Live Fluid Energy Inference Using Density for Fast Calorific Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for determining the energy content of flow fluids, particularly in dynamic environments, are cumbersome, difficult to deploy for live measurements, and suffer from delays and inaccuracies due to reliance on direct composition determination and temperature/pressure dependencies.
Innovation Solution
An inferential method using a computer-based inference module that analyzes relationships between measured quantities, specifically density and viscosity, to infer energy content through equations that account for temperature and pressure dependencies, without considering viscosity, specific gravity, or air density, enabling live and accurate energy content determination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If direct composition determination methods are used to measure energy content, then measurement precision may be improved, but measurement time increases and live determination becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces direct composition determination methods with an inferential system that uses measured quantities (density, viscosity, temperature, pressure) and predetermined relationships to calculate energy content. This substitution eliminates the time-consuming sampling, combustion, and composition analysis processes while enabling live determination of energy content in flowing fluids.
Solution Approach 2:
The system establishes predetermined relationships between measured quantities and energy content before live measurement. By pre-determining these relationships offline, the system enables rapid online calculation of energy content using only simple physical measurements, thus reducing measurement time while maintaining precision.
2Measurement precision
If composition determination methods are used for flowing fluids, then energy content can be determined, but system complexity increases and live measurement becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential measured quantities (density, viscosity, temperature, pressure) needed for energy content determination, eliminating the need for complex composition analysis equipment. This extraction approach simplifies the system while maintaining the capability to determine energy content accurately through inferential relationships.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces intermediary measured quantities (density, viscosity, temperature, pressure) that serve as mediators between the flowing fluid and the energy content calculation. These intermediaries are easier to measure in live conditions than direct composition, thus reducing system complexity while enabling energy content determination.
3Adaptability or versatility
If existing inferential methods are used that account for temperature and pressure dependencies, then adaptability improves, but measurement precision decreases due to inaccurate factor determination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates temperature and pressure as explicit parameters in the inferential relationships. By accounting for these parameter changes, the system adapts to varying operating conditions while maintaining measurement precision. The measured quantities are adjusted based on their temperature and pressure dependencies, leading to more accurate energy content determinations under different conditions.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for determining an inferential relationship between an inferred energy content and at least one measured quantity is disclosed. The inferential relationship yields an inferred energy content. The method uses a computer (200) having a processor (210) configured to execute commands based on data stored in a memory (220), the processor (210) implementing steps of an inference module (204) stored in the memory (220), the method comprising a step of determining, by the inference module (204) the inferential relationship by analyzing a relationship between known measurements of at least one measured energy content of at least one fluid and at least one corresponding measured value of a same type as the at least one measured quantity wherein the inferential relationship has a density term (B), wherein one of the at least one measured quantity is a measured density (ρ) and the density term (B) has an inverse density (1/ρ), the density term (B) representing an inverse relationship between density (p) and the inferred energy content, and wherein the measured density (ρ) is not a density of air (ρair).