WO2011034493A1 - Measuring equipment for determine a relationship between an enclosed gas volume and an enclosed liquid volume in an accumulator tank - Google Patents

Measuring equipment for determine a relationship between an enclosed gas volume and an enclosed liquid volume in an accumulator tank Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2011034493A1
WO2011034493A1 PCT/SE2010/050992 SE2010050992W WO2011034493A1 WO 2011034493 A1 WO2011034493 A1 WO 2011034493A1 SE 2010050992 W SE2010050992 W SE 2010050992W WO 2011034493 A1 WO2011034493 A1 WO 2011034493A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
pressure
measuring equipment
control unit
equipment according
distribution network
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/SE2010/050992
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Lennart Jansson
Original Assignee
Firefly Ab
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 Firefly Ab filed Critical Firefly Ab
Publication of WO2011034493A1 publication Critical patent/WO2011034493A1/en

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A62—LIFE-SAVING; FIRE-FIGHTING
    • A62C—FIRE-FIGHTING
    • A62C37/00—Control of fire-fighting equipment
    • A62C37/50—Testing or indicating devices for determining the state of readiness of the equipment
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A62—LIFE-SAVING; FIRE-FIGHTING
    • A62C—FIRE-FIGHTING
    • A62C35/00—Permanently-installed equipment
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E03—WATER SUPPLY; SEWERAGE
    • E03B—INSTALLATIONS OR METHODS FOR OBTAINING, COLLECTING, OR DISTRIBUTING WATER
    • E03B11/00—Arrangements or adaptations of tanks for water supply
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01F—MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME
    • G01F23/00—Indicating or measuring liquid level or level of fluent solid material, e.g. indicating in terms of volume or indicating by means of an alarm
    • G01F23/14—Indicating or measuring liquid level or level of fluent solid material, e.g. indicating in terms of volume or indicating by means of an alarm by measurement of pressure
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A62—LIFE-SAVING; FIRE-FIGHTING
    • A62C—FIRE-FIGHTING
    • A62C35/00—Permanently-installed equipment
    • A62C35/02—Permanently-installed equipment with containers for delivering the extinguishing substance
    • A62C35/023—Permanently-installed equipment with containers for delivering the extinguishing substance the extinguishing material being expelled by compressed gas, taken from storage tanks, or by generating a pressure gas

