Smart turbine flowmeter

Abstract

A turbine flow meter for intelligently metering the discharge of a liquid flow into which it is inserted and recovering the head of the measured liquid flow from which it is inserted, wherein said incoming liquid flow is converted by an incoming liquid flow conversion assembly into one of substantially helical pulsating liquid flows which in turn flow towards a turbine to force the turbine to pulsate in rotation at a speed proportional to the flow rate of said liquid flow; the outgoing travelling helical pulsating liquid flow from said turbine is converged by a converging nozzle; said travelling helical pulsating liquid flow is diverged by a diverging nozzle; subsequently, said diverged travelling helical pulsating liquid flow is pumped by a screw pump, converted by an axial fluid converter into one of substantially axial pulsating liquid flows which in turn are truncated and accumulated by a liquid head recovery cavity of a fluid collector; within said liquid head recovery cavity, pressure fluctuations induced by one of the significant hydraulic impacts generated by the impact of said axial pulsating liquid flow against said accumulated liquid are applied to recover the head of the liquid subsequently outgoing from said turbine flow meter; said liquid flow discharge is metered by a liquid flow discharge intelligent metering assembly; a gas-tight measurement rotor houses a circumferentially arranged inductive air-core coil which rotates in synchronism with the turbine, generating a circumferentially arranged alternating magnetic flux between a magnetic stator provided with circumferentially arranged magnets; when said inductive air-core coil sweeps said alternating magnetic flux, an electric signal is induced, the measurement of which allows to calculate operable data associated with said liquid flow discharge; moreover, wireless communication in optical Morse code allows said operable data to be read; said magnetic stator and said gas-tight measurement rotor operate within a throat between the converging nozzle and the diverging nozzle in the flow path of the measurable liquid flow. The overall design therefore has higher precision, intelligent and safe metering capacity, liquid head recovery function and simple structure.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to an intelligent device for measuring the discharge of liquid flow, and more specifically, to a turbine liquid flow meter. Background Technology

[0002] Water is a viable product delivered to water users by municipal or private water supply systems. The delivery is typically charged per unit volume, usually per cubic meter (m³). In these systems, water meters are usually installed in the fluid conduit between the water supply facility and the customer's property to measure the amount of water flowing from the supply line to the customer. To charge customers for water, the water meter must be read periodically to determine water consumption over fixed periods. This process is known in the industry as meter reading, and its implementation must be carried out in accordance with legal metering regulations.

[0003] Therefore, this invention relates to liquid flow meters developed in accordance with statutory metrological rules, particularly water meters (hereinafter, the terms "liquid" and "water" are used interchangeably). International and national statutory metrological bodies exist, which stipulate that: "...enabling economies to establish mutually compatible and internationally recognized effective statutory metrological infrastructures covering all areas of responsibility of national governments, such as promoting trade, building mutual trust, and harmonizing global levels of consumer protection."

[0004] In other words, if a municipal or private water supply / water usage accounting system and its consumers agree on water usage, the flow meter should directly measure the volume of water (m³) at the location marked "cost per cubic meter," rather than ultrasonic velocity or any other parameters related to water flow within the pipes. Furthermore, the water delivery system must provide a minimum / maximum water head (or pressure).

[0005] Typically, devices used to measure the flow rate of liquids in water supply facilities include switching components, such as: converters that convert liquid flow into measurable motion (especially rotational motion) proportional to the flow rate; converters that convert measurable motion into easily digitized measurable signals (especially electrical signals) (which can be used to detect instantaneous flow and total integral flow); and converters that convert digitized signals into readable billing data for acquisition and transmission to the corresponding billing system of the water supply system.

[0006] CN210981383U discloses a turbine flow meter, comprising: a housing having a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, and a measurement interface equipped with a flow measurement device; a turbine having blades rotatably disposed within the housing for transmitting rotational force to the flow measurement device; a first fluid guide and a second fluid guide symmetrically disposed on both sides of the turbine for guiding fluid to the turbine to rotate it and respectively guiding the fluid to the fluid outlet of the housing.

[0007] It should be noted that the rotation axis of one of the turbine flow meters and the impeller flow meter is set along the flow path of the liquid, while the rotation axis of the other is set perpendicular to the flow path.

[0008] US8279080 discloses a remote water meter for a monitoring system. A mesh network transceiver unit is coupled to the water meter housing, which houses a water volume counting mechanism for transmitting water volume information and other sensor information (e.g., backflow detection, water pressure, and water quality parameters such as residual chlorine and temperature) to a central server system via a bridging device and a corresponding mesh network. The mechanical energy generated by the water flowing through the water meter housing is converted into electrical energy via an energy conversion unit.

[0009] The paper "Energy-Autonomous Wireless Water Meter with Integrated Turbine-Driven Energy Harvester" by Becker et al. (published in *Journal of Physics: Conference Series* 476 (2013) 012046) discloses a fully integrated wireless, energy-autonomous water metering system. The system is powered by an energy harvester based on a water-driven turbine impeller directly coupled to an electromagnetic energy sensor. The generator output power depends on the flow of water. Therefore, this power is typically discontinuous, fluctuating, and has unstable voltage amplitude. To ensure continuous meter reading reporting, the system should be equipped with a battery that can be charged by the generator to power the system during quiet periods.

[0010] US7504964B2 discloses a monitoring device comprising: an instrument for monitoring the usage of a distribution system; an electronic data logger for processing data from the instrument; and an external unit for controlling the data processing in the electronic data logger using a communication protocol, wherein the communication protocol includes an initialization signal and an interval identification signal, the interval identification signal identifying the current reading period of data from the instrument with its unique signal width, wherein the unique signal width includes the product of a signal period width and a clock signal.

