JP5610300B2 - Ultrasonic transmitter / receiver fixture, pipe flow monitoring device and pipe flow monitoring method using ultrasonic transmitter / receiver fixture - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an ultrasonic transmitter / receiver fixture for fixing a plurality of ultrasonic transmitters / receivers for measuring a flow velocity of a fluid flowing in a pipe to be measured, and a plurality of ultrasonic waves fixed using the ultrasonic transmitter / receiver fixtures. The present invention relates to a pipe flow monitoring device and a pipe flow monitoring method for measuring a flow velocity flowing through a pipe to be measured by a transceiver and monitoring a flow rate change amount from the flow rate change amount.

Conventionally, flow rate measuring devices that measure the flow rate of fluid using ultrasonic waves have been widely used. Ultrasonic flow measurement includes Doppler method, cross-correlation method, propagation time difference method, propagation time reciprocal difference method, sing-around method, and the like.
Since ultrasonic waves have a property of propagating through a substance, it is particularly preferable to measure the internal flow rate from the outside of the pipe to be measured. Ultrasound can measure the velocity distribution and flow rate in the conduit, whether the conduit is opaque or the fluid itself is opaque. Therefore, even if an opaque fluid such as a suspension or a liquid metal such as mercury or sodium is the fluid to be measured, it can be applied to the measurement of the flow velocity (and the flow rate based on the flow velocity).

The present applicant has developed a “pipe flow monitoring device and pipe flow monitoring method” shown in Patent Document 1 in order to monitor the amount of change in the flow rate of the pipe flow with high accuracy. The method utilizes the fact that the center velocity of the pipe and the flow rate are linear in a certain flow rate range.
More specifically, a three-dimensional flow velocity is measured for a certain point on the pipe (especially with respect to the pipe center) using three ultrasonic transducers (ultrasonic transceivers), and the flow rate is calculated from the change in flow velocity. An apparatus and method for monitoring changes.

JP 2010-197076 A

  In Patent Document 1, it is only necessary to measure the flow velocity at one point (especially the pipe center) of the pipe. Theoretically, if three ultrasonic transducers are installed at any position on the pipe circumference, the pipe center The flow rate measurement accuracy should be the same.

  However, in practice, the flow velocity resolution of the ultrasonic Doppler method is finite. Therefore, the flow rate monitoring accuracy is greatly affected by the number and arrangement of the ultrasonic transducers. Moreover, the flow velocity vector at the center of the pipe changes depending on the change in the flow rate and the layout of the pipe. Therefore, it is necessary to optimize the number and arrangement of ultrasonic transducers capable of monitoring the flow rate with high accuracy regardless of the flow velocity vector in any direction.

The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a technique capable of optimizing the number and arrangement of ultrasonic transducers capable of monitoring the flow rate with high accuracy for any velocity vector in any direction. .

(First invention)
The first invention of the present application is a super provided with a plurality of ultrasonic transmitters and receivers (50) provided with mounting portions (22) that are positioned outside the pipe to be measured (60) and can be fixed at equal intervals on a concentric circumference. It relates to the acoustic wave transmitter / receiver fixture (20).

(Function)
If multiple ultrasonic transceivers (50) are positioned outside the pipe to be measured (60) and fixed on the concentric circumference at equal intervals, fluid information is measured by using multiple ultrasonic transceivers (50). The flow rate monitoring accuracy is improved as compared with the case where they are not arranged at equal intervals.
With the ultrasonic transmitter / receiver fixture (20) according to the present invention, the fixing work at equal intervals becomes easy, which contributes to the improvement of the working efficiency at the current magnification.

(Variation 1 of the first invention)
The first invention can also provide the following variations.
That is, the mounting portion (22) is formed to be rotatable in the concentric circumferential direction with respect to the pipe to be measured (60).
It is more preferable that a mark for stopping rotation, a physical simple stopper, and the like are provided at a position half the angle formed by the mounting portions arranged in advance.

