FLUID METER

Abstract

A fluid flow meter with configuration of flow generation and flow sensor is intended for measuring a flow rate of working fluid (a gas or a liquid) passing through an inner cavity. The meter is a compact measuring apparatus of a small size, resistant to disturbances and distortions in the structure of the measured fluid flow. The fluid flow meter with configuration of flow generation and flow sensor is comprised of the following components: a housing (1) having an inner chamber (2) and a depression (3) configured to generate the flow; a flow sensor (4) arranged inside the housing (1) of the gas meter for measuring the flow velocity of the fluid; an adapter (5) to adjust different diameters of flow sensors and an outlet of the meter; a flow preparation device (6) intended for dissipating and stabilizing the flow of the fluid; an inlet (7) of the flow of the measured fluid; an outlet (8) for fluid flow out of the meter; an electronics unit (9); a coarse filter (10); a shut-off valve (11); a fluid leak detection sensor (12).

Claims

1. A fluid flow meter with configuration of flow generation and flow sensor for measuring flow velocity and flow rate of a fluid comprises the following components: a housing (1) having an inner chamber (2) and a depression (3) configured for flow generation; a flow sensor (4) located inside the housing (1) and designed for measuring the flow velocity of the fluid; an adapter (5) for adjusting various diameters of flow sensors and the meter outlet; a flow preparation device (6) designed to dissipate and stabilize the flow of the fluid; an inlet (7) of the measured fluid flow; an outlet (8) for fluid flow out of the meter; an electronics unit (9); a coarse filter (10); a shut-off valve (11); a fluid leak detection sensor (12).

2. The fluid flow meter of claim 1 is characterized by the housing (1) is of cylindrical form wherein one of the bases is smoothly rounded and comprising an inner chambera space (cavity) inside the housing.

3. The inner chamber (2) is characterized by a dome-shaped depression (3) arranged in the central portion of the rounded base such that the working fluid passing through the chamber (2) flows around the depression (3), repeating its shape (configuration), and further flows into the central portion of the chamber (2) towards the flow sensor (4) inlet. The fluid flow being formed is conveyed through the inner cavity of the flow sensor (4) and flows out of the meter through the outlet.

4. The flow sensor (4) of claim 1 is a measuring element (a sensor, a flow tube) of volume flow or flow velocity of any operating principle which, once the working fluid passes through its inner cavity, forms a signal proportional to the flow velocity. The flow sensor is characterized by its location in the center along the axis of the cylindrical chamber (2) of the housing (1) so that the formed uniform, stable flow is directed to the inlet, passes through its inner part, flow out of its outlet (8). Any known measuring devices of volume flow and flow velocity of volumetric or mass operating principle (turbine, rotary, ultrasonic anemometer etc.) with dimensions corresponding to the dimensions of the inner chamber (2) of the meter housing (1) may be used as the flow sensor.

5. The meter housing (1) is characterized by the adapter (5) located in the chamber (2) and intended for adjusting various meters diameters and the meter outlet. The adapter (5) is arranged inside the chamber (2) in the base center of the cylindrical housing (1) opposite to the rounded base with a depression (3).

6. The flow preparation device (6) is a grid arranged at the base of the cylindrical part of the chamber (2) such that the fluid to be measured through the inlet (7) passes through the flow preparation device (6) and falls into the chamber (2) of the meter housing (1). The flow preparation device (6) dissipates the total flow of the fluid to be measured into the plurality of separate flows.

7. The meter housing (1) is characterized by the fluid leak detection sensor (12) arranged on the outer surface of the sensor and intended to provide detection of the fluid leakage from the meter, actuation of the shut-off valve (11) and stopping the working fluid supply to the meter.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] FIGS. 1-4 illustrate the invention which overcomes disadvantages of the prior art inventionsa compact fluid flow meter with configuration of flow generating and flow sensor.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0030] FIGS. 1-4 illustrate: [0031] schematic three-dimensional view of the meter featuring its electronics unit, leak detection sensor, inlets and outlets (FIG. 1a), and the direction of fluid flow in the meter; [0032] schematic sectional view of the meter performed in accordance with the present invention (FIG. 1b); [0033] schematic view (top view) of a flow preparation device designed to dissipate and stabilize the flow of the fluid (grid, divider) (FIG. 2), [0034] schematic sectional view of the adapter (FIG. 3); [0035] schematic view of the direction of rotation of the meter's moving parts (housing, electronics unit) (FIG. 4).

