Resumen
Device for measuring the amount of flowing liquid, which device is composed of a liquid recipient (2) divided into two chambers (4, 5), an external valve (6), a flexible tube (7) and a calculation unit (10) and is characterized in that the liquid recipient (2) has two capacitive sensors (11, 12) installed in the external wall thereof, which sensors measure the liquid level in each chamber. The measurement method is characterized in that the volume of liquid Vi contained in the first chamber (4) of volume R 1 is measured with an interval T 1 using the first capacitive sensor (11), and, when Vi = R 1 - e, it is determined whether the liquid is allowed to pass to the second chamber (5), where the volume is measured using the second capacitive sensor (12), or the external valve (6) is opened and the measurement process is restarted.
Reivindicaciones
1. Device for automatically measuring the amount of flowing liquid, which device is composed by a support (1) in which it is installed a liquid recipient (2) the interior of which is divided into two chambers that are communicated via at least one opening (3) located on the top, a first chamber (4) of small size suitable for measurements in which a high resolution is desired and a second larger chamber (5) for measurements that do not require high resolution, an external valve (6) at the bottom of the liquid recipient (2) which allows simultaneously evacuating the first chamber (4) and the second chamber (5) of the liquid recipient (2), a flexible tube (7) that allows the entry of liquid by the top of the first chamber (4) of the liquid recipient (2), a drainage pipe (8) connected to the external valve (6), an electronic unit (9) and linked to it, a calculation unit (10), and which ischaracterized in that the liquid recipient (2) has two capacitive sensors (11, 12) installed on the outer wall thereof so that the longitudinal area of the first capacitive sensor (11) spans the full height of the first chamber (4) and the longitudinal area of the second capacitive sensor (12) spans the full height of the second chamber (5) and both the first capacitive sensor (11) and the second capacitive sensor (12) are connected to the electronic unit (9), to which they continuously send the electric signal generated indicative of the level of liquid contained in each of the chambers of the liquid recipient (2). 2. Device for automatically measuring the amount of flowing liquid according to claim 1, which ischaracterized in that the liquid recipient (2) has on its external wall, two holders (13) made by way of sleeves, which allow installing both the first capacitive sensor (11) and the second capacitive sensor (12) by simply inserting the same inside the holders (13). 3. Device for automatically measuring the amount of flowing liquid according to claim 1, which ischaracterized by containing a base (14) connected to the support (1), to which the capacitive sensors (11, 12) are attached and which allows to install and remove the liquid recipient (2). 4. Device for automatically measuring the amount of flowing liquid according to claim 1, which ischaracterized by containing an adjustable and removable frame (15), which allows configuring the assembly of the capacitive sensors (11, 12) on the outer wall of the liquid recipient (2) and which is made from at least four rigid elements, the length of which can be varied (16) and the ends of which are joined by brackets (17), and the capacitive sensors (11, 12) are installed, by means of attachment elements (18), on at least one of these rigid elements, the length of which can be varied (16). 5. Device for automatically measuring the amount of liquid flowing according to claims 1-4, which ischaracterized in that the external valve (6) is equipped with an actuator that is electrically connected to the electronic unit (9). 6. Device for automatically measuring the amount of liquid flowing according to claims 1-5, which ischaracterized by having a liquid collection bag (19) connected to the drainage pipe (8) and located at a level lower than the liquid recipient (2) and the volume of which isn times higher than the volume of the liquid recipient (2),n being an integer greater than one. 7. Device for automatically measuring the amount of liquid flowing according to claims 1-6, which ischaracterized in that the connection between the electronic unit (9) and the calculation unit (10) is performed wirelessly. 8. Method for automatically measuring the amount of flowing liquid using a device according to claims 1-7, which ischaracterized in thata) the connection of the flexible tube (7) to the liquid source is carried out. b) the characteristics of the liquid recipient (2) to be used are selected in the calculation unit (10), so that the calculation unit (10) can not only adjust the measurement field of the first capacitive sensor (11) and of the second capacitive sensor (12) depending on the dimensions of the first chamber (4) and the second chamber (5), respectively, but it can also determine the valuesR1 andR2 corresponding to the maximum volumes of liquid that the first chamber (4) and the second chamber (5), respectively, may contain. c) a cycle is started in which the measurementi of the liquid volumeVi contained in the first chamber (4) of the liquid recipient (2) with a predetermined time intervalT1 is carried out, using for this the first capacitive sensor (11). d) the relative flow of the liquid that has flowed is calculated in the calculation unit (10) in accordance with the following formula: Q i = V i - V i - 1 T 1 for i = 1 , 2 , 3 , … <img class="EMIRef" id="468201061-ib0006" /> e) a warning signal is generated for the operator in the case that the conditionQD <Qi (t) <Qu is not met, whereQD andQu are predetermined limit values. f) if at the time whenVi ≥R1 - ε, where ε is a predetermined small value, the total time required to have reached said volume of liquid in the first chamber (4) exceeds a predetermined valueL1 , it is proceeded to opening the external valve (6) for a timeTv1 , during which complete emptying of the first chamber (4) occurs and, after this time, the external valve (6) is closed and return to step (c). g) if at the time whenVi ≥R1 - ε, where ε is a predetermined small value, the total time required to have reached said volume of liquid in the first chamber (4) is equal to or less than a predetermined valueL1 , the liquid is allowed to overflow from the first chamber (4) into the second chamber (5) and a second cycle starts in which the measurementi of the volume of liquidWi contained in the second chamber (5) of the liquid recipient (2) with a predetermined time intervalT2 , using the second capacitive sensor (12) for this. h) the calculation unit (10) calculates the relative flow of liquid that has flowed in accordance with the following formula: S i = W i - W i - 1 T 2 for i = 1 , 2 , 3 , … <img class="EMIRef" id="468201061-ib0007" /> i) a warning signal is generated for the operator if the conditionSD <Si (t) <Su is not being met, whereSD andSu are predetermined limit values. j) the process is stopped whenWi >R2 -E, whereE is a predetermined small value, or when the conditionSi (t) <SD occurs. k) the external valve (6) is opened for a predetermined timeTv2 during which complete emptying of the liquid recipient (2) occurs, and after this time, the external valve (6) is closed and return to step (c).
