Compact Vibrating Flowmeter with Symmetric Conduits
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flowmeters are bulky due to the need for bends in conduits to measure Coriolis forces, requiring a large footprint and expensive, heavily damped cases to maintain accuracy across a range of flow rates.
Innovation Solution
A compact flowmeter design with conduits having different cross-sectional profiles and symmetric configurations, allowing for independent operation within a circular case, eliminating the need for heavy damping and reducing the device's overall size while maintaining accurate flow measurements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If bends are formed in the conduits to measure Coriolis forces, then flow measurement capability is achieved, but the footprint of the flowmeter becomes large
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from traditional bent conduit configurations to a straight conduit arrangement with vibration nodes positioned at specific locations. By changing the spatial dimensionality of the vibration modes (using radial and axial modes instead of bending modes), the flowmeter achieves compact footprint while maintaining Coriolis measurement capability through phase difference detection between inlet and outlet sensors.
2Reliability
If heavily damped cases are used to maintain accuracy across a range of flow rates, then measurement stability is improved, but the device becomes expensive and bulky
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs the process fluid itself as the damping medium by allowing it to contact the conduits directly. This eliminates the need for heavy external damping cases, as the flowing material provides sufficient damping to maintain measurement stability across the operating range, thereby reducing both weight and cost.
3Volume of moving object
If the conduits are configured for compact arrangement, then the flowmeter size is reduced, but maintaining accurate flow measurements across wide flow rates becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses dynamic vibration modes (radial and axial modes) that can be excited and measured in a compact straight conduit configuration. The system dynamically responds to flow-induced Coriolis forces through changes in vibration phase and frequency, enabling accurate measurements across a wide range of flow rates while maintaining a compact footprint.
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 design achieves a compact, cost-effective flowmeter with enhanced sensitivity and stability, capable of accurate flow measurements across a wide range of flow rates without the need for large, expensive cases, and maintains a constant cross-sectional area or hydraulic diameter for precise fluid flow analysis.
Implementation Method 1
a driver operable to vibrate the first and second conduits
Implementation Method 2
As material begins to flow through the flowmeter, Coriolis forces cause each point along the conduit(s) to have a different phase
Implementation Method 3
the pickoffs can use the motion provided by the driver to induce a voltage
Data Source
AI summary
A flowmeter (200) is provided. A first conduit (208A) having an inlet leg (212A) is fluidly coupled to a central conduit portion (212C) being fluidly coupled to an outlet leg (212′A). A second conduit (208B) having an inlet leg (212B) is fluidly coupled to a central conduit portion (212′C) fluidly coupled to an outlet leg (212′B). The flow inlet (210) is fluidly coupled to first ends of the first and second conduit (208A, 208B), and the flow outlet (210′) is fluidly coupled to second ends of the first and second conduits (208A, 208B). The inlet legs (212A, 212B) and the outlet legs (212′A, 212′B) comprise central conduit portions (212C, 212′C) disposed therebetween on the respective first and second conduits (208A and 208B). A manifold (206) is fluidly coupled to the inlet legs (212A, 212B) via a first fluid passage defined by the manifold, and the manifold (206) is fluidly coupled to the outlet legs (212′A, 212′B) via a second fluid passage defined by the manifold (206). A vibrable driver (214) is coupled to the manifold.