WO2014053331A1 - Système de remplissage ayant un capteur intégré - Google Patents

Système de remplissage ayant un capteur intégré Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2014053331A1
WO2014053331A1 PCT/EP2013/069505 EP2013069505W WO2014053331A1 WO 2014053331 A1 WO2014053331 A1 WO 2014053331A1 EP 2013069505 W EP2013069505 W EP 2013069505W WO 2014053331 A1 WO2014053331 A1 WO 2014053331A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
liquid
container
filling
filling system
radiation
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/EP2013/069505
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Daniel Evers
Jeni Anto FRANCIS
Andreas Kornbichler
Vivekanand METKAR
Thirumalai Kumar Murugaiah
Original Assignee
Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
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 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft filed Critical Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
Publication of WO2014053331A1 publication Critical patent/WO2014053331A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
    • B67D—DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B67D7/00—Apparatus or devices for transferring liquids from bulk storage containers or reservoirs into vehicles or into portable containers, e.g. for retail sale purposes
    • B67D7/04—Apparatus or devices for transferring liquids from bulk storage containers or reservoirs into vehicles or into portable containers, e.g. for retail sale purposes for transferring fuels, lubricants or mixed fuels and lubricants
    • 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
    • G01F23/22—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 measuring physical variables, other than linear dimensions, pressure or weight, dependent on the level to be measured, e.g. by difference of heat transfer of steam or water
    • G01F23/28—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 measuring physical variables, other than linear dimensions, pressure or weight, dependent on the level to be measured, e.g. by difference of heat transfer of steam or water by measuring the variations of parameters of electromagnetic or acoustic waves applied directly to the liquid or fluent solid material
    • G01F23/284—Electromagnetic waves
    • 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
    • G01F23/22—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 measuring physical variables, other than linear dimensions, pressure or weight, dependent on the level to be measured, e.g. by difference of heat transfer of steam or water
    • G01F23/28—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 measuring physical variables, other than linear dimensions, pressure or weight, dependent on the level to be measured, e.g. by difference of heat transfer of steam or water by measuring the variations of parameters of electromagnetic or acoustic waves applied directly to the liquid or fluent solid material
    • G01F23/296—Acoustic waves
    • G01F23/2962—Measuring transit time of reflected waves
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
    • B67D—DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B67D7/00—Apparatus or devices for transferring liquids from bulk storage containers or reservoirs into vehicles or into portable containers, e.g. for retail sale purposes
    • B67D7/04—Apparatus or devices for transferring liquids from bulk storage containers or reservoirs into vehicles or into portable containers, e.g. for retail sale purposes for transferring fuels, lubricants or mixed fuels and lubricants
    • B67D7/0401—Apparatus or devices for transferring liquids from bulk storage containers or reservoirs into vehicles or into portable containers, e.g. for retail sale purposes for transferring fuels, lubricants or mixed fuels and lubricants arrangements for automatically fuelling vehicles, i.e. without human intervention
    • B67D2007/0444—Sensors