TABLE-US-00001 FIG. 1a-1b 1 housing 2 inner chamber 3 depression 4 flow sensor 5 adapter 6 flow preparation device 7 main inlet 8 outlet 9 electronics unit 10 coarse filter 11 shut-off valve 12 fluid leak detection sensor

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0036] A fluid flow meter with configuration of flow generation and flow sensor for measuring flow velocity and flow rate of a fluid is a device comprising the following components (FIGS. 1a-1b): [0037] a cylindrical housing (1) having an inner chamber (2) and a depression (3) configured for flow generation; [0038] a flow sensor (4) with a funnel-shaped inlet located inside the central part of the housing (1) of the gas meter and designed for measuring the flow velocity of the fluid; [0039] an adapter (5) for adjusting various diameters of flow sensors and the meter outlet; [0040] a flow preparation device (6) designed to dissipate and stabilize the flow of the fluid; [0041] an inlet (7) of the measured fluid flow; [0042] an outlet (8) for fluid flow out of the meter; [0043] an electronics unit (9); [0044] a coarse filter (10); [0045] a shut-off valve (11); [0046] a fluid leak detection sensor (12).

[0047] FIG. 1 illustrates, as an example of the invention, a stationary meter with configuration of flow generation and flow sensor for measuring the flow velocity and the flow rate of the working fluid. The invention relates to flow meters intended for measuring the fluid flow with measurement based on volumetric principles. The invention relates to meters for not only domestic application (e.g., G4/G6 nominal sizes), but also for measuring high flow rates, i.e., for industrial meters of G10, G16, G25, G40 nominal sizes etc. (where, for example, nominal size G25 denotes a flow rate up to 48 m.sup.3/h). Besides, the invention relates to meters with a remote control of their functionality which include electronic remote control systems requiring the application of pressure and temperature sensors, as well as additional volume correctors to compensate for the errors of approximation arising from temperature and pressure fluctuations.

[0048] The operating principle of the meter is as follows: [0049] fluid to be measured enters the inlet (7), passes through the coarse filter (10), the flow preparation device (6) and is dissipated into a plurality of flows; [0050] these flows are distributed throughout the cavity of the chamber (2), then pass along its central axis from one base to another within the space formed by the inner surface of the housing walls (1) and the outer surface of the flow sensor (4), flow around the inner depression (3) repeating its shape and are formed at the inlet of the flow sensor (4) as a stable uniform flow providing the most favorable conditions for highly accurate measurement of its velocity; the flow converges to the funnel-shaped inlet of the flow sensor (4), increases the flow velocity and, thereby, reduces the flow sensor (4) susceptibility to disturbances and distortions of the flow at the inlet of the meter; [0051] the flow further passes through the inner cavity of the flow sensor (4) and flows out of the meter through the outlet (8); [0052] the flow sensor (4) forms a signal proportional to the flow rate during the fluid flow passing through its inner cavity; [0053] the electronics unit (9) of the meter receives this signal, processes and forms a signal proportional to the volumetric flow of the working fluid.

[0054] The direction of the fluid flow movement in the meter is shown in FIGS. 1a and 1b.

[0055] FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic view (top view) of a flow preparation device. The flow preparation device (6) is a grid arranged at the bottom of the cylindrical part of the chamber (2) such that the fluid to be measured through the inlet (7) passes through the flow preparation device (6) and falls into the chamber (2) of the meter housing (1). The grid of the flow preparation device is a set of at least 21 blades with such dimensions to not overlap more than 23% of the total cross sectional area of the chamber (2). The flow preparation device (6) performs flow dissipation of the fluid to be measured providing conditions for creating a uniform and steady flow, and thus substantially reduces the effects caused by the high energy of the turbulent flow at the inlet of the flow sensor (4). The meters based on volumetric principles are prone to errors caused by the gas flow distortion in the pipeline due to various destabilizing factors known as local resistance (faucets, valves, switches, pipe bends, constrictions and expansions of the pipeline, the diameter changes, temperature and pressure gauges taps etc.). Application of the flow preparation device (6) together with the described chamber configuration (2) provides stabilization of the flow, leveling its velocity profile, and thus eliminates the necessity to use any external devices to create the undisturbed gas flow (adapters) at any, even inconsiderable, flow distortion and disturbance of the fluid to be measured at the meter inlet.

[0056] The flow sensor (4) is a measuring element (a sensor, a flow tube) of volume flow or flow velocity of any operating principle. The sensor is located in a cylindrical chamber (2) of the meter housing (1) so that the fluid to be measured passes from the inlet (7) through the flow preparation device (6), is further dissipated into a plurality of flows, passes through the chamber (2), flows around the depression (3), combines in the center of the chamber (2) into a uniform stable flow which passes through the flow sensor (4) and exits the meter through the outlet (8). Any known measuring devices of volume flow and flow velocity of volumetric or mass operating principle (turbine, rotary, ultrasonic anemometer etc.) with dimensions corresponding to the dimensions of the inner chamber (2) of the meter housing (1) may be used as the flow sensor. Therefore there is no need to further describe this flow sensor (4). In any case, the flow sensor (4) detects the data directly or indirectly indicating the amount of fluid flowing through the pipe and through the meter. These data are transmitted by the flow sensor (4) to the electronics unit (9) of the meter for further processing and recording (storing).