[0011] In existing technologies, when measuring the same water volume (e.g., 1 m³), 3 When the water consumption is the same but the cost is different, the flow meter reading is greatly affected by the liquid flow velocity and the liquid flow behavior (laminar / turbulent; low / high consumption jet), for example, due to the sliding coupling between the magnet and the dry magnet in the fluid, as disclosed in "Capacity Theorem: Solving Problems in Water Supply Facilities" (International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, 2018, 8 (5), 104-112).

[0012] https: / / www.econjournals.com / index.php / ijeep / article / view / 6760 In addition, any flow meter that measures the velocity of a liquid by measuring motion, such as the rotation of a turbine, will generate hydraulic resistance. This resistance will reduce the head or pressure of the liquid flow, which in turn will require the water delivery system to increase hydraulic power (and increase water costs).

[0013] Designing a liquid flow meter is a simple functional task nested within a more complex billing task, and the flow meter structure must not become overly complex. This is because, in typical water supply system applications, flow meters need to be reused extensively. Therefore, the cost and installation space required for each additional component will increase exponentially. Thus, identifying the functions suitable for inclusion in the flow meter is not easy. Similarly, implementing these functions and integrating them without incurring excessive costs is also not easy.

[0014] The investigation of existing technologies concludes that current household flow meters are too expensive and complex, or do not meet legal metrological requirements.

[0015] Therefore, municipal or private smart water supply systems urgently need low-cost, self-powered metering devices that can be read remotely and have legal metering characteristics within the framework of an automatically adjusting layout for "smart cities". Summary of the Invention

[0016] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide an improved liquid flow measurement device and method.

[0017] In accordance with the above objectives, from a process perspective, a method for intelligently measuring liquid flow discharge is provided, wherein a measuring device is disposed within the liquid flow and driven at a speed proportional to the flow velocity of the liquid flow, the method comprising at least the following steps: (a) providing the measuring device housed in an airtight measuring device housing, the airtight measuring device housing being installed in the flow path of the liquid flow; (b) driving the airtight measuring device housing through the liquid flow at a speed proportional to the flow velocity of the liquid flow; (c) sensing and generating a measurable signal with parameters proportional to the rotational speed within the airtight measuring device housing; (d) measuring the measurable signal within the airtight measuring device housing; (e) processing the measurement result to calculate operable data associated with the liquid flow discharge within the airtight measuring device housing; (f) storing the operable data within the airtight measuring device housing; and (g) enabling the operable data to be read from the airtight measuring device housing.

[0018] A further objective of the present invention is that the method further includes adapting to wireless communication to make the operable data readable.

[0019] A further objective of the present invention is that the method further includes adapting optical Morse code to make the operable data readable.

[0020] Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for measuring the discharge of a liquid flow flowing into it and recovering the head of a measured liquid flow flowing out of it, comprising the steps of: (a) converting the inflowing liquid flow into one of a generally spiral pulsating liquid flow toward a turbine; (b) driving the turbine to pulsately rotate at a speed proportional to the flow velocity of the adjacent spiral pulsating liquid flow in response to the adjacent spiral pulsating liquid flow; (c) converging the traveling spiral pulsating liquid flow flowing out of the turbine; and (d) using the method for intelligent metering of the discharge. The method is applied to measure the discharge of a liquid flow proportional to the velocity of a spiral pulsating liquid flow; (e) diverging the traveling spiral pulsating liquid flow; (f) converting the traveling spiral pulsating liquid flow into one of the generally axial pulsating liquid flows downstream of the diverging section; (g) truncating the axial pulsating liquid flow; (h) accumulating the truncated axial pulsating liquid flow; (i) applying a pressure fluctuation caused by one of the significant hydraulic shocks generated by the axial pulsating liquid flow impacting the accumulated liquid to recover the head of the liquid subsequently flowing out of the turbine flowmeter.

[0021] A further objective of the present invention is that the method comprises pumping the traveling spiral pulsating liquid flow in sync with the pulsating rotation of the turbine to the downstream of the divergence section.

[0022] Another object of the present invention is to provide a turbine flow meter for intelligently measuring the discharge volume of liquid flow flowing into it and recovering the head of the measured liquid flow flowing out of it, the turbine flow meter comprising: (a) an inflow liquid flow conversion assembly, including: a fluid receiver having a fluid inlet and a liquid receiving chamber; a compressible container operable within the liquid receiving chamber; a helical fluid converter having a plurality of circumferentially arranged airfoil-shaped axial-helical guides, the airfoil-shaped axial-helical guides being able to work in conjunction with the inflow liquid flow and pulsating liquid squeezed out from the volume of the compressible container; and a liquid merging space in which the inflow liquid flow and pulsating liquid flowing through the helical fluid converter are merged into a large... (a) a spiral pulsating liquid flow leading to a turbine; (b) the turbine comprising: a plurality of airfoil blades arranged circumferentially along an axial direction between an outer edge and one or more inner edges, wherein the turbine is forced to pulsate at a speed proportional to the flow velocity of the spiral pulsating liquid flow impacting the plurality of airfoil blades, the turbine being mounted at the upstream end of a rotatable shaft and rotating within the edge of a turbine housing; (c) a liquid flow discharge intelligent metering component comprising: an airtightness measuring rotor mounted on a rotatable shaft to rotate synchronously with the turbine, wherein the rotor airtightly accommodates: i. a circumferentially arranged inductive coreless coil, the coil inducing an electrical signal in response to an alternating magnetic flux passing through it; micro A controller device for processing the electrical signal to calculate and store operable data associated with the liquid flow discharge rate; a wireless communication device for making the operable data readable; the airtightness measuring rotor having a rotor housing edge for the rotor to rotate within, both the airtightness measuring rotor and the rotor housing edge being transparent to the wireless communication; ii. a first magnetic stator and a second magnetic stator, respectively disposed upstream and downstream of the airtightness measuring rotor, the rotor rotating between the two stators, wherein, from the side facing the airtightness measuring rotor, both the first and second magnetic stators are provided with circumferentially arranged magnets for generating the circumferentially arranged alternating magnetic flux; when the inductive coreless coil When the magnetic flux passes through, the electrical signal is induced; from the opposite side, the first magnetic stator forms a converging nozzle for converging the traveling spiral liquid flow downstream of the turbine; from the opposite side, the second magnetic stator forms a diverging nozzle for diverging the traveling spiral liquid flow downstream of the smart metering component, wherein the airtightness measuring rotor operates in the throats of the converging and diverging nozzles; (d) a liquid flow head recovery assembly, comprising: i. an axial fluid converter, comprising: a plurality of airfoil-helical axial guides arranged circumferentially along the axial direction between an outer edge and one or more inner edges to convert the traveling spiral pulsating liquid flow downstream of the diverging nozzle into one of the generally axial pulsating liquid flows; ii.A fluid collector includes a liquid head recovery chamber and a fluid outlet from which liquid flows out, wherein the liquid head recovery chamber intercepts and accumulates the axially pulsating liquid flow, and wherein, within the liquid head recovery chamber, a pressure fluctuation caused by one of the significant hydraulic shocks generated by the axially pulsating liquid flow impacting the accumulated liquid is applied to recover the head of the liquid subsequently flowing out from the turbine flowmeter.

