Device and method for monitoring a gas volume in a unit filled with liquid

Abstract

A device for monitoring a gas volume in a unit filled with a liquid, where the unit has an inlet line with at least one expansion chamber, and the device includes one or more buoyant bodies floating in the liquid. The floating buoyant body is connected to a shaft, fixed in the expansion chamber and mounted pivotally relative to the shaft. The gas volume above the liquid may be recorded rapidly and with high accuracy, by measuring the torque generated by the buoyant body, or an angle to the horizontal. There is also disclosed a method for monitoring a gas volume in a unit filled with liquid, by way of a floating buoyant body.

1 - 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . A device for monitoring a gas volume in a unit filled with a liquid, the unit having an inflow line with at least one expansion vessel, the device comprising:
 a stationary shaft mounted in the expansion vessel;   at least one buoyant body floating in the liquid, said buoyant body being connected to said shaft and pivotally mounted with respect to said shaft;   
       a connecting element connecting said buoyant body to said shaft at a spacing distance from said shaft; and 
       a stationary protractor disposed to measure an angle between said connecting element and a horizontal axis extending transversely to said shaft. 
     
     
         12 . The device according to  claim 11 , which further comprises a processing device connected to receive a signal from said protractor, and wherein, when a predetermined angle of said connecting element is exceeded, said processing device generates a warning signal. 
     
     
         13 . The device according to  claim 11 , further wherein said stationary protractor is disposed to detect an inclination of said buoyant body relative to a horizontal. 
     
     
         14 . The device according to  claim 13 , which further comprises a processing device connected to receive a signal from said protractor, and wherein, when a predetermined inclination of said buoyant body is exceeded, said processing device generates a warning signal. 
     
     
         15 . A method for monitoring a gas volume in a unit filled with a liquid, the method which comprises:
 providing the unit with an inflow line and at least one expansion vessel;   providing a buoyant body floating in or on the liquid in the expansion vessel, with the buoyant body being pivotally connected to a stationary shaft by a connecting element connecting the buoyant body to the shaft at a spacing distance from the shaft, and   detecting a pivoting movement of the floating body with respect to the shaft by using a stationary protractor disposed to measure an angle between the connecting element and a horizontal axis extending transversely to the shaft.   
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , which comprises fixing the shaft at a defined vertical level within the expansion vessel as determined on a basis of a maximum gas volume to be detected relative to an inner surface of a top cover of the expansion vessel. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 15 , which comprises mounting the shaft with a fixing device at predetermined vertical levels within the expansion vessel.