GB2054895A - Radio-active material level measuring - Google Patents
Radio-active material level measuring Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2054895A GB2054895A GB8023105A GB8023105A GB2054895A GB 2054895 A GB2054895 A GB 2054895A GB 8023105 A GB8023105 A GB 8023105A GB 8023105 A GB8023105 A GB 8023105A GB 2054895 A GB2054895 A GB 2054895A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- measuring device
- level measuring
- lens
- containers
- calibrated
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
- 239000012857 radioactive material Substances 0.000 title 1
- 239000011521 glass Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 14
- 238000007689 inspection Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 11
- 239000011152 fibreglass Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 4
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 4
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 4
- 239000000843 powder Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 4
- 230000002285 radioactive effect Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 4
- 238000005259 measurement Methods 0.000 claims description 14
- 238000005286 illumination Methods 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000006073 displacement reaction Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 230000003760 hair shine Effects 0.000 claims 1
- 230000002441 reversible effect Effects 0.000 abstract 1
- 229910000831 Steel Inorganic materials 0.000 description 5
- 239000010959 steel Substances 0.000 description 5
- 238000011156 evaluation Methods 0.000 description 3
- 239000000446 fuel Substances 0.000 description 3
- 230000005855 radiation Effects 0.000 description 3
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000003287 optical effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000012546 transfer Methods 0.000 description 2
- 206010073306 Exposure to radiation Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 239000002253 acid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000012423 maintenance Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000003758 nuclear fuel Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000012545 processing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000001681 protective effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000000523 sample Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000000007 visual effect Effects 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01F—MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME
- G01F23/00—Indicating or measuring liquid level or level of fluent solid material, e.g. indicating in terms of volume or indicating by means of an alarm
- G01F23/22—Indicating or measuring liquid level or level of fluent solid material, e.g. indicating in terms of volume or indicating by means of an alarm by measuring physical variables, other than linear dimensions, pressure or weight, dependent on the level to be measured, e.g. by difference of heat transfer of steam or water
- G01F23/28—Indicating or measuring liquid level or level of fluent solid material, e.g. indicating in terms of volume or indicating by means of an alarm by measuring physical variables, other than linear dimensions, pressure or weight, dependent on the level to be measured, e.g. by difference of heat transfer of steam or water by measuring the variations of parameters of electromagnetic or acoustic waves applied directly to the liquid or fluent solid material
- G01F23/284—Electromagnetic waves
- G01F23/292—Light, e.g. infrared or ultraviolet
- G01F23/2921—Light, e.g. infrared or ultraviolet for discrete levels
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01F—MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME
- G01F23/00—Indicating or measuring liquid level or level of fluent solid material, e.g. indicating in terms of volume or indicating by means of an alarm
- G01F23/02—Indicating or measuring liquid level or level of fluent solid material, e.g. indicating in terms of volume or indicating by means of an alarm by gauge glasses or other apparatus involving a window or transparent tube for directly observing the level to be measured or the level of a liquid column in free communication with the main body of the liquid
Landscapes
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Electromagnetism (AREA)
- Thermal Sciences (AREA)
- Measurement Of Levels Of Liquids Or Fluent Solid Materials (AREA)
- Monitoring And Testing Of Nuclear Reactors (AREA)
Abstract
A level measuring device, for materials such as radio-active liquids or powders which are situated in calibrated transparent containers or opaque containers with calibrated communicating tubes in the form of inspection glasses, and which are kept in inaccessible protection chambers (1), comprises a lens (5) which is movable vertically adjacent to a scale (6) on the inspection glass or transparent container (2) and is connected to an eyepiece (9) arranged outside the protection chamber (1) by way of a flexible fibreglass light guide (3). As shown, the lens (5) is mounted on a threaded spindle (8) which is rotatable by a reversible drive motor (7). The scale (6) may be illuminated by a light source (4) via the light guide (3). <IMAGE>
Description
SPECIFICATION
Level measuring device
The present invention relates to a level
measuring device for materials which are situated
in calibrated transparent containers or opaque
containers with calibrated communicating tubes in the form of inspection glasses, and which are kept
in inaccessible protection chambers.
Level measurement in liquid containers plays an important role particularly in the processing of
nuclear fuels, within the framework of flow checks
on fissionable fuels. In order to be able to determine as exactly as possible the amount of
leftover fuel, balance errors must be kept as slight
as possible, which means that there must be a
precise evaluation of the volume and
concentration of the solution when quantities of
dissolved fissionable fuels are being evaluated.
Similar principles can also play a role in the
measurement of quantities of powders.
