Liquid Volume Determination with Discontinuous Degasification

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for determining liquid quantities, particularly in milk transfer, face challenges with gas inclusions that require large degassing volumes, limiting conveying rates and increasing system complexity, especially in tank vehicles.

Innovation Solution

A method and device that route liquid past a degassing arrangement during normal operation without significant gas load, employing temporary and targeted degassing at the beginning, end, or during fault conditions, using an intermediate reservoir for degassing outside the main flow line, allowing high conveying rates and compact system design.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a gas separator is provided in the delivery line to separate gas components from the liquid flow, then measurement reliability is improved, but the device volume and weight increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement reliabilityVSAvoidgas separator volume
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The harmful gas inclusions are extracted from the liquid flow by diverting a portion of the flow to the gas separator, while the main stream continues through the measuring device. This separates the gas removal function from the main flow path, allowing compact gas separator design without compromising measurement reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The liquid flow is segmented into two paths: a main stream that bypasses the gas separator and continues to the measuring device, and a side stream that is diverted to the gas separator for gas removal. This segmentation allows the gas separator to be compact while still effectively treating the liquid flow.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If the acceptance capacity of the gas separator is increased, then gas separation performance is improved, but the gas separator volume and weight increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveacceptance capacityVSAvoidgas separator volume
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of treating the entire liquid flow through the gas separator, only a portion of the flow is diverted to the gas separator. This partial action approach provides sufficient gas separation performance for the main flow without requiring a large-capacity gas separator, thus reducing its volume and weight.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Measurement precision

If continuous degassing is implemented, then measurement precision is improved, but conveying rate decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvequantity determination precisionVSAvoidconveying rate
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

Gas separation is implemented periodically by diverting portions of the liquid flow to the gas separator at intervals, rather than continuously treating the entire flow. This periodic gas removal maintains measurement precision while minimizing interference with the overall conveying rate.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

4Reliability

If a vacuum pump is provided to suck liquid into the gas separator, then gas separation is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegas separation effectivenessVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The liquid flow itself provides the driving force for gas separation by utilizing the pressure differential and flow dynamics to automatically divert portions of the liquid to the gas separator and return the degassed liquid to the main stream, eliminating the need for additional vacuum pumps or complex control systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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

Enables reliable and precise quantity determination with high conveying rates by minimizing the need for continuous degassing, reducing system volume, and preventing gas-related errors, suitable for milk transfer and other liquid applications.

Implementation Method 1

a flow measuring device assigned to the measuring line for measuring a quantity of liquid flowing through the measuring line

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFlow measurement:

Implementation Method 2

a degassing arrangement for removing gas components from the liquid flow

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGas separation:

Data Source

PatentEP2148563B1Method and device for determining volume during transfer of a liquid
Publication Date: 2011.07.20 BARTEC BENKE GMBH
  • EP2148563B1 patent drawingFigure 1~7
  • EP2148563B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2148563B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for determining volume during the transfer of a liquid, wherein the liquid is fed via a supply opening (31) into a measurement conduit (30) and is fed via an outlet opening (32) out of the measurement conduit (30). A volume of liquid flowing through the measurement conduit (30) is determined by means of a throughflow measuring device (20) assigned to the measurement conduit (30). According to the invention, the liquid in the measurement conduit (30) is discontinuously supplied to a degasification arrangement (40). The invention also relates to a device for determining volume during the transfer of a liquid.