Disposable Liner for Coriolis Flow Meter
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current flow meter systems in industries like pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical face challenges with cross-contamination, high labor and cost associated with cleaning and sterilization, and corrosion from handling caustic and corrosive materials, leading to time-consuming and expensive processes.
Innovation Solution
A disposable liner for flow meters that can be replaced to prevent cross-contamination, reduce cleaning and sterilization needs, and protect against corrosion, allowing for increased productivity and reduced downtime by inserting and removing the liner as necessary.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the flow meter tube is made durable and permanent for repeated use, then the manufacturing cost and initial investment are reduced, but the cleaning, sterilization, and validation time and labor increase significantly between batches
Solution Approach 1:
The flow path is segmented into two distinct parts: a permanent durable tube and a disposable liner. The liner is removed and discarded after each batch, eliminating the need to clean and sterilize the permanent tube. This segmentation allows the permanent component to remain intact while the disposable component handles the contaminated fluid path.
Solution Approach 2:
A disposable liner is introduced as a low-cost, single-use component that replaces the need for repeated cleaning and sterilization of the permanent tube. The liner is discarded after each batch, converting the recurring cleaning/sterilization labor and time into a simple liner replacement operation.
2Ease of operation
If isolation valves are added at multiple locations to facilitate cleaning of specific sections, then the ability to clean and validate smaller sections is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The complex cleaning infrastructure (multiple isolation valves and fittings) is replaced by extracting the flow path into a removable disposable liner. The liner can be easily removed from the permanent tube without requiring multiple isolation valves, simplifying the overall system while maintaining cleaning capability.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the flow meter tube is made from corrosion-resistant materials like titanium or stainless steel, then the resistance to caustic and corrosive materials is improved, but the cost and manufacturing complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of making the entire flow meter system from expensive corrosion-resistant materials, the corrosion protection is localized to the disposable liner that contacts the caustic materials. The permanent tube can be made from less expensive materials since it does not directly contact the corrosive fluids, reducing overall material costs and manufacturing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
A disposable liner made from corrosion-resistant material is used to protect the permanent tube from caustic and corrosive materials. The liner is sacrificed to protect the expensive permanent components, eliminating corrosion issues without requiring the entire system to be made from expensive corrosion-resistant materials.
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 disposable liner eliminates the need for frequent cleaning and sterilization of flow meters, reduces labor and costs, and protects the flow meter from corrosion, thereby enhancing productivity and maintaining system integrity.
Implementation Method 1
a mass flow meter that measures flow characteristics based on the controlled generation of Coriolis forces
Implementation Method 2
The oscillation of the tube is measured using electrodynamic sensors at the inlet and outlet of the tube
Data Source
AI summary
A flow meter assembly includes a flow meter including a tube through which a fluid flows. The flow meter is operable to measure the amount of fluid flowing through the tube. A liner is positioned within the tube and is removably coupled with the tube such that fluid flowing through the tube flows through the liner without contacting an inner surface of the tube.