Electromagnetic Flowmeter Signal Processing for Noise Reduction

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electromagnetic flowmeters face challenges in accurately measuring fluid flow due to unwanted influences such as electrode misalignment, coil arrangement issues, wear, empty-tube-detecting voltage signals, and power-frequency interference, particularly for fluids with low electric conductivity, leading to distorted signal profiles and reduced signal-to-noise ratios.

Innovation Solution

The flow-calculating scheme employs a calculating unit that utilizes conformal mapping to rotate measured signals, samples them at specific intervals aligned with power frequency multiples, and defines signal groups to eliminate oblique reference voltage influences, thereby reducing noise interference and enhancing accuracy through dynamic zero-level calibration and weighted calculations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If conventional electromagnetic flowmeter measurement is used, then flow measurement is obtained, but measurement precision deteriorates due to unwanted influences such as electrode misalignment, coil arrangement issues, wear, empty-tube-detecting voltage signals, and power-frequency interference

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflow measurement accuracyVSAvoidunwanted influences including electrode misalignment, coil arrangement issues, wear, empty-tube-detecting voltage signals, and power-frequency interference
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes unwanted influence components from the measured signal through signal processing. The calculating unit identifies and eliminates components related to electrode misalignment, coil arrangement issues, wear, empty-tube-detecting voltage signals, and power-frequency interference, leaving only the pure flow-related signal components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the temporal parameters of signal sampling by defining specific sampling intervals that are multiples of the power frequency period. This parameter change allows the system to sample at optimal moments when unwanted influences are minimized or absent, thereby improving measurement accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If sampling is performed at arbitrary intervals, then signal processing is simplified, but measurement precision deteriorates due to oblique reference voltage influences and noise interference

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignal accuracyVSAvoidsignal processing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent defines specific sampling intervals as multiples of the power frequency period, changing the temporal parameters of signal acquisition. This ensures that sampling occurs at optimal moments when reference voltage influences are minimized, thereby improving signal accuracy without requiring complex real-time adjustment mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs periodic sampling at intervals synchronized with the power frequency. This periodic action aligns the sampling moments with the natural cycles of the electrical system, automatically minimizing the impact of periodic disturbances like power-frequency interference and oblique reference voltage influences.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

3Measurement precision

If conventional signal processing is used, then processing speed is maintained, but measurement precision deteriorates for fluids with low electric conductivity due to dominant noise factors

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignal-to-noise ratioVSAvoidprocessing efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes noise components that dominate signals from low-conductivity fluids. The calculating unit specifically identifies and eliminates empty-tube-detecting voltage signals and other interference components, thereby improving the signal-to-noise ratio without requiring physical modifications to the flowmeter.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the sampling interval parameter to be a multiple of the power frequency period. This parameter change allows the system to capture signals at optimal moments when noise influence is minimized, thereby improving measurement precision for low-conductivity fluids while maintaining efficient processing through fixed interval sampling.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 approach significantly improves the accuracy of fluid flow measurement by minimizing the impact of unwanted influences, ensuring precise flow calculation even in the presence of noise and interference, and maintaining stability across varying conditions.

Implementation Method 1

After the two coils are charged, a magnetic flux is formed in the tube, so that when the fluid flows through the magnetic flux in the tube, the fluid induces electromotive forces between the two electrodes

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

when the fluid flows through the magnetic flux in the tube, the fluid induces electromotive forces between the two electrodes

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP3557194B1Flow-calculating scheme of electromagnetic flowmeter
Publication Date: 2020.04.01 FINETEK CO LTD
  • EP3557194B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3557194B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3557194B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A flow-calculating scheme using an electromagnetic flowmeter (30) includes that: A calculating unit (302) assigns a first-direction pulse signal (102) as a reference signal (104). The calculating unit (302) defines at least one second-direction pulse signal (103) before the reference signal (104) as a first signal group (107). The calculating unit (302) defines at least one second-direction pulse signal (103) after the reference signal (104) as a second signal group (108). The calculating unit (302) utilizes the reference signal (104) and a first feature value of the first signal group (107) to obtain a first difference value. The calculating unit (302) utilizes the reference signal (104) and a second feature value of the second signal group (108) to obtain a second difference value. The calculating unit (302) calculates the first difference value and the second difference value to obtain a result weighting value. The calculating unit (302) utilizes the result weighting value to obtain a flow measurement result of a fluid (204).