WO2010146403A1 - Device for volume measuring and quality control of liquid fuel - Google Patents

Device for volume measuring and quality control of liquid fuel Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2010146403A1
WO2010146403A1 PCT/GR2009/000041 GR2009000041W WO2010146403A1 WO 2010146403 A1 WO2010146403 A1 WO 2010146403A1 GR 2009000041 W GR2009000041 W GR 2009000041W WO 2010146403 A1 WO2010146403 A1 WO 2010146403A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
fuel
flow
volume
liquid fuel
measuring
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/GR2009/000041
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Dimitrios Tselentsis
Dimitrios Oikonomopoulos
Ioannis Sarris
Dimitrios Fragos
Original Assignee
Metricon Ilektronika-Metritika Sistimata E.P.E.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Metricon Ilektronika-Metritika Sistimata E.P.E. filed Critical Metricon Ilektronika-Metritika Sistimata E.P.E.
Priority to EP09785734A priority Critical patent/EP2443422A1/en
Priority to PCT/GR2009/000041 priority patent/WO2010146403A1/en
Publication of WO2010146403A1 publication Critical patent/WO2010146403A1/en

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01F—MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME
    • G01F1/00—Measuring the volume flow or mass flow of fluid or fluent solid material wherein the fluid passes through a meter in a continuous flow
    • G01F1/66—Measuring the volume flow or mass flow of fluid or fluent solid material wherein the fluid passes through a meter in a continuous flow by measuring frequency, phase shift or propagation time of electromagnetic or other waves, e.g. using ultrasonic flowmeters
    • G01F1/662—Constructional details
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01F—MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME
    • G01F1/00—Measuring the volume flow or mass flow of fluid or fluent solid material wherein the fluid passes through a meter in a continuous flow
    • G01F1/66—Measuring the volume flow or mass flow of fluid or fluent solid material wherein the fluid passes through a meter in a continuous flow by measuring frequency, phase shift or propagation time of electromagnetic or other waves, e.g. using ultrasonic flowmeters
    • G01F1/667—Arrangements of transducers for ultrasonic flowmeters; Circuits for operating ultrasonic flowmeters
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01F—MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME
    • G01F1/00—Measuring the volume flow or mass flow of fluid or fluent solid material wherein the fluid passes through a meter in a continuous flow
    • G01F1/74—Devices for measuring flow of a fluid or flow of a fluent solid material in suspension in another fluid
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01F—MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME
    • G01F15/00—Details of, or accessories for, apparatus of groups G01F1/00 - G01F13/00 insofar as such details or appliances are not adapted to particular types of such apparatus
    • G01F15/02—Compensating or correcting for variations in pressure, density or temperature
    • G01F15/022—Compensating or correcting for variations in pressure, density or temperature using electrical means
    • G01F15/024—Compensating or correcting for variations in pressure, density or temperature using electrical means involving digital counting
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01F—MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME
    • G01F15/00—Details of, or accessories for, apparatus of groups G01F1/00 - G01F13/00 insofar as such details or appliances are not adapted to particular types of such apparatus
    • G01F15/07—Integration to give total flow, e.g. using mechanically-operated integrating mechanism
    • G01F15/075—Integration to give total flow, e.g. using mechanically-operated integrating mechanism using electrically-operated integrating means
    • G01F15/0755—Integration to give total flow, e.g. using mechanically-operated integrating mechanism using electrically-operated integrating means involving digital counting

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a device for measuring the volume and for quality contrail of the supply of liquid fuels, mainly oil, that incorporates the use of flow sensor, temperature sensor, water sensor and air bubble sensor for ensuring great accuracy in the delivery of fuel.
  • the specified temperature for delivering oil is internationally set to 15 Celsius degrees (15° C).
  • the volume must be reduced to that the fuel should have being at 15° C, given the current legislation that defines the fuel transaction to be measured in volume and the volume differs according to the temperature significantly.
  • Also frequently observed phenomenon is the fraudulent or non, reverse flow or suction of fuel from the tank of the customer to the distribution tank, thus misleading the customer as to the quantity of fuel eventually received.
