Magnetic Flowmeter Glitch Correction via Pre-Event Voltage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Magnetic flowmeters face inaccuracies in fluid flow velocity measurements due to measurement glitches caused by non-symmetrical fluid contact with electrodes, air pockets, and electromagnetic interference, which existing correction methods fail to fully address, resulting in substantial errors.
Innovation Solution
A magnetic flowmeter system with a microprocessor that detects measurement glitches by analyzing the step-size change in the glitch detection variable and corrects the fluid velocity calculation by using a gap filler voltage signal prior to the glitch, minimizing the impact of measurement errors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If post measurement flow analysis with normalization is used to correct measurement glitches, then the deviation from recorded fluid flow rate is reduced, but substantial errors remain in the fluid flow velocity profile
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by detecting measurement glitches in real-time using a glitch detection variable and step-size change analysis, then immediately correcting the voltage signal before it significantly impacts the fluid flow velocity calculation. This proactive approach prevents substantial errors from developing, unlike post-measurement normalization which only attempts to reduce deviations after they have occurred.
2Reliability
If measurement glitches are corrected using existing normalization methods, then some deviation is reduced, but the fluid flow velocity calculation still includes substantial errors from the glitches
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the harmful measurement glitch components from the voltage signal through real-time detection using the glitch detection variable Um and step-size change analysis. By identifying and eliminating the glitch-affected voltage signal portions before velocity calculation, the method separates the accurate measurements from the erroneous ones, preventing substantial errors in the final fluid flow velocity accuracy while improving measurement data quality.
3Measurement precision
If real-time glitch detection and correction is implemented, then measurement accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional microprocessor functions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the glitch detection and correction functions into the existing microprocessor that already performs fluid flow velocity calculations. The glitch detection variable Um is computed from the same electrode potentials used for velocity measurement, and the step-size change analysis is integrated into the signal processing pipeline. This consolidation improves measurement precision through real-time correction without significantly increasing device complexity, as the same hardware resources are utilized for multiple functions.
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 system effectively reduces measurement errors by identifying and correcting glitches in real-time, providing more accurate fluid flow velocity measurements by using the pre-glitch voltage signal as a gap filler, thereby improving the reliability of magnetic flowmeter readings.
Implementation Method 1
Magnetic flowmeters measure the velocity of conductive fluids passing through pipes by generating a magnetic field and measuring the resultant voltage. These flowmeters rely upon Faraday's Law in which the flow of a conductive fluid through a magnetic field causes a voltage signal
Implementation Method 2
the flow of a conductive fluid through a magnetic field causes a voltage signal which is sensed by electrodes and the sensed voltage is proportional to the fluid's velocity
Data Source
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AI summary
A system and related method is provided for correcting measurement glitches detected by a magnetic flowmeter assembly in determining a fluid flow velocity. The magnetic flowmeter assembly includes a pair of electrodes that receive an instantaneous first and second electrode potential (voltage potential), Ue1 and Ue2, so as to determine an instantaneous induced voltage Ue across the fluid. A signal processor sends a digital signal of the induced voltage (voltage signal Ue) to a micro-processor, which processes the signal data and computes the corresponding instantaneous fluid velocity, v. Moreover, an instantaneous glitch detection variable Um is computed based on the electrode potentials (Ue1 and Ue2), so as to detect the presence of measurement glitches in said electrode potentials, wherein the signal processor will provide a digital signal of Um to the micro-processor. As such, the flowmeter assembly is able to correct for the measurement glitches by manipulating the instantaneous voltage signal Ue, such that the computed and displayed fluid flow velocity is not skewed by said measurement glitches.