DE202009012362U1 - Mobile testing device for volume measurement of liquids - Google Patents

Abstract

Mobile testing device for gravimetrically testing and calibrating volumetric meters of dispensers for dispensing higher-viscosity liquids, such as biofuels or conventional fuels, characterized in that the test device is arranged in at least one collecting container (4) in which a density sensor (8) and a temperature sensor (9 ), an electronic balance (2) connected to a coupling device (3), and a control and evaluation device comprising at least one interface module (12) and a computer (13).

Description

The The invention relates to a mobile testing device for volume measurement of liquids, especially higher viscosity Liquids, such as biofuels, preferably for Testing and calibration of dispensers used can be.

The permissible error limits in the volume measurement of a fuel at delivery points, from the manufacturer through intermediaries to the end user, are regulated by law. Their compliance is checked and verified by the issuing authorities, i. a. the fuel dispensers at gas stations ensured.

at the testing and / or calibration of fuel dispensers is the display of the volume meter of the pump with the delivery of three different nominal volumes, 10 liters (l), 20 l and 50 l compared.

To Three test vessels with a defined Nominal volume of 10 l, 20 l and 50 l used.

The Actually dispensed volume is on a scale of Test container read.

It is a volumetric measurement method.

For regenerative fuels based on vegetable oils is due to the higher viscosity of this previously common Test method not economically viable.

Of the entire testing and calibration process is for delivery points of new (bio) fuels overall much more complex as for fuels from mineral oils with a Viscosity up to ≤ 20 mPa · s.

biofuels have a higher density as a natural product.

The Measurement of their strongly temperature-dependent density usually takes place in separate measuring equipment.

Of the higher-viscosity fuel from vegetable oil leads excessive wetting of the display area of the measuring equipment, whereby a reading is difficult or prevented.

Between the individual tests or calibrations of individual dispensers Therefore, a cleaning of the measuring equipment is absolutely necessary.

These Cleaning is also necessary because of the adhesion on the walls of the measuring equipment due to the higher Viscosity the uncertainty of the measurement would rise because the volume of the measuring devices becomes smaller undefined.

The Volume determination of highly viscous fuels is therefore in Measuring equipment without defined nominal volume by weighing and taking temperature and density into account so-called gravimetric method.

Next the use of measuring devices with a defined nominal volume and Display scale for checking and calibrating delivery points for Fuels, are arrangements for the calibration test of flowmeters known on different Methods, such as differential pressure method or Coriolis force method, use based measuring devices.

Out The prior art also includes the gravimetric test of liquid volumetric instruments (in short: volume meter) known.

In the publication DE 299 17 940 U1 a device for the gravimetric testing of multi-channel pipettes is described, which has, inter alia, arranged in a housing load cells and receptacles for a test volume containing container. By means of the load cells, the mass of a volume of a special test liquid pipetted into test tubes is determined.

The Calculation of the volume of the determined mass takes place automatically with a computer including the temperature determined with a sensor the test liquid based on the respective temperature assigned density.

With This device can only the accuracy of low volumes, especially in the laboratory used volume meters.

The document refers to another device for a universal, automatable and reliable testing of liquid volume meters DE 43 42 567 C2 ,

The device as part of a test bench consists essentially of a balance container, which is coupled with a fast electronic balance. Through a specially trained inlet pipe, the guided over the volume meter to be tested liquid is introduced into the balance container. The volume meter is connected to a test bench computer so that a volume pulse the test procedure with determination of the current weight starts and after a predetermined volume pulse, the test process with the determination of the weight and the calculated volume and the comparison with the measurement display of the volumeter is finished.

With the described device as part of a test bench can be tested under almost ideal conditions in test rooms.

The Check the volumetric meter of dispensers at the Delivery points on site is not possible because interventions would be required in the electronics of the pump, the coupling of the weighing container unfavorable is and fluctuating densities and different temperatures do not take into account.

task The invention is a mobile testing device for gravimetric Testing and calibrating volume meters of dispensers for the delivery of highly viscous liquids, such as Biofuels, as well as conventional fuels to develop a timely and cost-effective volume measurement allows.

The Task is specified by the protection claim 1 Characteristics solved. Preferred developments emerge from the dependent claims.