  • the hitherto known types of flowmeters are using ultrasound as the most common method and the method of measuring the time difference in the propagation of ultrasonic pulses through the fluid by two ultrasonic converters (transducers) (34, 35) placed at distance L and an angle ⁇ to the pipe supplying the liquid fuel, as shown schematically in Figure 1.
  • the most commonly applied method is to transmit an ultrasonic pulse from the sensor A to B (let A and B be the two ultrasonic converters) and to measure the time of propagation (td).
  • td time of propagation
  • the invented device consists of an original combination of devices, such that the results of measurements and quality of information that is provided for the delivered fuel, to be demonstrably superior, more accurate and complete than that of known similar devices on the market.
  • the device can be portable or fixed, can operate with internal battery or external power, has no moving parts to obstruct the flow of fuel and reduce the performance over time and incorporates a quick connection capability to the standardized equipment of delivery vehicles and storage facilities.
  • thermometer (14) Measuring the exact temperature of the fuel using a thermometer (14) and reduction in volume should the fuel be at delivery temperature of 15° C in combination with the rest of simultaneously measured data.
  • transducers (5), (6) and (7) do not interact with the pipe walls (1) as in most types of flowmeters which place them outside of the tube, adds the advantage that there are no errors from the propagation of ultrasound waves in the material of the tube, which creates differences in the propagation times unrelated to the phenomenon of flow and also allows operation with lower power signals, thus reduced power consumption and reduced manufacturing costs of electronic subsystems.
  • Figure 1 is illustrated the previous state of the art by using two ultrasonic sensors.
  • Figure 2 illustrates schematically the main elements of the invented device.
  • Figures 3a and 3b an implemented prospective application of the invented device is illustrated, this includes the device enclosure and the quick connection adaptors.
  • Figure 4a the flow sensors and the triangular order of their arrangement is illustrated.
  • Figure 4b the hydrodynamic component for smoothing the flow is schematically illustrated.
  • Figure 4c the hydrodynamics related support of the flow sensors is prospectively illustrated.
  • Figure 5 the functional connectivity of individual devices and components is schematically illustrated.
  • Figures 6 and 7 the printed circuit boards of the electronic components are illustrated.
  • Figure 8 the basic algorithm for the calculation of the flow rate and the reduction in volume of fuel is illustrated.
  • Liquid (2) flows through the pipe of the device (1).
  • the sensors - ultrasonic converters (transducers) (5), (6) and (7) located on the comers of a triangle, and are constructed of Lead Zirconium Titanium with radiation lobe of 90 degrees.
  • Each ultrasound transducer (5,6,7) works as a transmitter when at the same time interval of broadcasting, the other two transducers function as differential receivers of the disseminated ultrasonic wave, and the propagation times t12, t13 are calculated.
  • a cyclical succession of the operation of the next transducer operating as transmitter and the other two as receivers is being done clockwise, the times t23, t21 are calculated.
  • the difference of the times of wave propagation between those points where the flow is directed towards one and the other direction is proportional to the speed of the fluid (fuel). With the integration of the speed over time, the total passing volume of the fuel through the device is obtained.
  • the transducers (5), (6) and (7) are attached to flat plates (8), (9) and (10) respectively.
  • the flat plates (8), (9) & (10) are supported by bonding or soldering method to vertical support plates (3) and (4), which may be printed circuit boards to carry electrical signals from the transducers.
  • the vertical support plates (3) and (4) are bonded onto the principal printed circuit board bearing most electronics (11) using soldering method. In this way low cost and similarity in all production systems is insured.
  • Part of the surface of the main printed circuit (11) is bonded water tightly in a flat section of the tube (1) as it is illustrated in Figures 3a, 3b.
  • the plastic hydrodynamic component (12) is placed (see Figures 4a, b, c).
  • Areas 12a and 12b are hydrodynamics surfaces made of plastic and are used for smoothing the flow.
  • the implementation of the switching of sensors that receive and emit the signal to the appropriate reception - transmission circuits is being done using the switch (17).
