Flowmeter Electrode Surface Treatment Without Spray Damage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Magnetic-inductive flowmeters' measuring electrodes with poor surface electrical conductivity due to embedded conductive materials being covered by carrier materials, leading to structural damage and reduced conductivity during mechanical spray treatment processes.
Innovation Solution
Irradiating the surface of measuring electrodes with a laser beam at a shallow angle to partially remove the carrier material, exposing the conductive material and increasing surface conductivity without damaging the electrodes, using a pulsed laser with specific wavelength and diameter to control energy input and prevent material deposition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If mechanical spray processes are used to roughen the surface and expose conductive material, then surface conductivity is improved, but structural damage occurs to the substrate and conductive material
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical spray process with a laser-based process. Instead of using abrasive particles accelerated in a gas stream to mechanically roughen the surface, the invention uses laser irradiation to selectively remove the carrier material from the surface region, exposing the conductive material without mechanical contact and structural damage
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state and properties of the laser beam parameters (wavelength between 355-500 nm, pulse duration between 1-50 femtoseconds, shallow angle of incidence greater than 75 degrees) to achieve selective removal of carrier material while preserving the conductive material structure, thereby improving surface conductivity without structural damage
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
Achieves enhanced surface conductivity of measuring electrodes while avoiding structural damage, ensuring high repeatability and stability of the electrical properties, and preventing chemical changes to the materials.
Implementation Method 1
the surfaces of the measuring electrodes terminating with the inner wall of the measuring tube are irradiated with at least one laser beam, that thereby the carrier material in the surface region of the measuring electrodes is at least partially removed
Data Source
AI summary
A method for the surface treatment of measuring electrodes inserted into a measuring tube for magnetic-inductive flowmeters is disclosed. The measuring electrodes have at least a carrier material of poor electrical conductivity and a conductive material of good electrical conductivity embedded in the carrier material, so that the measuring electrodes as a whole have an overall electrical conductivity suitable for the measuring task of the magnetic-inductive flowmeter. The method includes irradiating surface regions of the measuring electrodes terminating with an inner wall of the measuring tube with at least one laser beam. The irradiating step involves at least partially removing a carrier material in the surface regions of the measuring electrodes. The irradiating step also involves at least partially exposing an embedded electrically highly conductive material in the surface regions of the measuring electrodes and increasing the electrical surface conductivity of the measuring electrodes.