Coriolis Flow Meter Strain Sensor Coupling Drift
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Solution Overview
Problem
Coriolis mass flow meters face errors due to changes in mechanical couplings over time, caused by aging or external influences, which affect the accuracy of strain measurements, and there is no known method to determine these changes.
Innovation Solution
A method where the strain sensor measures the vibration of the measuring tube and generates a strain sensor signal, determining the correlation between this signal and the vibration signal, and tracking temporal changes in this correlation to identify changes in the mechanical coupling, allowing for correction and compensation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the strain sensor is mechanically coupled to the measuring tube through a connection, then the strain sensor can measure the strain of the measuring tube, but the mechanical coupling changes over time due to aging or external influences, causing measurement errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism by continuously monitoring the correlation between strain sensor signals and vibration sensor signals. When the correlation deviates from expected values, the system detects this as a change in mechanical coupling and can trigger recalibration or error correction procedures, ensuring long-term measurement accuracy despite connection changes
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces direct reliance on stable mechanical coupling with an analytical approach. Instead of assuming the mechanical connection remains constant, the system uses signal correlation analysis and mathematical models to compensate for coupling changes, substituting mechanical stability requirements with computational correction
2Adaptability or versatility
If separate vibration and strain sensors are used, then the system can measure both vibration and strain independently, but the mechanical connection between strain sensor and measuring tube is susceptible to aging and external influences
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback by comparing the correlation between strain sensor signals and vibration sensor signals over time. When degradation of the mechanical connection is detected through correlation analysis, the system can compensate for the resulting measurement errors or alert operators to replace the connection
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces signal correlation analysis as an intermediary mechanism. Instead of directly relying on the mechanical connection's stability, the system uses the relationship between vibration and strain signals as a mediator to detect and compensate for connection degradation, allowing separate sensors to work together effectively despite connection issues
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 enables accurate detection of changes in mechanical coupling, ensuring that strain sensor measurements reflect the actual strain of the measuring tube, thereby improving the accuracy of mass flow measurements by accounting for mechanical stress influences.
Implementation Method 1
the measuring tube through which a medium flows is excited to oscillate by the vibration exciter, the direction of oscillation of the measuring tube and thus also of the medium flowing in the measuring tube being at least one component orthogonal to the direction of flow of the medium in the measuring tube having
Implementation Method 2
The orthogonal component of the vibration of the medium flowing in the measuring tube causes a Corioli inertial force in the flowing medium, which counteracts the orthogonal component of the vibration. The Corioli inertia force causes a phase difference between the vibration of the measuring tube at two different measuring tube locations along the longitudinal axis of the measuring tube, which is proportional to the mass flow of the medium through the measuring tube
Implementation Method 3
The strain sensor is a sensor that measures the strain of its sensor body. So that the strain sensor measures a strain of the measuring tube, the sensor body must be mechanically coupled through the connection to the measuring tube such that a strain of the measuring tube is transmitted to the sensor body
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
A method for operating a Coriolis mass flow meter (1) with at least one measuring tube (2), at least one vibration exciter (3), at least one vibration sensor (4), and at least one strain sensor (5) is described and illustrated. The vibration exciter (3) is driven by a vibration exciter signal, and the measuring tube (2) is excited to oscillate by the vibration exciter (3). The vibration of the measuring tube (2) is detected by the vibration sensor (4), and a vibration sensor signal is generated. The strain sensor (5) is mechanically coupled to the measuring tube (2) by a connection (7). The invention is based on the objective of providing a method for operating a Coriolis mass flow meter in which a change in the mechanical coupling through the connection can be detected.The task is solved by measuring the vibration of the measuring tube (2) with the strain sensor (5) and generating a strain sensor signal representing the vibration of the measuring tube (2), by determining a correlation between the strain sensor signal and a vibration signal representing the vibration of the measuring tube (2), and by determining a change in the correlation over time.