Definitions

  • a filling system with integrated sensor The present invention relates to liquid filling and level detecting systems.
  • liquid products undergoing the supply chain operations include oil depots, oil terminals, large tanks at loading bays, etc. and smaller containers, such as tank trucks, road tankers, railway tank cars, and so forth which then transport the liquid products to different locations.
  • industrial storage facilities e.g. oil depots, oil terminals, large tanks at loading bays, etc.
  • smaller containers such as tank trucks, road tankers, railway tank cars, and so forth which then transport the liquid products to different locations.
  • One of the most important pre-requisites in automation of this filling process is to accurately detect the level of liquid filled in the small container. In absence of accurate detection, the liquid gets over-filled than desired, or spills over, or gets under-filled than desired.
  • level detectors are used to determine the level of liquids within various types of containers, such as storage tanks, drums, etc.
  • the detectors determine a surface of the liquid in the container by sending out radiations towards the surface to be detected and subsequently receiving a signal reflected from the surface.
  • the detectors work on simple principles, however numerous practical problems arise in the implementation of such detectors in device form.
  • a major problem involves the reception by the detector of noises and/or clutter which result from the signals reflected from the liquid as it flows out of the filling system into the container and before it can reach the surface of the liquid in the container or a bottom surface of the container.
  • the flow of liquids may be controlled through a suitable flow meter, quite often there is spillover due to dents on the container. When there is spillover the level detectors get dipped in the liquid the normal operation of the level detector is affected.
  • the detector suffers from difficulty in distinguishing the signal corresponding to the surface of the liquid to be determined from the other reflected signals forming the noise and/or the clutter. This subsequently leads to inaccurate detection of the surface of the liquid.
  • an object of the present invention is to provide a filling system and a method wherein the noise and/or the clutter from the above stated reasons is reduced.
  • the surface of the liquid in the container may be accurately detected and the efficiency of filling the liquid in the container is enhanced.
  • the present invention provides a filling system for filling a liquid into a container.
  • the filling system comprises an integrated component and a processor.
  • component contains a filling module and a sensor module.
  • the filling module is adapted to dispense the liquid into the container through a first opening in the filling module.
  • the sensor module is adapted to emit a radiation into the container in a direction of propagation towards a surface of the liquid through a second opening in the sensor module and to receive a signal reflected from the surface of the liquid.
  • the processor is connected to the sensor module to receive data from the sensor module. The data represents the reflected signal and the processor uses the data to determine a position of the surface of the liquid in the container.
  • the liquid is dispensed from the filling module at an angle diverging away from the direction of propagation of the radiation.
  • a flow path of the liquid i.e. the spatial path in which the liquid travels after being dispensed from the first opening of the filling module and before it reaches the surface of the liquid or a bottom surface of the container, is removed from the
  • the angle is in between 10 degree to 110 degree. More particularly, the angle is in between 30 degree to 90 degree. By varying the angle, a trajectory of the flow path of the liquid may be altered and thus extent of the intersection between the radiation and the flow path of the liquid can be controlled.
  • the integrated component contains a housing.
  • the filling module and the sensor module are positioned inside the housing.
  • the filling system is compact and sturdy structure.
  • the sensor module is protected inside the housing.
  • the housing is a molded structure.
  • the processor is positioned inside the housing.
  • the filling module, the sensor module and the processor all form a unit and are positioned inside the housing, and the system is compact.
  • the radiation is an electromagnetic radiation.
  • transducers capable of emitting or receiving electromagnetic radiations can be used in the filling system.
  • electromagnetic radiation can be used in the filling system.
  • Radio waves experience low interference and thus can effectively be used in the filling system.
  • Another advantage of using radio waves is enhancing the accuracy of the filling system because of the weak absorption of radio waves by the medium through which it passes.
  • the sensor module may have a simple construction.
  • the radiation is a mechanical wave.
  • transducers capable of emitting or receiving mechanical waves can be used in the filling system.
  • the mechanical wave is an ultrasound wave. The ultrasound waves can be produced with high directivity and thus the filling system can be accurately used.
  • the processor is adapted to compute a level of the liquid in the container from the determined position of the surface of the liquid in the container. Thus, the level of liquid filled in the container is known.
  • the processor is adapted to regulate a flow rate of the liquid dispensed from the filling module based on the computed level of the liquid in the container. Thus, spilling of the liquid by overfilling may be avoided.
  • the present invention also presents a method for filling a liquid into a container.
  • the liquid is
  • a radiation is emitted into the container in a direction of propagation towards a surface of the liquid.
  • the liquid is dispensed into the container at an angle diverging away from the direction of propagation of the radiation.
  • the radiation strikes the surface and gets reflected from the surface in form of a signal.
  • the signal reflected from the surface of the liquid is received.
  • a position of the surface of the liquid in the container is determined using the received signal.
  • the angle is in between 10 degree to 110 degree. More particularly, the angle is in between 30 degree to 90 degree. This provides a range for efficiently carrying out the invention. Furthermore, by varying the angle, a trajectory of the flow path of the liquid may be altered and thus extent of overlap between the radiation and the flow path of the liquid can be controlled. In another embodiment, the method includes computing a level of the liquid in the container from the determined position of the surface of the liquid in the container. Thus, the level of liquid filled in the container may be known.
  • the method includes regulating a flow rate of the liquid dispensed into the container based on the computed level of the liquid in the container. Thus, spilling of the liquid by overfilling may be avoided.
  • FIG 1 is a schematic drawing of an exemplary embodiment of a filling system, according to the invention.
  • FIG 2 is a schematic representation of an angle between a direction of propagation of radiation and liquid as dispensed from the filling system
  • FIG 3 is a schematic representation of an exemplary
  • FIG 4 is a schematic representation of another exemplary embodiment of the filling system depicting the housing
  • FIG 5 is a schematic representation of another exemplary embodiment of the filling system depicting a molded housing.
  • FIG 6 is a flowchart representing a method for filling a liquid in a container, according to the invention.
  • the best mode for carrying out the present technique is described in details.
  • Various embodiments are described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements
  • FIG 1 represents a schematic drawing of an exemplary embodiment of a filling system 1 for filling a liquid 7 into a container 5, according to the present technique.
  • liquids include semi liquid substances.
  • the container 5 may be, but not limited to, a container mounted on top of a transport vehicle.
  • the filling system 1 includes an integrated component 20 and a processor 60.
  • the integrated component 20 contains a filling module 30 and a sensor module 40.