[0057] The distinguishing feature of the meter is the presence of the adapter (5) arranged in the inner lower part of the housing (after the flow sensor outlet) intended for adjusting the diameter of the flow sensor (4) and the meter outlet. The adapter allows to arrange in the meter flow sensors of different diameters depending on the desired range of measured flow. A schematic sectional view of the adapter is shown in FIG. 3.

[0058] The inlet (7) of the fluid flow is an orifice, a channel directing the fluid flow into the chamber (2) of the meter housing (1).

[0059] The output channel (8) is intended to output the fluid flow exiting the chamber (2) of the meter housing (1).

[0060] The electronics unit (9) is intended to detect the data transmitted from the flow sensor (4), processing, recording (storing) of these data and their processing results and electronic control. The type of the electronics unit (9) may vary depending on the implementation requirements and causes no significant influence on the present invention. The electronics unit (9) is connected to the flow sensor (4) by means of a physical data link (the term physical data link is herein referred to a line of one or several solid connectors (such as plugs, wires) or a wireless communication line (radio, Bluetooth etc.). FIG. 1a shows an embodiment in which the electronics unit (9) is arranged on the outer side of the meter housing (1).

[0061] The coarse filter (10) is arranged at the meter inlet and is intended to purify the fluid of impurities that can clog or damage the flow sensor (4) or the flow preparation device (6).

[0062] The shut-off valve (11) is arranged at the inlet (7) and provides the overlap (cut-off) of the fluid flow on a signal received from the electronics unit (9).

[0063] The fluid leak detection sensor (12) is intended to provide detection of the fluid leakage from the meter, actuation of the shut-off valve (11) and stopping the working fluid supply to the meter. This sensor is essential for operating safety of combustible media meters the leakage of which can lead to an accident and serious consequences.

[0064] The housing (1) consists of two parts (FIG. 4): [0065] A fixed part (base), which contains the inlet (7), the outlet (8), the flow preparation device (6), the coarse filter (10), the shut-off valve (11), the adapter (5), the flow sensor (4); [0066] the moving part is of cylindrical form (dome) with a rounding in one of the bases which can be rotated about its central axis. The electronics unit (9) whose front part can also be rotated about its central axis can be fixed on the outer moving part of the housing (1).

[0067] FIG. 4 shows with arrows the direction of rotation of the moving parts of the housing and the electronics unit.

[0068] The invention has the following advantages: [0069] the presence of a fairing (3) in the central part of one of the bases of the inner chamber (2) of the counter, due to a certain geometrical shape (bell shape), reduces and forms a flow in the central part of the chamber (2) at the inlet of the flow sensor (4); as well as an increase in the speed of its movement; [0070] the presence of a transfer device (5) allows to use as a flow sensor (4) a volumetric flow meter or a flow rate of any principle of operation from any manufacturer with different connecting dimensions; [0071] the use of flow sensors (4) that implement various measuring principles (methods) allows the selection of such sensor sizes to provide a larger cross-sectional area of the inner chamber (2) [0072] a large cross-sectional area of the inner chamber (2) provides insignificant losses of medium pressure in the counter; [0073] since the inner chamber (2) of the counter has a cross-sectional area that is many times (not less than 10 times) larger than the cross-sectional area of the inlet channel (7) of the counter and the inlet of the flow sensor (4), the flow of the medium to be measured, hole in the chamber, significantly reduces the speed of movement, becomes more uniform and stable. Further, by flowing through the flow sensor (whose diameter is several times smaller than the diameter of the chamber), the flow increases the speed of movement, which creates more favorable conditions for high-precision measurements of the flow velocity and additionally reduces the influence of external disturbing factors;

[0074] The application of these technical solutions significantly expands the list of flow sensors that can be used in the meter, provides higher stability and uniformity of flow in the measuring section, and, in practice, a complete insensitivity of the counter to the disturbances in the flow in the pipe caused by local resistance like reducer, Gate valve, etc. These solutions serve as a decoupling of the flow conditions before the flow sensor from the flow conditions at the counter input. As a result, the accuracy of measuring the flow rate of the medium by the meter is increased, resistance to disturbances is provided, the possibility of using short straight sections of the measuring pipeline is provided.