Determining viscosity of fluid

Abstract

A method of determining a viscosity of a fluid is provided. The method includes: receiving one or more sensor signals from a sensor assembly containing a fluid to determine a fluid characteristic of the fluid; determining an energy dissipation value of the sensor assembly containing the fluid based on the one or more sensor signals; and determining a viscosity value of the fluid based on the energy dissipation value.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The embodiments described below relate to determining a property of a fluid, and more particularly to determining the viscosity of a fluid. Background Art

[0002] Vibration meters such as, for example, Coriolis mass flow meters, liquid densitometers, gas densitometers, liquid viscometers, gas / liquid specific gravity meters, gas / liquid relative density meters, and gas molecular weight meters are generally known and are used to measure fluid parameters. Typically, a vibration meter includes a sensor assembly and metering electronics. The material within the sensor assembly may be flowing or stationary. A vibration meter may be used to measure one or more fluid parameters, such as mass flow rate, density, or other properties of the material in the sensor assembly.

[0003] The vibrometer, or more specifically the sensor assembly, can be connected in series with the conduit. More specifically, the inlet of the sensor assembly can be fluidly coupled to the inlet conduit, and the outlet of the sensor assembly can be fluidly coupled to the outlet conduit. The sensor assembly typically includes one or more conduits, which can be referred to as flow tubes, which vibrate to measure one or more fluid properties. The fluid properties are measured by using a sensor coupled to the conduit, the sensor measuring the displacement of the conduit.

[0004] The displacement of the conduit can be used to determine various fluid properties of the fluid, such as density, mass flow rate, etc. However, additional sensors may be required inside or outside the vibrating flow meter to determine other fluid properties. These other sensors may be undesirable due to cost, failure modes, or additional sources of noise, etc. Therefore, there is a need to determine additional fluid properties without the use of additional sensors. More specifically, there is a need to determine the viscosity of the fluid. Summary of the invention

[0005] A method for determining the viscosity of a fluid is provided. According to an embodiment, the method includes: receiving one or more sensor signals from a sensor assembly containing the fluid to determine a fluid property of the fluid; determining an energy dissipation value of the sensor assembly containing the fluid based on the one or more sensor signals; and determining a viscosity value of the fluid based on the energy dissipation value.

[0006] A metering electronic device for determining the viscosity of a fluid is provided. According to an embodiment, the metering electronic device includes: an interface configured to receive one or more sensor signals from a sensor assembly containing the fluid, and to provide one or more sensor signals; a processing system communicatively coupled to the interface. The processing system is configured to receive one or more sensor signals from the interface, and to perform the steps of the aforementioned method steps.

[0007] A vibrating meter for determining the viscosity of a fluid is provided. According to an embodiment, the vibrating meter includes a sensor assembly containing the fluid and configured to provide one or more sensor signals, and meter electronics as previously described, communicatively coupled to the sensor assembly.

[0008] A method for determining the viscosity of a fluid is provided. According to an embodiment, the method includes: determining an energy dissipation value of a sensor assembly containing each of a plurality of fluids having a known viscosity value; and determining an energy dissipation-viscosity relationship based on the energy dissipation value of the sensor assembly containing each of the plurality of fluids and the known viscosity values ​​of the plurality of fluids.

[0009] A metering electronic device for determining the viscosity of a fluid is provided. According to an embodiment, the metering electronic device includes: an interface configured to receive one or more sensor signals from a sensor assembly containing a fluid, and to provide one or more sensor signals; and a processing system communicatively coupled to the interface. The processing system is configured to receive one or more sensor signals from the interface, and to perform the above steps.

[0010] A vibrating meter for determining the viscosity of a fluid is provided. According to an embodiment, the vibrating meter includes a sensor assembly containing the fluid and configured to provide one or more sensor signals, and meter electronics as previously described, communicatively coupled to the sensor assembly.

[0011] All aspects

[0012] According to one aspect, a method for determining the viscosity of a fluid includes: receiving one or more sensor signals from a sensor assembly containing the fluid to determine fluid properties of the fluid; determining an energy dissipation value of the sensor assembly containing the fluid based on the one or more sensor signals; and determining a viscosity value of the fluid based on the energy dissipation value.

[0013] Preferably, the energy dissipation value is a damping value of the sensor assembly.

[0014] Preferably, the damping value of the sensor assembly comprises at least a material damping of at least one conduit of the sensor assembly and a fluid damping of a fluid contained by the at least one conduit.

[0015] Preferably, receiving one or more sensor signals from the sensor assembly includes receiving a left pickoff sensor signal and a right pickoff sensor signal.

[0016] Preferably, receiving one or more sensor signals from the sensor assembly comprises receiving a resonant frequency component and at least one non-resonant frequency component of the one or more sensor signals.

[0017] Preferably, the method further comprises providing a drive signal to the sensor assembly and determining a drive signal value.

[0018] Preferably, determining an energy dissipation value of the sensor assembly based on the one or more sensor signals comprises determining a frequency response function based on the one or more sensor signals and a drive signal provided to the sensor assembly.

[0019] Preferably, determining the frequency response function based on the one or more sensor signals and the drive signal provided to the sensor assembly comprises determining a ratio of an amplitude of the one or more sensor signals to an amplitude of the drive signal.

[0020] Preferably, determining the viscosity value of the fluid based on the energy dissipation value comprises obtaining an energy dissipation-viscosity relationship and determining the viscosity value of the fluid based on the energy dissipation-viscosity relationship and the energy dissipation value.

[0021] According to one aspect, a metering electronic device for determining the viscosity of a fluid includes: an interface configured to receive one or more sensor signals from a sensor assembly containing the fluid and to provide one or more sensor signals; a processing system communicatively coupled to the interface. The processing system is configured to receive one or more sensor signals from the interface and to perform the steps of the aforementioned method steps.

[0022] According to one aspect, a vibrating meter for determining viscosity of a fluid includes a sensor assembly containing the fluid and configured to provide one or more sensor signals and meter electronics as previously described, communicatively coupled to the sensor assembly.

[0023] According to one aspect, a method for determining the viscosity of a fluid includes: determining an energy dissipation value of a sensor assembly that accommodates each of a plurality of fluids having known viscosity values; and determining an energy dissipation-viscosity relationship based on the energy dissipation value of the sensor assembly that accommodates each of the plurality of fluids and the known viscosity values ​​of the plurality of fluids.

[0024] Preferably, determining the energy dissipation-viscosity relationship comprises determining a relationship between an energy dissipation value of the sensor assembly containing each fluid of a plurality of fluids and viscosity values ​​of the plurality of fluids.

[0025] Preferably, determining the relationship between the energy dissipation value of the sensor assembly containing each of the multiple fluids and the viscosity values ​​of the multiple fluids includes determining a function and at least one of a set of ordered pairs that relate the energy dissipation value of the sensor assembly containing each of the multiple fluids to the viscosity values ​​of the multiple fluids.