  • the filling module 30 is adapted to dispense the liquid 7 into the container 5.
  • the filling module 30 contains a first opening 32 from which the liquid 7 is released into the container 5.
  • the filling module 30 receives the liquid 7 from an inlet 34 for the liquid 7.
  • the inlet 34 may be connected to an external storage (not shown) where the liquid 7 is stored.
  • the filling module 30 may be a tubular structure e.g. a pipe.
  • the sensor module 40 is adapted to emit a radiation 42 into the container 5 through a second opening 56 of the sensor module 40 in a direction 44 of propagation towards a surface 9 of the liquid 7.
  • the sensor module 40 may contain a
  • the radiation 42 is generated by the transducer 50.
  • the radiation 42 may be an electromagnetic radiation such as a radio wave.
  • the radiation 42 may be a mechanical wave such as an ultrasound wave.
  • the radiation 42 then travels through the wave guide 52 and is finally emitted towards the surface 9 through the second opening 56 in the direction 44.
  • the radiation 42 then travels to the surface 9 and gets reflected back from the surface 9. At least a part of the radiation 42 after getting reflected travels towards the second opening 56 in a direction 48 and forms a signal 46.
  • the signal 46 is received by the sensor module 40.
  • the liquid 7 is dispensed from the filling module 30 at an angle 90 diverging away from the direction 44 of propagation of the radiation 42. It may be noted that according to the invention, the angle 90 is essentially not equal to zero degree. The angle 90 diverging away from the direction 44 may be achieved by structural features of the first opening 32 such as first opening 32 may be aligned substantially parallel to the direction 44.
  • the shape of the filling module 30 may be such that the angle 90 diverging away from the direction 44 is achieved for example at least a part (not shown) of the filling module 30 may be bent away from sensor module 40.
  • the angle 90 diverging away from the direction 44 may be achieved by positioning of the filling module 30 with respect to the sensor module 40 i.e. filling module 30 may itself be positioned in an inclined manner with respect to the sensor module 40 such that the first opening 32 is moved away from the sensor module 40.
  • a direction 14 of the liquid 7 dispensed at the first opening 32 is shown.
  • the direction 14 may be understood as the direction in which the liquid 7 comes out from the first opening 32.
  • the angle 90 is the angle formed between the direction 14 and the direction 44.
  • the angle 90 may be in between 10 degree to 110 degree. More specifically, the angle 90 may be in between 30 degree to 90 degree.
  • the filling system 1 further contains a processor 60.
  • the processor 60 is connected to the sensor module 40 to receive data from the sensor module 40.
  • the data represents the signal 46.
  • the processor 60 determines a position 11 of the surface 9 of the liquid 7 in the container 5.
  • the position 11 may be calculated in a number of ways as are conventionally known in liquid level determination
  • One such way may use the time elapsed between releasing the radiation 42 from the sensor module 40 and receiving the signal 46 at the sensor module 40.
  • the release of the radiation 42 and the receiving of the signal 46 may be at the transducer 50. Determination of distance based on the time elapsed, as mentioned, is conventionally known and thus, same has not be discussed herein for the sake of brevity.
  • a distance 92 of the surface 9 of the liquid 7 from the sensor module 40 i.e. from the transducer 50 is determined.
  • the processor 60 may further compute a level 96 of the liquid 7 in the container 5 from the determined position 11 of the surface 9 of the liquid 7 in the container 5. It may be noted that, as used herein, the level 96 of the liquid 7 in the container 5 means a depth of the liquid 7 in the container, i.e. a distance between a bottom 6 of the container 5 and the surface 9 of the liquid 7 in the container 5. To compute the level 96, the processor 60 may first determine a distance 94 of the bottom 6 of the container 5 from the sensor module 40.
  • the determination of the distance 94 may be done prior to the dispensing of the liquid 7 in the container 5 based on the time elapsed, as explained earlier.
  • the processor 60 then computes the level 96 by comparing the distance 94 with the distance 92, more precisely by
  • the dimensions of the container 5, especially the distance 94 may be stored in the processor 60.
  • the processor 60 computes the level 96 by comparing the distance 94 with the distance 92, more precisely by subtracting the distance 92 from the distance 94.
  • the processor 60 may regulate a flow rate of the liquid 7 dispensed from the filling module 30 based on the computed level 96 of the liquid 7 in the container 5.
  • the flow rate is the amount AV of liquid 7 dispensed from the first opening 32 in a time span At.
  • the processor 60 may stop the flow of the liquid 7 into the container 5 by sending specific instructions to a hardware installation (not shown) in the filling module 30.
  • the hardware installation may be any means that can receive specific instructions for example electrical signals from the processor 60 and subsequently stop the flow of the liquid 7 in the container 5.
  • the flow rate may be reduced.
  • the integrated component 20 contains a housing 70.
  • the housing 70 is a single unit. Inside the housing 70 the filling module 30 and the sensor module 40 are positioned. The first opening 32 for dispensing the liquid 7 from the filling module 30 into the container 5 and the second opening 56 to release the radiation 42 into the container 5 open outside the housing 70.
  • the housing 70 may be made of plastic, polymer, metal, alloy, and so forth. It may be noted that the processor 60 is positioned outside the housing 70.
  • the processor 60 is positioned inside the housing 70.
  • the housing 70 is a molded
  • a wall 72 of the housing 70 may form a passage 74 for flow of the liquid 7 before being dispensed into the container 5.
  • the passage 74 opens at the first opening 32.
  • the wall 72 contains in its width at least a part of the sensor module 40.
  • the part of the sensor module 40 contained in the wall 72 may be the second opening 56.
  • the filling system 1 may be arranged on a moveable mechanical arm (not shown) .
  • the filling system 1 may be arranged at one end of the moveable mechanical arm while the other end of the moveable mechanical arm is fixed at the external storage (not shown) where the liquid 7 is stored and from where the liquid 7 is transferred to the container 5 using the filling system 1.
  • the moveable mechanical arm may guide and position the filling system 1 on top of an opening of the container 5 which needs to be filled.
  • the filling system 1 may be
  • the first opening 32 is placed inside the container 5.
  • the first opening 32 may be placed above the container 5 such that liquid 7 dispensed from the first opening 32 is released into the container 5.
  • a flowchart representing a method 1000 for filling a liquid 7 in a container 5 is represented.
  • the liquid 7 is dispensed into the container 5 in a step 100.
  • a radiation 42 is emitted into the container 5 in a direction 44 of propagation towards a surface 9 of the liquid 7.
  • the angle 90 may be in between 10 degree to 110 degree. More specifically, the angle 90 may be in between 30 degree to 90 degree.
  • the radiation 42 strikes the surface 9 and gets reflected from the surface 9. At least a part of the radiation 42 after getting reflected travels in a direction 48 and forms a signal 46.
  • the signal 46 is received in a step 300.
  • the method 1000 includes a step 500 of computing a level 96 of the liquid 7 in the container 5 from the determined position 11.
  • the computation of the level 96 may be done as explained earlier.
  • the method 1000 may include a step 600.
  • a flow rate of the liquid 7 dispensed into the container 5 is regulated based on the computed level 96 of the liquid 7 in the container 5.
  • the regulation of the flow rate of the liquid 7 into the container 5 may be done as explained earlier. While this invention has been described in detail with reference to certain embodiments, it should be appreciated that the present technique is not limited to those precise embodiments.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electromagnetism (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Basic Packing Technique (AREA)

