JP2007248124A - Liquid quantity measuring instrument - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a liquid quantity measuring instrument capable of precisely measuring the quantity of reserved liquid. <P>SOLUTION: The liquid quantity measuring instrument 1 comprises a vessel 2 where liquid is separated from gas-liquid mixed fluid in an internal space 20 and the liquid is reserved under it, and a measuring section for measuring the quantity of the liquid reserved in the vessel 2. At least two partition plates 6 and 7 for vertically partitioning the internal space 20 are disposed vertically at an interval in the internal space 20 of the vessel 2. These partition plates 6 and 7 are provided with a circulation hole for dropping the separated liquid from the gas-liquid mixed fluid. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid amount measuring device capable of accurately measuring the amount of separated liquid while separating a gas-liquid mixed fluid into gas and liquid.

Conventionally, as described in Patent Document 1, for example, a cyclone type gas-liquid separator is known. This cyclone type gas-liquid separator is composed of a gas-liquid separation part having a ceiling wall and a circular cylindrical peripheral wall, and a bottomed container-like liquid storage part provided below the gas-liquid separation part. And has an internal space surrounded by the gas-liquid separation part and the liquid storage part. The gas-liquid separation unit causes the liquid contained in the gas-liquid mixed fluid to adhere to the inner wall surface of the peripheral wall by causing the gas-liquid mixed fluid to flow into the inside from a horizontally extending inflow pipe at a high speed and swirling, and centrifugally The gas and liquid are separated by force. The separated gas is discharged from an outflow pipe extending vertically through the ceiling wall of the gas-liquid separation unit, and the separated liquid falls along the inner wall surface of the peripheral wall and is stored in the liquid storage unit. It has come to be.
JP 2004-342385 A

  In recent years, such a gas-liquid separator is provided with a measuring unit that measures the amount of stored liquid, and the amount of separated liquid can be measured while separating the gas-liquid mixed fluid into gas and liquid. Such a liquid amount measuring device is being developed.

  However, in the cyclone type gas-liquid separator as described above, for example, the gas-liquid mixed fluid is allowed to flow into the gas-liquid separation unit at a high speed, so that the pressure in the gas-liquid separation unit fluctuates. A phenomenon occurs in which the liquid level of the liquid stored in the portion undulates. For this reason, the amount of liquid stored cannot be measured accurately.

  In view of such circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a liquid amount measuring device capable of accurately measuring the amount of stored liquid.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the liquid is separated from the gas-liquid mixed fluid in the internal space, and a container in which the liquid is stored in a lower portion thereof and the amount of the liquid stored in the container are measured. A measuring unit, and at least two partition plates that vertically partition the internal space are provided in the interior space of the container with a space therebetween in the vertical direction, and each of the partition plates includes the gas-liquid mixed fluid. It is a liquid quantity measuring device provided with the flow hole which makes the liquid isolate | separated from flow down.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the liquid amount measuring instrument according to the first aspect, the flow hole of the lowermost partition plate is formed by cutting out a portion of the partition plate that contacts the inner wall surface of the container. It is characterized by being formed.

  The invention according to claim 3 is the liquid amount measuring instrument according to claim 2, wherein each of the partition plates is formed in a shape rising from a peripheral portion in contact with an inner wall surface of the container toward a central portion, The flow hole of each partition plate is configured by notching the peripheral edge of the partition plate.

  The invention according to claim 4 is the liquid amount measuring instrument according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the inner wall surface of the container is below the lowermost partition plate and the flow hole of the partition plate is seen in a plan view. It has the overhang | projection part which protrudes in the range covered.

  According to the first aspect of the invention, since the internal space of the container is partitioned vertically by the at least two partition plates having the flow holes, the liquid from the gas-liquid mixed fluid is located above the uppermost partition plate. When the separation is performed, the liquid flows down through the flow holes of each partition plate and is stored below the lowermost partition plate. If pressure fluctuation occurs when the liquid is separated from the gas-liquid mixed fluid, the pressure fluctuation is transmitted downward through the flow hole of the uppermost partition plate, but at least two partition plates are spaced apart. Since it is provided, the space between these partition plates serves as a cushion layer that absorbs pressure fluctuations. That is, the pressure fluctuation transmitted downward through the flow hole of the uppermost partition plate is absorbed in the space between the partition plates and hardly transmitted below the lowermost partition plate. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the liquid level of the liquid stored below the lowermost partition plate from undulating due to pressure fluctuation, and the amount of liquid stored in the container can be accurately measured.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the portion of the lowermost partition plate that is in contact with the inner wall surface of the container is notched to form the flow hole, so that the liquid that flows down through the flow hole passes through the inner wall surface of the container. I'm going to talk. For this reason, it is possible to suppress the undulation of the liquid surface due to the liquid falling as a droplet, and it is possible to accurately measure the amount of the liquid.

