JP2003130696A - Flowmeter - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a flowmeter capable of being installed inside a conduit line, which can measure the flow rate of fluid that does not fill the conduit line. SOLUTION: The flow meter which measures the flow rate of the fluid flowing inside conduct lines 5, 6, is provided with a measurement casing 2 which is built in the inside of the system of the conduct lines 5, 6, a displacement means 3 with a body to be detected 16 which is arranged inside the measurement casing 2 and changes its position under the dynamic pressure of the fluid, a biasing means 20 which forces the displacement means toward the initial position, and a noncontacting-type displacement sensor 17 which is mounted on outside surface of the measuring casing 2. The displacement means 3 receives the dynamic pressure corresponding to the flow rate of the fluid and changes its position based on the displacement value corresponding to the dynamic pressure of the fluid against the force of the biasing means 20, and the displacement sensor 17 detects the displacement value of the body to be detected 16 and measures the flow rate.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a flow meter for measuring the flow rate of fluid such as liquid or powder flowing in a pipeline.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a method for measuring the flow rate of gas, liquid, powder, etc. flowing in a pipe, especially as a method for measuring the flow rate of liquid, area type, volume type, differential pressure type, thermal type, There are electromagnetic, Coriolis, ultrasonic, vortex, impeller, and other flowmeters. However, it is necessary that all of these are filled with fluid and flowing, and in order to perform normal measurements, the pressure loss is large, and gas such as air is mixed in the liquid. There was a problem that accurate measurement could not be performed when it was flowing in.

Further, there is an impact line flowmeter as a flowmeter used to measure the flow rate of powder.
This flowmeter has a detected plate movably supported by a fulcrum, and an operation transformer provided at an end portion facing the detected plate with respect to the fulcrum. Then, the free-falling powder is received by the plate to be detected, and the displacement is measured by the operation transformer connected to the plate to measure the flow rate. This flow meter can be applied to measure the flow rate of a liquid that flows with gas, a liquid that does not fill a pipeline, a liquid that flows down due to gravity, and the like. However, due to the structure, it has a movable part and a sliding part, and liquid etc. adheres to these and solidifies,
Since the transformer, which is the measurement unit, is liable to malfunction due to temperature change, corrosion, dew condensation, humidity, etc., it is impossible to place it in a pipeline for chemical processes. In addition, it is difficult to reduce the size, and it is difficult to fit it in the pipeline.

As described above, it has been difficult to measure the flow rate of a liquid flowing in a pipe together with gas, a liquid not filling the pipe, a liquid flowing down due to gravity, and the like.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, the technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a flow meter which can be arranged in a pipeline and which can measure the flow rate of a fluid not filling the pipeline. It is to be.

[0006]

In order to solve the above technical problems, the present invention provides a flow meter having the following configuration.

A flow meter for measuring the flow rate of a fluid flowing in a pipe, wherein a measuring casing incorporated in the system of the pipe and a dynamic pressure of the fluid respectively arranged inside the measuring casing. Displacement means having an object to be received and displaced, and biasing means for biasing the displacement means in the initial position direction, and a non-contact type displacement sensor arranged on the outer surface of the measurement casing, When the displacement means receives the dynamic pressure according to the flow rate of the fluid, the displacement means is displaced by the displacement amount corresponding to the dynamic pressure of the fluid against the urging force of the urging means, and the displacement sensor detects the object to be detected. The flow rate is measured by detecting the displacement amount of.

In the above structure, the measuring casing is incorporated in the system of the pipeline through which the fluid flows. That is, the measurement casing is incorporated in the pipe, and the fluid flows in the measurement casing. It should be noted that the casing does not necessarily have to be configured as a separate member from the pipe line, and may include one in which a displacement means and a biasing means, which will be described later, are directly arranged in the pipe line. In the measuring casing,
Displacement means for displacing the dynamic pressure of the fluid and urging means for urging the displacement means toward the initial position are provided. The displacing means is movably provided in the pipe so that the fluid flowing in the pipe collides with the displacing means and receives the dynamic pressure to generate displacement. Since the displacing means is urged by the urging means, even if the fluid collides, it does not move when the flow rate is less than a predetermined amount. On the other hand, when the flow rate of the fluid is larger than the predetermined amount, the displacement means moves by receiving the dynamic pressure according to the flow rate of the fluid. The flow rate required for the displacement means to start moving and the movement amount of the displacement means are determined by the biasing force of the biasing means. Therefore, the measurable flow rate range can be changed by selecting the biasing means having an appropriate biasing force. The biasing means is preferably a spring, rubber, a permanent magnet,
It can be configured using an electromagnet, a float, and a balancer.