Definitions

  • Measuring equipment for determine a relationship between an enclosed gas volume and an enclosed liquid volume in an accumulator tank.
  • the present invention generally relates to a measuring equipment, and more particularly to such a measuring equipment that is adapted to, within a system distributing liquid and put under a positive pressure, be able to determine, with the aid of a number of instantaneous values of the system pressure and a gas pressure prevailing within an accumulator tank, a relationship between the liquid volume enclosed in the accumulator tank and the gas volume thereof.
  • the present invention gets an application in systems for a distribution of liquid, via a system distributing liquid, to a number of tapping points, and while utilizing an accumulator tank having an enclosed gas volume, the present invention will in the following be illustrated in more detail in connection with a system distributing water while utilizing an accumulator tank having an enclosed air volume.
  • the present invention accordingly relates to obtaining an application in a water-distributing security or protection system, which for the maintenance of a positive pressure utilizes an accumulator tank and wherein the water-distributing security system is in the form of a sprinkler system, wherein the tapping points may be automatically actuated by one or more heat sensors adjacent to the tapping points or actuated via generated activation signals from a control equipment - or a control unit.
  • Accumulator tanks of the relevant type are adapted to allow to hold a prevailing air-pressure and a water pressure between pre-determined pressure values to afford a well balanced and immediately available water volume.
  • An accumulator tank of the relevant type can be found as a so-called
  • hydrophore adapted to separate a lower water volume or water phase from a pressurized upper air volume or air phase
  • a so-called “hydropress” adapted to, via an elastic membrane, allow to separate a lower water volume from a
  • Accumulator tanks of the relevant type are, via a system pumping water, adapted to be filled with water to a pressure-related upper level via a pressure switch operating to a water pump, where this pressure-related upper pressure level becomes determined by the same pressure level as the one that is prevailing within the air phase.
  • the invention is based on a measuring equipment for, within a system distributing water and having an accumulator tank, and by means of a control unit and a calculation unit assigned to the same, allowing to determine an instantaneous relationship between an enclosed air volume, put under a positive pressure, and an enclosed water volume, put under the same positive pressure, wherein said accumulator tank is included in a distribution network supplying water and having a pump equipment and a pressure transducer, in the form of a pressure switch, adapted to become actuated to allow to pump water into the distribution network and the accumulator tank at a selected low pressure value, and adapted to become actuated to stop the action of the pump at a selected high pressure value, as well as a pipe system to be able to distribute water, under a selected positive pressure between the low pressure value and the high pressure value, to one or more valved tapping points, such as in the form of nozzles, and wherein said distribution network, such as next to the accumulator tank, has been provided with a sensor detecting and evaluating
  • a selected positive pressure of an air volume should be adapted to act against a water surface formed within the hydrophore or hydropress unit comprising: a first connection, to allow to supply to the water system an amount of water under a positive pressure exceeding or coinciding with the maximal positive pressure prevailing in the water system; one or more second connections, to allow to discharge water from the water system via valves, all under some reduction of the positive pressure of the water system; a hydrophore or hydropress unit, or a means enclosing a pure air volume, to allow to create an expandable and compressible air volume; a third connection, to allow to supply (or evacuate) air under a positive pressure to said air volume as well as a pressure transducer assigned to the water pressure and adapted to, at a low pressure value, allow to activate a first means, in the form of a pump, for a supply of an amount of water under an increasing water pressure within the water system and the accumulator tank as well as, at an achieved high pressure value
  • the present invention concerns more particularly a measuring equipment that temporarily should be possible to be connected to allow to test the condition of the distribution system, wherein a control unit is adapted to be able to determine that all tapping points are shut and the distribution system closed in other respects (non-actuated pump) before the measuring equipment can be triggered for the test cycle thereof.
  • test cycles may advantageously be periodically activated, such as every day or every week, or immediately after one or several tapping points of the distribution system temporarily or sustainedly have been actuated into an open state.
  • accumulator tank should be sufficiently great to be able to carry out a selected measure. This is particularly valid for systems having their own pump equipment that temporarily may be out of order.
  • One known method of the relevant type is to allow to measure the water volume that can be discharged from the accumulator tank between set variation limits of the pressure, but such a method has turned out to be cumbersome and has turned out to be time-consuming, at least in great security systems.
  • opening of a tapping point is normally required and this without knowledge if other tapping points assume an entirely or partly open state.
  • appurtenant tapping points such as sprinkler units and a pump filling liquid
  • a control equipment or a control unit related to a measuring equipment in order to, by means of the control unit and a calculation unit assigned to the same, allow to determine an instantaneous relationship between an enclosed gas or air volume, put under a positive pressure, and an enclosed liquid or water volume
  • an accumulator tank should be included in a distribution network supplying liquid or water and having a pump equipment and a pressure transducer adapted to become actuated by the positive pressure within the system or network in order to pump water into the distribution network at a selected low pressure value, and adapted to become actuated to stop the action of the pump at a selected high pressure value, as well as a pipe system to be able to distribute liquid or water under a selected positive pressure to one or more valved tapping points and wherein said distribution network, such as next to the accumulator tank, should be provided with a sensor determining and evaluating instantaneous pressure values, allow to afford a calculation unit, which in a
  • a measuring equipment should be adapted to, within a system distributing liquid and having an accumulator tank, by means of a control unit and a calculation unit assigned to said control unit, allow to determine an instantaneous relationship between an enclosed gas volume and an enclosed liquid volume that are put under a positive pressure
  • said accumulator tank is included in a distribution system having a distribution network supplying liquid and having a pump equipment and a pressure transducer or sensor adapted to the pump equipment to become actuated to pump liquid under a positive pressure into the distribution network at a selected low pressure value, and adapted to become actuated to stop the action of the pump at a selected high pressure value, as well as a pipe system within the distribution network to be able to distribute liquid under a selected threshold valued positive pressure to one or more valved tapping points and wherein said distribution network, such as next to the accumulator tank, is provided with a pressure sensor determining and evaluating instantaneous pressure value.
  • the present invention particularly teaches that the known technique should be supplemented in that, via a first circuit within said control unit and by means of a calculation circuit, a special discharge valve connected to the distribution network should be actuatable, in order to, within a preselected time duration, allow to discharge a liquid volume from the distribution network corresponding to the time duration and discharge velocity through the discharge valve, that, via a second circuit within the control unit and by means of a calculation circuit, a pressure reduction occurring during said time duration should be allowed to be determined, and that, via a third circuit, the instantaneous relationship between an enclosed gas volume and an enclosed liquid volume should be allowed to be evaluated, taking into consideration the selected time duration and the pressure difference evaluated via the pressure sensor and occurring in that connection.
  • a fourth circuit within the control unit and by means of a calculation circuit should be adapted to allow to evaluate the pressures and/or pressure changes over time that will occur within the distribution network having a connected accumulator tank and with shut valves at the tapping points
  • Said first circuit should in that connection be adapted to quickly be able to shut a strong outflow of liquid via the discharge valve thereby forming an evaluatable and pronounced shock wave occurring and passing within the distribution network and the liquid volume.
  • the present invention teaches that the pressure sensor should be adapted to be able to feed instantaneous pressure values to the control unit, which values are adapted to be sequentially evaluated to be able to determine, during said time duration, a pronounced progress of the change of the pressure and the pressure difference over time.
  • a selected time duration should be adapted long enough for determining at least two significative readings of the change over time of the pressure.
  • the liquid volume and the positive pressure thereof should then be evaluatable to be related to an estimated extinguishing task.
  • Such an extinguishing task should then be possible to be set in relation to activation of one or more sensors susceptible to temperature, smoke, gas and/or other criteria within the distribution network and via the control unit allow to activate one or more extinguishing measures, via activation of one or more tapping points or nozzles and/or activation of one or more alarms.
  • a liquid or water volume discharged during the time duration via the discharge valve will be possible to become unambiguously determined by criteria related to the discharge valve, such as the current positive pressure, current flow area, the design of the valve, such as at switch on and off.
  • the setting states of all tapping points and/or nozzles should be stored within the control unit and should for switch on and off be controlled via output signals from control unit and that information stored within the control unit about all tapping points and nozzles being shut constitutes an initial criterion for the control unit to allow to activate and initiate the measuring sequence by opening the discharge valve.
  • a flow meter assigned to the distribution network is coupled to the control unit and that said measuring sequence is activatable only within such time periods when said flow meter indicates "no flow”.
  • a first memory is present in which pressure and/or pressure difference values related to selected time durations are stored, primarily representing related relationships between a pressure and/or differential pressure serving as a reference and a time duration corresponding thereto.
  • a second memory is present in which pressure and/or pressure variations are stored concerning a shock wave, primarily representing related relationship between a pressure serving as a reference or pressure variation or pressure variations occurring immediately after a quick shutting allocated to the discharge valve.
  • a fifth circuit is activated, for determining a suitable measure presentable on a display unit or the like.
  • the readings determined by the control unit and/or the calculation unit of instantaneous pressure and liquid volume are, via circuits and adapted means, intended to become compared with readings stored in a memory, for determining and approving if the liquid volume put under a positive pressure exceeds a selected minimum value.
  • the reading determined by the calculation unit may be adapted to be compared with a time-wise previously determined reading in order to, in the distribution network but still having an occurring discrepancy, be able to interpret a lower time- wise later reading as a leaking and expandable compressed gas volume.
