An automatic cleaning type deck water seal liquid level alarm device for a ship inert gas system

Abstract

This invention relates to the field of marine safety equipment technology and provides an automatic cleaning type deck water seal level alarm device for marine inert gas systems. The device includes an inert gas main pipe and a cleaning tank for inert gas pretreatment and pressure buffering. The device further includes: a level switch, which is vertically installed with the cleaning tank and connected to it via a stainless steel connecting pipe; a control valve group, which controls the flow status of the stainless steel connecting pipe and the back pressure pipe; and a monitoring unit for controlling the working status of the control valve group. This invention effectively solves the technical problems of existing devices, such as easy corrosion, low monitoring accuracy, lack of automatic maintenance, and incomplete fault monitoring. It achieves accurate level monitoring, automatic cleaning and maintenance, and multiple fault warnings, improving the reliability and service life of the device and adapting to the special working conditions of marine applications.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of marine safety equipment technology, specifically an automatic cleaning type marine inert gas system deck water seal level alarm device, which is suitable for level monitoring and high / low level alarm of deck water seal in various types of ships' inert gas systems, and can effectively improve the accuracy of level monitoring and the service life of the device. Background Technology

[0002] Currently, the liquid level switches used for deck water seal level alarm monitoring on the market mainly include several types such as ultrasonic, tuning fork, capacitor, and electrode. However, these existing technologies have significant drawbacks under the special operating conditions of marine deck water seals: 1. Significant corrosion problem: Inert gases contain impurities such as soot and sulfides, which can easily enter the liquid level monitoring components and combine with seawater to form an acidic solution, causing serious corrosion to the liquid level switch and tank, resulting in frequent equipment failures and shortened lifespan. 2. Low monitoring accuracy: During ship navigation, the seawater in the deck water seal fluctuates violently due to the swaying of the hull and the impact of inert gas, which directly affects the stability of the liquid level monitoring, easily causing false alarms or missed alarms, and posing safety hazards. 3. Lack of automatic maintenance function: The existing device relies on manual periodic flushing and maintenance, which is costly and requires the alarm function to be stopped during maintenance, affecting the system's continuous monitoring capability; 4. Inadequate fault monitoring: Existing devices mostly only monitor the liquid level and lack effective means to monitor faults in core components such as liquid level switches and control valves, making it impossible to detect equipment abnormalities in a timely manner.

[0003] Therefore, in view of the above situation, there is an urgent need to provide an automatic cleaning type marine inert gas system deck water seal level alarm device to overcome the shortcomings in current practical applications. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to provide an automatic cleaning type marine inert gas system deck water seal level alarm device, which aims to solve the problems in the background art mentioned above.

[0005] The present invention is implemented as follows: an automatic cleaning type marine inert gas system deck water seal level alarm device, including an inert gas main pipe and a cleaning tank for inert gas pretreatment and pressure buffering. The inert gas inlet of the cleaning tank is connected to the inert gas main pipe through a back pressure pipeline. The inert gas inlet of the cleaning tank is connected to a cleaning pipe, and the end of the cleaning pipe is vertically inserted into the bottom of the cleaning tank. The device further includes: A level switch is installed vertically to the cleaning tank. The level switch and the cleaning tank are connected via a stainless steel connecting pipe. The level switch is also connected via a stainless steel connecting pipe to a fresh water source for rinsing, a self-sealing water seal inlet pipe, and a discharge port. The cleaning tank is also connected via a stainless steel connecting pipe to a fresh water source for rinsing and a discharge port. The back pressure interface of the level switch is at the same height as the overflow port of the cleaning tank. The installation height of the level switch in the tank meets the following requirements: The low-level alarm point is below the minimum allowable liquid level of the deck water seal, and the high-level alarm point is above the maximum liquid level of the deck water seal. A control valve assembly, which is used to control the flow status of the stainless steel connecting pipeline and the back pressure pipeline; And a monitoring unit for controlling the operating status of the control valve assembly.

[0006] As a further aspect of the present invention: the control valve group is a solenoid valve, and the control valve group includes a seawater inlet valve, a connecting valve, a level switch flushing valve, a cleaning tank flushing valve, a back pressure valve, a level switch residual discharge valve, a cleaning tank residual discharge valve, and an overflow valve. The seawater inlet valve is installed on the stainless steel connecting pipe between the seawater inlet of the level switch and the self-deck water seal inlet pipe. The flushing valve for the level switch is installed on the stainless steel connecting pipe between the flushing water inlet of the level switch and the fresh water source for flushing. The residual valve of the level switch is installed on the stainless steel connecting pipe between the level switch discharge port and the discharge port of the level switch. The flushing valve for the cleaning tank is installed on the stainless steel connecting pipe between the flushing water inlet of the cleaning tank and the fresh water source for flushing. The residual discharge valve for the cleaning tank is installed on the stainless steel connecting pipe between the cleaning tank's discharge port and the discharge outlet. The connecting valve is installed on the stainless steel connecting pipe between the back pressure port of the level switch and the inert gas outlet of the cleaning tank. The overflow valve is installed on the stainless steel connecting pipe between the back pressure port of the level switch and the overflow port of the cleaning tank.