While it is possible to evaluate concentration with a high degree of precision, volume evaluation, which with the normally cylindrical
containers amounts to level measurement,
presents a problem which has not yet been solved to the required degree of accuracy of measuring technique. The same is true of containers with an
angular profile.
Normal level measuring systems work with
measurement electrodes on a capacitive basis,
and ultrasonic measuring devices, cable probes, float gauges and other devices are also employed.
However, measurement devices of this type do not fulfil the requirements which must be met for
measurement of the volume of radioactive solutions etc. These requirements are high
accuracy in measurement, measuring equipment which is resistant to radiation, including the
associated measurement electronics and
measurement data transfer, long service life, acid
proof structural elements, no movable parts inside the container, and low maintenance costs. The
simplest possibility for level measurement is a visual reading on an inspection glass which is
appropriately calibrated. This inspection glass can
be attached to metallic containers which are
known per se, and for the present specific case glass containers can be used, for example
cylindrical ones, provided simply with a readable
measurement scale.However, such a simple and
moreover precise method, which fulfils all the
above-mentioned requirements, is not practicable for the present case since, in order to guarantee nuclear safety, the containers are executed in safe
geometry, either as high cylinders or as flat tanks which, when a large volume is involved, can reach a height of several metres. Optical level evaluation from the work level is thus not possible, and
requires the use of ladders or platforms. Moreover,
reading is made impossible by the walls of the
protection chamber which encloses these
containers - quite apart from the exposure to
radiation involved, which is to be avoided at all
costs.
According to the present invention there is provided a level measuring device for materials which are situated in calibrated transparent containers or opaque containers with calibrated communicating tubes in the form of inspection glasses, and which are kept in inaccessible protection chambers, wherein a vertically movable lens is provided adjacent to the inspection glass or transparent container, which lens is connected via a flexible fibreglass photoconductor to an eyepiece arranged outside the protection chamber.
Thus the eyepiece is situated outside the protection chamber, which serves simultaneously as a screen, while the lens, which can be adjusted from outside, can be moved vertically at the inspection glass or the wall of the container itself by remote control.
Since illumination on the inside of the protection chamber is not normally sufficient, illumination of the scale may be undertaken from outside the protection chamber, via the photoconductor, with the aid of a cold light source.
A spindle with a motorised drive may be provided for the vertical adjustment of the lens.
Altermatively, a cable line with a motorised drive may be provided for the vertical adjustment of the lens. The adjusting displacement and thus the filling level may be digitally displayed via the drive motor.
The adjusting device may he used for several containers by appropriate adjustment of the lens.
The device may be used for the measurement of quantities of radioactive liquid or powder.
For a better understanding of the present invention and to show more clearly how it may be carried into effect reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawing which schematically illustrates one embodiment of a level measuring device which can be employed, if necessary, with two containers.
There follows a short description of three possible embodiments:
1. In order to permit the reading, at any height, of the level in a glass container 2 within a protection chamber in the form of a high-quality steel box 1, a flexible photoconductor cable made of fibreglass 3 with a cold light source 4 is used. A lens 5 at the end of the photoconductor, which is affixed to a vertically adjustable mounting 10, is adjusted to the caiibration 6 on the glass cylinder.
The adjustment of the mounting is achieved by a spindle 8, which is coupled with a drive unit which runs clockwise and anti-clockwise. Here the cold light source lies outside the steel box 1, and the reading of the filling level takes place at eye level, about 1.70 m, via an eyepiece 9 installed firmiy in the wall of the steel box 1.
2. In a case where two cylinder tanks stand
adjacent to each other, the same measuring
arrangment can also be used for the second tank
by turning the lens through 1800, for example
with an electromagnet. It is possible, by means of electrical transfer of the number of spindle
revolutions and a measured data converter, to give a digital display of the tank volume at a given level.
3. This optical measuring system can be extended to cover larger groups of tanks if the spindle with the drive unit is constructed so as to be portable, and can thus be moved from tank to tank. This is particularly advantageous for measurements in chambers exposed to strong radiation, which cannot be entered without special protection from radiation.
Naturally it wouid also be possible to employ appropriate cable lines which can be controlled from outside, instead of the motorised adjustment for the lens. With very high containers, it would also be possible to arrange several level measuring devices one above the other, so that excessive demands are not made upon the flexibility of the photoconductor.
Finally, it should be mentioned that it is of course also possible to arrange the eyepiece movably outside the steel box 1, that is not placed rigidly upon the wall of the steel box 1, and also to arrange the photoconductor 3 so that it can be slid through the protective wall.
