Force Pulse Sensor for Air Bubble Detection in Fluid Flow Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fluid flow systems face challenges in accurately detecting air bubbles and determining fluid composition due to the time-intensive and prone-to-false-alarm nature of ultrasonic sensing technologies, which are often required to sweep a wide spectrum of frequencies and are susceptible to fluctuations and decoupling issues.
Innovation Solution
A sensor configuration employing a force pulse generator and force pulse sensor to emit and detect mechanical waves, analyzing transient responses to determine the presence of air bubbles and fluid composition, allowing for integrated and reliable detection within the fluid flow system without additional detection components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If ultrasonic sensing technology is used to detect air bubbles, then detection capability is provided, but false alarms increase and reliability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the detection parameter from ultrasonic frequency amplitude variations to transient response characteristics (rise time, peak time, decay characteristics) of mechanical force pulses. This parameter change allows differentiation between air bubbles and other fluid dynamics events, reducing false alarms while maintaining detection capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the ultrasonic acoustic field with a mechanical force pulse system. By applying and measuring mechanical force pulses through the conduit wall, the system achieves more reliable air bubble detection that is less susceptible to false alarms from fluid fluctuations.
2Adaptability or versatility
If ultrasonic signals sweep a large spectrum of frequencies, then detection coverage is improved, but processing burden and time consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses periodic mechanical force pulses at a single frequency rather than sweeping ultrasonic frequencies. This periodic mechanical excitation simplifies the detection process to measuring transient response characteristics, dramatically reducing processing time while maintaining detection effectiveness across different fluid conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts only the essential detection information by using a single-frequency mechanical force pulse and analyzing specific transient response parameters (rise time, peak time, decay). This eliminates the need to process a wide frequency spectrum, reducing computational burden and time consumption.
3Reliability
If separate air bubble detection modules are added, then detection capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the air bubble detection function with the existing fluid delivery system by integrating force pulse generation and sensing into the pump structure itself. The force pulse generator and sensor are incorporated into the pump housing, eliminating separate detection modules and reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical force pulse system serves multiple functions: it enables air bubble detection, provides fluid composition analysis, and monitors fluid dynamics. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for separate specialized detection modules, simplifying the overall system architecture.
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 enables reliable detection of air bubbles and determination of fluid composition, reducing false alarms and processing burdens, and providing accurate operating conditions for fluid flow systems.
Implementation Method 1
employs a force pulse generator and force pulse sensor configured to emit and detect, respectively, mechanical waves transmitted through a fluid flow
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
Sensors, methods, and computer program products for air bubble detection and fluid composition determinations are provided. An example sensor device for use with fluid flow systems includes a force pulse generator coupled with a fluid flow system that emits a force pulse and a force pulse sensor coupled with the fluid flow system. The force pulse sensor receives the force pulse emitted by the force pulse generator and determines the fluid flow system's transient response to the force pulse. Based upon the transient response, the force pulse sensor determines an operating condition of the fluid flow system. The operating condition may be indicative of the presence of an air bubble within the fluid flow system or may be indicative of a composition of a fluid within the fluid flow system. The force pulse sensor may further determine the amplitude and rate of decay of the transient response.