Coriolis Flowmeter Maintenance Timing Prediction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Coriolis flowmeters face challenges in accurately predicting the timing for maintenance due to gradual corrosion and adhesion issues in the U-shaped tube, leading to potential operational disruptions and costly replacements.
Innovation Solution
A Coriolis flowmeter system that includes a Coriolis sensor unit, current amplifier, smoother, control amplifier, voltage setter, switch, multiplier, and calculation controller to detect vibration changes, calculate spring constants and damping coefficients, and predict the time required for maintenance based on these parameters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the Coriolis flowmeter is replaced after the alarm is generated, then the measurement accuracy is maintained, but the operational downtime becomes long and replacement costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary diagnosis by calculating spring constants and damping coefficients before the alarm is generated. By predicting the timing when maintenance becomes necessary based on the progression rate of corrosion and adhesion, the system enables planned replacement during scheduled maintenance windows, avoiding unplanned operational downtime.
2Productivity
If the Coriolis flowmeter is replaced in advance, then the operational continuity is maintained, but the replacement cost increases due to premature replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors the spring constant and damping coefficient to track the progression of corrosion and adhesion. By providing feedback on the actual condition and predicting the timing when maintenance becomes necessary, the system enables replacement only when needed, avoiding premature replacement costs while maintaining operational continuity.
3Device complexity
If only alarm generation is used for maintenance notification, then the system complexity is low, but the maintenance timing prediction accuracy is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system utilizes changes in physical parameters (spring constant and damping coefficient) to assess the condition of the U-shaped tube. By calculating these parameters from vibration characteristics and analyzing their progression over time, the system achieves accurate maintenance timing prediction without requiring complex additional sensing systems.
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 accurate prediction of maintenance timing, allowing for proactive preparation and reducing downtime and replacement costs by monitoring the state of the U-shaped tube and fluid flow rate.
Implementation Method 1
measures Coriolis force generated by the fluid flowing through the U-shaped tube on the basis of torsion of the U-shaped tube
Implementation Method 2
vibrates a U-shaped tube through which fluid flows by means of excitation of a coil
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2C
Figure 3
AI summary
A Coriolis flowmeter includes a change ratio obtainer configured to obtain a change ratio of vibration of a vibration tube when the vibration tube is vibrated with a constant driving force by causing a switch to select a fixed gain setting voltage, a calculator configured to calculate a first parameter indicating at least one of a spring constant of the vibration tube and a damping coefficient of the vibration tube on the basis of the change ratio obtained by the change ratio obtainer and the constant driving force, and a predictor configured to predict at least one of a time, an operating time, and an integrated flow rate of a fluid flowing in the vibration tube required for a state of the vibration tube to become a state requiring maintenance, using the first parameter calculated by the calculator or a second parameter obtained by performing a predetermined calculation on the first parameter.