  • the first pressure value determined by the pressure sensor in the beginning of the time duration and a second pressure value in the end of the time duration as well as intermediate pressure values should be utilized as input data to the control unit and be utilized by calculation circuit.
  • Said discharge valve consists of a flip-flop valve having a short opening time and a short shutting time.
  • the present invention teaches that, via a first circuit within said control unit, a special discharge valve connected to the distribution network is actuatable, in order to, within a preselected time duration and during a measuring sequence, allow to discharge a quantity of liquid volume corresponding to the time duration and discharge velocity through discharge valves.
  • a pressure and/or a pressure reduction occurring during said time duration and measuring sequence are/is determined.
  • the instantaneous relationship between an enclosed gas volume and an enclosed liquid volume is evaluated, taking into consideration the selected time duration and the pressure and/or pressure difference evaluated via the pressure sensor and occurring in that connection.
  • the gas volume is air or nitrogen gas and the liquid volume is water.
  • FIG. 1 generally shows a water system having a "hydropress" unit and a measuring equipment connected to the hydropress unit and having a control unit, in accordance with the provisions of the invention
  • Figure 2 shows a simplified (straight line) pressure/time diagram of a "hydropress" unit, according to Figure 1
  • Figure 3 shows in an enlarged view a discharge of a portion of an enclosed amount of water during a first time duration "t1", which is terminated by a quick shutting of a discharge valve, in order to, during a second time duration "t2", generate a short pressure surge over time
  • Figure 4 shows three graphs intended to illustrate three different pressure/time graphs for a distribution system having an accumulator tank, within which tank an air volume is present having the same initial pressure "P2" but of three different air volumes
  • Figure 5 shows in a block diagram a measuring equipment, having a control unit and a calculation unit, and with schematic circuits co-ordinated according to the provisions of the invention.
  • Figure 1 shows the existence of a measuring equipment "M” for, within a system “S” that is able to distribute water and having an accumulator tank “T” and by means of a control unit ⁇ " and one or more calculation units “D” assigned to the same, allowing to determine an instantaneous relationship between an enclosed air volume “Va” and an enclosed water volume “Vb” put under one and the same positive pressure.
  • Said accumulator tank “T” is accordingly included in a distribution system "S" constructed as the distribution network "S" supplying water and having a pump equipment “P” and a pressure transducer “R” adapted to become actuated to pump externally available water into the distribution network “S” at a selected low pressure value, and adapted to become actuated to stop the action of the pump “P” at a selected high pressure value, as well as a pipe system “S1” to be able to distribute water, within a selected positive pressure area, to one or more valved tapping points "A2"; “A2a” and wherein said distribution network “S”, such as next to the accumulator tank “T", is provided with a pressure sensor "B” detecting and evaluating instantaneous pressure values.
  • the water system or distribution network "S” comprises: a a first connection “A1 " to allow to supply to the water system or distribution network “S” an amount of water under a positive pressure exceeding the positive pressure prevailing within the system or network "S",
  • a pressure transducer "Ra” detecting the water pressure and adapted to, at a low pressure value "P1" (in Figure 2), allow to activate a first means “B1” for a supply of an amount of water under an increasing water pressure within the system "S” as well as, at a high pressure value "P2”, allow to activate a second means “B2” to terminate the supply of said amount of water.
  • a layer or membrane “C” separating air and water should be arranged within the accumulator tank "T".
  • the present invention intends to get an application when it comes to determine this relationship or a nearby relationship, as for the available water volume "Vb" and the pressure reduction thereof while activating a tapping point. It is about allowing to determine this relationship when the prevailing pressure falls between the pressure values "P1" and "P2".
  • the solid pressure/time line 20 shown in Figure 2 intends to illustrate and represent all pressure values that are represented by a selected relationship from the pressure value "P2" via the pressure value "P1" and with the air volume "Va" assigned to the initial pressure "P3".
  • this line 20 may be somewhat curved, which Figure 4 intends to illustrate.
  • Figures 1 and 2 show that the pump “P” switches on at the pressure value “P1” and switches off at the pressure value “P2", and a discharge of the system “S” is illustrated by the pressure/time line 20.
  • the invention is based on a controlled discharge of the water volume of the system "S" being to be effected at a special discharge valve "F" and where Figure 2 intends to illustrate that the valve “F” is to be kept open between the points of time “ta” and “tb” representing a time duration "t1" (compare also Figure 3) during an activated measuring sequence.
  • the selected time duration "t1" between the points of time “ta” and “tb” will primarily be depending on the structure of the system "S” and the design and volume of the accumulator tank "T".
  • the senor "B” should be adapted to feed instantaneous pressure values to the control unit "SE”, which values are adapted to be sequentially evaluated in order to, during said time duration "t1" and activated measuring sequence, be able to determine a pronounced pressure value progress of the pressure difference "dP".
  • the selected time duration "t1" should be adapted long enough for determining at least two significative readings "Pa” and "Pb”, respectively, of the change over time of the pressure.
  • the liquid volume “Vb” and the positive pressure thereof “Pb” are evaluated in a circuit "SEb” to be related to a calculated and activatable extinguishing task and/or measure and/or a number of extinguishing tasks and/or measures.
  • the extinguishing task may then be put in relation to activation of one or more sensors "S10” sensitive to temperature, smoke, gas and/or to other criteria, and via the control unit the extinguishing measure "SEc” is activated, via activation of one or more tapping points or nozzles "A2"; "A2a” and/or activation of one or more alarms.
  • a liquid or water volume discharged during the time duration "t1" will become unambiguously determined by different criteria related to the discharge valve "F", such as the current positive pressure "Pa”, current flow area, the design of the valve at switch on and off.
  • all tapping points and/or nozzles should be controlled “SEd” from the control unit "SE” and that information stored in the control unit about all tapping points and nozzles being shut constitutes an initial criterion for the control unit "SE” to allow to activate and initiate the measuring sequence.
  • a circuit "SEe” is coupled to the control unit “SE” for the detection of a flow meter assigned to the distribution network 3 and that said measuring sequence then is activatable only within time period "t1" when said flow meter indicates "no flow”.
  • FIG 1 now illustrates that the measuring equipment "M” should, among other things, be connected next to the lower part of the hydropress unit “H", with its separating membrane “C”, to detect instantaneous pressure values in the pressure sensor "B".
  • a valve, in the conduit "A3" leads to the air volume "V", "Va” thereof.
  • the measuring equipment "M”, according to Figure 1 should now have a first sensor unit “Ra” adapted to detect and register the value of an instantaneous pressure acting within the distribution system "S".
  • the sensor unit "Ra” is primarily intended for connecting and disconnecting the pump equipment at set minimum and maximum values.
  • a second pressure sensor or sensor unit “B” is adapted to detect and register values of instantaneous pressures (constant or varying) within the distribution network "S" next to the system-related inlets “Ta" of the accumulator tank "T".
  • Said calculation unit "D” in Figure 5 is adapted to, in a circuit "Da", among other things depending on the instantaneous pressure values registered by the second sensor unit “B” and/or depending on the increased and/or decreased pressure values registered by the second sensor unit “B” as well as depending on one or more constants, allow to determine the value of instantaneous pressure and enclosed volume of the water phase "Vb".
  • the first sensor unit “Ra” and the second sensor unit “B” may consist of one and the same unit, however detection and registration of relevant pressure values should be effected separated in time. Values of instantaneous pressure and volume determined in the calculation unit “D" within a circuit “Db” are, via circuits and adapted means, intended to become compared with readings stored in a first memory "M1", for determining and approving if the volume "Vb" put under a positive pressure is below a selected minimum value.
  • the value determined by the calculation unit "D" is, within a circuit "Dc", adapted to be compared with a previously determined value in order to, upon a discrepancy, interpret a lower and later reading as a criterion of leaking water and an expanded compressed air volume "Va".
  • a fourth circuit "S4" within or related to the control unit “SE” and a computer “E” and by means of the calculation circuit “D” and a circuit “Dd”, is adapted to allow to evaluate pressure changes over time that occur immediately after a quick shutting of the discharge valve "F” and in the end of or following said time duration "t1 ".
  • a first circuit "ST is adapted in such a way that it, by a generated signal within the control unit "SE”, quickly shuts an open outflow via the discharge valve "F”, in order to thereby form an evaluatable and pronounced “shock wave” passing within the distribution network "S” and the water volume in the accumulator tank "T".
  • a first memory is present “ ⁇ , in which pressure value "P”, pressure difference values “dP” related to the selected time duration "t1" are stored, primarily representing related relationships between a differential pressure serving as reference and a time duration corresponding thereto.
  • Figure 5 indicates here as a reference value "P”; “dP” and “t1a” ("t2a”).
  • a second memory "M2" is present, in which pressure variations "Pc" concerning a shock wave are stored, primarily representing related relationship between a pressure variation serving as a reference and occurring immediately after the quick shutting of the valve "F". Values “dPI"' and “ ⁇ 2a” should here serve as references.
  • a fifth circuit "S5" is activated for determining a suitable measure presentable on a display unit "G” or the like, to get the result to closely approach reference values or activate one or more security measures.
  • the value determined by the control unit “SE” and/or the calculation unit “D” of instantaneous pressure and volume is, via circuits and adapted means, intended to become compared with readings stored in a first memory "M1", for determining and approving if the water volume "Vb” put under a positive pressure and co- ordinated with air volume “Va” exceeds or is below a selected minimum value.
  • the value determined by the calculation unit "D" is adapted to be compared with a previously determined value in order to, at an occurring discrepancy, allow to interpret a lower later reading as a leaking water system and an expanded
  • said discharge valve “F” consists of a flip-flop valve having a short opening time and a short shutting time and therebetween adapted to large constant water flows. More particularly, according to the invention it is taught that, via a first circuit “S1 " related to said control unit “SE”, a discharge valve “F” connected to the distribution network “S” is actuatable in order to, within a preselected time duration "t1", via a conduit “L1 ", allow to discharge a quantity or water volume from the distribution network "S" corresponding to the time duration and discharge velocity through discharge valves "F".
  • a fourth circuit "S4" should be related to the control unit "SE”, and by means of the calculation circuit “D” and a circuit “Dd”, it should be adapted to allow to evaluate pressure changes "Pc" over time that occur immediately after the shutting of the discharge valve "F” and in the end of or at all events coinciding with said time duration "t1".
  • a predetermined pressure drop "dP”, related to the pressure "Pb”, should control the time duration of the measuring sequence.
  • each unit and/or category shown can be combined with any other unit and/or category shown within the scope in order to be able to attain the desired technical function.