  According to the invention which concerns on Claim 3, since each partition plate is formed in the shape which rises toward a center part from a peripheral part, since it has a flow hole in a peripheral part, it adheres to the upper surface of a partition plate The liquid thus guided is guided to the upper surface and guided to the peripheral portion, and flows down from the circulation hole in the peripheral portion. For this reason, it becomes possible to flow down the liquid quickly without accumulating on the partition plate.

  According to the invention which concerns on Claim 4, the distribution | circulation hole of the lowest partition plate is covered from the lower side by the overhang | projection part of the inner wall face of a container. For this reason, even if the liquid passing through the flow hole falls as a drop from the edge of the flow hole without connecting the inner wall surface, the drop will fall on the overhanging portion of the inner wall surface. It is possible to reliably prevent the liquid surface from rippled by dripping.

  Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a liquid amount measuring instrument 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a container 2 having an internal space 20 and a measuring unit that measures the amount of liquid stored in the container 2. 4 is provided.

  The container 2 is located under the gas-liquid separator 21 for separating the gas-liquid mixed fluid into gas and liquid, and stores the liquid separated by the gas-liquid separator 21. And a liquid storage part 23 for the purpose. Specifically, the gas-liquid separation unit 21 has a circular cylindrical peripheral wall 21a extending in the vertical direction and a ceiling wall 21b that closes the opening on the upper side of the peripheral wall 21a. The liquid storage unit 23 extends in the vertical direction. It has a circular cylindrical peripheral wall 23a that extends and a bottom wall 23b that closes the lower opening of the peripheral wall 23a.

  The inner diameter of the peripheral wall 21 a of the gas-liquid separation part 21 is set to be slightly larger than the inner diameter of the peripheral wall 23 a of the liquid storage part 23. Moreover, the peripheral wall 21a of the gas-liquid separation part 21 and the peripheral wall 23a of the liquid storage part 23 are concentric circles by planar view. And the lower end part of the surrounding wall 21a and the upper end part of the surrounding wall 23a are linearly connected by the conical cylinder-shaped taper part 22 extended below, diameter-reducing. That is, a continuous inner wall surface 20a surrounding the inner space 20 is constituted by the inner surface of the peripheral wall 21a, the inner surface of the tapered portion 22, and the inner surface of the peripheral wall 23a.

  An inflow pipe 31 extending in a tangential direction of a concentric circle slightly smaller than the peripheral wall 21a on the horizontal plane is provided on the upper portion of the peripheral wall 21a of the gas-liquid separation unit 21 so as to penetrate the peripheral wall 21a. An outflow pipe 32 extending in the vertical direction is provided at substantially the center of the ceiling wall 21b of the gas-liquid separator 21 so as to penetrate the ceiling wall 21b.

  The bottom wall 23b of the liquid reservoir 23 is connected to a discharge pipe 51 in which an electromagnetic valve 52 is disposed in the middle, and is stored in the liquid reservoir 23 when the electromagnetic valve 52 is opened. The liquid to be discharged is discharged.

  In the present embodiment, the measuring unit 4 is gas-liquid by a differential pressure gauge (not shown) connected to the ceiling wall 21b of the gas-liquid separation unit 21 and the bottom wall 23b of the liquid storage unit 23 by pipes 41 and 42. By measuring the differential pressure between the pressure in the separation unit 21 and the pressure of the liquid stored in the liquid storage unit 23, the amount of liquid stored in the liquid storage unit 23 is measured from the differential pressure. is there. Note that the measurement unit 4 is not limited to the one using a differential pressure gauge. For example, the measurement unit 4 measures the amount of liquid by measuring the liquid level height, or specifies the mass of the container 2 to determine the amount of liquid. It may be one that measures

  In the internal space 20, two partition plates 6 and 7 that partition the internal space 20 in the vertical direction are provided with a space in the vertical direction. Specifically, the upper partition plate 6 is disposed in the lower part of the gas-liquid separator 21, and the lower partition plate 7 is disposed in a space surrounded by the tapered portion 22.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the upper partition plate 6 has a circular shape with a diameter substantially coincident with the inner diameter of the peripheral wall 21a of the gas-liquid separator 21 in plan view, and a peripheral edge in contact with the inner surface of the peripheral wall 21a. The parts are welded and fixed. In addition, the partition plate 6 is formed in a shape that rises from the peripheral portion toward the central portion, in other words, a curved dish shape so that the central portion is convex upward.