Abstract

La présente invention porte sur un système de remplissage pour remplir un récipient d'un liquide. Le système de remplissage comprend un composant intégré et un processeur. Le composant intégré contient un module de remplissage et un module de capteur. Le module de remplissage contient une première ouverture pour distribuer le liquide dans le récipient. Le module de capteur contient une seconde ouverture pour émettre un rayonnement dans le récipient dans une direction de propagation vers une surface du liquide et reçoit un signal réfléchi par la surface du liquide. Le processeur est relié au module de capteur pour recevoir des données provenant du module de capteur. Les données représentent le signal réfléchi et le processeur utilise les données pour déterminer une position de la surface du liquide dans le récipient.
PCT/EP2013/069505 2012-10-01 2013-09-19 Système de remplissage ayant un capteur intégré WO2014053331A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IN1140/KOL/2012 2012-10-01
IN1140KO2012 2012-10-01

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2014053331A1 true WO2014053331A1 (fr) 2014-04-10

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PCT/EP2013/069505 WO2014053331A1 (fr) 2012-10-01 2013-09-19 Système de remplissage ayant un capteur intégré

Country Status (1)

Country Link
WO (1) WO2014053331A1 (fr)

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4437497A (en) * 1981-09-23 1984-03-20 Enander Frederick A Ultrasonic control of filling a container
DE20004954U1 (de) * 2000-03-09 2002-02-28 Tampier Johannes Sensorischer Abfüllautomat
US20100019952A1 (en) * 2006-10-19 2010-01-28 Crealyst System for determining relief on a granule filling surface in a petrochemical reactor

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4437497A (en) * 1981-09-23 1984-03-20 Enander Frederick A Ultrasonic control of filling a container
DE20004954U1 (de) * 2000-03-09 2002-02-28 Tampier Johannes Sensorischer Abfüllautomat
US20100019952A1 (en) * 2006-10-19 2010-01-28 Crealyst System for determining relief on a granule filling surface in a petrochemical reactor

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