Motorless Mass Flowmeter Laminated Bypass Valve
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional motorless mass flowmeters face challenges in maintaining sensitivity at low flow rates while being robust at high flow rates, often experiencing adverse effects such as high back-pressure and mechanical wear, and have expensive or difficult-to-manufacture bypass valve designs.
Innovation Solution
A motorless mass flowmeter with a laminated bypass valve structure that includes a turbine subassembly with multiple sets of jets and bypass valves, allowing for regulation of pressure and rotational velocity through a system of parallel and series valve configurations, enabling efficient operation across a wide range of flow rates without excessive back-pressure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a conventional turbine design is used, then the flowmeter can handle high flow rates, but it cannot provide adequate torque at low flow rates and creates high back-pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The turbine is segmented into multiple independent jet groups (first jet group, second jet group, third jet group) that can be selectively activated. Each jet group corresponds to different flow rate ranges, allowing the turbine to provide adequate torque across the entire flow rate spectrum while minimizing back-pressure at each operating point.
Solution Approach 2:
The turbine design dynamically adapts to different flow rates by selectively engaging different jet groups. At low flow rates, only the first jet group is active to provide sufficient torque; as flow rate increases, additional jet groups are activated to maintain performance while reducing back-pressure effects.
2Adaptability or versatility
If bypass valves are added to regulate pressure and rotational velocity, then the flowmeter can operate across a wide range of flow rates, but the device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The bypass valve functionality is extracted and integrated directly into the turbine structure itself. The bypass passages are formed as integral features of the turbine body, eliminating the need for separate, complex bypass valve assemblies and reducing overall device complexity while maintaining pressure regulation capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The bypass valve system is merged with the turbine structure. The turbine body simultaneously serves as both the rotating element and the housing for bypass passages, combining multiple functions into a single integrated component that simplifies manufacturing and reduces part count.
3Reliability
If conventional bypass valves are used, then pressure regulation is achieved, but the manufacturing cost and difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The bypass passages are designed with local quality variations in the turbine body, creating pressure regulation functionality through strategically positioned flow paths and openings. This localized approach achieves pressure regulation without requiring separate valve components, simplifying manufacturing while maintaining regulatory precision.
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 a cost-effective and easily manufacturable bypass valve design that maintains dynamic stability and prevents mechanical wear, ensuring accurate mass flow measurement across varying flow rates without adverse effects.
Implementation Method 1
at least one jet defining a rotational direction. The rotational direction is the direction of a first torque applied about the axis of rotation of the turbine when fluid is expelled from the at least one jet
Implementation Method 2
a bypass valve system arranged in parallel fashion with respect to the at least one jet. The bypass valve system may have at least one first valve. The first valve may open as pressure increases upstream therefrom
Implementation Method 3
the impeller being rotationally coupled to the drum by way of a torsion spring that allows relative rotation against the bias of the torsion spring
Data Source
AI summary
A motorless mass flowmeter in accordance with one embodiment of the invention comprises a turbine subassembly, a drum, and an impeller. The drum is rigidly connected to the turbine subassembly such that the drum rotates in accompaniment to rotation of the turbine subassembly. The impeller is rotationally coupled to the drum by way of a spring that allows relative rotation against the bias of the spring. The turbine subassembly has jets and bypass valves. The turbine subassembly may be implemented in the form of a laminated bypass valve structure. The laminated bypass valve structure may include an entrance layer having entrance port(s), a closure layer having closure member(s), an exit layer defining exit passage(s), and an intermediary layer forming conduit(s) for guiding fluid from entrance port(s) to exit passage(s).