[0026] Preferably, determining the energy dissipation-viscosity relationship based on the energy dissipation value of the sensor assembly containing each of the multiple fluids and the viscosity values ​​of the multiple fluids includes: determining a first energy dissipation value of a first fluid having a first viscosity value and a second energy dissipation value of a second fluid having a second viscosity value; and determining the energy dissipation-viscosity relationship based on at least the first viscosity value, the first energy dissipation value, the second viscosity value, and the second energy dissipation value.

[0027] Preferably, each of the energy dissipation values ​​of the sensor assembly containing each of the plurality of fluids represents a total energy dissipation of the sensor assembly and a damping of each of the plurality of fluids contained by the sensor assembly.

[0028] According to one aspect, a metering electronic device for determining the viscosity of a fluid includes: an interface configured to receive one or more sensor signals from a sensor assembly containing the fluid and to provide one or more sensor signals; and a processing system communicatively coupled to the interface. The processing system is configured to receive one or more sensor signals from the interface and to perform the above steps.

[0029] According to one aspect, a vibrating meter for determining viscosity of a fluid includes a sensor assembly containing the fluid and configured to provide one or more sensor signals and meter electronics as previously described, communicatively coupled to the sensor assembly. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] Like reference numerals represent like elements throughout the drawings. It should be understood that the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale.

[0031] Figure 1 A vibrating meter 5 is shown which is configured to determine the viscosity of a fluid.

[0032] Figure 2 A block diagram of a vibrating meter 5 is shown, including a block diagram representation of meter electronics 20 that is configured to determine the viscosity of a fluid.

[0033] Figure 3 A block diagram of a vibrating meter 5 with frequency response function estimation for determining the viscosity of a fluid is shown.

[0034] Figure 4 Meter electronics 20 for determining the viscosity of a fluid is shown.

[0035] Figure 5 A graph 500 of stiffness measurement variations from a metrological verification of the sensor assembly 10 is shown.

[0036] Figure 6A graph 600 of energy dissipation variation from a metrological verification of the sensor assembly 10 is shown.

[0037] Figure 7 An energy dissipation versus viscosity graph 700 for determining the viscosity of a fluid is shown.

[0038] Figure 8 A method 800 for determining the viscosity of a fluid is shown.

[0039] Fig. 9 A method 900 for determining the viscosity of a fluid is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0040] Figures 1 to 9 The following description depicts specific examples to teach those skilled in the art how to make and use the best mode of embodiments for determining the viscosity of a fluid. For the purpose of teaching the inventive principles, some conventional aspects have been simplified or omitted. Those skilled in the art will appreciate variations of these examples that fall within the scope of this specification. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the features described below can be combined in various ways to form a variety of variations for determining the viscosity of a fluid. Therefore, the embodiments described below are not limited to the specific examples described below, but are limited only by the claims and their equivalents.

[0041] Figure 1 A vibrating meter 5 configured to determine the viscosity of a fluid is shown. Figure 1 As shown, the vibrating meter 5 includes a sensor assembly 10 and meter electronics 20. The sensor assembly 10 is responsive to the mass flow rate and density of the process material. The meter electronics 20 is connected to the sensor assembly 10 via leads 100 to provide density, mass flow rate and temperature information through port 26, as well as other information.

[0042] The sensor assembly 10 includes a pair of manifolds 150 and 150', flanges 103 and 103' having flange necks 110 and 110', a pair of parallel conduits 130 and 130', a driver 180, a resistance temperature detector (RTD) 190, and a pair of pick-off sensors 170l and 170r. The conduits 130 and 130' have two substantially straight inlet branches 131, 131' and outlet branches 134, 134' that converge toward each other at conduit mounting blocks 120 and 120'. The conduits 130, 130' are bent at two symmetrical locations along their lengths and are substantially parallel throughout their lengths. The braces 140 and 140' are used to define axes W and W' about which each conduit 130, 130' oscillates. The branches 131 , 131 ′ and 134 , 134 ′ of the conduits 130 , 130 ′ are fixedly attached to the conduit mounting blocks 120 and 120 ′, and these mounting blocks are in turn fixedly attached to the manifolds 150 and 150 ′. This provides a continuous closed material path through the sensor assembly 10 .

[0043] When flanges 103 and 103' having holes 102 and 102' are connected via inlet end 104 and outlet end 104' to a process line (not shown) carrying process material being measured, material enters the meter's inlet end 104 through orifice 101 in flange 103 and is directed through manifold 150 to conduit mounting block 120 having surface 121. Within manifold 150, the material is separated and directed through conduits 130, 130'. Upon exiting conduits 130, 130', the process material recombines into a single stream within block 120' having surface 121' and manifold 150' and is thereafter directed to outlet end 104' connected to a process line (not shown) through flange 103' having hole 102'.

[0044] The conduits 130, 130' are selected and appropriately mounted to the conduit mounting blocks 120, 120' to have substantially the same mass distribution, moment of inertia and Young's modulus about the bending axes W-W and W'-W', respectively. These bending axes pass through the struts 140, 140'. Since the Young's modulus of the conduit varies with temperature, and this change affects the calculation of flow and density, the RTD 190 is mounted to the conduit 130' to continuously measure the temperature of the conduit 130'. The temperature of the conduit 130' and therefore the voltage appearing across the RTD 190 due to a given current through the RTD 190 is controlled by the temperature of the material passing through the conduit 130'. The temperature-dependent voltage appearing across the RTD 190 is used by the meter electronics 20 to compensate for changes in the elastic modulus of the conduits 130, 130' caused by any changes in the temperature of the conduits in a known manner. The RTD 190 is connected to the meter electronics 20 via leads 195.

[0045] Both conduits 130, 130' are driven by a driver 180 about their respective bending axes W and W' in opposite directions and in what is referred to as the first out-of-phase bending mode of the vibrating meter. The driver 180 may include any of a number of well-known arrangements, such as a magnet mounted to the conduit 130' and an opposing coil mounted to the conduit 130 and through which an alternating current is passed to vibrate the two conduits 130, 130'. The meter electronics 20 applies a suitable drive signal 185 to the driver 180 via leads.

[0046] Meter electronics 20 receives the RTD temperature signal on lead 195 and the sensor signal 165 present on lead 100 carrying left sensor signal 1651 and right sensor signal 165r, respectively. Meter electronics 20 generates a drive signal 185 present on leads to driver 180 and causes conduits 130, 130' to vibrate. Meter electronics 20 processes the left sensor signal 1651 and right sensor signal 165r on leads 195 and the RTD signal to calculate the mass flow rate and density of the material passing through sensor assembly 10. This information, along with other information, is applied by meter electronics 20 as a signal on port 26. Meter electronics 20 is discussed in more detail below.

