WO2020003303A2 - Système de jaugeage de volume de fluides - Google Patents

Système de jaugeage de volume de fluides Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2020003303A2
WO2020003303A2 PCT/IL2019/050694 IL2019050694W WO2020003303A2 WO 2020003303 A2 WO2020003303 A2 WO 2020003303A2 IL 2019050694 W IL2019050694 W IL 2019050694W WO 2020003303 A2 WO2020003303 A2 WO 2020003303A2
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WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
volume
stratum
light
fluid
container
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PCT/IL2019/050694
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English (en)
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WO2020003303A3 (fr
Inventor
Noam RAPPAPORT
Original Assignee
Ormetrix Sensing Technologies Ltd
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Application filed by Ormetrix Sensing Technologies Ltd filed Critical Ormetrix Sensing Technologies Ltd
Publication of WO2020003303A2 publication Critical patent/WO2020003303A2/fr
Publication of WO2020003303A3 publication Critical patent/WO2020003303A3/fr

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Classifications

    • 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
    • G01F23/292—Light, e.g. infrared or ultraviolet
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01F—MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME
    • G01F25/00—Testing or calibration of apparatus for measuring volume, volume flow or liquid level or for metering by volume
    • G01F25/20—Testing or calibration of apparatus for measuring volume, volume flow or liquid level or for metering by volume of apparatus for measuring liquid level

Definitions

  • the present disclosed subject matter relates to gauging volumes of fluids contained in a container, more particularly, the present disclosed subject matter relates to gauging based on analyzing geometries and morphologies of fluids contained in a container.
  • Level sensors are used for gauging the volume of fluids contained in a container by sensing/measuring the level of the fluid such commercially available gauging is founded on the fact that fluids become essentially horizontal in their containers and on a known relation between measured level of the fluid and its volume.
  • Commercially available level measurement can be either continuous or point values. Continuous level sensors measure level within a specified range and determine the amount of fluids in a given container, while point-level sensors only indicate whether the substance is above or below the sensing point.
  • level sensors play an important role in a variety of consumer/industrial applications. As with other types of sensors, level sensors are available or can be designed using a variety of sensing principles.
  • Some commercially available fluid level sensors comprise sensors having mechanical means for gauging the height or depth of the fluids by simple mechanical or visual devices. For example; dipsticks, mechanical floats on rods or arm axes, transparent window gauges and other mechanical indicators.
  • Other commercially available fluid level sensors comprise sensors that measure one or more physical parameters that indicate the height of the surface of the liquid or its weight. For example; capacitive sensors based on the dielectric constant of the fluid, pressure sensors, strain gauges for weight measurement, or the like.
  • Yet another commercially available fluid level sensor comprises sensors using propagating waves such as ultrasound and electromagnetic waves at various frequencies. These types of sensors are based on wave reflection from a boundary where the time difference between a transmission signal and a reception of a reflected signal as well as the signals shapes are
  • Such sensors typically use ultrasound or microwave as the carriers of the transmitted and received signals.
  • a device for gauging a volume of a stratum of a fluid contained in a container that holds in a single space at least one stratum of different fluids comprising: at least one light signal transmitter configured to emit at least one beam that leaves scattered light tracks while traversing the strata; at least one sensor configured to sense the scattered light tracks and light reflected from boundaries of the strata; an interface for communicating driving signals to the at least one transmitter and acquiring image signals from the at least one sensor, wherein the image signals are used for analyzing the volume of the stratum.
  • another device for gauging a volume of a stratum of a fluid contained in a container that holds in a single space at least one stratum of different fluids comprising: at least one light signal transmitter configured to emit at least one light beam yielding scattering responses while traversing the at least one stratum, wherein the light-beam is temporally modulated for creating a continuous spatial distribution of scattering events in the volume of the stratum; at least one sensor configured to sense the scattering events having respective phases that correspond to optical distances in the volume of the stratum; and an interface for communicating driving signals to the at least one
  • a system for gauging volume of fluids comprising: at least one device for gauging a volume of a stratum of a fluid; a driver and front-end electronics (FEE) configured to communicate with the interface of the device; a processor configured to determine the volume of the stratum of the fluid and information attributed to the volume; and input output module capable of communicating the information and instructions with a user.
  • FEE driver and front-end electronics
  • the at least one transmitter is either submerged in the container or situated outside the container and wherein the at least one sensor is either submerged in the container or situated outside the container.
