Abstrict The flow meter is free from an external fluid flow noise. The detector
has measuring pipe 1 inlet 2 and outlet 3 both axially lined up
with base axis X. Pipe 1 is a straight one with opposite upstream
and downstream closed ends, provided in each of which ends is echo
sounder 4a, 4b capable of both transmitting and receiving the ultrasound.
Inlet 2 is connected with a side of the upstream end via bent 2a.
Outlet 3 is connected with another side of the downstream end via
another bent 3a, which another side is radially opposite to the
former side part in pipe 1 so that pipe 1 is tilted at a certain
angle from base axis X which is axially lined up with axes of both
inlet 2 and outlet 3; and, a center of base axis X coincides with
a center of a flow path of a measured fluid inside pipe 1. (See
FIG. 1)
Claims What is claimed is:
1. A detector for an ultrasonic flow meter, characterized in that:
(a) said detector is provided with a measuring pipe, an inlet pipe
and an outlet pipe which are axially lined up with the same horizontal
base axis, said measuring pipe being constructed of a straight pipe
with opposite upstream and downstream closed end portions, said
closed end portions being flat plates and perpendicular to a direction
of flow of a measured fluid in said measuring pipe, provided in
each of which closed end portions is an echo sounder capable of
both transmitting and receiving the ultrasound;
(b) said inlet pipe is connected with a side part of said upstream
closed end portion of said measuring pipe through a bent pipe portion,
and said outlet pipe is connected with another side part of said
downstream closed end portion of said measuring pipe through another
bent pipe portion, said another side part of said downstream closed
end portion being radially opposite to said side part of said upstream
closed end portion in said measuring pipe so that said measuring
pipe is tilted at a certain angle from said horizontal base axis
which is axially lined up with axes of both said inlet and said
outlet pipe; and
(c) a center of said horizontal base axis is coincident with an
axial center (P.sub.0) of a length of a flow path of said measured
fluid inside said measuring pipe, and said detector has a point
symmetry with respect to said axial center (P.sub.0) of said measuring
pipe.
2. The detector for the ultrasonic flow meter, as set forth in
claim 1 wherein:
said measuring pipe is tilted from said horizontal base axis in
a vertical plane.
3. The detector for the ultrasonic flow meter, as set forth in
claim 1 wherein:
said measuring pipe is tilted from said horizontal base axis in
a horizontal plane.
4. A detector for an ultrasonic flow meter, characterized in that:
(a) said detector is provided with a measuring pipe, an inlet pipe
and an outlet pipe which are axially lined up with the same horizontal
base axis, said measuring pipe being constructed of a straight pipe
with opposite upstream and downstream closed end portions, said
closed end portions being flat plates and perpendicular to a direction
of flow of a measured fluid in said measuring pipe, provided in
each of which closed end portions is an echo sounder capable of
both transmitting and receiving the ultrasound;
(b) said inlet pipe is connected with a side part of said upstream
closed end portion of said measuring pipe through a bent pipe portion,
and said outlet pipe is connected with another side part of said
downstream closed end portion of said measuring pipe through another
bent pipe portion, said another side part of said downstream closed
end portion being radially opposite to said side part of said upstream
closed end portion in said measuring pipe so that said measuring
pipe is tilted at a certain angle from said horizontal base axis
which is axially lined up with axes of both said inlet and said
outlet pipe; and
(c) a center of said horizontal base axis is coincident with a
center of a length of a flow path of said measured fluid inside
said measuring pipe, wherein:
said measuring pipe is tilted from said horizontal base axis at
an angle of from 20 to 50 degrees.
