Pulsating Flow Measurement via Passive Valve Position
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional flowmeters struggle to accurately measure the delivery volume and flow of discontinuously operating pumps, such as piston pumps, due to their highly fluctuating and pulsating delivery flow, which cannot be effectively dampened or smoothed by existing methods.
Innovation Solution
An arrangement comprising a discontinuously operating pump, a passive valve in the outlet or inlet line, and a sensor to detect the valve's position, coupled with a computing unit to calculate the delivery volume or flow based on the valve's state, allowing for precise measurement of the pulsating flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional flowmeters are used to measure the delivery flow of a discontinuously operating pump, then the measurement device is simple and easy to use, but the measurement precision is poor due to the highly fluctuating and pulsating delivery flow
Solution Approach 1:
A passive valve is introduced as an intermediary component in the outlet line. The valve responds automatically to pressure changes from the pulsating flow, opening and closing based on pressure differential. This intermediary converts the complex pulsating flow into discrete, measurable valve position changes that can be accurately detected and correlated to delivery volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces conventional mechanical flowmeters with a sensor-based detection system. Instead of using mechanical elements that directly measure flow (which fail with pulsating flow), the system uses a sensor to detect valve position changes and a computing unit to calculate delivery volume from these position changes, substituting mechanical measurement with an electronic detection and calculation system.
2Measurement precision
If damping or smoothing methods are applied to the delivery flow, then the measurement precision can be improved, but the device complexity increases and the methods are not always technically possible or restricted in their application
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the measurement function from the flow path itself. Instead of modifying the flow (damping/smoothing) or placing measurement devices directly in the pulsating flow, the system extracts information about flow volume by monitoring the state changes of a passive valve that responds to pressure variations, separating the measurement function from the flow modulation function.
Solution Approach 2:
The passive valve serves itself by automatically responding to pressure changes from the pulsating flow without external control. The valve opens and closes based on inherent pressure differential, providing natural synchronization with the pump's delivery cycles. This self-service behavior eliminates the need for external damping mechanisms or complex control systems.
3Measurement precision
If a passive valve with sensor detection is used to measure delivery volume, then the measurement precision is high, but the device complexity increases due to additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The passive valve serves multiple functions: it acts as a flow control element in the outlet line, a pressure response indicator, and a measurement trigger. The same valve that performs its primary function in the fluid path also provides the measurement signal through its position changes, eliminating the need for separate measurement-specific components and reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor provides feedback about the valve's position to the computing unit. This feedback loop allows the system to continuously monitor valve state changes and correlate them with pump delivery cycles. The feedback mechanism enables accurate calculation of delivery volume based on the timing and frequency of valve position changes, achieving high precision measurement.
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 accurate detection of the delivery volume and flow of discontinuously operating pumps, avoiding measurement inaccuracies caused by backflows and inertia, and is implemented cost-effectively with simple and reliable sensors.
Implementation Method 1
a sensor (8), by means of which values can be detected which indicate whether the valve head (16-1, 16-2) is in the first or the second position
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to an arrangement for detecting a delivery volume and/or a delivery flow, with a discontinuously operating pump (1), at least one outlet line (3) and/or one inlet line (2, 2-1, 2-2) and a passive valve (5, 5-1, 5-2), which is arranged in the outlet line (3) or the inlet line (2, 2-1, 2-2) and which has a valve seat (15-1, 15-2) and a valve head (16-1, 16-2), the valve (5, 5-1, 5-2) being closed in a first position of the valve head (16-1, 16-2) and being open in a second position of the valve head (16-1, 16-2) of the valve (5, 5-1, 5-2). The arrangement according to the invention is defined by a sensor (8, 8-1, 8-2), by means of which values can be detected which indicate whether the valve head (16-1, 16-2) is in the first or the second position, and by a computing unit (9) which is coupled to the sensor (8, 8-1, 8-2) and by means of which the volume delivered by the pump (1) and/or the delivery flow of the pump (1) can be calculated on the basis of the detected values of the sensor (8, 8-1, 8-2). The invention relates furthermore, to an extraction system for a plant protective with such an arrangement and to a method for detecting a delivery volume and/or a delivery flow of a discontinuously operating pump, which method can be carried out by this arrangement.