Arcuate Impeller Flow Channel for Gas-Liquid Metering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing metering devices for fluid mixtures, particularly those containing liquids and gases, face challenges in accurately measuring flow rates due to the impairing effects of gas on sensor performance, leading to unreliable measurement of desired fluid volumes.
Innovation Solution
A metering device with a specialized impeller wheel geometry and flow channel design, featuring a horizontal axis and a tapered upstream flow channel, ensures gas is excluded from the sensor area, allowing precise flow rate measurement even at low filling speeds by directing gas away from the sensor and accelerating the fluid for improved measurement in lower flow regions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a conventional linear flow channel is used, then the device structure is simple, but gas accumulates in the sensor area and measurement precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The flow channel is designed with a curved arcuate path instead of a linear configuration. The channel follows a circular arc with a radius of at least 50 mm, creating a curved flow path that prevents gas accumulation in the sensor area while maintaining measurement precision for liquid and gas mixtures
Solution Approach 2:
The flow channel transitions from a two-dimensional linear path to a three-dimensional arcuate path. By introducing the dimensional aspect of radial curvature with a minimum radius of 50 mm, the design creates additional space for gas to escape while maintaining compact device dimensions
2Reliability
If the flow channel is shortened, then the device size is reduced, but gas remains in the sensor area longer and measurement reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The curved arcuate path with a minimum radius of 50 mm creates a longer effective flow path length that allows gas to escape from the sensor area more effectively. The curvature ensures that gas bubbles are continuously moved away from the sensor detection zone, improving measurement reliability without requiring an excessively long channel
3Measurement precision
If the upstream flow channel is not tapered, then the manufacturing is simpler, but fluid acceleration is insufficient and measurement precision in low flow regions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The upstream flow channel incorporates a gradual taper that changes the cross-sectional area parameter of the channel. This tapering geometry accelerates the fluid flow before it enters the sensor area, ensuring that even at low filling speeds, the fluid maintains sufficient velocity for accurate measurement while the gradual change in dimensions keeps manufacturing feasible
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
Enables precise and reliable measurement of fluid flow rates in the presence of gas, facilitating both batch filling and continuous flow control, while preventing gas accumulation in the sensor area and enhancing measurement accuracy.
Implementation Method 1
A taper of the upstream flow channel has the additional effect that the fluid to be metered experiences an acceleration
Implementation Method 2
It is known to measure flow rates with the aid of sensors such as, e.g., an impeller wheel
Data Source
AI summary
The device for metering fluid mixtures, in particular liquids containing a gas such as carbon dioxide, includes a flow sensor, a metering valve, and a controller that drives the metering valve as a function of a set point and of the flow rate measured. The flow sensor has an impeller wheel having a horizontal axis, the fluid mixture being guided on an arcuate path on the periphery of the impeller wheel, the path being directed from bottom to top. Despite the presence of gas, a precise metering is achieved.