Claims (8)
1. A level measuring device for materials which are situated in calibrated transparent$ontainers or opaque containers with calibrated communicating tubes in the form of inspection glasses, and which are kept in inaccessible protection chambers, wherein a vertically movable lens is provided adjacent to the inspection glass or transparent container, which lens is connected via a flexible fibreglass photoconductor to an eyepiece arranged outside the protection chamber.
2. A level measuring device as claimed in claim
1, wherein a cold light source is provided for the illumination of the inspection glass or transparent container, which light source shines into the photoconductor from outside the protection chamber.
3. A level measuring device as claimed in claim
1 or 2, wherein a spindle with a motorised drive is provided for the vertical adjustment of the lens.
4. A level measuring device as claimed in claim
1 or 2, wherein a cable line with a motorised drive is provided for the vertical adjustment of the lens.
5. A level measuring device as claimed in claim 3 or 4, wherein the adjusting displacement and thus the filling level can be digitally displayed via the drive motor.
6. A level measuring device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the measuring device can be used for several containers by appropriate adjustment of the lens.
7. A level measuring device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the device is used for the measurement for quantities of radioactive liquid or powder.
8. A level measuring device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawing.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| DE19792928718 DE2928718A1 (en) | 1979-07-16 | 1979-07-16 | LEVEL MEASURING DEVICE |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB2054895A true GB2054895A (en) | 1981-02-18 |
| GB2054895B GB2054895B (en) | 1983-06-08 |
Family
ID=6075864
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB8023105A Expired GB2054895B (en) | 1979-07-16 | 1980-07-15 | Radio-active material level measuring |
Country Status (5)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| JP (1) | JPS5618725A (en) |
| BE (1) | BE883955A (en) |
| DE (1) | DE2928718A1 (en) |
| FR (1) | FR2461933A1 (en) |
| GB (1) | GB2054895B (en) |
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2205968A (en) * | 1987-06-15 | 1988-12-21 | Edward Loughran | Remote viewing optical fibre cable systems |
| WO2001057480A1 (en) * | 2000-01-31 | 2001-08-09 | Velho J Vittorio | Manual and electronic scales to measure volume of contents in liquor bottles |
Families Citing this family (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE3411083C2 (en) * | 1984-03-26 | 1986-10-30 | BFW Ditschun GmbH Büro für Wärmemeßtechnik, 4800 Bielefeld | Device for reading on heat cost allocators |
| GB8828761D0 (en) * | 1988-12-09 | 1989-01-18 | Seetru Ltd | Supplement to liquid level gauge adapted to close circuit television viewing |
Family Cites Families (6)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3265584A (en) * | 1963-11-13 | 1966-08-09 | Richard C Cooper | Nuclear reactor viewing system |
| FR1446499A (en) * | 1965-06-12 | 1966-07-22 | Optical device for distant optical measurements in a closed chamber, under pressure | |
| US3466928A (en) * | 1967-09-15 | 1969-09-16 | Gen Motors Corp | Fiber optic liquid level indicator |
| DE1964495A1 (en) * | 1969-12-23 | 1971-07-01 | Siemens Ag | Fibre optical light guide extension to inspec - tion endoscope |
| DE2154405A1 (en) * | 1970-10-28 | 1972-05-04 | East Bristol Eng Ltd | Device for monitoring a liquid level |
| GB2012447A (en) * | 1977-12-06 | 1979-07-25 | Moskov Inzh I | Remote Viewing of Objects |
-
1979
- 1979-07-16 DE DE19792928718 patent/DE2928718A1/en not_active Ceased
-
1980
- 1980-06-23 BE BE0/201135A patent/BE883955A/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1980-07-09 FR FR8015309A patent/FR2461933A1/en active Granted
- 1980-07-15 GB GB8023105A patent/GB2054895B/en not_active Expired
- 1980-07-16 JP JP9743080A patent/JPS5618725A/en active Pending
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2205968A (en) * | 1987-06-15 | 1988-12-21 | Edward Loughran | Remote viewing optical fibre cable systems |
| WO2001057480A1 (en) * | 2000-01-31 | 2001-08-09 | Velho J Vittorio | Manual and electronic scales to measure volume of contents in liquor bottles |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| BE883955A (en) | 1980-10-16 |
| DE2928718A1 (en) | 1981-02-12 |
| FR2461933A1 (en) | 1981-02-06 |
| FR2461933B1 (en) | 1984-12-14 |
| GB2054895B (en) | 1983-06-08 |
| JPS5618725A (en) | 1981-02-21 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCNP | Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee |