Device for measuring liquid level and temperature through ultrasonic waves on tank

Abstract

The invention discloses an on-tank ultrasonic liquid level and temperature measuring device, which belongs to the technical field of petroleum and chemical engineering, and comprises an oil tank body, the bottom of the oil tank body is connected with a measuring cylinder through a communicating pipeline, and the liquid level in the measuring cylinder is consistent with the liquid level in the oil tank body; the first ultrasonic transceiver is mounted at the top end of the measuring cylinder; the second ultrasonic transceiver is mounted at the bottom end of the measuring cylinder; the floating wall scraping ring is arranged in the measuring cylinder, the overall density of the floating wall scraping ring is smaller than that of a measured oil product, the floating wall scraping ring can slide up and down along the inner wall of the measuring cylinder along with rising and falling of the liquid level under the action of liquid level buoyancy, the floating wall scraping ring is composed of a stainless steel hollow ring body, and a flexible scraping piece is embedded in the outer edge of the floating wall scraping ring; the device is used for automatically scraping oil stains or sediments attached to the inner wall of the measuring cylinder in the moving process. According to the invention, the applicability and long-term operation stability in heavy oil, asphalt, wax-containing crude oil and other media are obviously improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of petroleum and chemical technology, and in particular, it is a device for ultrasonic measurement of liquid level and temperature on a tank. Background Technology

[0002] In the petroleum, chemical, and storage and transportation industries, real-time and accurate monitoring of tank liquid levels and temperatures is crucial for ensuring safe production, metering handover, and process control. Ultrasonic level measurement technology is widely used in various storage tanks due to its advantages such as non-contact operation, ease of installation, and lack of mechanical wear. A typical approach involves directly mounting the ultrasonic probe on the tank top, calculating the liquid level by emitting sound waves towards the surface and receiving the echoes, supplemented by an independent temperature sensor for sound velocity compensation. However, in practical applications, especially with high-viscosity crude oil, heavy oil, asphalt, and waxy or impurity-containing oils, this direct measurement method faces significant challenges.

[0003] Existing ultrasonic level measuring devices generally suffer from the following prominent problems: First, the complex environment inside the tank—floating discs, agitators, heating coils, foam layers, and oil and gas condensates can easily cause sound wave scattering, multiple reflections, or signal attenuation, leading to measurement distortion or even failure; Second, the probe surface is prone to scale buildup—volatile substances or waxes from high-viscosity oils deposit on the probe or measuring cylinder wall, forming an adhesion layer that significantly reduces sound wave transmission efficiency after long-term operation, while manual cleaning requires tank shutdown, affecting continuous production. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to provide an ultrasonic device for measuring liquid level and temperature on a tank, so as to solve the problems mentioned in the background art.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solution: a device for ultrasonic measurement of liquid level and temperature on a tank, comprising: The oil tank body has a measuring cylinder connected to its bottom via a connecting pipe, and the liquid level in the measuring cylinder is consistent with the liquid level inside the oil tank body. A first ultrasonic transceiver is installed at the top of the measuring cylinder; A second ultrasonic transceiver is installed at the bottom of the measuring cylinder; A floating scraper ring is set inside the measuring cylinder. Its overall density is less than that of the oil being measured. It can slide up and down along the inner wall of the measuring cylinder under the action of buoyancy of the liquid surface and rise and fall with the liquid level. The floating scraper ring is made of a stainless steel hollow ring body, and its outer edge is embedded with flexible scraper blades for automatically scraping off oil stains or deposits attached to the inner wall of the measuring cylinder during the movement. The bottom of the measuring cylinder is a sloping or conical structure with an inclination angle of not less than 15°, and a drain port is provided at its lowest point, which is connected to a manual drain valve. The measuring cylinder has a temperature sensor mounting interface in the middle of its side wall for inserting a temperature probe to obtain the liquid phase temperature. The signal output of the temperature probe is sent to an external transmitter for ultrasonic velocity compensation.

[0006] In this preferred embodiment, the outer diameter of the floating scraper ring is 1–2 mm smaller than the inner diameter of the measuring cylinder, and the outer diameter of the flexible scraper is slightly larger than the inner diameter of the measuring cylinder by 0.1–0.3 mm, so as to form an elastic interference contact.

