Piezo Ceramic Array Transducers for Ultrasonic Meter Accuracy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ultrasonic meters face limitations in accuracy and reliability due to weak ultrasound propagation in natural gas and small beam aperture of normal disc piezo elements, which restricts the effectiveness of additional measurement paths and crosstalk, especially in high-stakes applications like custody transfer in the oil and gas industry.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of piezoelectric ceramic arrays with array stripes that split signals and apply a required phase shift to obtain simultaneous data from multiple paths, including transit time and crosstalk, enhancing measurement accuracy and efficiency by increasing beam aperture and enabling faster, less energy-consuming measurements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If normal disc piezo elements are used, then the structure is simple, but the beam aperture is small which limits measurement accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The piezoelectric element is divided into multiple array stripes (e.g., five stripes) arranged in a specific pattern. Each stripe can be independently controlled to generate ultrasonic waves at different positions and angles, effectively increasing the beam aperture and improving measurement accuracy without requiring a physically larger transducer.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single-point disc piezo element to a multi-element array configuration. By arranging multiple piezoelectric stripes in a two-dimensional pattern and controlling their phased activation, the system achieves enhanced spatial coverage and measurement capability beyond what a single element can provide.
2Measurement precision
If multiple measurement paths are added, then measurement accuracy improves, but device complexity and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple measurement functions into a single integrated array transducer. By using the same piezoelectric array to generate and receive signals for multiple paths simultaneously through phased activation, the system achieves multi-path measurement capability without requiring separate transducers for each path, thereby reducing overall energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The array stripes are activated in periodic sequences to create different ultrasonic paths. By systematically activating different combinations of stripes in a periodic manner, the system can measure multiple paths over time, achieving accurate multi-path measurement while distributing energy consumption across different time intervals rather than requiring all paths to be active simultaneously.
3Measurement precision
If array stripes are used to increase beam aperture, then measurement accuracy improves, but signal processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs signal processing techniques that analyze the responses from different array stripes and use this information to optimize subsequent measurements. By implementing feedback mechanisms that adjust the activation patterns of array stripes based on received signal characteristics, the system can improve measurement accuracy while managing processing complexity through adaptive rather than exhaustive processing approaches.
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 improves measurement accuracy and reliability by allowing for simultaneous detection of different signals from multiple senders and receivers, increasing the effectiveness of crosstalk and reducing energy consumption, thereby enhancing the performance of ultrasonic meters in fluid flow measurement applications.
Implementation Method 1
transducers with a piezoelectric ceramic array
Implementation Method 2
weak propagation of ultra sound in natural gas
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
AI summary
An ultrasonic meter includes a group of piezoelectronic ceramic arrays, wherein each array comprises array stripes, such that a signal associated with each array can be split and a required phase shaft added to the signal to obtain simultaneously different data from the signal such as, for example, the transit time of a direct path and crosstalk. The smaller array can provide a higher aperture and improve the use of crosstalk.