Ultrasonic Flowmeter, Use of an Ultrasonic Flowmeter in a Shut-off Device and Shut-off Device

Abstract

An ultrasonic flowmeter includes a measuring tube, a first transducer pair including first and second ultrasonic transducers, and a second transducer pair including third and fourth ultrasonic transducers. Each ultrasonic transducer is an ultrasonic transmitter and/or an ultrasonic receiver. The first transducer pair is on the measuring tube offset such that the respective transmitter transmits an ultrasonic signal in or against the direction of flow, and the receiver receives the ultrasonic signal. A course of the ultrasonic signal between the first and second ultrasonic transducers defines a first signal path. The second transducer pair is on the measuring tube offset such that the respective transmitter transmits an ultrasonic signal in or against the direction of flow. The receiver receives the ultrasonic signal transmitted by the transmitter. A course of the ultrasonic signal between the third and fourth ultrasonic transducers defines a second signal path.

Claims

1. A ultrasonic flowmeter, comprising a measuring tube; a first ultrasonic transducer pair comprising a first ultrasonic transducer and a second ultrasonic transducer; and a second ultrasonic transducer pair including a third ultrasonic transducer and a fourth ultrasonic transducer, wherein each ultrasonic transducer is designed as an ultrasonic transmitter and/or as an ultrasonic receiver, wherein the first ultrasonic transducer pair is arranged on the measuring tube offset as viewed in a direction of flow such that the respective transmitter transmits an ultrasonic signal in the direction of flow or against the direction of flow during operation, and that the receiver receives the ultrasonic signal transmitted by the transmitter, wherein the course of the ultrasonic signal between the first ultrasonic transducer and the second ultrasonic transducer defines a first signal path, wherein the first signal path define a first measuring plane; wherein the second ultrasonic transducer pair is arranged on the measuring tube offset as viewed in the direction of flow such that the respective transmitter transmits an ultrasonic signal in the direction of flow or against the direction of flow during operation, and that the receiver receives the ultrasonic signal transmitted by the transmitter, wherein the course of the ultrasonic signal between the third ultrasonic transducer and the fourth ultrasonic transducer defines a second signal path, wherein the second signal path defines a second measuring plane; wherein the measuring tube has a measuring tube cross-sectional area and a measuring tube axis; wherein the measuring tube includes a first half of the measuring tube and a second half of the measuring tube; wherein the measuring tube exhibits a change in the shape and/or size of the measuring tube cross-sectional area in the course of the first signal path and the second signal path; wherein the first ultrasonic transducer is arranged on the first half of the measuring tube, and the third ultrasonic transducer is arranged on the second half of the measuring tube; and wherein the first ultrasonic transducer pair and the second ultrasonic transducer pair are arranged on the measuring tube such that the first measuring plane and the second measuring plane are not aligned parallel to one another.

2. The ultrasonic flowmeter according to claim 1, wherein the first ultrasonic transducer pair and the second ultrasonic transducer pair are arranged on the measuring tube such that, in the course of the measuring section between the ultrasonic transducers, the distance of the first measuring plane from the measuring tube axis essentially corresponds to the distance of the second measuring plane from the measuring tube axis.

3. The ultrasonic flowmeter according to claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic transducers are arranged such that the distance between the first measuring plane and the second measuring plane decreases at least in sections in the course of the measuring tube axis.

4. The ultrasonic flowmeter according to claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic transducers are arranged such that the distance between the first measuring plane and the second measuring plane increases at least in sections in the course of the measuring tube axis.

5. The ultrasonic flowmeter according to claim 1, wherein the first signal path has a reflecting surface, and the second signal path has a reflecting surface.

6. The ultrasonic flowmeter according to claim 1, wherein the first signal path is essentially V-shaped and the second signal path is essentially V-shaped.

7. The ultrasonic flowmeter according to claim 1, wherein the first ultrasonic transducer pair is arranged on the first half of the measuring tube, and the second ultrasonic transducer pair is arranged on the second half of the measuring tube.

8. The ultrasonic flowmeter according to claim 1, wherein the measuring tube has a cross-sectional reduction in the course of the first signal path and the second signal path.

9. The ultrasonic flowmeter according to claim 1, wherein the measuring tube has a cross-sectional expansion in the course of the first signal path and the second signal path.

