JP2003202253A - Powder flow measuring instrument, powder flow measuring program, and computer-readable recording medium for recording same program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To measure the flow of powder relatively accurately even in a case where the flow speed of the powder varies. <P>SOLUTION: In addition to counter electrodes 13 and 14 between which a flow path 16 for the powder is interposed, an electrode part 1 is equipped with counter electrodes 11 and 12 as reference electrodes between which an atmosphere common to the flow path of the powder is interposed. The pair of electrodes 13 and 14, between which the flow path 16 for the powder is interposed, are provided as measuring electrodes with a fixed space left between them on the upstream and downstream sides of the flow path. A signal processing part 2 outputs, as an upstream measured value, a signal difference between an output signal of the upstream-side measuring electrode and an output signal of the reference electrode while it outputs, as a downstream measured value, a signal difference between an output signal of the downstream-side measuring electrode and the output signal of the reference electrode. A computation part 3 calculates the flow speed of the powder based on a correlation between the upstream measured values and the downstream measured values, and calculates the flow of the powder based on at least one of the upstream and downstream measured values and on the found flow speed of the powder. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a powder flow rate measuring device, a powder flow rate measuring program, and a computer-readable recording medium having the program recorded therein, and more particularly, between opposing electrodes sandwiching a powder flow path. The present invention relates to a powder flow rate measuring device or the like that measures a powder flow rate based on a change in capacitance.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art This type of powder flow rate measuring device is, for example,
It is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-271301. A cylindrical tube that serves as a powder flow path is sandwiched between electrodes, and the powder moves between these electrodes, causing a change in the capacitance between the electrodes, and the flow rate of the powder in accordance with this change in capacitance. Is designed to measure.

The flow rate of the powder is obtained by multiplying the powder concentration calculated according to the electrostatic capacity, the speed of the powder and a predetermined coefficient.

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional example, the flow rate of the powder is calculated assuming that the velocity of the powder is constant. Even if there is a fluctuation in, the flow rate of the powder is calculated under the condition that the flow velocity is constant. Therefore, in such a case, there is an inconvenience that the flow rate of the powder cannot be accurately measured.

[0005]

It is an object of the present invention to improve the inconvenience of the conventional example, and in particular, to provide an apparatus capable of relatively accurately measuring the flow rate of powder even when the flow velocity of powder fluctuates. The purpose is to provide.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, in the invention according to claim 1, an electric signal corresponding to the electrostatic capacitance between the counter electrodes is output from the counter electrodes sandwiching the powder flow path. An electrode section and a signal processing section that adjusts an output signal from the electrode section are provided. Further, it has an arithmetic unit for calculating the flow rate of the powder based on the signal adjusted by the signal processing unit, and an output unit for outputting the arithmetic result by the arithmetic unit to the output device.

Of these, the electrode portion is provided with a counter electrode as a reference electrode for sandwiching an atmosphere common to the powder flow passage, in addition to the counter electrode for sandwiching the powder flow passage. In addition, at least the counter electrodes sandwiching the powder flow path are provided as a set of measurement electrodes on the upstream side and the downstream side of the flow path with a predetermined space therebetween.

On the other hand, the signal processing unit outputs the signal difference between the output signal of the upstream measurement electrode and the output signal of the reference electrode as the upstream measurement value, and also outputs the output signal of the downstream measurement electrode and the output of the reference electrode. It has a difference output function of outputting a signal difference from the signal as a downstream measurement value.

In addition to this, the calculation unit calculates the flow velocity of the powder based on the correlation between the upstream measurement value and the downstream measurement value, and the flow velocity of the powder obtained by the flow velocity calculating function, and the upstream measurement value or the downstream measurement value. And a flow rate calculating function for calculating the flow rate of the powder based on at least one of the above.

