Bidirectional Prover Calibration Using Acceleration Zones
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bidirectional provers for calibrating and verifying liquid flow meters in petroleum and petroleum products have large dimensions and high metal consumption due to long acceleration sections, making them unsuitable for mobile use at high flow rate stations.
Innovation Solution
The method involves using the acceleration areas as additional calibrated areas during counter-flow movement of the ball piston, increasing the effective calibrated volume without increasing the device's size, and incorporating additional detectors to enhance measurement reliability and reduce test duration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If long acceleration sections are used in bidirectional provers, then the ball piston can reach stable flow rate, but the device dimensions and metal consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The acceleration section is designed to serve dual functions: accelerating the ball piston to stable flow rate and acting as a calibrated measurement section. When the ball piston moves in the opposite direction, the same acceleration section becomes part of the calibrated volume, eliminating the need for separate dedicated acceleration sections and reducing overall device dimensions.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the acceleration function and calibration measurement function into a single integrated section. The acceleration section is incorporated into the calibrated volume calculation, combining previously separate functional zones into one multi-functional area that reduces total device size and material consumption.
2Reliability
If long acceleration sections are used in bidirectional provers, then the ball piston can reach stable flow rate, but the device dimensions and metal consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The acceleration section is designed to serve dual functions: accelerating the ball piston to stable flow rate and acting as a calibrated measurement section. When the ball piston moves in the opposite direction, the same acceleration section becomes part of the calibrated volume, eliminating the need for separate dedicated acceleration sections and reducing overall device dimensions.
3Measurement precision
If traditional detectors are used to detect ball piston passage, then measurement accuracy is maintained, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces complex mechanical or contact-based detection systems with optical detection methods. Optical detectors use light beams to detect the passage of the ball piston, eliminating the need for mechanical contacts while maintaining high measurement accuracy and reducing device complexity.
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 reduces the device's dimensions and weight, enhances measurement repeatability and reliability, and allows for mobile use at high flow rate stations, decreasing material intensity and construction costs.
Implementation Method 1
the flow liquid volume measured by a being calibrated meter, is passed through a calibrated section of the prover
Implementation Method 2
Contact or contactless sensors are used as detectors in various designs of provers—on an electromechanical, optical or other physical basis
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to inspection and measuring technology for use in the calibration, verification and routine monitoring of the metrological characteristics of volume flow and mass flow meters and calibration rigs, primarily for petroleum and petroleum products. The special feature of the present method for monitoring the metrological characteristics of a flowmeter using a bidirectional prover is that the portion of the prover situated at the end of the path of travel of a ball and acting as an accelerator during the opposite movement of the ball is used on said path as an addition to the calibrated portion. The special feature of a bidirectional prover for implementing the present method is the installation of one or more detectors in a closed cross-section of the portion of the prover situated at the end of the travel path. The technical result is an increase in the accuracy and reliability of the measuring results, a reduction in the dimensions, mass and material intensity of the structure, a decrease in the duration of verification operations, and the mobility of the structure.