Fuel Flow Measurement Correction for Gas Inclusion Errors

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for transferring liquids, such as fuel, that contain gas pockets lead to measurement errors due to gas inclusions, which can result in inaccurate volume calculations, failing to meet legal calibration requirements and causing incorrect measurements.

Innovation Solution

A method that corrects the flow rate value obtained by offsetting fill level and flow measurements with a value accounting for gas inclusion release, ensuring a corrected flow rate value is used to determine the actual amount of liquid transferred, thereby enhancing measurement accuracy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If gas separators are used to separate gas pockets from the liquid, then measurement accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement accuracyVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the gas separation function from a physical gas separator device and implements it through a computational correction method. The system calculates a correction value based on pressure and degree of filling measurements to account for dissolved gas fractions, thereby eliminating the need for complex physical gas separation equipment while maintaining measurement accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical gas separator system with an information-based correction system. Instead of physically removing gas pockets using mechanical separation devices, the system uses computational algorithms that process measurements of pressure and degree of filling to calculate and apply correction factors, substituting mechanical action with information processing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Device complexity

If gas inclusions are measured and taken into account when determining flow rate, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice complexityVSAvoidmeasurement accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the parameters used in the measurement system by introducing pressure measurement and degree of filling measurement as additional parameters. These parameters enable the system to calculate correction values that account for dissolved gas fractions, thereby improving measurement accuracy without requiring complex physical gas separation devices.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Measurement precision

If pressure measurement is carried out to detect gas compression effects, then measurement accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement accuracyVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the pressure measurement serve multiple functions: it detects gas compression effects, calculates correction values for dissolved gas fractions, and improves the accuracy of flow rate measurements. This multi-functional use of the pressure measurement minimizes the need for additional specialized equipment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 provides high measurement accuracy by accounting for dissolved gas fractions, ensuring compliance with legal error limits and reducing measurement inaccuracies caused by gas inclusions, even in systems without gas separators.

Implementation Method 1

the pump causing an increase in pressure in the line on its pressure side

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure increase: Pressure Increase

Implementation Method 2

a value which takes into account a release of gas inclusions in the liquid

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGas release: Depressurisation

Data Source

PatentEP2199754B1Method and device for transferring a liquid with one at least temporary gas inclusion and for determining the amount of transferred liquid
Publication Date: 2018.04.04 BARTEC BENKE GMBH
  • EP2199754B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2199754B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2199754B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The device has a filling level measurement device (6) e.g. capacitance measurement device, and a flow rate measurement device (7) i.e. turbine meter, arranged at a line (10). An arithmetic unit (100) corrects a conveying quantity value with a pressure-dependent value, which considers dissolving of a gas bubble in the fuel, so that a corrected conveying quantity value is obtained. The quantity value is obtained by considering measurement results of the measurement devices. The arithmetic unit outputs the corrected quantity value as a measure for fluid quantity.