Control system of electromagnetic water meter

Abstract

The control system of the electromagnetic water meter comprises the water meter, the water meter comprises an electromagnetic flow sensor and an electromagnetic flow converter, and the electromagnetic flow sensor comprises a measuring guide pipe, a measuring electrode, an excitation coil, a measuring state judging electrode and a horizontal plane balance pipe. The measuring electrode, the magnet exciting coil and the measuring state distinguishing electrode are all installed on the measuring conduit, the measuring conduit is provided with a thick pipe section, the measuring state distinguishing electrode is installed on the thick pipe section, and the horizontal plane balance pipe is connected with the thick pipe section; the electromagnetic flow converter comprises a single-chip microcomputer system, a controllable excitation current module, a constant current power supply, a flow signal amplification part and a power supply part. The measurement state distinguishing electrode is in signal connection with the single chip microcomputer system; the electromagnetic induction measuring principle is adopted, no mechanical movable part exists, mechanical abrasion is avoided, the measuring precision is high, the requirement for 0.3-0.5 level measuring precision is met, and the problem that a traditional mechanical water meter is low in measuring precision is solved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of flow meter technology, specifically to a control system for an electromagnetic water meter. Background Technology

[0002] Previously, water meters used to measure household water consumption were all mechanical water meters, which measured water flow by the rotational speed of a measuring component impacted by the water flow. However, the rotating measuring component is susceptible to mechanical wear, resulting in extremely low measurement accuracy for mechanical water meters. Furthermore, the measuring component relies on the fluid being measured to rotate, leading to fluid pressure losses. Once the measuring component malfunctions due to mechanical wear, it cannot be repaired, nor can it be periodically inspected and calibrated. In addition, mechanical water meters do not require electricity, and the water consumption data they measure cannot be transmitted to water management departments via the internet.

[0003] Currently, dedicated microcontroller systems have emerged on the market. These systems input the rotation speed of the mechanical water meter's measuring components into the microcontroller system via an A / D converter. After calculation, relevant data such as water consumption are obtained and transmitted to the water management department via the Internet. However, from the perspective of measurement principle, these systems are still essentially mechanical water meters and still suffer from defects such as low measurement accuracy and inability to be regularly calibrated.

[0004] Electromagnetic flow meters offer advantages such as high measurement accuracy (0.3-0.5 grade) and the absence of any moving parts or resistance components in the measuring tube. However, as industrial or commercial measuring instruments, they suffer from high operating and manufacturing costs, making them unsuitable for direct use as household water meters. The national standard for electromagnetic flow meters specifies a flow velocity range of 1 m / s < V (upper limit of measurement) < 12.5 m / s. To ensure accurate measurement across the entire range of diameters within this flow range, the excitation current is typically designed to be 300-500 mA, the excitation voltage approximately 24 V, and the power consumption 7.2-12 W. Furthermore, they require continuous operation year-round, resulting in daily power consumption of 172-288 W and monthly power consumption of 5184-8640 W. The exorbitant electricity costs are unaffordable for tap water users, limiting their application in household water metering. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to provide a control system for an electromagnetic water meter to solve the problems mentioned in the background art.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solution: a control system for an electromagnetic water meter, comprising a water meter, wherein the water meter includes an electromagnetic flow sensor and an electromagnetic flow converter, the electromagnetic flow sensor comprising a measuring conduit, a measuring electrode, an excitation coil, a measuring state discrimination electrode, and a horizontal balance tube, the measuring electrode, the excitation coil, and the measuring state discrimination electrode being mounted on the measuring conduit, the measuring conduit having a thicker pipe section, the measuring state discrimination electrode being mounted on the thicker pipe section, and the horizontal balance tube being connected to the thicker pipe section; the electromagnetic flow converter comprising a microcontroller system, a controllable excitation current module, a constant current power supply, a flow signal amplification section, and a power supply section; the measuring state discrimination electrode is signal-connected to the microcontroller system, the microcontroller system is controllably connected to the controllable excitation current module, the controllable excitation current module is electrically connected to the excitation coil, the measuring electrode is signal-connected to the flow signal amplification section, the flow signal amplification section is signal-connected to the microcontroller system, the constant current power supply provides a constant reference current for the excitation current, and the power supply section supplies power to the microcontroller system and the flow signal amplification section.

[0007] Furthermore, the power supply can be either a solar panel or a mobile phone charger. When a solar panel is used, its output voltage is 5V, which is compatible with the system.

[0008] Furthermore, the controllable excitation current module provides an excitation current of 100mA and an excitation voltage of 5V to the excitation coil, and the power consumption of the excitation coil during operation is 0.5W.

