Acoustic Flow Meter Cycle Skip Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ultrasonic flow meters face challenges in accurately determining the arrival time of ultrasonic signals due to noise and electronic shortcomings, leading to cycle skip issues, which complicates the identification of cycle skip configurations, especially in multi-path systems with limited processing power.
Innovation Solution
The development of error functions to determine the pattern of arrival time cycle skip by calculating theoretical and actual Eta values, allowing for the identification of the actual pattern without comparing to error-prone thresholds, and using these calculations to correct transit time values and improve flow measurement accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If traditional threshold comparison methods are used to identify cycle skip, then the system is simpler to implement, but the measurement precision deteriorates due to noise and electronic shortcomings
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the cycle skip detection problem from a discrete threshold comparison into a continuous parameter optimization problem. By calculating error functions that represent the difference between measured and theoretical Eta values for different cycle skip patterns, the system identifies the pattern with minimum error. This parameter-based approach continuously optimizes the detection accuracy without requiring complex threshold tuning, resolving the contradiction between simplicity and precision.
2Measurement precision
If multiple transducer pairs are used to improve flow measurement accuracy, then the measurement precision improves, but the device complexity increases due to multiple possible cycle skip configurations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the cycle skip detection for multiple transducer pairs into a unified error function minimization approach. Instead of independently analyzing each transducer pair's cycle skip status, the system combines all measurements into a single optimization problem where the error function considers all transducer pairs simultaneously. This reduces the complexity of managing multiple independent detection systems while maintaining the precision benefits of multi-pair measurements.
Solution Approach 2:
The error function calculation serves multiple functions: it detects cycle skip patterns, identifies the correct arrival time feature, and validates measurement consistency across all transducer pairs. This universal approach eliminates the need for separate detection mechanisms for each function, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining high measurement precision through the coordinated use of multiple transducer pairs.
3Measurement precision
If error function calculations are performed for all possible cycle skip patterns, then the measurement precision improves, but the productivity decreases due to computational overhead
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by calculating error functions only for the most likely cycle skip patterns rather than exhaustively evaluating all possible combinations. The system identifies patterns with minimal error first and stops when a sufficiently accurate match is found, avoiding unnecessary calculations. This approach maintains high measurement precision by focusing computational resources on the most probable solutions while significantly improving processing speed by eliminating redundant calculations.
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 approach effectively identifies and corrects cycle skip patterns, enhancing the accuracy of fluid flow measurements in ultrasonic flow meters by minimizing the computational overhead and reducing errors caused by noise and electronic imperfections.
Implementation Method 1
ultrasonic signals are sent back and forth across the fluid stream to be measured
Implementation Method 2
One of the parameters sensed in determining fluid flow is arrival time of an ultrasonic signal at a transducer
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 1C~3
Figure 2
AI summary
Determining a pattern of arrival time cycle skip in an acoustic flow meter. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are methods comprising transceiving acoustic signals through a fluid flowing in a meter (the transceiving between respective pairs of a plurality of transducer pairs), measuring transit time of acoustic signals between the respective pairs of the plurality of transducers pairs, calculating a plurality of error values (each error value indicative of a cycle skip mode in measuring of the transit time of the acoustic signals), and determining the cycle skip mode using, at least in part, the plurality of error values.