  • the scattered light and/or scattering events are induced by inelastic and/or elastic scattering taking place in the stratum.
  • the temporally modulated light-beam induces scattering responses from each point in the traversed scattering fluid with relative phases that are spatially related to optical distances from the transmitter.
  • the at least one light signal transmitter further comprises a beam scanning mechanism configured to project the at least one cone or beam shaped light-beam in different directions.
  • the at least one light signal transmitter comprising a plurality of light emitters arranged in a way that each emitter is aiming in a different direction, wherein each emitter can be temporally controlled according to a predetermined sequence.
  • the at least one light signal transmitter is situated outside the container and wherein the light-beam of the transmitter is guided by an optical fiber into the container.
  • the at least one sensor is selected from a group consisting of photodiodes; light sensor arrays; image-sensors; avalanche -photodiodes; and any combination thereof.
  • the at least one sensor is situated outside the container and wherein an optical fiber delivers the scattered response from the stratum to the at least one sensor.
  • the at least one sensor and the at least one transmitter further comprise suitable optics.
  • the at least one sensor and the at least one transmitter can be separately positioned in different locations in the container.
  • the communication with the interface of the device is utilizing a communication method selected from a group consisting of: wired communication; fiber-optic communication; wireless communication; and any combination thereof.
  • the FEE and/or the driver are integral parts of the device submerged in the container, wherein, all other components of the system are situated outside container and wherein the system is capable of utilizing the communication method for communicating with the device.
  • the system is submerged in the container and wherein, the system is capable of utilizing the communication method for communicating with a computerized device.
  • the driver is capable of driving the at least one light transmitter with modulated and/or unmodulated signals initiated by the processor.
  • the FEE measures and records all scattering events and their respective phases, which were sensed by the at least one sensor.
  • the information attributed to the volume; system status; gauging results; settings; calibrations; and any combination thereof can be communicated by the input output module to a dedicated touchscreen of the system and/or an external device either directly or via the Internet.
  • the system can retain time-log records associated with gauging the volume of the stratum of fluid in the container.
  • the volume of a stratum is determined by measuring boundary distances and orientations in several different directions using either the device of claim 1 or claim 2 with one or multiple beams.
  • the system utilizes the Internet for communicating with a remote server configured to determine the volume of the stratum of the fluid and information attributed to the volume.
  • a fluid volume gauging system or gauging system
  • the gauging system can comprise at least one probing light beam (signal); at least one light transmitting sources, operating in spectral regions varying from, but not limited to, infra-red (IR) to ultraviolet UV ; and at least one receiver.
  • the source can comprise spectral components capable of inducing scattering effects within the fluid being gauged.
  • the gauging system may also comprise a controller capable of periodically activating, powering up and down the light sources and the receivers, for gauging volumes and other geometrical shapes (i.e.
  • the transmitted light beam traverses the volume of the fluid and the one or more receivers are equipped to acquire and analyze the scattered response to a light beam that traverses the volume of the fluid.
  • the scattered response can take the form of tracks, including traces, fans and cones of light that traverse the fluid. It should be noted that, any or all of the transmitters or receivers being used may be positioned either within the fluid being gauged or external to it. In embodiments utilizing a plurality of sources, the sources can be pointing in different directions to generate multiple tracks, however the sources can be activated together or separately.
  • scattered signals may be the result of elastic scattering such as from particles or in-homogeneities within the fluid or, inelastic scattering such as the photoluminescence response of the fluid itself to an excitation probing light signal at an appropriate frequency sent through the fluid being gauged.
  • the transmitted signals and the acquired scattered tracks responses are then analyzed for their spatial and/or temporal characteristics in order to calculate geometrical attributes of the fluid of interest such as volume, height, tilt, boundary positions and others.
  • the receivers are either image sensors with optics, sensor arrays with optics, and any combination thereof, or the like the scattered light tracks in the fluid being gauged are optically imaged onto the sensor or sensors, either directly or with the use of reflectors or prisms.
  • a processor can be used to convert the acquired spatial geometrical patterns from the sensor/s into data formats that relate to the shape, volume and other geometrical parameters of the fluid as well as the fluid’s index of refraction.
  • optical means may be used for splitting any one of the light beams into a plurality of beams, each pointing in a different direction to generate multiple tracks.
