Coriolis Flow Meter Active Passive Tube Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing Coriolis mass flowmeters face challenges with high installation outlay and length due to large measuring tubes, especially when measuring high-capacity, high-pressure, or high-temperature fluids, and are prone to flow disturbances from mechanical vibrations in multi-diameter configurations.
Innovation Solution
A Coriolis mass flowmeter design featuring at least one active measuring tube and one passive measuring tube, with the vibration generator and pickups on the active tube, allowing fluid division into independent partial flows for measurement on a smaller diameter tube, reducing overall length and installation effort, and using a conversion factor to determine total flow based on tube geometries.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a single large-diameter measuring tube is used to measure high-capacity fluid flow, then the flow measurement capacity is improved, but the installation length and footprint increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The flow measurement system is segmented into multiple measuring tubes (typically three tubes arranged in a triangle configuration). Each tube measures a portion of the total flow, and the individual measurements are combined to determine the total flow rate. This segmentation allows the system to handle high flow capacities while maintaining a compact installation footprint, as each individual tube has a smaller diameter and shorter length compared to a single large-diameter tube.
2Length of stationary object
If multiple measuring tubes are used to reduce installation length, then the installation footprint is reduced, but flow disturbances from mechanical vibrations occur
Solution Approach 1:
A flow distributor is introduced as an intermediary component that evenly distributes the fluid flow among the multiple measuring tubes. This ensures that each tube receives a consistent and representative portion of the total flow, minimizing flow disturbances and measurement errors. The flow distributor acts as a mediator that balances the flow distribution, thereby maintaining measurement reliability while enabling the use of multiple smaller tubes for compact installation.
3Ease of manufacture
If the measuring tube diameter is reduced to minimize installation effort, then the installation complexity is reduced, but the flow measurement capacity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple measuring tubes with smaller diameters are combined in parallel configuration, with their individual flow measurements summed to determine the total flow rate. This merging approach allows the system to maintain high flow measurement capacity while using smaller, easier-to-install tubes. The mathematical combination of individual tube measurements compensates for the reduced capacity of each individual tube, achieving both ease of installation and adequate measurement capacity.
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 design minimizes installation length and effort, allows for accurate flow measurement without flow interference between partial flows, and simplifies the conversion to total flow rates, particularly suitable for large diameter pipelines by maintaining a compact and efficient flowmeter structure.
Implementation Method 1
the measuring tube through which the fluid flows is set into vibration by a vibration generator. The vibration of the measuring tube is detected at the inlet and outlet ends (viewed in the direction of flow) by vibration sensors attached to the measuring tube. The Coriolis effect causes the fluid to decelerate at the inlet end, so that a phase difference between the inlet-side and outlet-side vibrations of the measuring tube can be measured.
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
A Coriolis mass flow meter (1) with a flange connection (6) for connection to an external pipeline, with at least one vibration generator (2), with at least two vibration sensors (3), with at least two measuring tubes (4, 5) and with at least one flow divider (7), wherein the flow divider (7) is arranged upstream of the at least two measuring tubes (4, 5) in the direction of flow and with at least one flow collector (7b), wherein the flow collector (7b) is arranged downstream of the at least two measuring tubes (4, 5) in the direction of flow.The task of providing a Coriolis mass flow meter (1) which has a particularly low installation effort and a particularly short installation length is solved by providing at least one active measuring tube (4) and at least one passive measuring tube (5), wherein the at least one active measuring tube (4) and the at least one passive measuring tube (5) are designed and arranged separately from each other, and wherein the at least one vibration generator (2) and the at least two vibration sensors (3) are arranged on the at least one active measuring tube (4).