KR101030342B1 - Capacitive water level sensor and system - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention discloses a capacitive water level sensor and system.

The capacitive water level detection system of the present invention includes a liquid storage tank for storing liquid; A probe rod of a sensor enters into the tank through a through hole in an upper portion of the liquid storage tank; A capacitive sensor for detecting a change in capacitance depending on the level of the liquid when the liquid in the liquid storage tank is filled from the bottom to the top or exits from the top to the bottom; A signal processor for processing a signal to convert the amount of change in capacitance sensed by the capacitance detecting sensor into a level value; And a display unit for displaying the signal processing value processed by the signal processing unit.

Liquid, capacitance, sensor, storage tank, level, electrode

Description

Electrostatic capacitance type sensor for detecting liquid level and system

The present invention relates to an electrode arrangement and a system of a capacitive level sensor, and more particularly, by installing a capacitive level sensor in a liquid storage tank to measure the level of liquid stored in the liquid storage tank. The present invention relates to a capacitive water level detection system that can accurately detect and guarantee the effectiveness of sensing information.

In general, fields such as semiconductors and LCDs require devices such as storage tanks that can store liquids such as water or chemicals and supply the correct amount depending on the intended use. At this time, by supplying a liquid such as a chemical to the place where the reaction takes place by measuring the supply amount using a flow meter.

However, most of the chemicals required for semiconductor and LCD processing have high toxicity or dissolve metal storage tanks. Therefore, polymers that are not soluble in these liquids are coated in or out of metal containers to store liquids such as chemicals. Used to

In addition, when chemicals are put into the storage tank from the outside, the height of the liquid surface in the storage tank is determined and the amount to be stored is determined, or the storage timing is determined according to the change in the liquid surface height. It can supply liquids such as chemicals.

1 is a view showing a storage tank to which the water level sensor according to the prior art is applied, as shown in the prior art ultrasonic device as a device for measuring the height of the liquid surface in the storage tank (t) to measure the level of the liquid surface Or use a radar sensor. These, the ultrasonic sensor or radar sensor 11 is installed above the storage tank (t) to calculate the height d of the liquid surface by measuring the time when the ultrasonic wave or microwave is reflected from the surface of the liquid.

However, the water level sensor in the water level measurement method using the ultrasonic sensor or the radar sensor has the following problems.

First, since the receiver of the sensor must be large in order to emit ultrasonic waves or microwaves and receive the reflected wave well, the weight of the sensor must be large and fixed to a solid structure in the upper center of the liquid storage tank (t).

Second, the state of the liquid surface is much affected. In other words, in order for the ultrasonic wave or the microwave to be reflected well, the liquid surface is severely detected or the foam state lasts a long time. In addition, when the sensing material is powder or powder, it is difficult to detect the reflected wave because it does not reach well.

Third, the vapor evaporating from the liquid clings to the surface of the sensor's transmitter or receiver, condensing and interfering with transmission and reception, and the error increases over time, so the sensor must be periodically removed and cleaned and the output value must be set. And there is a disadvantage in that the effectiveness of the measurement information is low.

On the other hand, conventionally, in order to solve the shortcomings of the sensor using ultrasonic waves or microwaves, a capacitive level sensor for changing the degree of the probe rod being locked into an electrical signal has been proposed.

Since the probe-type capacitive water level sensor detects the change of the sensing material by using the electric field formed around the sensing electrode with two electrodes, it is difficult to accurately measure and error according to the property of the liquid to be detected. In the case of a highly viscous liquid, when the liquid is attached to the surface of the probe rod, there is a problem that frequent occurrence of malfunction occurs by continuously sensing even when the actual liquid level drops.

2 is a view illustrating the operation of a conventional two-electrode capacitive sensor, mainly to form an electric field around the electrode and to be sensitive to changes around the electrode when the object comes.

In addition, the two-electrode capacitive water level sensor has only one level because of the limitation of the electrode configuration. There was a problem that caused a problem.

