A flexible liquid level gauge probe

Abstract

This utility model relates to a flexible liquid level gauge probe, comprising: a mounting ring fixed to an oil storage tank; and a probe rod including an electronic head, a probe rod body, and multiple first pressure sensors. The electronic head is mounted in the mounting ring, the probe rod body is connected to the electronic head and extends into the oil storage tank, and the multiple pressure sensors are disposed on the probe rod body. The probe rod body includes a connecting section and a detection section. The connecting section connects the detection section and the electronic head. The multiple first pressure sensors are disposed at different heights along the axial direction of the probe rod at the detection section. The connecting section is a flexible probe rod. This flexible probe has a simple structure and is easy to install, reducing the complexity of the installation process and facilitating product standardization, inventory management, and the transportation and storage of the probe.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to oil metering equipment, and in particular to a flexible liquid level gauge probe. Background Technology

[0002] Gas stations primarily handle the procurement, sales, and storage of petroleum products, all of which require quantitative measurement of the oil in storage tanks for effective metering management. However, measuring bulk liquids like petroleum cannot be done by simply counting quantities, and weighing is inconvenient in a gas station setting. Currently, the most common method is to measure the liquid volume, specifically the amount of oil occupied in the storage tank. This is typically achieved using a level gauge, which consists of a probe mounted on the storage tank and a control panel located in the gas station office. By probing the height of the oil level in the tank, the volume occupied by the oil can be determined. Current probes primarily utilize magnetostrictive technology, employing a float that drifts on the liquid surface to determine the oil level, which in turn determines the volume occupied in the storage tank, thus yielding the total oil volume.

[0003] However, when encountering large oil storage tanks, flexible probes are needed to detect the oil level inside. However, the flexible tube of the probe cannot be guaranteed to be under tension after installation, thus affecting the accuracy of the float's position during movement and consequently the measurement accuracy. Furthermore, to ensure the protection of the waveguide wire, the flexible tube cannot be excessively bent, requiring it to maintain a large volume during storage and transportation, leading to significant difficulties in storage and transport. Additionally, the flexible probe requires a large number of personnel and is complex to operate during handling and installation. Therefore, there is an urgent need in this field for a novel flexible probe. Utility Model Content

[0004] To address the technical problems existing in the prior art, this utility model proposes a flexible liquid level gauge probe, comprising: a mounting ring fixed to an oil storage tank; and a probe rod including an electronic head, a probe rod body, and multiple first pressure sensors. The electronic head is mounted in the mounting ring, the probe rod body is connected to the electronic head and extends into the oil storage tank, and the multiple pressure sensors are disposed on the probe rod body. The probe rod body includes a connecting section and a detection section. The connecting section connects the detection section and the electronic head. The multiple first pressure sensors are disposed at different heights along the axial direction of the probe rod at the detection section. The connecting section is a flexible probe rod.

[0005] The flexible level gauge probe described above is characterized in that the flexible probe rod is a metal corrugated tube or a steel wire reinforced rubber tube.

[0006] As described above, the probe of the flexible liquid level gauge has a rigid probe section, with the end furthest from the connecting section located at the bottom of the oil storage tank.

[0007] The flexible level gauge probe described above further includes a magnetic base disposed at the end of the probe section away from the connecting section, for attaching the probe section to the bottom of the oil storage tank.

[0008] As described above, the flexible liquid level gauge probe has multiple first pressure sensors arranged at equal intervals on the detection section.

[0009] As described above, in the flexible liquid level gauge probe, multiple first pressure sensors are arranged from the end furthest from the connecting section to the end closest to the connecting section.

[0010] The flexible level gauge probe described above further includes multiple second pressure sensors, which are disposed on the probe section and located on the same horizontal plane in the direction perpendicular to the axis of the probe section.

[0011] As described above, in the flexible liquid level probe, the second pressure sensor is located on a horizontal plane between multiple first pressure sensors.

[0012] The flexible level gauge probe described above further includes a temperature sensor disposed on the probe section for detecting temperature.