[0007] In a preferred embodiment of this design, the outer side of the floating scraper ring is provided with a longitudinal guide scraper rib. The longitudinal guide scraper rib is used to prevent the floating scraper ring from tilting or getting stuck during the lifting and lowering process, while allowing the floating scraper ring to drive the longitudinal guide scraper rib to achieve continuous dust scraping when it rotates circumferentially inside the measuring cylinder.

[0008] In this preferred embodiment, the measuring cylinder is made of 316L stainless steel or carbon steel lined with PTFE, and the surface roughness Ra of the inner wall is ≤ 0.8 μm.

[0009] In this preferred embodiment, the temperature sensor mounting interface is a threaded seat welded to the side wall of the measuring cylinder. A stainless steel armored temperature sleeve with one end closed is detachably installed inside the threaded seat. The temperature sleeve extends horizontally or downward at a 5° angle into the measuring cylinder, with an insertion depth of not less than 50 mm.

[0010] In this preferred embodiment, the temperature sleeve is detachably sealed to the compression nut via a metal C-ring or copper washer, allowing the temperature probe to be replaced without emptying the measuring cylinder.

[0011] In a preferred embodiment of this scheme, the connecting pipeline includes an upstream ball valve, a pressure relief and venting port, and a downstream needle valve connected in sequence. The downstream needle valve is connected to the lower part of the side wall of the measuring cylinder, and the connection position is at least 50mm higher than the drain port.

[0012] In this preferred embodiment, the first and second ultrasonic transceivers operate at frequencies of 20–200 kHz. They are connected to an external intrinsically safe transmitter via shielded cables and are used only for liquid level signal acquisition, without participating in self-cleaning or sewage discharge control.

[0013] In this preferred embodiment, the measuring cylinder is provided with a top cover, which is fixed to the measuring cylinder by bolts, and the first ultrasonic transceiver is installed on the support base on the top surface of the top cover.

[0014] In this preferred embodiment, two sets of support, buffer, and shock-absorbing components are symmetrically arranged between the oil tank body and the measuring cylinder. Each set of support, buffer, and shock-absorbing components includes: Hydraulic dampers installed on the outer wall of the oil tank body; A collar fitted around the periphery of the measuring cylinder is composed of two semi-circular clamps symmetrically spliced ​​together, and the connecting lugs at both ends of the two semi-circular clamps are connected together by bolts. A hydraulic station installed on the base of a hydraulic damper; The damping end of the hydraulic damper is hinged to the hinged lug plate on the outer wall of the half-circle clamp via a pin. A silicone protective washer is provided on the inner side of the collar to buffer the vibration and impact between the measuring cylinder and the collar.

[0015] Compared with the prior art, the technical effects and advantages of the present invention are as follows: The ultrasonic level and temperature measurement device on this tank, by connecting the measuring cylinder to the bottom of the tank body through a connecting pipe, ensures that the liquid level inside the measuring cylinder remains consistent with the liquid level inside the tank under the effect of gravity balance. This isolates the ultrasonic measurement environment from the complex space inside the tank (such as the floating plate, agitator, foam layer, and steam zone) to an independent, clean, and visible external measurement channel, avoiding interference from disturbances inside the tank on the sound wave propagation path. It achieves a stable and reliable indirect level measurement function. Compared with existing ultrasonic level gauges directly installed on the top of the tank, it significantly improves the applicability and long-term operational stability in media such as heavy oil, asphalt, and waxy crude oil.

[0016] By incorporating a floating scraper ring with a density lower than that of the oil being measured inside the measuring cylinder, and embedding flexible scrapers on its outer edge, the scraper ring can passively move entirely by the buoyancy generated by the rise and fall of the liquid level, without the need for any motor, air source, or control system. When the liquid level changes, the floating scraper ring slides up and down along the cylinder wall, and the flexible scrapers continuously adhere to the inner wall with an elastic interference fit, automatically removing attached sludge, wax, or condensate. At the same time, the longitudinal guide scraper ribs on its outer side not only prevent tilting and jamming during the lifting and lowering process, but also drive the scraper ribs to continuously scrape circumferentially when the floating ring rotates circumferentially, achieving a 360° self-cleaning function without dead angles. Compared with the common problems of "false echoes caused by wall adhesion and the need for regular manual cleaning" in existing external measuring cylinders, this solution completely solves the signal attenuation problem during long-term operation, achieving a truly maintenance-free, high-precision continuous measurement effect. Attached Figure Description

[0017] To more clearly illustrate the specific embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the specific embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained from these drawings without creative effort.