(Function)
After the measurement of fluid flow velocity information by the plurality of ultrasonic transmitters / receivers (50) is completed by the mounting part (22) being rotatable in the concentric circumferential direction, a plurality of parts fixed to the mounting part (22) A second measurement can be performed by rotating the mounting portion (22) by an angle that is half the angle of the ultrasonic transmitter / receiver (50) at equal intervals. As a result, twice as many measurement positions as the number of the plurality of ultrasonic transceivers (50) fixed to the mounting part (22) can be secured. As a result, since more measurement points can be obtained, the flow rate monitoring accuracy is improved. Furthermore, a plurality of ultrasonic transceivers (50) are effectively used.

(Variation 2 of the first invention)
The first invention can also provide the following variations.
That is, the mounting portion (22) can be formed to be divided into a plurality of parts in the outer peripheral direction, and can also constitute a cylindrical body in which the divided portions are integrally connected.

(Function)
Since the mounting part (22) can be divided into a plurality of parts, each of the divided parts can be integrally connected with a connector or the like so as to surround the measured pipe (60). Thereby, the operation of installing the mounting portion (22) at an arbitrary position in the longitudinal direction of the pipe to be measured (60) is facilitated.

(Second invention)
The second invention of the present application is provided with a mounting portion (22) that can be fixed at equal intervals on a concentric circle located outside the pipe (60) to be measured, with a plurality of ultrasonic transceivers (50). An ultrasonic transmitter / receiver fixture (20) and a plurality of ultrasonic transmitter / receivers (50) fixed to the mounting portion (22) of the ultrasonic transmitter / receiver fixture (20) are disposed in the pipe to be measured (60). A control device (30) for measuring the flow velocity change amount of the fluid based on three or more data at different measurement points at which the flow velocity information of the flowing fluid is measured, and obtaining the flow rate change amount from the flow velocity change amount; The present invention relates to a pipe flow monitoring device (10).

(Function)
In the ultrasonic transmitter / receiver fixture (20), a plurality of ultrasonic transmitter / receivers (50) are positioned outside the pipe to be measured (60) and fixed on the circumference of the concentric circle at regular intervals, so fluid information is measured. Compared with the case where a plurality of ultrasonic transceivers (50) are not arranged at equal intervals, the flow rate monitoring accuracy is improved. In the control device (30), since the flow rate change amount is acquired based on three or more data at different measurement points obtained by measuring the fluid flow velocity information using the ultrasonic transceiver fixture (20) described above, The flow rate can be monitored with accuracy.

(Variation 1 of the second invention)
The second invention can also provide the following variations.
That is, the mounting portion (22) can rotate in the concentric circumferential direction with respect to the pipe to be measured (60).

(Function)
When the mounting portion (22) is rotatable in a concentric circumferential direction, the fluid velocity information of the plurality of ultrasonic transmitters / receivers (50) is measured and fixed to the mounting portion (22). A second measurement can be performed by rotating the mounting portion (22) by an angle that is half the angle of the plurality of ultrasonic transceivers (50) at equal intervals. As a result, twice as many measurement positions as the number of the plurality of ultrasonic transceivers (50) fixed to the mounting part (22) can be secured. As a result, the number of measurement points can be increased, and the flow rate monitoring accuracy is improved. At the same time, a plurality of ultrasonic transceivers (50) are effectively used.

(Variation 2 of the second invention)
The second invention can also provide the following variations.
That is, the mounting portion (22) can be formed so as to be divided into a plurality of parts in the outer peripheral direction, and can also constitute a cylindrical body in which the divided portions are integrally connected.

(Function)
Since the mounting part (22) can be divided into a plurality of parts, each of the divided parts can be integrally connected with a connector or the like so as to surround the measured pipe (60). Thereby, the mounting portion (22) is easily installed at an arbitrary position in the longitudinal direction of the pipe to be measured (60).

(Variation 3 of the second invention)
The second invention can also provide the following variations.
That is, the control device (30), after finishing measuring the fluid flow velocity information in the plurality of ultrasonic transceivers (50), a plurality of ultrasonic transceivers fixed to the mounting portion (22) ( It is also possible to provide a command unit (48) that gives a command to perform the second measurement by rotating the mounting unit (22) by an angle that is half of the equally spaced angle of 50).