On the outer surface of the measuring casing, a displacement sensor is provided which is capable of measuring the amount of movement of the object to be detected provided in the displacing means from the outside in a non-contact manner. As the displacement sensor, an eddy current type, an ultrasonic type, a laser type, or the like can be used, but a non-contact type displacement sensor is preferable, and an eddy current displacement sensor is particularly preferable. As described above, since the displacement means, that is, the displacement amount of the detected object is proportional to the flow rate of the colliding fluid, the displacement sensor can measure the displacement amount of the detected object to measure the fluid flow rate. .

According to the above structure, the object to be detected is displaced by the dynamic pressure received by the displacement means due to the collision of the fluid, and the displacement amount is measured by the displacement sensor provided on the outer surface of the measuring casing. Measure the flow rate of. Therefore, since the flow rate can be measured if the fluid flowing through the pipe collides with the displacement means, the measurement can be performed even when the fluid does not fill the pipe. Further, since the displacement sensor is present on the outer surface of the measurement casing, it is possible to measure the fluid without being exposed to the severe conditions of the use environment such as high temperature, high humidity and the presence of a solvent in the measurement casing. .

The flow meter of the present invention can be constructed in various modes as follows.

[0012] Preferably, the measuring casing is located at a side portion thereof and connected to an upstream side of the pipeline, and at a lower portion thereof and at a lower position than the inlet port and at a downstream side of the pipeline. An outlet port to be connected and a measurement chamber located above the outlet port are provided, and the displacement means is positioned lower than the inlet port and higher than the outlet port, and temporarily moves the fluid that drops from the inlet port toward the outlet port. A fluid receiving plate that receives the fluid, a hanging rod that hangs the fluid receiving plate and extends upward toward the measuring chamber, and a detection target that is located at the top of the measuring chamber and fixed to the upper end of the hanging rod. The displacement sensor comprises a spring member for elastically supporting the detected body together with the suspension rod and the fluid receiving plate to constantly urge the detected body to the uppermost end position. Is the detected object In opposing positions, it is disposed on the wall outer surface of the measuring casing.

In the above construction, the measurement casing is constructed so that the fluid flowing from the inlet port drops toward the outlet port. Then, during the fall, it is temporarily received by the fluid receiving plate of the displacement means. The fluid receiving plate moves downward together with the object to be detected provided above the measuring chamber connected by the suspension rod with the displacement amount according to the flow rate of the fluid received by the fluid receiving plate against the elastic force of the spring member. To do. The movement of the object to be detected is detected by a displacement sensor arranged on the outer surface of the upper wall of the measurement casing. The fluid temporarily received by the fluid receiving plate flows into the conduit from the outlet port.

According to the above construction, the fluid can be guided to the displacement means with a simple construction. Further, the dynamic pressure applied to the displacement means can be adjusted by adjusting the drop distance of the fluid.

Preferably, the measuring casing includes an inlet port connected to the upstream side of the pipeline, an outlet port located lower than the inlet port and connected to the downstream side of the pipeline, and the outlet port. A measurement chamber located at an upper portion and a small-diameter concave portion for fitting the displacement sensor, which is provided on the upper wall of the measurement chamber and extends in a substantially vertical direction, are provided, and the displacement means is an inlet port. A fluid receiving plate spring that is fixed substantially horizontally at a lower position and above the outlet port, and temporarily receives the fluid that falls from the inlet port toward the outlet port.The detected body is fixed to the fluid receiving plate spring. And a cylindrical body into which the small-diameter recess can be fitted.

In the above construction, the measurement casing is constructed so that the fluid flowing from the inlet port drops toward the outlet port. Then, during the fall, it is temporarily received by the fluid receiving plate spring which is the displacing means. The fluid receiving plate spring flexes and deforms downward with an amount of displacement corresponding to the flow rate of the received fluid against the elastic force of the spring. The object to be detected is a tubular body provided on the fluid receiving plate spring, and the tubular body is fitted into a small-diameter recess provided with a displacement sensor. The displacement sensor is disclosed in JP-A-2000-180109.
It is possible to suitably use the one disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2003-242242, the position of the cylindrical body inserted into the small-diameter recess is detected, and the flow rate is calculated based on this.

According to the above structure, the fluid can be guided to the displacement means with a simple structure. Further, the dynamic pressure applied to the displacement means can be adjusted by adjusting the drop distance of the fluid.

The present invention also provides the following flow meter.

The flow meter is a flow meter for measuring the flow rate of the fluid flowing in the pipe, and includes a measuring casing incorporated in the system of the pipe and a support arranged inside the measuring casing. Dispersing means including a rotating member fixed to a shaft, displacing means having a detected body that is displaced by receiving the dynamic pressure of the fluid, and urging means for urging the displacing means in the initial position direction. A displacement sensor for detecting the displacement of the displacement means, wherein the rotating member temporarily receives the fluid supplied from the conduit in the vicinity of its rotation center, and the centrifugal force generated by the rotation of the rotating member. It is scattered radially around the rotating member and collides with a displacement means arranged around the rotating member.