[0007] As a further aspect of the present invention: the monitoring unit includes a main control unit, a signal acquisition unit, a solenoid valve drive unit, a wireless signal transmission unit, a communication unit, and a power supply unit for supplying power to each unit. The signal acquisition unit, solenoid valve drive unit, wireless signal transmission unit, and communication unit are all electrically connected to the main control unit. The signal acquisition unit is connected to the liquid level switch and the inert gas system respectively, and is used to receive liquid level signals and inert gas system operation signals. The solenoid valve drive unit is connected to the control valve group, and is used to realize automatic valve control. The monitoring unit is configured to receive a stop signal from the inert gas system, trigger an automatic flushing function, automatically trigger an over-level alarm during the flushing process, and automatically restore normal monitoring status after the flushing is completed.

[0008] As a further embodiment of the present invention: the back pressure valve is installed on the back pressure pipeline, and the back pressure pipeline passes through the upper part of the inert gas main pipe, with the inlet direction opposite to the inert gas flow direction.

[0009] As a further embodiment of the present invention: the liquid level switch includes a junction box, a hollow conduit, a first reed switch, a first limiting component, a magnetic float, a second reed switch, and a second limiting component; The junction box is waterproof and has a mounting flange at the bottom. The mounting flange is connected and sealed to the liquid level tank by bolts. The hollow conduit is vertically fixed to the lower part of the junction box. The first reed switch and the second reed switch are both fixed inside the hollow conduit. The first limiting component and the second limiting component are both fixed outside the hollow conduit. The first reed switch and the first limiting component correspond to a high-level alarm, and the second reed switch and the second limiting component correspond to a low-level alarm. The magnetic levitation ball is slidably mounted on the hollow conduit and rises and falls with the liquid level; the first limiting component is configured to prevent the magnetic levitation ball from rising too far, and the second limiting component is configured to prevent the magnetic levitation ball from falling too far. The vertical position of the first limiting component is consistent with the high-level alarm point, and the vertical position of the second limiting component is consistent with the low-level alarm point.

[0010] As a further embodiment of the present invention: the liquid level tank is a hollow cylinder with a sealed bottom, and a liquid level tank mounting flange is provided on the top of the liquid level tank. The four pipeline interfaces, namely the flushing water inlet, the back pressure interface, the seawater inlet and the liquid level tank drain outlet, are all provided on the liquid level tank body. The flushing water inlet and back pressure interface are located on the upper part of the liquid level tank and are positioned higher than the high-level alarm point. The seawater inlet is located at the bottom of the liquid level tank and is positioned below the low-level alarm point; The drain outlet of the liquid level tank is located at the center of the bottom of the liquid level tank.

[0011] As a further embodiment of the present invention: the cleaning tank is a hollow cylinder with a sealed bottom, a top flange is provided on the top of the cleaning tank, a flange cover plate for sealing is installed on the top flange, the cleaning tank is filled with fresh water, and the five pipeline interfaces of the cleaning tank, namely the flushing water inlet, the inert gas outlet, the inert gas inlet, the overflow port and the cleaning tank discharge port, are all provided in the cleaning tank body. The flushing water inlet, inert gas outlet, and inert gas inlet of the cleaning tank are located on the flange cover plate; The overflow port is located in the middle of the cleaning tank and near the flange cover. The discharge port of the cleaning tank is located at the center of the bottom of the cleaning tank.

[0012] As a further aspect of the present invention: the automatic rinsing function of the device includes the following workflow: When the inert gas system operation signal is detected to be missing, the monitoring unit controls the opening of the liquid level switch flush valve, the liquid level switch discharge valve, the cleaning tank flush valve, and the cleaning tank discharge valve, and closes the seawater inlet valve, the connecting valve, the back pressure valve, and the overflow valve. Fresh water for rinsing enters the level switch and cleaning tank through the open flushing valve of the level switch and the flushing valve of the cleaning tank, while residual liquid is discharged through the open residual discharge valve of the level switch and the residual discharge valve of the cleaning tank. The monitoring unit keeps time according to the set rinsing time. After the timer ends, it controls the refilling of water into the cleaning tank. After the water is refilled, the monitoring returns to normal.

[0013] As a further aspect of the present invention: the monitoring unit has a liquid level switch fault monitoring function. When the first and second reed switches are disconnected, the monitoring unit always supplies a small current and monitors the current value. When the monitored current value exceeds the set range, it is determined that the liquid level switch is faulty and a passive contact alarm signal is output.

[0014] As a further aspect of the present invention: the monitoring unit has electromagnetic valve status monitoring and anti-mildew and moisture-proof functions. When the solenoid valve is not open, the monitoring unit outputs a low voltage signal to keep the solenoid valve coil heating with a small current to prevent mold and moisture. At the same time, it monitors the current value. When the current value deviates from the initial value and exceeds the threshold, a fault is determined and an alarm is triggered. When the solenoid valve is in the open state, the monitoring unit monitors the operating current. When the operating current deviates from the rated current by more than the threshold, a fault is determined and an alarm is triggered. All fault alarm signals are in the form of passive contacts.

