Apparatus for measuring fluid speed by using the refraction of light emitted from two light sources
An apparatus for measuring fluid speed by using the refraction of light is disclosed. The apparatus includes: a channel in which a passage is formed to allow the flow of a fluid; a first and a second light source that are located in any one region of an upper part and a lower part of the channel; a sensor installed in an opposite region of the region where the first and second light sources are located with respect to the channel, to receive the light emitted from the first and second light sources; a speed calculation unit that calculates the speed of the fluid by using a time point at which the intensity of the light received at the sensor changes; and an adjustment unit that is connected to the channel and configured to adjust the flow speed of the fluid based on the calculated speed of the fluid.
1. An apparatus for measuring fluid speed, the apparatus comprising:
a channel having a passage formed therein for holding a fluid flowing therethrough;
a first light source and a second light source located in any one region of an upper part and a lower part of the channel, wherein the first and the second light sources are not positioned parallel with each other so that light emitted from the first and the second light sources is not parallel with each other, and are obliquely positioned such that the light emitted from the first and the second light sources has angles other than 90 degree with respect to the channel;
a single sensor installed in an opposite region of the region where the first light source and the second light source are located with respect to the channel, the single sensor configured to receive light emitted from the first light source and the second light source together, wherein the single sensor is sized to receive the light directly emitted from both the first and the second light sources;
a speed calculation unit configured to calculate a speed of the fluid by using a time point at which an intensity of light received at the single sensor changes; and
an adjustment unit connected to the channel and configured to adjust a flow speed of the fluid based on the calculated speed of the fluid.
2. The apparatus for measuring fluid speed of claim 1 , wherein the adjustment unit comprises: a vent hole part connected with an exterior of the channel and configured to exhaust air inside the channel to the exterior; a valve connected to an entrance part of the vent hole part and configured to open and close the entrance part of the vent hole part; and a controller part configured to control an operation of the valve.
3. The apparatus for measuring fluid speed of claim 2 , wherein the controller part applies an On signal and an Off signal to the valve based on the calculated speed of the fluid.
4. The apparatus for measuring fluid speed of claim 3 , wherein the controller part sets the On signal and the Off signal such that a duration of the On signal is different from a duration of the Off signal.
5. The apparatus for measuring fluid speed of claim 2 , wherein the adjustment unit further comprises a tube connecting the entrance part of the vent hole part with the valve.
6. The apparatus for measuring fluid speed of claim 1 , wherein a distance between the single sensor and the channel ranges 0.1-10 mm.
7. The apparatus for measuring fluid speed of claim 1 , wherein a distance between a first incident point, where the light emitted from the first light source meets the channel, and a second incident point, where the light emitted from the second light source meets the channel ranges 1-10 mm.