[0013] As described above, the flexible liquid level gauge probe has an electronic head that includes electronic components connected to a first pressure sensor and uploads the detection data from the first pressure sensor to a control console.

[0014] The flexible probe of this application has a simple structure and is easy to install, which can reduce the complexity of the installation process, and is also conducive to product standardization and inventory management, as well as the transportation and storage of the flexible probe. Attached Figure Description

[0015] The preferred embodiments of this utility model will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0016] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a level gauge probe according to one embodiment of this application;

[0017] Figure 2 An exploded view of a level gauge probe according to an embodiment of this application;

[0018] Figure 3A and Figure 3B A schematic diagram of a level gauge probe structure according to an embodiment of this application; and

[0019] Figures 4A-4C This is a diagram illustrating a probe application scenario according to one embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0020] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of this utility model clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of this utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this utility model, not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this utility model, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the protection scope of this utility model.

[0021] In the following detailed description, reference can be made to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this application and illustrate specific embodiments of the present application. In the drawings, similar reference numerals describe substantially similar components in different figures. Specific embodiments of the present application are described in sufficient detail below to enable those skilled in the art to implement the technical solutions of the present application. It should be understood that other embodiments may also be utilized, or structural, logical, or electrical changes may be made to the embodiments of the present application.

[0022] This application proposes a novel flexible probe that measures the pressure in an oil storage tank by setting multiple pressure sensors and uses the pressure values ​​to calculate the liquid height. This changes the traditional probe structure that is based on magnetostrictive technology and is not limited by the waveguide wire material in traditional magnetostrictive technology.

[0023] The technical solution of this application will be further illustrated below through specific implementation methods. Those skilled in the art should understand that the following description is merely for the convenience of understanding the technical solution of this application and should not be used to limit the scope of protection of this application.

[0024] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a level gauge probe according to one embodiment of this application. Figure 2 An exploded view of a level gauge probe according to one embodiment of this application. Figure 3A and Figure 3B This is a schematic diagram of a level gauge probe structure according to an embodiment of this application.

[0025] As shown in the figure, the level gauge probe (hereinafter referred to as "probe") 100 may include a mounting ring 110 and a probe rod 120. The mounting ring 110 is used to mount the probe onto the oil storage tank. The probe rod 120 is connected to the mounting ring and extends into the oil storage tank to detect data in the tank. In some embodiments, the data may include oil level, water level, liquid density, liquid pressure, temperature, etc. In some embodiments, the probe rod 120 may also be connected to a control console, and the data detected by the probe rod 120 can be transmitted to the control console.

[0026] In some embodiments, the mounting ring 110 may be a rubber ring with a generally V-shaped cross-section. When the probe is installed at the installation port of the oil storage tank, the rubber ring compresses the probe rod 120 to fix it inside the installation pipe, while also sealing the probe rod to the installation port. In some embodiments, the mounting ring 110 may also be other structures that allow the probe rod to be mounted on the oil storage tank.

[0027] In some embodiments, the probe 120 may include a probe body 121 and an electronic head 122. The electronic head 122 may include a protruding stepped structure that can be engaged in a mounting ring, providing support and positioning for the probe. The probe body 121 may be connected to the electronic head and extend into the oil storage tank. In some embodiments, the probe 120 may further include a plurality of first pressure sensors 123 and a temperature sensor 124. The plurality of first pressure sensors 123 are arranged at different heights on the probe body 121 to measure the pressure at different heights; the temperature sensor 124 is disposed on the probe body 121 to measure the temperature (liquid temperature or gas phase temperature) inside the oil storage tank. In some embodiments, the probe 120 may further include a plurality of second pressure sensors 125, which may be disposed on the same horizontal plane of the probe body 121. The detection results of the plurality of second pressure sensors can determine whether the probe body is in a vertical state and can also determine the tilt angle of the probe body.

[0028] In some embodiments, the electronic head 122 may further include circuit elements and may be connected to a first pressure sensor, a second pressure sensor, and a temperature sensor to receive sensor detection data. In some embodiments, the electronic head 122 may also be connected to the control console of the level gauge. For example, it may be directly connected to the control console via a communication cable, thereby uploading the sensor detection data to the control console, which can then calculate data such as liquid density, oil level, and water level based on the detection data.