  • This component (17) connects each sensor to the point of emission or reception, depending on the time-sequence and the switch of transmitter - receiver pulse each time, while with the component (18) the composition of the waveforms of the emitted pulses is being done.
  • the level of signals is regulated by the element (19), while the item (20) is the receiving system of the pulses that are then amplified by element (21), to a level proportional to the indication from the measurement level component (22) of the received signals.
  • the measurement of the timing differences is being done with time-resolution less than one nano-second, from the transmission event to the reception event of each pulse.
  • the sampling point (24) of the analogue signals converts the waveforms of the received signals into a digital signal.
  • the element (25) is being used, which operates with quartz crystal and provides the time basis in the system.
  • the device includes temperature-measuring device (14), for the reduction of the volume of fuel to the 15° C volume as defined in the regulations of fuel delivery. What is being done is reduction of the measured volume in the volume that the fuel would have if Hs temperature was at 15° C during the delivery.
  • the device of the invention includes a provision (15) in which the existence of water into a quantity of fuel is being detected. This quantity is measured and subtracted from the total amount of fuel delivered. The device is doing the procedure of water detection and its correction and removal from the quantity to be delivered, automatically and without being able to be disabled the user.
  • the device of the invention incorporates a provision (16) in which the function of detecting the presence of air bubbles, indicating the fuel customer, in a liquid crystal display, all the time if there is air and at the end of measuring the quantity of fuel, which contained dissolved air. The recipient can then decide depending on the amount received if he / she accepts the delivered fuel or not. Depending on the amount of dissolved air, the strength of the received signals and all disturbances during the measurement of the flow, novel algorithms for calculating the estimated maximum error of the device are continuously executed. This estimation of total error is displayed on the screen at the end of the measurement so that the recipient knows the maximum possible deviation of the device.
  • Element (26) is the main microprocessor of the apparatus used for processing all this data and for implementing the calculations, while the digital circuits (27), are digital inputs / outputs for controlling the screen and reading of the keys (33).
  • the element (28) this is the display screen, which shows the quantity of fuel, temperature, the presence of water and air and any other information.
  • Figures (29) are power supplies that include voltage regulators and control system power, while the item (30) measures the level of the battery's electrical energy and warns to be replaced when it has almost exhausted.
  • the device includes built mechanical quick connectors (31,32) (screw-type and camlock type usually) for easy installation and connection to the equipment of the delivering vehicle and the recipients tank.

Abstract

A device for measuring the volume and for controlling the supply of liquid fuels, mainly oil, measuring in high precision, which takes into account when measuring, the temperature of the fuel, the direction of fuel flow and the possible presence of air and water within the flow, performing algorithm calculations for making the necessary corrections as to calculate the actual quantity of net fuel volume. It can be portable and include quick connection adaptors for standard piping equipment.

Description

DEVICE FOR VOLUME MEASURING ANO QUALITY CONTROL OF
LIQUID FUEL
The invention relates to a device for measuring the volume and for quality contrail of the supply of liquid fuels, mainly oil, that incorporates the use of flow sensor, temperature sensor, water sensor and air bubble sensor for ensuring great accuracy in the delivery of fuel.
The prior art related items do not to show any similar device. It is known that daily friction is created between buyers and sellers of oil, not only regarding the quantity sold, but also on the possible existence within the flow of fuel of water and air, with or without intension. The presence of water and of air bubbles in the flow results in the increasing of volume of the fuel sold, usually at a fairly large percentage of the volume of the real fuel.
Additional reason causing disputing after the delivery process is the change in volume of the liquid due to the temperature at the time of delivery. The specified temperature for delivering oil is internationally set to 15 Celsius degrees (15° C). In the case of different fuel temperature at the delivery, the volume must be reduced to that the fuel should have being at 15° C, given the current legislation that defines the fuel transaction to be measured in volume and the volume differs according to the temperature significantly. Also frequently observed phenomenon is the fraudulent or non, reverse flow or suction of fuel from the tank of the customer to the distribution tank, thus misleading the customer as to the quantity of fuel eventually received.