A Mobile testing device according to the invention for gravimetric testing and calibrating of volume meters of dispensers consists essentially of a collecting container, a coupling device, a weighing device and a Control and evaluation device operating on a transportable Platform are arranged.

Of the Collection container is dimensioned so that one after the other different volumes are completely absorbed, where he he on the coupling device with the electronic Libra is coupled in such a way that in the collecting container at the dynamic loading occurring during the filling process dampened and almost eradicated.

The Coupling device is also designed so that for the safe transport of the mobile testing device the weighing device can be separated from the collecting container.

At least a density sensor is so in the mobile testing device arranged so that it flows through or flows around the measured material becomes.

Advantageous is the density sensor in a filler neck of the collection container or a bypass to the filler neck through which the sample flows arranged.

At least a temperature sensor is near the density sensor arranged.

Of the Temperature sensor can also be integrated with the density sensor Training sensor.

In the wall of the collecting container are optional over the level of the volume to be determined more Temperature sensors arranged.

All Sensor outputs are as well as a data output of the electronic Scale connected via lines to the control and evaluation.

The Control and evaluation device includes at least one electronic Data processing system with input and display device and a software and a module with suitable interfaces for Coupling of incoming from the sensors and the electronic scale electrical signals or data.

When Electronic data processing system is conveniently used a computer that provides power independent of the mains becomes.

A Fixed integration of the data processing system in the measuring system is advantageous for reasons of explosion protection.

Of the alternative use of explosion-proof laptops is as well conceivable.

optional The calculator can be equipped with a GPS (Global Positioning System) module be coupled to the test site based on a GPS data-based Automatically transfer the database to a test and calibration record.

One Timestamp for verification and calibration can be done by realized with the computer coupled normal time receiver which synchronizes the system time of the computer with the normal time.

to Issue of test and calibration reports is the computer additionally connected to a printer by cable or wirelessly.

optional the test and calibration records can be determined by means of a transmitters implemented in the control and evaluation device and receiving device via a mobile network to a transferred local and central database and stored there become.

In an advantageous further development, it is conceivable to temporarily arrange an optical image recording device, for example a video camera, in front of the volume display of the gas pump to be tested / calibrated, which communicates with the control and monitoring device Evaluation device, preferably connected to the computer.

The displayed on dispensing the fuel at the dispenser Quantity of the volume is detected by the camera, on the display device the computer reproduced or by means of an optical Bildauswerteverfahrens converted into numerical measurements.

As common in testing and calibrating dispensers, The fuel is analogous to the refueling of vehicles the collection container while avoiding foaming.

Of the Filling process is monitored by computer. For this purpose, the sensor signals are cyclical or continuous recorded and evaluated. From the detected values of the signals the volume increase is calculated.

Of the Operator is by means of the computer, for example by acoustic and / or optical signals, actively assisted in the execution of the measurement process.

at the measurement process will be in accordance with legal requirements or other test instructions one after another Number of different nominal volumes, typically three, namely 10 l, 20 l and 50 l, filled and the respectively determined volume value compared with the display at the pump.

To Termination of the metrological test will be as usual a test and calibration report with all required information on the printer.

The particular advantages of the mobile testing device for volume measurement of liquids exist in particular in the subjective Influences almost free results of semi-automatic running Testing and calibration process.

There the testing device on a gravimetric detection is based on comparison of initial and final states the time and personnel costs significantly reduced, in particular also in the testing and calibration of delivery points for higher viscous liquids, since no consuming Emptying and cleaning of measuring equipment between the individual Filling cycles is required and dispensers immediately can be checked and calibrated one after the other.

For the volume measurement with the usual measuring points at 10 l, 20 l and 50 l is only a collecting container accordingly the maximum volume required.

The Invention will be described as an embodiment with reference to

1 as a schematic representation of a mobile testing device for gravimetric testing and calibrating of volume measuring systems
explained in more detail.

To 1 a mobile testing device has a transportable platform 1 on, on the equipment required for the gravimetric testing and calibration of volume measuring equipment for liquids, such as at least one electronic balance 2 with a coupling device 3 for the collection container 4 , The coupling device 3 serves on the one hand the power transmission to the balance 2 in the filling process and the power decoupling during the transport of the mobile testing device. At the same time, the coupling device 3 Minimize occurring dynamic forces during the filling process.

