RU173224U1 - SELF-CLEANING VIBRATION DEVICE FOR DETERMINING DENSITY OR VISCOSITY OF CURRENT OIL - Google Patents

Abstract

The utility model relates to vibration devices for determining the density or viscosity of flowing oil and can be used in the oil industry. The device contains a metal tube (1) cantilevered in a support (4), (5) with end input (2) and output (3) openings for the passage of oil. To initiate vibrations of the metal tube (1) and their conversion into an electrical signal, on the basis of which the density or viscosity is calculated, an oscillatory system (6) based on piezoelectric elements or inductors is provided. The heating inductor (8) covers the free end of the tube (1) with the formation of a gap (9) between them for a through passage of oil and is connected to a high-frequency alternating current source (not shown). During the operation of the inductor (8), high-frequency eddy currents heat the surface of the tube (1) to a temperature at which the asphalt-resinous and paraffin deposits formed on it soften and then wash away due to the flow of oil running on the tube (1). - providing self-cleaning from asphalt-resinous and paraffin deposits, and, therefore, improving the reliability of the device. 1 s.p. f-ly, 1 ill.

Description

The utility model relates to vibration devices for determining the density or viscosity of flowing oil and can be used in the oil industry.

Known vibration devices for determining the density of the medium, including the current medium, for example oil, containing a resonator and measuring the frequency (period) of the resonator's own vibrations in the medium, functionally related to the density. The resonator can be made in the form of a metal tube (pp. 129-130 of the second volume of the Textbook for Universities "Oil Pipeline Transport", ed. - M .: Nedra-Business Center LLC, 2006. - T.2. - 621 s. : ill.). To receive and perceive resonator vibrations with their subsequent conversion into an electrical signal, the vibrating device contains an oscillating system based on, for example, exciting and receiving electromagnetic coils (Fig. 1.25 on page 130 of the second volume of the Textbook for Universities “Pipeline transport of oil”, ed. - M .: Nedra-Business Center LLC, 2006) or exciting and receiving piezoelectric elements (RF patent No. 151456 for utility model, IPC G01N 9/00, published on 04/10/2015).

The indicated vibration devices can also measure the viscosity of the medium, since the viscosity depends on the damping of the resonator vibrations (page 132, paragraph 2 of the second volume of the Textbook for Universities "Oil Pipeline Transport", ed. - M .: Nedra-Business Center LLC, 2006).

The resonator in the form of a metal tube can be mounted in a support with fixing both ends (US patent No. 7520162, IPC G01N 11/16, G01F 1/86, publ. 04/21/2009) or one end with the other free (cantilever fixing) ( RF patent No. 2024841 for an invention, IPC G01N 9/32, published on December 15, 1994; RF patent No. 2526297 for an invention, IPC G01N 9/00, published on 02/08/2014; RF patent No. 151456 for a utility model, IPC G01N 9/00, published on 04/10/2015). In contrast to fixing both ends, with cantilever fixing, the controlled medium washes not only the inner but also the outer side of the metal tube (resonator), which ensures uniform pressure of the medium on its wall and a decrease in the pressure-dependent error in density or viscosity measurements.

If the medium is flowing oil, then during operation, asphalt-resinous and paraffin deposits form on the walls of the metal tube (resonator), which distort the measurements of the vibrating device. Moreover, when cantilever fixing, the formation of asphalt-resinous and paraffin deposits on a metal tube (resonator) occurs much faster than when fixing both ends.

Removal of asphalt-resinous and paraffin deposits is carried out in two ways: firstly, by pumping the solvent through a metal tube (resonator), and secondly, by manual cleaning with disassembly of the vibration device. In the first method, a solvent supply circuit through a bypass is necessary, which is an expensive undertaking. The second method is laborious and long.

The vibration device (RF patent No. 2024841, IPC G01N 9/32, published December 15, 1994), taken as the closest analogue (prototype), is used "when it is necessary to measure the density, viscosity of liquids, or a combination thereof." The device contains a metal tube ("hollow cylindrical resonator") (Fig. 1-3 of the patent of the Russian Federation No. 2024841) with inlet and outlet openings at the ends. The metal tube (resonator) is fixed cantilever (i.e., one end) in a flange mounted in the housing. To initiate the vibrations of the metal tube and convert them into an electrical signal, the vibrating device includes an oscillating system based on piezoelectric elements located on the flange. As mentioned above, when the tube is cantilevered on it, the formation of asphalt-resinous and paraffin deposits rapidly distortes the measurements of the vibrating device.

The objective of the utility model is to increase the reliability of the vibrating device for determining the density or viscosity of the flowing oil, in which the resonator is made in the form of a metal tube mounted cantilever at one end in a support with the free other end of this tube.

The technical result is to ensure that the metal tube (resonator) is heated to a temperature at which the asphalt-resinous and paraffin deposits formed on it soften, followed by washing off these deposits with oil running onto the metal tube (resonator).

Like the closest analogue (prototype), the device for determining the density or viscosity of the flowing oil contains a metal tube with end inlet and outlet openings for oil, fixed at one end in a support with a free other end, equipped with an oscillating system that is configured to initiate vibrations of the specified tubes and their conversion into an electrical signal.