In the above structure, the dispersing means, the displacing means, and the urging means are arranged in the measuring casing. The displacement sensor may be inside or outside the casing as long as it can detect the displacement of the displacement means. The displacement sensor is preferably arranged near the displacement means. The dispersing means is for supplying the fluid to the displacing means, and applies a centrifugal force to the fluid to scatter the fluid in a radial manner to increase the velocity of the fluid and increase the impact when the fluid collides with the displacing means. That is, the impact force can be increased by easily imparting an appropriate centrifugal force to the fluid by guiding the fluid onto the rotating member and causing the scattered fluid to collide with the displacement member.
Therefore, even if the flow rate in the pipe is small, the dynamic pressure increases as the impact force increases due to the centrifugal force, and the flow rate can be measured.

In the above structure, preferably, the displacement means are provided at a plurality of locations around the rotary member.

In the above structure, since the fluid is evenly scattered from the rotating member in the circumferential direction, even if the displacement means is provided at any position around the rotating member, the measurement can be performed uniformly. Therefore, a plurality of displacement means are provided, and the fluid scattered in the circumferential direction can be measured with the same accuracy by each displacement means. By measuring with a plurality of displacement means, the number of measurement points increases, and the accuracy of the measurement value as a whole can be improved. On the other hand, by providing each displacement means with the biasing means having different biasing forces, the measurement range of each displacement means can be changed and the measurement range of the entire apparatus can be widened.

In each of the above-mentioned configurations, preferably, the measurement casing is connected to the measurement chamber for accommodating the dispersion means, the displacement means and the urging means, and is connected to the downstream side of the pipeline and communicates with the measurement chamber. An outlet port, an inlet port that is connected to the upstream side of the conduit and communicates with the measurement chamber at a position higher than the outlet port, the rotary member, the fluid supplied from the inlet port, It is temporarily received in the vicinity of the center of rotation, and is radially scattered around the rotating member by the centrifugal force generated by the rotation of the rotating member to collide with the displacement means arranged around the rotating member. According to the above configuration, the fluid can be guided to the displacement means with a simple configuration.

[0024]

1 is an explanatory view showing the structure of a flow meter according to a first embodiment of the present invention. This flow meter 1
Is provided with a casing 2 including an inlet port 11, an outlet port 12 provided at a position lower than the inlet port, and a measurement chamber 13 for accommodating a movable portion provided at a position higher than the inlet port at an upper end of the outlet port. There is. The casing is constructed so as to be completely sealed except that the inlet port 11 and the outlet port 12 are connected to the conduits 5 and 6, respectively.

The inlet port 11 extends horizontally and is connected to the upstream pipe line 5. Also, the outlet port 12
It extends in the vertical direction and is connected to the pipeline 6 on the downstream side. The fluid to be measured is from the upstream pipeline 5 to the inlet port 1
1, is dropped on the way, is discharged from the outlet port 12, and flows into the downstream side pipe line 6 connected to the outlet port 12.

Measuring chamber 1 connected to the upper part of the outlet port 12
3 is connected by a connecting pipe 21 so as to be separated from the inlet port 11 by a predetermined distance, and is configured so that the fluid does not flow into the storage chamber 13. The measuring chamber 13 accommodates the movable part of the flowmeter.

In the measuring chamber 13, there is arranged a spring 20 which has a large diameter with respect to the connecting pipe 21 and which contracts and deforms when a vertical force is applied. The spring 20 is a connecting pipe 21.
Since it has a larger diameter, it is fixed in the measuring chamber 13 without falling.

A plate to be detected 16 of the displacement member 3 provided so as to penetrate the spring 20 is fixed to the upper end of the spring 20. The plate to be detected 16 is arranged at the uppermost position of the measurement chamber 13, and the hanging bar 15 extending through the spring 20 in the vertical direction is fixed to the lower side of the plate to be detected 16. Since the plate to be detected 16 is larger than the diameter of the spring, it is supported by the spring to support the displacement member 3. The plate 16 to be detected needs to be made of a conductor such as a metal, and the role of the eddy current displacement sensor 17 provided opposite to each other with the wall of the conduit as a target of displacement measurement. Also has. This will be described later in detail.

A fluid receiving plate 14 is horizontally fixed to the lower end of the suspension rod 15 of the displacement member 3. The fluid receiving plate 14 temporarily receives the fluid falling from the inlet port 11 to the outlet port 12. Fluid receiving plate 14
Is lower than the inlet port 11 and the outlet port 12
Arranged to fit inside. When the fluid flows from the inlet port 11, it is pulled by gravity and falls to the outlet port 12. At this time, all the fluid flowing from the inlet port 11 is configured to drop onto the upper surface of the fluid receiving plate 14. The fluid dropped on the fluid receiving plate 14 is discharged from the lower side of the outlet port 12 to the outside as shown by an arrow 51.

