JPH062162U - Superconducting liquid level gauge - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] It is possible to measure the liquid level of cryogenic fluids other than liquid helium (eg liquid hydrogen, liquid neon, liquid argon, liquid oxygen, etc.), and it is easy and inexpensive to install at any place. An object is to provide a superconducting liquid level gauge. [Structure] A film 11, a plurality of metal foil patterns 12a and 12b adhered on the film 11 for current supply and voltage measurement, and a desired metal foil pattern 12a and 12b on the film 11 and electrically. Piece of ceramics high temperature superconducting material adhered so as to be connected to
3 is provided.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to a superconducting liquid level gauge using a high temperature superconducting material.

[0002]

[Prior art]

 As a liquid level gauge for liquid helium using a superconducting wire, a structure having a structure shown in FIG. 3 is conventionally known. Reference numeral 1 in the figure denotes a single-sided outer cylinder having a plurality of gas vent holes 2 on its side wall and having an open lower end. A metallic superconducting wire 3 made of, for example, NbTi (niobium titanium), which becomes superconducting (zero resistance) at liquid helium temperature, is arranged in the outer cylinder 1 along the length direction of the outer cylinder 1. There is. Conductive wires 4a and 4b are connected to both ends of the superconducting wire 3, respectively. The current supply conductors 5a and 5b and the voltage measurement conductors 6a and 6b are connected in parallel to the conductors 4a and 4b. A current supply source 7 is connected to the other ends of the current supply wires 5a and 5b. A voltage measuring meter 8 is connected to the other ends of the voltage measuring conductors 6a and 6b. The liquid level measurement of liquid helium by the liquid level meter for liquid helium shown in FIG. 3 will be described.

When the outer cylinder 1 of the liquid level gauge is immersed in the liquid helium 9, an instruction is given in proportion to the immersion depth of the superconducting wire 3 arranged in the outer cylinder 1 into the liquid helium 9. The resistance value changes. That is, the resistance value R can be obtained by dividing the voltage V measured by the voltmeter 8 by the applied current I from the current supply source 7 according to R = V / I.

Therefore, when the superconducting wire 3 is present in the liquid helium 9, its resistance is zero, and the resistance of the superconducting wire 3 above the liquid surface 10 is constant and finite per unit length. To show the value, the liquid level 10 of the liquid helium 9 can be detected by measuring the resistance value of the superconducting wire 3.

Although FIG. 3 described above is a method for continuously measuring the liquid level of liquid helium, it can also be used as a Poin-type level gauge by shortening the length of the superconducting wire. . That is, since the resistance of the superconducting wire is zero or a finite value is indicated by the rise and fall of the liquid level of liquid helium, it is possible to know the passage of the liquid level.

[0006]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 However, the liquid level gauge using the conventional superconducting wire shown in FIG. 3 has the following problems.

(1) Since a conventional liquid level gauge using a superconducting wire uses a superconducting wire that becomes superconducting at liquid helium temperature, it is possible to measure the liquid level of a cryogenic fluid other than liquid helium. I can't. (2) Since the superconducting wire itself is expensive, the liquid level gauge incorporating it is also expensive.

(3) Since a superconducting wire such as NbTi is in the form of a multifilament filament made by bundling NbTi wires of several μm in a multifilament, it is difficult to connect with a conductor such as copper. . As a result, when the point type liquid level gauge is used, the liquid level gauge itself becomes large and it becomes difficult to measure the liquid level precisely. (4) Due to the reason of (3) above, a space for the level gauge mounting part is required, and there is a limit to installing it in the required place.

The present invention was made in order to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems. It is possible to measure the liquid level of a cryogenic fluid other than liquid helium, and it is easy to install at any location and inexpensive superconductivity It is intended to provide a liquid level gauge.

[0010]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 The present invention includes a film, a plurality of metal foil patterns for current supply and voltage measurement, which are bonded on the film, and a metal foil pattern bonded on the film so as to be electrically connected to the desired metal foil pattern. And a thin piece of a ceramics-based high temperature superconducting material. As the film, for example, a plastic film or the like can be used. As the ceramic high-temperature superconducting material, for example, yttrium-based material can be used. When the length of the thin piece of the ceramic high temperature superconducting material is short, a Poin-type level gauge is constructed, and when the thin piece is long, a continuous-type level gauge is constructed.

[0011]

[Action]

 The present invention comprises a film, a plurality of metal foil patterns for current supply and voltage measurement, which are adhered onto the film, and a metal foil pattern which is adhered onto the film so as to be electrically connected to the desired metal foil pattern. By having a thin piece of ceramics high-temperature superconducting material, the following effects are obtained.

(1) The thin piece of the ceramics-based high temperature superconducting material adhered to the film has a superconducting temperature of 120K to 150K, although it varies depending on the manufacturing method. For example, liquid hydrogen, liquid neon, liquid argon, and liquid oxygen can be measured. (2) By using a ceramics-based high temperature superconducting material, it is possible to realize a liquid level gauge that is inexpensive and easy to manufacture.