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  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Emergency Management (AREA)
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  • Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
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  • Water Supply & Treatment (AREA)
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  • Pipeline Systems (AREA)

Abstract

The present invention embraces a measuring equipment ("M") in order to, within a system (S) distributing liquid and having an accumulator tank ("T") and by means of a control unit (SE) and a calculation unit (D) assigned to the same, allow to determine an instantaneous relationship between an enclosed gas volume (Va) and an enclosed liquid volume "Vb" put under a positive pressure, wherein said accumulator tank ("T") is included in a distribution network ("S") supplying liquid and having a pump (P) and a pressure transducer (R) adapted to become actuated to pump water into the distribution network (S) at a selected low pressure, and adapted to become actuated to stop the action of the pump (P) at a selected high pressure, as well as a pipe system ("S1") to be able to distribute liquid under a selected positive pressure to one or more tapping points (A2, A2a) and wherein said distribution network ("S"), such as next to the accumulator tank (T)1 is provided with a pressure sensor (B) evaluating instantaneous pressure values.

Description

Measuring equipment for determine a relationship between an enclosed gas volume and an enclosed liquid volume in an accumulator tank.
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to a measuring equipment, and more particularly to such a measuring equipment that is adapted to, within a system distributing liquid and put under a positive pressure, be able to determine, with the aid of a number of instantaneous values of the system pressure and a gas pressure prevailing within an accumulator tank, a relationship between the liquid volume enclosed in the accumulator tank and the gas volume thereof.
Even if the present invention gets an application in systems for a distribution of liquid, via a system distributing liquid, to a number of tapping points, and while utilizing an accumulator tank having an enclosed gas volume, the present invention will in the following be illustrated in more detail in connection with a system distributing water while utilizing an accumulator tank having an enclosed air volume.
More particularly, the present invention accordingly relates to obtaining an application in a water-distributing security or protection system, which for the maintenance of a positive pressure utilizes an accumulator tank and wherein the water-distributing security system is in the form of a sprinkler system, wherein the tapping points may be automatically actuated by one or more heat sensors adjacent to the tapping points or actuated via generated activation signals from a control equipment - or a control unit.
Accumulator tanks of the relevant type are adapted to allow to hold a prevailing air-pressure and a water pressure between pre-determined pressure values to afford a well balanced and immediately available water volume.
An accumulator tank of the relevant type can be found as a so-called
"hydrophore", adapted to separate a lower water volume or water phase from a pressurized upper air volume or air phase, or a so-called "hydropress", adapted to, via an elastic membrane, allow to separate a lower water volume from a
pressurized upper air volume.
Accumulator tanks of the relevant type are, via a system pumping water, adapted to be filled with water to a pressure-related upper level via a pressure switch operating to a water pump, where this pressure-related upper pressure level becomes determined by the same pressure level as the one that is prevailing within the air phase. The invention is based on a measuring equipment for, within a system distributing water and having an accumulator tank, and by means of a control unit and a calculation unit assigned to the same, allowing to determine an instantaneous relationship between an enclosed air volume, put under a positive pressure, and an enclosed water volume, put under the same positive pressure, wherein said accumulator tank is included in a distribution network supplying water and having a pump equipment and a pressure transducer, in the form of a pressure switch, adapted to become actuated to allow to pump water into the distribution network and the accumulator tank at a selected low pressure value, and adapted to become actuated to stop the action of the pump at a selected high pressure value, as well as a pipe system to be able to distribute water, under a selected positive pressure between the low pressure value and the high pressure value, to one or more valved tapping points, such as in the form of nozzles, and wherein said distribution network, such as next to the accumulator tank, has been provided with a sensor detecting and evaluating each instantaneous pressure value.
In such a system distributing water under a positive pressure, a selected positive pressure of an air volume should be adapted to act against a water surface formed within the hydrophore or hydropress unit comprising: a first connection, to allow to supply to the water system an amount of water under a positive pressure exceeding or coinciding with the maximal positive pressure prevailing in the water system; one or more second connections, to allow to discharge water from the water system via valves, all under some reduction of the positive pressure of the water system; a hydrophore or hydropress unit, or a means enclosing a pure air volume, to allow to create an expandable and compressible air volume; a third connection, to allow to supply (or evacuate) air under a positive pressure to said air volume as well as a pressure transducer assigned to the water pressure and adapted to, at a low pressure value, allow to activate a first means, in the form of a pump, for a supply of an amount of water under an increasing water pressure within the water system and the accumulator tank as well as, at an achieved high pressure value, allow to activate a second means to allow to terminate the supply of said amount of water.
The present invention concerns more particularly a measuring equipment that temporarily should be possible to be connected to allow to test the condition of the distribution system, wherein a control unit is adapted to be able to determine that all tapping points are shut and the distribution system closed in other respects (non-actuated pump) before the measuring equipment can be triggered for the test cycle thereof.
These test cycles may advantageously be periodically activated, such as every day or every week, or immediately after one or several tapping points of the distribution system temporarily or sustainedly have been actuated into an open state.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Methods, arrangements and designs, related to the above-mentioned technical field and having a function and a nature that meet requirements made, are previously known in a plurality of different embodiments.
As an example of prior art and the technical area to which the invention relates, it may be mentioned that it is, in a system distributing water according to the above, known that an expandable and compressible air volume enclosed within a hydrophore or hydropress unit, by a discharge of water via valves assigned as tapping points and/or air or water leakage, will increase and thereby the water volume stored under pressure within the accumulator tank will be correspondingly changed. It is and has been hard to ocularly be able to determine whether such a
decreasing pressure and/or decreasing water volume exist/exists.
In water-dispensing sprinkler systems, of the nature mentioned above, it is known that activation of one or more tapping points takes place most rarely, but when activation takes place, the stored and available water volume within the
accumulator tank should be sufficiently great to be able to carry out a selected measure. This is particularly valid for systems having their own pump equipment that temporarily may be out of order.
There are per se previously known different methods to be able to evaluate the extent of the water volume that is put under a positive pressure from the air phase or the air volume within the accumulator tank.
One known method of the relevant type is to allow to measure the water volume that can be discharged from the accumulator tank between set variation limits of the pressure, but such a method has turned out to be cumbersome and has turned out to be time-consuming, at least in great security systems.
There are also known methods to allow to determine the minimum value of the air pressure and/or the maximum value thereof and to allow to evaluate the water volume that can be supplied to the accumulator tank, such as in the form of a hydropress unit, between selected threshold values, by evaluating and measuring the operating period of a utilized pump.
In measuring methods of the relevant type, opening of a tapping point is normally required and this without knowledge if other tapping points assume an entirely or partly open state.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION TECHNICAL PROBLEM If attention is paid to the circumstance that the technical considerations, which a person skilled in the relevant technical field has to do to be able to present a solution to one or more technical problems raised, are, on one hand, initially a necessary understanding of the measures and/or the sequence of measures that have to be taken, and on the other hand a necessary selection of the means that is/are required, then the subsequent technical problems would, in view of this, be relevant in the creation of the present subject matter of invention.
Considering prior art, such as it has been described above, it should, therefore, be seen as a technical problem to be capable of realizing the significance of, the advantages associated with and/or the technical measures and considerations that will be required in order to, in a system distributing liquid (water) having
appurtenant tapping points, such as sprinkler units and a pump filling liquid, provide a control equipment or a control unit related to a measuring equipment in order to, by means of the control unit and a calculation unit assigned to the same, allow to determine an instantaneous relationship between an enclosed gas or air volume, put under a positive pressure, and an enclosed liquid or water volume, wherein an accumulator tank should be included in a distribution network supplying liquid or water and having a pump equipment and a pressure transducer adapted to become actuated by the positive pressure within the system or network in order to pump water into the distribution network at a selected low pressure value, and adapted to become actuated to stop the action of the pump at a selected high pressure value, as well as a pipe system to be able to distribute liquid or water under a selected positive pressure to one or more valved tapping points and wherein said distribution network, such as next to the accumulator tank, should be provided with a sensor determining and evaluating instantaneous pressure values, allow to afford a calculation unit, which in a simple way and under given conditions should be able to determine an instantaneous relationship between a gas phase and the gas volume thereof and a liquid phase and the liquid volume thereof within the accumulator tank.