In the present invention, the velocity of the powder is sequentially calculated based on the correlation between the upstream measurement value and the downstream measurement value, and the flow rate of the powder is calculated based on the calculated velocity. Even if it occurs, it is possible to measure the powder flow rate from time to time relatively accurately. Moreover, since the flow velocity of the powder is obtained based on the difference between the signal obtained from the reference electrode and the signal obtained from the measurement electrode, it is possible to perform the measurement with high accuracy without the influence of the atmosphere.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the calculation unit calculates an average value of the upstream measurement value or the downstream measurement value within the unit measurement time, and the average value and the unit measurement obtained by the flow velocity calculating function. The flow rate of the powder within the unit measurement time is calculated based on the product of the flow velocity of the powder within the time and a predetermined coefficient stored in advance.

Further, in the invention according to claim 3, the invention according to claim 2
In the powder flow rate measuring device described, the calculation unit, after calculating the flow rate of the powder within the unit measurement time, further integrates the flow rate of the powder within the unit measurement time along the time axis, and the integration The configuration is such that the flow rate of powder in the section is calculated.

In addition to this, in the invention according to claim 4, in the powder flow rate measuring device according to claim 1, the arithmetic unit is provided with a computer and a storage means, and causes the computer to execute the following processing. That is, (a) the upstream measurement value and the downstream measurement value are acquired from the signal processing unit at any time, and the input processing for storing in the storage means, and (b) the upstream measurement value and the downstream measurement value are read out from the storage means. A flow velocity calculation process for calculating the flow velocity of the powder based on the correlation, and (c) a flow amount of the powder is calculated based on at least one of the upstream measurement value or the downstream measurement value and the flow velocity of the powder obtained by the flow velocity calculation process. And a flow rate calculation process to be performed.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the flow rate calculation process causes the computer to execute the following process.
That is, the average value of the upstream measurement value or the downstream measurement value in the unit measurement time is calculated, and the average value, the flow velocity of the powder in the unit time obtained by the flow velocity calculation function, and the predetermined coefficient stored in advance. A process of calculating the powder flow rate in a unit time is executed based on the product of

Further, in the invention according to claim 6, the invention according to claim 5
In the powder flow rate measurement program described, the flow rate calculation process causes the computer to execute the following process. That is, after calculating the flow rate of the powder within the unit measurement time,
A process of integrating the powder flow rate within the unit measurement time along the time axis and calculating the powder flow rate within the integration section is executed.

The invention of claim 7 is the same as that of claim 4.
It is a computer-readable recording medium in which the powder flow rate measuring program according to any one of 6 to 6 is recorded.

This is intended to achieve the above-mentioned object.

[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A first preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. Figure 1
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

The powder flow rate measuring apparatus shown in FIG. 1 includes an electrode section 1 for outputting an electric signal corresponding to the electrostatic capacitance between the counter electrodes 13 and 14 sandwiching a powder flow path 16 and the electrode section 1. The signal processing unit 2 for adjusting the output signal from the electrode unit 1 is provided. Further, it has an arithmetic unit 3 that calculates the flow rate of the powder based on the signal adjusted by the signal processing unit 2, and an output unit 4 that outputs the arithmetic result of the arithmetic unit 3 to the output device 41.

Of these, the electrode portion 1 is separated from the counter electrodes 13 and 14 that sandwich the powder flow path 16 and the powder flow path 16 is provided.
A counter electrode 11 as a reference electrode sandwiching an atmosphere common to
It has twelve. The counter electrodes 13 and 14 that sandwich the powder flow path 16 are provided as a set of measurement electrodes on the upstream side and the downstream side of the flow path 16 with a predetermined interval.

On the other hand, the signal processing unit 2 outputs the signal difference between the output signal of the upstream measurement electrode 13 and the output signal of the reference electrode 11 as an upstream measurement value, and at the same time, the downstream measurement electrode 1
4 has a difference output function of outputting a signal difference between the output signal of No. 4 and the output signal of the reference electrode 12 as a downstream measurement value.

In addition to this, the calculation unit 3 calculates the flow velocity of the powder based on the correlation between the upstream measurement value and the downstream measurement value, and at least one of the upstream measurement value and the downstream measurement value and the flow velocity calculation. It has a flow rate calculating function for calculating the flow rate of the powder based on the flow velocity of the powder obtained by the function.

