Magnetoinductive Flowmeter Loose Flange Liner Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

Magnetic-inductive flowmeters require tight tolerance limits for flange connections, leading to high material costs and limiting material choices, and existing manufacturing methods are complex and costly, especially for welded pipe-flange connections.

Innovation Solution

The use of loose flanges with larger permissible tolerance limits allows for cost-effective production and flexibility in material selection, enabling the flowmeter to be mounted in any angular position and using a variety of materials, with a liner extending to partial areas of the flanged end regions for optimal adaptation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If welded pipe-flange connections are used, then high connection quality is achieved, but material costs increase and material selection is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection qualityVSAvoidmaterial cost and selection flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

A liner is introduced as an intermediary component between the flange connection and the measuring tube. The liner extends into the flanged end regions and provides the necessary sealing and protective functions, allowing the flanges to be made from cost-effective materials with larger tolerance limits while maintaining connection quality through the liner's interference fit connection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Manufacturing precision

If tight tolerance limits are applied to flange connections, then connection precision is improved, but material costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflange tolerance limitsVSAvoidmaterial cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The liner acts as a mediator that compensates for larger flange tolerances. By providing precise fitting through the interference connection with the measuring tube, the liner enables the use of flanges with relaxed tolerance limits, thereby reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining overall connection precision

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the functional distribution of parameters: the flanges are designed with larger tolerance limits for cost-effectiveness, while the liner is designed with precise dimensional parameters to achieve the necessary sealing and positioning functions, shifting the precision requirement from the flange to the liner component

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If the liner extends to partial areas of flanged end regions, then optimal adaptation is achieved, but production complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoptimal adaptationVSAvoidproduction complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The liner is designed with local quality by extending only to the necessary partial areas of the flanged end regions where interference connection is required, rather than covering the entire length. This localized approach provides optimal adaptation where needed while simplifying production compared to full-length liner configurations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 solution reduces material costs and simplifies production, allowing for a cost-effective and adaptable magnetic-inductive flowmeter design that can be mounted in any position with lower bore requirements, using a wide range of materials and optimizing liner selection.

Implementation Method 1

a magnet system 9, which generates a magnetic field B that penetrates the measuring tube 4 and runs essentially transversely to the measuring tube axis 6

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMagnetic field generation: Electromagnet

Implementation Method 2

Magnetic-inductive flowmeters use the principle of electrodynamic induction for volumetric flow measurement: charge carriers of the medium moving perpendicular to a magnetic field induce a measuring voltage in measuring electrodes

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP2059771B1Apparatus for measuring the volumetric and mass flow of a medium in a pipeline

Publication Date: 2017.03.01 ENDRESS HAUSER FLOWTEC AG

AI summary

The invention relates to an apparatus for measuring the volumetric or mass flow of a medium (5) in a pipeline (11), said apparatus having a measuring tube through which the medium (5) flows in the direction of the measuring tube axis (3), wherein the measuring tube (4) has a first end region (7) and a second end region (8) in the direction of flow (S) of the medium (5), having a magnetic system (9) which generates a magnetic field (B) which penetrates the measuring tube (4) and runs essentially transverse to the measuring tube axis, having at least one measuring electrode (10) which is coupled to the medium (5) and is arranged in a region of the measuring tube (4) that is essentially perpendicular to the magnetic field, and having a control/evaluation unit (11) which uses the measurement voltage (U) which is induced in the at least one measuring electrode (10) to provide information relating to the volumetric or mass flow of the medium (5) in the measuring tube (4). In order to keep the costs of the magnetoinductive flowmeter low, the measuring tube (4) is integral and the first end region (7) and the second end region (8) of the measuring tube (4) are flanged.