There is a technical problem to be capable of realizing the significance of, the advantages associated with and/or the technical measures and considerations that will be required in order to allow the control equipment or the control unit to be adapted to first be able to determine that the distribution system is entirely closed, the tapping points shut and the pump in stopped state, before the measuring equipment is brought to trigger a short test cycle. There is a technical problem to be capable of realizing the significance of, the advantages associated with and/or the technical measures and considerations that will be required in order to allow the short test cycle to primarily serve the purpose of determining the condition of an accumulator tank. There is a technical problem to be capable of realizing the significance of, the advantages associated with and/or the technical measures and considerations that will be required in order to allow a sensor corresponding to the pressure to feed consecutive pressure values to the control unit during a pre-determined time duration of a measuring sequence, where this time duration is selected as short as possible for determining at least two significant readings of the reducing change over time of the pressure, and with the aid thereof allow to calculate and determine the existence of available liquid or water volume for an estimated extinguishing task. There is a technical problem to be capable of realizing the significance of, the advantages associated with and/or the technical measures and considerations that will be required in order to allow to realize that during a measuring sequence, all tapping points, such as nozzles and pipe joints, should be shut so that a liquid or water volume discharged by the measuring equipment and the control unit can become unambiguously determined by criteria related to a selected and actuated discharge valve, such as the present positive pressure, a present flow area, the design of the discharge valve, such as at switch on and off.
There is a technical problem to be capable of realizing the significance of, the advantages associated with and/or the technical measures and considerations that will be required in order to allow the setting states of all tapping points, nozzles and/or of the pipe ending to be detectable by the measuring equipment and stored in the control unit and allow a tapping point to be controlled from the control unit into open state and that, within the control unit, the requisite information is storable about all tapping points and nozzles being in shut states before the measuring sequence is activated and a tapping point is opened temporarily.
There is a technical problem to be capable of realizing the significance of, the advantages associated with and/or the technical measures and considerations that will be required in order to allow the control unit to co-operate with and evaluate a flow meter assigned to the distribution network and that said measuring equipment is activatable into a measuring sequence only within such time periods when said flow meter indicates no flow.
There is a technical problem to be capable of realizing the significance of, the advantages associated with and/or the technical measures and considerations that will be required in order to, via a first circuit within said control unit and by means of a calculation circuit, only allow a special valve, a discharge valve, connected to the distribution network to be actuatable, in order to, within a preselected time duration, allow to discharge a quantity of liquid or water volume, corresponding to the time duration and discharge velocity through the discharge valve, from the distribution network and in order to, via the pressure sensor connected to the control unit, allow to determine a prevailing pressure drop during the time duration.
There is a technical problem to be capable of realizing the significance of, the advantages associated with and/or the technical measures and considerations that will be required in order to, via a second circuit within the control unit and by means of a calculation circuit, allow to determine a pressure drop or a pressure reduction during said time duration via a plurality of consecutive measuring points.
There is a technical problem to be capable of realizing the significance of, the advantages associated with and/or the technical measures and considerations that will be required in order to, via a third circuit within the control unit and by means of a calculation circuit, allow to evaluate an instantaneous relationship between a gas or air volume enclosed in the accumulator tank and an enclosed liquid or water volume, taking into consideration the selected time duration, the pressure drop occurring in that connection and particularly allow to evaluate, within the control unit, an occurring liquid volume in relation to a selectable measure. There is a technical problem to be capable of realizing the significance of, the advantages associated with and/or the technical measures and considerations that will be required in order to allow a fourth circuit, within the control unit and by means of a calculation circuit, to be adapted to, via a pressure sensor connected to the control unit, allow to evaluate the short pressure changes over time that, by a shock wave, will occur immediately after a quick shutting of the discharge valve in or after the end of said time duration. There is a technical problem to be capable of realizing the significance of, the advantages associated with and/or the technical measures and considerations that will be required in order to allow said first circuit to be adapted to, via a signal activated by the control unit, quickly allow to shut an outflow via the discharge valve, in order to thereby form an evaluatable and pronounced shock wave formed and passing within the distribution network with its liquid or water volume.
There is a technical problem to be capable of realizing the significance of, the advantages associated with and/or the technical measures and considerations that will be required in order to, within the control unit, allow to provide a presence of or an accessibility to a first memory in which pressure values and/or pressure difference values are stored, related to selected time durations, primarily
representing a relationship between a pressure value and/or differential pressure value serving as a reference and a time duration corresponding thereto. There is a technical problem to be capable of realizing the significance of, the advantages associated with and/or the technical measures and considerations that will be required in order to, within the control unit, allow to provide a presence of or an accessibility to a second memory in which pressure values and/or pressure variations are stored, concerning a generated Shock wave, primarily representing a relationship between a pressure and/or pressure variation serving as a reference and occurring immediately after the quick shutting of the discharge valve and a current system pressure. There is a technical problem to be capable of realizing the significance of, the advantages associated with and/or the technical measures and considerations that will be required in order to, upon a deviation determined by the control unit and the calculation circuit from information or results stored in the first and/or the second memory, allow to generate a signal to thereby allow to activate a fifth circuit for determining a suitable measure available among several ones and presentable on a display unit or the like.
There is a technical problem to be capable of realizing the significance of, the advantages associated with and/or the technical measures and considerations that will be required in order to allow a reading determined by the control unit and/or the calculation unit and based on instantaneous positive pressure and a calculated and available liquid volume, via circuits and adapted means, to be intended to become compared with readings stored in a memory, in order to thereby allow to determine and approve that the liquid volume, put under the positive pressure, exceeds a selected minimum value.
There is a technical problem to be capable of realizing the significance of, the advantages associated with and/or the technical measures and considerations that will be required in order to allow a reading determined by the calculation unit to be adapted to be compared with a time-wise previously determined reading, based on a closed distribution network, in order to, at an occurring discrepancy, allow to interpret a lower and time-wise later reading as a leaking distribution network. There is a technical problem to be capable of realizing the significance of, the advantages associated with and/or the technical measures and considerations that will be required in order to allow an occurring first high pressure value, in the beginning of a measuring sequence, and an occurring second lower pressure value, in the end of a measuring sequence, and/or a number of intermediate pressure values from a pressure sensor to be utilized as input data to the control unit and the calculation circuit thereof.
There is a technical problem to be capable of realizing the significance of, the advantages associated with and/or the technical measures and considerations that will be required in order to allow said special discharge valve actuatable by the control unit to consist of a flip-flop valve having a very short opening time and a very short shutting time.
THE SOLUTION
In that connection, the present invention starts out from the known technique provided by way of introduction wherein a measuring equipment should be adapted to, within a system distributing liquid and having an accumulator tank, by means of a control unit and a calculation unit assigned to said control unit, allow to determine an instantaneous relationship between an enclosed gas volume and an enclosed liquid volume that are put under a positive pressure, wherein said accumulator tank is included in a distribution system having a distribution network supplying liquid and having a pump equipment and a pressure transducer or sensor adapted to the pump equipment to become actuated to pump liquid under a positive pressure into the distribution network at a selected low pressure value, and adapted to become actuated to stop the action of the pump at a selected high pressure value, as well as a pipe system within the distribution network to be able to distribute liquid under a selected threshold valued positive pressure to one or more valved tapping points and wherein said distribution network, such as next to the accumulator tank, is provided with a pressure sensor determining and evaluating instantaneous pressure value.
In order to be able to solve one or more of the above-mentioned technical problems, the present invention particularly teaches that the known technique should be supplemented in that, via a first circuit within said control unit and by means of a calculation circuit, a special discharge valve connected to the distribution network should be actuatable, in order to, within a preselected time duration, allow to discharge a liquid volume from the distribution network corresponding to the time duration and discharge velocity through the discharge valve, that, via a second circuit within the control unit and by means of a calculation circuit, a pressure reduction occurring during said time duration should be allowed to be determined, and that, via a third circuit, the instantaneous relationship between an enclosed gas volume and an enclosed liquid volume should be allowed to be evaluated, taking into consideration the selected time duration and the pressure difference evaluated via the pressure sensor and occurring in that connection. As proposed embodiments, falling within the scope of the present invention, the embodiment is taught that a fourth circuit within the control unit and by means of a calculation circuit should be adapted to allow to evaluate the pressures and/or pressure changes over time that will occur within the distribution network having a connected accumulator tank and with shut valves at the tapping points
immediately after a shutting of a discharge valve actuated by the control unit in the end of said time duration or measuring sequence.
Said first circuit should in that connection be adapted to quickly be able to shut a strong outflow of liquid via the discharge valve thereby forming an evaluatable and pronounced shock wave occurring and passing within the distribution network and the liquid volume.
Furthermore, the present invention teaches that the pressure sensor should be adapted to be able to feed instantaneous pressure values to the control unit, which values are adapted to be sequentially evaluated to be able to determine, during said time duration, a pronounced progress of the change of the pressure and the pressure difference over time.
Furthermore, it is taught that a selected time duration should be adapted long enough for determining at least two significative readings of the change over time of the pressure.
