A flow sensor for use in industrial pools

Abstract

The invention is a flow sensor (10) to be positioned in a pool (30) containing a fluid that is moved in a flow direction (I) by at least one mixer (20) to determine the flow rate of the mentioned fluid. Its distinguishing feature is that it comprises at least one measurement arm (11) extending in an intersecting manner with the flow direction (I) within the pool (30), wherein the measurement arm (11) is connected to at least one ground chassis (13) via at least one joint (12), allowing rotational movement around the mentioned joint (12); and the flow sensor (10) includes at least one angle sensor (15) that measures the rotational angle of the measurement arm (11) around the joint (12).

Description

[0001] A FLOW SENSOR FOR USE IN INDUSTRIAL POOLS

[0002] FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The invention relates to a flow sensor to be positioned in a pool containing a fluid that is moved in a flow direction by at least one mixer to determine the flow rate of the mentioned fluid.

[0004] BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The proper execution of liquid processes in agriculture, biogas production, wastewater treatment, and industrial facilities plays a crucial role in ensuring efficient and sustainable production. The pools used in these facilities serve a wide range of functions, from mixing to transporting liquids for various purposes. While achieving the desired mixing speed of fluids in these pools is critical for process efficiency, controlling the accuracy of the flow rate is highly challenging. The flow rate can vary depending on factors such as the density of the input material, capacity requirements, and other variables. These parameters, in turn, may fluctuate due to factors such as seasonal changes, population density, the number, age, and health condition of the animals generating the waste, among others.

[0006] In such pools, the inability to adjust the mixer speed according to the appropriate flow rate leads to excessive power consumption by the mixer, increasing operational costs while also preventing homogeneous distribution during the mixing process, resulting in inconsistencies in the mixture. In agriculture, this can cause natural animal manure to settle at the bottom of the pool or form layers on the surface, reducing the pool's capacity. In biogas facilities, it leads to inefficient gas production, while in wastewater treatment plants, it prevents proper processing of wastewater. Additionally, such inefficiencies increase the operational costs of facilities, lead to waste of resource, and cause environmental issues. As a result, efficiently managing these facilities, ensuring the correct flow rate, and maintaining a properly functioning process are essential for both economic and environmental sustainability in production.

[0007] As a result, all the abovementioned problems have made it necessary to make an improvement in the relevant technical field.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The present invention relates to a flow sensor designed to eliminate the aforementioned disadvantages and introduce new advantages to the relevant technical field.

[0009] One objective of the invention is to provide a flow sensor capable of instantly detecting the flow speed within the pool.

[0010] Another objective of the invention is to provide a flow sensor that enables the mixer speed to be maintained at an optimal rate according to the changing fluid density in the pool after each feed.

[0011] To achieve all the objectives mentioned above and that will emerge from the following detailed description, the present invention is a flow sensor to be positioned in a pool containing a fluid that is moved in a flow direction by at least one mixer to determine the flow rate of the mentioned fluid. An improvement of the present invention is that it comprises at least one measurement arm extending in an intersecting manner with the flow direction within the pool, wherein the measurement arm is connected to at least one ground chassis via at least one joint, allowing rotational movement around the mentioned joint; and the flow sensor includes at least one angle sensor that measures the rotational angle of the measurement arm around the joint. Thus, the flow rate is monitored, the mixer is controlled based on the signal received from the sensor, ensuring the homogeneity of the flow and increasing efficiency.

[0012] A possible embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the mentioned angle sensor is an encoder. Thus, the angular movement of the measurement arm is precisely measured electronically, allowing the flow rate to be monitored in a manner suitable for automation.

[0013] A possible embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the measurement arm comprises a lever arm, one end of which is connected to the joint and the other end is connected to at least one drag element, wherein the mentioned drag element has a larger cross-sectional area compared to the mentioned lever arm when viewed from the flow direction. Thus, the effect of the drag force on the measurement arm is amplified, enabling the flow sensor to measure the flow rate accurately.Another possible embodiment of the invention is characterized by the presence of fluid in the pool up to a certain fluid level, with at least a part of the measurement arm immersed into the fluid below the mentioned fluid level. Thus, the measurements of the fluid flow rate are obtained more reliably, without being affected by external factors and surface fluctuations.