10. The ultrasonic flowmeter according to claim 1, wherein the measuring tube cross-sectional area is essentially round in the region or upstream of the region of the first ultrasonic transducer and the third ultrasonic transducer, and the measuring tube cross-sectional area is essentially oval in the region of the second ultrasonic transducer and the fourth ultrasonic transducer.

11. The ultrasonic flowmeter according to claim 1, wherein the first ultrasonic transducer of the first ultrasonic transducer pair and the third ultrasonic transducer of the second ultrasonic transducer pair are arranged on the circumference of a first measuring tube cross-sectional area, and the second ultrasonic transducer of the first ultrasonic transducer pair and the fourth ultrasonic transducer of the second ultrasonic transducer pair are arranged on the circumference of a second measuring tube cross-sectional area.

12. The ultrasonic flowmeter according to claim 1, wherein the measuring tube axis is formed curved at least in sections.

13. A method of using an ultrasonic flowmeter in a shut-off device, comprising: providing a shut-off device having a flow channel and a blocking device arranged in the flow channel, wherein the blocking device has a blocking body receptacle and a blocking body movable in the blocking body receptacle, wherein the flow cross-section for the medium in the blocking device and thus in the flow channel can be changed by moving the blocking body in the blocking body receptacle, wherein the flow channel has an inlet region upstream of the blocking device as viewed in a direction of flow; providing an ultrasonic flowmeter having a measuring tube, a first ultrasonic transducer pair comprising a first ultrasonic transducer and a second ultrasonic transducer, and a second ultrasonic transducer pair including a third ultrasonic transducer and a fourth ultrasonic transducer, wherein each ultrasonic transducer is designed as an ultrasonic transmitter and/or as an ultrasonic receiver; arranging the first ultrasonic transducer pair on the measuring tube offset as viewed in the direction of flow such that, during operation, the respective transmitter transmits an ultrasonic signal in the direction of flow or against the direction of flow, and that the receiver receives the ultrasonic signal transmitted by the transmitter, wherein the course of the ultrasonic signal between the first ultrasonic transducer and the second ultrasonic transducer defines a first signal path, wherein the first signal path defines a first measuring plane; arranging the second ultrasonic transducer pair on the measuring tube offset as viewed in the direction of flow such that, during operation, the respective transmitter transmits an ultrasonic signal in the direction of flow or against the direction of flow, and that the receiver receives the ultrasonic signal transmitted by the transmitter, wherein the course of the ultrasonic signal defines a second signal path between the third ultrasonic transducer and the fourth ultrasonic transducer, wherein the second signal path defines a second measuring plane; wherein measuring tube of the ultrasonic flowmeter is formed at least as part of the flow channel; wherein the measuring tube has a measuring tube cross-sectional area and a measuring tube axis; wherein the measuring tube includes a first half of the measuring tube and a second half of the measuring tube; wherein the measuring tube exhibits a change in the shape and/or size of the measuring tube cross-sectional area in the course of the first signal path and the second signal path; wherein the first ultrasonic transducer is arranged on the first half of the measuring tube and that the third ultrasonic transducer is arranged on the second half of the measuring tube; and wherein the first ultrasonic transducer pair and the second ultrasonic transducer pair are arranged on the measuring tube such that the first measuring plane and the second measuring plane are not aligned parallel to one another.

14. The method according to claim 13, further comprising arranging the ultrasonic transducer such that the distance between the first measuring plane and the second measuring plane changes at least in sections in the course of the measuring tube axis.

