Coriolis Flowmeter Segmented Wetted Dry Assembly
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flowmeters with vibrating sensors, such as Coriolis flowmeters, face issues where the wetted components become non-reusable after exposure to hazardous or difficult-to-clean process materials, leading to high costs and impracticality for short-term applications, as the entire meter needs to be replaced when the wetted parts are damaged.
Innovation Solution
A flowmeter design featuring a separable wetted assembly and a dry assembly, where the wetted assembly contains the conduits and driver magnets, and the dry assembly houses the driver coil and electronics, allowing for the wetted assembly to be replaced independently without affecting the dry components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the wetted components are exposed to hazardous or difficult-to-clean process materials, then the measurement function is achieved, but the wetted components become non-reusable and require complete meter replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The flowmeter is divided into two separate assemblies: a wetted assembly containing conduits and driver magnets that contacts process materials, and a dry assembly containing driver coils and electronics that remains isolated. This segmentation allows the wetted assembly to be replaced independently after exposure to hazardous materials, while the dry assembly can be reused, resolving the contradiction between measurement reliability and component reusability.
2Reliability
If the entire meter is replaced when wetted parts are damaged, then measurement accuracy is maintained, but cost increases and short-term applications become impractical
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the flowmeter into replaceable wetted components and reusable dry components, the invention enables cost-effective maintenance where only the contaminated wetted assembly needs replacement rather than the entire meter, making short-term applications economically viable while maintaining measurement accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies the discarding and recovering principle by allowing the wetted assembly to be discarded after exposure to hazardous materials while recovering and reusing the expensive dry assembly containing electronics and driver coils, significantly reducing replacement costs for short-term applications.
3Ease of repair
If the wetted assembly is separable from the dry assembly, then component replacement is simplified, but the structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flowmeter structure is segmented into a wetted assembly and a dry assembly that can be independently removed and installed. This segmentation simplifies repair and maintenance operations by allowing technicians to replace only the wetted assembly without handling sensitive electronic components, while the added structural complexity of separable connections is minimal and designed for ease of assembly.
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 enables cost-effective replacement of wetted components, reducing the need for complete meter replacement and maintaining accurate measurements by keeping the electronic components dry and reusable, thus extending the life cycle of the flowmeter.
Implementation Method 1
An alternating current is passed to the drive coil for vibrating the conduit(s) at a desired conduit amplitude and frequency
Implementation Method 2
the pickoffs can use the motion provided by the driver to induce a voltage
Implementation Method 3
Each conduit configuration in a Coriolis mass flowmeter, for example, has a set of natural vibration modes, which may be of simple bending, torsional, or coupled type
Implementation Method 4
As material begins to flow through the flowmeter, Coriolis forces cause each point along the conduit(s) to have a different phase
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A flowmeter (5) is provided. The flowmeter (5) has a wetted assembly (200) comprising one or more conduits (208, 208'), and at least one driver magnet (218, 218') attached to the one or more conduits (208, 208'). A dry assembly (202) houses a driver coil (224), and meter electronics (20) are in electrical communication with the driver coil (224). A case (236) at least partially covers the wetted assembly (200) and the dry assembly (202). The dry assembly (202) is removably attachable to the wetted assembly (200). The driver coil (224) is in magnetic communication with the at least one driver magnet (218, 218') when the dry assembly (202) is attached to the wetted assembly (200), and the driver coil (224) is configured to provide a vibratory signal to the at least one driver magnet (218, 218') when the dry assembly (202) is attached to the wetted assembly (200).