[0018] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the present invention; Figure 2This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the support, buffer, and shock absorption assembly of the present invention; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram showing the disassembled structure of the floating scraper ring of the present invention; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the floating scraper ring of the present invention.

[0019] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures: In the diagram: 1. Oil tank body; 2. Oil filling port; 3. Ladder; 4. Measuring cylinder; 5. Connecting pipeline; 6. First ultrasonic transceiver; 7. Support base; 8. Second ultrasonic transceiver; 9. Collar; 10. Support buffer shock absorption assembly; 11. Half-circle clamp; 12. Connecting ear plate; 13. Silicone protective gasket; 14. Hinge ear plate; 15. Hydraulic damper; 16. Hydraulic station; 17. Top cover; 18. Temperature sensor mounting interface; 19. Floating scraper ring; 20. Stainless steel hollow ring body; 21. Flexible scraper blade; 22. Longitudinal guide dust scraper rib. Detailed Implementation

[0020] In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention can be practiced without one or more of these details. In other instances, certain technical features well-known in the art have not been described in order to avoid obscuring the invention.

[0021] Unless otherwise defined, the directions mentioned herein, such as up, down, left, right, front, back, inside, and outside, are based on the directions shown in the figures of this invention, and are explained here together.

[0022] like Figures 1 to 4 As shown in the figure, this embodiment provides an ultrasonic device for measuring liquid level and temperature on a tank, which is suitable for synchronous monitoring of liquid level and temperature in storage tanks for high-viscosity, easily solidified, or impurity-containing oils such as crude oil, heavy oil, and asphalt.

[0023] In this embodiment, the device includes: an oil tank body 1, a measuring cylinder 4, a connecting pipeline 5, a first ultrasonic transceiver 6, a second ultrasonic transceiver 8, a floating scraper ring 19, a temperature sensor mounting interface 18, and an optional support, buffer, and shock absorption assembly 10.

[0024] In this embodiment, the oil tank body 1 is a conventional vertical cylindrical storage tank, with an oil filling port 2 and a ladder 3 at the top. The measuring cylinder 4 is a vertically arranged hollow cylindrical body, which is connected to the bottom of the oil tank body 1 through a connecting pipe 5. Utilizing the principle of communicating vessels, the liquid level inside the measuring cylinder 4 is always kept consistent with the liquid level inside the oil tank body 1.

[0025] In this embodiment, the top of the measuring cylinder 4 is provided with a top cover 17, which is connected and sealed to the flange of the measuring cylinder 4 by bolts. The first ultrasonic transceiver 6 is installed at the center of the top cover 17 and emits ultrasonic signals downward. The bottom of the measuring cylinder 4 is closed, and the second ultrasonic transceiver 8 is embedded inside the bottom blind plate to receive ultrasonic signals penetrating the liquid column (or as a reflected echo receiver, depending on the measurement mode).

[0026] In this embodiment, the first ultrasonic transceiver 6 and the second ultrasonic transceiver 8 operate at a frequency of 20–200 kHz (preferably 40 kHz). They are led out to an external intrinsically safe transmitter (not shown in the figure) via shielded cables and are used only for liquid level signal acquisition and transmission. They do not participate in self-cleaning, sewage discharge, or vibration reduction control, which meets the intrinsic safety requirements.

[0027] In this embodiment, the floating scraper ring 19 is disposed inside the measuring cylinder 4 and can rise and fall freely under the buoyancy of the liquid surface. The floating scraper ring 19 is composed of a stainless steel hollow ring body 20, and its overall density is designed to be slightly smaller than that of the oil being tested (for example, when the density of crude oil is 0.85 g / cm³, the density of the floating ring is 0.80–0.83 g / cm³), which can be achieved by adjusting the volume of the hollow cavity or filling it with lightweight foam.

[0028] In this embodiment, a mounting groove is provided circumferentially on the outer edge of the stainless steel hollow ring body 20, and a flexible scraper 21 is embedded in the groove. The flexible scraper 21 is made of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) or fluororubber (FKM), with a width of 5–8 mm and a thickness of 1–2 mm. The outer diameter of the floating scraper ring 19 is 1–2 mm smaller than the inner diameter of the measuring cylinder 4, while the outer diameter of the flexible scraper 21 is slightly larger than the inner diameter of the measuring cylinder 4 by 0.1–0.3 mm, thereby forming an elastic interference contact and generating a continuous adhesion force of 5–20 N / m.