[0023] A further objective of the present invention is that the turbine flow meter further includes a screw pump located downstream of the diverging nozzle and upstream of the axial fluid converter for conveying the traveling spiral pulsating liquid flow through the axial fluid converter to the liquid head recovery chamber; the screw pump is mounted at the downstream end of the rotatable shaft to rotate synchronously with the turbine; the screw pump is provided with a pump housing edge for the pump to rotate within it.

[0024] A further object of the present invention is a turbine flow meter, wherein the rotatable shaft includes a hollow cavity; the turbine, the airtightness measuring rotor, and the screw pump mounted thereon provide buoyancy in the flow path of the liquid flow within the turbine flow meter.

[0025] A further objective of the present invention is that, in the turbine flow meter, the spiral fluid converter and the axial fluid converter are each provided with a central bearing device supporting the rotatable shaft.

[0026] A further objective of the present invention is that, in the turbine flow meter, the wireless communication device includes a communication device employing optical Morse code.

[0027] A further objective of the present invention is that, in the turbine flow meter, the liquid receiver, the outer edge of the spiral fluid converter, the turbine housing edge, the first magnetic stator, the edge of the airtight measuring rotor housing, the second magnetic stator, the pump housing edge, the outer edge of the axial fluid converter, and the fluid collector are sequentially circumferentially coupled to each other to form the airtight housing of the turbine flow meter. Attached Figure Description

[0028] Figure 1 This is a full view of the turbine flow meter.

[0029] Figure 2a and Figure 2b This is an isometric exploded view of the turbine flow meter.

[0030] Figure 3 This is a processing diagram of the liquid flow measurement method according to the present invention.

[0031] Figure 4 An isometric partial view of the inflow liquid flow conversion component used for liquid pulsation.

[0032] Figure 5a and Figure 5b An isometric view of a helical fluid converter and a compressible pulsating liquid container.

[0033] Figure 6 A detailed view of the turbine section, the rotatable operating component of a turbine flow meter.

[0034] Figure 7 This is a front view of the turbine assembly.

[0035] Figure 8 One embodiment of a turbine airfoil blade and a helical fluid converter airfoil guide is shown.

[0036] Figure 9 This is an axial view of the operable measuring components of the turbine flow meter.

[0037] Figure 10 An airtightness measuring rotor with a rotatable shaft is shown.

[0038] Figure 11 The printed circuit board assembly of the measurement circuit of the turbine flow meter is shown.

[0039] Figure 12a and Figure 12b An isometric view of a magnetic stator with converging / diverging nozzles and a magnet arrangement.

[0040] Figure 13 A detailed view of the liquid flow head recovery component.

[0041] Figure 14 This is a front view of the pump unit.

[0042] Figure 15 One embodiment of an airfoil-type helical-axial guide for converting a helical liquid flow into an axial liquid flow is shown.

[0043] Figure 16 This is a schematic diagram of the intelligent metering circuit of a turbine flow meter. Detailed Implementation

[0044] The following description is intended to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments by offering various specific examples and details relating to systems and methods for remote water meter monitoring. However, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to these specific examples and details, which are merely exemplary. Furthermore, it should be understood that those skilled in the art, based on known systems and methods, will recognize that the invention can achieve its intended purpose and beneficial effects in any number of alternative embodiments, depending on specific design and other requirements.

[0045] It should be noted that the term "pulsating rotation" refers to mechanical components such as turbines, rotors, and pumps, while "pulsating fluid flow" refers to fluid flow behavior; furthermore, the terms "Laval nozzle" and, as used herein, converging-diverging nozzles, throats, helical pulsating fluid flows, and / or axial pulsating fluid flows, are used to distinguish similar processes with variable acceleration or opposite characteristics. It should be understood that the data thus used can be interchanged where appropriate to enable the use of the application embodiments described herein.

[0046] Furthermore, the terms “comprising,” “including,” “having,” and any variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion relationships. Therefore, a process, method, system, article, or apparatus that comprises a series of steps or elements is not necessarily limited to the steps or elements expressly listed, but may also include other steps or elements not expressly listed or inherent to the process, method, system, article, or apparatus.

