Void fraction sensor, flowmeter using the same, and cryogenic liquid transfer pipe

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12529669-B2
Application number	US-202118266265-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 9, 2021
Priority date	Dec 9, 2020
Publication date	Jan 20, 2026
Grant date	Jan 20, 2026

Abstract

A void fraction sensor for measuring a void fraction of a cryogenic liquid includes a pipe having a conduit in which the cryogenic liquid flows, and an electrode provided on the outer peripheral surface of the pipe to measure capacitance of the cryogenic liquid flowing in the conduit. The pipe is composed of an even number of dividable ceramic members, and among the even number of ceramic members, at least two ceramic members facing each other are each provided with the electrode.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1 . A void fraction sensor for measuring a void fraction of a cryogenic liquid, comprising:
a pipe having a conduit in which the cryogenic liquid flows; and an electrode provided on an outer peripheral side of the pipe to measure capacitance of the cryogenic liquid flowing in the pipe, wherein the pipe is composed of an even number of ceramic members that are dividable, and among the even number of ceramic members, at least two ceramic members facing each other are each provided with the electrode.

2 . The void fraction sensor according to claim 1 , wherein
each of the ceramic members has, on an outer peripheral surface thereof, a recessed portion which is open to an outside, and the electrode is mounted on a bottom surface of the recessed portion.

3 . The void fraction sensor according to claim 2 , wherein
the recessed portion comprises a first recessed portion which is open to the outside and a second recessed portion provided on a bottom surface of the first recessed portion, the second recessed portion has an open area smaller than an open area of the first recessed portion, and the electrode is mounted on a bottom surface of the second recessed portion.

4 . The void fraction sensor according to claim 1 , wherein
at least one of the ceramic members has closed pores, and a value obtained by subtracting an average value of equivalent circle diameters of the closed pores from an average value of distances between centers of gravity of adjacent closed pores is from 8 μm to 18 μm.

5 . The void fraction sensor according to claim 4 , wherein
a skewness of the equivalent circle diameters of the closed pores is larger than a skewness of the distances between the centers of gravity of the adjacent closed pores.

6 . A flowmeter comprising:
the void fraction sensor according to claim 1 ; and a flow velocity meter that measures a flow velocity of the cryogenic liquid flowing in the conduit, wherein the flowmeter measures a flow rate of the cryogenic liquid flowing in the conduit of the pipe.

7 . A cryogenic liquid transfer pipe comprising:
the flowmeter according to claim 6 .

8 . A void fraction sensor for measuring a void fraction of a cryogenic liquid, comprising:
an inner pipe having a conduit in which the cryogenic liquid flows; an outer pipe covering an outer periphery of the inner pipe; and an electrode disposed outside the inner pipe for measuring the void fraction of the cryogenic liquid flowing in the conduit, wherein the inner pipe is composed of an even number of dividable ceramic members, and among the even number of ceramic members, at least two ceramic members facing each other are each provided with the electrode.

9 . The void fraction sensor according to claim 8 , wherein
a depressurized gap is provided between the inner pipe and the outer pipe.

10 . The void fraction sensor according to claim 8 , wherein:
an annular body that binds the ceramic members is mounted on the outer periphery of the inner pipe.

11 . The void fraction sensor according to claim 8 , wherein
an inner peripheral surface of the inner pipe is a ground surface.

Assignees

• Kyocera Corp

Inventors

• Nakamura Katsumi

Classifications

• G01F1/74 Primary

  Devices for measuring flow of a fluid or flow of a fluent solid material in suspension in another fluid · CPC title

• G01F1/86

  Indirect mass flowmeters, e.g. measuring volume flow and density, temperature or pressure · CPC title

• F16L9/10

  of glass or ceramics, e.g. clay, clay tile, porcelain (F16L9/16 - F16L9/22 take precedence) · CPC title

• G01F1/64

  by measuring electrical currents passing through the fluid flow; measuring electrical potential generated by the fluid flow, e.g. by electrochemical, contact or friction effects (G01F1/58 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G01F15/006

  characterised by the use of a particular material, e.g. anti-corrosive material (G01F15/14 takes precedence) · CPC title