[0009] Furthermore, the measuring conduit has a diameter of 15mm, is compatible with household tap water pipes, and has a measurement limit of 2m / s.

[0010] Furthermore, the controllable excitation current module is equipped with four electronic switches K1, K2, K3, and K4, which are connected in series in the excitation current output circuit. The microcontroller system controls the working state of the controllable excitation current module by controlling the on / off state of the four electronic switches K1, K2, K3, and K4.

[0011] Furthermore, the water meter has a replaceable short pipe at its rear end.

[0012] Furthermore, the microcontroller system pre-stores sensor coefficients K, which are obtained by the manufacturer through calibration on nationally certified standard calibration equipment and are used for flow measurement calculation.

[0013] Furthermore, the microcontroller system can record the power outage time and upload it to relevant departments via the Internet. It can also receive coefficient correction signals from the remote control joystick and adjust the sensor coefficient K.

[0014] Furthermore, the flow signal amplification section is a low-power instrumentation amplifier, the constant current power supply is a low-power constant current power supply module, and the measurement state discrimination electrode outputs a 0 level when in contact with the liquid and a high level 1 when floating.

[0015] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are: This invention employs the principle of electromagnetic induction measurement, eliminating moving mechanical parts and avoiding mechanical wear. It boasts high measurement accuracy, meeting the 0.3-0.5 level requirements, thus solving the problem of low measurement accuracy in traditional mechanical water meters. Through the cooperation of the measurement state discrimination electrode and the microcontroller system, the excitation current is activated on demand, generating only when water is used, significantly reducing power consumption to a mere 0.5W per day. Actual testing has proven that daily power consumption is only 0.1W, resolving the high cost of electromagnetic flowmeters and making smart water meters suitable for home use. The manufacturing cost is lower than the combined cost of a mechanical water meter and the additional microcomputer system required for networking, lowering the barrier to product promotion. It supports periodic online measurement accuracy verification, allowing water utilities (maintenance personnel) to correct the water meter coefficient using a standard meter, solving the problem of traditional mechanical water meters being unable to undergo periodic verification. It also features internet communication capabilities, enabling real-time transmission of water usage data, facilitating remote meter reading by water management departments and real-time water consumption monitoring by users. Furthermore, it records and uploads power outage times, enhancing the intelligence level of water management. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1 This is a connection structure diagram of the present invention.

[0017] In the diagram: 1. Measuring conduit; 2. Measuring electrode; 3. Excitation coil; 4. Microcontroller system; 5. Controllable excitation current module; 6. Flow signal amplification section; 7. Power supply section; 8. Constant current power supply; 9. Measurement status discrimination electrode; 10. Water meter; 11. Thick pipe section; 12. Short pipe; 13. Horizontal balance pipe. Detailed Implementation

[0018] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0019] Please see Figure 1This invention provides a control system for an electromagnetic water meter, including a water meter 10. The water meter 10 includes an electromagnetic flow sensor and an electromagnetic flow converter. The electromagnetic flow sensor includes a measuring conduit 1, a measuring electrode 2, an excitation coil 3, a measuring state discrimination electrode 9, and a horizontal plane balance tube 13. The measuring electrode 2, the excitation coil 3, and the measuring state discrimination electrode 9 are all mounted on the measuring conduit 1. The measuring conduit 1 has a thick pipe section 11, and the measuring state discrimination electrode 9 is mounted on the thick pipe section 11. The horizontal plane balance tube 13 is connected to the thick pipe section 11. The electromagnetic flow converter includes a single... The system comprises a microcontroller system 4, a controllable excitation current module 5, a constant current power supply 8, a flow signal amplification section 6, and a power supply section 7. The measurement state discrimination electrode 9 is connected to the microcontroller system 4 via signal connection. The microcontroller system 4 is controlled and connected to the controllable excitation current module 5 via controllable excitation current module 5 via electrical connection. The controllable excitation current module 5 is electrically connected to the excitation coil 3. The measurement electrode 2 is connected to the flow signal amplification section 6 via signal connection. The flow signal amplification section 6 is connected to the microcontroller system 4 via signal connection. The constant current power supply 8 provides a constant reference current for the excitation current. The power supply section 7 supplies power to the microcontroller system 4 and the flow signal amplification section 6.