[0047] Figure 2 A block diagram of a vibrating meter 5 is shown, including a block diagram representation of meter electronics 20, which is configured to determine the viscosity of a fluid. Figure 2 As shown, meter electronics 20 is communicatively coupled to sensor assembly 10. As previously described with reference to Figure 2As depicted, the sensor assembly 10 includes left and right pickoff sensors 1701 , 170 r , a driver 180 , and an RTD 190 that are communicatively coupled to the meter electronics 20 via a set of leads 100 through a communication channel 112 .

[0048] The meter electronics 20 provides the drive signal 185 via the lead 100. More specifically, the meter electronics 20 provides the drive signal 185 to the driver 180 in the sensor assembly 10. In addition, the sensor signals 165 including the left sensor signal 1651 and the right sensor signal 165r are provided by the sensor assembly 10. More specifically, in the illustrated embodiment, the sensor signals 165 are provided by the left pickoff sensor 1701 and the right pickoff sensor 170r in the sensor assembly 10. As can be appreciated, the sensor signals 165 are provided to the meter electronics 20 respectively through the communication channel 112.

[0049] The meter electronics 20 includes a processor 210 communicatively coupled to one or more signal processors 220 and one or more memories 230. The processor 210 is also communicatively coupled to the user interface 30. The processor 210 is communicatively coupled to the host via the communication port through the port 26 and receives power via the power port 250. The processor 210 can be a microprocessor, however any suitable processor can be used. For example, the processor 210 can include a sub-processor such as a multi-core processor, a serial communication port, a peripheral interface (e.g., a serial peripheral interface), on-chip memory, I / O ports, etc. In these and other embodiments, the processor 210 is configured to perform operations on received and processed signals, such as digitized signals.

[0050] The processor 210 may receive digitized sensor signals from one or more signal processors 220. The processor 210 is also configured to provide information, such as phase difference, characteristics of the fluid in the sensor assembly 10, etc. The processor 210 may provide the information to the host through a communication port. The processor 210 may also be configured to communicate with one or more memories 230 to receive information and / or store information in one or more memories 230. For example, the processor 210 may receive calibration factors and / or sensor assembly zero points (e.g., phase difference when there is zero flow) from one or more memories 230. Each of the calibration factors and / or sensor assembly zero points may be associated with the vibrometer 5 and / or the sensor assembly 10, respectively. The processor 210 may use the calibration factors to process the digitized sensor signals received from one or more signal processors 220.

[0051] The one or more signal processors 220 are shown to include a coder / decoder (CODEC) 222 and an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) 226. The one or more signal processors 220 can condition analog signals, digitize conditioned analog signals, and / or provide digitized signals. The CODEC 222 is configured to receive sensor signals 165 from the left pickup sensor 1701 and the right pickup sensor 170r. The CODEC 222 is also configured to provide a drive signal 185 to the driver 180. In alternative embodiments, more or fewer signal processors may be employed.

[0052] As shown, the sensor signal 165 is provided to the CODEC 222 via the signal conditioner 240. The drive signal 185 is provided to the driver 180 via the signal conditioner 240. Although the signal conditioner 240 is shown as a single block, the signal conditioner 240 may include signal conditioning components such as two or more operational amplifiers, filters such as low-pass filters, voltage-to-current amplifiers, etc. For example, the sensor signal 165 may be amplified by a first amplifier, and the drive signal 185 may be amplified by a voltage-to-current amplifier. Amplification may ensure that the amplitude of the sensor signal 165 is close to the full-scale range of the CODEC 222.

[0053] In the illustrated embodiment, the one or more memories 230 include a read-only memory (ROM) 232, a random access memory (RAM) 234, and a ferroelectric random access memory (FRAM) 236. However, in alternative embodiments, the one or more memories 230 may include more or less memories. Additionally or alternatively, the one or more memories 230 may include different types of memories (e.g., volatile memory, non-volatile memory, etc.). For example, different types of non-volatile memories such as, for example, erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM) and the like may be used in place of the FRAM 236. The one or more memories 230 may be storage devices configured to store process data, such as drive signals or sensor signals, mass flow rate or density measurements, and the like.

[0054] The mass flow rate measurement can be generated according to the following formula:

[0055]

[0056] in:

[0057] is the measured mass flow rate;

[0058] FCF is the flow calibration factor;

[0059] Δt is the measured time delay; and

[0060] Δt0 is the zero flow time delay.

[0061] The measured time delay Δt includes an operationally derived (i.e., measured) time delay value that includes the time delay present between pick-off sensor signals, such as where the time delay is due to the Coriolis effect related to the mass flow rate through the vibrating meter 5. The measured time delay Δt is a direct measurement of the mass flow rate of the flowing material as it flows through the vibrating meter 5. The zero flow time delay Δt0 includes the time delay at zero flow. The zero flow time delay Δt0 is a zero flow value that can be determined at the factory and programmed into the vibrating meter 5. The zero flow time delay Δt0 is an exemplary zero flow value. Other zero flow values ​​determined under zero flow conditions, such as phase differences, time differences, etc., may be used. The value of the zero flow time delay Δt0 may not change even when the flow conditions are changing. The mass flow rate value of the material flowing through the vibrating meter 5 is determined by multiplying the difference between the measured time delay Δt and the reference zero flow value Δt0 by a flow calibration factor FCF. The flow calibration factor FCF is proportional to the physical stiffness of the vibrating meter.

[0062] As for density, the resonant frequency at which each conduit 130, 130' may vibrate may be a function of the spring constant of the conduit 130, 130' divided by the square root of the total mass of the conduit 130, 130' that may have material inside. The total mass of the conduit 130, 130' that may have material inside may be the mass of the conduit 130, 130' plus the mass of the material inside the conduit 130, 130'. The mass of the material in the conduit 130, 130' is proportional to the density of the material. Therefore, the density of the material may be proportional to the square of the period of oscillation of the conduit 130, 130' containing the material multiplied by the spring constant of the conduit 130, 130'. Therefore, by determining the period of oscillation of the conduit 130, 130' and by appropriately scaling the result, an accurate measurement of the density of the material contained by the conduit 130, 130' may be obtained. The meter electronics 20 may use one or more of the sensor signals 165 and / or the drive signal 185 to determine the period or resonant frequency. The conduits 130, 130' may oscillate in more than one vibration mode.

[0063] The vibration response of the flow meter can be represented by an open-loop, second-order drive model, including:

[0064]

[0065] where f(t) is the force applied to the system, M is the mass parameter of the system, C is the damping parameter, and K is the stiffness parameter. The term x is the physical displacement distance of the vibration, and the term is the velocity of the catheter displacement, and the term is the acceleration. This is often referred to as the MCK model. The formula can be rearranged as follows:

[0066]

[0067] When the initial conditions are ignored, equation [3] can be further processed into a transfer function form. The result is:

[0068]

[0069] Further processing can transform equation [4] into a first-order pole-residue frequency response function form, including:

[0070]

[0071] where λ is the pole, R is the residual, the term j comprises the square root of -1, and ω is the circular excitation frequency in radians per second.