15. A shut-off device, comprising: an ultrasonic flowmeter; a flow channel; and a blocking device arranged in the flow channel, wherein the blocking device has a blocking body receptacle and a blocking body movable in the blocking body receptacle, wherein the flow cross-section for the medium in the blocking device and thus in the flow channel can be changed by moving the blocking body in the blocking body receptacle, wherein the flow channel has an inlet region upstream of the blocking device as viewed in a direction of flow; wherein the ultrasonic flowmeter has a measuring tube, a first ultrasonic transducer pair comprising a first ultrasonic transducer and a second ultrasonic transducer, and a second ultrasonic transducer pair including a third ultrasonic transducer and a fourth ultrasonic transducer, wherein each ultrasonic transducer is designed as an ultrasonic transmitter and/or as an ultrasonic receiver; wherein the first ultrasonic transducer pair is arranged on the measuring tube offset as viewed in the direction of flow such that, during operation, the respective transmitter transmits an ultrasonic signal in the direction of flow or against the direction of flow, and that the receiver receives the ultrasonic signal transmitted by the transmitter, wherein the course of the ultrasonic signal between the first ultrasonic transducer and the second ultrasonic transducer defines a first signal path, wherein the first signal path defines a first measuring plane; wherein the second ultrasonic transducers pair is arranged on the measuring tube offset as viewed in the direction of flow such that, during operation, the respective transmitter transmits an ultrasonic signal in the direction of flow or against the direction of flow, and that the receiver receives the ultrasonic signal transmitted by the transmitter, wherein the course of the ultrasonic signal defines a second signal path between the third ultrasonic transducer and the fourth ultrasonic transducer, wherein the second signal path defines a second measuring plane; wherein the measuring tube of the ultrasonic flowmeter is formed at least as part of the flow channel; wherein the measuring tube has a measuring tube cross-sectional area and a measuring tube axis; wherein the measuring tube includes a first half of the measuring tube and a second half of the measuring tube; wherein the measuring tube exhibits a change in the shape and/or size of the measuring tube cross-sectional area in the course of the first signal path and the second signal path; wherein the first ultrasonic transducer is arranged on the first half of the measuring tube, and the third ultrasonic transducer is arranged on the second half of the measuring tube; and wherein the first ultrasonic transducer pair and the second ultrasonic transducer pair are arranged on the measuring tube such that the first measuring plane and the second measuring plane are not aligned parallel to one another.

16. The shut-off device according to claim 15, wherein the ultrasonic flowmeter is designed such that the distance between the first measuring plane and the second measuring plane changes at least in sections in the course of the measuring tube axis.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0065] In detail, there are now a multitude of possibilities for designing and further developing the ultrasonic flowmeter according to the invention, the use according to the invention and the shut-off device according to the invention. For this, reference is made to the following description of preferred embodiments in connection with the drawings.

[0066] FIG. 1 illustrates a first arrangement of a first ultrasonic transducer pair and a second ultrasonic transducer pair according to the invention.

[0067] FIG. 2 illustrates a first embodiment of an ultrasonic flowmeter, an application and a shut-off device according to invention.

[0068] FIG. 3 illustrates the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 in side view.

[0069] FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of an enlarged view of the signal path.

[0070] FIG. 5 illustrates a measuring tube or a flow channel in side view.

[0071] FIG. 6 illustrates the course of the measuring tube cross-sectional area of the measuring tube or flow channel shown in FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0072] FIG. 1 shows a first arrangement of a first ultrasonic transducer pair 3, 4 with a first ultrasonic transducer 3 and a second ultrasonic transducer 4 and a second ultrasonic transducer pair 5, 6 with a third ultrasonic transducer 5 and a fourth ultrasonic transducer 6, wherein each ultrasonic transducer 3, 4, 5, 6 is designed as an ultrasonic transmitter and as an ultrasonic receiver. The arrangement shown is suitable for use in an ultrasonic flowmeter 1 according to the invention.

[0073] A V-shaped first signal path 7 is formed between the first ultrasonic transducer 3 and the second ultrasonic transducer 4, wherein the first signal path 7 defines a first measuring plane 19. In addition, the first signal path 7 runs over a reflection element with a reflecting surface 9.

[0074] The second V-shaped signal path 8 is formed between the third ultrasonic transducer 5 and the fourth ultrasonic transducer 6, which defines a second measuring plane 20. The second signal path 8 also runs over a reflection element with a reflecting surface 10.

[0075] The measuring planes 19, 20 spanned by the signal paths 7 and 8 are aligned such that they are not parallel to each other. In the embodiment shown, the distance of the measuring planes 19, 20 decreases in the course of the measuring distance between the ultrasonic transducers 3 and 4 or 5 and 6.

[0076] FIG. 2 shows the application of the arrangement of the first ultrasonic transducer pair 3, 4 and the second ultrasonic transducer pair 5, 6 shown in FIG. 1 in an ultrasonic flowmeter 1 as well as the use of the ultrasonic flowmeter 1 in a shut-off device 11.

[0077] The shut-off device 11 has a flow channel 12 and a blocking device 13 arranged in the flow channel 12, wherein the blocking device 13 has a blocking body receptacle and a blocking body which is movable in the blocking body receptacle and which is not shown here, wherein the flow cross-section for the medium in the blocking device 13 and thus in the flow channel 12 can be changed by moving the blocking body in the blocking body receptacle, wherein the flow channel 12 has an inlet region 15 upstream of the blocking device 13, viewed in the direction of flow.