[0014] A possible embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the flow sensor comprises at least one counterforce element that applies force to the measurement arm in the direction opposite to the flow direction. Thus, the force applied to the measurement arm is balanced, enhancing the accuracy of the flow rate measurements.

[0015] A possible embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the mentioned counterforce element is a spring.

[0016] A possible embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the measurement arm extends parallel to a vertical axis, which is aligned with the direction of gravity, when no force is applied in the flow direction, and comprises an angle sensor that measures the angle between the measurement arm and the mentioned vertical axis when a force is applied in the flow direction. Thus, changes in the flow rate are detected as a distinct angular shift, and measurement accuracy is improved by using gravity as a reference.

[0017] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0018] Figure 1 presents a representative side view of the flow sensor subject to the invention.

[0019] Figure 2 presents a representative top view of a pool to which the flow sensor subject to the invention is connected.

[0020] Figure 3 presents a representative isometric view of the pool to which the flow sensor subject to the invention is connected.

[0021] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0022] In this detailed description, the subject of the invention is described utilizing examples only for clarifying the subject matter such that no limiting effect is created.Figure 1 presents a representative side view of the pool (30) in which the flow sensor (10) is positioned. Accordingly, the mentioned pool (30) is a structure where the contained fluid is mixed by at least one mixer (20). The said pool (30) may be an agricultural fertilizer pool, a biogas pool, a wastewater treatment pool, or an industrial chemical mixture pool. It can contain various fluids such as liquid fertilizers, organic waste, chemical solutions, or treatment chemicals. The mentioned mixer (20) may be, in one embodiment, a propellertype mixer (20). As the mixer (20) operates, the fluid inside the pool (30) moves in a flow direction (I). The pool (30) comprises at least one rigid body designed to contain the fluid.

[0023] The flow sensor (10) subject to the invention comprises at least one measurement arm (11) extending in a manner intersecting the flow direction (I) within the pool (30). The mentioned measurement arm (11) is an elongated element. Figure 3 presents a representative side view of the flow sensor (10).

[0024] The measurement arm (11) is connected to at least one ground chassis (13) via at least one joint (12). Here, the measurement arm (11) is connected to the mentioned ground chassis (13) in a manner that allows at least a portion of the measurement arm (11) to perform rotational movement around the mentioned joint (12). In this configuration, the measurement arm (11) may rotate around the joint (12) in one embodiment. In another possible embodiment, only a portion of the measurement arm (11) performs rotational movement.

[0025] When a force is applied by the fluid in the flow direction (I) to the measurement arm (11), which extends such that at least a portion of it remains within the fluid, the measurement arm (11) rotates around the joint (12). The ground chassis (13) is essentially a rigid element that enables the flow sensor (10) to be connected to the pool (30). In one possible embodiment, the ground chassis (13) is attached to a rigid body.

[0026] The flow sensor (10) comprises at least one angle sensor (15). The mentioned angle sensor (15) measures the angular value of the rotational movement of the measurement arm (11) around the joint (12). In a preferred embodiment, rotational movement (15) is measured by an angle sensor. The angle sensor (15), in one possible embodiment, enables the tracking of the distance between at least one point on the measurement arm (11) and at least one reference point not located on the measurement arm (11), thereby determining the angle. The measurement arm (11), in a preferred embodiment, extends parallel to a vertical axis (a), which is aligned with the gravitational axis. Accordingly, in one possible embodiment, the angle sensor (15) measures the angle between themeasurement arm (11) and the vertical axis (a). In a preferred embodiment, the angle sensor (15) is an encoder. This allows angle tracking to be electronically processed, displayed, and adapted for automation. Additionally, the angle sensor (15) may also be a mechanical protractor.

