Mass flowmeter for measuring high temperature liquid substances

Abstract

This utility model discloses a mass flow meter for measuring high-temperature liquid substances, belonging to the field of instrumentation. The mass flow meter of this application is mainly used for measuring high-temperature liquid substances. The measuring tube provides a channel for the fluid to be measured; a heating tube is spirally wrapped around the measuring tube to maintain the temperature of the measuring tube within a preset range, allowing the fluid to flow through the measuring tube. By employing a spiral heating tube surrounding the measuring tube for insulation, the contact area with the measuring tube can be maximized, improving thermal conductivity and keeping the fluid to be measured in a molten state, effectively preventing the fluid from cooling and solidifying inside the measuring tube, thus avoiding blockage. Compared with conventional insulation jackets, the spiral heating tube structure of this application has higher thermal conductivity, enabling more uniform heating of the measuring tube and ensuring that the fluid to be measured maintains appropriate fluidity throughout the measurement process, thereby guaranteeing the normal metering function of the flow meter.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of instrumentation, and in particular to a mass flow meter for measuring high-temperature liquid substances. Background Technology

[0002] A mass flow meter is an instrument used to measure the mass flow rate of fluids and is widely used in industries such as petroleum, chemical, and food processing. In industrial production, measuring the flow rate of high-temperature liquid substances such as liquid sulfur is of great significance. Liquid sulfur easily solidifies at room temperature, and its melting point is approximately 119°C. Therefore, it is necessary to maintain its temperature above the melting point during measurement to ensure proper flow.

[0003] However, existing technologies have the following problems when measuring high-temperature liquid substances such as liquid sulfur: When using conventional insulation methods to measure liquid sulfur, the liquid sulfur easily cools and solidifies due to its low thermal conductivity, subsequently clogging the flow tube and rendering the flow meter unusable. Once the liquid sulfur solidifies inside the measuring tube, it not only affects the measurement accuracy but also damages the equipment. Furthermore, it is difficult to heat and melt the solidified sulfur, thus failing to solve the problem of liquid sulfur measurement. In addition, existing heating methods often fail to heat the measuring tube evenly, resulting in uneven temperatures across different parts of the measuring tube and affecting measurement accuracy.

[0004] Therefore, there is an urgent need for a mass flow meter that can effectively maintain the temperature of the measuring tube and prevent high-temperature liquid substances such as liquid sulfur from solidifying, in order to solve the problems existing in the current technology. Utility Model Content

[0005] To address the problem that existing mass flow meters for measuring liquid sulfur suffer from low thermal conductivity and uneven heating of the measuring tube, leading to easy cooling and solidification of the liquid sulfur, which in turn blocks the flow tube and renders the flow meter unusable, a mass flow meter for measuring high-temperature liquid substances is provided. This invention aims to effectively maintain the temperature of the measuring tube, ensure uniform heating, and prevent the solidification of high-temperature liquid substances.

[0006] This application provides a mass flow meter for measuring high-temperature liquid substances, comprising: a measuring tube for providing a channel for the fluid to be measured;

[0007] It also includes a heating tube, which is spirally wrapped around the periphery of the measuring tube to maintain the temperature of the measuring tube within a preset range so that the fluid to be measured can flow through the measuring tube.

[0008] Optionally, the inner diameter of the heating tube is between 10mm and 14mm, and the thickness of the tube arm is between 0.8mm and 1.2mm.

[0009] Optionally, the pitch of the heating tube is between 18mm and 24mm.

[0010] Optionally, the heating element is made of copper.

[0011] Optionally, high-temperature steam is introduced into the heating tube and heat is transferred to the measuring tube through the tube wall to maintain the temperature of the measuring tube within a preset range.

[0012] Optionally, the heating element is an electric heating element.

[0013] Optionally, the fluid to be tested is liquid sulfur, and the preset range is between 119℃ and 125℃.

[0014] Optionally, the inner bending angle of the measuring tube is greater than 90°.