  A plurality of flow holes 61 are formed at equal intervals on the periphery of the partition plate 6 by notching the periphery of the partition plate 6 from the outside. This flow hole 61 is for flowing down the liquid separated from the gas-liquid mixed fluid in the gas-liquid separator 21.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the lower partition plate 7 is smaller than the inner diameter of the peripheral wall 21 a of the gas-liquid separation part 21 in a plan view and is slightly more than the inner diameter of the peripheral wall 23 a of the liquid storage part 23. It has a circular shape with a large diameter. In the state where the partition plate 7 is placed on the inner side surface of the tapered portion 22, the peripheral portion that contacts the inner side surface of the tapered portion 22 is welded and fixed. Moreover, the partition plate 7 is formed in a shape that rises from the peripheral portion toward the central portion, in other words, in a dish shape that is curved so that the central portion is convex upward.

  A plurality of flow holes 71 are formed at equal intervals on the periphery of the partition plate 7 by notching the periphery of the partition plate 7 from the outside. This flow hole 71 is for flowing down the liquid separated from the gas-liquid mixed fluid in the gas-liquid separator 21. Furthermore, the size of the flow hole 71 is set to such an extent that the flow hole 71 fits in the region where the tapered portion 22 exists in a plan view. For this reason, the circulation hole 71 is covered from the lower side by the lower end portion of the inner surface of the tapered portion 22. In other words, the lower end portion of the inner side surface of the taper portion 22 is an overhang portion 20b that projects below the partition plate 7 so as to cover the flow hole 71 of the partition plate 7 in plan view.

  Next, the operation point of the liquid amount measuring device 1 according to the present embodiment will be described.

  First, for example, a pipe (not shown) capable of supplying a gas-liquid mixed fluid is connected to the upstream side of the inflow pipe 31, and a suction pump (not shown) is connected to the downstream side of the outflow pipe 32. Then, when the suction pump is driven in this state, the gas-liquid mixed fluid flows into the gas-liquid separator 21 from the inflow pipe 31 and in the gas-liquid separator 21 as indicated by an arrow a in FIG. Rotate in a spiral. Thereby, the liquid contained in the gas-liquid mixed fluid adheres to the inner surface of the peripheral wall 21a by centrifugal force, and the gas and the liquid are separated. The separated gas is discharged from the outflow pipe 32, and the separated liquid falls along the inner surface of the peripheral wall 21a.

  The liquid falling on the inner surface of the peripheral wall 21a flows down through the flow hole 61 of the upper partition plate 6 and then flows down through the flow hole 71 of the lower partition plate 7 while connecting the inner surface of the tapered portion 22. Furthermore, it flows down through the inner surface of the peripheral wall 23 a and is stored in the liquid storage part 23.

  Although the pressure fluctuation occurs in the gas-liquid separator 21 due to the swirling of the gas-liquid mixed fluid as described above, this pressure fluctuation is transmitted downward through the flow hole 61 of the upper partition plate 6. However, in the liquid quantity measuring device 1 according to the present embodiment, since the two partition plates 6 and 7 are provided at an interval, the space between the partition plates 6 and 7 absorbs pressure fluctuation. Plays a role as a cushion layer. That is, the pressure fluctuation transmitted downward through the flow hole 61 of the upper partition plate 6 is absorbed in the space between the partition plates 6 and 7 and hardly transmitted to the lower portion of the lower partition plate 7. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress the liquid level of the liquid stored below the lower partition plate 7 from being waved due to pressure fluctuation, and to accurately measure the amount of liquid stored in the container 2. .

  In addition, each partition plate 6, 7 is formed in a shape that rises from the peripheral portion toward the center portion, and has flow holes 61, 71 in the peripheral portion, so the upper surface of the partition plates 6, 7 The liquid adhering to the liquid is guided to the upper surface and guided to the peripheral portion, and flows down from the circulation holes 61 and 71 in the peripheral portion, so that the liquid flows down quickly without accumulating on the partition plates 6 and 7. Will be able to.

  Further, since the gas-liquid separator 21 is provided with an outflow pipe 32, liquid may adhere to the outflow pipe 32 and drop, but the upper partition plate 71 drops the liquid onto the liquid surface. It also functions to prevent

  Further, the portion of the lower partition plate 7 that contacts the inner surface of the tapered portion 22 is cut out to form the flow hole 71, so that the liquid flowing down through the flow hole 71 covers the inner surface of the tapered portion 22. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the ripple of the liquid surface due to the liquid falling as a droplet, and it becomes possible to accurately measure the amount of the liquid.

  Furthermore, in the liquid amount measuring device 1 according to the present embodiment, the overhanging portion 20b that covers the flow hole 71 of the lower partition plate 7 from the lower side is provided, so that the liquid passing through the flow hole 71 is tapered. Even if it drops as a drop from the edge of the circulation hole 71 without connecting the inner surface of the drop, the drop falls on the overhanging portion 20b. In other words, since the drops falling from the edge of the circulation hole 71 can be received by the overhanging portion 20b, it is possible to reliably prevent the liquid surface from being rippled due to the dropping of the liquid.