The present invention was created to solve the problems of the prior art as described above, and an object of the present invention is to improve the electrode configuration for measuring the level of the liquid stored in the liquid storage tank, regardless of the nature or fluidity of the liquid The present invention provides a capacitive level sensor and a system that enables accurate level measurement to increase the reliability of the measured values.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a capacitive water level sensor and system that can be measured without installing an additional sensor even if the liquid level of the water surface is several places.

The capacitance level detection system according to an embodiment of the present invention for realizing the above object is provided in the interior of the liquid storage tank in which the liquid is stored capacitive level detection sensor for detecting the amount of change in capacitance according to the water level and the A capacitance level detection system comprising a signal processing unit for signal processing to convert a change amount of capacitance sensed by a capacitance level sensor into a level value, and a display unit for displaying a signal processing value processed by the signal processing unit. The capacitive level sensor is an external electrode means for detecting the level of the liquid surface by changing the density of electric force lines passing through the liquid, the third electrode being formed on the inner wall of the liquid storage tank; The second electrode which is a ground electrode, an insulating ring made of an insulating material, a first electrode made of copper pipe or copper foil, an insulating ring, and a second electrode are sequentially disposed on an outer circumferential surface of the insulated pipe. It characterized in that it comprises an inner electrode means that is accommodated and fixed to the outer insulation pipe.

As a preferred feature of the invention, the first electrode and the second electrode is connected to each of the wires and electrically connected to the signal processor, the external electrode means of the third electrode is a conductor element on the inner wall or outer wall of the liquid storage tank. It is provided with a wire that is electrically connected to the signal processing unit.

As another preferred feature of the invention, the conductor element is that the liquid storage tank is provided with a metal material or the metal material attached to the inner wall or the outer wall of the liquid storage tank.

The capacitive level sensor according to an embodiment of the present invention is provided in the liquid storage tank in which the liquid is stored in the capacitive level sensor for sensing the amount of change in capacitance according to the water level, in the liquid storage tank On the outer circumferential surface of the insulated pipe, a second electrode which is a ground electrode, an insulating ring made of insulating material, a first electrode made of copper pipe or copper foil, an insulating ring, and a second electrode are sequentially provided to be accommodated and fixed in the outer insulating pipe. Internal electrode means; It is characterized in that it comprises an external electrode means which is provided in the liquid storage tank and the third electrode for detecting the level of the liquid surface by the density change of the electric line of force passing through the liquid with the internal electrode means.

As a preferred feature of the invention, the first electrode and the second electrode is connected by a respective wire, the external electrode means which is the third electrode is provided with a conductor element on the inner wall or outer wall of the liquid storage tank is connected to the wire Is in.

As another preferred feature of the invention, the conductor element is that the liquid storage tank is provided with a metal material or the metal material attached to the inner wall or the outer wall of the liquid storage tank.

The features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description based on the accompanying drawings. Prior to this, the terms or words used in this specification and claims are not to be interpreted in a conventional and dictionary sense, and the inventors may appropriately define the concept of terms in order to best explain their invention in the best way possible. It should be interpreted as meaning and concept corresponding to the technical idea of the present invention based on the principle that the present invention.

The capacitive water level detection system according to the present invention can accurately and accurately measure the water level inside the liquid storage tank beyond the limits of the conventional capacitive water level sensor using two electrodes, thus greatly increasing the reliability of the measured values. It can provide a very useful effect.

In particular, it is expected to increase the reliability of the sensor by removing the cause of the high viscosity of the liquid stuck to the outside of the sensor to malfunction.

The objects, features and advantages of the present invention described above will become more apparent from the following detailed description.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

First, it should be noted that like elements or parts in the drawings are denoted by the same reference numerals as much as possible. In the following description of the present invention, a detailed description of known functions and configurations incorporated herein will be omitted when it may make the subject matter of the present invention rather unclear.