[0015] Optionally, the inner bending angle of the measuring tube is 120°, and the measuring tube is provided with two bends.

[0016] Optionally, it may also include: a driver, a sensor, and a signal processing unit.

[0017] A driver, connected to the measuring tube, is used to drive the measuring tube to vibrate;

[0018] A sensor, mounted on the outer wall of the measuring tube, is used to collect the flow signal of the measuring tube;

[0019] A signal processing unit, connected to the sensor, is used to calculate flow data based on the flow signal.

[0020] The beneficial effects of the above technical solution are as follows:

[0021] In this technical solution, the mass flow meter for measuring high-temperature liquid substances is mainly used to measure high-temperature liquid substances. The measuring tube provides a channel for the fluid to be measured. The heating tube is spirally wrapped around the measuring tube to maintain the temperature of the measuring tube within a preset range, allowing the fluid to flow through the measuring tube. By adopting the heating tube spirally wrapped around the measuring tube for insulation, the contact area with the measuring tube can be maximized, improving heat conduction efficiency and keeping the fluid to be measured in a molten state, effectively preventing the fluid to be measured from cooling and solidifying inside the measuring tube, thus preventing blockage. Compared with conventional insulation jackets, the spiral heating tube structure of this application has higher heat conduction efficiency, enabling more uniform heating of the measuring tube and ensuring that the fluid to be measured maintains appropriate fluidity throughout the measurement process, thereby ensuring the normal metering function of the flow meter. At the same time, this structure is simple in design, easy to implement, and convenient to maintain, effectively solving the technical difficulties in the metering process of liquid sulfur. Attached Figure Description

[0022] One or more embodiments are illustrated by way of example with reference numerals in the accompanying drawings. These illustrations do not constitute a limitation on the embodiments. Elements with the same reference numerals in the drawings are denoted as similar elements. Unless otherwise stated, the figures in the drawings are not to be limited by scale.

[0023] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the mass flow meter for measuring high-temperature liquid substances described in this application.

[0024] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached drawings: 1. Measuring tube; 2. Heating tube; 3. Flange; 4. Signal processing unit; and 5. Housing. Detailed Implementation

[0025] The advantages of this application are further illustrated below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0026] Exemplary embodiments will now be described in detail, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. When the following description relates to the drawings, unless otherwise indicated, the same numerals in different drawings denote the same or similar elements. The embodiments described in the following exemplary embodiments do not represent all embodiments consistent with this disclosure. Rather, they are merely examples of apparatuses and methods consistent with some aspects of this disclosure as detailed in the appended claims.

[0027] The terminology used in this disclosure is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the disclosure. The singular forms “a,” “the,” and “the” as used in this disclosure and the appended claims are also intended to include the plural forms unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It should also be understood that the term “and / or” as used herein refers to and includes any and all possible combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0028] It should be understood that although the terms first, second, third, etc., may be used in this disclosure to describe various information, such information should not be limited to these terms. These terms are used only to distinguish information of the same type from one another. For example, without departing from the scope of this disclosure, first information may also be referred to as second information, and similarly, second information may also be referred to as first information. Depending on the context, the word "if" as used herein may be interpreted as "when," "when," or "in response to determination."

[0029] In the description of this application, it should be understood that the numerical labels before the steps do not indicate the order of the steps, but are only used to facilitate the description of this application and to distinguish each step, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this application.

[0030] Example 1

[0031] This application addresses the shortcomings of existing mass flow meters for measuring liquid sulfur. Due to low thermal conductivity and uneven heating of the measuring tube, the liquid sulfur easily cools and solidifies, clogging the flow tube and rendering the flow meter unusable. The application provides a mass flow meter for measuring high-temperature liquid substances. (See reference...) Figure 1 A mass flow meter for measuring high-temperature liquid substances includes a measuring tube 1 and a heating tube 2. The measuring tube 1 provides a channel for the fluid to be measured. The heating tube 2 is spirally surrounded by the measuring tube 1 to maintain the temperature of the measuring tube 1 within a preset range so that the fluid to be measured can flow through the measuring tube 1.

