External Flow Rate Sensing Without Conduit Pressure Loss
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flow measurement methods in fluid conduits often cause unwanted pressure drops and require disruptive modifications to the flow path, leading to increased energy consumption, fabrication costs, and chemical/mechanical wear.
Innovation Solution
A non-interruptive flow measurement system using external sensors to determine mass flow rates based on pressure and temperature measurements, without altering the conduit area or disrupting the fluid flow, utilizing a processor to calculate flow coefficients from these measurements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If flow-interrupting structures (venturi tubes, orifice plates) are used to measure flow rate, then measurement capability is achieved, but pressure drop increases and energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the measurement function from the flow path itself and places sensors on the external surface of the conduit. Pressure sensors measure the pressure distribution on the outer surface without requiring any interruption or modification of the internal flow path, thereby eliminating the pressure drop associated with traditional flow-interrupting structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The external surface of the conduit acts as an intermediary that transmits flow information to external sensors. By measuring pressure distribution on the outer surface, the system indirectly determines flow rate without direct contact with or interruption of the flowing fluid, thus avoiding energy loss.
2Measurement precision
If flow-interrupting structures are installed in conduits, then flow measurement is enabled, but fabrication costs and installation complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The measurement system is extracted from the internal flow path and relocated to the external surface of the conduit. This eliminates the need for fabricating flow-interrupting structures within the conduit, simplifying both manufacturing and installation while maintaining measurement capability.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of modifying the conduit internally, the system creates an external representation of the flow conditions by measuring pressure distribution on the outer surface. This external copy of the flow information enables measurement without any physical modification to the conduit structure.
3Measurement precision
If traditional pressure sensors are used inside conduits, then flow measurement is achieved, but chemical wear and mechanical wear increase
Solution Approach 1:
Sensors are extracted from the internal flow environment and positioned on the external surface of the conduit. This complete separation eliminates direct contact between sensors and potentially harmful fluids, removing the source of chemical and mechanical wear while preserving measurement functionality through external pressure distribution measurement.
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 mass flow rate determination with minimal pressure drop and reduced maintenance, suitable for various fluid environments, including radioactive and caustic fluids, with simplified installation and reduced operational complexity.
Implementation Method 1
a pressure distribution on an outer surface of the flow conduit is measured with a sensor system
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods provide flow rate measuring and control of drives, like fluid circulators, using non-disruptive sensors giving fluid pressures, temperature, density, pressure drop, etc. at or across the drive. Using these sensor outputs, drive operation, and a relationship of coefficients based on the same, the mass flow rate can be calculated. The sensors may be fully outside the conduit or at its inner surface on either side of the circulator with no other change. Fluid flow does not have to be redirected or interacted with, enhancing fluid flow efficiency and system life. Example systems can be installed on existing or new drives requiring only small conduit changes to verify or establish mass flow rates for drive operation.