3 is a perspective view for explaining the overall configuration of the capacitance level sensor system according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 4 is a view for explaining a sensing structure of the capacitance level sensor according to the present invention. Here, (a) shows the detection when the liquid reaches a predetermined level within the liquid storage tank, and (b) indicates that the liquid has reached the three preset positions inside the liquid storage tank. (C) shows an analog type that detects continuously when the liquid level changes within the measurement range and outputs in proportion to the liquid level.

5 is a view showing the configuration of the internal electrode means in the capacitance level sensor according to the present invention, Figure 6 is a schematic diagram for explaining the electrical connection configuration of the capacitance level sensor according to the present invention, Figure 7 3 is an exemplary view of the electrode configuration and sensor arrangement of the capacitance level sensor according to the invention in FIG.

Finally, Figure 8 is a diagram showing the distribution of the equipotential surface of the electric field formed according to the three-electrode arrangement of the capacitive level sensor according to the present invention, Figure 9 is a three-electrode level sensor and the previous water level according to the present invention A diagram showing an equipotential surface distribution curve comparing the sensing sensors.

First, referring to FIG. 3, the capacitive water level detection system of the present invention includes a liquid storage tank 110 that stores contents of a large liquid state, and an electrostatic power installed in the liquid storage tank 110 to detect a water level. Capacitive water level sensor 120 and the fastening unit 130 for holding and fixing the inside of the liquid storage tank 110, and the signal processor 140 for receiving and processing a signal from the capacitive water level sensor 120. And a display unit 150 which receives the result value from the signal processing unit 140 and displays it on the screen.

The liquid storage tank 110 is a kind of container for storing and storing liquid chemicals therein, and pipes for supplying and exporting liquids are connected to one side thereof, and on one side thereof, the water level can be visually observed from the outside. The pass pipe 113 is connected.

The capacitive water level sensor 120 is coated with a non-conductor such as a polymer compound (for example, PVC, PE, PEEK, PTFE, PFA, etc.) to withstand liquids such as chemicals so that the liquid touches the internal electrode. Is prevented. The capacitive level sensor 120 is fixed to the liquid storage tank 110 through the fastening unit 130 is provided so as not to flow when the level of the liquid changes.

The signal processor 140 is an element that processes the signal through a detection circuit, an amplifier circuit, and an output circuit so as to convert the amount of change of the capacitance sensed by the capacitance level sensor 130 into a level value. Here, the detection circuit, the amplification circuit and the output circuit constituting the signal processing unit 140 are widely practiced by known techniques, and the present invention may also be implemented by well-known techniques, and thus detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The display unit 150 is an element represented by a number or a graph so that the operator can easily determine through the LED or LCD display by receiving the signal processing value processed by the signal processing unit 140. Since the display unit 150 may also be implemented by a known technique, detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The capacitive level detection system of such a configuration is similar to the conventional configuration. However, in the present invention, the capacitive water level sensor 120 is composed of a first electrode and a second electrode, and the liquid storage tank 110 is composed of a third electrode to precisely set the water level in the liquid storage tank 110. Its technical features make it possible to accurately measure and guarantee reliability.

That is, the capacitive level detection system of the present invention includes three electrodes such that the liquid storage tank 110 itself acts as a cylindrical capacitor, and the first and second electrodes have the capacitive level sensor 120 of the present invention. The third electrode is provided in the liquid storage tank 110.

Referring to this in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, the capacitance level sensor 120 of the present invention is largely composed of an internal electrode means (120a) and an external electrode means (120b).

The inner electrode means 120a is composed of a first electrode, which is an anode, and a second electrode, which is a ground electrode, and is provided inside the liquid storage tank 110, and the outer electrode means 120b is formed of the liquid storage tank. And a third electrode provided on the inner wall or the outer wall of the 110.

That is, the first electrode constituting the internal electrode means 120a forms a sensing part anode (+ pole), and the second electrode is composed of a blocking electrode (a grounding electrode) which prevents sensing of a portion outside the sensing area. do. The internal electrode means 120a in which the first electrode and the second electrode are combined are coated with a polymer compound in order to prevent the electrode from corroding or conducting by contact with a liquid of chemicals.

