Adjustable Flow Meter System Using Interchangeable Throat Members
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Solution Overview
Problem
Venturi flow meters are limited in their ability to accurately measure fluid flow rates outside a predetermined range due to their fixed beta ratio, leading to inaccurate measurements when fluid flow rates deviate from this range, restricting their flexibility in various applications.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates interchangeable throat members with different beta ratios, allowing the flow meter to accurately measure fluid flow rates across multiple ranges by swapping throat members with varying inner diameters, thereby adjusting the beta ratio to suit different flow rate conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a venturi flow meter is designed with a predetermined beta ratio, then accurate fluid flow rate measurements are provided within a predetermined fluid flow rate range, but the meter cannot accurately measure fluid flow rates outside this range, limiting its flexibility
Solution Approach 1:
The flow meter is divided into separable components: a body and interchangeable throat members. The throat member, which determines the beta ratio, can be removed and replaced with different throat members having different inner diameters. This segmentation allows the same flow meter body to accurately measure multiple different flow rate ranges by swapping throat members.
Solution Approach 2:
The flow meter body is designed with universal engagement features (engagement surfaces with annular grooves for seals) that can accommodate multiple different throat members. This allows a single flow meter body to perform multiple measurement functions across different flow rate ranges by simply changing the throat member, rather than requiring separate flow meters for each range.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple complete flow meter assemblies are used to cover different fluid flow rate ranges, then measurement flexibility is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of requiring multiple complete flow meter assemblies, the invention makes a single flow meter body universal by enabling it to accept different throat members. This reduces the number of complete assemblies needed from multiple to just one body, significantly simplifying the system while maintaining the ability to measure multiple flow rate ranges.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention combines multiple measurement capabilities into a single flow meter body through the use of interchangeable throat members. Rather than having separate assemblies for different flow rate ranges, the functionality of multiple assemblies is merged into one body that can be configured for different ranges by changing the throat member.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enhances the flow meter's flexibility and accuracy by enabling it to measure fluid flow rates within multiple, potentially overlapping or non-overlapping ranges without the need for multiple complete flow meter assemblies, increasing its functionality and usability.
Implementation Method 1
fluid pressure is measured within the throat of the flow meter and at a position upstream of the throat, where the fluid pressure within the throat is decreased versus the upstream section due to an increase in the rate of fluid flow through the throat according to the Bernoulli principle
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 4
AI summary
A flow meter assembly having a longitudinal axis includes an upstream member including a first end, a second end, and a fluid passageway extending between the first and second ends, a downstream member including a first end and a second end, and a first throat member including a first end, a second end, and a fluid passageway extending between the first and second ends, wherein the fluid passageway of the first throat member has a minimum diameter that is less than a minimum diameter of the fluid passageway of the upstream member, wherein the first throat member is configured to releasably couple to the upstream member and the downstream member.