[0078] In the shut-off device 11 shown, the flow channel 12, in detail the inlet region 15, is designed as a measuring tube 2 of the ultrasonic flowmeter 1. The first ultrasonic transducer pair 3, 4 and the second ultrasonic transducer pair 5, 6 are mounted in the inlet region 15 on the flow channel 12 according to the arrangement described in FIG. 1.

[0079] In addition, the measuring tube 2 has a measuring tube cross-section 17 which changes both in shape and size in the course of the measuring section between the ultrasonic transducer pairs 3, 4, 5, 6. In detail, the measuring tube cross-section 17 is essentially round, i.e. circular, in the area in front of the first ultrasonic transducer 3 and the third ultrasonic transducer 5. In the course of the measuring section the measuring tube cross-section 17 changes continuously. In the area of the second ultrasonic transducer 4 and the fourth ultrasonic transducer 6, the measuring tube cross-section 17 is essentially oval, whereby the size of the measuring tube cross-sectional area 17 decreases in the course of the measuring section. In detail, the measuring tube cross-section 17 has two circular arcs, the radii of which increase at different rates in the course of the measuring section (see FIG. 6), so that overall there is a flattening of the measuring tube cross-section and a widening of the measuring tube cross-sectional area 17.

[0080] The measuring tube axis 18 and the measuring tube 2 are bent in the illustrated embodiment in the region of the measuring section.

[0081] The flow channel 12 and the measuring tube 2 are designed such that the separation of vortices of the medium is minimized during operation.

[0082] In addition, the ultrasonic flowmeter 1 shown has a control and evaluation unit 16 which determines the flow of a flowing medium based on at least the two ultrasonic signals.

[0083] FIG. 3 shows the arrangement shown in FIG. 2 in side view. This illustration clearly shows that the distance between the measuring planes 19 and 20, which are spanned by signal paths 7 and 8, decreases as the measuring section progresses.

[0084] FIG. 4 shows a further course of the first signal path 7 and the second signal path 8 or the first measuring plane 19 and the second measuring plane 20. The illustration shows that the measuring planes 19, 20, which are spanned by both pairs of ultrasonic transducers, run towards each other in the course of the measuring section on the one hand and are arranged at the same distance from the measuring tube axis 18 on the other hand. In the illustration, R1 denotes the radius of the measuring tube cross-section 17 in the area in front of the first ultrasonic transducer 3 and the third ultrasonic transducer 5 and R2 denotes the radius of the measuring tube cross-section 17, or half the height of the measuring tube cross-section 17 in the case of an oval shape, in the area just before the second ultrasonic transducer 4 and the fourth ultrasonic transducer 6.

[0085] FIG. 5 shows an example of the design of a measuring tube 2 or a flow channel 12 upstream of the blocking device 13, wherein different sections a to g are marked for comparison with FIG. 6. The ultrasonic transducers 3 and 5 are arranged approximately in the section between b and c during operation, the ultrasonic transducers 4 and 6 are arranged approximately in the section between e and f during operation.

[0086] FIG. 6 now shows the course of the measuring tube cross-section or the cross-section of the flow channel between the areas a to f. The illustration shows that the measuring tube cross-section 17 is initially circular in shape and is continuously oval in the course of the measuring section or flow channel. For this, the measuring tube cross-section has a first upper circular arc 21 and a second lower circular arc 22, the radii of which become continuously larger in the course of the measuring section, wherein the radius of the first circular arc 21 becomes larger faster than the radius of the second circular arc 22. The two circular arcs 21 and 22 are continuously connected to each other by means of transition sections. Due to the flattening of the measuring tube cross-section, the latter has a height 23 and a width 24 in the course of the measuring section, wherein the height 23 in the embodiment shown is defined by the distance between the vertices of the first circular arc 21 and the second circular arc and wherein the width 24 of the measuring tube cross-section 17 is defined by the largest distance of the transition sections between the first circular arc 21 and the second circular arc 22. This design has the advantage that a detachment of vortices in the area of the measuring section can be reduced, whereby in combination with the arrangement of the ultrasonic transducers 3, 4, 5, 6 according to the invention, the determination of the velocity of the medium can be improved.

[0087] As a result, all figures show embodiments of the invention, wherein the flow can be determined particularly reliably even in demanding situations in which the flow profile is strongly disturbed due to a variation in the measuring tube, in particular by the arrangement of the ultrasonic transducer pairs according to the invention.