High-precision double-channel ultrasonic water meter based on cyclone separation

Abstract

The utility model provides a high-precision double-channel ultrasonic water meter based on cyclone separation, which relates to the technical field of flow monitoring and comprises a shell, a cyclone cavity, a steady flow section and an ultrasonic measuring component. A spiral flow guide groove is formed in the inner wall of the cyclone cavity to guide water flow to form a rotating flow field so as to separate bubbles from impurities; the flow stabilizing section is internally provided with a honeycomb-shaped rectifying grid to eliminate turbulent flow and stabilize the water flow state; the ultrasonic assembly is matched with the sensor through the reflecting plate to measure flow, and the propagation speed error is corrected in real time by combining the temperature sensor. The water flow environment is optimized through cooperation of cyclone separation and a flow stabilizing structure, interference of bubbles and impurities on ultrasonic waves is reduced, the flow measurement precision and stability are improved, meanwhile, the device adapts to different flow speeds and water quality fluctuation scenes, and the requirements of an intelligent water affair system for high reliability and real-time monitoring are met.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of flow monitoring technology, and in particular to a high-precision dual-channel ultrasonic water meter based on vortex separation. Background Technology

[0002] With the widespread application of ultrasonic water meters in flow monitoring, their advantages, such as non-contact measurement and high accuracy, are becoming increasingly apparent. However, traditional ultrasonic water meters still face significant challenges in practical applications: air bubbles and tiny impurities mixed in the water flow can interfere with the propagation path of ultrasonic signals, leading to signal attenuation or abnormal reflection, thus causing flow measurement errors. Especially in direct drinking water systems, water that stagnates in the pipes for a long time is prone to the growth of microorganisms or the formation of sediment. If not cleaned in time, this not only affects water quality but also exacerbates measurement errors. In existing technologies, some solutions attempt to remove impurities by adding a drain outlet, but such designs pose a risk of leakage in high-pressure or strictly sealed environments, potentially causing secondary water pollution or equipment damage, thus limiting their applicability in drinking water scenarios.

[0003] Furthermore, traditional ultrasonic water meters are highly dependent on the stability of water flow conditions. When the water flow velocity fluctuates or turbulence exists, the calculation of ultrasonic signal propagation time is prone to deviation, requiring complex temperature compensation algorithms for correction, which increases the computational load on the system. Although some improved solutions attempt to optimize water flow through flow guiding structures, most designs do not fundamentally solve the problem of separating air bubbles and impurities, or lack effective flow stabilization measures after separation, resulting in limited improvement in measurement accuracy.

[0004] To address the aforementioned issues, there is an urgent need for a new type of ultrasonic water meter structure that can effectively separate impurities and air bubbles while avoiding the risk of leakage. Utility Model Content

[0005] To address the technical problems in existing technologies, such as measurement errors caused by air bubbles and impurities in the water flow interfering with the ultrasonic signal, measurement accuracy affected by water turbulence or velocity fluctuations, and insufficient existing separation and flow stabilization measures, this utility model provides a high-precision dual-channel ultrasonic water meter based on vortex separation.

[0006] The technical solution provided by this utility model is as follows:

[0007] This utility model provides a high-precision dual-channel ultrasonic water meter based on cyclone separation, comprising:

[0008] Housing, inlet pipe, outlet pipe, ultrasonic receiver, ultrasonic transmitter, temperature sensor;

[0009] The housing is hollow, with two round holes on each side for the inlet and outlet pipes to pass through. Water enters the inlet pipe through the inlet, is measured by a water meter, and then flows out through the outlet into the water usage area. Unused water enters the outlet pipe through the outlet, is measured by a water meter, and then flows out through the outlet. The inlet, outlet, and outlet pipes are all threadedly connected to the water pipe. The inlet and outlet pipes are connected to the water pipe... A vortex chamber is installed in the middle, the vortex chamber includes a vortex chamber outlet and a vortex chamber inlet. The water flows from the vortex chamber inlet into the water meter through the vortex chamber outlet. The vortex chamber inlet and the vortex chamber outlet are at an angle of about 5° to the water inlet pipe outlet. The inner wall of the vortex chamber inlet is provided with a vortex groove. The vortex groove is used to apply a rotational force to the water flow, so that impurities and air bubbles in the water flow are thrown out by centrifugal force and away from the center of the water flow. The included angle between the vortex chamber inlet and the vortex chamber outlet further increases the rotational force.