[0020] The power supply section 7 can be either a solar panel or a mobile phone charger. When a solar panel is used, its output voltage is 5V, compatible with the system. The controllable excitation current module 5 provides an excitation current of 100mA to the excitation coil 3, with an excitation voltage of 5V. The power consumption of the excitation coil 3 during operation is 0.5W. The measuring conduit 1 has a diameter of 15mm, suitable for household tap water pipes, and its upper limit for measurement is 2m / s. The controllable excitation current module 5 has four electronic switches K1, K2, K3, and K4, which are connected in series in the excitation current output circuit. The microcontroller system 4 controls the operation of the controllable excitation current module 5 by controlling the on / off state of the four electronic switches K1, K2, K3, and K4. The water meter 10 has a replaceable short tube 12 at its rear end. The microcontroller system 4 has a pre-stored sensor coefficient K. The microcontroller system 4 can record the power outage time and upload it to relevant departments via the Internet. It can also receive coefficient correction signals from the remote control joystick and adjust the sensor coefficient K. The flow signal amplification section 6 is a low-power instrumentation amplifier, and the constant current power supply is a low-power constant current power supply module. The measurement state discrimination electrode outputs a 0 level when in contact with liquid and a high level 1 when floating.

[0021] In use, the user connects both ends of the measuring conduit of the electromagnetic water meter to the corresponding household tap water pipe, ensuring a leak-proof connection. When the user turns on the tap, the tap water pipe is filled with water, which flows through the measuring conduit and the thicker pipe section 11. The measuring status discrimination electrode 9 comes into contact with the water and is grounded through the water flow. At this time, the measuring status discrimination electrode 9 outputs a 0-level signal to the microcontroller system 4. After receiving the 0-level signal, the microcontroller system 4 immediately outputs a control signal to control the four electronic switches K1, K2, K3, and K4 in the controllable excitation current module 5 to switch alternately according to the program. The controllable excitation current module 5 is turned on and outputs a 100mA, 5V excitation current to the excitation coil 3. After the excitation coil 3 is energized, a stable electromagnetic field B is generated.

[0022] When water flows through the measuring conduit, it cuts the magnetic lines of force B. According to the principle of electromagnetic induction, a flow signal proportional to the water flow velocity is induced on the measuring electrode 2. This flow signal is transmitted to the flow signal amplification section 6 through the signal cable. The low-power instrumentation amplifier amplifies and filters the flow signal, removes interference signals, and then transmits the processed flow signal to the microcontroller system 4.

[0023] The microcontroller system 4 receives the processed flow signal, combines it with the pre-stored sensor coefficient K, and calculates the instantaneous flow rate using Faraday's law of electromagnetic induction, Q=KBVD. Simultaneously, it calculates the cumulative water consumption. Through its built-in internet communication module, the microcontroller system 4 transmits the instantaneous flow rate and cumulative total data in real time to the water management department's server, and also sends them to the user's linked mobile app. This allows users to conveniently monitor their water consumption in real time, eliminating the need for on-site meter reading by the water management department and improving meter reading efficiency.

[0024] When the user turns off the tap and stops using water, the water flow in the measuring conduit stops, and the water in the thicker pipe section 11 falls back under gravity, aligning with the water level in the normal water pipe through the leveling pipe 13. At this time, a waterless space is formed in the thicker pipe section 11, and the measuring state discrimination electrode 9 detaches from the water surface and floats, sending a high-level 1 signal to the microcontroller system 4. After receiving the high-level 1 signal, the microcontroller system 4 outputs a control signal to disconnect all four electronic switches K1, K2, K3, and K4 in the controllable excitation current module 5, de-energizing the excitation coil 3, eliminating the electromagnetic field, and reducing the excitation current power consumption to zero. At this time, only the microcontroller system 4, the flow signal amplification section 6, and the measuring state discrimination electrode 9 remain energized, resulting in extremely low total power consumption, negligible compared to the power consumption of the excitation current, significantly reducing the daily energy consumption of the entire system.

[0025] When the water management department needs to perform periodic accuracy calibration on the electromagnetic water meter, the staff first closes the valve at the front end of the water meter to disconnect the water supply. They then remove the short pipe 12 at the rear end of the water meter, replace it with the standard meter, and then open the valve to allow water to flow through both the electromagnetic water meter and the standard meter simultaneously. The staff compares the instantaneous flow values ​​displayed by the two. If there is a discrepancy, they send a coefficient correction signal to the microcontroller system 4 via a dedicated remote control lever. Upon receiving the signal, the microcontroller system 4 adjusts the internally stored sensor coefficient K until the instantaneous flow value displayed by the electromagnetic water meter matches that of the standard meter, thus completing the accuracy calibration. After calibration, the valve is closed, the standard meter is removed, the original short pipe 12 is reinstalled, and the valve is reopened to restore water supply.