[0072] Including natural / resonant frequency ω n , damped natural frequency ω d The system parameters of and the damping ratio ζ are defined by the poles.

[0073] ω n =|λ| [61

[0074] ω d =imag(λ) [71

[0075]

[0076] The stiffness parameter K, damping parameter C and mass parameter M of the system can be obtained based on the poles and residuals.

[0077]

[0078]

[0079] C=2ζω n M

[11]

[0080] Therefore, the stiffness parameter K, the mass parameter M and the damping parameter C can be calculated based on a good estimate of the poles λ and the residues R. The poles and the residues can be estimated from the measured frequency response function. For example, the poles λ and the residues R can be estimated using an iterative calculation method.

[0081] Due to the variation in stiffness of conduits such as conduits 130, 130' described above, even if the mass flow rate of the material and density ρ remain constant, the mass flow rate The measurement results and density p measurement results may also change over time. For example, if the temperature of the conduit increases, the stiffness of the conduit may correspondingly decrease. This decrease in stiffness may change the time delay Δt (or phase difference) between the sensor signals provided by the left and right pick-off sensors. This decrease in stiffness may also change the resonant frequency of the conduit.

[0082] Similarly, changes in damping due to the conduits 130, 130' containing the fluid may also cause the mass flow rate to That is, damping may be caused by various energy dissipation properties such as material damping of the conduits 130, 130' themselves, energy dissipation of the fluid contained by the conduits 130, 130', material damping in the struts 140, 140', air energy dissipation of the air surrounding the conduits 130, 130', etc. Any change in these energy dissipation sources may cause changes in the measured flow rate, density, etc.

[0083] However, as can be appreciated from the foregoing discussion, if the sensor assembly 10 itself does not change, then the only source of variation in energy dissipation of the conduits 130, 130' containing the material is the material contained by the conduits. For example, it is expected that the material damping properties of the conduits 130, 130', struts 140, 140, etc. of the sensor assembly 10 will not change over relatively short periods of time. Thus, changes in damping values ​​may occur over extended periods of time when changes in the sensor assembly 10 are not expected (e.g., due to the use of a reference fluid) but may occur, and such changes may be attributed to changes in the material damping of the conduits 130, 130'.

[0084] Various characteristics of a conduit containing a fluid, including an energy dissipation value, may be determined by utilizing various techniques. In one exemplary technique, one or more of the sensor signals from the sensor assembly may be used to determine characteristics of a sensor assembly, such as the sensor assembly 10 described above. Characteristics including the energy dissipation value may be determined by providing a drive signal having a resonant frequency component and several non-resonant frequency components. The sensor assembly may vibrate in response to these resonant frequency components and non-resonant frequency components. Thus, the pick-off sensors may provide sensor signals, each of which includes a resonant frequency component and a non-resonant frequency component corresponding to the resonant component and the non-resonant component of the drive signal, respectively. These resonant and non-resonant components of one or more sensor signals may be filtered by a processing system to determine fluid characteristic values ​​(e.g., density values) and current stiffness values, as described below with reference to Figure 3 Described in more detail.

[0085] Figure 3 A block diagram of a vibrating meter 5 with frequency response function estimation for determining the viscosity of a fluid is shown. Figure 3As shown, the vibrating meter 5 includes a sensor assembly 10 and a meter electronics 20 communicatively coupled to the sensor assembly 10. The meter electronics 20 is configured to provide a multi-tone drive signal to the sensor assembly 10. The sensor assembly 10 provides a sensor signal to the meter electronics 20. The meter electronics 20 includes a drive circuit 322 and a demodulation filter 324 communicatively coupled to the sensor assembly 10. The demodulation filter 324 is communicatively coupled to a frequency response function (FRF) estimation unit 325. A notch filter 326 is communicatively coupled to the drive circuit 322 and a flow and density measurement module 327. The notch filter signal is provided to the flow and density measurement module 327 to determine the flow rate and / or density of the fluid in the vibrating meter 5.

[0086] The drive circuit 322 receives the resonant component of the sensor signal from the notch filter 326. The drive circuit 322 is configured to generate a multi-tone drive signal for the sensor assembly 10. The multi-tone drive signal includes a drive tone and a test tone. The drive tone is based on the resonant component provided by the notch filter 326. For example, the drive circuit 322 may include a feedback circuit that receives the resonant component and generates the drive tone by amplifying the resonant component. Other methods may be used. The drive circuit 322 may also generate a test tone at a predetermined frequency spaced apart from the resonant frequency.

[0087] The demodulation filter 324 receives the sensor signal from the sensor assembly 10 and filters out intermodulation distortion signals that may be present in the sensor signal. For example, the driving tone and the test tone in the multi-tone driving signal may induce intermodulation distortion signals in the sensor signal provided by the sensor assembly 10. In order to filter out the intermodulation distortion signals, the demodulation filter 324 may include a demodulation window or passband, which includes the frequencies of the driving tone and the test tone. Therefore, the demodulation filter 324 provides one or more sensor signals including a resonant component and a non-resonant component corresponding to the test tone, while preventing the intermodulation distortion signal from destroying, for example, the metrological verification of the sensor assembly 10. The metrological verification is performed using the FRF estimation unit 325, which compares the components corresponding to the driving tone and the test tone to characterize the frequency response of the sensor assembly.

[0088] The notch filter 326 is used during metering verification. Therefore, the notch filter 326 may not be turned on during normal flow and density measurements. Due to the considerable frequency changes in normal operation, the coefficients of the notch filter 326 may need to be frequently calculated and updated, which results in additional computational load and possible undesirable transients. In contrast, when metering verification is utilized, the drive tone is sampled to determine the carrier frequency, and the coefficients of the notch filter 326 are calculated based on the determined carrier frequency. Then, the notch filter 326 is turned on, and the test tone is ramped up to the desired amplitude. During metering verification, the carrier frequency can be monitored, and if the difference between the determined carrier frequency (the carrier frequency determined during the sampling of the drive tone as described above) and the carrier frequency during metering verification is greater than a threshold, the metering verification can be terminated by, for example, turning off the notch filter 326 and disconnecting the test tone.

[0089] To filter out sensor signal components, the notch filter 326 includes a plurality of stopbands centered at or near the frequency of the test tone. The sensor signal components are attenuated or filtered out because they are centered at or near the frequencies of the stopbands. The resonant signal passes through because it is in the passband of the notch filter 326. Alternatively, the energy dissipation value of the sensor assembly can be determined before providing one or more sensor signals for fluid property measurement results. For example, a metrology verification routine can be performed before measuring material in the sensor assembly. This may not require filtering out the resonant components of one or more sensor signals.