5. A detector for an ultrasonic flow meter, characterized in that:
(a) said detector is provided with a measuring pipe, an inlet pipe
and an outlet pipe which are axially lined up with the same horizontal
base axis, said measuring pipe being constructed of a straight pipe
with opposite upstream and downstream closed end portions, said
closed end portions being flat plates and perpendicular to a direction
of flow of a measured fluid in said measuring pipe, provided in
each of which closed end portions is an echo sounder capable of
both transmitting and receiving the ultrasound;
(b) said inlet pipe is connected with a side part of said upstream
closed end portion of said measuring pipe through a bent pipe portion,
and said outlet pipe is connected with another side part of said
downstream closed end portion of said measuring pipe through another
bent pipe portion, said another side part of said downstream closed
end portion being radially opposite to said side part of said upstream
closed end portion in said measuring pipe so that said measuring
pipe is tilted at a certain angle from said horizontal base axis
which is axially lined up with axes of both said inlet and said
outlet pipe; and
(c) a center of said horizontal base axis is coincident with a
center of a length of a flow path of said measured fluid inside
said measuring pipe, wherein each said echo sounder at each of said
closed end portions is positioned by each said flat plate to transmit
the ultrasound in the direction of flow of said measured fluid in
said measuring pipe.
Description BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a detector for an apparatus for
determining fluid flow rate by means of ultrasonic waves and also
relates to a flow meter provided with such detector.
2. Description of the Prior Art
When ultrasonic waves, i.e., ultrasound propagates in a flowing
fluid, its propagation velocity is equal to the vector sum of Vo
and U (where: Vo is a propagation velocity of the ultrasound in
a measured fluid when a flow velocity of the fluid is zero; and
U is the fluid flow velocity).
Consequently, it is possible to determine the fluid flow velocity
on the basis of a difference between the propagation velocity of
the ultrasound propagating downstream and that of the ultrasound
propagating upstream.
Heretofore, a so-called propagation-velocity difference type of
ultrasonic flow meter has been widely used in practice, in which
type of ultrasonic flow meter there is provided in accordance with
the above-mentioned principle, a device, which is a so-called "echo
sounder" capable of both transmitting and receiving the ultrasound,
disposed in each of a pair of positions A, B. In such a meter, a
propagation time t1 taken for the ultrasound to propagate from the
position A to the position B is measured together with a time t2
taken in propagation from the position B to the position A in the
measured fluid, which propagation times t1 t2 of the ultrasound
thus measured in its opposite propagation paths or courses make
it possible to determine a difference in propagation velocity of
the ultrasound in the above opposite courses, which makes it possible
to determine flow rate of the measured fluid passing through a pipe
and the like.
The above-mentioned conventional flow meters are classified into
two types, i.e., an oblique measurement type and a parallel measurement
type. In the former, as shown in FIG. 3 the propagation course
of the ultrasound is tilted from a flow direction of the measured
fluid, while in the latter the propagation course of the ultrasound
is substantially parallel to the flow direction of the fluid, as
shown in FIG. 4.
The oblique measurement type of the flow meter may use a straight
measuring pipe, and, therefore be substantially free from pressure
loss and characterized by its simplicity in construction. In this
type of the flow meter, however, when the measuring pipe is small
in diameter, the propagation course of the ultrasound therein is
also shortened in length, which impairs a measuring accuracy of
the ultrasound propagation time, and, therefore the accuracy in
determination of the fluid flow rate is also impaired. Consequently,
the oblique measurement type of the flow meter is hard to use in
measuring flow rate of a small amount of the measured fluid.
On the other hand, although the parallel measurement type of flow
meter may use a small-diameter measuring pipe which the oblique
measurement type cannot use, the parallel measurement type suffers
from the following problems, and, therefore finds its way only in
an application field of small-diameter measuring pipes, in which
field the oblique measurement type is hard to use.
The above-mentioned problems inherent in the parallel measurement
type of the flow meter are as follows:
First, as is clear from FIG. 4 in the parallel measurement type
of the flow meter, since a flow distance of the measured fluid flowing
inside the measuring pipe (which forms a propagation course or path
of the ultrasound) depends on its radial position in cross-section
of the pipe, the flow velocity of the fluid inside the measuring
pipe is faster in a lower side of the pipe than in an upper side
of the same, so that flow rate of the fluid depends on its radial
position in cross-section of the pipe.