[0015] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows: 1. Excellent corrosion resistance: The inert gas is pretreated by the cleaning tank to precipitate dust and neutralize sulfides, preventing impurities from entering the level switch; at the same time, the flushing function is automatically triggered after the inert gas system stops running, and the level switch and cleaning tank are flushed with fresh water to thoroughly remove residual impurities, prevent the formation of acidic solutions, significantly reduce the risk of corrosion, and extend the service life of the equipment. 2. High monitoring accuracy: The pressure buffering effect of the cleaning tank avoids liquid level fluctuations caused by inert gas impact and hull shaking, ensuring stable liquid level in the liquid level switch. Combined with the precise matching of limit components and reed switches, it effectively avoids false alarms and missed alarms, improving alarm reliability. 3. Automatic maintenance: No manual intervention is required. The device can automatically trigger the flushing function according to the operating status of the inert gas system. During the flushing process, the automatic over-control alarm function is activated, and the monitoring is automatically restored after the flushing is completed, reducing maintenance costs and ensuring the continuous and stable operation of the system. 4. Comprehensive fault monitoring: It has the functions of monitoring the fault of liquid level switch and the status of solenoid valve, and at the same time realizes the mold and moisture prevention of solenoid valve. It can detect equipment abnormalities in time and output alarm signals, which can facilitate the crew to deal with them in time and reduce safety hazards. 5. High adaptability: It adopts a waterproof design and stainless steel pipeline, which is suitable for the special working conditions of marine applications such as humidity, corrosion and vibration. It also has flexible communication methods, supporting wired and wireless transmission, and can be widely used for liquid level monitoring of deck water seals in various marine inert gas systems. Attached Figure Description

[0016] 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.

[0017] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the monitoring unit structure and signal flow in this invention; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the liquid level switch in this invention; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the liquid level tank in this invention; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the cleaning tank in this invention.

[0018] In the attached diagram: 01-Level switch, 02-Cleaning tank, 03-Seawater inlet valve, 04-Connecting valve, 05-Level switch flushing valve, 06-Cleaning tank flushing valve, 07-Back pressure valve, 08-Level switch residual discharge valve, 09-Cleaning tank residual discharge valve, 10-Overflow valve, 11-Monitoring unit, 12-Inert gas main pipe, 011-Level switch junction box, 012-Hollow conduit, 013-First reed switch, 014-First limit assembly, 015-Magnetic levitation ball, 016-Second reed switch, 017-Second limit assembly, 018-Level tank, 0181-Level tank mounting flange, 0182-Level... Tank body, 0183-Level switch flushing water inlet, 0184-Back pressure interface, 0185-Seawater inlet, 0186-Level tank drain outlet, 021-Cleaning tank flange cover, 022-Cleaning tank top flange, 023-Cleaning tank body, 024-Cleaning tank flushing water inlet, 025-Inert gas outlet, 026-Inert gas inlet, 027-Overflow port, 028-Cleaning tank drain outlet, 029-Cleaning pipe, 111-Power supply unit, 112-Main control unit, 113-Signal acquisition unit, 114-Solenoid valve drive unit, 115-Wireless signal transmission unit, 116-Communication unit. Detailed Implementation

[0019] The technical solution of the present invention will now be clearly and completely described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some, not all, of the embodiments of the present invention. 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.

[0020] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that the terms "center," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "inner," and "outer," etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are used only for the convenience of describing the invention and for simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on the invention. Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," and "third" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0021] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "linking" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection of two components. Those skilled in the art will understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention according to the specific circumstances.

[0022] The present invention will be further explained below with reference to specific embodiments.

[0023] Please see Figures 1-5 The present invention provides an automatic cleaning type marine inert gas system deck water seal level alarm device, including an inert gas main pipe 12 and a cleaning tank 02 for inert gas pretreatment and pressure buffering. The inert gas inlet 026 of the cleaning tank 02 is connected to the inert gas main pipe 12 through a back pressure pipeline. The inert gas inlet 026 of the cleaning tank 02 is connected to a cleaning pipe 029, and the end of the cleaning pipe 029 is vertically inserted into the bottom of the cleaning tank 02. The device further includes: A level switch 01 is installed vertically to the cleaning tank 02. The level switch 01 and the cleaning tank 02 are connected via a stainless steel connecting pipe. The level switch 01 is also connected via a stainless steel connecting pipe to a fresh water source for rinsing, a self-sealing water seal inlet pipe, and a discharge port. The cleaning tank 02 is also connected via a stainless steel connecting pipe to a fresh water source for rinsing and a discharge port. The back pressure interface 0184 of the level switch 01 is at the same height as the overflow port 027 of the cleaning tank 02. The installation height of the level tank 018 of the level switch 01 meets the following requirements: The low-level alarm point is below the minimum allowable liquid level of the deck water seal, and the high-level alarm point is above the maximum liquid level of the deck water seal. A control valve assembly, which is used to control the flow status of the stainless steel connecting pipeline and the back pressure pipeline; And a monitoring unit 11 for controlling the working status of the control valve group. The monitoring unit 11 can receive the inert gas system stop signal, trigger the automatic flushing function, automatically over-controlled liquid level alarm function during the flushing process, and automatically restore the normal monitoring status after the flushing is completed.