  • mechanical or electro-optical means may be used for steering any of the probing light beam sources to different directions at different time frames.
  • the scattering fluid of interest is surrounded by media or container walls which either do not exhibit a scattering response to the specified excitation frequencies of the probing light signal or exhibit responses having characteristics that are different from the fluid of interest.
  • Such different characteristics can be spectral photoluminescence emission; refraction and reflection effects for the specified frequencies of the probing beam or scattering due to surface roughness.
  • the system may use these effects to distinguish the boundary positions from their physical manifestations in their corresponding imaged patterns.
  • the means for extracting meaningful data from the acquired geometrical patterns of the scattered light tracks comprising: triangulation, pattern analysis, pattern recognition, track lengths and direction calculations, edge detection, neural networks, spatial brightness analysis and color analysis, and any combination thereof, or the like.
  • the system can be configured for gauging a fluid of interest for measuring and extracting the orientation and relative position of what is considered the upper surface of the fluid of interest from a reference plane based on the analyzed parameters extracted from the imaged tracks of the scattered radiation.
  • the means to measure and extract the surface boundaries of the fluid of interest may be based on the imaged tracks of the scattered radiation.
  • the probing light signal transmission may comprise frames of a time modulated scatter inducing probing signal propagating through the fluid which may comprise pulse, chirping, AM, FM, sub-carrier FM and other modulation-based techniques.
  • the dynamic excitation propagates through the fluid being gauged, and the tracing along scattered light signal, either inelastic due to photoluminescence or elastic due to particles (inhomogeneities), is acquired by the receiver and demodulated to generate a signal reflecting the spatially and dynamically distributed scattering process along the illuminated track and from which geometrical parameters may be calculated.
  • the receiver detector sensor may be, but not limited to, an avalanche photodiode.
  • determining meaningful geometrical parameters characterizing the volume, dimensions and orientations of the fluid being gauged from the demodulated temporal signals of the scattering light tracks is carried out by using techniques such as Fourier transforms, pattern analysis, pattern recognition, neural networks, signal power analysis and spectral power analysis, and any combination thereof, or the like.
  • the extraction of data from the demodulated signal is achieved by including in the analysis and modeling the effect of the volumetrically distributed nature of the scattering process, i.e. the spatial continuum from which the scattering process takes place where different points in the fluid space correspond to different features in the demodulated signal, such as different frequencies, different intensities, different phases, different time delays and the like.
  • the gauging system is capable of measuring and extracting the orientation and relative position of what is considered the upper surface of the fluid of interest from a reference plane based on the analysis of the demodulated signals acquired from the continuous scattering process taking place in the examined volume.
  • the measurement and extraction of the surface boundaries of the fluid of interest are based on the analysis of the demodulated signals acquired from the spatially and dynamically distributed scattering process taking place in the examined volume.
  • calculation of the indices of refraction of the scattering fluid is done by analyzing an imaged pattern of scattered light tracks and comparing tracks against generated reference tracks or by calculating angles and geometrical characteristics of tracks and generated scattered light shapes and comparing them to a calculated or measured index-of- refraction dependent model.
  • calculating the indices of refraction of the fluid is done by launching a probing modulated light signal towards a target at known relative position and calculating the index of refraction from the extracted propagation time to the target.
  • calculating the indices of refraction of the fluid is done by relying on polarization-based techniques such as ellipsometry and Brewster angle determination.
  • the fluid of interest is a fluid contained in a container, surrounded from above by a lighter fluid or gas, from below by a heavier fluid, both of these media being transparent to the probing light signal excitation or scatter the radiation of excitation at different spectral (wavelength) or intensity characteristics or refract the light to a different angle than that of the fluid of interest and where the container wall is transparent or impervious to the excitation.
  • measuring and extracting the orientation and relative position of what is considered the upper surface of the fluid of interest from a reference plane is based on either of or a combination of analyzing the geometrical tracks of scattered light and analyzing the demodulated signals acquired from the spatially and dynamically distributed scattering process taking place in the examined volume.
  • measuring and extracting the surface boundaries of the fluid of interest is based on a combination of analyzing the geometrical tracks of scattered light and analyzing the demodulated signals acquired from the spatially and dynamically distributed scattering process taking place within the examined volume.
  • optical fibers or optical fiber bundles are used to either transfer an image of the tracks of light to some distance away from the tested volume or for delivering the light source into the tested volume or extracting the scattered time-modulated light signal out of the tested volume.