An eddy current displacement sensor 17 is arranged above the plate to be detected 16 with the wall of the casing 2 interposed therebetween.
The eddy current displacement sensor 17 generates a high-frequency current to generate an eddy current in the plate 16 to be detected facing the eddy current, and measures the magnitude of the eddy current to measure how far the plate to be detected is separated. To do. During operation of this flow meter,
The eddy current displacement sensor 17 measures the distance to the plate to be detected 16 at substantially constant intervals of time. The signal output from the eddy current displacement sensor 17 is information about the position of the plate to be detected 16, and calculation is performed using this to obtain the flow rate.

Most of the casing 2 of the flowmeter 1 is made of metal. However, if the wall between the eddy current displacement sensor 17 and the plate to be detected 16 is made of metal that is a conductor, It is conceivable that the measurement of the detected plate 16 may be hindered. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the non-conductive wall 19 made of zirconia ceramics is provided on the upper wall of the measurement chamber 13.
To use. Eddy current displacement sensor 17 and non-conductive wall 19
Is preferably arranged so as to be as close as possible to the plate to be detected 16 in the initial position, and is firmly fixed by the fixing portion 18 for fixing this. As the material used for the non-conductive wall 19, glass, silicon carbide, or the like can be used in addition to zirconia ceramics.
However, the zirconia ceramics has high strength, can cope with severe conditions of high temperature and high pressure in the pipeline, can reduce the thickness of the non-conductive wall 19, and can detect the plate 16 to be detected by the eddy current displacement sensor 17. It is preferable in that the detection accuracy of can be maintained high. In addition, the thermal conductivity is also relatively low, and it is also suitable in that the heat inside cannot easily escape to the outside.

Next, the operation of the flowmeter according to this embodiment will be described. In the flowmeter 1 according to this embodiment, the fluid enters the inlet port 11 through the upstream pipe line 5, falls into the outlet port 12 and is discharged to the outside through the downstream pipe line 6 as described above. At this time, as shown by the arrow 50, the fluid drops onto the upper surface of the fluid receiving plate 14 of the displacement member 3. Then,
Dynamic pressure acts on the displacement member 3 downward in proportion to the weight of the fluid dropped on the fluid receiving plate 14, that is, the flow rate. Since the displacement member 3 is supported by the spring 20, the upper end of the spring 20 is supported by the suspension rod 15 on the fluid receiving plate 14.
The displacement member 3 is pressed downward by the plate 16 to be connected and is deformed, and the displacement member 3 is moved by the arrow until the elastic force accompanying the deformation of the spring 20 and the pressing force applied to the displacement member 3 by the fluid are balanced. As shown at 52, move downward.

The position of the displacement member 3 is measured by an eddy current displacement sensor 17 provided on the displacement member 3 with a non-conductive wall 19 therebetween. The eddy current displacement sensor 17 is
Since only the position of the displacement member 3 can be detected, the difference from the position in the initial state, that is, the displacement amount is obtained from this information, and the flow rate of the fluid is calculated. Specifically, this information is input to a calculation unit (not shown), the weight of the fluid in contact with the fluid receiving plate 14 of the displacement member is calculated using the information of the elastic force of the spring, and the flow rate of the fluid is calculated from this. .

In the flowmeter 1 according to the present embodiment, the eddy current displacement sensor 17 for directly measuring the flow rate is provided outside the casing 2, and the displacement of the displacement member 3 is detected and measured from the outside of the pipeline without contact. By doing so, the amount of fluid in contact with the displacement member 3 can be measured. Therefore, the flow rate can be measured even in a severe environment such as high temperature, high pressure, high humidity, and high vacuum.

Next, a flowmeter according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing the structure of the flow meter 1a according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The flowmeter 1a includes a casing 2a that includes a measurement chamber 33 that houses a movable part, an inlet port 31 that communicates with the measurement chamber, and an outlet port 32 that communicates with the measurement chamber 33 at a position lower than the inlet port 31. ing. The casing 2a is
The inlet port 31 and the outlet port 32 are configured to be completely sealed except that they are connected to the conduits 5 and 6.

The inlet port 31 communicates with the measurement chamber 33 in the horizontal direction and is connected to the upstream pipe line 5. Further, the outlet port 32 extends in the vertical direction from the bottom wall of the measurement chamber 33 and is connected to the pipeline 6 on the downstream side. The fluid flows into the inlet port 31 from the upstream pipe line 5, falls in the measurement chamber 33, is discharged from the outlet port 32, and flows into the downstream pipe line 6 connected thereto.