[0024] In this embodiment, stainless steel pipes are used for connection, which have good corrosion resistance and are suitable for marine environments. This avoids leakage problems caused by pipe corrosion and improves the overall reliability of the device. The present invention effectively solves the technical problems of existing devices being prone to corrosion, having low monitoring accuracy, lacking automatic maintenance, and having imperfect fault monitoring. It achieves accurate liquid level monitoring, automatic cleaning and maintenance, and multiple fault warnings, thereby improving the reliability and service life of the device and adapting to the special working conditions of marine applications. This invention avoids corrosion damage through an automatic cleaning mechanism, ensures stable monitoring through a pressure buffer structure, and improves reliability through multiple fault monitoring. It is suitable for the special working conditions of marine applications, such as humidity and vibration, and can be widely used for level monitoring and alarm of deck water seals in various marine inert gas systems. It has significant practical and economic value.

[0025] For a more specific example, please refer to Figure 1The control valve group consists of solenoid valves and includes a seawater inlet valve 03, a connecting valve 04, a level switch flushing valve 05, a cleaning tank flushing valve 06, a back pressure valve 07, a level switch discharge valve 08, a cleaning tank discharge valve 09, and an overflow valve 10. The seawater inlet valve 03 is installed on the stainless steel connecting pipe between the seawater inlet 0185 of the level switch 01 and the self-deck water seal inlet pipe. The flushing valve 05 of the liquid level switch is installed on the stainless steel connecting pipe between the flushing water inlet 0183 of the liquid level switch 01 and the flushing fresh water source. The residual discharge valve 08 of the level switch is installed on the stainless steel connecting pipe between the level switch discharge port 0186 and the discharge port of the level switch 01. The flushing valve 06 is installed on the stainless steel connecting pipe between the flushing water inlet 024 of the cleaning tank 02 and the fresh water source for flushing. The residual discharge valve 09 of the cleaning tank is installed on the stainless steel connecting pipe between the cleaning tank discharge port 028 and the discharge port of the cleaning tank 02; The connecting valve 04 is installed on the stainless steel connecting pipe between the back pressure port 0184 of the level switch 01 and the inert gas outlet 025 of the cleaning tank 02. The overflow valve 10 is installed on the stainless steel connecting pipe between the back pressure port 0184 of the level switch 01 and the overflow port 027 of the cleaning tank 02. The back pressure valve 07 is installed on the back pressure pipeline, and the back pressure pipeline passes through the upper part of the inert gas main pipe 12, with the inlet direction opposite to the inert gas flow direction.

[0026] In this embodiment, the control valve group is automatically controlled by the monitoring unit 11. The seawater inlet valve 03, connecting valve 04, liquid level switch flushing valve 05, cleaning tank flushing valve 06, back pressure valve 07, liquid level switch residual discharge valve 08, cleaning tank residual discharge valve 09 and overflow valve 10 respectively control the seawater introduction, pipeline connection, flushing water injection, residual liquid discharge and pressure balance, ensuring smooth switching of various operating conditions of the device.

[0027] For a more specific example, please refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 The monitoring unit 11 includes a main control unit 112, a signal acquisition unit 113, a solenoid valve drive unit 114, a wireless signal transmission unit 115, a communication unit 116, and a power supply unit 111 for supplying power to each unit. The signal acquisition unit 113, the solenoid valve drive unit 114, the wireless signal transmission unit 115, and the communication unit 116 are all electrically connected to the main control unit 112. The signal acquisition unit 113 is connected to the liquid level switch 01 and the inert gas system respectively, and is used to receive liquid level signals and inert gas system operation signals. The solenoid valve drive unit 114 is connected to the control valve group, and is used to realize automatic valve control. The monitoring unit 11 is configured to receive the inert gas system stop signal, trigger the automatic flushing function, automatically trigger the liquid level alarm function during the flushing process, and automatically restore the normal monitoring state after the flushing is completed.

[0028] In this embodiment, the monitoring unit 11 serves as the control core of the device. The level switch 01 is connected to the signal acquisition unit 113 of the monitoring unit 11 via a signal cable. The operating signal of the inert gas system is input into the signal acquisition unit 113. Each solenoid valve is connected to the solenoid valve drive unit 114 of the monitoring unit 11, thus completing the device installation. The signal acquisition unit 113 receives the alarm signal from the level switch 01 and the operating signal from the inert gas system. The main control unit 112 processes the signals and controls the valve actions to achieve automatic water injection, automatic flushing, alarm over-control, and fault determination. The solenoid valve drive unit 114 drives each solenoid valve to start and stop. The wireless signal transmission unit 115 and the communication unit 116 realize remote signal transmission, facilitating real-time monitoring of the device status by the crew.

