Vibrating Flow Device Disturbance Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vibrating flow devices, such as Coriolis flow meters, face inaccuracies due to sudden changes in flowing substances caused by entrained gas or particulates, leading to erroneous readings.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for detecting process disturbances by measuring drive gain, void fraction, and pick-off amplitude, comparing these parameters to threshold values to determine the presence and severity of the disturbance, and adjusting accordingly to maintain measurement accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If vibrating flow devices are used to measure fluid characteristics, then measurement capability is provided, but measurement precision deteriorates due to entrained gas or particulates causing erroneous readings
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of process disturbances by monitoring drive gain and void fraction before they cause erroneous measurements. By detecting changes in these parameters that indicate the presence of entrained gas or particulates, the system can identify problematic conditions early and take corrective action or flag the data as unreliable, preventing inaccurate measurements from being recorded or used.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the flowing substance contains particulates and gas bubbles, then the device can handle complex fluid compositions, but measurement precision deteriorates due to large and inaccurate variations in output
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors drive gain and void fraction parameters and uses this feedback to detect process disturbances. When disturbances are detected (indicating presence of gas bubbles or particulates), the system can respond by adjusting operating parameters, alerting operators, or discarding affected measurements. This closed-loop feedback mechanism allows the device to maintain measurement precision even when handling complex fluid compositions with entrained gases or solids.
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
Effectively reduces the impact of entrained gas or particulates on the accuracy of vibrating flow devices by identifying and mitigating process disturbances, ensuring reliable data output.
Implementation Method 1
The one or more conduits are vibrated by at least one drive at a resonance frequency in one of these modes for purposes of determining a characteristic of the flowing substance
Implementation Method 2
At least one pick-off detects the motion of a conduit and generates a sinusoidal pick-off signal representative of the motion of the vibrating conduit(s)
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a system, a method, and a computer program product for detecting a process disturbance from entrained gas or particulates within a fluid flowing in a vibrating flow device (5). In one embodiment, the system, the method and the computer program may involve a comparison between a measured drive gain and a drive gain threshold value and a comparison between a void fraction and a void fraction threshold value. In another embodiment, the system, the method and the computer program may involve a comparison between a measured drive gain and a drive gain threshold value, a comparison between a void fraction and a void fraction threshold value, and a comparison between a measured mass flow rate and a nominal mass flow rate threshold value. In yet another embodiment, the system, the method and the computer program may involve a comparison between a measured drive gain and a drive gain threshold value and a comparison between a measured pick-off amplitude and a pick-off amplitude threshold value.