Namely, the propagation time taken for the ultrasound to propagate
in the fluid inside the measuring pipe depends on the radial position
in a plane perpendicular to the fluid flow direction in the pipe.
Consequently, as for wave forms of the ultrasound shown in FIG.
5 a received one is longer in duration than a transmitted one,
and, therefore unclear in peak output.
As is clear from FIG. 6 illustrating examples of the distributions
of flow velocities of the fluid in a bent measuring pipe with a
bent angle of 90 degrees, the distributions (a, b, c) of flow velocities
vary in axial position inside the measuring pipe and also depend
on flow rate of the measured fluid. Consequently, it is difficult
to precisely determine a mean propagation time of the ultrasound
inside the measuring pipe on the basis on the above-mentioned received
ultrasound assuming the longer-duration wave form, which makes it
difficult to precisely determine flow rate of the fluid passing
through the measuring pipe.
As for an industrial flow meter, in general, the flow meter is
axially inserted in a pipeline and fixedly mounted therein through
its mounting flanges which comprise an upstream one and a downstream
one.
Consequently, it is preferable that a center axis of the upstream
mounting flange is lined up with that of the downstream one. On
the other hand, the parallel measurement type of flow meter has
a construction such as shown in FIG. 7.
In this construction of flow meter, as is clear from FIG. 7 a
center axis of a measuring pipe is radially offset from that of
the pipeline to a large extent, which requires a considerably large
space for mounting the measuring pipe in the pipeline together with
its mounting flanges, and, therefore considerably restricts the
pipeline in its design freedom.
In addition, since the entire length (i.e., a length between the
upstream flange and the downstream flange) of the parallel measurement
type of flow meter represents the sum of an axial length of the
measuring pipe and that of each of the flanges with their neck portions,
this type of flow meter is considerably bulky and heavy.
In this respect, the parallel measurement type of flow meter is
decisively inferior to the other (i.e., the oblique measurement
type of flow meter) in industrial use, and, therefore used only
in an application field of small-diameter pipes where the oblique
measurement type of flow meter is hard to use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide an ultrasonic
flow meter, which solves the above problems inherent in the conventional
parallel measurement type of flow meter and is decisively superior
to the oblique measurement type of flow meter.
The above object of the present invention is accomplished by providing:
A detector for an ultrasonic flow meter, characterized in that:
(a) the detector is provided with a measuring pipe, an inlet pipe
and an outlet pipe which are axially lined up with the same horizontal
base axis, the measuring pipe being constructed of a straight pipe
with opposite upstream and downstream closed end portions, said
closed end portions are flat plates and perpendicular to the direction
of flow of a measured fluid in said measuring pipe, provided in
each of which closed end portions is an echo sounder capable of
both transmitting and receiving the ultrasound;
(b) the inlet pipe is connected with a side part of the upstream
closed end portion of the measuring pipe through a bent pipe portion,
the outlet pipe is connected with another side part of the downstream
closed end portion of the measuring pipe through another bent pipe
portion, the another side part of the downstream closed end portion
being radially opposite to the side part of the upstream closed
end portion in the measuring pipe so that the measuring pipe is
tilted at a certain angle from the horizontal base axis which is
axially lined up with axes of both the inlet and the outlet pipe;
and
(c) a center of the horizontal base axis is coincident with that
of a length of said flow path of a measured fluid inside the measuring
pipe.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the detector for the
ultrasonic flow meter of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of waveforms of the ultrasound, illustrating
the relationship between the transmitted one and the received one
of the ultrasound on a time base in the detector of the present
invention;
FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the conventional oblique
measurement type of flow meter;
FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the conventional parallel
measurement type of flow meter;
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of waveforms of the ultrasound, illustrating
the relationship between the transmitted one and the received one
of the ultrasound on a time base in the conventional parallel measurement
type of flow meter;
FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of the bent pipe portion
of the measuring pipe, illustrating the distribution of flow velocities
of the measured fluid therein; and
FIG. 7 is a partially sectional view of the conventional parallel
measurement type of flow meter.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Hereinbelow, the present invention will be described in detail
with reference to the accompanying drawings, particularly to FIGS.