  • FIG. 1 illustrates a device for gauging fluids volume, submerged in a container comprising plurality of fluids, in accordance with some exemplary embodiments of the disclosed subject matter
  • FIG. 2 illustrates another device for gauging fluids volume, submerged in the container comprising plurality of fluids, in accordance with some exemplary embodiments of the disclosed subject matter
  • FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of a system for gauging fluids volume, in accordance with some exemplary embodiments of the disclosed subject matter.
  • compositions, method or structure may include additional ingredients, steps and/or parts, but only if the additional ingredients, steps and/or parts do not materially alter the basic and novel characteristics of the claimed composition, method or structure.
  • the objective of the invention is to provide an effective and accurate sensor system capable of measuring and calculating geometric values of a confined fluid such as in a container that may contain one or several fluids, which does not, (1), necessarily rely on or require a-priori dimensional knowledge of the container and that of boundary fluids around the fluid of interest and, (2) does not require a separate calibration procedure after the system is installed but, rather, by its nature, is self-calibrating.
  • the container may be stationary or in motion.
  • One technical objective of the present disclosure is of a geometrical nature, which utilizes one or several beams of scatter-inducing light that are sent through the fluid of interest from one or several sources. As the beam or beams traverse the fluid, they produce tracks of scattered light.
  • a sensor such as an imaging array, may be located at some distance away from the source and is able to acquire the scattered signal, for example, in the form of an optically projected image onto an image sensor.
  • Another technical solution is based on a time domain analysis of a modulated source and signal.
  • a beam source of scatter-inducing light several beams of such light sources or such light launched at wide-angle, are modulated in some manner.
  • the scattering molecules or particles respond to the modulation of the source with a similar modulation of the scattered signal.
  • the modulated excitation signal propagates through the fluid volume at a finite velocity, an evolving spatial distribution of the modulation state and the resulting scattering is formed whereby this distribution is dependent on time and is related to the distance between any particular point in the illuminated volume to the excitation source.
  • a receiver at some distance away from the source or in close proximity to the source can receive the modulated scattered light signals from the molecules or particles along the path.
  • the resulting electrical signal can be mixed with that driving the modulation of the source.
  • This demodulation will produce a signal that can be analyzed and decomposed to reveal the distances the light has traveled from the source through the track and to the receiver.
  • the analysis of these signals reveals the required geometric values such as the lengths of the path or paths traversed by the source light.
  • time-domain or triangulation light-based range finding devices In conventional time-domain or triangulation light-based range finding devices, only localized scattering events occurring on the surface of the objects of interest are responsible for the signals acquired at each detector.
  • the time-based demodulated signal or the geometrical-based triangulation procedures in these conventional implementations are usually of a rather simple single-frequency, single phase, single spot or surface pattern nature for each measurement.
  • the present disclosure produces in its different embodiments a more complex integrated picture, either in the spectra of the time -based signals or in the image- based signal of the tracks traversing the volume of the fluid.
  • the present disclosure is based on the transmission of light through a fluid, capable of inducing light scattering within the fluid.
  • the penetration depth of the light should be long enough to allow the reception of scattered light by a receiver throughout the fluid.
  • the requirement for a scattering response by the fluid involves absorption of the source light, therefore optimization of source wavelength might be required should the absorption be too strong as to prevent the source light from reaching the boundaries of the fluid away from the source yet at the same time produce enough scattering along the entire path to be collected by the receiver. Therefore, source wavelength optimization may be needed to make-up for discrepancies in requirement between strong scattering signal and excitation that traverses from source to boundary.
  • the present disclosure relates to two main implementations by which signals can be generated and collected and from which meaningful geometric values of the fluid of interest may be calculated. Both implementations make use of light, scattering and optics, however, one is of a more geometrical nature whereas the other relies on time-domain techniques to generate and acquire the signals.
  • the light source in the transmitter may be a light emitting diode, a lamp, a laser diode, a solid-state laser or any other type of laser.
  • one or several beams of scatter-inducing light are sent through the fluid of interest from one or several sources. As the beam or beams traverse the fluid, they produce tracks of scattered light from the point of entry by the source to the point of engagement with some boundary such as container walls, interface with another fluid or interface with some gas layer. If the wavelength is chosen in a proper segment of the spectrum then the source light and the accompanying scattering will not attenuate fully before the boundary is reached. At the boundary the light beam may undergo reflection, refraction or scattering by the boundary's material and surface roughness.
