Gas Metering via Amplitude and Temporal Signal Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current fluid metering systems face inaccuracies due to gas density fluctuations, moisture changes, and low fluid velocity affecting vortex formation, leading to unreliable volumetric flow rate measurements.
Innovation Solution
A system with a primary and secondary conduit where a flow manager maintains a predetermined relationship between physical characteristics, and a sensor generates electrical signals used by a processor to calculate flow parameters based on amplitude and temporal characteristics, adapting to different flow regimes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If mass flow sensing devices are used to measure mass flow rate based on amplitude measurement, then sensitivity in low flow range is improved, but measurement accuracy deteriorates due to gas density fluctuations, moisture fluctuations, and gas mixture fluctuations
Solution Approach 1:
The fluid stream is divided into two paths: a primary conduit carrying the main flow and a secondary conduit carrying a portion of the flow. This segmentation allows separate measurement of mass flow rate (via amplitude) and volumetric flow rate (via velocity), enabling compensation for property fluctuations by combining both measurements.
Solution Approach 2:
A flow manager is introduced as an intermediary device that maintains a predetermined relationship between the primary and secondary conduits. This flow manager ensures that the portion of fluid in the secondary conduit represents the main flow, allowing accurate indirect measurement while compensating for property variations.
2Measurement precision
If vortex-based sensing devices are used to measure volumetric flow rate based on vortex formation frequency, then direct volumetric flow rate measurement is achieved, but measurement accuracy deteriorates when fluid velocity is low due to poor vortex formation
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the flow measurement into two complementary measurements: mass flow rate via amplitude in one path and volumetric flow rate via velocity in another path. This allows the vortex-based device to operate in a regime where it performs well, while the amplitude-based device compensates for low velocity conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the measurement parameter from relying solely on vortex frequency to using a combination of amplitude characteristics and temporal characteristics. This parameter change allows accurate measurement across different flow regimes, including low velocity conditions where vortex formation is poor.
3Device complexity
If a single measurement method is used, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to different flow regimes (laminar and turbulent) deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The measurement system is designed with multi-functionality to handle different flow regimes. By incorporating both amplitude-based mass flow measurement and velocity-based volumetric flow measurement, the system can adapt to both laminar and turbulent flow conditions, as well as different flow rates and fluid properties, within a unified device 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 provides accurate and reliable fluid metering across a wide range of operational conditions, minimizing the impact of property fluctuations and enabling precise measurement in both laminar and turbulent flow regimes.
Implementation Method 1
a sensor configured to generate an electrical signal in response to a flow characteristic of the portion of the fluid stream
Data Source
AI summary
A system for metering gas a fluid stream includes a primary conduit and a secondary conduit coupled to the primary conduit such that the secondary conduit receives a portion of a fluid stream passing through the primary conduit. A flow manager disposed in the primary conduit is configured to maintain a predetermined relationship between at least one first physical characteristic of the fluid stream and at least one second physical characteristic of the portion of the fluid stream. A sensor measures a flow characteristic of the portion of the fluid stream and a processor determines a flow parameter of the fluid stream based, at least in part, on the predetermined relationship and one of an amplitude or temporal characteristic of the electrical signal.