Coriolis and Thermal Flow Sensor Fusion for Medium Property Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Accurate measurement of flow rate and composition, particularly at low flow rates, is challenging in medical infusion pumps due to the small flow rates involved, affecting the precision of gas and liquid medium measurements.
Innovation Solution
A flow measurement system combining a Coriolis flow sensor, a thermal flow sensor, and a processing unit that determines the specific heat capacity and thermal conductivity of a medium by analyzing output signals from both sensors, using calibration methods and equations to calculate these properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a single flow sensor is used to measure flow rate, then the device complexity is low, but the measurement precision of physical properties like specific heat capacity and thermal conductivity is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines a Coriolis flow sensor and a thermal flow sensor into a single integrated measurement system. The Coriolis sensor measures mass flow rate while the thermal sensor measures thermal properties, and their combined output signals enable determination of both flow rate and physical properties (specific heat capacity and thermal conductivity) of the medium.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated sensor system performs multiple functions simultaneously: measuring mass flow rate, volumetric flow rate, density, specific heat capacity, and thermal conductivity of the medium. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for separate measurement devices for each parameter.
2Measurement precision
If conventional flow sensors are used at low flow rates, then the device simplicity is maintained, but the measurement precision deteriorates due to extremely small flow rates
Solution Approach 1:
By merging Coriolis and thermal flow sensing capabilities, the system overcomes the limitation of detecting extremely small flow rates. The Coriolis sensor's mass flow measurement capability combined with thermal sensor data provides accurate measurements even at neonatal infusion pump flow rates.
Solution Approach 2:
The thermal flow sensor acts as an intermediary that provides additional thermal property measurements which, when combined with Coriolis data, enable accurate determination of physical properties at low flow rates where conventional single sensors would fail.
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 precise measurement of flow rate and physical properties like specific heat capacity and thermal conductivity, improving accuracy in medical applications and other fields where precise gas and liquid medium analysis is required.
Implementation Method 1
a Coriolis flow sensor
Implementation Method 2
a thermal flow sensor
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a flow measurement system for determining a flow of a medium, comprising a Coriolis flow sensor, a thermal flow sensor and a processing unit connected thereto. According to the invention, the processing unit is arranged for determining, based on the output signals of both the Coriolis flow sensor and the thermal sensor, at least one of the thermal conductivity and the specific heat capacity of a medium in the flow measurement system. The invention further relates to a method of determining at least one of the thermal conductivity and the specific heat capacity of a medium.