The measuring chamber is provided with a rotating member 35 for receiving the fluid falling from the inlet port 31 and a displacing member 3a which is displaced by the contact of the fluid.

The rotary member 35 comprises a rotary shaft 34b and a disc 34a fixed to the lower end of the rotary shaft 34b. Rotating shaft 3
4b is provided in the vertical direction, penetrates the wall of the measurement chamber 33, and extends to the outside of the measurement chamber 33. Rotating shaft 34b
Is transmitted by a driving member (not shown),
It rotates as shown by arrow 53. The disk 34a provided at the lower end of the rotary shaft 35b rotates as the rotary shaft 34b rotates. A nozzle 41 for supplying the fluid flowing from the inlet port 31 is provided on the upper surface of the disk 34a and near the center of rotation of the disk 34a. The fluid 42 flowing out from the nozzle 41 drops near the center of rotation of the disc 34a, and centrifugal force is applied by the rotation of the disc 34a, spreads on the disc 34a, and forms a thin film having a uniform thickness toward the periphery. . The thin film of the fluid further spread in the circumferential direction by the centrifugal force becomes a substantially uniform thin film or fine droplet 36 by the centrifugal force and is scattered from the peripheral edge of the disc 34a to the outside. The centrifugal force applied to the fluid is the disk 34a.
It can be adjusted by the number of rotations and the diameter dimension.

The displacement member 3a comprises a fluid receiving member 37 and a plate 39 to be detected fixed to the fluid receiving member 37. The fluid receiving member 37 is supported by a support shaft 38 and can rotate about the support shaft. By positioning the support shaft 38 above the center of gravity of the fluid receiving member 37, the fluid receiving member 37 constitutes a balancer as a whole, and is stationary in the vertical direction due to gravity. By adjusting the weight of the fluid receiving member 37 and moving the support shaft up and down,
The displacement amount of the fluid receiving member 37 can be adjusted. A detected plate 39 is provided near the upper end 37b of the fluid receiving member 37, and when the fluid receiving member 37 rotates about the support shaft as shown by arrow 54, the detected plate 39 also shows by arrow 55. Move in the direction. For the detected plate 39,
An eddy current displacement sensor 40 is provided across the wall of the conduit. The eddy current displacement sensor 40 generates a high frequency current to generate an eddy current in the plate to be detected 39 which is arranged to face the eddy current displacement sensor, and measures the magnitude of the eddy current to measure the distance to the plate to be detected. During operation of the flowmeter, the eddy current displacement sensor 40
Measures the distance from the plate to be detected 39 at substantially constant time intervals. The signal output from the eddy current displacement sensor 40 is
This is information about the position of the plate to be detected 39, and in order to obtain the flow rate, calculation is performed using this.

Most of the casing 2a of the flowmeter 1a is made of metal, but the wall between the eddy current displacement sensor 40 and the plate to be detected 39 is made of metal which is a conductor. It is conceivable that the measurement of the detected plate 16 may be hindered. Therefore, the non-conductive wall 43 made of zirconia ceramics is used for a part of the side wall 44 of the measurement chamber 33 on the side where the eddy current displacement sensor 40 is provided.

Next, the operation of the flowmeter according to this embodiment will be described. In the flowmeter 1a according to this embodiment, the fluid enters the inlet port 31 from the upstream pipe line 5 and is supplied onto the disc 34a of the rotating member 35 by the nozzle 41 as described above. Since the rotating member 35 is rotating as described above, the fluid arranged on the disk 34a becomes a thin film 36 and is scattered in the circumferential horizontal direction. At this time, the thin film 36 vigorously scatters due to the centrifugal force given by the disc 34a, so that the thin film 36 collides with the vicinity 37a of the lower end of the fluid receiving member 37 pivotally supported around the disc 34a.

The fluid receiving member 37 in which the fluid collides with the vicinity 37a of the lower end is pressed outward by the fluid. on the other hand,
Since the support shaft 38 is provided on the upper side of the fluid receiving member 37, gravity due to its own weight works downward, and the force of returning to the vertical direction always works. Therefore, the displacement member 3
7 indicates arrow 5 until gravity and fluid pressure balance each other.
As shown in FIG. 4, it moves around the support shaft. As the fluid receiving member 37 moves, the detected plate 39 provided at the upper end also moves, as indicated by the arrow 55.

The movement of the plate 39 to be detected is measured by an eddy current displacement sensor 40 provided with a non-conductive wall 43 therebetween. Since the eddy current displacement sensor 40 can detect only the position of the detection target plate 39, it is necessary to obtain the displacement amount from this information and calculate the fluid flow rate.
Specifically, this information is input to a calculation unit (not shown) to calculate the weight of the fluid that has collided with the lower end 37a of the fluid receiving member.