  And in such a liquid quantity measuring device 1, if selection of the differential pressure gauge of the measurement part 4 and the setting of the internal diameter of the surrounding wall 23a of the liquid storage part 23 are performed appropriately, the amount of liquid will be 0.1-0.2 cc. It is possible to measure with high resolution. For this reason, it is suitable that the liquid quantity measuring device 1 is used especially for the evaluation apparatus of a fuel cell. This is because in the fuel cell, the amount of produced water can be calculated by calculation, and the state of the fuel cell can be determined by comparing the calculated value with the actual measurement value.

  In addition to the fuel cell evaluation device, the liquid amount measuring device of the present invention can also be used for, for example, gas-liquid separation in the pharmaceutical / pharmaceutical field and chemical plant.

  In the above embodiment, the container 2 having the gas-liquid separation unit 21 that separates the gas-liquid mixed fluid into liquid and gas using the cyclone principle is shown. However, as the container 2, the gas-liquid in the internal space 20 is shown. Any gas can be used as long as the liquid can be separated from the mixed fluid. In the internal space 20, for example, a gas-liquid separating means for separating the liquid from the gas-liquid mixed fluid by cooling the gas-liquid mixed fluid is separately provided. It may be a thing.

  In the above embodiment, the two partition plates 6 and 7 are provided in the inner space 20 of the container 2. However, at least two partition plates are vertically spaced in the inner space 20. What is necessary is just to be provided apart and three or more sheets may be provided.

  Furthermore, the position where the partition plates 6 and 7 are disposed can be changed as appropriate, and both the two partition plates 6 and 7 may be disposed in the lower part of the gas-liquid separation unit 21 or Both the partition plates 6 and 7 may be disposed in a space surrounded by the tapered portion 22.

  Furthermore, the upper partition plate 6 may be formed in a dish shape with a central portion projecting downward, like a liquid amount measuring device 1 ′ of the modification shown in FIG. In this case, a flow hole (not shown) may be provided in the central portion of the upper partition plate 6. Note that the lower partition plate 7 needs to be convex upward because of its role. However, if the upper partition plate 6 is convex upward as in the above embodiment, the flow distance of the liquid flowing down from the inner surface of the peripheral wall 21a of the gas-liquid separator 21 is the shortest, so the peripheral wall 21a This is suitable for a cyclone system in which a liquid is attached to and separated from the inner surface of the plate.

  Further, the peripheral wall 23a of the liquid storage portion 23 extends downward while smoothly expanding the diameter from the lower end portion of the taper portion 22 at the upper portion, like the liquid amount measuring instrument 1 ″ of the modification shown in FIG. 5B. Furthermore, the peripheral wall 23a does not have to be a circular cylinder, and may be, for example, a rectangular cylinder.

It is a figure which shows the liquid quantity measuring device which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention, (a) is a top view, (b) is a front view. It is the II-II sectional view taken on the line of Fig.1 (a). It is the III-III sectional view taken on the line of FIG. It is the IV-IV sectional view taken on the line of FIG. (A) and (b) are the front views of the liquid quantity measuring device of a modification.

Explanation of symbols

1, 1 ′, 1 ″ Liquid volume measuring device 2 Container 20 Internal space 20a Inner wall surface 20b Overhang portion 21 Gas-liquid separation portion 22 Taper portion 23 Liquid storage portion 31 Inflow pipe 32 Outflow pipe 4 Measurement section 6,7 Partition plate 61 , 71 distribution hole

Claims (4)

The liquid is separated from the gas-liquid mixed fluid in the internal space, and includes a container in which the liquid is stored in a lower part thereof, and a measurement unit that measures the amount of liquid stored in the container,
In the internal space of the container, at least two partition plates that partition the internal space up and down are provided with a space in the vertical direction,
Each of the partition plates is provided with a flow hole through which the liquid separated from the gas-liquid mixed fluid flows down.   The flow rate measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the flow hole of the lowermost partition plate is formed by cutting out a portion of the partition plate that contacts the inner wall surface of the container.   Each of the partition plates is formed in a shape that rises from a peripheral portion in contact with the inner wall surface of the container toward a central portion, and the flow hole of each of the partition plates is configured by cutting out the peripheral portion of the partition plate. The liquid quantity measuring device according to claim 2, wherein   The inner wall surface of the container has an overhanging portion that projects to a range that covers the flow hole of the partition plate in a plan view below the lowermost partition plate. 3. The liquid amount measuring instrument according to 3.

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