[0047] The terms “installation,” “setting,” “providing,” “connection,” and “socketing,” or “collection” and “accumulation”, should be interpreted broadly. For example, the connection can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can be a mechanical connection, a bearing connection, or a hydraulic bearing connection; it can be a direct connection or an indirect connection via an intermediate medium; or it can be an internal connection between two devices, elements, or components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention in light of the specific circumstances.

[0048] It should be noted that the term "smart metering" refers to a legally mandated metering method used to measure and calculate operational data related to liquid flow discharge and to transmit that data to the billing system of the water distribution facility.

[0049] For reference Figure 1 (The overall structure of the invention is shown.) This turbine flow meter is used to intelligently measure the discharge volume of liquid flowing into it and to recover the head of the measured liquid flow flowing out of it. The turbine flow meter 10 (hereinafter referred to as the flow meter) is installed in a straight section of a fluid pipeline (not shown).

[0050] Turbine flow meters typically convert the axial flow of liquid impacting a turbine (especially turbine blades) into the rotational motion of the turbine, the rotational speed of which is proportional to the liquid flow velocity to achieve measurement. They can also be used to calculate actionable data related to liquid discharge.

[0051]

[0052] Figure 2a and Figure 2bThe overall structure of the invention is illustrated in detailed exploded views, wherein a fluid inlet, designated 101, is through which liquid from a fluid conduit enters a liquid flow conversion assembly. This assembly includes a hemispherical fluid receiver 100 with a liquid receiving chamber 102, and a compressible container (e.g., a compressible bellows 230, hereinafter referred to as a compressible container, one embodiment of which is called a compressible bellows) for generating pulsating liquid. This container is mounted within the liquid receiving chamber 102 to open or close the fluid inlet 101 by the inflow of liquid. An annular flow channel (also designated 102) is formed around the compressible bellows for allowing liquid to flow in through the fluid inlet. Downstream of the liquid receiving chamber 102 is a helical fluid converter 200, coupled to the liquid receiver 100, and equipped with an airfoil-shaped axial-helical guide 206. Liquid extruded from the compressible bellows by the inflow liquid flow passes through a helical fluid converter along with liquid flowing in through the fluid inlet and annular channel, and is incorporated into a helical pulsating liquid flow within the liquid merging space 207. This liquid flow flows toward a turbine 320 rotating within a turbine housing edge 310. The turbine 320 and turbine housing edge 310 together form a turbine assembly 300. Downstream of the turbine assembly 300 is a liquid flow discharge intelligent metering component, including a first magnetic stator 400 and a second magnetic stator 410. Each stator is equipped with circumferentially arranged magnets for generating the circumferentially arranged alternating magnetic flux. An airtightness measuring rotor 500 housing circumferentially arranged inductive coreless coils (described below) rotates synchronously with the turbine 320 mounted on a rotatable shaft (described below). From the opposite side, the upstream first magnetic stator forms a converging nozzle (in... Figure 7 Marked as 401, in Figure 12a (As shown in detail), to converge the traveling spiral liquid flow from turbine 320. From the opposite side, the downstream second magnetic stator forms a diverging nozzle (in Figure 13 The middle is marked as 411, in Figure 12a(As shown in detail below), to diverge the traveling spiral liquid flow downstream of the smart metering component. The converging nozzle 401, the diverging nozzle 411, and the throat space where the airtightness measuring rotor 500 rotates together form a liquid flow geometry similar to a known Laval nozzle. In the Laval nozzle geometry, the diverging nozzle is longer than the converging nozzle. To reduce this length, a suitable screw pump 620 is provided downstream of the diverging nozzle. The pump 620 is mounted at the downstream end of a rotatable shaft and rotates synchronously with the turbine 320 and the airtightness measuring rotor 500 mounted thereon. The pump 620 rotates within a pump housing edge 610. The pump 620 and the pump housing edge 610 together constitute a pump assembly 600. Downstream of the pump assembly 600 is an axial flow converter 210, which includes circumferentially arranged airfoil-helical axial guides 216 to convert the liquid downstream of the diverging nozzle 411 and the pump 620 into one of the generally axial pulsating liquid flows. Downstream of the axial fluid converter 210 is a hemispherical fluid collector 110, which includes a liquid head recovery chamber 112 and a fluid outlet 111 for liquid outflow. The diverging nozzle 411, the pump assembly 600, the axial fluid converter 210, and the fluid collector 110 together constitute the liquid head recovery assembly.

[0053] like Figure 2a and Figure 2b As shown, the static components of the flow meter are assembled into a closed structure along the axial direction, thus eliminating the need for an additional housing for the flow meter 10. Figure 2a , Figure 2b As shown, each static circumferential component of the flow meter has a circumferential groove, and an O-ring is fitted into each groove to achieve a seal between components during airtight assembly. Furthermore, each static circumferential component is precisely positioned relative to each other circumferentially by a pin marked "p".

[0054] The moving parts of the turbine flow meter 10 are a turbine 320, an airtightness measuring rotor 500, and a pump 620, which are mounted on the same rotatable shaft and rotate synchronously. As described below, the rotatable shaft is a shaft assembly having an upstream turbine end, a downstream pump end, and an intermediate section where the airtightness measuring rotor is located; the rotatable shaft is provided with a hollow cavity to provide buoyancy for the moving parts rotating in the flow path of the liquid flow.

