Disposable Flow Meter Liner for Corrosion Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
In automated fill systems, mass flow meters require time-consuming, labor-intensive cleaning and sterilization processes between batches, and are prone to corrosion from handling caustic and corrosive materials, leading to costly downtime and potential contamination.
Innovation Solution
A disposable liner for the flow meter that can be replaced to prevent cross-contamination, reduce cleaning and validation needs, and protect the flow tube from corrosion, comprising a flexible conduit with a gasket that seals around the flow tube to facilitate accurate measurements and easy installation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the flow meter tube is made durable and permanent, then measurement reliability is improved, but cleaning and sterilization time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flow path is segmented into two parts: a permanent durable tube for measurement and a disposable liner for contact with process fluid. The liner can be quickly removed and replaced without cleaning the tube, resolving the contradiction between durability and cleaning time.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning requirement is extracted from the tube by introducing a separate disposable liner that contacts the process fluid. The tube itself requires no cleaning, while the liner is discarded after use, eliminating the time-consuming cleaning and sterilization process.
2Ease of operation
If isolation valves are added to facilitate cleaning, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning function is extracted from the system by using a disposable liner that can be removed and replaced without requiring isolation valves or complex cleaning infrastructure. The liner itself becomes the isolated component that handles contamination.
3Productivity
If the flow meter handles corrosive materials directly, then measurement functionality is maintained, but tube durability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
A chemically resistant liner material acts as an intermediary between the corrosive process fluid and the metal tube. The liner protects the tube from corrosion while allowing the flow meter to continue measuring, thereby extending tube service life without sacrificing measurement functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The flow path becomes a composite structure with an inner liner made of chemically resistant material (such as PTFE or other polymers) and an outer durable tube. This composite construction provides both corrosion resistance and structural integrity, extending the service life of the flow meter when handling corrosive 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 decreases system downtime, reduces labor and maintenance costs, and maintains measurement accuracy while protecting the flow meter from corrosive materials, thereby increasing productivity and extending the life of the flow meter.
Implementation Method 1
A gasket has an outside diameter and an aperture. A first portion of the first end is positioned to extend through the aperture and fold around the outside diameter such that a folded over portion of the first portion is in contact with the outer surface of the flexible conduit to define a seal between the folded over portion and the flexible conduit.
Implementation Method 2
a mass flow meter that measures flow characteristics based on the controlled generation of Coriolis forces. To measure the mass flow rate through the tube, the tube is oscillated and, based on the actual measured tube oscillations, the flow characteristics can be computed.
Data Source
AI summary
A flow liner includes a flexible conduit having a first end and a second end. A gasket has an outside diameter and an aperture. A first portion of the first end is positioned to extend through the aperture and fold around the outside diameter such that a folded over portion of the first portion is in contact with the outer surface of the flexible conduit to define a seal therebetween.