Receptacle Flow Estimation Without Conventional Flow Meters

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional flow meters for measuring water flow in tanks are expensive, require regular calibration and maintenance, and have high error rates due to air bubbles, making accurate measurement and monitoring difficult.

Innovation Solution

A system that determines flow parameters using a flow control device and a processor to estimate fluid flow based on historical and present data, including filling and operating parameters, reducing the need for conventional flow meters and improving accuracy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If conventional flow meters are used to measure water flow, then flow measurement can be performed, but the system becomes expensive and requires regular calibration and maintenance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflow measurement capabilityVSAvoidsystem cost and maintenance requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the flow measurement function from specialized flow meters and implements it using simple sensors (weight sensor, temperature sensor, humidity sensor) that can detect fluid flow indirectly through environmental parameters, eliminating the need for expensive specialized equipment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses the receptacle's own environmental conditions (weight, temperature, humidity) to determine flow parameters, making the system self-sufficient without requiring external calibration or maintenance of specialized flow measurement devices

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Measurement precision

If conventional flow meters are used to measure water flow, then flow measurement can be performed, but the error rate increases due to air bubbles

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflow measurement capabilityVSAvoidmeasurement accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical flow measurement systems (flow meters that directly contact fluid) with a sensor-based system that measures flow indirectly through weight, temperature, and humidity changes, eliminating the mechanical interaction that causes air bubble interference

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces environmental parameters (weight, temperature, humidity) as intermediaries to infer flow characteristics, rather than directly measuring fluid flow which is susceptible to air bubble interference

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Measurement precision

If conventional flow meters are used, then flow measurement can be performed, but installation and maintenance costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflow measurement capabilityVSAvoidinstallation and maintenance cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs inexpensive sensors and processing units that can be easily replaced if needed, rather than investing in expensive flow meters with complex spare parts, reducing both initial installation and ongoing maintenance costs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Data Source

PatentUS20250341415A1System and method for determining flow parameter of flow of fluid from or into receptacle

Publication Date: 2025.11.06 MANNHUMMEL VENTURES PTE LTD

AI summary

Disclosed is a system and methods for determining, a flow parameter of a channel of a receptacle, the flow parameter indicative of a flow of a fluid from or into the receptacle via the channel, the system comprising a flow control device configured to convey the fluid from or into the receptacle; a processor configured to obtain, a historical data comprising, a historical operating parameter indicative of a historical operating status of the flow control device, and a historical filling parameter indicative of a historical filling state of the receptacle; determine, a flow estimate parameter of the channel indicative of an estimated flow of the fluid from or into the receptacle, when the flow control device is in an OFF state, based on the historical data; and determine, the flow parameter of the channel, based on the flow estimate parameter of the channel, and the historical filling parameter.