(Function)
In addition to the first measurement by the plurality of ultrasonic transmitters / receivers (50), the command unit (48) is attached to the mounting unit (22) by an angle that is half the angle forming the equal intervals of the plurality of ultrasonic transmitters / receivers (50). Since a command to measure the second time by rotating is provided, twice as many measurement positions as the number of fixed ultrasonic transmitters / receivers (50) to the mounting part (22) can be secured. As a result, since more measurement points can be obtained, the flow rate monitoring accuracy is improved. Furthermore, a plurality of ultrasonic transceivers (50) are effectively used.

(Third invention)
According to a third aspect of the present invention, the flow velocity information of one point at the center of the concentric circumference using ultrasonic waves from a plurality of measurement points (50) located at equal intervals on the concentric circumference outside the pipe to be measured (60). A pipe flow monitoring method characterized in that the flow rate change amount is measured based on three or more data at different measurement points from the measured flow rate information, and the flow rate change amount is obtained from the flow rate change amount. Related.

(Function)
Since fluid information is measured from multiple measurement points (50) located at equal intervals on the concentric circumference outside the pipe (60) to be measured, than when multiple measurement points (50) are not located at regular intervals , Flow monitoring accuracy is improved. Therefore, the flow rate is monitored with higher accuracy.

(Variation 1 of the third invention)
The third invention can also provide the following variations.
That is, after measuring flow velocity information at one center of the concentric circumference using ultrasonic waves from a plurality of measurement points (50) located at equal intervals on the concentric circumference, the plurality of measurement points (50) Is rotated on a concentric circle by an angle that is half of the equally-spaced angle, and the flow velocity information of one point at the center of the concentric circle again using ultrasonic waves from the plurality of measurement points (50) after the rotation. It is good also as measuring.

(Function)
After the measurement of the fluid flow velocity information at the plurality of measurement points (50), the measurement is performed again by rotating the plurality of measurement points (50) by an angle that is half the angle forming an equal interval and measuring again. It is possible to secure twice as many measurement points as the number of the plurality of measurement points (50). As a result, the number of measurement points can be increased, which contributes to improving the flow rate monitoring accuracy.

According to the first invention, there is provided an ultrasonic transmitter / receiver fixture capable of optimizing the number and arrangement of ultrasonic transmitters / receivers capable of monitoring the flow rate with high accuracy for any flow velocity vector in any direction. We were able to.
According to the second invention, there is provided a pipe flow monitoring device capable of optimizing the number and arrangement of ultrasonic transmitters / receivers capable of monitoring a flow rate with high accuracy with respect to a flow velocity vector in any direction. I was able to.
According to the third invention, there is provided a pipe flow monitoring method capable of optimizing the number and arrangement of measurement points by ultrasonic waves capable of monitoring the flow rate with high accuracy with respect to a flow velocity vector in any direction. I was able to.

It is a schematic block diagram which shows the ultrasonic transmitter / receiver fixture of embodiment of this invention, and the piping flow monitoring apparatus provided with the said ultrasonic transmitter / receiver fixture. It is piping sectional drawing for demonstrating the installation state of an ultrasonic transmitter / receiver. It is a functional block diagram of the piping flow monitoring apparatus of the embodiment of the present invention. It is a schematic explanatory drawing for demonstrating the state which installs an ultrasonic transceiver in the bending part of to-be-measured piping.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In addition, since what is shown by this embodiment is an example, the range applied to a claim is not limited to those examples.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the ultrasonic transmitter / receiver fixture 20 according to this embodiment includes a plurality of ultrasonic transmitter / receivers 50 (ultrasonic transducers) for measuring the flow velocity of the fluid flowing in the pipe 60 to be measured. ).

  As shown in FIG. 1, the ultrasonic transmitter / receiver fixture 20 has a fixing portion 23 that is positioned outside the pipe 60 to be measured and can be fixed on a concentric circumference at equal intervals, as shown in FIG. And a fixture body 21 attached to the outside of the pipe to be measured 60 in order to provide the mounting portion 22.

The fixture main body 21 has a cylindrical body such as a cylindrical shape and is configured to be fixed to the outside of the pipe to be measured 60. As an example, the cylindrical body can be divided into two parts or three parts in the outer peripheral direction. In addition, each of the divided portions is covered from the outside of the pipe to be measured 60 and is integrally connected by a connector or the like. By setting it as such a structure, the fixing tool main body 21 can be easily attached or removed to the arbitrary places of the longitudinal direction of the to-be-measured piping 60. FIG.
However, the fixture main body 21 is not limited to the cylindrical body described above, and may have other shapes. That is, it is not limited to a specific shape.