The hitherto known types of flowmeters are using ultrasound as the most common method and the method of measuring the time difference in the propagation of ultrasonic pulses through the fluid by two ultrasonic converters (transducers) (34, 35) placed at distance L and an angle φ to the pipe supplying the liquid fuel, as shown schematically in Figure 1. The most commonly applied method is to transmit an ultrasonic pulse from the sensor A to B (let A and B be the two ultrasonic converters) and to measure the time of propagation (td). Next to transmit a ultrasonic pulse from the transceiver B to A and to measure the propagation time (tu). If the distance of sensors is L, c is the speed of sound in the fluid, v the velocity of the fluid and φ be the angle between the line connecting the sensors and the axis of the tube (Figure 1). Then: c = 2L / (tu + td), td = L / (c + v cosΦ), tu = L / (c - v cosΦ) If Δt is the difference of two propagation times Δt = td - tu = 2 v L cosφ / (c - v cos2φ) = 2 L cosφ v / c2 the velocity v of the fluid is derived by the formula v = Δt c 2 / (2 L cosφ) given the section area of the tube d, the speed corresponds to fluid flow P = v π d2 / 4. Integrating P over time derives the total volume of fluid. Typical descriptions of the method are detailed in US Pat. No. 5,531,124 JuI. 2, 1996, Japanese Patent No. 2,676,321 JuI. 25, 1998 U.S. Pat. No. 3050997Jun 3, 1959.
The above described known flowmeters and other similar to this, besides not taking into account the measurement error of the fuel volume due to the existence of water and air bubbles in the flow and temperature difference of the delivered fuel from the legal reference temperature of delivery, they display systematic measurement errors due to the phenomenon called "offset drifting". In this phenomenon, errors are constantly added in the measured time td and tu, resulting the flow P to be given as P = Pa + Pe, where Pe is the additive error and Pa is the actual flow. Pe may fluctuate by long periods of time or according to environmental conditions.
Finally, it is fact that most so far known ultrasonic flowmeters place the transducers outside the pipe, creating additional measurement errors, since the propagation of ultrasound waves in the material of the pipe's walls adds time differences of ultrasonic propagation, unrelated to the phenomenon of flow. These disadvantages prompted us to search for a solution, a result of which is the subject of this description.
With the invented device, all the above disadvantages are eliminated. Specifically, the invented device consists of an original combination of devices, such that the results of measurements and quality of information that is provided for the delivered fuel, to be demonstrably superior, more accurate and complete than that of known similar devices on the market. In addition, the device can be portable or fixed, can operate with internal battery or external power, has no moving parts to obstruct the flow of fuel and reduce the performance over time and incorporates a quick connection capability to the standardized equipment of delivery vehicles and storage facilities.
Advantages of the invention
The invented device has the following advantages over the hitherto known similar devices:
1. Detection and determination of the quantity of water and of presence of air that may be contained in the flow of fuel with use of sensors (15), (16) and mathematical correlation of the sensors data as to calculate the net volume of fuel.
2. Measuring the exact temperature of the fuel using a thermometer (14) and reduction in volume should the fuel be at delivery temperature of 15° C in combination with the rest of simultaneously measured data.
3. Capability of measuring the volume of fuel potentially sucked (reverse flow) where the measured volume is subtracted from the total volume of fuel.
4. By using three ultrasonic sensors arranged in a triangle, each produced instrument does not require separate calibration, since the errors of time measurement cancel each other, thereby achieving high reproducibility and accuracy. 5. Significant reduction of the phenomenon "offset drift" due to the removal of systematic errors in the time delay of signals. Such errors, although usually significantly smaller than one billionth of a second (nsec), are the main measurement error in most of the existing ultrasonic flowmeters of prior art.
6. Due to special hydrodynamic design does not significantly obstruct the flow of fluid, and does not create turbulent flow in order to avoid random fluctuations in the propagation of ultrasonic signals that introduce measurement errors
7. The fact that the transducers (5), (6) and (7) do not interact with the pipe walls (1) as in most types of flowmeters which place them outside of the tube, adds the advantage that there are no errors from the propagation of ultrasound waves in the material of the tube, which creates differences in the propagation times unrelated to the phenomenon of flow and also allows operation with lower power signals, thus reduced power consumption and reduced manufacturing costs of electronic subsystems.
