Ultrasonic Flow Meter Secondary Flow Path Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ultrasonic flowmeters face challenges in handling, operational safety, and measuring accuracy, particularly due to the formation of dead zones that can lead to bacterial growth when used in drinking water systems.
Innovation Solution
The flowmeter design incorporates secondary flow paths that run at an angle greater than 0° to the main flow direction, with webs and web recesses forming through-openings that create a secondary flow path, preventing stagnant medium and ensuring efficient flushing of potential dead zones, thereby enhancing operational safety and accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the flowmeter is used in drinking water systems, then operational safety is improved, but dead zones form that can lead to bacterial growth
Solution Approach 1:
The intermediate space is segmented into multiple flow paths using webs with web cutouts. The medium is divided into a main flow line through the measuring section and secondary flow lines through the bypass channels, ensuring complete utilization of the available space and eliminating dead zones where stagnant medium could accumulate.
Solution Approach 2:
The secondary flow paths are designed to ensure continuous flushing of the intermediate space between the measuring channel wall and housing wall. The angled bypass channels create a continuous flow pattern that prevents stagnation, maintaining operational safety by continuously removing medium from all areas including previously dead zones.
2Reliability
If secondary flow paths are added to prevent dead zones, then operational safety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The secondary flow paths are merged with the housing structure through integrally formed webs. The bypass channels are created by cutouts in these webs, combining the housing wall and flow path guidance into a single structural element. This reduces the number of separate components while achieving the desired flow distribution and eliminating dead zones.
Solution Approach 2:
The webs serve multiple functions: they provide structural support for the housing, guide the secondary flow paths through their cutouts, and create the bypass channels for flushing the intermediate space. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional components, maintaining simplicity while improving operational safety.
3Ease of repair
If the measuring insert is made exchangeable, then ease of repair is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The flowmeter is segmented into a housing and a separate measuring insert that can be exchanged independently. The measuring insert containing the measuring channel and sound transducers can be removed and replaced without disassembling the entire device, facilitating maintenance and calibration while maintaining precise measurement capabilities.
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 design effectively prevents the formation of dead zones, ensuring high measuring accuracy and operational safety by efficiently flushing away stagnant medium, reducing the risk of bacterial growth, especially in drinking water applications.
Implementation Method 1
pulsed (ultra) sound signals are generated by means of (ultra) sound transducers and sent through the medium in the flow direction and against the flow direction. The difference in the propagation times of the sound signals in both directions is evaluated to determine the flow rate of the medium.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~5
AI summary
The flow meter (1) serves for the sound-based measurement of the flow rate of a liquid or gaseous medium and comprises a housing (2) and a measuring insert (4) inserted into the housing. The measuring insert (4) contains a measuring section (8) through which, during operation, a main flow path of the medium flows in a flow direction (3). The measuring section (8) has an interior space through which, during operation, the main flow path of the medium flows and which is surrounded by a measuring channel wall (17). In a space (17a) between an outer surface of the measuring channel wall (17) facing away from the interior space and an inner surface of a housing wall (13) of the housing (2), at least one secondary flow path (18) for a secondary flow path of the medium is formed, wherein each secondary flow path (18) runs at least partially at an angle of inclination (β) greater than 0° to the flow direction (3).Between the outside of the measuring channel wall (17) and the inside of the housing wall (13) at least two webs (23, 24) arranged one behind the other in the flow direction (3) are provided, each having at least one web recess (19, 20, 21, 22) which each form a through-opening extending in the flow direction (3), wherein each through-opening of a web (23) is arranged radially, laterally or tangentially offset with respect to the flow direction to each through-opening of the web (24) arranged adjacent in the flow direction (3).