  The mounting portion 22 has a cylindrical body such as a cylindrical shape, and is provided to be rotatable in the circumferential direction by a bearing 24, for example. As an example, the mounting portion 22 has a left portion rotatably supported by the fixture body 21 in FIG. 1 and a right portion protruding from the fixture body 21 in FIG. A plurality of ultrasonic transceivers 50 can be fixed to the protruding portion at equal intervals in the circumferential direction. Further, the mounting portion 22 is configured to be rotationally driven in the normal rotation direction and the reverse rotation direction by a rotation driving unit 25 such as a motor.

  As an example, the mounting portion 22 can be divided such that the cylindrical body is divided into two parts or three parts in the outer peripheral direction, and the divided parts can be integrally connected with a connector or the like. As a result, the divided portions can be attached to the fixture main body 21 so as to be rotatable after being integrally connected with a connector or the like so as to surround the pipe 60 to be measured. As a result, the mounting portion 22 can be easily attached or removed at any location in the longitudinal direction of the pipe 60 to be measured.

The mounting portion 22 is provided with a fixing portion 23 that fixes a plurality of ultrasonic transmitter / receivers 50 at equal intervals on a concentric circumference. Further, as shown in FIG. 1, each ultrasonic transmitter / receiver 50 is fixed to the fixing portion 23 at a predetermined angle θ1 with respect to the main flow direction of the fluid in the pipe 60. As a result, the liquid flowing in the main flow direction has a directional component that separates from and comes into contact with the ultrasonic transmitter / receiver 50, so that the flow velocity can be measured by ultrasonic waves.
The main flow direction is the axial direction of the pipe 60 and is the direction in which the fluid in the pipe 60 mainly flows. Further, the angle θ1 can be appropriately set depending on the flow velocity to be measured and the state of drift.

The plurality of fixing parts 23 in the mounting part 22 are arranged on the outer side of the pipe 60 so as to be spaced apart at equal intervals θ2 in the circumferential direction. The angle θ2 can be appropriately set depending on the diameter of the pipe 60 to be measured and the installation situation.
As an example, if there are two places where the ultrasonic transceiver 50 is fixed, the angle θ2 is 180 °, if three, the angle θ2 is 120 °, and if four, the angle θ2 is 90 °. If it is 6, the angle θ2 is 60 °, and if it is 8, the angle θ2 is 45 °.

In the present embodiment, three ultrasonic transmitters / receivers 50 are illustrated as shown in FIG. 1, but the flow rate monitoring accuracy improves as the number of measurement points increases. Therefore, it is desirable that the number of ultrasonic transceivers 50 that can be fixed is large.
In addition, it is desirable that three or more positions to be measured by the ultrasonic transceiver 50 with respect to the pipe 60 to be measured. However, the number of the fixing parts 23 for fixing the ultrasonic transmitter / receiver 50 may be two arranged at equal intervals of which the angle θ2 is 180 °. In that case, first, after measuring the flow velocity at two locations, the mounting portion 22 is rotated 90 °, which is half the angle θ2, and the second measurement is performed, so that a total of four locations (different measurements on the concentric circumference) are obtained. This is because the number of points can be 3).
As another example, when the measurement is performed with three ultrasonic transmitters / receivers 50 arranged at equal intervals of 120 ° in the angle θ2, the mounting portion 22 is half the angle θ2 after the first measurement is completed. A total of 6 points can be measured by rotating the angle 60 ° and performing the second measurement.

  As described above, since the mounting portion 22 can be rotated in the concentric circumferential direction, the number of fixing portions 23 included in the mounting portion 22 can be measured, so that more measurement points can be obtained. As a result, the flow rate monitoring accuracy is improved. In addition, a plurality of ultrasonic transceivers 50 can be effectively used.

  Further, as an example of using a plurality of fixing portions 23 in the mounting portion 22, for example, when the mounting portion 22 has six fixing portions 23, the angle θ2 is 120 ° with respect to three of the fixing portions 23, etc. You may fix the three ultrasonic transmitter / receivers 50 so that it may become a space | interval. At that time, if only the first measurement is performed, the measurement is performed at three points (measurement points). In addition to that, if the second measurement is performed by rotating the angle by 60.degree. A place (measurement point) can be measured.

