Compact Vibratory Flowmeter with Bowed Conduit for Multi-Phase Accuracy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing compact vibratory flowmeters face challenges in accurately measuring multi-phase flow materials due to increased stiffness and drive frequency issues, leading to degraded performance and accuracy, especially when gas is entrained in the flow material, resulting in erroneous readings and inability to measure flow characteristics effectively.
Innovation Solution
A compact vibratory flowmeter design with a maximum water drive frequency less than 250 Hertz, a high aspect ratio greater than 2.5, a height-to-bore ratio less than 10, and a bowed flow conduit geometry with end bend angles between 120 and 170 degrees, which includes self-draining conduits and a predetermined pressure drop, is developed to improve measurement accuracy and reliability for multi-phase flow materials at pressures above 10 psi.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the flowmeter is scaled down to reduce size, then the device becomes more compact and easier to install in limited spaces, but the stiffness of the flow conduit increases significantly, resulting in increased drive frequency and degraded measurement accuracy for multi-phase flow materials
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the drive frequency parameter to be less than 250 Hz, which is lower than conventional flowmeters. This parameter change allows the compact flowmeter to maintain accurate measurements of multi-phase flow materials by avoiding the high-frequency resonance issues that arise when gas is entrained in the liquid phase.
2Speed
If the drive frequency is increased due to reduced conduit length, then the flowmeter responds faster, but the measurement accuracy deteriorates when gas is entrained in the flow material because the drive frequency approaches the flow material resonant frequency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent explicitly sets the drive frequency parameter to be less than 250 Hz, creating a frequency separation between the drive frequency and the resonant frequency of multi-phase flow materials. This parameter change resolves the contradiction by maintaining accurate measurements while still providing timely response to flow changes.
3Shape
If a U-shaped flow conduit is used, then the flowmeter has a compact form factor, but the aspect ratio is very low (L/H much less than 1), requiring large vertical physical space for installation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a U-shaped configuration with low aspect ratio to a straight or slightly bowed flow conduit with high aspect ratio (L/H greater than 2.5). This dimensional reconfiguration allows the flowmeter to maintain a compact vertical footprint while achieving the necessary flow path length for accurate measurements.
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
The solution achieves high accuracy in measuring flow characteristics and non-flow characteristics by maintaining a low drive frequency, reducing frequency and density errors, and enabling installation in limited spaces with a compact, self-draining design.
Implementation Method 1
a driver that vibrates the one or more flow conduits
Implementation Method 2
motion of the conduit is measured at points spaced along the conduit
Data Source
AI summary
A compact vibratory flowmeter (200) for measuring flow characteristics of a multi-phase flow material at a flow material pressure of greater than about 10 pounds-per-square-inch (psi) is provided according to an embodiment of the invention. The compact vibratory flowmeter (200) includes one or more flow conduits (301), at least two pickoff sensors (308), and a driver (309). The compact vibratory flowmeter (200) further includes a maximum water drive frequency in the one or more flow conduits (301) that is less than about 250 Hertz (Hz) and an aspect ratio (L/H) of the one or more flow conduits (301) that is greater than about 2.5. A height-to-bore ratio (H/B) of the one or more flow conduits (301) is less than about 10 and a bowed flow conduit geometry includes end bend angles Θ of between about 120 degrees and about 170 degrees.