release device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The piston (1-2) has a height of ≥100 mm, two X-shaped sealing rubber rings (1-13) on its outer periphery, and a liquid guiding hole (1-14) on the seawater cavity side.

4. The deep-sea active tracer timed release device according to claim 3, characterized in that, The one-way valves (11) are set in pairs. The inlet one-way valve is automatically opened to inject water and increase pressure when the equipment is lowered. The outlet one-way valve is automatically opened to release pressure when the equipment is recovered or the piston is stuck and overpressured, thus protecting the end cover of the liquid storage tank from being sealed.

5. The deep-sea active tracer timed release device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The water inlet pump (3) is a magnetic coupling pump driven by a brushless DC motor. The motor and coupling are placed inside an oil-filled housing (3-3). The housing is connected to the frame through a fixing clamp (3-4). The pump body inlet (3-8) is connected to the seawater cavity through a water pipe.

6. A deep-sea active tracer timed release device according to claim 1 or 5, characterized in that, The circulation distributor (4) uses a single deep-sea servo motor (4-1) to drive the planar rotary valve core (4-2). The valve core channel is aligned with the four inlets (4-3) at 0°, 90°, 180° and 270° in sequence. When not in operation, the valve core is stopped at the 315° closed position.

7. A deep-sea active tracer timed release device according to claim 6, characterized in that, The control system uses a PID algorithm to adjust the speed of the inlet pump in real time, so that the actual flow detected by the flow meter (5) tracks the preset flow curve, and completes the precise closed-loop control of the tracer dose.

8. A deep-sea active tracer timed release device according to claim 6, characterized in that, Both the outer shell of the electronic compartment (9) and the battery compartment (10) are made of titanium alloy pressure-resistant structure with a designed pressure resistance depth of ≥4000 m. The end cap of the electronic compartment (9) is sealed with double O-rings (9-4).

9. A deep-sea active tracer timed release device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The fixed frame (2) is a hollow titanium alloy perforated truss structure. The internal cavity of the frame is connected to the external seawater to achieve pressure self-balance. The top of the frame is equipped with multiple lifting docking rings (7), which can be quickly connected to the shipborne CTD winch ring through U-shaped locks to complete the equipment lowering and recovery.

10. A deep-sea active tracer timed release device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The control system automatically cuts off the power supply to unnecessary loads during the non-release phase, enabling the energy system to enter a low-power sleep mode with a sleep power consumption of <0.5 W, ensuring that the 2 kWh lithium battery pack can support the equipment to operate continuously in the deep sea for more than 30 days.

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