[0029] For a more specific example, please refer to Figures 1-4 The liquid level switch 01 includes a junction box 011, a hollow conduit 012, a first reed switch 013, a first limiting component 014, a magnetic float 015, a second reed switch 016, and a second limiting component 017. The junction box 011 is waterproof and suitable for humid marine environments. It has a mounting flange at the bottom, which is connected and sealed to the liquid level tank 018 by bolts. The hollow conduit 012 is vertically fixed to the lower part of the junction box 011. The first reed switch 013 and the second reed switch 016 are both fixed inside the hollow conduit 012. The first limiting component 014 and the second limiting component 017 are both fixed outside the hollow conduit 012. The first reed switch 013 and the first limiting component 014 correspond to a high-level alarm, and the second reed switch 016 and the second limiting component 017 correspond to a low-level alarm. The magnetic levitation ball 015 is slidably installed on the hollow conduit 012 and rises and falls with the liquid level; the first limiting component 014 is configured to prevent the magnetic levitation ball 015 from rising too far, and the second limiting component 017 is configured to prevent the magnetic levitation ball 015 from falling too far. The vertical position of the first limiting component 014 is consistent with the high-level alarm point, and the vertical position of the second limiting component 017 is consistent with the low-level alarm point; the vertical positions of the first reed switch 013 and the second reed switch 016 are respectively matched with the corresponding limiting components, so that when the magnetic levitation ball 015 is limited, the corresponding reed switch action is triggered. The liquid level tank 018 is a hollow cylinder with a sealed bottom. The liquid level tank 018 is provided with a liquid level tank mounting flange 0181 on the top. The four pipeline interfaces, namely the flushing water inlet 0183, the back pressure interface 0184, the seawater inlet 0185, and the liquid level tank drain outlet 0186, are all provided on the liquid level tank body 0182 of the liquid level tank 018. The flushing water inlet 0183 and the back pressure interface 0184 are located on the upper part of the liquid level tank 0182, and are positioned higher than the high-level alarm point. The seawater inlet 0185 is located at the lower part of the liquid level tank 0182, and its position is lower than the low-level alarm point; The discharge port 0186 of the liquid level tank is located at the center of the bottom of the liquid level tank body 0182.

[0030] In this embodiment, the hollow conduit 012 is vertically fixed, and the internal reed switch is correspondingly set with the external limiting component. The magnetic levitation ball 015 rises and falls with the liquid level. When it is blocked by the limiting component, it triggers the corresponding reed switch and outputs high and low liquid level alarm signals to ensure the accuracy of the alarm. The liquid level tank 018 is provided with four pipeline interfaces to realize flushing water injection, back pressure balance, seawater introduction and residual liquid discharge, respectively. The interface positions are reasonably set to ensure the accuracy of liquid level monitoring.

[0031] For a more specific example, please refer to Figures 1-5 The cleaning tank 02 is a hollow cylinder with a sealed bottom. The top of the cleaning tank 02 is provided with a cleaning tank top flange 022, and a flange cover plate 021 for sealing is installed on the cleaning tank top flange 022. The cleaning tank 02 is filled with fresh water. The five pipeline interfaces, namely the cleaning tank flushing water inlet 024, the inert gas outlet 025, the inert gas inlet 026, the overflow port 027, and the cleaning tank residual outlet 028, are all provided in the cleaning tank body 023 of the cleaning tank 02. The flushing water inlet 024, inert gas outlet 025, and inert gas inlet 026 of the cleaning tank are located on the flange cover plate 021. The overflow port 027 is located in the middle of the cleaning tank 023 and near the flange cover plate 021; The discharge port 028 of the cleaning tank is located at the center of the bottom of the cleaning tank body 023.

[0032] In this embodiment, the cleaning tank 02 is filled with fresh water. Inert gas is introduced to the bottom of the tank through the cleaning pipe 029 to achieve the precipitation of dust and neutralization of sulfides in the inert gas, preventing impurities from entering the level switch 01 and causing corrosion. At the same time, the overflow port 027 of the cleaning tank 02 is at the same height as the back pressure interface 0184 of the level switch 01. Together with the connecting valve 04 and the overflow valve 10, it achieves liquid level balance and pressure buffering, avoiding liquid level fluctuations caused by hull swaying and inert gas impact, and improving monitoring stability. The cleaning tank 02 is equipped with five pipeline interfaces, which respectively realize the injection of flushing water, inert gas inlet and outlet, overflow and residual liquid discharge, meeting the requirements of automatic cleaning and normal operation.

[0033] For a more specific example, please refer to Figures 1-5 The automatic rinsing function of the device includes the following workflow: When the inert gas system operation signal is detected to disappear, the monitoring unit 11 controls the opening of the liquid level switch flushing valve 05, the liquid level switch residual valve 08, the cleaning tank flushing valve 06 and the cleaning tank residual valve 09, and closes the seawater inlet valve 03, the connecting valve 04, the back pressure valve 07 and the overflow valve 10. The flushing fresh water enters the level switch 01 and the cleaning tank 02 through the open level switch flushing valve 05 and the cleaning tank flushing valve 06, and the residual liquid is discharged through the open level switch residual discharge valve 08 and the cleaning tank residual discharge valve 09. The monitoring unit 11 keeps time according to the set rinsing time. After the timer ends, it controls the water to be refilled into the cleaning tank 02. After the water is refilled, the monitoring status is restored. The monitoring unit 11 has a fault monitoring function for the level switch 01: When the first reed switch 013 and the second reed switch 016 are disconnected, the monitoring unit 11 always passes a small current and monitors the current value. When the monitored current value exceeds the set range, it is determined that the liquid level switch 01 is faulty and a passive contact alarm signal is output. The monitoring unit 11 has electromagnetic valve status monitoring and anti-mildew and moisture-proof functions: When the solenoid valve is not open, the monitoring unit 11 outputs a low voltage signal to keep the solenoid valve coil heating with a small current to achieve mold and moisture prevention. At the same time, it monitors the current value. When the current value deviates from the initial value and exceeds the threshold, a fault is determined and an alarm is triggered. When the solenoid valve is in the open state, the monitoring unit 11 monitors the operating current. When the operating current deviates from the rated current by more than the threshold, a fault is determined and an alarm is triggered. All fault alarm signals are in the form of passive contacts.

