ITTA20120006A1 - MAGNETIC DEVICE FOR DETECTION OF NON-ACCOUNTING WATER FLOWS. - Google Patents

Description

DESCRIPTION

Currently there are different types of water meters that differ on the basis of different technical characteristics and applications: single-jet meters, multi-jet meters, tangential meters, Woltmann meters, electronic meters and others less common.

Most of these types of water meters, apart from constructive differences and some technical details, share the fact that they work thanks to a principle: the water, passing inside the body of the meter, transfers its own movement to a blade or a turbine or a propeller, whose rotation allows to detect the liquid flow rate and therefore to determine its consumption.

In other cases the measurement takes place using different principles, such as ultrasound, electromagnetic field, etc.

All these types of meters have a lower flow rate limit, which may vary from model to model but generally is of the order of 20-30 liters / h, below which the passage of water does not cause any movement. of the blades that form the turbine or in any case on the detection system on the meter. When situations of this type occur, the meter does not detect any consumption, although the passage of liquid still occurs. In water distribution networks for civil uses, this unaccounted for consumption can range from 5 to 10% or more of the total consumption recorded.

Some systems for detecting unaccounted flows are known in the literature, among which the most important is the UFR system, based on a piston that opens or closes a water flow in relation to the equilibrium between the downstream pressures and upstream of it is the elastic force of a spring which pushes into the closed position.

When the flow rate falls below the detection limit of the meter, the piston closes the circuit pushed by the spring and remains in this position until, due to leaks or micro-consumption, the pressure downstream of the piston drops so much that it no longer balances that at Mountain.

The resulting abrupt passage of water, until the previous equilibrium is restored, is read by the meter.

The UFR system is therefore of a mechanical type and guarantees good effectiveness only if the spring is suitably calibrated in relation to the flow it has to measure.

Furthermore, such a system may be subject, during operation, to various problems, such as a progressive drift in the calibration of the spring, wear phenomena, corrosion points that can compromise the effectiveness and reliability of the device. Finally, it requires a considerable volume of space in order to function.

To obviate these drawbacks and obtain other and further advantages, the applicant has studied and implemented the present invention.

The subject of this patent is a device based on the interaction between magnets which, inserted inside a pipe in which a liquid flows, is able to make water flow rates less than the sensitivity limits of water meters detectable and measurable. Currently in use.

Figures 1-4 describe the device according to the invention.

In Figure 1, the device is inserted, as an example but not of limitation, inside the tube (A) of a standard connection for water meters (B). Figure 2 shows the detail of the device, highlighting its constituent parts, while Figure 3 shows a front view (from the water inlet part) and Figure 4 shows a rear view (from the water outlet).

The device consists of a cartridge (1) in plastic or diamagnetic metal material (copper, brass, etc.), of such shape and size that it can be inserted into the sleeve A so as to adhere to its internal walls and equipped with a stop system (internal or external to the quill) to maintain its position. Inside the device there are two magnetic elements (2 and 3) having equal opposite poles so as to create a mutual repulsion.

The magnet (2) is bound to a rod (4) placed, by means of special supports (5), along the central axis of the connecting tube (A), and passing through a hole placed in the center of the magnet (3 ). The magnet (2) is fixed to a sealing element (6) of such dimensions and materials as to allow the closing of the fluid passage hole (7).

The device of the present invention allows to open or close a water flow in relation to the difference between the pressures downstream and upstream of it and to the repulsive force existing between the magnets present.

During normal water delivery, the piston formed by the magnet (2) and the sealing element (6), pushed by the speed and the upper pressure of the water flow, moves towards the fixed magnet (3), overcoming it the repulsive force and allowing the passage of water. When the flow rate falls below the detection limit of the meter (B), the force with which it pushes the sealing element decreases, making the magnetic repulsion force prevail which closes the flow. The situation remains this way until, in the presence of leaks or micro-consumption, the pressure downstream of the device becomes so low that the repulsion force of the magnets mounted on the device is no longer sufficient to keep the piston closed.

The abrupt passage of water that originates at the opening of the piston is read by the meter (B) and continues until the balance between the pressures and the magnetic forces present is re-established. The main advantages offered by the present invention with respect to similar known systems are:

- reduced overall dimensions as the device can be inserted in a standard connection of water meters, both those already in operation and those new to be assembled;

- fluid opening and closing speed with an ON-OFF mode which, compared to other more progressive systems, makes it possible to increase the recovery efficiency of unaccounted for losses;

- possibility of operating simultaneously also as a non-return valve in the event that the pressure downstream of the device is greater than that upstream of the same and there is the possibility of an unwanted backflow of water;

- reduction of limestone deposits inside the pipe, thanks to the influence exerted by the permanent magnetic fields on the minerals present in the water, in particular on the carbonate component.

- absence of mechanical problems which, during operation, can lead to problems of reliability and duration as a result of loss of spring calibration, wear or corrosion with consequent compromise in effectiveness.

Claims (1)

CLAIMS 1. cartridge device (1) made of plastic or non-ferromagnetic metal material, to be inserted in a duct in which a liquid or gaseous fluid flows, so that it adheres to its internal walls and equipped with stop systems to maintain its position ; in it there being two permanent magnets (2 and 3) having the same opposite poles, of which the first (2) constrained to a rod (4) free to slide according to the central axis of the cartridge and passing through a hole placed at the center of the second magnet (3); the magnet (2) being fixed to a sealing element (6) which allows the closure of the fluid passage hole (7). 2. device according to claim 1 wherein at the fluid inlet (7) the body of the device is made of ferromagnetic material or of a permanent magnet in attraction with respect to the magnet (2). 3. device according to claims 1 and 2, in which elements of ferromagnetic material (eg stainless steel) are fixed between the present magnets in order to regulate the extension and intensity of the magnetic field. 4. device according to the preceding claims in which magnetic sensors are applied to the device which allow to signal its openings and closings