[0090] Information obtained from one or more sensor signals can be used to determine the viscosity of the fluid contained by the sensor assembly. For example, meter electronics communicatively coupled to the sensor assembly containing the fluid can be configured to determine the viscosity of the fluid contained by the sensor assembly, such as meter electronics 20 described above and discussed in more detail below.

[0091] Figure 4 A metering electronics 20 for determining the viscosity of a fluid is shown. Figure 4 As shown, the meter electronics 20 includes an interface 401 and a processing system 402. For example, the meter electronics 20 receives a vibration response from a sensor assembly such as the sensor assembly 10 described above. The meter electronics 20 processes the vibration response to obtain flow characteristics of the flowing material flowing through the sensor assembly 10. The meter electronics 20 may also perform checks, verifications, calibration routines, etc. to ensure accurate measurement of fluid flow parameters of the flowing material.

[0092] Interface 401 can be from Figure 1 and Figure 2One of the pickup sensors 1701, 170r shown receives the sensor signal 165. The interface 401 may perform any necessary or desired signal conditioning, such as any manner of formatting, amplification, buffering, etc. Alternatively, some or all of the signal conditioning may be performed in the processing system 402. Additionally, the interface 401 may enable communication between the meter electronics 20 and an external device. The interface 401 may be capable of any manner of electronic, optical, or wireless communication. The interface 401 may provide information based on the vibration response. The interface 401 may be coupled to a digitizing device such as Figure 2 The CODEC 222 is shown coupled, wherein the sensor signal comprises an analog sensor signal. The digitizing device samples and digitizes the analog sensor signal and generates a digitized sensor signal.

[0093] The processing system 402 directs the operation of the meter electronics 20 and processes the flow measurements from the sensor assembly 10. The processing system 402 executes one or more processing routines and thereby processes the flow measurements to produce one or more flow characteristics. The processing system 402 is communicatively coupled to the interface 401 and is configured to receive information from the interface 401.

[0094] Processing system 402 may include a general purpose computer, a microprocessing system, a logic circuit, or some other general or custom processing device. Additionally or alternatively, processing system 402 may be distributed among multiple processing devices. Processing system 402 may also include any manner of integrated or independent electronic storage media, such as storage system 404.

[0095] The storage system 404 can store vibration meter parameters and data, software routines, constant values, and variable values. In one embodiment, the storage system 404 includes routines executed by the processing system 402, such as the operating routines 410 of the vibration meter 5. The storage system can also store statistical values, such as mean values, standard deviations, confidence intervals, etc.

[0096] The operating routine 410 can determine a mass flow rate value 412 and a density value 414 based on the sensor signals received by the interface 401. The mass flow rate value 412 can be determined based on the sensor signals, such as a time delay between a left pick-off sensor signal and a right pick-off sensor signal. The density value 414 can also be determined based on the sensor signals by, for example, determining a frequency from one or both of the left pick-off sensor signal and the right pick-off sensor signal.

[0097] like Figure 4As shown, the storage system 404 also includes a calibration routine 420. The calibration routine 420 can determine a zero offset 422 of the sensor assembly. More specifically, when there is zero flow through the sensor assembly, the calibration routine 420 can determine the time delay (or phase difference) between the right pickoff sensor signal and the left pickoff sensor signal. The time delay at zero flow can be stored in the storage system 404 as the zero offset 422, which can be the zero flow time delay Δt0 of the above equation [1].

[0098] Figure 4 The illustrated storage system 404 also includes a metrology verification routine 430. The metrology verification routine 430 can determine one or more sensor component characteristics, such as catheter material characteristics. The metrology characteristics can be determined by providing a drive signal that includes a resonant frequency component and one or more non-resonant frequency components. Thus, the sensor signal can include components corresponding to the resonant frequency component and one or more non-resonant frequency components. A transfer function between the one or more non-resonant frequency components of the drive signal and the one or more non-resonant frequency components of the sensor signal can be used to determine the material characteristics of the sensor signal. Figure 4 As shown, the sensor assembly characteristics include stiffness 432 and energy dissipation 434, although other sensor assembly characteristics may additionally or alternatively be employed.

[0099] Stiffness 432 may include or contain the stiffness of the conduits between the left and right pick-ups, such as conduits 130, 130' discussed above, but any suitable stiffness may be stored. For example, additionally or alternatively, stiffness 432 may include a left stiffness between the left pick-up and the driver and a right stiffness between the right pick-up and the driver. Similarly, energy dissipation 434 may include or contain material damping of a sensor assembly, such as sensor assembly 10 discussed above, energy dissipation of materials contained by one or more conduits of the sensor assembly, air damping of air surrounding the conduits, etc. Energy dissipation 434 may include energy dissipation of the conduits between the left and right pick-up sensors, between the left pick-up sensor and the driver, and / or between the right pick-up sensor and the driver.

[0100] Different fluids having different viscosities may result in variations in the energy dissipation 434 of the sensor assembly. Such variations in the energy dissipation 434 of the sensor assembly may be related to the viscosity of the fluid. For example, the measured stiffness 432 of the sensor assembly may remain relatively constant regardless of the viscosity of different fluids contained by one or more conduits of the sensor assembly. However, the energy dissipation 434 may be related to the viscosity of the various fluids.

[0101] Therefore, the storage system 404 Figure 4440. The viscosity routine 440 can employ an energy dissipation-viscosity relationship 442 to determine a viscosity 444 of a fluid contained within the conduit. More specifically, and as will be described in more detail below, the energy dissipation 434 can be used by the viscosity routine 440 as an independent variable in the energy dissipation-viscosity relationship 442 to determine the viscosity 444. The following discussion illustrates an exemplary energy dissipation-viscosity relationship 442 that can be used to determine the viscosity of a fluid based on the measured energy dissipation 434.

[0102] Stiffness measurement results

[0103] Figure 5 A graph 500 of the stiffness measurement results from the metrological verification of the sensor assembly 10 is shown. Figure 5 As shown, the stiffness measurement variation graph 500 includes a metrology verification run number axis 510 and a percentage stiffness variation axis 520, but any suitable axis may be used. The metrology verification run number axis 510 represents a series of discrete metrology verification runs or a given run of a test, and the percentage stiffness variation axis 520 represents the change in the measured stiffness value relative to the reference stiffness value. The stiffness measurement variation graph 500 also includes stiffness measurement variation values ​​530 corresponding to the metrology verification runs, respectively.

[0104] The stiffness measurement change value 530 has four groups of stiffness measurement change values. During the corresponding metrology verification run, each of the four groups is associated with and labeled with a corresponding fluid contained by a sensor assembly such as the sensor assembly 10 described above. The four groups are labeled "water", "air", "10 cP", "100 cP", and "864 cP". Thus, for example, the group of stiffness measurement change values ​​530 labeled "water" corresponds to stiffness values ​​obtained when the sensor assembly contains water. The groups of stiffness measurements labeled "10 cP", "100 cP", and "864 cP" correspond to fluids having viscosity values ​​of 10 centipoise (cP), 100 cP, and 864 cP, respectively.