1 to 2.
A detector for an ultrasonic flow meter of the present invention
is provided with a measuring pipe 1 an inlet pipe 2 and an outlet
pipe 3. The measuring pipe 1 is constructed of a straight pipe with
opposite upstream and downstream closed end portions 1a, 1b. As
shown in FIG. 1 these closed end portions are flat plates and are
perpendicular to the direction of flow of a measured fluid in the
measuring pipe. Provided in each of the closed end portions is an
echo sounder 4a, 4b which is capable of both transmitting and receiving
the ultrasound.
The inlet pipe 2 and the outlet pipe 3 are axially lined up with
the same horizontal base axis X.
Each of the echo sounders 4a, 4b is controlled by a control circuit
5 of the flow meter so as to be switched from its transmitting operation
of the ultrasound to its receiving operation of the same. More specifically,
when one of the echo sounder 4a, 4b transmits the ultrasound in
a measured fluid, the other receives the thus transmitted one, so
that a propagation time taken for the ultrasound to propagate from
a position A to a position B in the measured fluid is determined
together with a propagation time taken for the ultrasound to propagate
from the position B to the position A with the use of a pair of
the echo sounders 4a, 4b.
The control circuit 5 is provided with a change-over switch circuit
for switching the echo sounder 4a, 4b from its transmitting operation
to its receiving operation or vice versa and an arithmetic circuit
for calculating flow rate of the measured fluid based on a difference
in propagation time of the ultrasound propagating in the fluid.
The thus calculated flow rate of the measured fluid is displayed
on an indicator.
The measuring pipe 1 inlet pipe 2 and the outlet pipe 3 are connected
with each other as follows
(i) The measuring pipe 1 is tilted from the horizontal base axis
X at an angle of from 20 to 50 degrees.
Namely, a side part (i.e., in a lower side of the measuring pipe
1 as viewed in FIG. 1) of the upstream closed end portion of the
pipe 1 is connected with a bent pipe portion 2a of the inlet pipe
2. On the other and, the outlet pipe 3 is connected with another
side part (i.e., in an upper side of the measuring pipe 1 as viewed
in FIG. 1) of the downstream closed end portion of the pipe 1 through
its bent pipe portion 3a.
Incidentally, although each of the bent pipe portions 2a, 3a shown
in the drawings is a curved one, it may be an angled one.
(ii) The inlet pipe 2 and the outlet pipe 3 are point-symmetrical
with respect to an axial center Po of the measuring pipe 1. In addition,
an axial center line (i.e., horizontal base axis X, which passes
through a center P1 of a mounting flange of the inlet pipe 2) passes
through both the axial center Po of the measuring pipe 1 and a center
P2 of a mounting flange of the outlet pipe 3.
In other words, the inlet pipe 2 measuring pipe 1 and the outlet
pipe 3 have their longitudinal axes lie in the same (vertical or
horizontal) plane. Both the inlet pipe 2 and the outlet pipe 3 have
their longitudinal axes lined up with the same horizontal base axis
X. In summary, the detector of the present invention for the ultrasonic
flow meter is of a point-symmetrical type with respect to the axial
center Po of the measuring pipe 1.
Because of the point symmetrical nature of the detector, it will
be appreciated that the lengths of various flow paths in the detector
are equal. For example, a length La of an upper side flow path (Fa)
between points (Pa) and (Pa'), is equal to a length Lb of a lower
side flow path (Fb) between points (Pb) and (Pb'). Thus, the travel
distance of the measured fluid along any such flow path is independent
of the position of the path in the cross-section of the detector
(whether being the uppermost, lowermost, or intermediate flow path).
That is, the travel distances along the various flow paths are equal.
Because of equality of travel distances, it will be understood
that the flow velocities of the fluid in the various flow paths
are also equal. That is, the mean value of flow velocity of the
measured fluid in the flow detector of the present invention is
substantially invariant with the position of the fluid in the cross-section
of the detector.