In the present embodiment, the calculation unit 3 calculates the average value of the upstream measurement value or the downstream measurement value within the unit measurement time, and the average value and the powder within the unit measurement time obtained by the flow velocity calculating function. The flow rate of the powder within a unit measurement time is calculated based on the product of the flow velocity and the predetermined coefficient stored in advance (hereinafter referred to as the flow coefficient).

Further, in the present embodiment, the arithmetic unit 3 is
After calculating the powder flow rate within the unit measurement time, further integrate the powder flow rate within this unit measurement time along the time axis to calculate the powder flow rate (total flow rate) within the integration section. It is supposed to do.

More specifically, in the present embodiment, the electrode portion 1 has two cylindrical tubes, one of which 16 functions as a powder passage 16 and the other 15 of which is the reference electrode 1.
It is provided for fixing 1 and 12, and both are placed in a common atmosphere (for example, outside air). An upstream measurement electrode 13 is fixed to the upstream side of the cylindrical tube 16 forming the powder flow path 16. Further, on the downstream side of the same cylindrical pipe 16,
The measurement electrode 14 on the downstream side is fixed. The measurement electrode 13 on the upstream side and the measurement electrode 14 on the downstream side are fixed to the cylindrical tube 16 with a predetermined interval. The cylindrical tube 16 is made of an insulating material. On the other hand, in the other cylindrical tube 15 for fixing the reference electrodes 11 and 12, the above-mentioned measurement electrodes 13 and 1 are attached.
Similar to the mounting method of 4, the two reference electrodes 11 and 12 are fixed at a predetermined interval. This cylindrical tube 15 is also made of an insulating material. Each measuring electrode 1
3, 14 and the reference electrodes 11, 12 are configured as counter electrodes sandwiching the cylindrical tubes 15, 16, but one of the opposing electrodes 11a, 12a, 13a, 14a is connected to a high frequency AC power source, respectively. An alternating voltage is applied. The two measuring electrodes 13 and 14 are respectively connected to one terminal 18 of the high frequency AC power supply, and the two reference electrodes 11 and 12 are the other terminals 1 of the high frequency AC power supply.
7 are connected respectively. Further, the other electrode 11 of the reference electrodes 11 and 12 and the measurement electrodes 13 and 14 that face each other.
b, 12b, 13b, and 14b are connected to the signal processing unit 2 and output output signals corresponding to the electrostatic capacitances between the counter electrodes 11, 12, 13, and 14, respectively.

That is, the measurement electrodes 13 and 14 and the reference electrode 1
Both 1 and 12 are capacitance type electrodes. And
A guard electrode and a capacitance detection circuit (not shown) are formed on the measurement electrodes 13 and 14 and the reference electrodes 11 and 12, and a high frequency sine wave voltage is applied thereto. The output is obtained as a voltage, but the output voltage is a value proportional to the detected capacitance. Therefore, the measurement electrode outputs the electrostatic capacity of the powder and the surrounding fluid passing through the flow path as the voltage output.

As a result, from the measuring electrode 13 on the upstream side,
A voltage proportional to the electrostatic capacity upstream of the flow path is output, and a voltage proportional to the electrostatic capacity downstream of the flow path is output from the measurement electrode 14 on the downstream side. In addition, the reference electrodes 11 and 12 output a voltage proportional to the electrostatic capacitance in the atmosphere.