[0029] In this embodiment, specifically, the outer side of the floating scraper ring 19 is provided with longitudinal guide scraper ribs 22. The longitudinal guide scraper ribs 22 extend axially, are 3-4 in number, and have a height of approximately 0.5 mm. Their function includes: To prevent the floating scraper ring 19 from tilting or getting stuck during the lifting and lowering process; At the same time, when the floating scraping ring 19 rotates circumferentially inside the measuring cylinder 4, it drives the longitudinal guide scraping rib 22 to continuously scrape dust, achieving 360° cleaning without dead angles.

[0030] In this embodiment, when the oil level in the tank rises or falls, the floating scraper ring 19 moves up and down accordingly. The flexible scraper 21 and the longitudinal guide scraper rib 22 work together to automatically remove the wax, sludge or condensate adhering to the inner wall of the measuring cylinder 4, effectively avoiding sound wave scattering and ensuring the accuracy of ultrasonic measurement.

[0031] In this embodiment, the bottom of the measuring cylinder 4 is designed as a sloping bottom or a conical structure with an inclination angle of not less than 15° (cone angle ≥ 30°), and a drain port is provided at its lowest point. This drain port is connected to a manual drain valve (not shown in the figure, but it is a conventional needle valve), which is normally closed. Impurities, moisture, or heavy components settle to the bottom of the cone under gravity and concentrate near the drain port. They can be discharged by manually opening the drain valve periodically, without the need to stop the tank or empty the measuring cylinder 4.

[0032] In this embodiment, the temperature sensor mounting interface 18 is welded to the middle of the side wall of the measuring cylinder 4, located in the central area of ​​a typical liquid level range (e.g., 30%–90%). This interface is a ½" NPT or M10×1 threaded seat, and a Φ6×1 mm stainless steel 316L armored temperature sleeve with one end closed is detachably installed inside.

[0033] The temperature sleeve extends horizontally or at a downward tilt of 5° into the measuring cylinder 4, with an insertion depth of no less than 50 mm, ensuring it remains submerged in the liquid within the normal liquid level range. The temperature sleeve is detachably sealed to the clamping nut via a metal C-ring or copper washer. When replacing the Pt100 or Pt1000 temperature probe, simply loosen the clamping nut and pull out the sensor; there is no need to empty the measuring cylinder 4, greatly improving maintenance convenience. The temperature signal is transmitted via a two-core shielded cable through an explosion-proof gland to an external ultrasonic transmitter for real-time sound velocity compensation (as sound velocity is significantly affected by temperature), thereby improving the accuracy of liquid level measurement.

[0034] In this embodiment, the connecting pipe 5 extends from the bottom of the oil tank body 1, sequentially connecting to the upstream ball valve, the pressure relief / venting port (with a plug), and the downstream needle valve, finally connecting to the lower part of the side wall of the measuring cylinder 4. The connecting position is at least 50 mm higher than the drain port to avoid direct impact of oil flow on the settling zone and to facilitate the sedimentation of impurities. This dual-valve structure supports online maintenance: after closing the upstream ball valve, opening the downstream needle valve and the pressure relief port allows for safe venting of the measuring cylinder 4 for maintenance or calibration without affecting the normal operation of the oil tank body 1.

[0035] In this embodiment, two sets of support buffer shock absorption components 10 are symmetrically arranged between the oil tank body 1 and the measuring cylinder 4 to suppress the transmission of vibration caused by wind load, earthquake or pump start-up and shutdown, and to prevent the measuring cylinder 4 from shaking and affecting the stability of the ultrasonic signal.

[0036] Each set of support, cushioning, and shock absorption components 10 includes: The hydraulic damper 15 has its base fixedly installed on the outer wall of the oil tank body 1; The hydraulic station 16 is mounted on the base of the hydraulic damper 15 and is used to provide the damping medium and regulate the pressure. The collar 9 is fitted around the measuring cylinder 4 and is composed of two semi-circular clamps 11 symmetrically spliced ​​together. The two semi-circular clamps 11 are equipped with connecting ear plates 12 at both ends, which are fastened with bolts to form a complete circumferential structure; A hinged ear plate 14 is welded to the outer wall of the semi-circular clamp 11. The damping end of the hydraulic damper 15 is hinged to the hinged ear plate 14 through a pin to form a swingable connection. A silicone protective gasket 13 is attached to the inner side of the collar 9 to buffer the rigid contact between the measuring cylinder 4 and the collar 9 and absorb high-frequency vibration.