[0055] For reference Figure 3The diagram schematically illustrates a turbine flow meter-based process for measuring the flow rate of liquid flowing into it and recovering the head of the outflowing liquid stream. According to the invention, this process comprises a series of steps. Step "a" includes: 1000: the liquid flow passes through a fluid inlet; 1001: the inflowing liquid flow is converted into pulsating liquid extruded from a compressible container 230; 1002: the liquid flow passes through the annular channel; 1003: the liquids merge in a liquid merging space 207. Step 1004, "the merged liquid flow passes through the airfoil guide of a helical fluid converter, forming one of the generally helical pulsating liquid flows toward the turbine 320," is designated as step "b". Step 1005, "driving the turbine to pulsate rotation," is designated as step "c". A further step 1006: downstream of the turbine 320, the helical pulsating liquid flow enters a converging nozzle 401. Furthermore, step 1008 is included: maintaining the spiral pulsating liquid flow pattern as the liquid flow passes through the diverging nozzle 411. The throat between the converging and diverging steps is a throat passage, wherein step d (1007) is performed: the airtightness measuring rotor 500 rotates synchronously with the turbine 320 between the magnetic stators 400 and 410 to generate an electrical signal proportional to the turbine's rotational speed. Step "e" includes 1007 "processing the electrical signal" and 1014 "calculating and storing operable data related to the liquid flow discharge." Step "f" includes: 1015 "providing operable data for retrieval" and 1016 "using the data to communicate with, for example, a water supply facility or a water service billing system." Step "g" includes: 1008: diverging via diverging nozzle 411 to recover the head of the measured liquid flow; 1009: pump 620 rotating synchronously with turbine 320; 1010: pumping using pump 620; 1011: flowing through an axial fluid converter; 1012: converting into one of the generally axial pulsating liquid flows; 1013: accumulating in the liquid head recovery chamber 112. In 1012, one of the significant hydraulic shocks generated by the axial pulsating liquid flow impacting the accumulated liquid causes a pressure fluctuation; in 1013, this pressure fluctuation is applied to recover the head of the liquid subsequently flowing out of the turbine flow meter.

[0056] The above-mentioned processes will be described in more detail below with reference to the apparatus according to the present invention.

[0057] Figure 4 , Figure 5a and Figure 5bA converter is shown that converts an inflow of liquid into one of the generally spiral-shaped pulsating liquid flows 1004 subsequently flowing to turbine 320. The converter includes a fluid receiver 100 having a fluid inlet 101 (not shown) and a hemispherical liquid receiving chamber 102, and a compressible bellows 230 installed within the liquid receiving chamber 102. A compressible chamber 103 and an annular flow channel 102 are formed within the bellows. The compressible bellows is one embodiment of a compressible conical shape that is open at the bottom and closed at the top. The smaller diameter valve-type closing side 233 cooperates with the fluid inlet 101 to open and close it; the larger diameter opening side... Figure 5a As shown, 231 is the sleeve-type open side, 232 is the cone of the compressible bellows, and 233 is the valve-type closed side.

[0058] Figure 5a and Figure 5b A spiral liquid converter 200 is shown, having an outer edge 205 and one or more inner edges, here 204, 203. Reference numeral 202 indicates a central bearing for supporting the upstream turbine end 321 of the rotatable shaft, as shown. Figure 7 , 10 As shown. Airfoil-shaped axial-helical guides are disposed between the edges of the helical liquid converter. The outer guides cooperate with the liquid flowing in through the fluid inlet 101 and annular flow channel 102, while the inner blades cooperate with the pulsating liquid extruded from the compressible chamber 103. Figure 5a In the figure, 201 is a sleeve, which is coupled to the sleeve-type open side 231 of the compressible bellows.

[0059] The working principle of the spiral pulsating liquid flow converter is as follows: For example, when the user's faucet is closed, liquid cannot flow because the fluid inlet 101 is also closed by the compressible bellows valve 233. The pressure at the fluid inlet 101 is the same as that at the fluid outlet 111. When the user opens the faucet, the pressure at the faucet drops to atmospheric pressure, and then the pressure drops further towards the turbine flow meter side. Liquid begins to flow. At the instant the liquid begins to flow, the pressure difference between the inlet and outlet of the flow meter is not yet sufficient to open the closed compressible bellows valve 233. However, within milliseconds, the high pressure upstream of the fluid inlet 101 and the low pressure in the throat of the converging-diverging nozzle will create a pressure difference sufficient to quickly open the compressible bellows valve 233. When the valve side of the compressible bellows is opened by the inflowing liquid flow, the compressible chamber 103 is compressed, and the liquid is squeezed out of the chamber 103 through the open side and the internal blades of the helical fluid converter 200, thereby generating one of the significant hydraulic shocks. Furthermore, the liquid pulse squeezed out from cavity 103 and the liquid flow flowing in through fluid inlet 101, annular flow channel 102 and external blades of spiral fluid converter 200, in Figure 7The liquids converge within the merging space 207, forming a spiral-shaped pulsating liquid flow, which then flows downstream to the turbine 320. (Return to reference now.) Figure 5a This demonstrates another feature of the conical compressible container 230. According to Pascal's law of fluid pressure transmission: "...a change in pressure at any point in a closed, incompressible fluid is transmitted to the entire fluid and the change in pressure is the same everywhere." The compressible bellows is a liquid-filled container. Therefore, the compressible bellows 230 transmits the pressure of the inflowing liquid flow acting on the surface of the valve closed side 233 to its open side. That is, the smaller force of the inflowing liquid flow is converted into a larger force of the pulsating liquid squeezed out from the compressible chamber 103 to overcome the working moment of inertia of the turbine 320.

[0060] Furthermore, the compressible bellows 230 functions similarly to a sphere floating above a fountain of flowing liquid, thereby creating a pulsating characteristic in the liquid flow.

[0061] As is well known, the helical component of the converging helical pulsating liquid flow drives the liquid to rotate in the liquid converging space 207 upstream of the turbine; the rotating liquid has higher pressure in the rotating loop, thereby providing a greater rotational torque to the turbine 320.