8. Incorporates quick connection adaptors (31, 32) for the standard equipment of the delivery vehicle and the customer, enabling easy and instantaneous installation of the device.
Technical Description
Our invention will be understood by reference to the drawings accompanying this description, in which an industrial application example of the invention is illustrated.
Specifically, in Figure 1 is illustrated the previous state of the art by using two ultrasonic sensors. Figure 2, illustrates schematically the main elements of the invented device. In Figures 3a and 3b, an implemented prospective application of the invented device is illustrated, this includes the device enclosure and the quick connection adaptors. In Figure 4a, the flow sensors and the triangular order of their arrangement is illustrated. In Figure 4b, the hydrodynamic component for smoothing the flow is schematically illustrated. In Figure 4c, the hydrodynamics related support of the flow sensors is prospectively illustrated. In Figure 5, the functional connectivity of individual devices and components is schematically illustrated. In Figures 6 and 7, the printed circuit boards of the electronic components are illustrated. In Figure 8, the basic algorithm for the calculation of the flow rate and the reduction in volume of fuel is illustrated.
Referring to an illustrative example of the chosen design, a numbering of the key parts of the object is being done below, in reference to the corresponding numbering of these parts in the attached drawings, where they are presented in a indicative and descriptive illustration, scale-free but only in proportion of size between the parts.
In Figure 2 the main item is shown. Liquid (2) flows through the pipe of the device (1). Within the pipe there are the sensors - ultrasonic converters (transducers) (5), (6) and (7), located on the comers of a triangle, and are constructed of Lead Zirconium Titanium with radiation lobe of 90 degrees. Each ultrasound transducer (5,6,7) works as a transmitter when at the same time interval of broadcasting, the other two transducers function as differential receivers of the disseminated ultrasonic wave, and the propagation times t12, t13 are calculated. In succession, a cyclical succession of the operation of the next transducer operating as transmitter and the other two as receivers is being done clockwise, the times t23, t21 are calculated. The rotary alternation of the functioning of the transducers as transmitters and as receivers of ultrasound continues in the next step and another pair of timings t31 , t32 is obtained. These three pairs of timings are combined using a mathematical relation to = F (t12, t13, t23, t21, t31, t32) and using digital signal processing algorithms (Fig. 8) the time At0 is obtained which is the transmission time that is exclusively due to only the flow of liquid, free from time delaying errors due to placement tolerances of the transducers and geometrical errors in their supporting parts which are always present in the assembly and manufacturing processes of the device.
The difference of the times of wave propagation between those points where the flow is directed towards one and the other direction, is proportional to the speed of the fluid (fuel). With the integration of the speed over time, the total passing volume of the fuel through the device is obtained.
The transducers (5), (6) and (7) are attached to flat plates (8), (9) and (10) respectively. The flat plates (8), (9) & (10), are supported by bonding or soldering method to vertical support plates (3) and (4), which may be printed circuit boards to carry electrical signals from the transducers. In turn, the vertical support plates (3) and (4) are bonded onto the principal printed circuit board bearing most electronics (11) using soldering method. In this way low cost and similarity in all production systems is insured. Part of the surface of the main printed circuit (11), is bonded water tightly in a flat section of the tube (1) as it is illustrated in Figures 3a, 3b.
Among the supporting plates (3) and (4) the plastic hydrodynamic component (12) is placed (see Figures 4a, b, c). Areas 12a and 12b are hydrodynamics surfaces made of plastic and are used for smoothing the flow.
The implementation of the switching of sensors that receive and emit the signal to the appropriate reception - transmission circuits is being done using the switch (17). This component (17) connects each sensor to the point of emission or reception, depending on the time-sequence and the switch of transmitter - receiver pulse each time, while with the component (18) the composition of the waveforms of the emitted pulses is being done. The level of signals is regulated by the element (19), while the item (20) is the receiving system of the pulses that are then amplified by element (21), to a level proportional to the indication from the measurement level component (22) of the received signals.