On the other hand, the internal electrode means (120a) is fixed to the mounting portion 130 which is a support element provided on one side of the inside of the liquid storage tank (110).

In addition, the external electrode means 120b may be integrally formed on the inner wall or the outer wall of the liquid storage tank 110. Accordingly, the liquid storage tank 110 may be formed in addition to the purpose of storing and storing liquid chemicals. It serves as a three-electrode.

Hereinafter, the configuration of the internal electrode means 120a and the external electrode means 120b constituting the capacitive level sensor 120 will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

First, the internal electrode means 120a constituting the capacitive water level sensor 120 shown in FIG. 5 includes an external insulation pipe 121 which is a polymer compound for blocking contact between the electrode and the liquid, and the external insulation pipe ( 121 is provided at the center of the outer insulation pipe 121 and the inner insulation pipe 128 formed of a different polymer compound and the positive electrode to each side of the first electrode 127 and the first electrode 127 It consists of a pair of second electrodes 125a and 125b which are ground electrodes disposed with the insulating rings 126a and 126b therebetween.

Looking at the assembly structure of the internal electrode means (120a) of this configuration, the inner insulating pipe 128 of the length member is prepared, and the second electrode (125a) made of copper pipe to the outer peripheral surface is lowered downward. At this time, the second electrode 125a has a wire 131 connected to one end thereof, and the wire 131 is wired upward through the inside of the inner insulation pipe 128 to pass through the fastening part 130. It is electrically connected to the signal processor 140.

Subsequently, an insulating ring 126a made of an insulating material is inserted into an outer circumferential surface of the inner insulation pipe 128 to be lowered to be in contact with the second electrode 125a. The first electrode 127 made of copper pipe is inserted into an outer circumferential surface of the inner insulation pipe 128 to be lowered to be in contact with the insulation ring 126a. In this case, the first electrode 127 is connected to the wire 131 similarly to the second electrode 125a and wired to be electrically connected to the signal processor 140 through the inner insulation pipe 128. .

Subsequently, the insulating ring 126b and the second electrode 125b are sequentially inserted into the outer circumferential surface of the inner insulation pipe 128 to lower downward, and the second electrode 125b at this time is the second electrode 125a. Wired electrically).

Lastly, the first electrode 127 and the second electrodes 125a and 125b are wired to the signal processor 140 through the respective wires 131 and 132 through the interior of the inner insulation pipe 128. A combination of the inner insulation pipes 128 and the inner insulation pipes 128, the first electrodes 127, the second electrodes 125a and 125b, and the insulating rings 126a and 126b is contained in the outer insulation pipe 121. The epoxy is injected and hardened to prevent flow in the shell. When the epoxy is hardened, the epoxy is poured into the inner insulation pipe 128 containing the electric wire, and then hardened, and the epoxy is inserted into the fastening part 130 to complete the assembly of the internal electrode means 120a.

Meanwhile, the second electrodes 125a and 125b may be provided as copper pipes, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and various types of metal members may be used as long as the metal member can be energized. For example, the second electrodes 125a and 125b provided on the outer circumferential surface of the inner insulation pipe 128 may be configured to surround the outer circumferential surface of the inner insulation pipe 128 using a copper pipe dash copper foil. As described above, when the second electrodes 125a and 125b are made of copper foil, the diameter may be reduced than when the copper is made of copper pipe.

The fastening part 130 consists of a housing 11 for fixing the inner electrode means 120a below. It consists of a screw fastening portion 136 fixed to the liquid storage tank 110, the lid 134 to protect the inside and a hole in the lid to connect the wire to the signal processor 140. The third electrode, which is the external electrode means 120b, is configured to solder the wire 133 to the inside of the housing 135 when the liquid storage tank 110 is made of metal so that the entire liquid storage tank 110 serves as an electrode. .