Therefore, scattering of the flow velocity caused by difference
of flow paths is minimized by the inventive structure and the peak
of the output is clear and sharply defined, as shown in FIG. 2
thus providing significant improvement in the accuracy of flow measurement.
Consequently, it is possible for the detector of the present invention
to determine the propagation time of the ultrasound with high accuracy
in the measured fluid. Further, since deviation in flow velocity
of the measured fluid in cross-section of the fluid flow path is
neglected, an error occurring in calculation of flow rate based
on the thus determined flow velocity of the measured fluid is also
neglected, which realizes a precise one of the flow meter.
As described above, since the mounting flanges of the inlet pipe
2 and the outlet pipe 3 are arranged parallel in their faces to
each other and have their axes aligned with each other, it is possible
to insert or mount the detector or flow meter of the present invention
in a conventional pipeline in series.
As is clear from a comparison between FIGS. 1 and 7 since the
detector of the present invention is point-symmetrical with respect
to the point Po shown in FIG. 1 it is smaller in width than the
conventional one. In addition, the detector of the present invention
is tilted from the horizontal base line X, which makes it possible
to shorten the entire length of the detector of the present invention.
The thus length-shortened detector of the present invention releases
the pipeline from many restrictions on the freedom of construction.
In case of the detector of the present invention, the external
size of the detector depends on the length and the inclination angle
of measuring pipe 1. Consequently, when the detector is shortened
in length, its external size also decreases.
As described above, in the detector of the present invention, the
distribution of flow velocities of the measured fluid in the flow
path or course is uniform, which enables the measuring pipe 1 to
determine flow rate of the fluid with high accuracy even when the
pipe 1 is of a short type. Consequently, the present invention may
considerably downsize the flow meter using this type of detector
in comparison with the conventional parallel measurement type of
ultrasonic flow meter, provided that the two are the same in accuracy
of measurement.
Since the present invention may remove the decisive drawbacks from
the parallel measurement type of flow meter, the following advantages
of the parallel measurement type of flow meter are remarkably recognized
in comparison with the conventional oblique measurement type of
flow meter, which enables the former (i.e., parallel measurement
type) to be superior to the latter (i.e., oblique measurement type)
even in the application field of small-diameter pipes where hitherto
the latter is substantially exclusively used. The advantages of
the parallel measurement type of flow meter thus remarkably recognized
are as follows:
(1) This type of flow meter easily becomes superior to the other
(i.e., oblique measurement type of flow meter) in accuracy of measurement
by having its measuring pipe 1 increased in axial length (incidentally,
in the oblique measurement type of flow meter, the ultrasound travels
the same propagation distance in each size of pipe);
(2) Since this type of flow meter is provided with both the inlet
pipe 2 and the outlet pipe 3 fluid flow of the measured fluid inside
the measuring pipe 1 is substantially free from external fluid flow
noises in external pipelines, which enables the parallel measurement
type of flow meter to require no straight-pipe portion in opposite
sides (i.e., in each of the upstream side and the downstream side)
of the detector (in contrast with this, in case of the oblique measurement
type of flow meter, it is not possible to determine flow rate of
the fluid with high accuracy without using a sufficient-length straight
pipe portion thereof); and
(3) in order to realize high accuracy of measurement, the oblique
measurement type of flow meter requires a pair, preferably more
pairs of the echo sounders, whereas, the flow meter of the present
requires only one pair of the echo sounders and is therefore superior
to the former in the manufacturing cost.
As described above, the present invention removes the decisive
two drawbacks from the conventional parallel measurement type of
flow meter to realize a new type of flow meter which is superior
to the oblique measurement type of flow meter in many points.
Incidentally, although the detector of the present invention is
so illustrated as to have its measuring pipe 1 tilted in a vertical
plane in the drawings (which realizes a vertical type of detector),
it is also possible to have the measuring pipe 1 tilted in a horizontal
plane so that a horizontal type of detector is realized. |