Liquid Transfer Measurement Bypassing Degassing Unit

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for determining the quantity of liquids, such as milk, during transfer are limited by the degassing arrangement, which restricts transfer performance and requires large volumes, especially when gas inclusions occur, leading to inefficiencies and increased transfer times.

Innovation Solution

The method involves continuously monitoring the need for degassing using a gas bubble detection device and dividing the liquid flow to bypass the degassing arrangement when not necessary, allowing the liquid to be guided past it and merged downstream, thereby maximizing transfer performance and maintaining continuous flow without interruption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the liquid is continuously passed through the degassing arrangement to ensure complete degassing, then measurement accuracy is improved, but transfer performance is reduced and transfer time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccuracy of quantity determinationVSAvoidtransfer performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The liquid flow is divided into two separate streams: one passing through the degassing arrangement for complete degassing and measurement, and another bypassing the degassing arrangement for rapid transfer. This segmentation allows the system to simultaneously achieve accurate measurement and high transfer performance by processing different portions of the liquid through different paths.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of requiring all liquid to undergo complete degassing, the system applies partial degassing action only to the portion of liquid that needs precise measurement, while the remaining liquid bypasses this step. This partial action approach maintains measurement accuracy for the measured portion while avoiding the time penalty for the entire flow.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

2Productivity

If the degassing arrangement volume is increased to handle higher transfer performance, then productivity is improved, but device complexity and space requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransfer performanceVSAvoidvolume of degassing arrangement
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the liquid flow so that only a portion passes through the degassing arrangement at any given time. This allows the use of a smaller, more compact degassing arrangement volume while still maintaining the required transfer performance, as the bypass stream handles the volume capacity requirement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The measuring line serves multiple functions: it acts as both a transfer conduit and a measurement path. By integrating the measurement function into the bypass line, the system eliminates the need for a separate large-volume measurement chamber, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining productivity.

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 enhances transfer performance by ensuring the degassing arrangement's maximum throughput is always available, reducing transfer times and maintaining accurate quantity determination even under varying conditions, including those with gas inclusions.

Implementation Method 1

continuously monitoring the need for degassing using a gas bubble detection device

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGas bubble detection:

Implementation Method 2

the gas inclusions in the liquid to be transferred separate over the free surface of a respective subset of this liquid, which must remain in the degassing arrangement for a sufficiently long time and there due to the gas bubble buoyancy and/or by the Centrifugal force of a tangential velocity component of a rotational flow degasses

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGas bubble buoyancy: Archimedes' Principle (Buoyancy)

Implementation Method 3

the gas inclusions in the liquid to be transferred separate over the free surface of a respective subset of this liquid, which must remain in the degassing arrangement for a sufficiently long time and there due to the gas bubble buoyancy and/or by the Centrifugal force of a tangential velocity component of a rotational flow degasses

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCentrifugal force: Centrifugal Force

Data Source

PatentEP2475244B1Method and device for determining the amount of transported liquid
Publication Date: 2014.04.16 SCHWARTE JANSKY
  • EP2475244B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2475244B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2475244B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for determining a quantity when transferring a liquid, particularly milk, and specifically during the process of transferring said milk from a supply vessel of a supplier to a collection tank of a transport vehicle, of a dairy, for example, according to the preamble of claim 1, and to a device for carrying out the method according to the preamble of claim 24. It is the aim of the present invention to ensure in a method and a device of the type in question that, when a large amount is transferred through the measuring line, the degasification unit loses its function of limiting the transferred amount, and a reliable and accurate quantity determination of the transferred liquid is ensured. This aim is achieved by the method in that ° the degasification unit (2) is continuously acted on for the entire duration of the transfer; ° the necessity to degas the liquid to be transferred is continuously ascertained upstream of the degasification unit (2) by way of a gas bubble detection element (3); ° prior to reaching the degasification unit (2), and optionally if no need for degasification exists, the liquid to be transferred is divided and branched off; and ° the part of the liquid to be transferred that is not fed to the degasification unit (2) is conducted past the degasification unit (2), and downstream of the degasification unit (2), it is merged with the liquid emerging from said unit and the merged liquid is fed to the throughput measuring device (4).