Flowmeter Unit With Stack Insert Plates For Laminar Flow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flow rate measuring units face challenges in accurately determining fluid flow rates due to turbulent flow effects in bypass channels, which disrupt laminar flow in measuring channels, and the geometry of measuring channels is fixed and difficult to adapt to different fluids.
Innovation Solution
A flow rate measuring unit with a stack of insert plates that form both measuring and bypass channels, allowing for easy adaptation to various fluid properties by rearranging or replacing the plates, and an electrical sensor arrangement on a substrate with routing options for electrical connections to prevent disruptive influences on laminar flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a bypass channel with large cross-sectional area is used, then the main channel can handle high flow rates, but turbulent flow effects occur that disrupt laminar flow in the measuring channel
Solution Approach 1:
The bypass channel is divided into multiple parallel bypass channel branches (at least two) with smaller cross-sectional areas. This segmentation reduces turbulence in each individual branch while maintaining the overall flow capacity of the bypass channel, thereby preserving laminar flow conditions in the measuring channel branch.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the measuring channel geometry is fixed in the housing, then the housing structure remains simple, but the flow rate measurement cannot be adapted to different fluid properties
Solution Approach 1:
The measuring channel branch and bypass channel branches are formed by insert plates that can be rearranged, added, or removed within the channel expansion chamber. This dynamic configuration allows the channel geometry to be adapted to different fluid properties while keeping the housing structure simple and unchanged.
3Ease of operation
If electrical connection lines are routed through the channel expansion chamber, then electrical connections are simplified, but the routing may disrupt the laminar flow in the measuring channel
Solution Approach 1:
The electrical connection lines are routed through the housing parts or through the insert plates themselves, extracting the routing path from the channel expansion chamber's flow area. This prevents disruption of laminar flow in the measuring channel while maintaining simplified electrical connections.
4Reliability
If multiple bypass channel branches are used to reduce turbulence, then laminar flow is improved, but the device structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple bypass channel branches and the measuring channel branch are merged into a single integrated insert plate stack structure. The insert plates simultaneously form all channel branches, reducing overall structural complexity while maintaining the beneficial laminar flow conditions provided by multiple bypass branches.
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
Enables accurate and adaptable flow rate measurement by ensuring laminar flow in both measuring and bypass channels, preventing turbulent disruptions and allowing for optimal geometry adjustment for different fluids without structural changes to the housing or substrate.
Implementation Method 1
An exact determination of the amount of flow in the measuring channel branch is only possible if there is a laminar flow in the measuring channel branch having the sensor arrangement
Data Source
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AI summary
A flow metering unit (1) with a housing (2) comprising at least two interconnectable housing parts (3, 4) in which a flow channel (9) extends, branching into a measuring channel branch (38) and at least one bypass channel branch (36), wherein a substrate (11) with a sensor arrangement is arranged in the measuring channel branch (38). According to the invention, the flow channel (9) has a channel expansion chamber (12) in which a stack of insert plates (15) comprising at least two insert plates (16) is arranged, each of which has at least one longitudinally extending recess (17, 17') serving as a measuring channel branch (38) and/or as a bypass channel branch (36). The insert plates (16) are provided as inserts for the channel expansion chamber (12).