(3) Since a metal foil pattern functioning as a conductor and a thin piece of a ceramic-based high-temperature superconducting material are bonded onto the film, a thin, small point-type or continuous-type level gauge can be realized.

(4) Since the metal foil pattern and the thin piece of the ceramic high temperature superconducting material are adhered to the front surface side of the film, by attaching an adhesive to the back surface of the film, a measurement point (for example, a tank It can be easily installed on the inner wall or in the tank).

[0015]

【Example】

 Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 1A is a plan view showing a liquid level detection unit of a superconducting liquid level gauge according to the present invention, and FIG. 1B is a front view of the detection unit.

Reference numeral 11 in the figure denotes a film made of plastic, for example, having a length of 5 mm and a width of 10 mm. On the surface of the film 11, a plurality of, for example, two metal foil patterns 12a and 12b for current supply and voltage measurement are adhered. The metal foil patterns 12a and 12b are adhered to the film 11 in parallel with each other, and one end thereof has a U-shape. A thin piece 13 of, for example, a yttrium-based high-temperature superconducting material is electrically connected to and bonded to the surface of the film 11, straddling the other ends of the metal patterns 12a and 12b. Lead wires 14a and 14b for supplying a current to the thin piece 13 of the superconducting material through the metal foil patterns 12a and 12b are connected to one of the U-shaped portions at one ends of the metal foil patterns 12a and 12b, respectively. . Conductive wires 15a and 15b for measuring the voltage of the thin piece 13 of the superconducting material are connected to the other of the U-shaped portions at one end of each of the metal foil patterns 12a and 12b through the metal foil patterns 12a and 12b. Has been done.

FIG. 2 is an overall configuration diagram of a superconducting liquid level gauge according to the present invention. Reference numeral 16 in the drawing denotes a current supply source connected to the other ends of the conductive wires 14a and 14b for supplying current. Reference numeral 17 in the figure is a voltmeter connected to the other ends of the lead wires 15a and 15b for measuring the voltage. Reference numeral 18 in the drawing is a liquid level detection unit having the structure shown in FIG.

According to such a configuration, the liquid detector 18 having the structure shown in FIG. 1 is installed in a liquid level measuring unit (not shown) (for example, liquid hydrogen measuring unit), and the current supply source 16 is connected to the lead wires 14a, 14b and. When a current is supplied to the thin piece 13 of the high temperature superconducting material of the detection part 18 through the metal foil patterns 12a and 12b, the voltage of the thin piece 13 is measured by the voltmeter 17 through the metal foil patterns 12a and 12b and the lead wires 15a and 15b. Be done. At this time, when the liquid detector 18 is located in the liquid hydrogen, the resistance of the thin piece 13 of the high temperature superconducting material of the liquid detector 18 (the current value supplied from the current supply source 16 and the voltage The resistance obtained from the relationship between the voltages measured by the total 17 shows zero. On the other hand, when the detection unit 18 is located above the liquid hydrogen, the resistance of the thin piece 13 of the high temperature superconducting material shows a constant finite value. As a result, by measuring the resistance value of the thin piece 13 of the high temperature superconducting material of the liquid level detection unit 18, liquid level measurement of the liquid hydrogen (point type in the liquid detection unit 18 of the structure of FIG. 1) is performed. It's very easy to do.

Further, since the liquid level detection unit 18 shown in FIG. 1 is configured by bonding the metal foil patterns 12a and 12b and the thin piece 13 of the yttrium-based high temperature superconducting material to the surface of the film 11, it is lightweight and small in size. It is possible to realize a thin and thin superconducting liquid level gauge.

Furthermore, since there is no constituent element of the detection element on the back surface side of the film 11 which constitutes the liquid level detection section 18, it is positioned in the liquid level measurement section by attaching an adhesive to the back surface. The liquid level detection unit 18 can be installed in various devices very easily.

[0021]

[Effect of device]

 As described above in detail, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a superconducting liquid level gauge having the following various effects.

(A) It becomes possible to measure the liquid level of a cryogenic fluid other than liquid helium (Poin type). However, continuous liquid level measurement is also possible by lengthening the thin piece of ceramic high-temperature superconducting material adhered to the film. (B) A superconducting liquid level gauge that is inexpensive and easy to manufacture can be realized. (C) A lightweight, ultra-compact, thin-film superconducting liquid level gauge can be realized. (D) It is possible to realize a superconducting liquid level gauge that can be installed at any place.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 shows a liquid level detector of a superconducting liquid level gauge according to an embodiment of the present invention, (A) is a plan view and (B) is a front view.

FIG. 2 is an overall configuration diagram of a superconducting liquid level gauge according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing a conventional superconducting liquid level gauge.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 ... Film, 12a, 12b ... Metal foil pattern, 1
3 ... Thin piece of high-temperature superconducting material, 16 ... Current supply source, 17 ... Voltmeter, 18 ... Liquid level detector.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A film, a plurality of metal foil patterns for current supply and voltage measurement, which are adhered onto the film, and an adhesive which is electrically connected to the desired metal foil pattern on the film. And a thin piece of a ceramics-based high temperature superconducting material.