As shown in FIG. 3, since the fluid that collides with the fluid receiving member scatters in the entire circumferential direction of the disc 34a, it is only a part of the fluid that has flowed in from the inlet port 31. However, since the scattered fluid is a uniform thin film 36, the ratio of the fluid contacting the fluid receiving member 37 to the total amount is relative to the entire circumference (360 degrees) of the angular range surrounding the circumference of the fluid receiving member 37. Almost equal to the proportion. Therefore,
From the weight of the fluid that collides with the fluid receiving member 37, the total amount of the fluid that has flowed into the inlet port 31 can be derived.

In the flow meter 1a according to the present embodiment, the eddy current displacement sensor 40 for directly measuring the flow rate is provided outside the casing, and the displacement of the displacement member 3a is sensed and measured from the outside of the flow system without contact. By doing so, the amount of fluid in contact with the fluid receiving member 37 can be measured. In addition, centrifugal force is applied to the fluid by the rotation of the disc 34 a, and the fluid vigorously collides with the fluid receiving member 37. Therefore, even when the flow rate is low, a certain amount of displacement of the fluid receiving member can be ensured and the flow rate can be measured. Further, the fluid receiving member can easily adjust the stress required to give the displacement by adjusting the position of the support shaft 38 and adjusting the balance of the center of gravity thereof.

As a modified example of the flow meter according to this embodiment, a plurality of displacement members can be arranged around the disk 34a of the rotating member 35. The main part of this configuration is shown in FIG.
Shown in. In the flowmeter according to FIG. 4, three displacement members 371 to 373 are arranged around the disk 34a of the rotating member 35. By disposing the displacement member in this way, the number of measurement points is increased by colliding the fluid dispersed from the disk 34a with a plurality of fluid receiving members for measurement, and the accuracy of the measurement value as a whole can be improved.

Further, the measurable range can be expanded by changing the stress required for the displacement of each displacement member and arranging them. For example, the stress required for displacement is the smallest for the first displacement member 371, and the third displacement member 37
3 is set to be the largest. When the flow rate is very small, the second and third displacement members 372 and 373 are not displaced and cannot be detected, but the first displacement member 371 is displaced and the flow rate can be measured. On the other hand, the flow rate is extremely large and the first and second displacement members 3
Even when the displacement amount of 71, 372 reaches the maximum amount and the measurement cannot be performed, the displacement amount of the third displacement member 373 does not reach the maximum amount and the measurement can be performed. In this way, by changing the value of the stress required for displacement and providing a plurality of displacement members, the measurement range can be widened.

Next, a flowmeter according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 5: is explanatory drawing which shows the structure of the flowmeter 1b concerning 3rd Embodiment of this invention. The flowmeter 1b includes a casing including a measurement chamber 63 that houses a movable part, an inlet port 61 that communicates with the measurement chamber, and an outlet port 62 that communicates with the measurement chamber 63 at a position lower than the inlet port 61. There is. The casing is configured to be completely sealed except that the inlet port 61 and the outlet port 62 are connected to the conduits 5 and 6.

The inlet port 61 communicates with the measurement chamber 63 in the vertical direction and is connected to the upstream pipe line 5. Further, the outlet port 62 extends in the vertical direction from the bottom wall of the measurement chamber 63 and is connected to the pipeline 6 on the downstream side. The fluid flows into the inlet port 61 from the upstream pipe line 5, falls in the measurement chamber 63, is discharged from the outlet port 62, and flows into the downstream pipe line 6 connected thereto.

The measuring chamber has a small-diameter recess 67 for inserting a displacement sensor in its upper wall, and an eddy current displacement sensor 66 (Pulse coder manufactured by Revex Co.) is inserted and arranged.

The measurement chamber is provided with a fluid receiving plate spring 64 for receiving the fluid falling from the inlet port 61 and a tubular member to be detected 65 arranged in the center of the fluid receiving plate spring.

One end 64a of the fluid receiving plate spring 64 is fixed to the side wall 63a of the measuring chamber so as to extend in a substantially horizontal direction. Since the tubular detection target body 65 is arranged in the central portion of the fluid receiving plate spring 64, the other end 64b of the fluid receiving plate spring, which is not fixed to the measurement chamber, is slightly lowered in the stationary state. Will be placed.

The tubular object to be detected 65 is made of a metal tube such as aluminum, and is arranged so that the small-diameter recess 67 is inserted into its inner cavity. Then, when the fluid receiving plate spring moves up and down as shown by an arrow 56, the tubular detected body 6
5 also moves up and down as shown by arrow 57,
The amount of overlap with changes.

