Gas Metering Amplitude Temporal Signal Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current gas metering systems face inaccuracies due to gas density fluctuations, moisture changes, and low gas velocity affecting vortex formation, leading to unreliable volumetric flow rate measurements.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a housing with a flow manager and sensor that modifies physical characteristics of gas flow and generates electrical signals based on amplitude and temporal characteristics, allowing for accurate determination of flow parameters like mass and volumetric flow rates, independent of density and velocity fluctuations.
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 patent segments the flow measurement into two distinct components: volumetric flow rate measurement (using vortex-based frequency detection) and gas density measurement (using separate density sensors). By measuring these separately and calculating mass flow rate from their product, the system avoids the direct coupling that causes measurement errors in traditional mass flow sensors when gas composition or density changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary computational step where volumetric flow rate and gas density are measured separately and then combined through calculation to derive mass flow rate. This intermediary approach allows each measurement to be optimized independently - volumetric flow using vortex frequency (insensitive to density) and density using dedicated sensors - thereby improving overall measurement reliability.
2Measurement precision
If vortex-based sensing devices are used to determine volumetric flow rate based on vortex formation frequency, then direct volumetric flow rate measurement is achieved, but measurement accuracy deteriorates when gas velocity is low due to affected vortex formation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges vortex-based volumetric flow measurement with alternative low-velocity flow detection methods and gas density measurement. By combining multiple measurement approaches and their respective outputs (volumetric flow rate from vortex frequency when applicable, alternative measurements when velocity is low, and gas density from dedicated sensors), the system maintains measurement accuracy across the full range of operating conditions including low velocity scenarios.
3Device complexity
If traditional flow sensors are used, then simple measurement is achieved, but measurement reliability deteriorates due to adverse impacts from gas density fluctuations, moisture fluctuations, and gas mixture fluctuations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal measurement system that can accurately measure mass flow rate across varying gas conditions by integrating multiple functions: volumetric flow rate sensing (vortex-based frequency detection), gas density sensing (using separate density sensors), and computational processing. This multi-functional approach allows the system to adapt to different gas compositions, densities, and moisture levels while maintaining measurement reliability, unlike single-function traditional sensors.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for metering gas includes a housing configured to allow a flow of the gas between an input port and an output port. Further, the system includes a flow manager disposed in the housing and configured to modify at least one physical characteristic of the flow of the gas in the housing. Furthermore, the system includes a flow sensor disposed in the housing and configured to generate an electrical signal in response to flow characteristics of the gas in the housing. Moreover, the system also includes a processor configured to determine at least one flow parameter of the gas based on an amplitude characteristic of the electrical signal, a temporal characteristic of the electrical signal, or both the amplitude characteristic and the temporal characteristic of the electrical signal. A method for metering the gas is also presented.