Active Pulsating Flow Cancellation Using Flow Signal Noise Reference
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluid control systems face instability due to fluid-borne noise (FBN) from pumps, which traditional methods like pressure transducers struggle to fully attenuate, especially when high-frequency components are involved, and these methods require additional hardware, increasing costs.
Innovation Solution
An electronics system that uses a flow signal from a flow sensor to generate a noise reference signal, a cancelling signal, and a valve signal to actively cancel pulsating flow, eliminating the need for a separate pressure transducer by leveraging existing system components for noise attenuation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a pressure transducer is used to generate a noise reference signal for pulse attenuation, then the pulsating flow can be cancelled, but the system requires additional hardware and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the noise reference signal generation function with the existing flow sensor, eliminating the need for a separate pressure transducer. The flow sensor's output signal is processed to extract both flow rate information and noise reference information, merging multiple functions into a single device.
Solution Approach 2:
The flow sensor is made multi-functional by using its output signal for both flow rate control and noise reference generation. The signal processing unit extracts the noise reference from the flow sensor output, allowing the same sensor to serve dual purposes: flow measurement and noise cancellation reference.
2Reliability
If traditional pulse attenuation methods are used, then some pulsating flow can be reduced, but high-frequency components are not fully attenuated and system stability is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the noise reference signal from the flow sensor is processed through adaptive filtering to generate a cancelling signal. This feedback loop continuously adjusts the cancellation based on the actual noise characteristics, improving attenuation effectiveness for high-frequency components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical or passive filtering methods with an active electronic signal processing approach. By using digital signal processing and adaptive filtering algorithms, the system achieves superior noise attenuation, particularly for high-frequency components that traditional methods cannot effectively handle.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If additional noise-referencing devices are added to improve pulse cancellation, then noise attenuation improves, but hardware costs and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses its own flow sensor to generate the noise reference signal, making the system self-sufficient. The flow sensor's output is processed to extract the noise reference, eliminating the need for external noise-referencing devices and reducing overall system complexity while maintaining effective pulse cancellation.
Data Source
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AI summary
An electronics (100) for active cancellation of a pulsating flow with a flow signal noise reference is provided. The electronics (100) includes a signal processor (110) configured to receive a flow signal (220a) from a flow sensor (220), the flow sensor (220) being configured to measure a flow rate of the pulsating flow, generate a flow rate signal (110a) from the flow signal (220a), generate a noise reference signal (220a') from the flow signal (220a), and generate a cancelling signal(110b) from the noise reference signal (220a'). The electronics (100) also includes a controller (120) communicatively coupled to the signal processor (110). The controller (120) is configured to determine a flow rate control signal (120a) for controlling the flow rate of the fluid. In addition, the electronics (100) includes a signal generator (130) communicatively coupled to the signal processor (110) and the controller (120). The signal generator (130) is configured to receive the flow rate control signal (120a), generate a valve signal (130a) based on the flow rate control signal (120a) and the cancelling signal(110b),and provide the valve signal (130a) to a valve (210) to control the flow rate and attenuate the one or more pulses of the pulsating flow of the fluid.