  • a sensor such as an imaging array, is located at some distance away from the source and is able to acquire the scattered signal in the form of a projected image of the tracks traversing the volume, for example.
  • a sensor By analyzing the geometries in the acquired signal and applying techniques such as triangulation and projection calculations, one can deduce the fluid's indices of refraction along with geometric values of the fluid.
  • geometric values include the length of the light track, nature of the boundary and, when combining the data from several
  • fluids that are transparent to the wavelength of light being used or mildly translucent can also be gauged by the methods introduced by this present disclosure. If there is enough scattering by particles or other inhomogeneities in the fluid, such that would give rise to a discernible amount of elastic scattering while the emitted light traverses the fluid, then the same analysis methods may be employed to allow dimensional gauging of the fluid of interest. When used in this configuration, only elastic scattering plays a role. The density of scattering centers should not be too high as to allow the light to traverse the fluid.
  • time-domain approaches are used as the means to gaining geometrical knowledge of the fluid of interest.
  • the source or sources are modulated in some manner and the received scattered signal is mixed with the source signal to produce a demodulated signal that bears geometrical data.
  • the source is again at wavelengths that are in a spectral range capable of inducing appreciable scattering within the fluid yet penetrate deep enough into the fluid so as to reach its boundaries.
  • the source can be either a narrow beam (or several narrow beams) or of a wide- angled nature or be both of the two and may also possess a scanning mechanism.
  • the present disclosure relies on launching light that excites a response throughout its path of propagation, thus the received signal is of a broader nature that reflects the weighted integral of the entire path response rather than the response from a localized scattering event at the surface.
  • the source is chirped, as when employing frequency-modulated continuous-wave (FMCW) or sub- carrier FMCW for example, then instead of a particular narrow frequency range that would result upon mixing the return signal with the source in the case of conventional range-finding implementations, a broad spectral response will result.
  • Analyzing and decomposing the spectral contents, spectral span, spectral power distribution and spectral shape can reveal the lengths of paths traversed, distances to boundaries, reflections from boundaries etc. If time of flight is used then instead of a trigger event there will be a continuous received response from the fluid.
  • the example of a container with three stationary fluids of different specific gravities can be considered with the middle fluid stratum being the fluid of interest.
  • a specific example would be that of a fuel container containing a carbon-based fuel over a layer of water and above which is atmospheric air.
  • the present disclosure embodiments based on the principles described above with the ability to transmit multiple light beams at different directions and receive the resulting scattered light signals will enable the calculation of multiple distances and geometries relating to the fluid of interest and to the container in which it is contained and surrounding fluids.
  • the present disclosure enables the calculation of the coordinates of the beam intersections with the container walls and provides a mapping of the surfaces of the upper and lower surface boundaries of the fluid of interest as the amount of fluid varies from time to time and as the fluid keeps shifting and changing shape when the container is disturbed.
  • These types of measurements and calculations provide means for self-calibration of the container and in particular provide means for direct calculation of fluid volume.
  • One of the objectives of the present disclosure is accurately gauging volumes and/or geometric values of a fluid contained in a container. Wherein, the gauging is calibration free and the gauging results are agnostic to the fluid’s, of interest, physical characteristics.
  • One technical solution of the present disclosure is utilizing transmitted light traversing through a fluid of interest at optical frequencies that induce scattered light responses that are essentially unique to the fluid of interest.
  • the spatial and/or time analyses of the traversing scattered light responses may be indicative of the fluid’s volume and can be used for geometric evaluations.
  • light scattering may be generated by the use of optical wavelengths that induce inelastic photoluminescence scattering responses in the fluid of interest.
  • the gauging system can be deployed in containers, such as motor vehicle fuel tanks, fuel tanker containers, underground and above ground fuel storage containers of fluids that exhibit photoluminescence at appropriate wavelengths.
  • Some technical problems dealt with by the disclosed subject matter are fluid surfaces that basically have smooth, mirror-like, properties thus exhibiting no or little surface roughness scattering to light for which the material is transparent. Such surfaces will reflect the light into a specific direction, depending on the transmitter and the surface spatial orientation, thus imposing restrictions on the placement of the signal receiver, subsequently impacting the geometrical calculation due to changing surface orientation.
