Automated Meter Test Bench Flow Control With Temperature Correction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional water meter test bench systems are manually controlled, leading to potential errors due to human factors such as parallax and lack of repeatability, and do not provide temperature correction, which affects the accuracy of fluid meter testing.
Innovation Solution
An automated meter testing system that includes a programmable logic controller (PLC) and proportional integral derivative (PID) controller to precisely control fluid flow through a series of meters, using a V-ball valve for fine adjustments, and incorporates a thermocouple for temperature correction, ensuring accurate and repeatable testing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual control is used for flow control and measurement reading, then operation simplicity is maintained, but measurement precision deteriorates due to human errors such as parallax
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical reading with an automated optical/electronic reading system. The system uses a camera or sensor to capture the meter reading and processes it automatically, eliminating human parallax errors and improving measurement precision while maintaining ease of operation through automated control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary automated control system between the operator and the measurement process. This intermediary system includes automated valve control, flow rate monitoring, and reading capture mechanisms that mediate the testing process to eliminate human error while keeping the system easy to operate through centralized control.
2Device complexity
If manual control is used for flow rate adjustment, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability deteriorates due to lack of repeatability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback control system where the actual flow rate is continuously monitored and compared to the target flow rate. The system automatically adjusts the control valve based on this feedback to maintain the desired flow rate, ensuring repeatable and reliable testing results. This feedback mechanism adds complexity but significantly improves reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-adjustment of flow rates through automated control valves and monitoring systems. The testing system automatically maintains consistent flow rates without requiring manual intervention for each adjustment, ensuring repeatability while the overall system remains relatively simple to operate through automated sequences.
3Device complexity
If temperature correction is not provided, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual temperature measurement and calculation with an automated temperature sensor and computational system. The system automatically measures fluid temperature, applies the appropriate correction factors based on standardized tables or formulas, and adjusts the accuracy calculation accordingly, improving precision while adding minimal complexity through integrated sensing and computation.
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 automated system ensures precise and repeatable fluid flow measurements, reducing human error and providing accurate meter accuracy calculations by automatically adjusting flow rates and accounting for temperature variations, thus enhancing the reliability of water meter testing.
Implementation Method 1
a thermocouple in contact with the fluid in the tank to determine the temperature of the fluid in the tank
Implementation Method 2
a scale that weighs the fluid collected in the tank
Data Source
AI summary
An automated meter testing system that includes a fluid inlet valve fluidly coupled both to a fluid source and an inlet on the at least one meter. The fluid source provides fluid pressure to move fluid through the at least one meter. A flow control valve is fluidly coupled to the at least one meter opposite the fluid inlet valve. A valve controller that operates the flow control valve. A controller is electrically connected to the valve controller. The controller sends at least one signal to the valve controller to incrementally open or restrict the flow control valve to increase or decrease a flow rate of the fluid through the at least one meter.