If the liquid storage tank 110 is a non-conductor rather than a metal as a conductor, it is difficult to form the third electrode, which is the external electrode means 120b. In this case, the copper foil or the copper plate (not shown) is formed on the outer wall of the liquid storage tank 110. It may be carried out by attaching a narrow width from the bottom of the storage tank to the upper side), soldering one side of the wire 133 to it, and connecting the signal processing unit 140 to the other side.

On the other hand, when applying the present invention it is possible to combine several sensors to find the level of the liquid surface. When detecting the water level of one place as shown in FIG. 4a and when detecting the three water levels as shown in FIG. 4b, as described above, the number of electrodes is increased by the number to detect the water level and connected to the signal processor 140.

The above invention may also be applied to continuously measuring the liquid level of the liquid surface as shown in FIG. 4C. In the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 6, the analog sensor unit for measuring the liquid level of the liquid level in a continuous amount and the alarm unit for detecting the lowest and highest water levels above and below, respectively, are separated from the signal processing unit 140. Process.

9 is a view showing the operation of the three-electrode capacitive sensor to which the present invention is applied. The liquid field is formed from the electrode to the inner surface of the tank using the liquid storage tank as the third electrode as well as around the electrode. The difference in the strength of the electric field, which is formed in the presence and absence of liquid, makes the detection more efficient.

On the other hand, Figure 9 (a) shows a case where a high viscosity liquid is stuck to the conventional two-electrode capacitive level sensor even for a long time even when the water level is lowered, the two-electrode capacitive level sensor detects the electrode surroundings In spite of the fact that the liquid level is down, the detection is inaccurate as it detects the liquid on the outer peripheral surface of the sensor.

According to the present invention, a conventional storage battery in which a sensing object enters between two plates is applied to a liquid storage tank. Thus, compared with a conventional two-electrode capacitive sensor that detects only an object around an electrode, a surface state such as liquid may be moved by vibration. It is advantageous to effectively measure the liquid level even in the presence of foam.

Figure 9 (b) will show an equipotential surface when the liquid is buried around the electrode in the three-electrode capacitive sensor to which the present invention is applied.

The difference between the electric field lines reaching through the liquid and reaching the inner surface of the liquid storage tank as the third electrode when the actual liquid descends and passing through the liquid buried around the sensing electrode is shown in FIG. Compared with, the difference is not so much that you can find out the exact liquid level. According to the present invention, the liquid level is determined by the density difference between the electric force lines coming from the surface of the sensing electrode, which is the second electrode, and reaching the inner surface of the liquid storage tank, which is the third electrode. Have

The application of the present invention is also applicable to analog sensors that continuously measure the water level inside the liquid storage tank. Unlike the conventional sensor, when the electrode configuration is applied to the present invention as shown in FIG. 7, the digital sensor generates an alarm signal when the liquid surface reaches the lowest point, and the analog sensor continuously measures the liquid level in the middle. On top of this, an alarm digital sensor can be configured to indicate that the liquid surface has reached its highest point. When the sensor is configured in this way, it is possible to apply a multi-purpose sensor without installing a separate sensor in the liquid storage tank.

In the capacitance level sensor according to the present invention configured as described above, there is a phenomenon in which the conventional two-electrode capacitive sensor exhibits a strong nonlinearity due to an edge effect when a liquid, which is a sensing object, comes to the interface of the electrode. In the present invention, by measuring the level of the liquid surface by detecting the difference in density when the electric field lines from the sensing electrode as the first electrode passes through the air and through the liquid surface to reach the inner surface of the liquid storage tank of the third electrode Therefore, nonlinearity due to the edge effect is improved.

On the other hand, the present invention is not limited to the described embodiments, it is obvious to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, such modifications or variations will have to belong to the claims of the present invention.

