FR2661984A1 - DEVICE FOR CONTINUOUSLY MEASURING AND VIEWING THE RELATIVE CONCENTRATION, IN VARIOUS LOCATIONS, OF CONTAINERS CONTAINING LIQUIDS OR OTHER PRODUCTS. - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device whose function is to provide a representation of various concentrations held, for example, in a container. Said representation is obtained by visualising, with respect to vertical and horizontal coordinates, the container height, and the values of the relative concentration measured at various points of said height. The curve thus obtained enables real time visualisation of various concentrations as well as changes therein. The device is comprised of a measurement rod which has sensors (1), an electronic assembly (2) which provides signals for regulation (3) and transmission of measurements (4), and a display terminal (6).

Description

 The present invention relates to a device for continuously measuring and displaying the relative concentration, in various places, of containers containing liquids or other products.

 Currently, various types of sensors are used for concentration measurement, depending on the application for which they are intended. They provide a point-in-time measurement signal which can be displayed and used in the control loops. In some cases, for measuring a level of settled sludge for example, a mechanical device causes a sensor to move inside a container until the value of the measured concentration corresponds to a predetermined value; the position of the sensor there can provide, in this case, a sludge level measurement.

 The measurement provided by a sensor is often not very reliable because it can between subject S various causes of malfunction: fouling, various drifts from the product to be measured and the industrial context in which it operates. These multiple causes of disruption constitute a handicap for the validity and security of use of the measure.

 The device, object of the present invention, consists of a measurement pole which comprises several sensors arranged along the length of the pole. It thus provides several measurements located in various places of the container. The measurements are collected and represented on a display terminal. By visualizing with respect to vertical and horizontal coordinates, on the one hand, the height of the container, on the other hand, the measured relative concentration values, we obtain a curve which represents in real time the various states of concentration of what is contained.

This device presents the 3 points of interest
listed below.

1. By highlighting the curve of
concentration obtained, the device allows better
knowledge of the state of a contained process as well as
his evolution.

2. The device makes it possible to locate one or more
several particular concentrations such as, for example
example, a level of mud, a level of foam, a
predetermined concentration level.

3. The device shows clearly and
immediately a possible measurement defect of one or
the other of the sensors. If the measurement of a sensor is
erroneous, its representation compared to the measurements of other sensors, in particular those located nearby,
points out that this measure is visibly erroneous.

According to the invention, a device is therefore proposed.
allowing to continuously view the concentration
relative content.

Figure 1. shows the device and its
application. It consists of the 3 defined elements
below.

1. The measurement pole (1) contains the sensors
of relative concentration distributed over its entire length.

The constitution of this pole and its dimensions, the
number, type, and distribution of measurement sensors
are dependent on the application concerned.

2. The electronic assembly (2) comprises the elements
necessary to perform the following functions
- the connections (5) with the sensors located on the
measurement pole (power supplies and signals);
- calibration and shaping of measurement signals;
- the calculations, on the basis of the measurements provided, making it possible to detect and determine the position of one or more measurements of predetermined characteristic concentrations (for example: position of the sludge height);
- the transmission (4) of the measurement signals and of positions detected for viewing (in general, by conventional serial transmission line of logic signals);
- the transmission (3) of the position signal or signals detected for the regulation devices (in general, by conventional line of regulation signals: analog current or voltage output signals).

 3. The terminal (6) comprising a display device (video monitor) which collects the measurements transmitted. The visualization is carried out by making appear on an image comprising a dimension coordinate (height of the container, for example) and a coordinate of relative concentration, the measurements transmitted. Points are thus obtained corresponding to a curve representative of the state of relative concentration of the contents of the container. Depending on the application, various types of representation may be used.

 Figure 2. shows an example representation showing the relative concentration of a mixture of liquid and sludge contained in a settling tank.

Claims (2)

RELATED CLAIMS of a product contained in a container, characterized in that it comprises the elements for visualizing, continuously, on an image and with respect to coordinates, by points or other marks connected or not connected to each other, the measurements of relative concentration obtained in various places inside the container. which corresponds, in real time, to the state of concentration of transmitted data and uses it to produce an image c) a display terminal which collects the intended for the regulation devices, detected intended for the display, - the transmission of the signal (s) of predetermined detected positions, - the transmission of measurement signals and of positions several measurements of characteristic concentrations of detecting and determining the position of one or more measurements, - the calibration and shaping of the measurement signals, - the calculations , on the basis of the measurements provided, allowing b) an electronic assembly which includes the elements necessary to perform the functions which allow - the connections with the sensors located on the pole of a) a measurement pole which comprises multiple measurement sensors,  1. Device for continuously measuring and visualizing the state of relative concentration, in various places, of containers containing liquids or -other products, employing the following elements:  2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that it displays the measurements obtained on an image comprising a drawing representative of the container and of the relative concentration of its content.