[0010] Preferably, the housing is fixed by a bracket for load-bearing.

[0011] Preferably, a battery is provided between the water inlet pipe and the water outlet pipe, and the battery is used to supply power to the electrical facilities inside the water meter.

[0012] Preferably, the housing contains two equipment compartments, which are respectively arranged in a surrounding manner outside the inlet pipe and the outlet pipe. Each inlet pipe and the outlet pipe contains a reflector, an ultrasonic transmitter, a temperature sensor, an ultrasonic receiver, and another reflector in sequence in the direction of water flow. The reflector is fixed at the center of the water pipe. The ultrasonic transmitter, the temperature sensor, and the ultrasonic receiver are all fixed to the pipe wall with screws. The two reflectors are respectively located below the ultrasonic transmitter and the ultrasonic receiver.

[0013] Preferably, the ultrasonic waves emitted by the ultrasonic transmitter are reflected by the lower reflector and then directed along the water flow direction to another reflector, and after reflection, they enter the ultrasonic receiver.

[0014] The beneficial effects of the technical solution provided by this utility model include at least the following:

[0015] (1) In this invention, the spiral guide channel design of the swirling cavity forces the water flow to form a rotating flow field, using centrifugal force to separate bubbles and impurities towards the pipe wall area, reducing interference with the propagation of ultrasonic signals. The rectifying grid installed in the downstream stabilizing section can eliminate the influence of turbulence, allowing the water flow to enter the measurement area in a uniform laminar state, effectively avoiding signal path deviation or energy attenuation. This structure significantly improves the stability of ultrasonic measurement, especially in scenarios where the water contains small particles or bubbles, enabling more accurate flow monitoring.

[0016] (2) In this invention, the water flow environment is actively optimized through the coordinated design of the vortex cavity and the stabilizing section, without the need for an external filtration device. The angled design of the vortex cavity extends the water flow rotation path, enhances the centrifugal separation effect, and, combined with real-time data correction from the temperature sensor, enables the system to adapt to different water temperature conditions, ensuring the consistency of measurement results. This structure can maintain stable output even when the flow rate fluctuates or the water quality changes slightly, reducing maintenance requirements and making it suitable for smart water management scenarios with high requirements for real-time monitoring and long-term reliability. Attached Figure Description

[0017] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this utility model, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this utility model. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0018] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structure of a high-precision dual-channel ultrasonic water meter based on cyclone separation is provided for an embodiment of this utility model;

[0019] Figure 2 A bird's-eye view of a high-precision dual-channel ultrasonic water meter based on cyclone separation, provided for an embodiment of this utility model;

[0020] Figure 3 This invention provides a high-precision dual-channel ultrasonic water meter based on cyclone separation. Figure 2 Schematic diagram of cross-section along the middle AA direction;

[0021] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of the vortex cavity structure of a high-precision dual-channel ultrasonic water meter based on vortex separation is provided for an embodiment of this utility model.

[0022] In the diagram: 11. Water inlet pipe; 12. Water outlet pipe; 13. Water inlet pipe; 14. Water outlet pipe; 15. Support; 16. Equipment compartment; 17. Screw; 18. Battery; 19. Housing; 21. Ultrasonic receiver; 22. Ultrasonic transmitter; 23. Temperature sensor; 24. Reflector; 31. Swirl chamber outlet; 32. Swirl chamber inlet. Detailed Implementation

[0023] The technical solution of this utility model will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0024] In the embodiments of this utility model, words such as "exemplarily" and "for example" are used to indicate that something is an example, illustration, or description. Any embodiment or design described as "exemplary" in this utility model should not be construed as being more preferred or advantageous than other embodiments or designs. Specifically, the use of the word "exemplary" is intended to present the concept in a concrete manner. Furthermore, in the embodiments of this utility model, the meaning expressed by "and / or" can be both, or it can be either one or the other.

[0025] To make the technical problems, technical solutions and advantages of this utility model clearer, a detailed description will be given below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0026] Reference manual attached Figures 1-2 The diagram shows a structural schematic of a high-precision dual-channel ultrasonic water meter based on vortex separation provided by an embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] This utility model embodiment provides a high-precision dual-channel ultrasonic water meter based on cyclone separation, including:

[0028] The system comprises a housing 19, a vortex chamber, an ultrasonic measuring assembly, and a flow stabilization section. The housing 19 is a hollow structure with a water inlet 11, a water inlet 13, a water outlet 14, and a water outlet 12 on each side. The water inlet 11 and water outlet 12 are threadedly connected to an external water supply pipe, and the water outlet 13 and water inlet 14 are threadedly connected to a water terminal pipe. A bracket 15 is fixed to the bottom of the housing 19 for load-bearing and installation positioning. An equipment compartment 16 is located inside the housing to house the battery 18 and circuit modules.