  • the penetration of light into the fluid of interest may be done by working in a wavelength range capable of exciting molecules of the fluid and producing a photoluminescence scattering response, yet the absorption is not too high so as to allow the light penetration to span the fluid dimensions.
  • This deep penetration technique is a desired feature for the disclosed subject matter, and this stands in contrast to conventional existing techniques.
  • a collimated light beam may be used to produce a track of scattered light, within the fluid, traversing from one penetration point to another interface with the surrounding surfaces, where it may be reflected, transmitted or scattered.
  • This track may be analyzed geometrically by means of image acquisition and analysis techniques to ascertain both the refractive index of the fluid and the length from track start to end.
  • the invention also lends itself for use with illumination schemes other than collimated beams.
  • FIG. 1 illustrating a device for gauging fluids volume (gauging device) 150, submerged in container 110 comprising a plurality of fluids, in accordance with some exemplary embodiments of the disclosed subject matter.
  • Container 110 may comprise a I st stratum 120, a 2 nd stratum 130, a 3 rd stratum 140 and any combination thereof, or the like.
  • gauging device 150 may be adapted for geometrical implementation and may be situated in the bottom fluid- , in the middle stratum, in the upper stratum or the transmitter and receiver may be split into different strata.
  • the gauging device may be connected by wire and/or wirelessly to a gauging system (not shown).
  • Gauging device 150 may comprise at least one light signal transmitter 155 and at least one scattered-light sensor 156.
  • the scattered- light sensor 156 may be an array of light sensors, an image sensor, any combination thereof, or the like, fitted with suitable optics and situated away from transmitter 155.
  • light beams 108 emitted from transmitter 155 may be comprised of beams 108 of excitation light that leave tracks of scattered light l08a, while traversing fluid 130, induced by inelastic or elastic scattering taking place in fluid 130.
  • these scattering tracks, traversing the volume of fluid 130 may be imaged onto sensor 156.
  • the signal from sensor 156 may be used for geometrical, optical and radiological analysis for extracting the required geometry values of the 2 nd stratum fluid.
  • sensor 156 may also sense reflections 109 resulting from light reflected from boundaries between the strata.
  • FIG. 2 illustrating a device for gauging a fluid's volume (gauging device) 250 submerged in container 110 comprising a plurality of fluids, in accordance with some exemplary embodiments of the disclosed subject matter.
  • Container 110 may comprise a lst stratum 120, a 2nd stratum 130, a 3rd stratum 140 and any combination thereof, or the like.
  • gauging device 250 may be adapted for time-domain implementation and may be situated in the bottom fluid and may be connected by wire and/or wirelessly to a gauging system (not shown).
  • Gauging device 250 may comprise at least one light signal transmitter 255 and at least one scattered-light sensor 256.
  • the scattered-light sensor 256 may be an avalanche photo-diode, a photo-diode or the like, situated in close proximity to transmitter 255.
  • at least one light beam or cone 208 emitted from transmitter 255 may be comprised of a cone shaped modulated excitation light beam 208, with some divergence, that induces a modulated inelastically or elastically scattered signal in the fluid of interest 130 throughout the volume traversed within the scattering fluid.
  • 16 pattern of scattered light 208b represents the time-modulated nature of the light beam projected from transmitter 255 and, as a result, of the scattered response from each point in the traversed scattering fluid.
  • the modulated propagating excitation induces modulated scattering responses from each point in the traversed scattering fluid with relative phases that are spatially related to the optical distances connecting transmitter 255, the point of scattering and sensor 256.
  • Sensor 256 generates a signal encompassing an overlap response of all received scattering events with their respective phases. The signal is then mixed with the modulating signal of the source and analyzed to back calculate and model the geometric values underlying the received signal.
  • sensor 256 may also sense reflections 209 resulting from light reflected from boundaries between the strata.
  • the cone shaped modulated excitation light beam 208 may be narrowly diverging or not and either one or several beams may be launched in different directions. Additionally, or alternatively, beam 208 can be projected in different directions, such as by using beam scanning mechanisms for each or any of the modulated projections.
  • the fluid of interest 130 may be diesel fuel, the lst stratum 120 may be water and the 3rd stratum 140 may be air.
  • a transmitter having a suitable scattering inducing wavelength may induce photoluminescence scattering in stratum 130, while traversing this fluid and not induce scattering in the upper stratum 140 and lst stratum 120.