[0029] In some embodiments, the probe body 121 may include a connecting section 1211 and a probe section 1212. A first pressure sensor, a second pressure sensor, and a temperature sensor may be disposed on the probe section 1212. The connecting section 1211 connects the probe section 1211 and the electronic head 122, increasing the length of the probe and connecting the sensors to the electronic head. In some embodiments, the connecting section 1211 may be a flexible probe, through which an oil communication cable may be threaded for communication connection between the sensors and the electronic head. In some embodiments, the flexible probe may be a metal corrugated pipe, a steel wire reinforced rubber tube, etc. In some embodiments, the probe section 1212 may be a rigid probe to support the sensors.

[0030] In some embodiments, the probe body 121 may further include a base 1213, which may be disposed at the end of the probe segment 1212 away from the connecting segment, and can fix the probe segment to the bottom of the oil storage tank. A first pressure sensor is arranged on the probe segment along its axial direction; a second pressure sensor may be arranged on a plane perpendicular to the axis of the probe segment. In some embodiments, the second pressure sensors are disposed on the same plane, which is located between the distribution of the first pressure sensors. In some embodiments, the first pressure sensors may be evenly spaced on the probe segment. In some embodiments, the first pressure sensors may be arranged from a position near the base towards the connecting segment. In some embodiments, the base 1213 may be a magnetic base, which can adsorb the rigid probe segment to the bottom of the oil storage tank. In some embodiments, the diameter of the base 1213 is larger than the diameter of the probe segment, which is beneficial for supporting the probe segment.

[0031] Figures 4A-4C This is a diagram illustrating a probe application scenario according to an embodiment of this application. As shown, the probe 100 can be installed on the oil storage tank 10 and extended into the oil storage tank. It can be used to measure the pressure and temperature inside the oil storage tank, and can upload the measured data to the control console 20 to calculate the volume of oil in the oil storage tank.

[0032] refer to Figure 4B According to one embodiment of this application, five first pressure sensors are arranged near the end of the probe, and are designated as O1, O2, O3, O4, and O5 from bottom to top; the pressure values ​​measured by each first pressure sensor are respectively denoted by P. o1 P o2 P o3 P o4 P o5 The distance between two adjacent pressure sensors on the probe is represented by H. 12 H 23 H 34 H 45 This indicates that when the probe is installed inside the oil storage tank, the detection section may have an angle, and the actual vertical height between each first pressure sensor differs from its distance on the probe. The actual height is expressed as: The probe is also equipped with three second pressure sensors for measuring the tilt angle, located on the same horizontal plane (also known as the "tilt angle detection plane") between the first pressure sensor O4 and the first pressure sensor O5, and designated as H1, H2, and H3 respectively; the pressure values ​​measured by each second pressure sensor are denoted by P. H1 P H2 P H3 This is indicated by H. The theoretical distance H between the tilt detection plane where the second pressure sensor is located and the first pressure sensor O1 is also indicated. HThe actual height difference between the second pressure sensor and the first pressure sensor O1 is H. H1 H H2 H H3 .

[0033] This application calculates the oil volume using the assumption that the oil level is between O4 and O5 and the water level is between O2 and O3 as an example. The specific detection and calculation process is as follows:

[0034] First, the approximate position of the oil level is determined by the pressure values ​​measured by the first pressure sensor and the second pressure sensor. Based on P... o5 =0, P H1 P H2 P H3 If the value is greater than 0, it can be determined that the oil level is below 0.5 and above the tilt angle detection plane. In some embodiments, when the oil level is below the tilt angle measurement plane or below any of the second pressure sensors in the tilt angle measurement plane, a low level alarm is triggered, prompting the replenishment of oil into the storage tank.

[0035] Secondly, the angle θ′ between the tilt measurement plane and the theoretical horizontal plane is calculated using the detection results of the second pressure sensor, thus obtaining the tilt angle θ=θ′ of the flexible probe probe section.