[0029] like Figure 4As shown, the vortex chamber consists of a vortex chamber inlet 32 ​​and a vortex chamber outlet 31. The vortex chamber inlet 32 ​​is connected to the inlet pipe 11 and the outlet pipe 14, while the vortex chamber outlet 31 is connected to the measuring section of the shell 19. A spiral guide groove is machined on the inner wall of the vortex chamber inlet 32. The pitch of the guide groove is 1.2 times the diameter of the vortex chamber inlet 32, and the groove depth is 3 mm. When water enters from the vortex chamber inlet 32, it is guided by the spiral guide groove, forming a high-speed rotating flow field tangentially. The vortex chamber inlet 32 ​​and the vortex chamber outlet 31 form a 135° angle, which further intensifies the water flow rotation and enhances the centrifugal effect. During the rotation, denser impurities and bubbles are thrown towards the pipe wall due to centrifugal force and enter the subsequent steady flow section from the vortex chamber outlet 31 with the main flow.

[0030] The stabilizing section is located downstream of the vortex chamber outlet 31, with a length of no less than 5 times the pipe diameter. It is internally equipped with a honeycomb-shaped flow-rectifying grid with a pore size of 2mm. After passing through the flow-rectifying grid, the turbulent energy of the water flow is weakened, gradually transitioning to a laminar flow state, ensuring a stable and uniform water flow entering the ultrasonic measurement area.

[0031] like Figure 3 As shown, the ultrasonic measurement assembly includes an ultrasonic transmitter 22 and an ultrasonic receiver 21 fixed to the pipe wall, and a reflector 24 positioned at the center of the water pipe. The ultrasonic transmitter 22 emits a signal towards the center of the water flow, and the signal is reflected by the reflector 24 to the ultrasonic receiver 21 on the opposite side of the pipe wall. A temperature sensor 23 is installed on the pipe wall to monitor water temperature data in real time, which is used to correct the ultrasonic wave propagation speed. The main control unit calculates the time difference between the transmitted and received signals and, combined with a temperature compensation algorithm, obtains accurate flow rate data.

[0032] The core function of the vortex chamber is to generate centrifugal force by forcing water flow to rotate, thus separating air bubbles and impurities. Traditional ultrasonic water meters are prone to signal attenuation or path deviation due to air bubble interference. However, in this design, the vortex chamber reduces the direct impact of impurities on the measurement area through a physical separation mechanism. The strength of the centrifugal force is related to the water flow velocity and the parameters of the guide channel. The optimized design of the pitch and channel depth ensures effective separation under normal flow rates. In addition, the 135° included angle further extends the water flow rotation path, enhancing the separation effect.

[0033] This design, through the synergistic effect of the swirling cavity and the flow stabilizing section, significantly reduces the interference of air bubbles and impurities on measurements without the need for an external drainage structure. Experiments show that this structure reduces the flow measurement error rate compared to traditional designs, making it suitable for direct drinking water systems with strict sealing requirements.

[0034] The beneficial effects of the technical solution provided by this utility model embodiment include at least the following:

[0035] (1) In this invention, the spiral guide channel design of the swirling cavity forces the water flow to form a rotating flow field, using centrifugal force to separate bubbles and impurities towards the pipe wall area, reducing interference with the propagation of ultrasonic signals. The rectifying grid installed in the downstream stabilizing section can eliminate the influence of turbulence, allowing the water flow to enter the measurement area in a uniform laminar state, effectively avoiding signal path deviation or energy attenuation. This structure significantly improves the stability of ultrasonic measurement, especially in scenarios where the water contains small particles or bubbles, enabling more accurate flow monitoring.

[0036] (2) In this invention, the water flow environment is actively optimized through the coordinated design of the vortex cavity and the stabilizing section, without the need for an external filtration device. The angled design of the vortex cavity extends the water flow rotation path, enhances the centrifugal separation effect, and, combined with real-time data correction from the temperature sensor, enables the system to adapt to different water temperature conditions, ensuring the consistency of measurement results. This structure can maintain stable output even when the flow rate fluctuates or the water quality changes slightly, reducing maintenance requirements and making it suitable for smart water management scenarios with high requirements for real-time monitoring and long-term reliability.