[0062] Various embodiments relating to inflow fluid flow conversion components, compressible containers, and related components (e.g., geometry, size, structure, materials, various protective and mounting components, etc.) used to provide optimal helical pulsating fluid flow for turbine rotation fall within the scope of protection of this invention.

[0063] Now refer to Figure 6 The working principle of turbine 320 is explained, such as... Figure 7 As shown, turbine 320 rotates within turbine housing edge 310, with clearance 330 forming a hydraulic bearing (schematically shown). Turbine 320 has an outer edge 324 and one or more inner edges 322, 323, with turbine airfoil blades arranged between these edges. A central assembly 321 is used to mount turbine 320 onto a rotatable shaft upstream of turbine 510, which is supported by a central bearing 202 of a helical fluid converter 200.

[0064] Back Figure 6 The turbine 320 is disposed between the liquid merging space 207 and the converging nozzle 401 formed within the first magnetic stator 400. The outer edge of the spiral fluid converter 200, the turbine housing edge 310, and the first magnetic stator 400 form part of the flow meter housing, in which the turbine rotates along the flow path of the liquid flow.

[0065] The hollow cavity 550 within the rotatable shaft 510 provides buoyancy characteristics to the turbine 320, in which the turbine becomes part of the overall liquid. Therefore, the turbine (and the airtightness measuring rotor and screw pump mounted on the rotatable shaft, as described later) becomes an energy storage component for the liquid rotating with it, functioning similarly to a known flywheel; thus, the turbine rotational speed under test reflects the energy of the liquid flow. Although the axial velocity of the liquid flow may be low, its rotational velocity is high, enabling reliable and accurate liquid flow rate measurement.

[0066] Here, the converging nozzle 401 maintains the pressure difference of the traveling spiral liquid flow from the turbine.

[0067] Various embodiments of the turbine and the converging nozzle coupled thereto are all within the protection scope of this invention.

[0068] Figure 8 One embodiment of the airfoil blades of turbine 340 and the axial-helical guide 206 of helical fluid converter 200 is shown in relation to the aforementioned optimal helical pulsating liquid flow, providing an optimal angle of attack for the helical pulsating liquid flow toward the turbine blades. In the figure, reference numeral 1004 represents the helical pulsating liquid flow impacting the turbine blades 340, and 1005 represents the rotation direction of the turbine 320. For industrial implementation, this shape of turbine blade is implemented as two axially integrated semi-airfoil blades 340.1, 340.2, corresponding, for example, to two axially integrated half-turbines; this structure is also applicable to implementing the helical fluid converter 200 and axial fluid converter 210 described below.

[0069] Axial with turbine and helical fluid converter Various embodiments of airfoil blades related to helical guides all fall within the protection scope of this invention.

[0070] Figure 9 An exploded view of a smart metering component for liquid flow discharge is shown. In a preferred embodiment, the component is configured as a generator having magnetic stators 400 and 410 and an airtight measuring rotor 500 rotating between them. Magnetic stators 400 and 410 constitute the static portion of the flow meter 10. Figure 10 The rotor 500 shown constitutes the rotatable operating component of the flowmeter 10. Reference numerals 402 and 412 indicate magnets arranged circumferentially, each 403 being installed within a protective bushing 404, as shown. Figure 12b As shown. Magnets 402 and 412 are used to generate circumferentially alternating axial magnetic flux.

[0071] Figure 10One embodiment of an airtightness measuring rotor 500 is shown, which is integrated on a rotatable shaft, with its upstream turbine end 510 coupled to a turbine 320 via positioning devices 540, 541, and its downstream pump end 511 coupled to a pump 620. Figure 9 (Schematic illustration) In this design, the turbine 320, the airtightness measuring rotor 500, and the pump 620, mounted on a rotatable shaft, constitute a synchronously rotating integrated operating component. Each end of the rotatable shaft is provided with an airtight hollow cavity labeled 550 and 551. This airtight hollow cavity, together with the airtight hollow shell 520 of the rotor 500, causes the rotor 500, turbine 320, and pump 620 to generate buoyancy in the liquid, thus becoming part of the liquid as a whole.

[0072] The airtight hollow shell 520 of rotor 500 contains Figure 11 The measuring device 530, schematically shown, includes a coreless induction coil 532 arranged circumferentially. As the rotor 500 rotates between magnetic stators 400 and 410, the induction coil 532 cuts the circumferential alternating axial magnetic flux, generating an electrical signal with a frequency and voltage proportional to the rotational speed of the turbine 320, which in turn is proportional to the liquid flow rate. A microcontroller device (not shown) on a printed circuit board 531 processes the electrical signal to calculate and store operational data related to the liquid flow rate. A wireless communication device is also mounted on the printed circuit board 531 for the water supply facility's billing system to read the operational data.

[0073] According to the present invention, a wireless communication method based on optical Morse code is employed to make the operable data readable. For this purpose, the airtight hollow housing 520 and the rotor housing edge 70 (e.g.) Figure 1 (As shown) is made of transparent silicone resin, and its hardness is not less than 60 to 80 Shore hardness.

[0074] Figure 12a and Figure 2b One embodiment of magnetic stators 400 and 410 is shown. The magnetic stators are interchangeable and can be used as part of a first / second magnetic stator, a converging / diverging nozzle, and a flow meter housing.

[0075] Figure 13 One embodiment of the liquid flow head recovery assembly is illustrated in more detail.

[0076] The working principle of a turbine flow meter with liquid head recovery function is divided into three stages: the first stage is to convert the liquid flow into a spiral pulsating liquid flow to enhance the liquid flow energy; the second stage is to amplify the liquid flow through convergence / divergence; and the third stage is to convert the traveling spiral pulsating liquid flow into an axial pulsating liquid flow and further stabilize the liquid flow before it flows out.

