Flow Meter for Pulsating Fluids Using Piezo Transducer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Direct flow measurement of pulsating flows is often inaccurate due to pulsation damping measures being complex and undesirable, especially in metering pumps where delivery flow is dependent on stroke length and frequency, and counter-pressure, leading to inaccurate delivery quantity determination.
Innovation Solution
A flow meter with a piezo transducer that converts fluid pulses into electrical pulses, an AC/DC converter circuit for energy storage, a counter for pulse counting, an evaluation device for determining flow rate, and a communication device for wireless transmission, all powered independently by stored energy, integrated with a pressure-sustaining valve to accurately measure pulsating flows.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If pulse counting is performed during the entire time interval, then the energy consumption increases, but the flow measurement accuracy is maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The counter is activated only during specific time intervals when flow pulses are expected to occur, rather than continuously. This periodic activation reduces energy consumption while maintaining accurate flow measurement by capturing all relevant pulse events during active periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the operational state of the counter based on flow conditions. The counter switches between active and inactive states according to the presence or absence of flow pulses, optimizing the balance between measurement accuracy and energy consumption in real-time.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the counter is deactivated to save energy, then the flow measurement accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The counter operates in periodic cycles, being activated during intervals when flow pulses are detected and deactivated during intervals without flow. This ensures energy savings are achieved without sacrificing measurement accuracy, as the counter is active during all periods when measurement data is available.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from flow detection to control the counter's operational state. When flow pulses are detected, the counter is activated to record measurements; when no flow is present, the counter is deactivated. This feedback mechanism ensures measurement accuracy is maintained only when necessary, optimizing energy consumption.
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 energy-independent and accurate flow measurements by considering both the number and energy of fluid pulses, reducing the impact of pulsation damping and counter-pressure variability, and providing continuous, accurate flow detection.
Implementation Method 1
a piezo transducer for receiving and converting fluid pulses into electrical pulses
Data Source
AI summary
A flow meter for a fluid with a pulsating flow includes a piezo transducer for receiving and converting fluid pulses into electrical pulses, a AC/DC converter circuit for cumulatively storing the pulse energies of the electrical pulses in an energy store, a counter for counting the electrical pulses during a time interval, an evaluation device for determining a pulse parameter indicative of the flow rate of at least one of the electrical pulses and for determining a flow value based on the electrical pulses counted within the time interval and the determined pulse parameter, a communication device for the preferably wireless transmission of the determined flow value and a power supply device for the exclusive power supply of the flow meter with the energy stored in the energy store.