[0034] In summary, the workflow of this invention is as follows: (1) Water injection process: After the device is powered on, the monitoring unit 11 automatically starts the water injection program, controls the opening of the seawater inlet valve 03, the overflow valve 10, and the cleaning tank flushing valve 06, and closes the level switch flushing valve 05, the back pressure valve 07, the connecting valve 04, the level switch residual discharge valve 08, and the cleaning tank residual discharge valve 09; the flushing fresh water is injected into the cleaning tank 02 through the cleaning tank flushing valve 06. After the water level rises to the overflow port 027, the fresh water flows into the level switch 01 through the overflow port 027 and the overflow valve 10, so that the water level in the cleaning tank 02 is always consistent with the overflow port 027. At the same time, the monitoring unit 11 counts down according to the set water injection time, and enters the normal monitoring state after the countdown is completed.

[0035] (2) Normal monitoring process: After the water injection time ends, the monitoring unit 11 controls the opening of the seawater inlet valve 03, overflow valve 10, connecting valve 04, back pressure valve 07, and closes the liquid level switch flush valve 05, cleaning tank flush valve 06, liquid level switch discharge valve 08, and cleaning tank discharge valve 09. At this time, the upper space of the liquid level tank 018, the cleaning tank 02 and the inert gas main pipe 12 are connected. The back pressure in the liquid level switch 01 is consistent with the back pressure in the inert gas main pipe 12 and the deck water seal. The seawater in the deck water seal enters the liquid level switch 01 through the seawater inlet valve 03 and rises and falls synchronously with the liquid level of the deck water seal.

[0036] Inert gas in the inert gas main 12 enters the bottom of the cleaning tank 02 through the cleaning pipe 029, and is discharged after being cleaned and settled with fresh water. This process not only pre-treats the inert gas but also filters the pressure to prevent sudden changes in back pressure within the level switch 01, ensuring a stable liquid level. When the liquid level rises to the high alarm point, the magnetic levitation ball 015 floats to the first limit component 014, triggering the first reed switch 013. The level switch 01 outputs a high alarm signal to the monitoring unit 11, which is then processed by the main control unit 112 before outputting an alarm signal. When the liquid level drops to the low alarm point, the magnetic levitation ball 015 descends to the second limit component 017, triggering the second reed switch 016, which outputs a low alarm signal. This signal is then determined by the main control unit 112 before being outputted.

[0037] (3) Automatic flushing process: After receiving the inert gas system stop signal, the monitoring unit 11 triggers the automatic flushing function and simultaneously disables the external output signal of the liquid level alarm. During flushing, the monitoring unit 11 controls the opening of the liquid level switch flushing valve 05, the liquid level switch residual discharge valve 08, the cleaning tank flushing valve 06, and the cleaning tank residual discharge valve 09, and closes the seawater inlet valve 03, the connecting valve 04, the back pressure valve 07, and the overflow valve 10; flushing fresh water enters the liquid level switch 01 and the cleaning tank 02 to flush away residual dust, sulfides, and other impurities inside, and the residual liquid is discharged to the designated location through the residual discharge valve. The monitoring unit 11 keeps time according to the set flushing time. After the timer ends, the water injection process is executed again. After the water injection is completed, the normal monitoring state is restored.

[0038] (4) Fault monitoring process: ① Liquid level switch fault monitoring: When the first reed switch 013 and the second reed switch 016 are disconnected, the monitoring unit 11 always supplies a small current to them and monitors the current value in real time. When the current value is higher than the set maximum current or lower than the set minimum current, it is determined that the liquid level switch is faulty, and the main control unit 112 outputs a passive contact alarm signal. ② Solenoid valve malfunction and mildew and moisture prevention: When the solenoid valve is not open, the monitoring unit 11 outputs a low voltage signal to keep the coil heating with a small current, thereby preventing mildew and moisture. At the same time, the current value is monitored, and a fault is determined when the current deviates from the initial value and exceeds the allowable threshold. When the solenoid valve is open, the operating current is monitored, and a fault is determined when the current deviates from the rated current and exceeds the allowable threshold. All fault signals are output in the form of passive contacts.

[0039] (5) Signal transmission: The communication unit 116 outputs Ethernet, RS485 or CAN bus signals, and the wireless signal transmission unit 115 outputs WIFI or 5G signals. The signals include the device operating status (normal monitoring, automatic flushing), high and low liquid level alarm signals, solenoid valve switching commands, liquid level switch fault signals and solenoid valve fault signals, which facilitates real-time monitoring and remote operation by the crew.

[0040] This invention adopts a collaborative structure of cleaning tank 02 and liquid level switch 01. The cleaning tank 02 pre-treats the inert gas (precipitates dust and neutralizes sulfides), and with the automatic flushing function after the inert gas system stops, it completely solves the core pain points of the existing four types of liquid level switches (ultrasonic, tuning fork, capacitor, and electrode) being susceptible to corrosion and cumbersome maintenance. The components can be self-cleaned without manual intervention. The cleaning tank 02 is installed at the same height as the level switch 01 (back pressure interface 0184 and overflow port 027 are at the same height), and with the back pressure pipeline reverse connection structure, pressure buffering is achieved, which effectively offsets the level fluctuations caused by hull swaying and inert gas impact. With the precise matching of the level switch double reed switch + double limit component + magnetic float, the problem of low monitoring accuracy and easy false alarm of the existing device is solved.