[0037] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of this utility model, but the protection scope of this utility model is not limited thereto. Any variations or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in this utility model should be included within the protection scope of this utility model. Therefore, the protection scope of this utility model should be determined by the protection scope of the claims.

[0038] The following points need to be explained:

[0039] (1) The accompanying drawings of this utility model embodiment only involve the structure involved in this utility model embodiment. Other structures can refer to the general design.

[0040] (2) For clarity, the thickness of layers or regions is enlarged or reduced in the drawings used to describe embodiments of the present invention, i.e., these drawings are not drawn to actual scale. It is understood that when an element such as a layer, film, region or substrate is referred to as being "on" or "below" another element, the element may be "directly" located "on" or "below" the other element or there may be intermediate elements.

[0041] (3) Where there is no conflict, the embodiments of this utility model and the features in the embodiments can be combined with each other to obtain new embodiments.

[0042] The above are merely specific embodiments of this utility model, but the protection scope of this utility model is not limited thereto. The protection scope of this utility model shall be determined by the protection scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A high-precision dual-channel ultrasonic water meter based on cyclone separation, characterized in that, Comprise: The shell (19), water inlet pipe, water outlet pipe, ultrasonic receiving end (21), ultrasonic transmitting end (22), temperature sensor (23); The shell (19) is hollow design, both sides are respectively provided with two round holes for the water inlet pipe and the water outlet pipe through, water from the water inlet pipe inlet (11) into the water inlet pipe and through the water meter measurement after from the water inlet pipe outlet (13) flow into the water place, unused water from the water outlet pipe inlet (14) into the water outlet pipe and through the water meter measurement after from the water outlet pipe outlet (12) flow out of the water place, the water inlet pipe inlet (11), the water outlet pipe outlet (12), the water inlet pipe outlet (13) and the water outlet pipe inlet (14) are connected with the water pipe through the thread, the water inlet pipe inlet (11) and the water outlet pipe inlet (14) are installed between the water pipe swirl cavity, the swirl cavity includes swirl cavity outlet (31) and swirl cavity inlet (32) two parts, the water flow direction is from the swirl cavity inlet (32) into after through the swirl cavity outlet (31) flow into the water meter, the swirl cavity inlet (32) and the swirl cavity outlet (31) are about water inlet pipe outlet (13) 5 ° angle, the inner wall of the swirl cavity inlet (32) is provided with swirl groove, the swirl groove is used for applying rotational force to the water flow, so that the impurities and bubbles in the water flow are thrown out and away from the water flow center by centrifugal force, the included angle of the swirl cavity inlet (32) and the swirl cavity outlet (31) further increases the rotational force.

2. The high-precision double-channel ultrasonic water meter based on cyclone separation according to claim 1, characterized in that: The shell (19) is fixed for bearing by a support (15).

3. The high-precision double-channel ultrasonic water meter based on cyclone separation according to claim 1, characterized in that: A battery (18) is arranged between the water inlet pipe and the water outlet pipe, and the battery (18) is used to supply power to the electrical facilities in the water meter.

4. The high-precision double-channel ultrasonic water meter based on cyclone separation according to claim 1, characterized in that: Two device compartments (16) are arranged in the shell (19) respectively, the device compartments (16) are arranged outside the water inlet pipe and the water outlet pipe in a surrounding manner, and a reflector (24), an ultrasonic transmitting end (22), a temperature sensor (23), an ultrasonic receiving end (21) and another reflector (24) are arranged in the water inlet pipe and the water outlet pipe in sequence in the water flow direction, the reflector (24) is fixed at the center position of the water pipe, the ultrasonic transmitting end (22), the temperature sensor (23) and the ultrasonic receiving end (21) are fixed to the pipe wall by screws (17), and the two reflectors (24) are arranged below the ultrasonic transmitting end (22) and the ultrasonic receiving end (21) respectively.

5. The high-precision double-channel ultrasonic water meter based on cyclone separation according to claim 4, characterized in that: The ultrasonic waves emitted by the ultrasonic wave emitting end (22) are reflected by the reflection plate (24) below, and then are emitted to another reflection plate (24) along the water flow direction and are reflected into the ultrasonic wave receiving end (21).

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