[0105] As can be appreciated from the stiffness measurement change 530, water has almost no change relative to the baseline stiffness measurement. As can also be appreciated, when the sensor assembly contains "10 cP", "100 cP", and "864 cP" fluids, the change in stiffness measurements relative to the baseline stiffness measurement is also very small. When the sensor assembly contains air, there is some change in the stiffness measurement. However, the change in stiffness measurement for "air" is less than 0.5% relative to the baseline stiffness measurement.

[0106] The following demonstrates significantly greater changes in the energy dissipation values ​​of the sensor assembly when the conduit contains fluids of varying viscosity values ​​during a metrology verification run.

[0107] Energy dissipation measurement results

[0108] Figure 6 A graph 600 of energy dissipation variation from a metrological verification of a sensor assembly is shown. Figure 6 As shown, the energy dissipation variation graph 600 includes a metrology verification run number axis 610 and an energy dissipation variation axis 620. Figure 6 As shown, the energy dissipation variation axis 620 is the damping ratio of a sensor assembly such as the sensor assembly 10 described above. The metrology verification run number axis 610 represents a given run of a series of discrete metrology verification runs or tests, and the energy dissipation variation axis 620 represents the change in the measured energy dissipation value relative to a reference or baseline energy dissipation value. Figure 6 As shown, the energy dissipation value is a damping value based on a damping ratio that includes measured or actual damping relative to critical damping. However, any suitable parameters may be used. Energy dissipation variation graph 600 also includes energy dissipation variation values ​​630 that respectively correspond to metrology verification runs.

[0109] The energy dissipation change value 630 has five groups of energy dissipation measurement change values. During the corresponding metrology verification run, each of the five groups is associated with and labeled with a corresponding fluid contained by a sensor assembly such as the sensor assembly 10 described above. The five groups are labeled "water", "air", "10cP", "100cP", and "864cP". Thus, for example, the energy dissipation change value 630 group labeled "water" corresponds to the energy dissipation values ​​obtained when the sensor assembly contains water. The energy dissipation measurement value groups labeled "10cP", "100cP", and "864cP" correspond to fluids having viscosity values ​​of 10cP, 100cP, and 864cP, respectively.

[0110] As can be understood from the energy dissipation variation graph 600, there are variations between the energy dissipation variation values ​​630 depending on the viscosity of the fluid contained by the conduit of the sensor assembly. For example, the energy dissipation variation value 630 set corresponding to water, air, and 10 cP is within about 0.00005 and 0.00007 of the energy dissipation value variation relative to the baseline energy dissipation value. However, the 100 cP and 864 cP fluids have energy dissipation variation values ​​of about 0.00012 and 0.00020, respectively. Additionally, since air and water have viscosity values ​​of about 0.0200 cP and 1.00 cP, respectively, the energy dissipation values ​​are also increased in a certain proportion relative to the viscosities of air, water, and 10 cP fluids.

[0111] Therefore, as can be appreciated, the energy dissipation variation value 630 shows that, generally, the greater the viscosity, the greater the energy dissipation variation value. The energy dissipation variation value 630 also shows that there may be a proportionality constant. Therefore, as described in more detail below, the viscosity value can be estimated based on the energy dissipation value.

[0112] Energy dissipation-viscosity relationship

[0113] Figure 7 An energy dissipation-viscosity graph 700 for determining the viscosity of a fluid is shown. Figure 7 As shown, the energy dissipation-viscosity relationship graph 700 includes a viscosity axis 710 and an energy dissipation variation axis 720. The viscosity axis 710 ranges from 0.0100 cP to 1000.0000 cP, and the energy dissipation variation axis 720 ranges from 0.00E-04 to 1.60E-04, but any suitable scale and unit may be used. Figure 7 As shown, the energy dissipation change value is a damping change value based on a damping ratio including measured or actual damping relative to critical damping. However, any suitable energy dissipation parameter, such as a damping characteristic, etc., may be used. Figure 7 Also shown in FIG. 7 are energy dissipation-viscosity relationship values ​​730 and energy dissipation-viscosity relationship equation 740 .

[0114] Energy dissipation-viscosity relationship values ​​730 include a plurality of energy dissipation variation values ​​corresponding to viscosity values ​​of a fluid contained by one or more conduits of the sensor assembly, such as conduits 130, 130' described above. Figure 7 As shown, for viscosity values ​​of approximately 0.0200 cP, 1.000 cP, 10.000 cP, and 900.000 cP, the various energy dissipation values ​​are 0.00E+00, 2.00E-05, 2.00E-05, and 1.45E-04, respectively, but any suitable values, units, ratios, etc. may be used.

[0115] The energy dissipation-viscosity relationship equation 740 may be determined by fitting a curve to the energy dissipation-viscosity relationship values ​​730. An exemplary method is linear regression, but any suitable method may be used, including nonlinear methods. Figure 7 As shown, the energy dissipation-viscosity relationship equation 740 is y = 1.49E-07x + 1.91E-05, but any suitable equation may be used. Due to the logarithmic scale of the viscosity axis 710, the energy dissipation-viscosity relationship equation 740 is Figure 7 is depicted as a curve in FIG, but any suitable equation may be used.

[0116] As from Figure 7It is understood that the energy dissipation-viscosity relationship can be a set of ordered pairs, equations, algorithms and / or any other suitable method that relates multiple viscosity values ​​to multiple energy dissipation values. Figure 7 As shown, the energy dissipation-viscosity relationship may be the equation: In an alternative example, the energy dissipation-viscosity relationship may be an algorithm involving a set of ordered pairs including energy dissipation and viscosity value pairs to interpolate intermediate values ​​between two ordered pairs.

[0117] Energy dissipation-viscosity relationships, such as the energy dissipation-viscosity relationship equation 740 discussed above, can be used to determine viscosity values ​​based on energy dissipation values. For example, changes in energy dissipation relative to reference energy dissipation values ​​can be related to viscosity values ​​for various fluids that include relatively little or no fluid damping. Thus, when a fluid having an unknown viscosity value is measured by a sensor assembly, such as the sensor assembly 10 discussed above, a damping value for the sensor assembly containing the fluid can be determined. The difference between the damping value for the sensor assembly containing the fluid and a previously determined damping value for a sensor assembly containing, for example, air can be compared to a previously determined energy dissipation-viscosity relationship to determine the viscosity of the fluid, as described below with reference to Figure 8 Described in more detail.

[0118] Using the previously determined energy dissipation-viscosity relationship

[0119] Figure 8 A method 800 for determining the viscosity of a fluid is shown. Figure 8 As shown, in step 810, method 800 receives sensor signals from a sensor assembly that accommodates fluid. For example, at least one conduit of the sensor assembly can accommodate fluid. The sensor assembly adopted by method 800 can be the above-mentioned sensor assembly 10, but any suitable sensor assembly can be adopted. One or more of the sensor signals can be used to determine the fluid properties of the fluid, such as non-viscous fluid properties, such as density, mass flow rate, etc. In step 820, method 800 determines the energy dissipation value of the sensor assembly that accommodates the fluid based on one or more sensor signals. In step 830, method 800 determines the viscosity value of the fluid based on the energy dissipation value.