Next, the operation of the flowmeter according to this embodiment will be described. In the flowmeter 1b according to the present embodiment, the fluid enters the inlet port 61 from the upstream pipe line 5 and the droplet 69 is supplied from the nozzle 68 onto the free end 64b of the fluid receiving spring 64 as described above. The fluid receiving plate spring 64 temporarily receives the droplet 69, and the pressing force of the fluid acts downward. On the other hand, the fluid receiving leaf spring 64 has an elastic force with respect to the force of displacing downward. Therefore, the fluid receiving plate spring 64 bends and moves downward as shown by the arrow 56 until the elastic force and the pressing force of the fluid are balanced.

When the fluid receiving plate spring 64 moves, the cylindrical object to be detected 65 also moves as described above, and the amount of overlap with the small-diameter recess 67 changes. The displacement sensor fitted in the small-diameter recess 67 is composed of a coil and a capacitor that are wound in a slender shape. When a pulse wave is applied to the displacement sensor 66, a magnetic flux is generated in the coil, and when the magnetic flux and the aluminum tubular detection object face each other, the detection object 6 is detected.
An eddy current is generated on the surface and converted into heat by the internal resistance of the metal. That is, in the portion where the detection object 65 and the coil overlap, the magnetic flux decreases and the inductance of the coil decreases.

As the coil inductance increases, the voltage applied to both ends of the capacitor becomes a waveform having a gentle spread due to self-induction of the coil. The inductance of the coil, that is, the overlap between the coil and the detected body 66 is calculated from the degree of the change in the waveform, and based on this, the fluid receiving leaf spring 64 is moved from the position of the detected body 65.
Calculate the weight of the fluid supplied above.

(Application example) The flowmeter of the present invention can be preferably used in, for example, a rectification column. FIG. 6 is a system configuration diagram of a rectification column using the flow meter according to the present invention. The rectification tower system 70 is composed of a rectification tower 71, a condenser 72, a reflux distributor 73, and a flow meter 1.

The rectification column 71 is generally for heating and distilling a liquid containing multiple components. The distillation component from the rectification column is introduced to the condenser as shown by arrow 80. Also,
The rectification tower 71 is provided with an inlet for returning the reflux liquid.

The condenser 72 condenses and liquefies the distillation component from the rectification column 71. Cooling water flows into the condenser 72 and heat-exchanges with the distillation component to condense the distillation component. The distillation component liquefied by the condenser 72 is sent to the reflux distributor 73, where it is distributed in a predetermined ratio.

The reflux distributor 73 sends a part of the distillation components liquefied by the condenser 72 to the product tank 74 as a distillate, and separates the other as a reflux liquid for returning to the rectification column. It is a thing. Therefore, the arrows 83, 84
As shown by, the fluid is discharged from each outlet of the reflux distributor at an arbitrary ratio.

As the reflux distributor, a known one can be used. As a known reflux distributor, for example, a timer system is illustrated. The timer-type reflux distributor is configured to branch the supplied fluid into branch pipes to flow, and each of the branch pipes has an opening / closing valve such as an electromagnetic valve or an air operated valve. In this method, the on-off valve is controlled so that only the valve of one branch pipe is opened and the valve of the other branch pipe is closed in the first predetermined time period to discharge the fluid from only one branch pipe. In the next time zone, the valve is opened / closed to switch the branch pipe through which the fluid is discharged.
In this method, by controlling the opening and closing time of each valve,
Control the flow rate of the fluid discharged from each branch pipe. Therefore, the supplied fluid can be distributed in any ratio depending on the ratio of the time for opening the valve.

The flow rate of each of the fluids discharged from the outlets of the reflux distributors is measured by the flow meter according to the present invention, and the effluent is discharged to the product tank 74 as indicated by arrows 86 and 85, respectively. The reflux liquid moves to the rectification column 71.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, but can be implemented in various other modes.

[0064]

As described above, according to the flow meter of the present invention, the displacement sensor provided outside the casing measures the displacement of the object to be detected caused by the contact of the fluid with the displacement member. Measure the flow rate of. Therefore, it is possible to measure the fluid that does not fill the pipeline, and since there is no displacement sensor in the flow system, measure the fluid that flows through the pipeline in a severe environment such as high temperature, high humidity, or in the presence of a solvent. It is possible to

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a structure of a flow meter according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a structure of a flow meter according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

3 is an explanatory diagram showing an arrangement relationship between a disc and a displacement member in the flow meter of FIG. 2. FIG.

