MEMS Gas Meter with Thermal Compensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mechanical diaphragm gas meters for city gas metering are unreliable and inaccurate due to temperature and pressure variations, and existing electronic solutions are costly and impractical for residential applications, lacking compatibility with existing installations and adequate safety features.
Innovation Solution
An all-electronic utility gas meter using MEMS mass flow sensors with integrated thermistors for automatic compensation, a compact design compatible with mechanical diaphragm meters, and an integrated safety valve for emergency shut-off, enabling remote data transmission and billing, while maintaining mechanical connection configurations for seamless replacement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If mechanical diaphragm meters are used for city gas metering, then self-powered metering and long-term reliability are achieved, but measurement accuracy deteriorates due to temperature and pressure variations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical diaphragm measurement system with an electronic MEMS-based mass flow sensor system. The MEMS sensor directly measures mass flow rate electronically, eliminating the mechanical diaphragm's vulnerability to temperature and pressure variations. This substitution maintains self-powered operation while achieving temperature-independent measurement accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the measurement parameter from volumetric flow rate (which varies with temperature and pressure) to mass flow rate (which is independent of environmental conditions). The MEMS sensor measures mass flow directly, and the system calculates volumetric flow at standard conditions, thereby resolving the accuracy deterioration caused by environmental variations.
2Measurement precision
If electronic gas meters with MEMS sensors are introduced to improve measurement accuracy, then temperature and pressure compensation is achieved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the flow sensing, temperature sensing, pressure sensing, data processing, and communication functions into a single integrated MEMS chip and electronic control unit. This consolidation reduces the number of separate components and simplifies the overall device structure, thereby reducing complexity and cost while maintaining high measurement accuracy with automatic environmental compensation.
Solution Approach 2:
The MEMS chip is designed as a multi-functional integrated device that simultaneously performs mass flow measurement, temperature measurement, pressure measurement, data processing, and communication. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate mechanical components and external electronics, reducing device complexity while achieving accurate temperature and pressure compensated measurements.
3Extent of automation
If mechanical diaphragm meters are replaced with electronic meters, then remote data transmission and smart metering functions are enabled, but compatibility with existing installations deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the meter into a compact electronic control unit with MEMS sensor and a separate valve assembly, allowing independent optimization of each component. The compact design enables the electronic meter to fit within existing installation spaces, while the modular structure facilitates compatibility with standard gas pipeline connections and valve interfaces, thereby maintaining adaptability to existing installations while enabling remote data transmission.
4Measurement precision
If ultrasonic gas meters are deployed to simplify temperature and pressure compensation, then measurement accuracy improves, but cost and performance issues prevent widespread adoption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the ultrasonic measurement system with a MEMS-based thermal mass flow sensing system. The MEMS sensor uses thermal conduction principles to measure mass flow directly, eliminating the need for complex ultrasonic transducers and signal processing electronics. This substitution significantly reduces manufacturing cost and simplifies the device structure while maintaining high measurement accuracy with automatic temperature and pressure compensation.
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
The solution provides accurate and reliable gas metering with automatic compensation for environmental variations, ensuring data safety and remote management, while allowing direct replacement of mechanical meters without additional installation costs, enhancing energy management and safety.
Implementation Method 1
MEMS mass flow sensors with integrated thermistors for automatic compensation
Implementation Method 2
integrated thermistors for automatic compensation
Implementation Method 3
automatic temperature and pressure compensation
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic utility gas meter using MEMS thermal mass flow sensor to measure gas custody transfer data in city gas metering application is disclosed in the present invention. The meter is designed to have its mechanical connectors identical to those of the current diaphragm gas meters while the insertion metrology unit guided channel is placed coaxially in the main flow channel inside the meter body with gas flow conditioning apparatus. The mechanical installation of the electronic utility gas meter then can be fully compatible with the current mechanical utility gas meters, which allows a seamless replacement. The electronic utility gas meter provides gas metrology that significantly improves the accuracy of the city gas metering, and provides additional benefits for data safety, enhanced gas chemical safety, billing alternatives and full data management either locally or remotely.