  • transmitters 155, 255 and sensors 156, 256 can be positioned in different strata or exterior to the container. Additionally, or alternatively, transmitters 155; 255 and sensors 156; 256 may be separately positioned in different strata or in the same stratum together.
  • the light source may be comprised of a plurality of light emitters situated in a way that each emitter is aiming in a different direction, wherein each of which can be timely controlled to agree with a prescribed sequence.
  • a single light source coupled with a scanning mechanism configured to aim the beam in different directions may also be implemented. Any combination of the above may be provided by the present disclosure as well.
  • the output of either sensor 156, sensor 256 and a combination thereof can be used for processing and calculation of the desired geometric values.
  • surface boundary levels and container tilt can be determined by means of three or more scattered light beams (or measurements taken at three different non-collinear points when scanning), intersecting with the particular surface and the construction of the plane formed by these three intersection points, its orientation and distance from the gauging device (150, 250) coordinates.
  • volume of the fluid of interest can be derived in several ways, for example, by measuring boundary distances and orientations in several different directions using either the geometrical or the time-domain implementations and by launching multiple beams or scanning with one or multiple beams.
  • the light source may be introduced into the volume being gauged either directly from the emitter, from the emitter with optical elements or through an optical fiber to which the emitter is coupled.
  • acquisition of the scattered light may be implemented by either placing the sensor element or elements directly within the volume being gauged or by using optical fibers or fiber bundles to deliver the desired scattered response from the volume being gauged to the sensor element or elements situated outside of the gauged volume or away from where the optical signal is collected.
  • Gauging system 300 may be a computerized controller adapted to control at least one gauging device 150 or at least one gauging device 250 and any combination thereof, or the like.
  • gauging system 300 may comprise a processor 310.
  • Processor 310 may be a central processing unit (CPU), a microprocessor, an electronic circuit, an integrated circuit (IC) or the like. Additionally, or alternatively, Gauging system 300 can be implemented as firmware written for or ported to a specific processor such as digital signal
  • DSP processor
  • FPGA field programmable gate array
  • ASIC application specific integrated circuit
  • Processor 310 may be utilized to perform computations required by system 300 or any of its subcomponents.
  • Gauging system 300 may comprise a memory unit 320.
  • Memory 320 may be persistent or volatile.
  • memory 320 can be a flash memory device, a random-access memory (RAM), or any other memory chip.
  • Memory unit 320 may retain program code required to activate processor 310 to perform acts associated with; controlling gauging device 150 and/or 250; geometrical and optical analysis; determining morphology and volume of the fluid in the 2nd strata; and any combination thereof, or the like.
  • Memory 320 may also be used to retain a timed-log records associated with the activation of the system 300.
  • the components detailed in the present disclosure may be implemented as one or more sets of interrelated computer instructions, executed for example by processor 310 or by another processor.
  • the components may be arranged as one or more executable files, dynamic libraries, static libraries, methods, functions, services, or the like, programmed in any programming language and under any computing environment.
  • Gauging system 300 may comprise an input / output (I/O) module 330.
  • Gauging system 300 may utilize I/O module 330 as an interface to transmit and/or receive information and instructions between Gauging system 300 and external I/O components, such as a transmitter driver 331, a sensors front end electronics (FEE) 332, the Internet (not shown) and any combination thereof, or the like.
  • I/O Module 330 may be used to provide an interface to a user of system 300, such as by providing visualized status, results or the like on a display screen (not shown). The communicated data may, among other things, be used for further analysis and parameter extraction on a remote processing unit.
  • I/O Module 330 may be used for obtaining indications and information from FEE 332 and pass it to processor 310.
  • the indications and information may be acquired by FEE 332 from at least one sensor such as scattering light sensors 156 and 256, of Figs 1 and 2 respectively.
  • the sensors may be photo diode sensors; array of light sensors, image sensors and any combination thereof, or the like.
  • FEE 332 may comprise amplifiers, filters, electronic circuitry, analog to digital converter and any combination
  • I/O Module 330 may utilize driver 331 for producing modulated and/or unmodulated signals, initiated by processor 310, for driving at least one light transmitter 155 and 255, of Figs 1 and 2 respectively.
  • system 300 situated outside container 110, may be connected by wires (not shown) to at least one gauging device 150; at least one gauging device 250; and any combination thereof, or the like.