The collection container 4 has a filler neck 5 with a bypass 6 and a lockable drainage nozzle 7 on. In the bypass 6 are at least one density sensor 8th and a temperature sensor 9 arranged so that they are flowed through during the filling of the material to be measured or flowed around.

In one embodiment, the filler neck 5 without bypass 6 be executed. The density sensor 8th and the temperature sensor 9 are then arranged on the collecting vessel so that they are flowed through with product or rinsed.

The density sensor 8th and the temperature sensor 9 may conveniently be formed as an integrated sensor element.

An alternative or additional possibility for the arrangement of sensors in the filler neck 5 or the bypass 6 persists 1 in it, in a wall 10 of the collection container 4 additional temperature sensors 11 in different filling levels and essentially the cross section of the collecting container 4 detecting, arrange with different immersion depth.

The sensors 8th ; 9 ; 11 as well as the electronic balance 2 are via an interface module 12 with a calculator 13 connected to a software for controlling and evaluating the metrological test process.

The verification and calibration of the volumetric measuring system of the fuel dispensers is carried out in the usual way by comparing the dispensing amount indicated by the dispenser and that in the collecting vessel 4 real existing volume, including its mean temperature and density by computer 13 ,

The output of the test and calibration protocols is a printer 14 with the calculator 13 connected.

1

transportable platform

2

electronic Libra

3

coupling device

4

receptacle

5

filler pipe

6

bypass

7

drain plug

8th

density sensor

9

temperature sensor

10

wall

11

Further temperature sensors

12

Interface Module

13

computer

14

printer

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list The documents listed by the applicant have been automated generated and is solely for better information recorded by the reader. The list is not part of the German Patent or utility model application. The DPMA takes over no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 29917940 U1 [0017]
• - DE 4342567 C2 [0020]

Claims (12)

Mobile testing device for gravimetrically testing and calibrating volumetric meters of dispensers for dispensing higher-viscosity liquids, such as biofuels or conventional fuels, characterized in that the testing device is arranged in at least one collecting container ( 4 ), in which a density sensor ( 8th ) and a temperature sensor ( 9 ), an electronic balance ( 2 ) connected to a coupling device ( 3 ), and a control and evaluation device comprising at least one interface module ( 12 ) and a computer ( 13 ), having. Mobile testing device according to claim 1, characterized in that the collecting container ( 4 ) a filler neck ( 5 ), in which the density sensor ( 8th ) and the temperature sensor ( 9 ) are arranged. Mobile testing device according to claim 2, characterized in that the filler neck ( 5 ) a bypass ( 6 ) to the collecting container ( 4 ), in which the density sensor ( 8th ) and the temperature sensor ( 9 ) are arranged. Mobile testing device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the density sensor ( 8th ) and the temperature sensor ( 9 ) are formed as an integrated sensor element. Mobile testing device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in a wall ( 10 ) of the collecting container ( 4 ) further temperature sensors ( 11 ), in different fill levels and over the depth of immersion substantially the cross section of the collecting container ( 4 ) are arranged. Mobile testing device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control and evaluation device with a printer ( 14 ) connected is. Mobile testing device according to one of the preceding Claims, characterized in that the control and evaluation with a GPS (Global Positioning System) module is coupled. Mobile testing device according to one of the preceding Claims, characterized in that the control and evaluation coupled to a standard time receiver is. Mobile testing device according to one of the preceding Claims, characterized in that with the control and evaluation a transceiver of a Mobile network is connected. Mobile testing device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least the electronic balance ( 2 ) with the coupling device ( 3 ) and the collecting container ( 4 ) on a transportable platform ( 1 ) are arranged. Mobile testing device according to one of the preceding Claims, characterized in that one with the control and evaluation, connected, optical image pickup device before the volume indication of the pump to be tested / calibrated for detecting when dispensing the fuel at the pump displayed amount of the volume is arranged. Mobile testing device according to one of the preceding Claims, characterized in that the over a mobile network transmitted test and calibration records stored in a local or central database.