In the same manner, for example, when the mounting portion 22 has eight fixing portions 23, the four ultrasonic transmitter / receivers 50 are arranged so that the angle θ2 is equally spaced with respect to the four fixing portions 23. It may be fixed. At that time, if only the first measurement is performed, the measurement is performed at four points (measurement points). In addition to that, if the second measurement is performed by rotating the angle by 45 °, which is a half of the angle θ2, a total of 8 points will be obtained. A place (measurement point) can be measured.
In addition, the method of using the some fixing | fixed part 23 in the said mounting part 22 is not limited to said example, and is applied in a wide range.

The plurality of ultrasonic transmitters / receivers 50 measure flow velocity information at one point in the center of the pipe 60 using ultrasonic waves from three or more different locations (measurement points) located at equal intervals on the outer circumference of the pipe 60. To do.
The one point at which the flow velocity information is measured is an intersection E1 of the ultrasonic pulse waves 53 transmitted from, for example, three ultrasonic transmitters / receivers 50 as shown in FIG. The intersection of the ultrasonic pulse waves 53 is the center of rotation of the mounting portion 22, which is the center of the pipe 60 in this embodiment. In other words, the one point at which the flow velocity information is measured is the rotation center when the three ultrasonic transceivers 50 arranged on the concentric circumference rotate.

Next, the pipe flow monitoring device 10 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.
As shown in FIG. 1, the pipe flow monitoring device 10 fixes a plurality of ultrasonic transmitters / receivers 50 using the ultrasonic transmitter / receiver fixture 20, and the plurality of ultrasonic transmitters / receivers 50 pass through the pipe 60 to be measured. It is a device that measures the flow rate of flow and monitors the amount of change in flow rate from the amount of change in flow rate. That is, the pipe flow monitoring device 10 is a device including a measurement terminal device 30 such as a personal computer as a control device in addition to the ultrasonic transmitter / receiver fixture 20 in which a plurality of ultrasonic transmitter / receivers 50 are fixed.

  In FIG. 1, as a fluid, for example, the liquid 61 is assumed to have a main flow direction flowing from left to right as indicated by an arrow. The main flow direction is an axial direction of the pipe 60 and refers to a direction in which the fluid in the pipe 60 mainly flows.

The pipe flow monitoring device 10 can perform measurement using the Doppler method and the cross-correlation method. For example, to use the Doppler method, the cross-correlation method is used when it is limited by the Nyquist sampling theorem. Alternatively, the Doppler method is used when the measurement range of the cross correlation method is exceeded. Thus, it is possible to deal with various structures of the pipe 60 by properly using the method according to the situation.
The ultrasonic pulse wave 53 transmitted from the ultrasonic transmitter / receiver 50 is reflected by a floating substance such as a bubble 62 flowing in the tube. The reflected wave 54 is received by the ultrasonic transceiver 50 and transmitted to the measurement terminal 30.

  In the pipe flow monitoring device 10, as shown in FIG. 3, a measurement terminal 30 and a plurality of ultrasonic transmitters / receivers 50 provided in the ultrasonic transmitter / receiver fixture 20 are connected via cables 11. Three ultrasonic transmitters / receivers 50 are installed in the present embodiment, and one of them is shown in detail.

The ultrasonic transmitter / receiver 50 includes an ultrasonic transmitter 51 and an ultrasonic receiver 52.
The ultrasonic transmission unit 51 is composed of a piezoelectric element or the like, and transmits the ultrasonic pulse wave 53 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 from the outside to the inside of the pipe 60. Further, the ultrasonic wave receiving unit 52 receives the reflected wave 54 reflected by the bubble 62.