With the aid of these significative readings, an available liquid volume within the accumulator tank and the positive pressure thereof are determined in a calculation circuit.
The liquid volume and the positive pressure thereof should then be evaluatable to be related to an estimated extinguishing task. Such an extinguishing task should then be possible to be set in relation to activation of one or more sensors susceptible to temperature, smoke, gas and/or other criteria within the distribution network and via the control unit allow to activate one or more extinguishing measures, via activation of one or more tapping points or nozzles and/or activation of one or more alarms.
During a measuring sequence and at all events during the indicated time duration, all tapping points and/or nozzles, besides the actuated discharge valve, should be shut and in that connection the distribution network should be possible to be regarded to be closed.
A liquid or water volume discharged during the time duration via the discharge valve will be possible to become unambiguously determined by criteria related to the discharge valve, such as the current positive pressure, current flow area, the design of the valve, such as at switch on and off.
The setting states of all tapping points and/or nozzles should be stored within the control unit and should for switch on and off be controlled via output signals from control unit and that information stored within the control unit about all tapping points and nozzles being shut constitutes an initial criterion for the control unit to allow to activate and initiate the measuring sequence by opening the discharge valve.
As an alternative, a flow meter assigned to the distribution network is coupled to the control unit and that said measuring sequence is activatable only within such time periods when said flow meter indicates "no flow".
Within the control unit, a first memory is present in which pressure and/or pressure difference values related to selected time durations are stored, primarily representing related relationships between a pressure and/or differential pressure serving as a reference and a time duration corresponding thereto.
Within the control unit, a second memory is present in which pressure and/or pressure variations are stored concerning a shock wave, primarily representing related relationship between a pressure serving as a reference or pressure variation or pressure variations occurring immediately after a quick shutting allocated to the discharge valve. Upon a deviation from stored information and/or results in the first and/or the second memory, a fifth circuit is activated, for determining a suitable measure presentable on a display unit or the like.
The readings determined by the control unit and/or the calculation unit of instantaneous pressure and liquid volume are, via circuits and adapted means, intended to become compared with readings stored in a memory, for determining and approving if the liquid volume put under a positive pressure exceeds a selected minimum value. The reading determined by the calculation unit may be adapted to be compared with a time-wise previously determined reading in order to, in the distribution network but still having an occurring discrepancy, be able to interpret a lower time- wise later reading as a leaking and expandable compressed gas volume. The first pressure value determined by the pressure sensor in the beginning of the time duration and a second pressure value in the end of the time duration as well as intermediate pressure values should be utilized as input data to the control unit and be utilized by calculation circuit. Said discharge valve consists of a flip-flop valve having a short opening time and a short shutting time.
ADVANTAGES
The advantages that foremost may be regarded as characteristic of the present invention and the special significative features provided thereby are that, in this way, conditions have been created within a measuring equipment in order to, within a system that is able to distribute liquid under a positive pressure and having an accumulator tank and by means of a control unit and a calculation unit assigned to the same, allow to determine an instantaneous relationship between an enclosed gas volume and an enclosed liquid volume that are put under a positive pressure, wherein said accumulator tank is included in a distribution network supplying liquid and having a pump equipment and a pressure transducer or sensor adapted to become actuated to pump water into the distribution network at a selected low pressure value, and adapted to become actuated to stop the action of the pump at a selected high pressure value, as well as a pipe system within the distribution network to be able to distribute liquid under a selected positive pressure to one or more valved tapping points and wherein said distribution network, such as next to the accumulator tank, is provided with a pressure sensor evaluating instantaneous pressure values.
More particularly, the present invention teaches that, via a first circuit within said control unit, a special discharge valve connected to the distribution network is actuatable, in order to, within a preselected time duration and during a measuring sequence, allow to discharge a quantity of liquid volume corresponding to the time duration and discharge velocity through discharge valves.
Via a second circuit within the control unit and by means of a calculation circuit, a pressure and/or a pressure reduction occurring during said time duration and measuring sequence are/is determined.
Via a third circuit, the instantaneous relationship between an enclosed gas volume and an enclosed liquid volume is evaluated, taking into consideration the selected time duration and the pressure and/or pressure difference evaluated via the pressure sensor and occurring in that connection.
In the practical application, the gas volume is air or nitrogen gas and the liquid volume is water.
What foremost can be regarded as characteristic of the present invention is defined in the characterizing clause of the subsequent claim 1. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A presently proposed embodiment, having the significative peculiarities and features associated with the present invention, will now for the purpose of exemplifying be described more in detail, reference being made to the
accompanying drawing, wherein:
Figure 1 generally shows a water system having a "hydropress" unit and a measuring equipment connected to the hydropress unit and having a control unit, in accordance with the provisions of the invention,
Figure 2 shows a simplified (straight line) pressure/time diagram of a "hydropress" unit, according to Figure 1 , Figure 3 shows in an enlarged view a discharge of a portion of an enclosed amount of water during a first time duration "t1", which is terminated by a quick shutting of a discharge valve, in order to, during a second time duration "t2", generate a short pressure surge over time, Figure 4 shows three graphs intended to illustrate three different pressure/time graphs for a distribution system having an accumulator tank, within which tank an air volume is present having the same initial pressure "P2" but of three different air volumes, and Figure 5 shows in a block diagram a measuring equipment, having a control unit and a calculation unit, and with schematic circuits co-ordinated according to the provisions of the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF A PRESENTLY PROPOSED EMBODIMENT
Then, by way of introduction, it should be emphasised that in the subsequent description of a presently proposed embodiment, exhibiting the significant features associated with the invention and being elucidated by the figures illustrated in the subsequent drawings, we have selected terms and a particular terminology with the purpose of, in that connection, first of all allowing to make evident the inventive idea.
However, it should in this connection be taken into consideration that expressions selected here should not be seen as limiting solely to the terms utilized and selected here, but it should be understood that each term accordingly selected should be interpreted so that it, in addition, embraces all technical equivalents that work in the same or essentially the same way, in order to, in this way, be able to achieve the same or essentially the same intention and/or technical effect.
Thus, with of a reference to the appended figures, not only the present invention is shown schematically and in detail but likewise the significative peculiarities associated with the invention have been made concrete, by the presently proposed embodiment described more in detail in the following.
Thus, Figure 1 shows the existence of a measuring equipment "M" for, within a system "S" that is able to distribute water and having an accumulator tank "T" and by means of a control unit Έ" and one or more calculation units "D" assigned to the same, allowing to determine an instantaneous relationship between an enclosed air volume "Va" and an enclosed water volume "Vb" put under one and the same positive pressure.
Said accumulator tank "T" is accordingly included in a distribution system "S" constructed as the distribution network "S" supplying water and having a pump equipment "P" and a pressure transducer "R" adapted to become actuated to pump externally available water into the distribution network "S" at a selected low pressure value, and adapted to become actuated to stop the action of the pump "P" at a selected high pressure value, as well as a pipe system "S1" to be able to distribute water, within a selected positive pressure area, to one or more valved tapping points "A2"; "A2a" and wherein said distribution network "S", such as next to the accumulator tank "T", is provided with a pressure sensor "B" detecting and evaluating instantaneous pressure values.
The water system or distribution network "S" comprises: a a first connection "A1 " to allow to supply to the water system or distribution network "S" an amount of water under a positive pressure exceeding the positive pressure prevailing within the system or network "S",
b one or more second connections "A2"; "A2a" to allow to discharge water from the water system or network "S" while reducing the positive pressure of the system and expanding the entrapped air volume "Va",
c a means or hydropress unit "H" to allow to create an expandable compressed air volume "V", "Va" depending on pressure reduction,
d a third connection "A3" in order to, if required, allow to supply air under a positive pressure to said air volume "V", "Va", as well as
e a pressure transducer "Ra" detecting the water pressure and adapted to, at a low pressure value "P1" (in Figure 2), allow to activate a first means "B1" for a supply of an amount of water under an increasing water pressure within the system "S" as well as, at a high pressure value "P2", allow to activate a second means "B2" to terminate the supply of said amount of water.
In pressure fed distribution systems and networks "S" of the relevant type, a layer or membrane "C" separating air and water should be arranged within the accumulator tank "T".
Here, the utilization is illustrated by a rubber bellows or rubber container, to which a certain small positive pressure "P3" (the initial pressure) is to be supplied, and as a water volume is supplied to the accumulator tank "T", the pressure increases within the air volume "Va", which will be compressed to a maximized value "P2".
At a certain relationship between a compressed air volume "Va" and an enclosed water volume "Vb", a certain water volume is stored, which under an assumption of the pressures "ΡΓ to "P2" can be distributed to one or more tapping points "A2" and "A2a", respectively.
The present invention intends to get an application when it comes to determine this relationship or a nearby relationship, as for the available water volume "Vb" and the pressure reduction thereof while activating a tapping point. It is about allowing to determine this relationship when the prevailing pressure falls between the pressure values "P1" and "P2".
The solid pressure/time line 20 shown in Figure 2 intends to illustrate and represent all pressure values that are represented by a selected relationship from the pressure value "P2" via the pressure value "P1" and with the air volume "Va" assigned to the initial pressure "P3".