[0036] refer to Figure 4C The calculation process for the inclination angle θ of the flexible probe's detection section is as follows:

[0037] like Figure 4C As shown, the three second pressure sensors at locations H1, H2, and H3 form a known triangle H1H2H3 during the manufacturing of the probe section of the flexible probe. The lengths of the three sides and the three interior angles are determined during manufacturing, and the manufacturing process ensures that the tilt angle measuring plane of the triangle formed by the second pressure sensors is perpendicular to the axis of the probe section. When the probe section is tilted, the dihedral angle θ′ formed by the tilt angle measuring plane and the horizontal plane is the tilt angle θ of the probe section axis.

[0038] When the tilt measurement plane is tilted, the lowest point of the second pressure sensor in the vertical direction is H1, and the highest point is H3. The projection of ΔH1H2H3 onto the horizontal plane is ΔABC, where A, B, and C are the projection points of H1, H2, and H3 onto the horizontal plane, respectively. Point A coincides with H1. Extend line segments H2H3 and CB to intersect at point D. Connect AD, and draw perpendicular lines from H3 and C to AD, with the feet of these perpendiculars coinciding at point E. ∠H3EC is the dihedral angle θ between the tilt measurement plane and the horizontal plane. In some embodiments, when the tilt measurement plane includes more than three second pressure sensors, different triangles can be formed using different second pressure sensors to verify the calculation results, further improving the calculation accuracy.

[0039] From the liquid pressure formula and the above spatial structure relationship, we can see that:

[0040] Right now

[0041] H3D = H2D + H2H3 (Equation a2)

[0042] The lengths of H2D and H3D can be obtained from equations (a1) and (a2).

[0043] By |P H3- P H1 |=ρ 油 gH3C, from which can be derived

[0044] Furthermore, given H3D, H1H3, and ∠H1H3H2, the length of H1D can be determined using the Law of Cosines.

[0045] From the formula for the area of ​​a triangle: The length of H3E can be calculated:

[0046]

[0047] Depend on Angle θ can be calculated.

[0048] Secondly, by correcting the distance between the first pressure sensors on the probe based on the calculated inclination angle θ of the detection section, the actual vertical height between each first pressure sensor can be obtained.

[0049] The formula for calculating the actual height is as follows: m and n represent the serial numbers of the first pressure sensors, for example, the distance between O2 and O3 is expressed in H. 23 express.

[0050] Secondly, by using the pressure values ​​measured by the first pressure sensor and the calculated actual height, and by calculating the liquid density between each of the first pressure sensors using the density calculation formula, ρ can be obtained. 12 ρ 23 ρ 34 ρ 45 By comparing the obtained liquid densities, ρ can be obtained. 12 >ρ 23 ρ 23 >ρ 34 Therefore, it can be determined that the oil-water interface is located between O2 and O3. Furthermore, the oil density can be calculated as ρ. 34 The density of water is ρ 12The oil density can be compared with the standard density of the corresponding stored oil for verification. In some embodiments, if the oil-water separation interface is located elsewhere, the oil density and / or water density can also be calculated using density calculation formulas.

[0051] The density calculation formula is as follows: Where, ρ mn This represents the density results between each of the first pressure sensors; m and n represent the serial numbers of each first pressure sensor, for example, the liquid density between O2 and O3 is expressed in terms of ρ. 23 This indicates that the liquid densities between O2 and O5 are expressed in terms of ρ. 25 express.

[0052] Secondly, the vertical distance between the pressure sensor and the liquid surface is calculated using the density data and the pressure measurement results from the first pressure sensor O3 or the first pressure sensor O4. And based on the vertical distance between the first pressure sensor O3 or the first pressure sensor O4 and the liquid surface Add the actual vertical height of the first pressure sensor O3 or the first pressure sensor O4 The liquid level height H can be obtained. o .

[0053] The formula for calculating the vertical distance between the first pressure sensor and the liquid surface is as follows: Where, ρ g The density of the oil is ρ, which can be related to the density of the oil. 油 The same can also be calculated.