[0032] In this embodiment, the mass flow meter for measuring high-temperature liquid substances is mainly used to measure such substances. The measuring tube 1 provides a channel for the fluid to be measured. The heating tube 2 is spirally surrounding the measuring tube 1 to maintain its temperature within a preset range, allowing the fluid to flow through it. By using the spiral heating tube 2 to insulate the measuring tube 1, the heating tube 2 can contact the measuring tube 1 with the maximum area, improving thermal conductivity and keeping the fluid in a molten state. This effectively prevents the fluid from cooling and solidifying inside the measuring tube 1, thus avoiding blockage. Compared to conventional insulation jackets, the spiral heating tube 2 structure in this embodiment has higher thermal conductivity, allowing for more uniform heating of the measuring tube 1 and ensuring the fluid maintains appropriate flowability throughout the measurement process, thereby guaranteeing the normal metering function of the flow meter. Furthermore, this structure is simple to design, easy to implement, and convenient to maintain, effectively solving the technical challenges in the metering process of liquid sulfur.

[0033] Specifically, the mass flow meter in this embodiment is mainly used to measure the flow rate of high-temperature liquid substances, such as liquid sulfur. Liquid sulfur is prone to solidification during flow, so it is necessary to maintain the temperature of the measuring tube 1 within a certain range to ensure that the liquid sulfur can flow smoothly through the measuring tube 1 without solidification.

[0034] The measuring tube 1 can be made of stainless steel, which has good corrosion resistance and high temperature resistance. The inner diameter of the measuring tube 1 can be designed to be between 10mm and 30mm according to the actual flow requirements, and the wall thickness is between 1.5mm and 2.5mm. The inner bending angle of the measuring tube 1 is greater than 90°. This design can increase the vibration stability of the measuring tube 1 and improve the measurement accuracy. In this embodiment, the inner bending angle of the measuring tube 1 is 120°, and the measuring tube 1 is provided with two bends to form a U-shaped structure. This structural design allows the measuring tube 1 to generate a more stable vibration mode during vibration, which is beneficial to improving the accuracy of flow measurement.

[0035] Heating tube 2 is spirally wrapped around the periphery of measuring tube 1 to heat measuring tube 1 and maintain its temperature within a preset range. Heating tube 2 can be made of copper, which has excellent thermal conductivity, enabling rapid and uniform heat transfer to measuring tube 1. The inner diameter of heating tube 2 ranges from 10mm to 14mm, and the wall thickness ranges from 0.8mm to 1.2mm. This dimensional design ensures both sufficient strength and good heat conduction efficiency for heating tube 2.

[0036] The pitch of heating tube 2 is between 18mm and 24mm. Pitch refers to the distance between two adjacent turns when heating tube 2 is spirally wound. An appropriate pitch design ensures that heating tube 2 heats measuring tube 1 evenly, avoiding localized overheating or underheating. A pitch that is too small will result in heating tube 2 being too dense, increasing material costs and potentially causing localized overheating; a pitch that is too large will result in uneven heating, affecting measurement accuracy.

[0037] In a preferred embodiment, in order not to increase material costs, the heating tube 2 has an inner diameter of 12mm, a wall thickness of 1mm, and a pitch of 20mm, which can achieve the purpose of uniform heating effect and optimal heat conduction efficiency.

[0038] High-temperature steam is introduced into the heating tube 2, transferring heat to the measuring tube 1 through the tube wall to maintain the temperature of the measuring tube 1 within a preset range. The temperature of the high-temperature steam can be adjusted according to actual needs, generally controlled between 130℃ and 150℃. The steam is generated by a dedicated steam generator and transported to the interior of the heating tube 2 through a pipeline. As the steam flows inside the heating tube 2, it transfers heat to the measuring tube 1 through the tube wall, thereby maintaining the temperature of the measuring tube 1. The advantages of using steam heating are uniform heat distribution, stable temperature control, and suitability for long-term continuous operation.