[0077] The liquid head recovery assembly includes a diverging nozzle 411, an axial fluid converter 210, and a fluid collector 110 with a liquid head recovery chamber 112 and a fluid outlet 111, which operate sequentially. Reference numeral 620 is a screw pump mounted on a rotatable shaft and rotating synchronously with the turbine 320. The pump 620 rotates within the pump housing assembly 610 of the pump assembly 600, and its specific structure is as follows... Figure 14 As shown.

[0078] Pump 620 is an active element used to amplify the pressure of downstream liquid flow; thereby, the length of the diverging nozzle can be shortened to be comparable to that of the converging nozzle, thus providing process feasibility for the manufacture of general-purpose magnetic stators 400 and 410.

[0079] The axial fluid converter 210 includes a plurality of airfoil-shaped helical-axial guides 216 (e.g., ...) disposed between the outer edge 215 and one or more inner edges 213, 214. Figure 5b As shown in the figure, the guide is arranged in a mirror image of the airfoil guide of the spiral fluid converter 200 described above.

[0080] The working principle of liquid head recovery is as follows: Based on the principle of fluid flow continuity, the spiral pulsating fluid flow is maintained within the turbine flow meter.

[0081] The diverging nozzle 411 maintains a helical pulsating liquid flow and increases its pressure. Downstream of the diverging nozzle, the screw pump 620 also rotates in pulsating synchronization with the turbine 320, maintaining the helical pulsating component of the liquid flow. The axial fluid converter 210 converts the traveling helical pulsating liquid flow into one of a generally axial pulsating liquid flow 1012, which, under the action of the pump 620, forms a sufficiently high-pressure axial liquid jet. This axial liquid jet impacts the liquid accumulated in the liquid head recovery chamber 112, creating one of the significant hydraulic shocks with pressure fluctuations. The kinetic energy of the axial pulsating liquid jet is converted into the potential energy of the liquid flowing out of the liquid head recovery chamber 112.

[0082] All embodiments of the liquid flow head recovery assembly fall within the protection scope of this invention.

[0083] Figure 16 A schematic circuit diagram of a method for intelligently metering liquid flow discharge is shown, wherein a measuring device is disposed in the liquid flow and driven at a rotational speed proportional to the flow velocity of the liquid; the measuring device is specifically embodied in the turbine flow meter 10 of the present invention (e.g., Figure 9 (As shown).

[0084] The electrical signal from the induction coil 20 is received by the controller 40. Reference numeral 30 indicates a rechargeable battery powering the controller 40. The battery 30 can be charged using electrical energy generated in the induction coil 20. The electrical signal generated by the rotation of the rotor 500 driven by the flow of the liquid under test is digitized in the converter 41 and processed by the metering device 42, which is configured to calculate instantaneous flow rate and cumulative fluid consumption. The acquired data is stored in the memory 43. The data stored in the memory 43 can be accessed via the communication unit 50. According to one embodiment of the invention, the communication unit 50 is a pulse light source configured to transmit the acquired data in an encoded manner (e.g., via Morse code). The transmitted data can be visually decoded by the user or by a corresponding transceiver device 60 for further communication with municipal or private water accounting systems, etc. The pulse light source for transmitting the acquired data in an encoded manner (e.g., via Morse code) is disposed via a transparent portion of the flow meter housing 70.

[0085] According to one embodiment of the present invention, data communication from the flow meter to the water billing system is performed by a smartphone-based application 60.

[0086] Therefore, a method for intelligently measuring liquid flow discharge is provided, a method for measuring liquid flow discharge based on a turbine by recovering the head of the measured liquid flow, and a turbine flow meter for the method, which solves the problems related to legal metrology and the problem of liquid pressure / head loss during the measurement process.

[0087] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention. It should be noted that, for those skilled in the art, many variations and improvements can be made without departing from the concept of the present invention, and these variations and improvements should also fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method for intelligently measuring liquid flow discharge, wherein, The measuring device is disposed within the liquid flow and driven at a speed proportional to the flow velocity of the liquid flow, and the method includes at least the following steps: a. Providing the measuring device housed in an airtight measuring device housing, the airtight measuring device housing being installed in the flow path of the liquid flow; b. The airtight measuring device housing is driven by the liquid flow at a speed proportional to the flow rate of the liquid flow; c. Inside the housing of the airtight measuring device, a measurable signal with parameters proportional to the speed is generated; d. Measure the measurable signal through the measuring device inside the housing of the airtight measuring device; e. Process the measurement results to calculate operable data associated with the liquid flow discharge through the measuring device within the housing of the airtight measuring device; f. Store the operable data inside the airtight measuring device housing; g. This allows the operable data to be read from the housing of the airtight measuring device.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein, Step (g) further includes: adapting to wireless communication to make the operable data readable.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising: Adapt optical Morse code to make the operable data readable.

4. A method based on a turbine flow meter, wherein, The turbine flow meter is used to measure the discharge volume of the liquid flow flowing into it and to recover the head of the measured liquid flow flowing out of it. The method includes at least the following steps: a. Converting the inflowing liquid flow into one of the generally spiraling, pulsating liquid flows toward the turbine; b. In response to the adjacent helical pulsating liquid flow, drive the turbine to rotate pulsatingly at a speed proportional to the flow rate of the helical pulsating liquid flow; c. A converging spiral-shaped pulsating liquid flow from the turbine; d. Using the method of claim 1, measuring the liquid flow discharge in proportion to the flow rate of the spiral pulsating liquid flow; e. Disperse the traveling spiral-shaped pulsating liquid flow; f. Convert the traveling spiral pulsating liquid flow into one of the generally axial pulsating liquid flows downstream of the diverging section; g. Interrupt the axial pulsating liquid flow; h. The liquid that accumulates in the axially pulsating liquid flow that is thus interrupted; i. Apply a pressure fluctuation caused by one of the significant hydraulic shocks generated by the axial pulsating liquid flow impacting the accumulated liquid, in order to recover the head of the liquid subsequently flowing out of the turbine flow meter.

