Sewer Waveguide Venting for Accurate Radar Liquid Level Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional radar wave water level gauges in sewage sewers are prone to inaccuracies due to interference from structures like drop pipes, water baffles, and manhole steps, leading to incorrect liquid level readings.
Innovation Solution
A liquid level gauge and waveguide set where the waveguide is installed on the sewer wall, guiding radar or ultrasonic waves to the liquid surface while isolating interference from other sewer structures, and includes an exhaust branch pipe to maintain accuracy and a design that allows for easy cleaning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a radar wave water level gauge is directly installed on the manhole anti-fall frame to detect liquid level, then the detection structure is simple, but the radar signal scatters on other structures (drop pipes, water baffles, water guide grooves, manhole steps) causing inaccurate water level detection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a waveguide as an intermediary component between the radar wave water level gauge and the liquid surface. The waveguide concentrates and guides the radar waves along its inner wall to the liquid surface, preventing signal scattering on other structures. This intermediary structure enables accurate measurement while maintaining simple installation.
2Measurement precision
If the waveguide is used to concentrate and guide radar waves to the liquid surface to improve measurement accuracy, then the liquid level detection accuracy is significantly improved, but the device structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The waveguide is designed as a hollow tube with a simple cylindrical structure and smooth inner wall, resembling a flexible shell form. This simple geometric structure effectively guides and concentrates radar waves without requiring complex internal components, achieving the balance between measurement accuracy and structural simplicity.
3Reliability
If the waveguide is installed in the sewer environment, then the liquid level can be detected, but water vapor condenses on the inner wall of the waveguide affecting measurement accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful element (water vapor/condensation) from the waveguide interior by providing an exhaust outlet. This allows the condensed water vapor to be discharged from the waveguide, preventing it from affecting the radar wave propagation and measurement accuracy, while maintaining the waveguide's presence in the sewer environment.
4Measurement precision
If the waveguide is installed in the sewer to guide radar waves, then accurate liquid level data is obtained, but the waveguide accumulates dirt and dust affecting long-term measurement accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The waveguide is designed with an exhaust outlet that enables self-cleaning functionality. The exhaust system removes accumulated dirt and dust from the waveguide interior, allowing the structure to maintain its measurement accuracy over extended periods without requiring external maintenance or cleaning operations.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system provides highly accurate liquid level data by concentrating waves on the liquid surface, reducing interference, and maintaining measurement accuracy through cleaning, facilitating precise follow-up processing.
Implementation Method 1
a liquid level detection module on the bottom side of the liquid level gauge emits radar waves or ultrasonic waves toward a sewage pipeline
Implementation Method 2
a liquid level detection module on the bottom side of the liquid level gauge emits radar waves or ultrasonic waves
Implementation Method 3
the radar wave or ultrasonic wave emitted by the liquid level detection module is reflected by the inner wall of the waveguide and touches the liquid surface
Implementation Method 4
the radar wave or ultrasonic wave is transmitted back through the inner wall of the waveguide to the liquid level detection module
Implementation Method 5
The exhaust branch pipe can reduce and eliminate the air inside the waveguide when the liquid level rises, and prevent water vapor from condensing on the inner wall of the waveguide
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid level gauge and waveguide set includes a liquid level gauge installed on a vertical wall of a sewer, so that the liquid level detection module of the liquid level gauge emits radar waves or ultrasonic waves toward a sewage pipeline buried in a ditch on the bottom surface of the sewer for liquid level sensing, and a waveguide fixed on the vertical wall of the sewer with one end thereof facing the liquid level detection module. The waveguide has an exhaust branch pipe extending obliquely upwards from a top wall thereof. The radar wave or ultrasonic wave emitted by the liquid level detection module is reflected by the inner wall of the waveguide and touches the liquid surface covering the periphery of the sewage pipeline, and is transmitted back through the inner wall of the waveguide to the liquid level detection module to obtain liquid level data.