[0037] This structure not only provides mechanical support but also possesses active vibration damping capabilities, making it particularly suitable for large storage tanks (diameter ≥ 10m) or areas with high wind loads. Two sets of support, buffer, and vibration damping components 10 are symmetrically arranged between the tank body 1 and the measuring cylinder 4. Each component includes a hydraulic damper 15 fixed to the outer wall of the tank, a collar 9 consisting of two semi-circular clamps 11 fitted around the periphery of the measuring cylinder, and a hydraulic station 16 connected to the damper base. The damping end of the hydraulic damper 15 is connected to the hinged lug 14 on the outer wall of the semi-circular clamp 11 via a pin, forming a swingable hinge connection. Simultaneously, a silicone protective gasket 13 is provided inside the collar 9, ensuring that the measuring cylinder 4 is protected against external vibrations. When subjected to dynamic excitation (such as wind load, earthquake, pump start-up and shutdown, or pipeline water hammer), the swaying energy can be flexibly transferred to the collar 9 through the silicone protective gasket 13, and then converted into the reciprocating motion of the piston rod of the hydraulic damper 15 through the hinge structure. In turn, the damping oil provided by the hydraulic station 16 generates controllable viscous resistance in the throttling orifice, which efficiently converts mechanical vibration energy into heat energy dissipation, thereby effectively suppressing the displacement amplitude and vibration frequency of the measuring cylinder 4. This structure realizes the integrated function of dynamic support, multi-directional buffering and active vibration reduction for the measuring cylinder. Compared to existing technologies where the measuring cylinder is typically fixed directly to the tank body using only rigid supports or simple clamps, which can easily lead to resonance in vibration environments, causing ultrasonic probe loosening, sound beam deviation, or even signal loss, the support buffer shock absorption component 10 of this invention, through a composite mechanism of hydraulic damping, flexible contact, and hinged release of degrees of freedom, not only avoids the risk of stress concentration and fatigue fracture caused by rigid constraints, but also significantly improves the structural stability and signal reliability of the entire measurement system. Especially in applications involving large storage tanks (diameter ≥ 10 m) or areas with high wind loads and active seismic activity, this design effectively prevents the illusion of liquid surface fluctuations and ultrasonic flight path disturbances caused by the shaking of the measuring cylinder, thereby ensuring the continuity and accuracy of liquid level measurement. It achieves the technical effect of maintaining a high signal-to-noise ratio and long-term calibration-free operation even under harsh working conditions, which is something that existing external liquid level measuring devices cannot achieve.

[0038] In this embodiment, the measuring cylinder 4 is made of 316L stainless steel or carbon steel lined with PTFE. The inner wall is precision polished, and the surface roughness Ra ≤ 0.8 μm, which reduces the tendency of material to stick and improves the wall scraping effect.

[0039] Working principle The device for ultrasonic measurement of liquid level and temperature on the tank is connected at the bottom of the tank body 1 and the measuring cylinder 4 via a connecting pipe 5. When the liquid level in the tank changes, the liquid level in the measuring cylinder 4 automatically rises and falls synchronously due to the static pressure balance of the liquid, always maintaining the same liquid level as the tank body 1. The upstream ball valve and the downstream needle valve in the connecting pipe 5 are in the normally open state, and the pressure relief port is closed, forming a closed connecting loop. The connecting inlet at the lower part of the side wall of the measuring cylinder 4 is at least 50 mm higher than the bottom drain port to avoid sediment from flowing in and interfering with the liquid level.