[0026] If the power supply section 7 is interrupted due to unforeseen circumstances, the built-in power failure recording module of the microcontroller system 4 will automatically record the start time of the power failure and the time of power restoration. After the power is restored, the microcontroller system 4 will upload the power failure time information to the server of the water management department through the Internet communication module, so that the water management department can understand the operation status of the water meter and avoid water usage data loss or metering disputes caused by power failure.

[0027] In this embodiment, the power supply section 7 uses a solar panel, which does not require additional mains power and has no operating cost. It is also easy to install and use, and conforms to the user's traditional usage habits. In environments with insufficient solar light, the power supply section 7 can also be replaced with a mobile phone charger to adapt to the usage needs of different installation scenarios.

[0028] After two weeks of continuous practical testing, the electromagnetic water meter consumes only 0.1W of electricity per day for 24 hours, resulting in extremely low operating costs. At the same time, its measurement accuracy remains stable at 0.3-0.5, meeting the high-precision requirements for household water metering. It also has functions such as periodic calibration and network data transmission, effectively solving many of the shortcomings of existing water meters.

[0029] Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art can still modify the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments or make equivalent substitutions for some of the technical features. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A control system for an electromagnetic water meter, comprising a water meter (10), characterized in that: The water meter (10) includes an electromagnetic flow sensor and an electromagnetic flow converter. The electromagnetic flow sensor includes a measuring conduit (1), a measuring electrode (2), an excitation coil (3), a measuring state discrimination electrode (9), and a horizontal balance tube (13). The measuring electrode (2), the excitation coil (3), and the measuring state discrimination electrode (9) are all installed on the measuring conduit (1). A thick pipe section (11) is provided on the measuring conduit (1). The measuring state discrimination electrode (9) is installed on the thick pipe section (11). The horizontal balance tube (13) is connected to the thick pipe section (11). The electromagnetic flow converter includes a single-chip microcomputer system. The system comprises a controllable excitation current module (5), a constant current power supply (8), a flow signal amplification section (6), and a power supply section (7); the measurement state discrimination electrode (9) is connected to the microcontroller system (4) via signal, the microcontroller system (4) is connected to the controllable excitation current module (5) via control, the controllable excitation current module (5) is connected to the excitation coil (3) via electrical connection, the measurement electrode (2) is connected to the flow signal amplification section (6) via signal, the flow signal amplification section (6) is connected to the microcontroller system (4) via signal, and the power supply section (7) supplies power to the microcontroller system (4) and the flow signal amplification section (6).

2. The control system for an electromagnetic water meter according to claim 1, characterized in that: The power supply section (7) can be either a solar panel or a mobile phone charger. When a solar panel is used, its output voltage is 5V, which is compatible with the system.

3. The control system for an electromagnetic water meter according to claim 1, characterized in that: The controllable excitation current module (5) provides an excitation current of 100mA and an excitation voltage of 5V to the excitation coil (3). The power consumption of the excitation coil (3) when it is working is 0.5W.

4. The control system for an electromagnetic water meter according to claim 1, characterized in that: The measuring conduit (1) has a diameter of 15 mm and is compatible with household tap water pipes. Its upper limit for measurement is 2 m / s.

5. The control system for an electromagnetic water meter according to claim 1, characterized in that: The controllable excitation current module (5) is equipped with four electronic switches K1, K2, K3, and K4. The four electronic switches K1, K2, K3, and K4 are connected in series in the excitation current output circuit. The microcontroller system (4) controls the working state of the controllable excitation current module (5) by controlling the on and off of the four electronic switches K1, K2, K3, and K4.

6. The control system for an electromagnetic water meter according to claim 1, characterized in that: The water meter (10) has a replaceable short pipe (12) at its rear end.

7. The control system for an electromagnetic water meter according to claim 1, characterized in that: The microcontroller system (4) has sensor coefficients K pre-stored in it.

8. The control system for an electromagnetic water meter according to claim 7, characterized in that: The single-chip microcomputer system (4) can record the power outage time and upload it to relevant departments via the Internet. At the same time, it can receive the coefficient correction signal of the remote control joystick and adjust the sensor coefficient K.

9. The control system for an electromagnetic water meter according to claim 1, characterized in that: The flow signal amplification section (6) is a low-power instrumentation amplifier, the constant current power supply is a low-power constant current power supply module, and the measurement state discrimination electrode outputs a 0 level when in contact with the liquid and a high level 1 when floating.

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