With the element (23), the measurement of the timing differences is being done with time-resolution less than one nano-second, from the transmission event to the reception event of each pulse. The sampling point (24) of the analogue signals converts the waveforms of the received signals into a digital signal. For the timing of the system the element (25) is being used, which operates with quartz crystal and provides the time basis in the system. The device includes temperature-measuring device (14), for the reduction of the volume of fuel to the 15° C volume as defined in the regulations of fuel delivery. What is being done is reduction of the measured volume in the volume that the fuel would have if Hs temperature was at 15° C during the delivery.
Additionally, the device of the invention includes a provision (15) in which the existence of water into a quantity of fuel is being detected. This quantity is measured and subtracted from the total amount of fuel delivered. The device is doing the procedure of water detection and its correction and removal from the quantity to be delivered, automatically and without being able to be disabled the user.
Also, the device of the invention incorporates a provision (16) in which the function of detecting the presence of air bubbles, indicating the fuel customer, in a liquid crystal display, all the time if there is air and at the end of measuring the quantity of fuel, which contained dissolved air. The recipient can then decide depending on the amount received if he / she accepts the delivered fuel or not. Depending on the amount of dissolved air, the strength of the received signals and all disturbances during the measurement of the flow, novel algorithms for calculating the estimated maximum error of the device are continuously executed. This estimation of total error is displayed on the screen at the end of the measurement so that the recipient knows the maximum possible deviation of the device.
Element (26) is the main microprocessor of the apparatus used for processing all this data and for implementing the calculations, while the digital circuits (27), are digital inputs / outputs for controlling the screen and reading of the keys (33). The element (28) this is the display screen, which shows the quantity of fuel, temperature, the presence of water and air and any other information. Figures (29) are power supplies that include voltage regulators and control system power, while the item (30) measures the level of the battery's electrical energy and warns to be replaced when it has almost exhausted. Finally, the device includes built mechanical quick connectors (31,32) (screw-type and camlock type usually) for easy installation and connection to the equipment of the delivering vehicle and the recipients tank.
It should be said mat the purpose of this invention is not limited to the above example. The implementation of the invention is possible also with different assembly methods, parts and devices which remain to the aspirations of this description.

Claims

1. Device for measuring volume and for controlling the flow of liquid fuel, which includes electronic elements for measurement (5,6,7,14,15,16) and mechanical elements for smoothing the flow (3,4,12,12 a, 12b), which are combined so as to enable measuring with great accuracy the quantity of liquid fuel passing through the device, to check for the presence of water and air bubbles in the fluid, and to reduce the volume into the volume of the regular delivery temperature of 15° C, characterized in that it has three sensors (ultrasonic transducers) (5), (6) & (7), with radiation emission lobes of 90 degrees placed in differential triangle configuration for determining the speed and direction of flow, which ultrasonic transducers (5), (6) & (7) are bonded on flat plates (8), (9) & (10), bonded on vertical support plates (3) & (4), between which a plastic component (12) using hydrodynamics design is placed to ensure smooth non-turbulent flow and fuel temperature sensor (14) and water in fuel measurement sensor (15) and sensor for detecting air bubbles (16) in fuel flow, one microprocessor (26) for processing of data obtained from sensors and algorithms to implement the correction, reduction, inverse flow detection and estimation of total error of measurement as to calculate accurately the quantity of liquid fuel and liquid crystal display device (28) for displaying the measurements and keyboard (33) for interaction with the user and quick connection adaptors (31) & (32) to the equipment of the distributor and the recipient, suitable to be connected to most standard piping sizes
2. Device for measuring volume and for controlling the flow of liquid fuel, according to claim 1, characterized in that it carries three sensors (ultrasound transducers) (5) <6) & (7) in differential triangular layout, so that each one of them to operate at a time as a transmitter, while the same time the other two function as differential receivers for the propagated ultrasonic wave, and calculate the propagation times t12, t13, and successively in a circular clockwise sequence, next converter functions as transmitter and the other two as receivers and calculate the times t23, t21 and then the next step in continuing the rotary switch between transmitters and receivers of ultrasound, measuring the propagation times t31, t32, with the result after combining the three pairs of times into a mathematical relationship, to minimize errors due to manufacturing differences in geometric characteristics of the device, thus achieving high repeatability and accuracy of the device during the production phase without the need for calibration of each instrument.