The measurement terminal 30 includes a control unit 40, a storage unit 31, a display unit 32, and an operation unit 33.
The control unit 40 manages and controls the measurement terminal 30 by a semiconductor integrated circuit including a central processing unit (CPU). The storage unit 31 includes a ROM, a RAM, an EEPROM, a nonvolatile RAM, a flash memory, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), and the like, and stores a program processed by the control unit 40, acquired data, and the like. The display unit 32 includes a liquid crystal display, EL (Electro Luminescence), PDP (Plasma Display Panel), and the like, and displays an application GUI (Graphical User Interface) stored in the storage unit 31. The operation unit 33 includes a plurality of keys (switches) such as a keyboard, a cross key, and a joystick, and a mouse, and is used to input a user operation.
Further, the control unit 40 includes a pulsar 41, a receiver 42, an A / D conversion unit 43, a flow velocity synthesis unit 44, an initial state acquisition unit 45, an elapsed state acquisition unit 46, a change amount acquisition unit 47, and a command unit 48. It consists of

The pulser 41 inputs an ultrasonic input signal (voltage) to the ultrasonic transmitter 51 via the cable 11. The ultrasonic input signal includes frequency information and interval information of the ultrasonic pulse wave 53 transmitted by the ultrasonic transmission unit 51.
The receiver 42 amplifies the signal of the reflected wave 54 converted into an analog signal by the ultrasonic wave receiver 52.
The A / D converter 43 converts the reflected wave 54 as an analog signal amplified by the receiver 42 into a digital signal.
The flow velocity synthesis unit 44 calculates a three-dimensional flow velocity value by adding the flow velocity vectors of three or more flow velocity information obtained from the ultrasonic transmitter / receiver 50 through the receiver 42 and the A / D conversion unit 43.

The initial state acquisition unit 45 acquires an initial state from a three-dimensional flow velocity value at a certain time obtained by the flow velocity synthesis unit 44. The initial state can be measured and acquired when equipment such as a plant is healthy.
The elapsed state acquisition unit 46 acquires the elapsed state from the three-dimensional flow velocity value at an arbitrary time obtained by the flow velocity synthesis unit 44. The progress state can be acquired at any time such as several days or months later. That is, by combining with the initial state acquisition unit 45, the state of the plant in a desired period can be acquired. Furthermore, the progress state acquisition unit 46 can acquire the progress state continuously at a predetermined interval for a desired period.

The initial state acquisition unit 45 and the elapsed state acquisition unit 46 can acquire the three-dimensional flow velocity value, the flow velocity value in the main flow direction, or the flow rate based on these as the initial state or the elapsed state.
What can be measured by the ultrasonic transmitter / receiver 50 is a velocity component (flow velocity information) in a direction away from or in contact with the ultrasonic transmitter / receiver 50. Therefore, a three-dimensional flow velocity value can be obtained from three or more velocity components. By using the three-dimensional flow velocity value, even drift and turbulent flow can be measured. In addition, since it is not necessary to make the ultrasonic wave reach all the diameters of the pipe 60 by using one point of flow velocity information, the pipe 60 has a large diameter, a large flow rate, and a large deviation amount. Can also be measured.

  The above three-dimensional flow velocity value may be the initial state or the elapsed state as it is, may be further converted into a flow velocity value in the main flow direction, or may be compared, or after being converted into a flow rate using a known pipe diameter. You may compare. Since the flow rate is proportional to the flow rate, if the change in the flow rate is captured, it can be replaced with a change in the flow rate.

  The change amount acquisition unit 47 acquires the relative change amount by comparing the initial state obtained from the initial state acquisition unit 45 with the elapsed state obtained from the elapsed state acquisition unit 46. The relative change amount includes a change rate obtained by comparing the rated value with the measured value of the elapsed state with the initial state as the rated value. Also, the amount of change over time can be acquired by comparing the initial state with a plurality of elapsed states continuously acquired at a predetermined interval from a certain time point when the initial state is acquired to an arbitrary time point. Thereby, it is possible to monitor the transition (trend chart) of plant performance and operation efficiency in a desired period.

In addition, the command unit 48 is connected to the plurality of fixing units 23 of the mounting unit 22 of the ultrasonic transmitter / receiver fixture 20 by the ultrasonic transmitter / receiver 50 that is mounted at an equal interval of the angle θ2 in the circumferential direction. After the measurement is completed, a command is given to rotate the mounting portion 22 by half the angle θ2 and perform the second measurement.
The command unit 48 gives a command for measuring flow velocity information to the pulsar 41, and also starts and stops driving, a rotation direction, a rotation angle, and the like to the rotation drive unit 25 that rotationally drives the mounting unit 22 via the cable 12. Give drive command.

