Ultrasonic Flow Meter Chordal Diameter Transducer Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ultrasonic flow meters require multiple transducer pairs to accurately measure flow rates, especially when fluid properties are unknown, leading to increased cost, complexity, and potential flow profile disturbances, while clamp-on transducers on diameter paths provide limited information.
Innovation Solution
An ultrasonic flow meter system using transducer pairs located on chordal and diameter paths, generating both transit time and range gated Doppler signals, with a processing subsystem to determine a three-dimensional flow profile and mean flow rate, reducing the number of transducers needed while maintaining accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple transducer pairs are used to accurately measure flow rates, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines transit time measurement and range-gated Doppler measurement into a single integrated system using the same transducer pairs. By merging these two measurement techniques, the system obtains comprehensive flow profile information (both mean flow velocity and velocity distribution) without requiring separate measurement systems, thus improving measurement precision while controlling device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The transducer pairs are designed to perform multiple functions: measuring both transit time for mean flow velocity calculation and range-gated Doppler for velocity profile characterization. This multi-functionality allows a single transducer pair to provide comprehensive flow measurement data, reducing the need for additional specialized transducers
2Measurement precision
If multiple transducer pairs are used to accurately measure flow rates, then measurement precision is improved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
By merging transit time and range-gated Doppler measurements into a single system, the patent eliminates the need for separate measurement systems. This integration reduces the total number of components required, thereby lowering manufacturing cost while maintaining comprehensive flow measurement capability
Solution Approach 2:
The transducer pairs perform multiple functions including both transit time measurement for mean flow velocity and range-gated Doppler measurement for velocity profile. This multi-functionality reduces the total number of transducers needed compared to having separate specialized transducers for each measurement type, thus reducing overall cost
3Measurement precision
If multiple transducer pairs are used to accurately measure flow rates, then measurement precision is improved, but flow profile disturbances increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the measurement function into two complementary approaches: transit time measurement for mean flow velocity and range-gated Doppler measurement for velocity profile. This segmentation allows each measurement technique to be optimized independently and reduces the need for excessive transducer pairs, thereby minimizing flow profile disturbances while maintaining measurement accuracy
4Device complexity
If clamp-on transducers are used on diameter paths, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges transit time measurement (which can use simpler clamp-on transducers) with range-gated Doppler measurement (which provides velocity profile information). This combination allows the system to benefit from the simplicity of clamp-on transducers while achieving comprehensive flow measurement accuracy through the integrated Doppler component
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 configuration allows for accurate measurement of mean flow rates with fewer transducers, minimizing cost and complexity, and providing more accurate flow velocity and rate information without significant disruption to the flow.
Implementation Method 1
One transducer, when excited or energized by an electronic controller, emits a sound wave through the flow which is detected by another transducer
Implementation Method 2
Energy is scattered by particles, bubbles or any other inhomogeneities, and the energy received by the transducers has different frequency components from the incident signals, and the differences are analyzed to calculate velocities of the scatterers
Implementation Method 3
The transit times of the wave are then used to calculate speed of sound of the fluid and further calculate the flow rate by using the speed of sound, path length, the transit times, and conduit dimension data
Data Source
AI summary
An ultrasonic flow meter system includes transducers arranged with respect to a conduit to define at least one chordal path through fluid flowing in the conduit, and at least one transmitting transducer and receiving transducer pair on the chordal path for generating a transit time signal. At least one receiving transducer is positioned to receive scattered energy to generate a range gated Doppler signal. The system further includes a processing subsystem for exciting the at least one transmitting transducer. The processing subsystem is responsive to the transit time signal and the range gated Doppler signal and configured to generate a velocity profile and a mean velocity of the fluid in the conduit.