[0040] The first ultrasonic transceiver 6 is installed at the center of the top cover 17 at the top of the measuring cylinder 4, and emits high-frequency ultrasonic pulses downward (frequency 20–200 kHz, preferably 40 kHz); the ultrasonic waves pass through the gas phase space, and after reaching the liquid surface, part of the energy is reflected back to the top (for the echo method), and the other part penetrates the liquid column. The second ultrasonic transceiver 8 is installed at the bottom of the measuring cylinder 4 and receives the ultrasonic signal that penetrates the liquid column. An external intrinsically safe transmitter records the flight time (Δt) of the ultrasonic wave from transmission to reception, and calculates the sound velocity c = 1400 + 4.5 × (T–20) m / s in combination with the current liquid phase temperature (provided by the temperature probe). The liquid level height H = c × Δt / 2 (if using the echo method) or the liquid column height can be directly estimated from the penetration time (if using the transmission method). The transmitter outputs a 4–20 mA or digital signal to the DCS system.

[0041] As the liquid level rises and falls, the floating scraper ring 19 moves up and down synchronously under the action of buoyancy. The flexible scraper blade 21 on its outer edge is always in a state of elastic interference and tightly attached to the inner wall of the measuring cylinder 4 (contact pressure 5–20 N / m). At the same time, the longitudinal guide scraper rib 22 is set on the outside of the floating scraper ring 19 and extends along the axial direction to prevent the floating ring from tilting or getting stuck during the rising and falling process. If the floating ring rotates circumferentially due to liquid flow disturbance, the scraper rib 22 will rotate accordingly to achieve 360° continuous scraping. The scraped oil, wax or condensate sinks with the liquid flow and eventually enters the bottom settling zone.

[0042] The bottom of the measuring cylinder 4 is a sloping or conical structure with an inclination angle of ≥15°. Water, mechanical impurities, asphalt, etc., which are denser than oil, will naturally slide to the lowest point under the action of gravity. Periodically (such as monthly or according to observation through the window), a sewage discharge operation is performed. Close the upstream ball valve of the connecting pipeline 5, open the pressure relief port to release the residual pressure, open the bottom manual sewage discharge valve to discharge the sediment, close the sewage discharge valve and pressure relief port, open the upstream ball valve, and resume measurement. The entire process does not require power outage, emptying of the oil tank, or tools (handwheel operation).

[0043] The temperature probe (such as Pt100) is inserted into the armored sleeve of the temperature sensor mounting interface 18. The sleeve extends into the liquid phase region (≥50 mm) to ensure that the temperature measurement point is representative. The temperature signal is sent to the external transmitter through the shielded cable. The transmitter dynamically corrects the propagation speed of the ultrasonic wave in the oil according to the formula. After compensation, the liquid level accuracy can reach ±1 mm (the conventional uncompensated error is about ±3–5 mm).

[0044] Under external disturbances such as wind load, earthquake, or pump start-up and shutdown, the measuring cylinder 4 may shake. The support buffer and shock absorption assembly 10 plays its role. The vibration of the measuring cylinder 4 is transmitted to the collar 9 through the silicone protective gasket 13. The collar 9 is connected by two half-circle clamps 11 bolts, which firmly hold the measuring cylinder 4. The vibration load is transmitted to the hydraulic damper 15 through the hinged ear plate 14. The hydraulic damper 15 generates damping force through internal oil throttling to absorb kinetic energy. The hydraulic station 16 provides the damping medium and supports pressure regulation to adapt to different working conditions. The two sets of components are symmetrically arranged to ensure balanced force and prevent eccentric loading.

[0045] It should be noted that, in this document, relational terms such as "one" and "two" are used merely to distinguish one entity or operation from another, and do not necessarily require or imply any such actual relationship or order between these entities or operations. Furthermore, the terms "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such a process, method, article, or apparatus. Without further limitations, the phrase "comprising an element defined as..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that includes said element.

[0046] Although embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, substitutions and alterations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A device for ultrasonic measurement of liquid level and temperature on a tank, characterized in that, include: The oil tank body (1) has a measuring cylinder (4) connected to the bottom of the oil tank body (1) through a connecting pipe (5), and the liquid level in the measuring cylinder (4) is consistent with the liquid level in the oil tank body (1); The first ultrasonic transceiver (6) is installed at the top of the measuring cylinder (4); The second ultrasonic transceiver (8) is installed at the bottom of the measuring cylinder (4); The floating scraper ring (19) is set inside the measuring cylinder (4). Its overall density is less than that of the oil being measured. It can slide up and down along the inner wall of the measuring cylinder (4) under the action of buoyancy of the liquid surface. The floating scraper ring (19) is made of stainless steel hollow ring body (20). Its outer edge is embedded with flexible scraper (21) for automatically scraping off the oil stains or deposits attached to the inner wall of the measuring cylinder (4) during the movement. The bottom of the measuring cylinder (4) is a sloping bottom or conical structure with an inclination angle of not less than 15°, and a drain port is provided at its lowest point and connected to a manual drain valve; The measuring cylinder (4) has a temperature sensor mounting interface (18) in the middle of its side wall for inserting a temperature probe to obtain the liquid phase temperature. The signal output of the temperature probe is sent to an external transmitter for ultrasonic velocity compensation.