[0120] As discussed above, the energy dissipation value may include various forms of energy dissipation in the sensor assembly. The various forms of energy dissipation may include energy dissipation associated with the sensor assembly itself, such as conduits, struts, etc., the environment, such as air resistance on the conduits of the sensor assembly, and / or fluid damping. The energy dissipation may include damping or not. Thus, the energy dissipation value may be a damping value for the sensor assembly. For example, the damping value for the sensor assembly may include at least the material damping of at least one conduit of the sensor assembly and the fluid damping of the fluid contained by the at least one conduit. Additionally, the damping value may almost entirely include the material damping of at least one conduit of the sensor assembly and the fluid damping of the fluid contained by the at least one conduit.

[0121] Thus, the damping value of a sensor assembly containing a relatively low viscosity fluid such as air or other gas may be almost entirely the material damping of one or more conduits of the sensor assembly. As can be appreciated, the damping value of a sensor assembly containing a viscous fluid such as oil will be greater than the damping value of the same sensor assembly containing air. The difference between the damping value of a sensor assembly containing oil and the damping value of a sensor assembly containing air may entirely include the fluid damping of the oil.

[0122] Additionally, the one or more sensor signals received from the sensor assembly may be signals used to determine fluid properties other than viscosity, such as mass flow rate, density, etc. By way of example, a phase difference or time delay between sensor signals may be used to determine mass flow rate. Thus, the one or more sensor signals received from the sensor assembly may be used to determine more than just viscosity. The one or more sensor signals may measure lateral displacements, such as relative lateral displacements, between locations on one or more conduits and / or a balance bar, etc. Thus, receiving sensor signals from the sensor assembly may include receiving left pickoff sensor signals and right pickoff sensor signals that measure lateral displacements of one or more conduits of the sensor assembly.

[0123] Using the same one or more sensor signals to determine the density, mass flow rate, and viscosity of a fluid can eliminate the need for an additional sensor for sensing the viscosity of the fluid. Other associated problems, such as electrical crosstalk between, for example, a viscosity determination circuit and a density / mass flow rate circuit, can also be eliminated. Additionally, eliminating vibration modes, such as, for example, a torsional vibration mode dedicated to measuring viscosity can reduce noise caused by vibration mode coupling. For example, vibration mode coupling may not occur between a torsional mode and a twisting mode used to determine mass flow rate because the torsional mode does not exist when the left pickup sensor signal and the right pickup sensor signal are used to determine the mass flow rate and viscosity of the fluid.

[0124] As discussed above, the drive signal provided to the sensor assembly may include a drive tone and one or more test tones. The term "tone" may refer to a component of a signal having a single frequency, such as, for example, a drive signal. The sensor signal received from the sensor assembly containing the fluid may accordingly include components corresponding to the drive tone and the test tone. The drive tone is typically at a resonant frequency, and the test tone is typically at a unique non-resonant frequency. Therefore, receiving one or more sensor signals from the sensor assembly may include receiving a resonant frequency component and at least one non-resonant frequency component of the one or more sensor signals.

[0125] Method 800 may accordingly also include providing a drive signal to the sensor assembly and determining a drive signal value. As discussed above, the drive signal value may be used to determine an energy dissipation value. For example, determining the energy dissipation of the sensor assembly based on one or more sensor signals may include determining a frequency response function based on the one or more sensor signals and the drive signal provided to the sensor assembly. Determining the frequency response function based on the one or more sensor signals and the drive signal provided to the sensor assembly may include determining a ratio of an amplitude of the one or more sensor signals to an amplitude of the drive signal.

[0126] As mentioned above, the viscosity value can be determined by using the energy dissipation value to obtain the relevant viscosity value. This can be achieved by using the energy dissipation-viscosity relationship. For example, the energy dissipation-viscosity relationship can be an equation with an energy dissipation variable as an independent variable, wherein viscosity is a function of the energy dissipation variable. Additionally or alternatively, a set of ordered energy dissipation values ​​and viscosity value pairs can be adopted. Therefore, determining the viscosity value of a fluid based on the energy dissipation value can include obtaining the energy dissipation-viscosity relationship and determining the viscosity value of the fluid based on the energy dissipation-viscosity relationship and the damping value.

[0127] As can be appreciated from the foregoing discussion, the energy dissipation-viscosity relationship may be obtained from a storage system in the meter electronics, such as the storage system 404 of the aforementioned meter electronics 20. Thus, the energy dissipation-viscosity relationship may be predetermined and stored in the meter electronics, as described below.

[0128] Determining the Energy Dissipation-Viscosity Relationship

[0129] Fig. 9 A method 900 for determining the viscosity of a fluid is shown. Fig. 9 As shown, in step 910, method 900 determines an energy dissipation value of a sensor assembly containing each of a plurality of fluids having a known viscosity value. In step 920, method 900 determines an energy dissipation-viscosity relationship based on the energy dissipation value of the sensor assembly containing each of the plurality of fluids and the known viscosity values ​​of the plurality of fluids.

[0130] Determining the energy dissipation-viscosity relationship may include determining a relationship between an energy dissipation value of a sensor assembly containing each of a plurality of fluids and viscosity values ​​of the plurality of fluids. For example, determining a relationship between an energy dissipation value of a sensor assembly containing each of a plurality of fluids and viscosity values ​​of the plurality of fluids may include determining at least one of a function and a set of ordered pairs that relate the energy dissipation value of the sensor assembly containing each of a plurality of fluids to the viscosity values ​​of the plurality of fluids. In one example, determining the energy dissipation-viscosity relationship based on the energy dissipation value of the sensor assembly containing each of a plurality of fluids and the viscosity values ​​of the plurality of fluids may include: determining a second energy dissipation value of a second fluid in one or more conduits of the sensor assembly; and determining the energy dissipation-viscosity relationship based at least on the first fluid viscosity value, the first energy dissipation value, the second fluid viscosity value, and the second energy dissipation value.

[0131] As discussed above, the energy dissipation values ​​of a sensor assembly containing a fluid may include various energy dissipations in the sensor assembly and the fluid. For example, the energy dissipation may include material damping of one or more conduits of the sensor assembly containing a fluid and fluid damping of the fluid contained by the one or more conduits. Thus, each of the energy dissipation values ​​of the sensor assembly containing each of a plurality of fluids represents the total energy dissipation of the sensor assembly and the damping of each of the plurality of fluids contained by the sensor assembly.