[0041] The monitoring unit 11 is linked with the inert gas system operation signal to automatically trigger the flushing and water injection process. During the flushing process, it automatically triggers the over-control alarm function and automatically restores monitoring after the flushing is completed. This breaks the limitations of existing devices that require regular manual maintenance and require stopping the alarm during maintenance, thus reducing maintenance costs.

[0042] The integrated liquid level switch 01 (reed switch current monitoring) and solenoid valve (current deviation monitoring) provide dual fault early warning. At the same time, it realizes low current heating and mildew and moisture prevention when the solenoid valve is not working. With stainless steel pipeline and waterproof junction box, it is suitable for special working conditions such as humidity, corrosion and vibration in marine applications, and solves the problems of imperfect fault monitoring and poor adaptability of existing devices.

[0043] The monitoring unit 11 integrates wired (Ethernet, RS485, etc.) and wireless (WIFI, 5G) communication to achieve full-process coordinated control of liquid level monitoring, automatic cleaning, fault alarm and signal transmission, thereby improving the overall reliability and ease of operation of the device.

[0044] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, and not to limit them; although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some or all of the technical features; and these modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. An automatic cleaning type marine inert gas system deck water seal level alarm device, comprising an inert gas main pipe (12) and a cleaning tank (02) for inert gas pretreatment and pressure buffering, wherein the inert gas inlet (026) of the cleaning tank (02) is connected to the inert gas main pipe (12) via a back pressure pipeline, characterized in that, The inert gas inlet (026) of the cleaning tank (02) is connected to a cleaning pipe (029), and the end of the cleaning pipe (029) is inserted vertically into the bottom of the cleaning tank (02); The device further includes: A level switch (01) is installed vertically to the cleaning tank (02). The level switch (01) and the cleaning tank (02) are connected by a stainless steel connecting pipe. The level switch (01) is also connected to the flushing fresh water source, the self-deck water seal inlet pipe, and the outlet via a stainless steel connecting pipe. The cleaning tank (02) is also connected to the flushing fresh water source and the outlet via a stainless steel connecting pipe. The back pressure interface (0184) of the level switch (01) is at the same height as the overflow port (027) of the cleaning tank (02). The installation height of the level tank (018) of the level switch (01) meets the following requirements: The low-level alarm point is below the minimum allowable liquid level of the deck water seal, and the high-level alarm point is above the maximum liquid level of the deck water seal. A control valve assembly, which is used to control the flow status of the stainless steel connecting pipeline and the back pressure pipeline; And a monitoring unit (11) for controlling the operating status of the control valve group.

2. The automatic cleaning type marine inert gas system deck water seal level alarm device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The control valve group consists of solenoid valves and includes a seawater inlet valve (03), a connecting valve (04), a level switch flushing valve (05), a cleaning tank flushing valve (06), a back pressure valve (07), a level switch discharge valve (08), a cleaning tank discharge valve (09), and an overflow valve (10). The seawater inlet valve (03) is installed on the stainless steel connecting pipe between the seawater inlet (0185) of the level switch (01) and the self-deck water seal inlet pipe; The flushing valve (05) of the liquid level switch is installed on the stainless steel connecting pipe between the flushing water inlet (0183) of the liquid level switch (01) and the flushing fresh water source; The residual valve (08) of the level switch is installed on the stainless steel connecting pipe between the level switch discharge port (0186) and the discharge port of the level switch (01); The cleaning tank flushing valve (06) is installed on the stainless steel connecting pipe between the cleaning tank flushing water inlet (024) and the flushing fresh water source of the cleaning tank (02); The cleaning tank discharge valve (09) is installed on the stainless steel connecting pipe between the cleaning tank discharge port (028) and the discharge port of the cleaning tank (02); The connecting valve (04) is installed on the stainless steel connecting pipe between the back pressure port (0184) of the level switch (01) and the inert gas outlet (025) of the cleaning tank (02); The overflow valve (10) is installed on the stainless steel connecting pipe between the back pressure port (0184) of the level switch (01) and the overflow port (027) of the cleaning tank (02).

3. The automatic cleaning type marine inert gas system deck water seal level alarm device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The monitoring unit (11) includes a main control unit (112), a signal acquisition unit (113), a solenoid valve drive unit (114), a wireless signal transmission unit (115), a communication unit (116), and a power supply unit (111) for supplying power to each unit. The signal acquisition unit (113), the solenoid valve drive unit (114), the wireless signal transmission unit (115), and the communication unit (116) are all electrically connected to the main control unit (112). The signal acquisition unit (113) is connected to the liquid level switch (01) and the inert gas system respectively, and is used to receive the liquid level signal and the inert gas system operation signal. The solenoid valve drive unit (114) is connected to the control valve group, and is used to realize the automatic control of the valve. The monitoring unit (11) is configured to receive the inert gas system stop signal, trigger the automatic flushing function, automatically control the liquid level alarm function during the flushing process, and automatically restore the normal monitoring state after the flushing is completed.