[0027] The flow sensor (10) comprises at least one counterforce element (14). The mentioned counterforce element (14) is an element that applies force to the measurement arm (11) in the direction opposite to the flow direction (I). In the flow sensor (10) subject to the invention, the displacement occurring in the measurement arm (11) due to the difference between the force applied by the counterforce element (14) and the force applied by the fluid to the measurement arm (11) in the flow direction (I) can be used to determine the flow rate. In a possible embodiment, the counterforce element (14) is a spring.

[0028] The measurement arm (11) comprises at least one lever arm (111) and at least one drag element (112) connected to each other. The mentioned lever arm (111) is the portion of the measurement arm (11) facing the joint (12). The drag element (112) is positioned at the other end of the lever arm (111). The drag element (112) is structured to have a larger cross-sectional area compared to the lever arm (111) when viewed from the flow direction (I). This allows the fluid to exert sufficient pressure on the measurement arm (11) in the flow direction (I) to move it. In a preferred embodiment, the measurement arm (11) extends at least partially below the fluid level (L) inside the pool (30). In the preferred embodiment, the drag element (112) remains below the fluid level (L). This ensures a more accurate measurement of the flow rate.

[0029] Accordingly, in the flow sensor (10) subject to the invention, as the fluid moves in the flow direction (I), it pushes the measurement arm (11), while the angle sensor (15) measures the angular displacement caused by the rotational movement of the measurement arm (11 ) around the joint (12). As the fluid's flow velocity in the flow direction (I) increases, the measurement arm (11) will be displaced at a greater angle. In this context, the flow rate of the fluid can be determined based on the magnitude of the angle.

[0030] The protection scope of the invention is specified in the appended claims and cannot be limited to the description made for illustrative purposes in this detailed description. Likewise, it is clear that a person skilled in the art can present similar embodiments in the light of the above descriptions without departing from the main theme of the invention.REFERENCE NUMBERS THAT GIVEN IN THE FIGURE

[0031] 10 Flow Sensor

[0032] 11 Measurement Arm

[0033] 111 Lever Arm

[0034] 112 Drag Element

[0035] 12 Joint

[0036] 13 Ground Chassis

[0037] 14 Counterforce Element

[0038] 15 Angle Sensor

[0039] 20 Mixer

[0040] 30 Pool

[0041] (I) Flow Direction

[0042] (a) Vertical Axis

[0043] (L) Fluid Level

Claims

CLAIMS1. The invention is a flow sensor (10) to be positioned in a pool (30) containing a fluid that is moved in a flow direction (I) by at least one mixer (20) to determine the flow rate of the mentioned fluid characterized in that; it comprises at least one measurement arm (11) extending in an intersecting manner with the flow direction (I) within the pool (30), wherein the measurement arm (11) is connected to at least one ground chassis (13) via at least one joint (12), allowing rotational movement around the mentioned joint (12); and the flow sensor (10) includes at least one angle sensor (15) that measures the rotational angle of the measurement arm (11) around the joint (12).

2. The flow sensor (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that; the mentioned angle sensor (15) is an encoder.

3. The flow sensor (10) according to claim 1 , characterized in that; the measurement arm (11) comprises a lever arm (111), one end of which is connected to the joint (12) and the other end is connected to at least one drag element (112), wherein the mentioned drag element (112) has a larger cross-sectional area compared to the mentioned lever arm (111) when viewed from the flow direction (I).

4. The flow sensor (10) according to claim 1 , characterized in that; at least a portion of the measurement arm (11) extends into the fluid such that it remains below the fluid level (L) in the pool (30).

5. The flow sensor (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that; the flow sensor (10) comprises at least one counterforce element (14) that applies force to the measurement arm (11) in the direction opposite to the flow direction (I).

6. The flow sensor (10) according to claim 5, characterized in that; the mentioned counterforce element (14) is a spring.

7. The flow sensor (10) according to claim 1 , characterized in that; the measurement arm (11) extends parallel to a vertical axis (a), which is aligned with the direction of gravity, when no force is applied in the flow direction (I), and comprises an angle sensor (15) that measures the angle between the measurement arm (11) and the mentioned vertical axis (a) when a force is applied in the flow direction (I).

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