  • FEE 332 and/or driver 331 may be an integral part of gauging device 150 and gauging device 250, whereas system 300, situated outside container 110, may be connected by wires (not shown) to at least one gauging device 150; at least one gauging device 250; and any combination thereof, or the like.
  • system 300 may be implemented entirely within gauging device 150 or gauging device 250.
  • the I/O Module 330 may comprise a wired communication link or a wireless communication link such as a Bluetooth transceiver or any other kind of radio, optical, acoustic transceiver capable of communicating instructions and outcomes between gauging device (150/250) and an external computerized device; such as a tablet; a PC; a smartphone; a keyboard; a dedicated touchscreen; a remote processing unit; a remote server and any combination thereof, or the like.
  • system 300 may further comprise a battery power- supply 340.
  • the battery power-supply 340 may be chargeable or non-chargeable.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electromagnetism (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • Investigating Or Analysing Materials By Optical Means (AREA)
  • Geophysics And Detection Of Objects (AREA)

Abstract

La présente invention concerne un dispositif pour jauger un volume d'une strate d'un fluide contenu dans un récipient qui contient dans un seul espace au moins une strate de fluides différents, le dispositif comprenant : au moins un émetteur de signal lumineux conçu pour émettre au moins un faisceau qui laisse des pistes lumineuses diffusées tout en traversant les strates ; au moins un capteur conçu pour détecter les pistes de lumière diffusée et la lumière réfléchie par les limites des strates ; une interface pour communiquer des signaux d'entraînement audit émetteur et acquérir des signaux d'image à partir dudit capteur, les signaux d'image étant utilisés pour analyser le volume de la strate. De plus, la présente invention concerne un système de jaugeage de volume de fluides comprenant : au moins un dispositif pour jauger un volume d'une strate d'un fluide ; une électronique d'extrémité avant (FEE) et de commande conçue pour communiquer avec l'interface du dispositif ; un processeur conçu pour déterminer le volume de la strate du fluide et des informations attribuées au volume ; et un module d'entrée/sortie permettant de communiquer les informations et les instructions à un utilisateur.
PCT/IL2019/050694 2018-06-28 2019-06-20 Système de jaugeage de volume de fluides WO2020003303A2 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

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US201862690991P 2018-06-28 2018-06-28
US62/690,991 2018-06-28

Publications (2)

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WO2020003303A2 true WO2020003303A2 (fr) 2020-01-02
WO2020003303A3 WO2020003303A3 (fr) 2020-06-25

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Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN113358191A (zh) * 2021-06-04 2021-09-07 四川大学 基于条纹投影结构光的全域洪水水位实时监测方法
EP4184131A1 (fr) * 2021-11-19 2023-05-24 Airbus S.A.S. Appareil et procédé de jauge de niveau optique, ensemble de réservoir de liquide et véhicule l'utilisant

Family Cites Families (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE10342742A1 (de) * 2003-09-16 2005-05-12 Braun Melsungen Ag Behälter für Infusionsflüssigkeiten
US7161165B2 (en) * 2004-07-07 2007-01-09 Opti Sensor Systems, Llc Optical transducer for continuously determining liquid level
US7535571B2 (en) * 2006-07-26 2009-05-19 Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories, Inc. Optical fluid level encoder
CA2630374A1 (fr) * 2007-10-03 2009-04-03 The University Of Vermont And State Agricultural College Systeme et methode de detection et d'analyse de particules faisant appel aux techniques de diffusion de la lumiere et d'imagerie en ligne
WO2010109375A2 (fr) * 2009-03-23 2010-09-30 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. Indicateur de niveau de fluide
US7982201B2 (en) * 2009-09-08 2011-07-19 Jadak, Llc System and method for detection of liquid level in a vessel
US10393660B2 (en) * 2016-11-06 2019-08-27 JianFeng Zhang Apparatus and method for measuring concentration of materials in liquid or gas

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN113358191A (zh) * 2021-06-04 2021-09-07 四川大学 基于条纹投影结构光的全域洪水水位实时监测方法
CN113358191B (zh) * 2021-06-04 2023-03-17 四川大学 基于条纹投影结构光的全域洪水水位实时监测方法
EP4184131A1 (fr) * 2021-11-19 2023-05-24 Airbus S.A.S. Appareil et procédé de jauge de niveau optique, ensemble de réservoir de liquide et véhicule l'utilisant

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