Unlike the closest analogue (prototype), the claimed device contains a heating inductor, covering the free end of the tube with the formation of a gap between them for a through passage of oil and made with the possibility of connecting to a high frequency alternating current source.

In order to ensure uniform melting of the asphalt-resinous and paraffin deposits on the outside of the metal tube, the distance between the metal tube and the heating inductor in the plane of the cross section of the tube is the same.

The device is shown in the figure with the following notation:

1 - a metal tube, 2 - an inlet of a metal tube, 3 - an outlet of a metal tube, 4 - a housing, 5 - a flange, 6 - an oscillating system, 7 - electrical leads of an oscillating system, 8 - a heating inductor, 9 - the gap between the metal tube and a heating inductor, 10 - an element of electrical insulation, 11 - electrical leads of a heating inductor.

A device for determining the density or viscosity of the flowing oil contains a metal tube 1, at one end of which there is an inlet 2 for the passage of oil, and an outlet 3 at the other.

The metal tube 1 is cantilevered to one end in a support with the free other end of the tube 1. The figure shows that the metal tube 1 is cantilevered inside the rigid body 4 using the flange 5. To initiate vibrations of the metal tube 1 and their conversion into an electrical signal, based which calculate the density or viscosity, or a combination thereof, in the inventive device provides an oscillatory system 6. In a specific embodiment, the oscillatory system 6 contains piezoelectric elements, which via electrical terminals 7 are connected to an electronic converter (in the figure not shown). Instead of piezoelectric elements, the oscillatory system 6 can be made on the basis of inductors.

The inventive device contains a heating inductor 8, covering the free end of the metal tube 1 with the formation between them of a gap 9 for a through passage of oil. In addition, the heating inductor 8 is configured to connect to a high frequency alternating current source (not shown in the figure). The heating inductor 8 with a block of capacitors (not shown in the figure) is part of the resonant circuit, which forms, together with a high-frequency alternating current source (not shown in the figure) an induction heater.

In a specific embodiment, the heating inductor 8 is an induction heating coil, through the hollow center of which the free end of the metal tube 1 is passed. An induction heating coil (heating inductor) 8 is installed in the housing 4 and is electrically isolated from it (position 10 in the figure). The choice of the diameter of the induction heating coil (heating inductor) 8, its length and location relative to the metal tube 1 and the flange 5 ensures the formation between the metal tube 1 and the induction heating coil (heating inductor) 8 of such a gap 9, through which oil freely passes with the exit from it out. The connection of the induction heating coil (heating inductor) 8 to a high frequency alternating current source (not shown in the figure) is carried out by means of electrical leads 11.

The device operates as follows.

The heating inductor 8 is put into operation, connecting with the help of electrical leads 11 to a high frequency alternating current source (not shown in the figure). Around the heating inductor 8, an electromagnetic field arises, inducing high frequency eddy currents in the metal tube 1, which heat the surface of the metal tube 1. The heating inductor 8 provides heating of the metal tube 1 to a temperature at which softening of asphalt-resinous and paraffin deposits occurs on them subsequent flushing due to the flow of oil running on the metal tube 1. Factors associated with the flushing (removal) of asphalt-resinous and paraffin deposits are the appropriate design choice of the heating inductor 8 and its winding wire; power, frequency and amplitude of the current source of high frequency alternating current. It has been established that the removal (flushing) of asphalt-resinous and paraffin deposits by induction heating is complicated by an increase in oil consumption and a decrease in its temperature, and the oil temperature affects to a lesser extent than the flow rate due to the properties of oil associated with heat transfer. Heating can occur for, for example, 20 seconds, one or more times until the complete washing off (removal) of asphalt-resinous and paraffin deposits. For the prevention of deposits, it is possible to turn on the heating inductor 8 once, for example, once per hour or once per minute.

Oil helps to cool the metal tube 1 after removing asphalt-resinous and paraffin deposits and at the same time serves as a cooling fluid for the heating inductor 8, preventing its overheating.

Magnetic induction in the metal tube 1 and, therefore, the current of its heating depend on the size and uniformity of the gap 9 between it and the heating inductor 8. By the uniform gap 9 we mean the gap where the distance between the heating inductor 8 and the metal tube 1 is the same in the cross-sectional plane of the metal tubes 1. With a uniform gap 9, the softening of asphalt-resinous and paraffin deposits on the outside of the metal tube 1 occurs uniformly.

Thus, in the inventive device, the metal tube (resonator) is heated to a temperature at which the asphalt-resinous and paraffin deposits formed on it soften, followed by washing off these deposits with oil running onto the metal tube (resonator). The inventive device by introducing into its design an induction heater 8 acquires the ability to self-clean from asphalt-resinous and paraffin deposits.

Claims (2)

1. A device for determining the density or viscosity of the flowing oil, containing a metal tube with end inlet and outlet openings for oil, fixed at one end in a support with a free other end, equipped with an oscillating system that is configured to initiate vibrations of the specified tube and convert them into electrical signal, characterized in that it contains a heating inductor, covering the free end of the tube with the formation of a gap between them for a through passage of oil and and adapted to connect to a high frequency AC source. 2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the distance between the metal tube and the heating inductor in the plane of the cross section of the tube is the same.

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