3. Device for measuring volume and for controlling the flow of liquid fuel, according to claim 1, characterized in that temperature sensors (14) measure accurately the temperature of the fuel and using algorithm to reduce the measured volume to the delivery, according to the international existing legislation of fuel at 15° C, combined with an algorithm for the dual displaying of the measured and the reduced volume on an LCD screen.
4. Device for measuring volume and for controlling the flow of liquid fuel, according to claim 1, characterized in that it carries sensor for detection and measurement in passing, if any, water in fuel (15), combined with an algorithm for the removal of water quantity of the measured fuel volume, and an algorithm for the characteristic indication of the existence of water on an LCD screen.
5. Device for measuring volume and for controlling the flow of liquid fuel, according to claim 1, characterized in that it carries sensor for detection of air bubbles (16) in the flow of fuel, combined with an algorithm for the characteristic indication of the existence of air bubbles on an LCD screen.
6. Device for measuring volume and for controlling the flow of liquid fuel, according to claim 1, characterized in that it carries vertical support plates (3) & (4), which may be printed circuit boards and structure (12a, 12b) of plastic material to ensure smooth non-turbulent flow providing capability for low cost mass production
7. Device for measuring volume and for controlling the flow of liquid fuel, according to claim 1, characterized in that it carries electronic switch (17) making the switching of sensors that receive and transmit signals in the circuit, which connects each of the sensors (5), (6) & (7) to the circuit of emission or reception, depending on the sequence of each being a transmitter or receiver, circuit for pulse generation (18), which carries out the synthesis of analogue signals, the level of which is adjusted by a control circuit (19) and circuit (20) which is pulses receiver that feeds these signals to an amplifier (21), that adjusts its gain by a signal level measuring circuit (22).
8. Device for measuring volume and for controlling the flow of liquid fuel, according to claim 1 , characterized in that is either portable or at a fixed installation, works with battery or external power, has no moving parts that usually obstruct the flow of fuel and reduce the reliability and accuracy over time and uses algorithms for calculating, depending on the conditions of measurement, the maximum possible error of the same device that is displayed on a liquid crystal screen and that way the user is informed, beyond the same measurement also about the tolerance of the measurement carried out
9. Device for measuring volume and for controlling the flow of liquid fuel, according to claim 1, characterized in that it incorporates quick connection adapters (31, .32) for the standard equipment of receiver and delivery vehicle to be suitable to be connected to the entrance and exit of most standard piping sizes
10. Device for measuring volume and for controlling the flow of liquid fuel, according to claim 1, characterized in that during its operation: a) detects the possible existence of water and air in the fuel, displays such event on a display monitor and corrects the measurement of the fuel's volume accordingly
b) in a case of reverse flow, i.e. flow of fuel from the recipient's tank towards the delivery vehicle's tank, the reverse direction flow is measured and subtracted from the total measured volume of delivered fuel c) measures the temperature of the fuel at the distribution phase and reduces the measured volume, according to the existing legislation for delivering heating or diesel oil, to that of the fuel being at 15° C
PCT/GR2009/000041 2009-06-19 2009-06-19 Device for volume measuring and quality control of liquid fuel WO2010146403A1 (en)

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EP09785734A EP2443422A1 (en) 2009-06-19 2009-06-19 Device for volume measuring and quality control of liquid fuel
PCT/GR2009/000041 WO2010146403A1 (en) 2009-06-19 2009-06-19 Device for volume measuring and quality control of liquid fuel

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USD866375S1 (en) 2017-08-02 2019-11-12 Buoy Labs, Inc. Water flow monitoring device
US10704935B2 (en) 2016-12-04 2020-07-07 Buoy Labs, Inc. Fluid flow detector with tethered drag block
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