Four-Tube Vibration Sensor for High Mass Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vibration-type measuring sensors face challenges in achieving high sensitivity and low pressure drop at high mass flow rates, especially above 1000 t/h, with large nominal diameters, and are impractical due to excessive size, weight, and installation length, making them unsuitable for applications in the petrochemical industry and other high-flow rate scenarios.
Innovation Solution
The use of a tube arrangement with four parallel, V-shaped or arc-shaped measuring tubes instead of the conventional two, which increases the effective flow cross-section by over 20% and minimizes mechanical stresses, allowing for a more compact design with reduced pressure loss and improved measurement accuracy, even in extreme temperature conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If conventional two-tube arrangements are used, then the sensor structure is simpler, but the effective flow cross-section is insufficient for high mass flow rates above 1000 t/h
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the flow measurement function into four separate measuring tubes instead of using a single or dual-tube arrangement. Each tube handles a portion of the total flow, collectively providing sufficient effective flow cross-section for high mass flow rates above 1000 t/h while maintaining manageable individual tube dimensions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a planar two-tube arrangement to a three-dimensional four-tube configuration with V-shaped or arc-shaped layouts. This spatial dimensionality change allows the tubes to be arranged in a compact geometry that increases effective flow cross-section without proportionally increasing overall sensor size
2Quantity of substance
If the number of measuring tubes is increased to four, then the effective flow cross-section increases by over 20%, but the device dimensions and empty mass increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent nests the four measuring tubes within a compact sensor housing in a V-shaped or arc-shaped configuration. The tubes are arranged to share common structural support elements and flow divider components, allowing the effective flow cross-section to increase by over 20% while the empty mass increases by a smaller factor due to shared structural mass
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the structural support functions for all four measuring tubes into a single integrated sensor housing with common flow dividers and connection flanges. This consolidation allows multiple tubes to share structural mass, reducing the proportional increase in empty mass compared to the increase in effective flow cross-section
3Loss of energy
If four parallel measuring tubes are used, then the pressure drop is reduced at high mass flow rates, but the installation length and lateral extent increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs V-shaped or arc-shaped arrangements of the four measuring tubes instead of straight parallel configurations. This curvature allows the flow paths to be optimized for reduced pressure drop at high mass flow rates while the overall installation length and lateral extent remain compact due to the bent geometry
4Productivity
If four measuring tubes are used to handle high mass flow rates, then measurement capability is improved, but mechanical stresses on the tubes increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the total high mass flow rate into four separate flow streams, one through each measuring tube. This segmentation reduces the flow rate and associated mechanical stresses on each individual tube compared to using a single large-diameter tube, while collectively maintaining the capability to handle total mass flow rates above 1000 t/h
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 configuration enables the creation of compact, high-sensitivity vibration-type measuring sensors with manageable dimensions and reduced empty mass, suitable for mass flow rates exceeding 1000 t/h, while maintaining measurement accuracy and structural integrity, even with fluctuating medium temperatures.
Implementation Method 1
react forces in the medium, such as with the mass flow corresponding Coriolis forces
Implementation Method 2
driven by an exciter arrangement serving to generate or maintain mechanical vibrations, especially bending vibrations, of the measuring tubes in the so-called drive or useful mode
Implementation Method 3
the sensor arrangement is formed by means of a vibration sensor on the inlet side that detects vibrations of the measuring tubes differentially
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3a
AI summary
The invention relates to a sensor comprising a sensor housing (71) from which an inlet-side housing end is formed by means of an inlet-side flow divider (201) having exactly four flow openings (201A, 202B, 202C, 202D) spaced apart from each other and an outlet-side housing end is formed by means of an outlet-side flow divider (202) having exactly four flow openings (201A, 202B, 202C, 202D) spaced apart from each other and a pipe assembly having exactly four curved measurement tubes (181, 182, 183, 184) which are only parallel in pairs and connected to the flow dividers (201, 202) forming flow paths connected in parallel for conducting a flowing medium, wherein each of the four measurement tubes opens with an inlet-side measurement tube end into one of the flow openings of the flow divider (201) and with an outlet-side measurement tube end into one of the flow openings of the flow divider (202). In the sensor according to the invention, the two flow dividers (201, 202) are further designed and arranged in the sensor so that the tube assembly has an imaginary longitudinal section plane (YZ) running both between a first and a second measurement tube and between a third and a fourth measurement tube, relative to which the tube assembly is mirror-symmetrical, and a longitudinal section plane (XZ), perpendicular to the imaginary longitudinal section plane (YZ), lying both between the first and the third measurement tubes and between the second and the fourth measurement tubes, relative to which the tube assembly is likewise mirror-symmetrical. An electro-mechanical exciter assembly (5) of the sensor serves to generate and/or maintain mechanical vibrations of the four measurement tubes (181, 182, 183, 184).