FIG. 4 is a main part explanatory view showing a modified example of the flow meter of FIG.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a structure of a flowmeter according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a system configuration diagram of a rectification column using a flow meter according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1,1a, 1b Flowmeter 2,2a, 2b casing 3,3a Displacement member 5 Upstream pipeline 6 Downstream pipeline 11,31,61 Inlet port 12, 32, 62 Exit port 13,33,63 Measuring room 14 Fluid receiving plate 15 hanging rod 16,39 Detected plate 17, 40, 66 Eddy current displacement sensor 18 Fixed part 19,43 Non-conductive wall 20 spring 21 Connection pipe 34a disc 34b rotating shaft 35 Rotating member 37 Fluid receiving member 38 Support shaft 41,68 nozzles 64 Fluid receiving plate spring 65 Cylindrical object to be detected 67 Fine recess

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Shinichiro Tanahashi             Kao Stock Association, 1334 Minato Minato, Wakayama City, Wakayama Prefecture             Company research institute (72) Inventor Kengo Shibata             Kao Stock Association, 1334 Minato Minato, Wakayama City, Wakayama Prefecture             Company research institute (72) Inventor Keiji Shibata             Kao Stock Association, 1334 Minato Minato, Wakayama City, Wakayama Prefecture             Company research institute F term (reference) 2F030 CA10 CE04 CE13 CH05

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A flowmeter for measuring a flow rate of a fluid flowing in a pipe, wherein the measuring casing incorporated in the system of the pipe and the fluid of the fluid arranged in the measuring casing, respectively. Displacement means having an object to be displaced which receives dynamic pressure, urging means for urging the displacement means in an initial position direction, and a non-contact type displacement sensor arranged on the outer surface of the measurement casing. The displacement means receives a dynamic pressure according to the flow rate of the fluid, and is displaced by a displacement amount corresponding to the dynamic pressure of the fluid against the urging force of the urging means. A flow meter that measures the flow rate by detecting the amount of displacement of the detector. 2. The flow meter according to claim 1, wherein the displacement sensor is an eddy current displacement sensor. 3. The measuring casing is located on a side portion thereof and connected to an upstream side of the pipeline, and an inlet port is located below the measuring port and lower than the inlet port and is connected to a downstream side of the pipeline. An outlet port and a measurement chamber located above the outlet port, wherein the displacement means is positioned lower than the inlet port and higher than the outlet port, and temporarily moves the fluid that drops from the inlet port toward the outlet port. A fluid receiving plate that receives it, a hanging rod that hangs the fluid receiving plate and extends upward toward the measurement chamber, and an object to be detected that is located at the top of the measurement chamber and is fixed to the upper end of the hanging rod. And the biasing means is a spring member that elastically supports the detection target together with the suspension rod and the fluid receiving plate to constantly bias the detection target to the uppermost end position, and the displacement sensor is , Facing the object to be detected In position,
The method according to claim 1, wherein the measurement casing is arranged on the outer surface of the upper wall.
Flowmeter as described. 4. The measurement casing has an inlet port connected to an upstream side of the pipeline, an outlet port located lower than the inlet port and connected to a downstream side of the pipeline, and an upper portion of the outlet port. A measurement chamber located at, and a small-diameter recess for fitting the displacement sensor, which is provided on the upper wall of the measurement chamber and extends in a substantially vertical direction, is provided, A fluid receiving plate spring that is fixed substantially horizontally above the lower port and above the outlet port and that temporarily receives the fluid that falls from the inlet port toward the outlet port, and the detected body is fixed to the fluid receiving plate spring. The flowmeter according to claim 1 or 2, which is a tubular body into which the small-diameter recess can be fitted. 5. A flow meter for measuring a flow rate of a fluid flowing in a pipe, wherein a measuring casing incorporated in the system of the pipe and support shafts respectively arranged inside the measuring casing. A dispersion means having a fixed rotating member, a displacement means having an object to be displaced which receives a dynamic pressure of the fluid, and
The displacement member includes an urging unit that urges the displacement unit in the initial position direction, and a displacement sensor that detects the displacement of the displacement unit, and the rotating member is configured so that the fluid supplied from the conduit is near the rotation center thereof. A flowmeter that receives the light temporarily, causes the centrifugal force generated by the rotation of the rotating member to scatter radially around the rotating member, and collides the displacement means arranged around the rotating member. 6. The measuring casing includes a measuring chamber for accommodating the dispersing means, the displacing means, and the urging means, an outlet port connected to a downstream side of the pipeline and communicating with the measuring chamber, and the pipe. An inlet port connected to the upstream side of the passage and communicating with the measurement chamber at a position higher than the outlet port, wherein the rotating member temporarily retains the fluid supplied from the inlet port near its rotation center. 6. The flowmeter according to claim 5, wherein the flowmeter is received positively and is radially scattered around the rotating member by a centrifugal force generated by the rotation of the rotating member to collide with a displacement means arranged around the rotating member. 7. The flowmeter according to claim 5, wherein the displacement means is provided at a plurality of locations around the rotary member.