Ultrasonic Flowmeter Reflector Assembly Time-of-Flight Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ultrasonic flow meters face accuracy issues due to zero-drift effects and dynamic changes in fluid supply, leading to skewed measurements.
Innovation Solution
An ultrasonic flow meter design that uses two transducers and a reflector assembly to obtain multiple sequences of time-of-flight measurements, with a microcontroller filtering and averaging these measurements to calculate the volumetric flow rate, thereby adapting to zero-drift and dynamic changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional single-sequence time-of-flight measurements are used, then the device complexity is low, but measurement precision deteriorates due to zero-drift and dynamic changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the measurement process into multiple distinct sequences (first, second, third, and fourth sequences), each measuring different time-of-flight parameters (t1, t2, t3, t4) between transducers. This segmentation allows the system to obtain multiple independent measurements that can be processed to eliminate zero-drift effects and dynamic errors, thereby improving measurement precision without requiring additional hardware components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic measurement sequences that are repeated over time, with each sequence consisting of specific ultrasonic pulse transmissions and receptions in defined orders. This periodic action enables the system to capture dynamic changes in fluid flow and systematically process the data to compensate for zero-drift and dynamic errors, improving accuracy through time-based sampling patterns.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple measurement sequences are implemented, then adaptability to zero-drift and dynamic changes improves, but loss of time increases due to multiple measurements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary measurements by systematically executing multiple measurement sequences (first through fourth sequences) that capture time-of-flight data under varying conditions. These preliminary actions include measuring t1, t2, t3, and t4 in specific orders, which are then processed using predetermined algorithms to calculate corrected flow values, enabling the system to adapt to zero-drift and dynamic changes before final results are produced.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes measurement parameters by varying the order and type of time-of-flight measurements across different sequences. Instead of repeatedly measuring the same parameter, the system measures different parameters (t1, t2, t3, t4) in different sequences, allowing mathematical processing to extract accurate flow information while compensating for drift and dynamic effects, thus improving adaptability without excessive time loss.
3Reliability
If conventional time-of-flight measurement is used, then the device structure is simple, but reliability deteriorates due to zero-drift effects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where multiple time-of-flight measurements (t1, t2, t3, t4) are systematically processed to calculate corrected flow values. The system uses the relationships between these measurements to identify and compensate for zero-drift effects, with the processing algorithm feeding back into the final result calculation. This feedback approach improves reliability by systematically eliminating drift errors without requiring additional hardware feedback components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent improves reliability by changing the measurement parameters from single time-of-flight values to multiple parameters (t1, t2, t3, t4) measured in different sequences. This parameter diversification allows the system to detect and compensate for zero-drift effects through mathematical relationships between the parameters, enhancing measurement reliability without adding physical drift-compensation components to the device structure.
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 solution provides accurate and adaptive flow measurements, minimizing errors caused by zero-drift and fluid supply changes, ensuring precise calculation of flow rates.
Implementation Method 1
ultrasonic flow meters are devices that measure the velocity of a fluid, such as water, flowing therethrough with ultrasound
Implementation Method 2
measuring the difference between the time-of-flight of ultrasonic pulses transmitted upstream and downstream
Implementation Method 3
a reflector assembly disposed in the flow tube, the reflector assembly configured to reflect the ultrasonic pulse transmitted by the first transducer to the second transducer
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 2C
AI summary
An ultrasonic flow meter includes a flow tube, and first and second ultrasound transducers that transmit ultrasonic pulses through a liquid flowing through the tube. The flow tube includes a reflector assembly that reflects pulses from the first transducer to the second transducer, and from the second transducer to the first transducer, thereby facilitating different sequences of time-of-flight measurements. A microcontroller obtains multiple sequences of measurements, where all the measurements in a single sequence are of the same measurement type, and each sequence uses a different type of measurement than that used by the other sequences. The microcontroller filters out the longest and shortest time-of-flights and, using an average of the remaining time-of-flights, calculates a volumetric flow rate of the fluid.