5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising: The traveling spiral pulsating liquid flow is pumped downstream of the divergence section in sync with the pulsating rotation of the turbine.

6. A turbine flow meter for intelligently measuring the discharge volume of a liquid flow flowing into it and recovering the head of the measured liquid flow flowing out of it, comprising at least: a. An inflow liquid flow conversion assembly, including: i. A fluid receiver, including a fluid inlet and a liquid receiving chamber; ii. A compressible container having a conical open bottom and a closed top. The top of the compressible container is installed inside the liquid receiving chamber, and the fluid inlet is opened or closed by the flow of the incoming liquid, which compresses or releases the fluid inlet. An annular flow channel is formed around the compressible container to allow the inflowing liquid to pass through; iii. A spiral fluid converter, comprising: An airfoil-shaped axial-helical guide is arranged circumferentially between an outer edge and one or more inner edges, wherein the outer airfoil-shaped axial-helical guide and the inner airfoil-shaped axial-helical guide are defined; the outer edge is circumferentially sealed and coupled to the liquid receiving cavity, wherein... The external axial-helical guide converts the inflowing liquid flow into a helical liquid flow. The internal axial-helical guide converts the pulsating liquid into a helical pulsating liquid; iv. Liquid merging space, in which, The spiral liquid flow and the spiral pulsating liquid are incorporated into one of the generally spiral pulsating liquid flows, which then flow toward the turbine, causing it to pulsate and rotate. b. Turbines, including: Multiple airfoil blades are arranged circumferentially along the axial direction between the outer edge and one or more inner edges, wherein, The turbine is forced to rotate at a pulsating speed proportional to the velocity of the helical, pulsating liquid flow impacting the plurality of airfoil blades. The turbine is mounted at the upstream end of a rotatable shaft to transmit this pulsating rotation to the shaft. The turbine is provided with a turbine housing edge for the turbine to rotate within it; c. Intelligent metering components for liquid flow discharge, including: i. Air tightness measurement rotor, The airtightness measuring rotor is mounted on the rotatable shaft so as to rotate synchronously with the turbine; the rotor airtightness accommodates: circumferentially arranged inductive coreless coils, which generate electrical signals in response to the alternating magnetic flux passing through them; A microcontroller device is used to process the electrical signals to calculate and store operable data associated with the liquid flow discharge volume; a wireless communication device is used to make the operable data readable; the airtightness measuring rotor is provided with a rotor housing edge for the rotor to rotate within it; both the airtightness measuring rotor and the rotor housing edge are transparent to the wireless communication. ii. A first magnetic stator and a second magnetic stator are respectively disposed upstream and downstream of the airtightness measuring rotor, the rotor rotating between the two stators, wherein, From the side facing the airtightness measuring rotor, both the first and second magnetic stators are provided with circumferentially arranged magnets for generating the circumferentially arranged alternating magnetic flux; when the inductive coreless coil passes through this magnetic flux, the electrical signal is induced; from the opposite side, the first magnetic stator forms a converging nozzle for converging the traveling spiral liquid flow from the turbine; from the opposite side, the second magnetic stator forms a diverging nozzle for diverging the traveling spiral liquid flow downstream of the smart metering component, wherein... The airtightness measuring rotor runs in the throat of the converging nozzle and the diverging nozzle; d. Liquid flow head recovery assembly, including: i. An axial fluid converter, comprising: Multiple airfoil-shaped helical-axial guides are arranged circumferentially along the axial direction between the outer edge and one or more inner edges to convert the traveling helical pulsating liquid flow downstream of the diverging nozzle into one of the generally axial pulsating liquid flows. ii. A fluid collector, comprising: a liquid head recovery chamber and a fluid outlet from which liquid flows out, wherein, The liquid head recovery chamber cuts off and accumulates the axial pulsating liquid flow, wherein... Pressure fluctuations caused by one of the significant hydraulic shocks generated by the axial pulsating liquid flow impacting the accumulated liquid are applied to recover the head of the liquid subsequently flowing out of the turbine flow meter.

7. The turbine flow meter according to claim 6, further comprising: A screw pump, located downstream of the diverging nozzle and upstream of the axial fluid converter, is used to deliver the traveling spiral pulsating liquid flow through the axial fluid converter to the liquid head recovery chamber. The screw pump is mounted on the downstream end of the rotatable shaft so as to rotate synchronously with the turbine; The screw pump is provided with a pump casing edge for the pump to rotate within.

8. The turbine flow meter according to claim 6, wherein, The rotatable shaft includes a hollow cavity; the turbine, the airtightness measuring rotor, and the screw pump mounted thereon provide buoyancy in the flow path of the liquid within the turbine flowmeter.

9. The turbine flow meter according to claim 8, wherein, The spiral fluid converter and the axial fluid converter are each provided with a central bearing device to support the rotatable shaft.

10. The turbine flow meter according to claim 6, wherein, The wireless communication device includes a communication device that employs optical Morse code.

11. The turbine flow meter according to claim 6, wherein, The liquid receiver, the outer edge of the spiral fluid converter, the turbine housing edge, the first magnetic stator, the measuring rotor housing edge, the second magnetic stator, the pump housing edge, the outer edge of the axial fluid converter, and the fluid collector are sequentially circumferentially coupled to each other to form the airtight housing of the turbine flow meter.

Images