Method and device for supplying a measurement electronics system with electrical energy

• US 9,748,818 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2014
• Issued: 08/29/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sensus Spectrum, LLC (Xylem, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Sensus Spectrum, LLC (Xylem, Inc.)
• Inventors: Schaefer, Burghard, Keller, Volker, Chu Anh, Tuan
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Tulsidas C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Reid, Jr., Charles
• Application Number:
  US14/575,645
• Publication Number:
  US 20150102603A1
• Time in Patent Office: 985 Days
• Field of Search: 290 43
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 13/00 Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus if the apparatus aspects are predominant, see the relevant subclasses for such apparatus, e.g. H02K7/18; Power stations or aggregates incorporating only machines or engines of positive-displacement type F03C; hydraulic engineering aspects E02B; combinations with wind energy converters F03D9/008
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 15/04 of turbines rotors having adjustable blades F03B3/06, F03B3/14; adjustable guide vanes F03B3/18; specially adapted for turbines with jets of high-velocity liquid impinging on bladed or like rotors F03B15/20
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2220/20 within closed fluid conduits, e.g. pipes
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 15/00 Details of, or accessories for, apparatus of groups G01F1/00 - G01F13/00 insofar as such details or appliances are not adapted to particular types of such apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 15/06 Indicating or recording devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 7/00 Measuring the steady or quasi-steady pressure of a fluid or a fluent solid material by mechanical or fluid pressure-sensitive elements G01L11/004 takes precedence; transmitting or indicating the displacement of mechanical pressure-sensitive elements by electric , e.g., photoelectric or magnetic means G01L9/00; measuring differences of two or more pressure values G01L13/00; measuring two or more pressure values simultaneously G01L15/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/18 Structural association of electric generators with mechanical driving motors, e.g. with turbines
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/20 Hydro energy

Abstract

A method and a device for supplying a measurement electronics system in a fitting, through which a fluid flows, with electrical energy, which is generated in a turbine by the fluid flowing through the filling, wherein the flow quantities and pressures vary within wide boundaries, typically 1:1000. A pressure control device associated with the turbine controls the pressure of the fluid striking the turbine in such a manner that the electrical energy required for operating the measurement electronics system is generated with a small flow quantity, the pressure loss incurred by the fluid while flowing through the fitting being limited to a maximum value.

Claims

1. A method for supplying a fluid flow rate electronic measuring system in a fitting on a pipe section, through which a fluid flows, with electric power, wherein a flow rate of the fluid flowing through the fitting fluctuates, via a power generating device, the method comprising:

arranging a generator having a turbine in the pipe section through which the fluid flows, the generator and the fitting being arranged in series, and the generator generating electric power to supply the electronic measuring system, so that the electronic measuring system in the fitting has electric power to measure the flow rate of the fluid;

providing a control device; and

providing at least one element for influencing the fluid flow through the power generating device,

wherein the turbine of the generator generates electric power starting at a predetermined minimum flow rate of the fluid through the fitting,

wherein a pressure loss of the fluid that the fluid experiences in the power generating device is determined by measuring pressure at a position upstream of both the generator and the fitting and at a position downstream of both the generator and the fitting, and

wherein the control device, depending on the determined pressure loss and/or the flow rate measured by the electronic measuring system in the fitting, controls the at least one element for influencing the fluid flow so that the pressure loss that the fluid in the power generating device experiences does not exceed a predetermined value.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein a value of the predetermined minimum flow rate is close to zero.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one element for influencing the fluid flow changes a cross section of the fluid stream driving the turbine.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one element for influencing the fluid flow conveys a partial amount of the fluid into a bypass channel.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the control device controls the at least one element for influencing the fluid flow based on both the determined pressure loss and the flow rate measured by the electronic measuring system.

5. A device for supplying an electronic measuring system in a fitting on a pipe section through which a fluid flows with electric power, the device comprising:

the fitting on the pipe section through which a fluid flows;

the electronic measuring system, provided in the fitting, for measuring a flow rate of the fluid and for storing measured values;

a power generating device comprising;

a generator having a fluid-driven turbine that generates the electric power for the electronic measuring system, so that the electronic measuring system in the fitting has electric power to measure the flow rate of the fluid, wherein the generator and the fitting are arranged in series;

a control device;

a measuring device for determining a pressure loss in the power generating device by measuring pressure at a position upstream of both the generator and the fitting and at a position downstream of both the generator and the fitting, and

at least one element for influencing the fluid flow through the power generating device,

wherein the control device, depending on the determined pressure loss and/or the flow rate measured by the electronic measuring system, controls the at least one element for influencing the fluid flow so that the pressure loss that the fluid in the power generating device experiences does not exceed a predetermined value.

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein the at least one element for influencing the fluid flow is assigned to a bypass channel in order to convey a partial amount of the fluid into the bypass channel.

7. The device according to claim 6, wherein the at least one element for influencing the fluid flow comprises a gate valve or a valve.

8. The device according to claim 5, wherein the at least one element for influencing the fluid flow comprises a component that varies the cross section of the fluid stream driving the turbine.

9. The device according to claim 8, wherein the at least one element for influencing the fluid flow comprises a baffle or flap.

10. The device according to claim 9, wherein the flap is spring-loaded.

11. The device according to claim 5, wherein the turbine is movable relative to the fluid stream by at least one element for influencing the fluid flow.

13. The device according to claim 5, wherein the control device controls the at least one element for influencing the fluid flow based on both the determined pressure loss and the flow rate measured by the electronic measuring system.