In practice, this line 20 may be somewhat curved, which Figure 4 intends to illustrate.
If a lower initial pressure value "P3" and an switching value "P1" of the pump "P" are selected, it is true that a greater water volume will be housed within the accumulator tank "T", but the displaceable water volume by the expansion of the air volume will be adapted, according to pressure/time line 20a in Figure 4.
If a higher initial pressure value "P3" is selected, a smaller available water volume "Vb" will be housed in the accumulator tank "T" and the displaceable water volume by the expansion of the air volume will be adapted according to the pressure/time line 20b.
Thus, Figures 1 and 2 show that the pump "P" switches on at the pressure value "P1" and switches off at the pressure value "P2", and a discharge of the system "S" is illustrated by the pressure/time line 20.
The invention is based on a controlled discharge of the water volume of the system "S" being to be effected at a special discharge valve "F" and where Figure 2 intends to illustrate that the valve "F" is to be kept open between the points of time "ta" and "tb" representing a time duration "t1" (compare also Figure 3) during an activated measuring sequence.
This gives a pressure drop from the pressure value "Pa" to the pressure value "Pb" representing a pressure drop or a pressure difference designated "dP". The pressure drop "dP" during the selected time period "t1" will accordingly be an unambiguous measurement of the relationship between air volume "Va" and water volume "Vb", and at a value deviating from the value according to the line 20, a calculation circuit "D" can determine and analyse a suitable measure.
One such a measure would be to increase or decrease the prevailing pressure value within the air volume "Va".
As for the selection of the time duration "t1" of the measuring sequence between the points of time "ta" and "tb", this should be selected sufficiently long so that a pressure reduction "dP" becomes significative and evaluatable via a pressure sensor "B".
The selected time duration "t1" between the points of time "ta" and "tb" will primarily be depending on the structure of the system "S" and the design and volume of the accumulator tank "T".
More particularly, it is taught that the sensor "B" should be adapted to feed instantaneous pressure values to the control unit "SE", which values are adapted to be sequentially evaluated in order to, during said time duration "t1" and activated measuring sequence, be able to determine a pronounced pressure value progress of the pressure difference "dP".
The selected time duration "t1" should be adapted long enough for determining at least two significative readings "Pa" and "Pb", respectively, of the change over time of the pressure.
With the aid of these significative readings "Pa" and "Pb", respectively, and also intermediate readings, an available liquid volume "Vb" within the accumulator tank "T" and the positive pressure thereof are determined in a calculation circuit "SEa".
The liquid volume "Vb" and the positive pressure thereof "Pb" are evaluated in a circuit "SEb" to be related to a calculated and activatable extinguishing task and/or measure and/or a number of extinguishing tasks and/or measures. The extinguishing task may then be put in relation to activation of one or more sensors "S10" sensitive to temperature, smoke, gas and/or to other criteria, and via the control unit the extinguishing measure "SEc" is activated, via activation of one or more tapping points or nozzles "A2"; "A2a" and/or activation of one or more alarms.
During a measuring sequence and at all events during the indicated time duration "t1", all tapping points "A2" and "A2a", respectively, and/or nozzles should be shut, and in that connection the distribution network 3 should be entirely closed, however except the discharge valve "F".
A liquid or water volume discharged during the time duration "t1" will become unambiguously determined by different criteria related to the discharge valve "F", such as the current positive pressure "Pa", current flow area, the design of the valve at switch on and off.
For switch on and off, all tapping points and/or nozzles should be controlled "SEd" from the control unit "SE" and that information stored in the control unit about all tapping points and nozzles being shut constitutes an initial criterion for the control unit "SE" to allow to activate and initiate the measuring sequence.
As an alternative, a circuit "SEe" is coupled to the control unit "SE" for the detection of a flow meter assigned to the distribution network 3 and that said measuring sequence then is activatable only within time period "t1" when said flow meter indicates "no flow".
If a discharge valve "F" having a high flow and a quick opening and/or shutting course is selected, a "shock wave" arising from the shutting can be evaluated.
This then takes place within a time period "t2" (see Figure 3) between the points of time "tb" and "tc" and with a peak value "Pc" and/or a curve shape for pressure and/or pressure variations, evaluated via the sensor "B". Figure 1 now illustrates that the measuring equipment "M" should, among other things, be connected next to the lower part of the hydropress unit "H", with its separating membrane "C", to detect instantaneous pressure values in the pressure sensor "B".
A valve, in the conduit "A3", leads to the air volume "V", "Va" thereof.
According to the principles of the invention, the measuring equipment "M", according to Figure 1 should now have a first sensor unit "Ra" adapted to detect and register the value of an instantaneous pressure acting within the distribution system "S".
The sensor unit "Ra" is primarily intended for connecting and disconnecting the pump equipment at set minimum and maximum values.
Via a third means or valve in the conduit "A3", if required, a preselected additional air volume limited to the volume, under a selected positive pressure, is supplied to said air volume "Va". A second pressure sensor or sensor unit "B" is adapted to detect and register values of instantaneous pressures (constant or varying) within the distribution network "S" next to the system-related inlets "Ta" of the accumulator tank "T".
Said calculation unit "D" in Figure 5 is adapted to, in a circuit "Da", among other things depending on the instantaneous pressure values registered by the second sensor unit "B" and/or depending on the increased and/or decreased pressure values registered by the second sensor unit "B" as well as depending on one or more constants, allow to determine the value of instantaneous pressure and enclosed volume of the water phase "Vb".
The first sensor unit "Ra" and the second sensor unit "B" may consist of one and the same unit, however detection and registration of relevant pressure values should be effected separated in time. Values of instantaneous pressure and volume determined in the calculation unit "D" within a circuit "Db" are, via circuits and adapted means, intended to become compared with readings stored in a first memory "M1", for determining and approving if the volume "Vb" put under a positive pressure is below a selected minimum value.
The value determined by the calculation unit "D" is, within a circuit "Dc", adapted to be compared with a previously determined value in order to, upon a discrepancy, interpret a lower and later reading as a criterion of leaking water and an expanded compressed air volume "Va".
A fourth circuit "S4", within or related to the control unit "SE" and a computer "E" and by means of the calculation circuit "D" and a circuit "Dd", is adapted to allow to evaluate pressure changes over time that occur immediately after a quick shutting of the discharge valve "F" and in the end of or following said time duration "t1 ".
A first circuit "ST is adapted in such a way that it, by a generated signal within the control unit "SE", quickly shuts an open outflow via the discharge valve "F", in order to thereby form an evaluatable and pronounced "shock wave" passing within the distribution network "S" and the water volume in the accumulator tank "T".
Within or coupled to the control unit "SE" and the computer unit "E" thereof, a first memory is present "ΜΓ, in which pressure value "P", pressure difference values "dP" related to the selected time duration "t1" are stored, primarily representing related relationships between a differential pressure serving as reference and a time duration corresponding thereto. Figure 5 indicates here as a reference value "P"; "dP" and "t1a" ("t2a").
Within or coupled to the computer unit Έ" of the control unit, a second memory "M2" is present, in which pressure variations "Pc" concerning a shock wave are stored, primarily representing related relationship between a pressure variation serving as a reference and occurring immediately after the quick shutting of the valve "F". Values "dPI"' and "†2a" should here serve as references. Upon a deviation from reference results stored in the first "M1" and/or the second memory "M2", a fifth circuit "S5" is activated for determining a suitable measure presentable on a display unit "G" or the like, to get the result to closely approach reference values or activate one or more security measures.
The value determined by the control unit "SE" and/or the calculation unit "D" of instantaneous pressure and volume is, via circuits and adapted means, intended to become compared with readings stored in a first memory "M1", for determining and approving if the water volume "Vb" put under a positive pressure and co- ordinated with air volume "Va" exceeds or is below a selected minimum value.
The value determined by the calculation unit "D" is adapted to be compared with a previously determined value in order to, at an occurring discrepancy, allow to interpret a lower later reading as a leaking water system and an expanded
(compressed) air volume.
The pressure value "Pa" in the beginning of the time duration "t1" and the pressure value "Pb" in the end of the time duration and/or intermediate readings are utilized as input data to the calculation circuit "D" and a circuit "De" structured there.
Here, said discharge valve "F" consists of a flip-flop valve having a short opening time and a short shutting time and therebetween adapted to large constant water flows. More particularly, according to the invention it is taught that, via a first circuit "S1 " related to said control unit "SE", a discharge valve "F" connected to the distribution network "S" is actuatable in order to, within a preselected time duration "t1", via a conduit "L1 ", allow to discharge a quantity or water volume from the distribution network "S" corresponding to the time duration and discharge velocity through discharge valves "F".
Via a second circuit "S2" related to the control unit "SE" and by means of the calculation circuit "D", a pressure reduction is determined during said time duration "M", ("ta" to "tb"). Via a third circuit "S3", the instantaneous relationship between enclosed air volume "Va" and enclosed water volume "Vb" is evaluated, taking into
consideration the selected time duration "t1" and the pressure difference "dP" and pressure value "Pb" occurring in that connection.
In addition, it is taught that a fourth circuit "S4" should be related to the control unit "SE", and by means of the calculation circuit "D" and a circuit "Dd", it should be adapted to allow to evaluate pressure changes "Pc" over time that occur immediately after the shutting of the discharge valve "F" and in the end of or at all events coinciding with said time duration "t1".
Within the scope of the invention, also the embodiment falls that a predetermined pressure drop "dP", related to the pressure "Pb", should control the time duration of the measuring sequence.
The invention is of course not limited to the embodiment given above as example, but may be subjected to modifications within the scope of the general idea according to the invention, illustrated in the subsequent claims.
Particularly, it should be taken into consideration that each unit and/or category shown can be combined with any other unit and/or category shown within the scope in order to be able to attain the desired technical function.