Subsequently, the signal processing section 2 corresponds to the upstream measurement electrode 13 and the downstream measurement electrode 14, respectively.
A system signal processing circuit is provided. One system of signal processing circuit includes a pair of buffer amplifiers 21, 22 (23, 2
4), the comparison circuit 25 (26), and the amplifier 27 (28)
, And two such signal processing circuits are provided. The output of the measurement electrode 13 on the upstream side and the output of the one reference electrode 11 are individually connected to the buffer amplifiers 21 and 22 of the first system. The outputs of the buffer amplifiers 21 and 22 are connected to the input terminal of the comparison circuit 25, and the output of the comparison circuit 25 is connected to the input terminal of the amplifier 27. The output of the amplifier 27 is input to the arithmetic unit 3. The configuration of the signal processing circuit of the second system is similar, but the output of the measurement electrode 14 on the downstream side and the output of the other reference electrode 12 are individually connected to the buffer amplifiers 23 and 24 of the second system. Has been done.

As a result, the comparison circuit 25 of the first system is
While the difference between the output signals of the upstream measurement electrode 13 and the one reference electrode 11 is calculated as the upstream measurement value, the comparison circuit 26 of the second system calculates the difference between the downstream measurement electrode 14 and the other reference electrode 12. The difference between the output signals is calculated as the downstream measurement value (difference output function).

Here, the buffer amplifiers 21 to 24 temporarily store the input signal value of the measurement electrode or the reference electrode, synchronize the output timing with other buffer amplifiers, and output to the comparison circuit.

That is, the output signal value from the upstream measurement electrode 13 is output from the buffer amplifier 21, and the output signal value from one reference electrode 11 is output from the buffer amplifier 22.
And is input to the input terminal of the comparison circuit 25.
The comparison circuit 25 is connected to the amplifier 27, and
The inputs are compared, and the difference between the signal values is output to the amplifier 27. Similarly, the output signal value from the measurement electrode 14 on the downstream side is output from the buffer amplifier 23, and the output signal value from the other reference electrode 12 is output from the buffer amplifier 24 to the input terminal of the comparison circuit 26. Is entered. The comparison circuit 26 is connected to the amplifier 28, compares the two inputs, and outputs the difference between the signal values to the amplifier 28.

As a result, the amplifier 27 of the first system outputs the difference between the outputs of the measurement electrode 13 on the upstream side and the reference electrode 11 on one side as an upstream measurement value, and the amplifier 28 of the second system outputs it. The difference in output between the downstream measurement electrode 14 and the other reference electrode 12 is output as the downstream measurement value.

The amplifier 27 of the first system performs a predetermined amplification on the input signal and inputs the upstream measurement value, which is the value after the amplification, to the speed measuring means 31 and the concentration measuring means 32 of the arithmetic unit 3. Similarly, the amplifier 28 of the second system also performs a predetermined amplification on the input signal, and inputs the downstream measurement value, which is the value after the amplification, to the speed measuring means 31. Here, the upstream measurement value is input to the concentration measuring unit 32, but the downstream measurement value may be input instead of the upstream measurement value. Here, the speed measuring means 31 and the concentration measuring means 32 are composed of electric circuits.

Subsequently, the calculation unit 3 calculates the flow velocity of the powder on the basis of the correlation between the input upstream measurement value and the downstream measurement value. Concentration measuring means 32 for calculating an average value (powder concentration) within the measuring time, this average value, and flow velocity calculating means 3
It controls the flow rate calculation function that calculates the flow rate of the powder in the unit measurement time based on the product of the flow velocity of the powder in the unit measurement time obtained by 1 and the predetermined coefficient (flow coefficient) stored in advance. The flow rate calculation means 33 is provided. Further, after the flow rate calculating means 33 calculates the powder flow rate within the unit measurement time, the calculation unit 3 further integrates the powder flow rate within the unit measurement time along the time axis, and the integration section concerned. It has a flow rate integrating means 34 for calculating the flow rate (total flow rate) of the powder inside. The unit measurement time is, for example, 0.
It is a short time of about 5 [sec]. However, the sampling time of the upstream measurement value and the downstream measurement value is set to a shorter time obtained by dividing the unit measurement time here.

Here, each of the means 31 to 34 may be configured as an electronic circuit, and each of the means 31 to 34 may include a microprocessor for calculation.

Then, at the input stage of the flow velocity calculating means 31,
The output of the amplifier 27 of the first system and the output of the amplifier 28 of the second system are connected.