[0054] The formula for calculating the density of the oil is as follows:

[0055]

[0056] Finally, the oil height H is calculated using the pressure calculation formula and the liquid level calculation formula. g and water height H w Based on the calculation results, by comparing them with the tank capacity table, data such as the total volume of liquid, water volume, and oil volume inside the tank can be obtained.

[0057] The formula for calculating liquid level is: H g +H w =H o

[0058] The formula for calculating pressure is: ρ g gH g +ρ w gH w =P 01

[0059] Where, ρw This is the density of water.

[0060] When the probe of this application is installed on an oil storage tank: the probe section and the base are placed into the oil storage tank through the installation port. The base is attached to the bottom of the tank, and the electronic head is secured in the installation port by a rubber ring. The electronic head is connected to the control console through a communication cable. The flexible section contains only the communication cable and can be kept in a slack state, which helps to reduce the complexity of the installation process, facilitates product standardization and inventory management, and only requires the production of a few probes of specific lengths to meet the needs of oil storage tanks of different heights. It also facilitates the transportation and storage of the flexible probe.

[0061] The probe of this application calculates the oil volume based on the detection results from multiple pressure measurement points. The probe requires no moving parts during the detection process, is not affected by the detection environment, and therefore has high reliability and accurate calculation results. Furthermore, multiple pressure measurement points allow for verification and validation during density measurement and calculation, effectively reducing measurement errors and improving the reliability of the probe. A pressure sensor can also be used to detect whether the probe section is tilted, and the calculation results can be corrected to obtain an accurate oil volume. The probe is not affected by tilting forces caused by installation issues or tank tilting, which could affect measurement accuracy. In addition, even when the oil-water interface is unclear, the probe of this application can accurately calculate the location of the theoretical interface.

[0062] The above embodiments are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the present invention. Those skilled in the art can make various changes and modifications without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, all equivalent technical solutions should also fall within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A flexible liquid level gauge probe, characterized in that, include: The mounting ring is fixed to the oil storage tank; as well as The probe includes an electronic head, a probe body, and multiple first pressure sensors. The electronic head is installed in a mounting ring, the probe body is connected to the electronic head and extends into the oil storage tank, and the multiple pressure sensors are set on the probe body. The probe body includes a connecting section and a detection section. The connecting section connects the detection section and the electronic head. Multiple first pressure sensors are set at different heights of the detection section along the axial direction of the probe. The connecting section is a flexible probe.

2. The flexible liquid level gauge probe according to claim 1, characterized in that, The flexible probe is made of metal corrugated pipe or steel wire reinforced rubber tube.

3. The flexible liquid level gauge probe according to claim 1, characterized in that, The detection section is a rigid probe rod, with its end furthest from the connecting section located at the bottom of the oil storage tank.

4. The flexible liquid level gauge probe according to claim 3, characterized in that, It further includes a magnetic base, which is located at the end of the probe section away from the connecting section, for attaching the probe section to the bottom of the oil storage tank.

5. The flexible liquid level gauge probe according to claim 1, characterized in that, Multiple primary pressure sensors are arranged at equal intervals on the detection section.

6. The flexible liquid level gauge probe according to claim 1, characterized in that, Multiple first pressure sensors are arranged from the end furthest from the connecting section to the end closest to the connecting section.

7. The flexible liquid level gauge probe according to claim 1, characterized in that, It further includes multiple second pressure sensors, which are disposed on the probe section and located on the same horizontal plane in the direction perpendicular to the axis of the probe section.

8. The flexible liquid level gauge probe according to claim 7, characterized in that, The second pressure sensor is located on a horizontal plane between multiple first pressure sensors.

9. The flexible liquid level gauge probe according to claim 1, characterized in that, Further includes: A temperature sensor, which is installed on the probe section, is used to detect temperature.

10. The flexible liquid level gauge probe according to claim 1, characterized in that, The electronic head includes electronic components that are connected to a first pressure sensor and upload the data detected by the first pressure sensor to the control console.

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