Ultrasonic Flowmeter Variable Drive Amplitude and Gain
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ultrasonic transit time flowmeters face challenges in achieving high precision and reciprocity under varying conditions, with transducer coatings and flow variations affecting signal quality and accuracy, and existing designs struggle to optimize performance without altering circuitry.
Innovation Solution
An ultrasonic flowmeter design featuring a generator circuit and receiver circuit connected by a single electric signal path with controlled impedance, allowing for variable amplitude drive signals and adjustable amplification gain, ensuring high reciprocity and adaptability to changing conditions without disassembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the generator circuit outputs a fixed driving signal and the receiver circuit uses a specific amplification gain, then the electronic arrangement achieves high reciprocity, but the flowmeter cannot adapt to varying operational conditions such as different flow velocities and temperature ranges
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the amplification gain of the receiver circuit adjustable rather than fixed. The receiver circuit can dynamically adapt its gain setting based on operational conditions such as flow velocity and temperature, allowing the system to maintain measurement precision across varying conditions while preserving reciprocity through controlled impedance matching
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the electrical parameters of the receiver circuit by allowing adjustment of the amplification gain. This enables the system to optimize signal reception for different operational conditions (different flow velocities, temperature ranges) without altering the fundamental reciprocal structure of the electronic arrangement, thus resolving the contradiction between fixed parameters and adaptability
2Measurement precision
If the amplitude of drive signals or amplification gain is increased to compensate for transducer coatings and signal attenuation, then signal quality improves, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by allowing the amplification gain to be adjusted to the minimum necessary level for each operational condition. Rather than always using high gain to ensure signal quality under all conditions, the system uses just enough amplification to maintain adequate signal quality, thereby reducing unnecessary energy consumption while still compensating for transducer coatings and signal attenuation when needed
3Adaptability or versatility
If the flowmeter is designed to operate in a large dynamic range of flow velocities and temperature ranges, then versatility improves, but maintaining measurement precision and reciprocity under all conditions becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses dynamics by implementing adjustable amplification gain that can be adapted to different operational conditions. This allows the flowmeter to maintain measurement precision across a large dynamic range of flow velocities and temperature ranges, as the gain can be optimized for each specific condition while preserving the reciprocal structure of the electronic arrangement
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 design enhances measurement accuracy and adaptability, maintaining high precision and energy efficiency by allowing adjustments to operational settings, reducing the impact of coatings and flow variations, and enabling operation with low-voltage electronics.
Implementation Method 1
In a typical ultrasonic flowmeter, ultrasonic transducers for generating and detecting ultrasonic signals are placed so that the generated signals can propagate through the medium flow
Implementation Method 2
Signals propagating downstream propagate faster than signals propagating upstream, and the flow rate can be determined by measuring difference in arrival time of the emitted signals at the other transducers
Data Source
Figure 1~2B
Figure 3~4
Figure 5A~6
AI summary
The present invention relates to consumption meter in the form of an ultrasonic transit time flowmeter for measuring a flow value representing a consumed quantity. The generator circuit of the flowmeter is adapted for generating drive signals with variable amplitude and/or the receiver circuit of the flowmeter is adapted to change the amplification gain of the receiving circuit.