Here, the method of calculating the flow velocity of the powder by the flow velocity calculating means 31 by the correlation between the upstream measurement value and the downstream measurement value will be described in detail with reference to FIG. Flow velocity calculating means 31
Uses the normalized correlation coefficient to identify a section of the upstream measurement value whose waveform matches a certain section of the downstream measurement value in time series. Specifically, the normalized correlation coefficient between the upstream measurement value and the downstream measurement value is calculated while moving the upstream measurement value in the predetermined section in the old direction of the time axis at each sampling time and extracting the upstream measurement value. Then, when the normalized correlation coefficient exceeds a predetermined threshold and becomes maximum, it is determined that the two match, and the condition in which the upstream measurement value and the downstream measurement value match is specified. . If specified, the time difference between upstream and downstream (T-delay) can be calculated as shown in FIG. Here, since the distance between the upstream measurement electrode and the downstream measurement electrode is known L, the flow velocity of the powder can be obtained by dividing the distance L by the time difference (T-delay).

Returning to FIG. 1, either the output of the amplifier 27 of the first system (solid line) or the output of the amplifier 28 of the second system (dotted line) is connected to the input stage of the concentration calculating means 32. Here, inputting only one of the upstream measurement value or the downstream measurement value is because the powder that has passed through the upstream normally moves in parallel and passes through the downstream, so that the upstream measurement value within a predetermined period This is because the average value of 1 and the average value of the downstream measurement values can be considered to be almost the same.
Here, the upstream measurement value (or the downstream measurement value) is the measurement electrode 1
It becomes a value proportional to the concentration of the powder passing through 3 (14).
The concentration calculation means 32 calculates an average value of a plurality of upstream measurement values sampled within the unit measurement time, which is a value proportional to the concentration of the powder passing through the measurement electrode 13.

Then, in the input stage of the flow rate calculation means 33,
The output of the flow velocity calculation means 31 and the output of the concentration calculation means 32 are connected. The flow rate calculation unit 33 has an average value of the upstream measurement value or the downstream measurement value calculated by the concentration calculation unit 32,
The flow rate of the powder passing through the measurement electrode 13 (14) within a unit measurement time is calculated by calculating the product of the flow rate calculated by the flow rate calculation means 31 and a predetermined flow coefficient.

The flow rate coefficient is obtained by dividing the known flow rate by the average value of the upstream measurement value (or the downstream measurement value) and the constant flow rate while allowing the powder to be measured to flow at a constant flow rate and flow rate. The value unique to the powder is obtained.

After the flow rate calculating means 33 calculates the flow rate of the powder within the unit measurement time, the flow rate integrating means 34 further integrates the flow rate of the powder within the unit measurement time along the time axis, and Calculate the powder flow rate (total flow rate) within the integration interval.

Next, the output section 4 will be described. The output unit 4 outputs the calculation result of the calculation unit 3 to the output device 41. The output device 41 is a display device such as a CRT display or a liquid crystal monitor, but also includes an interface necessary for connection. Further, a printing device such as a printer may be used as long as the calculation result can be output. Output device 41
Includes the output value of the flow velocity calculating means 31 and the flow rate calculating means 33.
And the output value of the flow rate integrating means 34 are output.

According to the present embodiment described above, the powder flow velocity is calculated each time based on the correlation between the upstream measurement value and the downstream measurement value of the measurement electrodes 13 and 14 provided in the powder flow path, and the powder flow rate is calculated. Since it is reflected in the calculation of the flow rate, the flow rate of the powder can be accurately calculated as compared with the conventional example when the flow rate of the powder fluctuates. Moreover, since the calculation is performed based on the difference between the outputs of the measurement electrode and the reference electrode, it is possible to suppress the influence of fluctuations in the atmosphere (for example, temperature and humidity), which makes the environment unstable. It is possible to measure the powder flow rate with high accuracy even in environments with different atmospheres.

Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The same parts as those of the above-described embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and the duplicated description will be omitted.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of this embodiment. The configurations of the electrode unit 1, the signal processing unit 2, and the output unit 4 are the same as those in the above-described embodiment. The function of the arithmetic unit 103 is similar to that of the arithmetic unit 3 of the above-described embodiment, but the present embodiment is different in that the arithmetic unit 3 is realized by computer processing.

Therefore, the arithmetic unit 10 in the present embodiment.
3 is a processing means 132 including an MPU, ROM, RAM,
The storage means 131 includes a hard disk drive and the like. The processing unit 132 is connected to the signal processing unit 2 via a predetermined interface, and this interface includes an A / D converter that digitally converts the upstream measurement value and the downstream measurement value output from the signal processing unit 2. I'm out. Further, the processing means 132 is connected to the output device 41, which is a computer display or a printer, via a predetermined interface. The storage unit 131 stores the same flow coefficient 131a as that described in the above embodiment.

Here, in FIG. 3, only one storage means is shown for convenience, but a plurality of storage media may be dispersedly arranged.

Further, in a predetermined area of the storage means 131,
The upstream measurement value and the downstream measurement value output from the signal processing unit 2 are stored for each sampling time.

Further, the number of processing means 132 is not limited to one, but may be one which enables distributed processing by a plurality of MPUs or a plurality of types of arithmetic units.

Next, the operation of the processing means 132 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The following operation is realized by the processing unit 132, which is a computer, executing the powder flow rate measurement program prepared in advance. The powder flow rate measuring program may be recorded in a computer-readable recording medium and distributed.

First, the processing means 132 continuously samples the upstream measurement value and the downstream measurement value output from the signal processing unit 2 (S101: input processing), and obtains the acquired upstream measurement value and downstream measurement value. It is stored in the storage means 131 at any time (S
102). After that, the processing unit 132 reads continuous samples of the upstream measurement value and the downstream measurement value within the unit measurement time from the storage unit 131 (S103), and determines the correlation between the upstream measurement value and the downstream measurement value within the unit measurement time. Based on this, the flow velocity of the powder is calculated (S104: flow velocity calculation process). Here, the method of calculating the flow velocity based on the correlation is the same as that of the first embodiment described above. Then, the processing means 13
2 reads the upstream measurement value or the downstream measurement value within the unit measurement time from the storage means 131 (S105), and calculates the average value of the upstream measurement value or the downstream measurement value within the unit measurement time (S106). Subsequently, the processing means 132
The flow coefficient 131a is read from the storage means 131 (S10
7), The flow rate of the powder per unit measurement time is dynamically calculated from the product of the flow coefficient, the average value of the upstream measurement value or the downstream measurement value calculated previously, and the flow velocity of the powder calculated previously ( S108: Flow rate calculation process). And the processing means 132
Stores the calculated flow rate and flow velocity of the powder in the unit measurement time in the storage means 131 and outputs the output device 41.
(S109).

The processing means 132 executes the above-described calculation of the powder flow rate in the unit measurement time for each continuous unit measurement time, and stores the powder flow rate in each unit measurement time in the storage means 131 each time. . When the powder flow rate for each unit measurement time is stored for a certain section, the processing means 132
Integrates the powder flow rate corresponding to each unit measurement time using the certain section as an integration section (S110). Processing means 1
32 is an output device 41 which uses this integrated value as the total flow rate of the powder.
(S111).

In this way as well, in addition to the same effects as the first embodiment described above, the arithmetic unit 103 can be realized by supplying software to a general-purpose computer, and effective use of existing hardware resources. In addition, there is an advantage that functions can be easily added by upgrading the software version.