Claims

1. Measuring equipment ("M") in order to, within a system that is able to distribute liquid and having an accumulator tank ("T") and by means of a control unit (SE) and a calculation unit (D) or calculation circuit assigned to the same, allow to determine an instantaneous relationship between an enclosed gas volume (Va) and an enclosed liquid volume ("Vb") put under one and the same positive pressure, wherein said accumulator tank ("T") is included in a distribution network ("S") able to supply liquid, as well as a pipe system within the distribution network ("S") to be able to distribute liquid under a selected positive pressure to one or more tapping points (A2, A2a) and wherein said distribution network ("S"), such as next to the accumulator tank ("T"), is provided with a pressure sensor (B) able to detect and evaluate instantaneous pressure values, characterized in that, via a first circuit (S1 ) within said control unit (SE), a discharge valve (F) connected to the distribution network ("S") is actuatable, in order to, within a preselected time duration (t1 ), allow to discharge a liquid volume corresponding to the time duration and discharge velocity through the discharge valve (F) from the distribution network ("S"), that, via a second circuit (S2) within the control unit (SE) and by means of a calculation unit or circuit (D), a pressure reduction occurring during said time duration (t1) is allowed to be determined, and that, via a third circuit (S3), the instantaneous relationship between an enclosed gas volume (Va) and an enclosed liquid volume (Vb) is allowed to be evaluated, taking into
consideration the selected time duration (t1 ) and the pressure and/or pressure difference (dP) evaluatable via the pressure sensor and occurring in that connection.
2. Measuring equipment according to claim 1 , characterized in that a fourth circuit (S4), within the control unit (SE) and by means of a calculation unit or circuit, is adapted to allow to evaluate pressure changes over time that occur immediately after a quick shutting of the discharge valve (F) and in the end of or immediately after said time duration (t1 ).
3. Measuring equipment according to claim 1 , characterized in that said first circuit (S1 ) is adapted to quickly be able to shut the outflow via the discharge valve (F), in order to thereby form an evaluatable and pronounced shock wave passing within the distribution network (S) and the liquid volume ("Vb").
4. Measuring equipment according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pressure sensor (B) is adapted to allow to feed instantaneous pressure values to the control unit (SE), which values are adapted to be sequentially evaluated to be able to determine, during said time duration, a progress over time of occurring pressure differences.
5. Measuring equipment according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a selected time duration (t1) is adapted long enough for determining, at least two, significative readings of the change over time of the pressure.
6. Measuring equipment according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, with the aid of significative readings, available liquid volume (Vb) within the accumulator tank (T) and the positive pressure thereof are determined in a calculation unit or circuit.
7. Measuring equipment according to claim 6, characterized in that the liquid volume (Vb) and the positive pressure thereof are evaluated to be related to one or more estimated extinguishing measures.
8. Measuring equipment according to any one of the preceding claims, particularly claim 7, characterized in that selected extinguishing measure is adapted to be set in relation to activation of one or more sensors sensitive to temperature, smoke, gas and/or other criteria and, via the control unit (SE), allow to activate said extinguishing measure, via activation of one or more tapping points (A2, A2a) or nozzles and/or activation of one or more alarms.
9. Measuring equipment according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, during a measuring sequence and at all events during the indicated time duration (t1 ), all tapping points (A2, A2a) and/or nozzles should be shut and the distribution network (S) closed except the discharge valve (F).
10. Measuring equipment according to claim 9, characterized in that a liquid volume (Vb) discharged during the time duration (t1 ) is unambiguously determined by criteria related to the discharge valve (F), such as the current positive pressure, current flow area, the design of the valve, such as at switch on and off.
11. Measuring equipment according to any one of the preceding claims, particularly claim 9, characterized in that, for the switch on and off thereof, all tapping points (A2, A2a) and/or nozzles are controlled from the control unit (SE), and that information stored in the control unit (SE) about all tapping points (A2, A2a) and nozzles being shut constitutes criteria for the calculation unit or circuit to activate and initiate the measuring sequence.
12. Measuring equipment according to any one of the preceding claims, particularly claim 9, characterized in that a flow meter assigned to the distribution network (S) is coupled to the control unit (SE), and that said measuring sequence is activatable only within time periods when said flow meter indicates "no flow".
13. Measuring equipment according to claim 1 , 2 or 3, characterized in that a first memory ("M1") is present within the control unit and in which pressure and/or pressure difference values are stored related to selected time durations, primarily representing relationships between a pressure and/or differential pressure serving as a reference and a time duration corresponding thereto.
14. Measuring equipment according to claim 13, characterized in that a second memory ("M2") is present within the control unit and in which pressure and/or pressure variations ("Pc") are stored concerning a shock wave, primarily representing related relationship between a pressure and/or pressure variation serving as a reference and occurring immediately after the quick shutting of the discharge valve ("F").
15. Measuring equipment according to claim 14, characterized in that, upon a deviation from results stored in the first ("M1 ") and/or the second ("M2") memory, a fifth circuit ("S5") is activated to allow to determine one or more suitable measures presentable on a display unit ("G") or the like.
16. Measuring equipment according to claim 1 , characterized in that the values of instantaneous pressure and liquid volume determined by the control unit (SE) and/or the calculation unit ("D") are, via circuits and adapted means, intended to become compared with readings stored in a memory, for determining and approving if the liquid volume ("Vb") put under a positive pressure exceeds a selected minimum value.
17. Measuring equipment according to claim 1 or 16, characterized in that the reading determined by the calculation unit ("D") is adapted to be compared with a time-wise previously determined reading in order to, in a closed distribution network but still having an occurring discrepancy, be able to interpret a lower later reading as a leaking liquid system with expanded gas volume.
18. Measuring equipment according to claim 1 , characterized in that a pressure value determined by the sensor in the beginning of the time duration (t1 ) and a pressure value in the end of the time duration as well as intermediate pressure values are utilized as input data to the control unit and the calculation unit ("D") or the circuit.
19. Measuring equipment according to claim 1 , characterized in that said discharge valve ("F") consists of a flip-flop valve having a short opening time and a short shutting time and an adapted flow therebetween.
PCT/SE2010/050992 2009-09-16 2010-09-15 Measuring equipment for determine a relationship between an enclosed gas volume and an enclosed liquid volume in an accumulator tank WO2011034493A1 (en)

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SE0901191-7 2009-09-16
SE0901191A SE534120C2 (en) 2009-09-16 2009-09-16 Measuring equipment to determine a relationship between contained gas volume and contained liquid volume in an accumulator tank

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AU2011202804B2 (en) * 2010-06-17 2013-01-10 Kidde Technologies, Inc Programmable controller for a fire prevention system
WO2019077192A1 (en) * 2017-10-16 2019-04-25 Marioff Corporation Oy Fire protection water distribution system and performance analyzer
CN110258722A (en) * 2019-06-18 2019-09-20 重庆昕晟环保科技有限公司 A kind of method of supplying water of the secondary water-supply water storage apparatus of variable volume
CN111539847A (en) * 2020-05-06 2020-08-14 重庆昕晟环保科技有限公司 Method for calculating residual water quantity of secondary water supply tank
GB2591119A (en) * 2020-01-16 2021-07-21 Quantum Engineering Developments Ltd Control method and system

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WO2009053648A2 (en) * 2007-10-26 2009-04-30 L'air Liquide Societe Anonyme Pour L'etude Et L'exploitation Des Procedes Georges Claude Method for the real-time determination of the filling level of a cryogenic tank

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US20040236536A1 (en) * 2000-07-31 2004-11-25 Timothy Neeser Differential pressure gauge for cryogenic fluids which selects a density value based on pressure measurement
US20050126276A1 (en) * 2003-12-16 2005-06-16 International Business Machines Corporation Method, system and program product for monitoring rate of volume change of coolant within a cooling system
WO2009053648A2 (en) * 2007-10-26 2009-04-30 L'air Liquide Societe Anonyme Pour L'etude Et L'exploitation Des Procedes Georges Claude Method for the real-time determination of the filling level of a cryogenic tank

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
AU2011202804B2 (en) * 2010-06-17 2013-01-10 Kidde Technologies, Inc Programmable controller for a fire prevention system
WO2019077192A1 (en) * 2017-10-16 2019-04-25 Marioff Corporation Oy Fire protection water distribution system and performance analyzer
CN110258722A (en) * 2019-06-18 2019-09-20 重庆昕晟环保科技有限公司 A kind of method of supplying water of the secondary water-supply water storage apparatus of variable volume
GB2591119A (en) * 2020-01-16 2021-07-21 Quantum Engineering Developments Ltd Control method and system
CN111539847A (en) * 2020-05-06 2020-08-14 重庆昕晟环保科技有限公司 Method for calculating residual water quantity of secondary water supply tank

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SE534120C2 (en) 2011-05-03

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