2. The device for ultrasonic measurement of liquid level and temperature on a tank according to claim 1, characterized in that: The outer diameter of the floating scraper ring (19) is 1–2 mm smaller than the inner diameter of the measuring cylinder (4), and the outer diameter of the flexible scraper (21) is slightly larger than the inner diameter of the measuring cylinder (4) by 0.1–0.3 mm, so as to form an elastic interference contact.

3. The device for ultrasonic measurement of liquid level and temperature on a tank according to claim 2, characterized in that: The floating scraper ring (19) is provided with a longitudinal guide scraper rib (22) on its outer side. The longitudinal guide scraper rib (22) is used to prevent the floating scraper ring (19) from tilting or getting stuck during the lifting and lowering process. At the same time, it allows the floating scraper ring (19) to drive the longitudinal guide scraper rib (22) to achieve continuous dust scraping when it rotates circumferentially inside the measuring cylinder (4).

4. The device for ultrasonic measurement of liquid level and temperature on a tank according to claim 3, characterized in that: The measuring cylinder (4) is made of 316L stainless steel or carbon steel lined with PTFE material, and the surface roughness Ra of the inner wall is ≤ 0.8 μm.

5. The device for ultrasonic measurement of liquid level and temperature on a tank according to claim 4, characterized in that: The temperature sensor mounting interface (18) is a threaded seat welded to the side wall of the measuring cylinder (4). A stainless steel armored temperature sleeve with one end closed is detachably installed in the threaded seat. The temperature sleeve extends horizontally or downward at 5° into the measuring cylinder (4) with an insertion depth of not less than 50 mm.

6. The device for ultrasonic measurement of liquid level and temperature on a tank according to claim 5, characterized in that: The temperature sleeve is detachably sealed with a metal C-ring or copper washer and a compression nut, allowing the temperature probe to be replaced without emptying the measuring cylinder (4).

7. The device for ultrasonic measurement of liquid level and temperature on a tank according to claim 6, characterized in that: The connecting pipeline (5) includes an upstream ball valve, a pressure relief and venting port and a downstream needle valve connected in sequence. The downstream needle valve is connected to the lower side wall of the measuring cylinder (4) and the connection position is at least 50 mm higher than the drain port.

8. The device for ultrasonic measurement of liquid level and temperature on a tank according to claim 7, characterized in that: The first ultrasonic transceiver (6) and the second ultrasonic transceiver (8) operate at frequencies of 20–200 kHz. They are connected to an external intrinsically safe transmitter via shielded cables and are used only for liquid level signal acquisition. They do not participate in self-cleaning or sewage control.

9. The device for ultrasonic measurement of liquid level and temperature on a tank according to claim 7, characterized in that: The measuring cylinder (4) is provided with a top cover (17), and the top cover (17) is fixed to the measuring cylinder (4) by bolts. The first ultrasonic transceiver (6) is installed on the support base (7) on the top surface of the top cover (17).

10. The device for ultrasonic measurement of liquid level and temperature on a tank according to claim 9, characterized in that: Two sets of support, buffer, and shock absorption components (10) are symmetrically arranged between the oil tank body (1) and the measuring cylinder (4). Each set of support, buffer, and shock absorption components (10) includes: Hydraulic damper (15) installed on the outer wall of the oil tank body (1); A collar (9) is fitted around the measuring cylinder (4). The collar (9) is formed by symmetrical splicing of two half-circle clamps (11). The connecting ear plates (12) at both ends of the two half-circle clamps (11) are connected together by bolts. Hydraulic station (16) is installed on the base of hydraulic damper (15). The damping end of the hydraulic damper (15) is hinged to the hinged ear plate (14) on the outer wall of the half-circle clamp (11) via a pin. The inner side of the collar (9) is provided with a silicone protective gasket (13) to buffer the vibration impact between the measuring cylinder (4) and the collar (9).

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