[0054]

Since the present invention is constructed and functions as described above, according to the present invention, the powder velocity is sequentially calculated based on the correlation between the upstream measurement value and the downstream measurement value, and based on the calculated velocity. Since the flow rate of the powder is calculated by using the flow rate of the powder, the flow rate of the powder can be measured with relative accuracy from time to time even when the flow velocity of the powder fluctuates. Moreover, since the flow velocity of the powder is obtained based on the difference between the signal obtained from the reference electrode and the signal obtained from the measurement electrode, it is possible to perform highly accurate measurement without the influence of the atmosphere. It is possible to provide a powder flow rate measuring device.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an operation for obtaining a powder flow velocity based on a correlation between an upstream measurement value and a downstream measurement value.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of another embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a flowchart of a powder flow rate measurement program executed by the processing means shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 electrode part 2 Signal processing unit 3 operation unit 4 Output section 11,12 Reference electrode 13 Measurement electrode on the upstream side 14 Downstream measurement electrode 103 arithmetic unit 131 storage means 132 processing means

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. An electrode section for outputting an electric signal according to a capacitance between the counter electrodes sandwiching a powder flow path, and a signal processing section for adjusting an output signal from the electrode section. A powder flow rate measuring device comprising: a calculation unit for calculating a flow rate of powder based on a signal adjusted by the signal processing unit; and an output unit for outputting a calculation result by the calculation unit to an output device, wherein the electrode And a counter electrode that sandwiches a common atmosphere with the powder flow passage, and at least a counter electrode that sandwiches the powder flow passage. The electrodes are provided as a measurement electrode on the upstream side and the downstream side of the flow path with a predetermined distance therebetween, and the signal processing unit includes an output signal of the upstream measurement electrode and an output signal of the reference electrode. Output the signal difference as an upstream measurement value and With a difference output function for outputting the signal difference between the output signal of the measurement electrode on the side and the output signal of the reference electrode as a downstream measurement value, the calculation unit is based on the correlation between the upstream measurement value and the downstream measurement value. A flow rate calculation function for calculating the flow rate of the powder, and a flow rate calculation for calculating the flow rate of the powder based on at least one of the upstream measurement value and the downstream measurement value and the flow rate of the powder obtained by the flow rate calculation function. A powder flow rate measuring device having a function. 2. The calculation unit calculates an average value of the upstream measurement value or the downstream measurement value within a unit measurement time, and the average value and the powder within the unit measurement time obtained by the flow velocity calculating function. 2. The powder flow rate measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the flow rate of the powder within the unit measurement time is calculated based on the product of the flow velocity of the above and a predetermined coefficient stored in advance. 3. The powder flow rate measuring device according to claim 2, wherein the calculation unit calculates the flow rate of the powder within the unit measurement time, and further calculates the flow rate of the powder within the unit measurement time. A powder flow rate measuring device characterized by integrating along a time axis and calculating a powder flow rate within the integration section. 4. The powder flow rate measuring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the computing unit includes a computer and a storage unit, and (a) the signal processing unit stores the upstream measurement value and the downstream measurement value in the computer. An input process that is acquired from time to time and stored in the storage unit, and (b) a flow velocity calculation process that reads the upstream measurement value and the downstream measurement value from the storage unit and calculates the flow velocity of the powder based on these correlations. And (c) a flow rate calculation process for calculating the flow rate of the powder based on at least one of the upstream measurement value or the downstream measurement value and the flow velocity of the powder obtained by the flow rate calculation process. And the powder flow rate measurement program. 5. The flow rate calculation process calculates, in the computer, an average value of the upstream measurement value or the downstream measurement value within a unit measurement time, and the average value and the unit time obtained by the flow velocity calculation function. 5. The powder flow rate according to claim 4, wherein a process for calculating a powder flow rate in the unit time based on a product of a flow velocity of the powder in the above and a predetermined coefficient stored in advance is executed. Measurement program. 6. The powder flow rate measurement program according to claim 5, wherein the flow rate calculation processing causes the computer to calculate a flow rate of the powder within the unit measurement time,
Furthermore, the powder flow rate measuring program characterized by executing a process of integrating the powder flow rate within the unit measurement time along the time axis and calculating the powder flow rate within the integration section. 7. A computer-readable recording medium in which the powder flow rate measuring program according to claim 4 is recorded.