  Note that the pipe flow monitoring device 10 according to the present invention can exert its function even if it is installed at a bent portion of a bent pipe 60 as shown in FIG. Drift occurs near the bent portion as indicated by the arrows. For example, the three ultrasonic vectors 50 are used to measure the three-dimensional vector on the XYZ of the intersection E2, and the obtained three-dimensional vector is obtained. It can be handled by measuring the relative change amount from the flow velocity information based on it.

Next, the operation of the pipe flow monitoring device 10 described above, that is, the pipe flow monitoring method according to the present invention will be described.
First, a plurality of ultrasonic transmitters / receivers 50 are fixed at equal intervals to the fixing part 23 of the mounting part 22 in the ultrasonic transmitter / receiver fixture 20.
The flow rate information at three or more points (measurement points) located at equal intervals on the outer circumference of the pipe 60 to be measured by the plurality of ultrasonic transmitters / receivers 50 fixed to the ultrasonic transmitter / receiver fixture 20. The method of measuring is as described in the ultrasonic transceiver fixture 20 described above.
That is, although a detailed description is omitted, the ultrasonic transmitter / receiver 50 is mounted on the plurality of fixing portions 23 of the mounting portion 22 of the ultrasonic transmitter / receiver fixing tool 20 at an equal interval of the angle θ2 in the circumferential direction. The flow velocity information can be measured at three or more locations (measurement points). Alternatively, after the first measurement is completed, the mounting portion 22 is rotated by an angle that is half of the angle θ2, and the second measurement is performed, and these are totaled to four or more locations (different measurement points on the concentric circumference). It is also possible to measure flow velocity information at 3 or more).

As described above, the ultrasonic transmitter / receiver fixture 20 is used to transmit from each ultrasonic transmitter / receiver 50 from three or more different locations (measurement points) located at equal intervals on the outer circumference of the pipe 60. The flow velocity information at one point of the rotation center (center of the concentric circle) of the mounting portion 22 is measured using the ultrasonic pulse wave 53. One point of the rotation center is one point of the center of the pipe to be measured 60 in the present embodiment.
That is, in each ultrasonic transmitter / receiver 50, the ultrasonic pulse wave 53 is transmitted from the ultrasonic transmitter 51 toward the inside of the pipe 60 at a predetermined frequency. The ultrasonic wave reception unit 52 receives a reflected wave 54 as flow velocity information at one point where the ultrasonic pulse wave 53 is reflected by the bubble 62.

Three or more flow velocity information obtained from the reflected wave 54 is calculated as a three-dimensional flow velocity value by the flow velocity synthesis unit 44. It is determined whether the measurement is acquisition of an initial state or acquisition of an elapsed state.
When the determination is acquisition of the initial state, that is, measurement at a certain point in time when the facility is operating soundly, the initial state is obtained from the three-dimensional flow velocity value calculated by the flow velocity synthesis unit 44 by the initial state acquisition unit 45. Is calculated.
On the other hand, when the above determination is acquisition of the elapsed state, or after the initial state is calculated, the elapsed state acquisition unit 46 has elapsed from the three-dimensional flow velocity value at an arbitrary time calculated by the flow velocity synthesis unit 44. Calculate the state.
Next, the change amount acquisition unit 47 acquires the relative change amount by comparing the initial state and the elapsed state. The acquired relative change amount can be stored in the storage unit 31 or displayed on the display unit 32.
Thereby, the manager of the facility can grasp the state of the flow in the pipe, and can grasp the soundness of the operation by the excessive amount of relative change in the flow rate.

  The pipe flow monitoring device 10 can monitor the pipe 60 continuously for a desired period. For this reason, when it is determined that the acquisition of the relative change amount is continued even after the change amount acquisition unit 47 acquires the relative change amount, the ultrasonic pulse waves 53 are transmitted again from the three ultrasonic transmitters / receivers 50, and the piping Continue monitoring 60. Further, when the change amount acquisition unit 47 determines to end the acquisition of the relative change amount, the monitoring of the pipe 60 is ended.