4. The automatic cleaning type marine inert gas system deck water seal level alarm device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The back pressure valve (07) is installed on the back pressure pipeline, and the back pressure pipeline passes through the upper part of the inert gas main pipe (12), with the inlet direction opposite to the inert gas flow direction.

5. The automatic cleaning type marine inert gas system deck water seal level alarm device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The liquid level switch (01) includes a junction box (011), a hollow conduit (012), a first reed switch (013), a first limiting assembly (014), a magnetic float (015), a second reed switch (016), and a second limiting assembly (017). The junction box (011) is waterproof and has a mounting flange at the bottom. The mounting flange is connected and sealed to the liquid level tank (018) by bolts. The hollow conduit (012) is vertically fixed to the lower part of the junction box (011). The first reed switch (013) and the second reed switch (016) are both fixed inside the hollow conduit (012). The first limiting component (014) and the second limiting component (017) are both fixed outside the hollow conduit (012). The first reed switch (013) and the first limiting component (014) correspond to a high-level alarm, and the second reed switch (016) and the second limiting component (017) correspond to a low-level alarm. The magnetic levitation ball (015) is slidably installed on the hollow conduit (012) and rises and falls with the liquid level; the first limiting component (014) is configured to prevent the magnetic levitation ball (015) from rising too far, and the second limiting component (017) is configured to prevent the magnetic levitation ball (015) from falling too far. The vertical position of the first limiting component (014) is consistent with the high-level alarm point, and the vertical position of the second limiting component (017) is consistent with the low-level alarm point.

6. The automatic cleaning type marine inert gas system deck water seal level alarm device according to claim 5, characterized in that, The liquid level tank (018) is a hollow cylinder with a sealed bottom. The liquid level tank (018) is provided with a liquid level tank mounting flange (0181) on the top. The four pipeline interfaces, namely the flushing water inlet (0183), the back pressure interface (0184), the seawater inlet (0185), and the liquid level tank drain outlet (0186), are all provided on the liquid level tank body (0182) of the liquid level tank (018). The flushing water inlet (0183) and back pressure interface (0184) are located on the upper part of the liquid level tank (0182) and are positioned higher than the high-level alarm point; The seawater inlet (0185) is located below the liquid level tank (0182) and is positioned below the low-level alarm point; The liquid level tank discharge port (0186) is located at the center of the bottom of the liquid level tank body (0182).

7. The automatic cleaning type marine inert gas system deck water seal level alarm device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cleaning tank (02) is a hollow cylinder with a sealed bottom. A cleaning tank top flange (022) is provided on the top of the cleaning tank (02). A flange cover plate (021) for sealing is installed on the cleaning tank top flange (022). The cleaning tank (02) is filled with fresh water. The five pipeline interfaces, namely the cleaning tank flushing water inlet (024), inert gas outlet (025), inert gas inlet (026), overflow port (027) and cleaning tank residual outlet (028), are all provided on the cleaning tank body (023) of the cleaning tank (02). The flushing water inlet (024), inert gas outlet (025), and inert gas inlet (026) of the cleaning tank are located on the flange cover plate (021); The overflow port (027) is located in the middle of the cleaning tank (023) and close to the flange cover plate (021); The discharge port (028) of the cleaning tank is located at the center of the bottom of the cleaning tank body (023).

8. The automatic cleaning type marine inert gas system deck water seal level alarm device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The automatic rinsing function of the device includes the following workflow: When the inert gas system operation signal is detected to disappear, the monitoring unit (11) controls the opening of the liquid level switch flushing valve (05), the liquid level switch discharge valve (08), the cleaning tank flushing valve (06) and the cleaning tank discharge valve (09), and closes the seawater inlet valve (03), the connecting valve (04), the back pressure valve (07) and the overflow valve (10). The flushing fresh water enters the level switch (01) and the cleaning tank (02) through the open level switch flushing valve (05) and the cleaning tank flushing valve (06), and the residual liquid is discharged through the open level switch residual discharge valve (08) and the cleaning tank residual discharge valve (09). The monitoring unit (11) keeps time according to the set rinsing time. After the timer ends, it controls the water to be refilled into the cleaning tank (02). After the water is refilled, the monitoring status is restored.

9. The automatic cleaning type marine inert gas system deck water seal level alarm device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The monitoring unit (11) has a fault monitoring function for the liquid level switch (01): When the first reed switch (013) and the second reed switch (016) are disconnected, the monitoring unit (11) always passes a small current and monitors the current value; When the monitored current value exceeds the set range, it is determined that the liquid level switch (01) is faulty and a passive contact alarm signal is output.

10. The automatic cleaning type marine inert gas system deck water seal level alarm device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The monitoring unit (11) has solenoid valve status monitoring and anti-mildew and moisture-proof functions: When the solenoid valve is not open, the monitoring unit (11) outputs a low voltage signal to keep the solenoid valve coil heating with a small current to achieve mold and moisture prevention. At the same time, it monitors the current value. When the current value deviates from the initial value and exceeds the threshold, it determines the fault and alarms. When the solenoid valve is in the open state, the monitoring unit (11) monitors the operating current. When the operating current deviates from the rated current by more than the threshold, a fault is determined and an alarm is triggered. All fault alarm signals are in the form of passive contacts.

Images