[0039] In this embodiment, the fluid to be measured is liquid sulfur, with a preset temperature range between 119°C and 125°C. Liquid sulfur has a melting point of approximately 119°C, therefore the temperature of the measuring tube 1 needs to be maintained above this temperature to ensure the sulfur remains in a liquid state. The upper temperature limit is controlled at 125°C to prevent excessively high temperatures from altering the properties of the sulfur or generating harmful gases. By precisely controlling the temperature of the measuring tube 1, the liquid sulfur maintains good fluidity during the measurement process, thereby obtaining accurate flow measurement results.

[0040] As an example and not a limitation, the fluid to be tested can also be a high-temperature liquid substance such as asphalt, fuel oil, residual oil, or molten metal. When the fluid to be tested is residual oil, the preset temperature range is between 450°C and 500°C; when the fluid to be tested is fuel oil, the preset temperature range is between 400°C and 500°C; for molten metal, the preset range is adapted to its liquid temperature range.

[0041] Example 2

[0042] See Figure 1 In this embodiment, the mass flow meter for measuring high-temperature liquid substances may further include: a driver, a sensor, and a signal processing unit 4;

[0043] A driver, connected to the measuring tube 1, is used to drive the measuring tube 1 to vibrate;

[0044] Furthermore, the driver can be electromagnetically driven, using electromagnetic force to cause the measuring tube 1 to vibrate. The power of the driver is determined based on the size and material of the measuring tube 1, generally between 5W and 20W, which is sufficient to generate a sufficient vibration amplitude to ensure measurement accuracy.

[0045] A sensor, installed on the outer wall of the measuring tube, is used to collect the flow signal of the measuring tube 1;

[0046] Furthermore, the sensor can be a magnetoelectric or piezoelectric sensor, capable of accurately capturing the vibration frequency and phase changes of the measuring tube 1. The sensor's sensitivity is typically between 0.1 mV / g and 10 mV / g, enabling it to detect minute vibration changes. The sensor is usually installed near the bends in the measuring tube 1, where the vibration signals are most pronounced.

[0047] The signal processing unit 4 is connected to the sensor and is used to calculate flow data based on the flow signal.

[0048] Furthermore, the signal processing unit 4 may include a signal amplifier, a filter, an analog-to-digital converter, and a microprocessor. The signal amplifier amplifies the weak signal output by the sensor to an appropriate level; the filter is used to filter out interference signals; the analog-to-digital converter converts the analog signal into a digital signal; and the microprocessor calculates the mass flow rate of the fluid based on the vibration frequency and phase difference. The signal processing unit 4 also has a temperature compensation function, which can correct the measurement results according to the actual temperature of the measuring tube 1, thereby improving the measurement accuracy.

[0049] See Figure 1As shown, the mass flow meter for measuring high-temperature liquid substances may also include a housing 5 and two flanges 3. The housing 5 is provided on the outside of the driver, and the two flanges 3 are provided on both sides of the housing 5. The input end of the measuring tube 1 is connected to one flange 3, and the output end of the measuring tube 1 is connected to the other flange 3. The signal processing unit 4 is provided at the bottom of the housing 5 and connected to the transmitter.

[0050] The working principle of the mass flow meter in this embodiment is as follows: First, high-temperature steam is introduced into the heating tube 2 to heat the measuring tube 1, so that the temperature of the measuring tube 1 is maintained between 119°C and 125°C; then, liquid sulfur flows through the measuring tube 1; the driver drives the measuring tube 1 to vibrate; the sensor collects the vibration signal of the measuring tube 1; finally, the signal processing unit 4 calculates the mass flow rate of the liquid sulfur based on the vibration signal.

[0051] In this embodiment, the mass flow meter heats the measuring tube 1 using the heating tube 2, solving the problem of easy solidification of high-temperature liquid substances during flow measurement and ensuring the accuracy and reliability of the measurement. Simultaneously, the spiral design of the heating tube 2 ensures uniform heating, avoiding localized overheating or underheating. The special bending angle design of the measuring tube 1 improves vibration stability, further enhancing measurement accuracy.