As a result of experiments and analysis on the flow rate monitoring accuracy in the conventional pipe flow monitoring device (Patent Document 1 shown in the section of “Background Art”) and the pipe flow monitoring device 10 of the present embodiment, the following points are clarified. It was.
(1) When measuring at three or more different locations (measurement points) on the outer circumference of the pipe 60 to be measured, the flow rate can be monitored by simply measuring from three locations. The greater the number, the better the flow rate monitoring accuracy.
In the present embodiment, since the mounting portion 22 can rotate in the concentric circumferential direction, after the first measurement is completed by the plurality of ultrasonic transceivers 50, the plurality of ultrasonic transceivers 50 are equally spaced. A second measurement can be performed by rotating the mounting portion 22 by half the angle θ2. Thereby, since it is possible to measure twice as many as the number of the fixing parts 23 included in the mounting part 22, more measurement points (measurement points) can be obtained, and the flow rate monitoring accuracy is improved. Furthermore, a plurality of ultrasonic transceivers 50 are effectively used.
(2) The flow rate monitoring accuracy is improved when the measurement positions at three or more different locations are equally spaced on the outer circumference of the pipe 60. This point has priority over the above condition (1).

For example, even if there are five measurement positions at different locations, if they are not arranged at equal intervals on the outer circumference of the pipe 60, than when three measurement positions at different locations are arranged at equal intervals, It became experimentally clear that the flow rate monitoring accuracy was poor.
Therefore, for example, when a plurality of ultrasonic transmitters / receivers 50 cannot be arranged at equal intervals due to the layout of the piping 60 in the field or the influence of interference, the ultrasonic transmitters / receivers 50 should be arranged at equal intervals even if the number is reduced. May be prioritized.

  From the above, in the ultrasonic transceiver fixture 20 according to the present embodiment, and the pipe flow monitoring device 10 and the pipe flow monitoring method using the ultrasonic transceiver fixture 20, the flow velocity vector in any direction However, it is possible to optimize the number and arrangement of the ultrasonic transceivers 50 that can monitor the flow rate with high accuracy. As a result, it was possible to monitor the flow rate with higher accuracy even at a location where the pipe 60 has a large diameter, a larger flow rate, and a larger deviation amount.

The present invention has applicability in the manufacturing industry of ultrasonic flowmeters, software development related to data processing related to ultrasonic flowmeters, consulting related to flow measurement, and the like.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Pipe flow monitoring apparatus 11 Cable 12 Cable 20 Ultrasonic transmitter / receiver fixing tool 21 Fixing tool main body 22 Mounting part 23 Fixing part 24 Bearing 25 Rotation drive part 30 Measurement terminal device (control apparatus) 31 Storage part 32 Display part 33 Operation part 40 Control unit 41 Pulser 42 Receiver 43 A / D conversion unit 44 Flow rate synthesis unit 45 Initial state acquisition unit 46 Elapsed state acquisition unit 47 Change amount acquisition unit 48 Command unit 50 Ultrasonic transmitter / receiver 51 Ultrasonic transmission unit 52 Ultrasonic reception unit 53 Ultrasonic pulse wave 54 Reflected wave 60 Piping 61 Liquid 62 Bubble

Claims (2)

A plurality of ultrasonic transmitters / receivers are provided on the outside of the pipe to be measured and equipped with a mounting portion that can be fixed at equal intervals on a concentric circle ,
The ultrasonic transmitter / receiver fixture according to claim 1, wherein the mounting portion is formed so as to be capable of being divided into a plurality of parts in the outer peripheral direction, and constitutes a cylindrical body integrally connecting the divided portions . For multiple ultrasonic transceivers,
An ultrasonic transmitter / receiver fixture provided with a mounting portion that is located outside the pipe to be measured and can be fixed at equal intervals on a concentric circumference;
The plurality of ultrasonic transmitters / receivers fixed to the mounting portion of the ultrasonic transmitter / receiver fixture measure the flow rate information of the fluid flowing in the pipe to be measured based on three or more data of different measurement points. A control device for measuring the flow rate change amount and obtaining the flow rate change amount from the flow rate change amount;
Equipped with a,
The pipe flow monitoring device is characterized in that the mounting portion is formed so as to be divided into a plurality of parts in the outer circumferential direction, and constitutes a cylindrical body integrally connecting the divided portions .

Images