[0132] As can be appreciated, the aforementioned methods 800, 900 can be performed by meter electronics, such as the aforementioned meter electronics 20. For example, the interface 401 can be configured to receive one or more sensor signals from the sensor assembly 10 containing the fluid, and provide one or more sensor signals. The one or more sensor signals provided by the interface may or may not be conditioned and / or digitized sensor signals. The processing system 402 communicatively coupled to the interface 401 can be configured to receive one or more sensor signals from the interface 401, and perform the steps of the aforementioned methods 800 and 900.

[0133] The above-described vibrometer 5, meter electronics 20, and methods 800, 900 may be used to determine the viscosity of a fluid. The one or more sensor signals used to determine the viscosity may also be used to determine other fluid properties, such as, for example, the mass flow rate, density, etc. of the fluid. For example, the one or more sensor signals used to determine the viscosity of the fluid may be provided by the left pick-up sensor 170 and the right pick-up sensor 170' of the sensor assembly 10. As may be appreciated, since the left pick-up sensor 170 and the right pick-up sensor 170' are used to determine the viscosity value of the fluid, additional sensors and other hardware and other driven vibration modes, such as torsional vibration modes, are not required.

[0134] Furthermore, any suitable method capable of determining an energy dissipation value of a sensor assembly containing a fluid may be employed. More specifically, the energy dissipation value may include various sources of energy dissipation, but the viscosity of the fluid contained by one or more conduits of the sensor assembly may be the sole or primary source of variation in the energy dissipation value, which may include an energy dissipation variation value. Thus, the energy dissipation value of the sensor assembly containing a fluid may be accurately and correctly correlated to the viscosity value of the fluid.

[0135] The detailed description of the above embodiments is not an exhaustive description of all embodiments contemplated by the inventors within the scope of this specification. Indeed, those skilled in the art will recognize that certain elements of the above embodiments may be variously combined or eliminated to create other embodiments, and such other embodiments fall within the scope and teachings of this specification. It will also be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that the above embodiments may be combined in whole or in part to produce additional embodiments within the scope and teachings of this specification.

[0136] Therefore, although specific embodiments are described herein for illustrative purposes, various equivalent modifications may be made within the scope of this specification as will be appreciated by those skilled in the relevant art. The teachings provided herein may be applied to other vibrating meters, metering electronics, and methods for determining the viscosity of a fluid. Therefore, the scope of the above embodiments should be determined according to the appended claims.

Claims

1. A method for determining the viscosity of a fluid, the method comprising: receiving one or more sensor signals from a sensor assembly containing a fluid to determine a fluid property of the fluid; determining an energy dissipation value of the sensor assembly containing the fluid based on the one or more sensor signals; as well as A viscosity value of the fluid is determined based on the energy dissipation value.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein: The energy dissipation value is the damping value of the sensor assembly.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein: The damping value of the sensor assembly includes at least material damping of at least one conduit of the sensor assembly and fluid damping of the fluid contained by the at least one conduit.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein: Receiving the one or more sensor signals from the sensor assembly includes receiving a left pickoff sensor signal and a right pickoff sensor signal.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein: Receiving the one or more sensor signals from the sensor assembly includes receiving a resonant frequency component and at least one non-resonant frequency component of the one or more sensor signals. 6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising providing a drive signal to the sensor assembly and determining a drive signal value.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein: Determining the energy dissipation value of the sensor assembly based on the one or more sensor signals includes determining a frequency response function based on the one or more sensor signals and the drive signal provided to the sensor assembly.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein: Determining the frequency response function based on the one or more sensor signals and the drive signal provided to the sensor assembly includes determining a ratio of an amplitude of the one or more sensor signals to an amplitude of the drive signal.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein: Determining the viscosity value of the fluid based on the energy dissipation value includes obtaining an energy dissipation-viscosity relationship and determining the viscosity value of the fluid based on the energy dissipation-viscosity relationship and the energy dissipation value.

10. A metering electronic device (20) for determining the viscosity of a fluid, the metering electronic device (20) comprising: An interface (401), the interface (401) being configured to: receiving one or more sensor signals from a sensor assembly (10) containing the fluid; as well as providing the one or more sensor signals; as well as A processing system (402) communicatively coupled to the interface (401), the processing system (402) being configured to: receiving the one or more sensor signals from the interface (401); as well as The steps according to the preceding claims 1 to 9 are performed.

11. A vibrating meter (5) for determining the viscosity of a fluid, the vibrating meter (5) comprising: a sensor assembly (10) containing the fluid and configured to provide one or more sensor signals; as well as The meter electronics (20) of claim 10, said meter electronics (20) being communicatively coupled to said sensor assembly (10).

12. A method of determining the viscosity of a fluid, the method comprising: determining an energy dissipation value of a sensor assembly containing each of a plurality of fluids having known viscosity values; as well as An energy dissipation-viscosity relationship is determined based on the energy dissipation value of the sensor assembly containing each fluid of the plurality of fluids and the known viscosity values ​​of the plurality of fluids.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein: Determining the energy dissipation-viscosity relationship includes determining a relationship between the energy dissipation value of the sensor assembly containing each fluid of the plurality of fluids and the viscosity values ​​of the plurality of fluids.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein: Determining the relationship between the energy dissipation value of the sensor assembly containing each of the multiple fluids and the viscosity values ​​of the multiple fluids includes determining at least one of a function and a set of ordered pairs that relate the energy dissipation value of the sensor assembly containing each of the multiple fluids to the viscosity values ​​of the multiple fluids.

15. The method according to claim 12, wherein: Determining the energy dissipation-viscosity relationship based on the energy dissipation value of the sensor assembly containing each of the plurality of fluids and the viscosity values ​​of the plurality of fluids includes: determining a first energy dissipation value for a first fluid having a first viscosity value and a second energy dissipation value for a second fluid having a second viscosity value; and The energy dissipation-viscosity relationship is determined based on at least the first viscosity value, the first energy dissipation value, the second viscosity value, and the second energy dissipation value.

16. The method according to claim 12, wherein: Each of the energy dissipation values ​​of the sensor assembly containing each of the plurality of fluids represents a total energy dissipation of the sensor assembly and a damping of each of the plurality of fluids contained by the sensor assembly.

17. A metering electronic device (20) for determining the viscosity of a fluid, the metering electronic device (20) comprising: An interface (401), the interface (401) being configured to: receiving one or more sensor signals from a sensor assembly (10) containing the fluid; as well as providing the one or more sensor signals; as well as A processing system (402) communicatively coupled to the interface (401), the processing system (402) being configured to: receiving the one or more sensor signals from the interface (401); as well as The steps according to the preceding claims 12 to 16 are performed.

18. A vibrating meter (5) for determining the viscosity of a fluid, the vibrating meter (5) comprising: a sensor assembly (10) containing the fluid and configured to provide one or more sensor signals; as well as The meter electronics (20) of claim 17, said meter electronics (20) being communicatively coupled to said sensor assembly (10).

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