[0052] Example 3

[0053] The mass flow meter provided in this embodiment is basically the same as that in Embodiment 1, except for the heating method. In this embodiment, the heating tube 2 is an electric heating tube, instead of a copper tube through which high-temperature steam is introduced.

[0054] The electric heating element contains a heating wire that generates heat when energized. This heat is transferred through the element wall to the measuring tube 1 to maintain its temperature within a preset range. The power of the electric heating element is determined based on the size of the measuring tube 1 and the required temperature, typically between 500W and 1500W. Temperature control of the electric heating element employs a PID control algorithm. A temperature sensor monitors the temperature of the measuring tube 1 in real time and adjusts the power of the electric heating element accordingly to stabilize the temperature of the measuring tube 1 within the set range.

[0055] The inner diameter of the electric heating element is also between 10mm and 14mm, the wall thickness is between 0.8mm and 1.2mm, and the pitch is between 18mm and 24mm. The electric heating element is made of stainless steel and filled with insulating materials such as magnesium oxide. The heating wire is made of nickel-chromium alloy, which has good high-temperature resistance and stable resistance value.

[0056] The advantages of electric heating elements are high control precision, fast response speed, no need for additional steam generation equipment, and a more compact structure, making them suitable for applications with limited space or no steam source. However, the heat distribution of electric heating elements may not be as uniform as that of steam heating, and prolonged operation may cause the heating wire to age, requiring regular inspection and replacement.

[0057] The other parts of this embodiment are the same as those in Embodiment 1, including the structure of the measuring tube 1, the sensor settings, and the function of the signal processing unit 4, etc., which will not be described again here.

[0058] It should be noted that Examples 1, 2, and 3 are all types of mass flow meters used for measuring high-temperature liquid substances.

[0059] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of this application, and are not intended to limit them. Although this application has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some or all of the technical features therein. Such modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application.

Claims

1. A mass flow meter for measuring high-temperature liquid substances, comprising: A measuring tube is used to provide a channel for the fluid to be measured. The feature is that it further includes: a heating tube, which is spirally surrounded around the periphery of the measuring tube, for maintaining the temperature of the measuring tube within a preset range so that the fluid to be measured can flow through the measuring tube.

2. The mass flow meter for measuring high-temperature liquid substances according to claim 1, characterized in that, The inner diameter of the heating tube is between 10mm and 14mm, and the thickness of the tube arm is between 0.8mm and 1.2mm.

3. The mass flow meter for measuring high-temperature liquid substances according to claim 1, characterized in that, The pitch of the heating element is between 18mm and 24mm.

4. The mass flow meter for measuring high-temperature liquid substances according to claim 1, characterized in that, The heating element is made of copper.

5. The mass flow meter for measuring high-temperature liquid substances according to claim 1, characterized in that, High-temperature steam is introduced into the heating tube, and heat is transferred to the measuring tube through the tube wall to maintain the temperature of the measuring tube within a preset range.

6. The mass flow meter for measuring high-temperature liquid substances according to claim 1, characterized in that, The heating element is an electric heating element.

7. The mass flow meter for measuring high-temperature liquid substances according to claim 1, characterized in that, The fluid to be tested is liquid sulfur, and the preset range is between 119℃ and 125℃.

8. The mass flow meter for measuring high-temperature liquid substances according to claim 1, characterized in that, The inner bending angle of the measuring tube is greater than 90°.

9. The mass flow meter for measuring high-temperature liquid substances according to claim 1, characterized in that, The measuring tube has an inner bending angle of 120° and two bends.

10. The mass flow meter for measuring high-temperature liquid substances according to claim 1, characterized in that, Also includes: Drivers, sensors, and signal processing units; A driver, connected to the measuring tube, is used to drive the measuring tube to vibrate; A sensor, mounted on the outer wall of the measuring tube, is used to collect the flow signal of the measuring tube; A signal processing unit, connected to the sensor, is used to calculate flow data based on the flow signal.

Images