1 is a view showing the installation configuration of the ultrasonic or radar sensor according to the prior art,

Figure 2 is a schematic diagram for explaining the operation of the two-electrode capacitive sensor according to the prior art,

3 is a perspective view for explaining the overall configuration of a capacitance level detection system according to an embodiment of the present invention,

4 is a view for explaining a sensing structure of the capacitance level sensor according to the present invention,

(a) shows the detection when the liquid reaches a certain predetermined level inside the liquid storage tank,

(b) shows the detection of each when the liquid reaches the three preset positions inside the liquid storage tank,

(c) shows an analog type that continuously detects when the liquid level changes within the measurement range and outputs in proportion to the liquid level.

5 is a view showing the configuration of the internal electrode means in the capacitance level sensor according to the present invention,

Figure 6 is a schematic diagram for explaining the electrical connection configuration of the capacitance level sensor according to the present invention,

7 is an exemplary view of the electrode configuration and sensor arrangement of the capacitance level sensor according to the present invention in FIG.

8 is a diagram showing an equipotential surface distribution curve of an electric field formed according to a three-electrode arrangement of a capacitance level sensor according to the present invention;

9 is a diagram showing an equipotential surface distribution curve comparing the three-electrode level sensor and the previous level sensor according to the present invention.

<Explanation of symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

110: liquid storage tank

113: bypass pipe (if the water level can be observed from the outside)

120: capacitive water level sensor

130: fastening part

140: signal processing unit

150: display unit

Claims (6)

Capacitance level sensor which is provided inside the liquid storage tank where liquid is stored and detects the change of capacitance according to the water level and signal processing to convert the change of capacitance detected by the capacitance level sensor into the water level value. In the capacitive water level detection system comprising a processing unit and a display unit for displaying the signal processing value processed by the signal processing unit, The capacitance level sensor 120 is an external electrode means (120b) for detecting the level of the liquid surface by changing the density of the electric line of force passing through the liquid, which is a third electrode formed in the liquid storage tank (110); A second electrode 125a which is a ground electrode, an insulating ring 126a made of an insulating material, a first pipe made of copper pipe or copper foil, which is disposed inside the liquid storage tank 110 and is formed on an outer circumferential surface of the inner insulation pipe 128. 127, the insulating ring 126b, the second electrode 125b is provided in order to include a capacitive level detection, characterized in that it comprises an inner electrode means (120a) accommodated and fixed to the outer insulating pipe 121 system. The external electrode of claim 1, wherein the first electrode 127 and the second electrodes 125a and 125b are connected to each of the wires 131 and 132, and are electrically connected to the signal processor 140. The means (120b) is provided with a conductor element on the inner wall or the outer wall of the liquid storage tank 110, the capacitive water level sensing system, characterized in that it is electrically connected to the signal processing unit 140 by an electric wire (133). 3. The capacitance level sensing system according to claim 2, wherein the conductor element is provided with a metal material or the metal material is attached to an inner wall or an outer wall of the liquid storage tank. In the capacitive water level sensor which is provided inside the liquid storage tank in which the liquid is stored and detects the amount of change in capacitance according to the water level, A second electrode 125a which is a ground electrode, an insulating ring 126a made of an insulating material, a first pipe made of copper pipe or copper foil, which is disposed inside the liquid storage tank 110 and is formed on an outer circumferential surface of the inner insulation pipe 128. 127, an insulating ring 126b, and a second electrode 125b are sequentially provided with internal electrode means 120a which is accommodated and fixed in the outer insulation pipe 121; An external electrode means (120b) which is provided in the liquid storage tank (110) and is a third electrode which detects the level of the liquid surface by changing the density of electric force lines passing through the liquid together with the internal electrode means (120a); Capacitive water level sensor, characterized in that configured to include. The liquid crystal display of claim 4, wherein the first electrode 127 and the second electrode 125a, 125b are connected to respective wires 131, 132, and the external electrode means 120b, the third electrode, is a liquid storage tank 110. Capacitive water level sensor, characterized in that connected to the wire 133 having a conductor element on the inner wall or outer wall of the). 6. The capacitive water level sensor according to claim 5, wherein the conductor element is formed of a metal material or the metal material is attached to an inner wall or an outer wall of the liquid storage tank.

Images