Single Transducer Ultrasonic Flow Meter with Acoustic Mirrors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluid flow measurement techniques in pipes require multiple ultrasonic transducers and complex calibration, increasing costs and complexity, while only accounting for fluid flow velocity components along specific measurement paths, neglecting upstream and downstream contributions.
Innovation Solution
A single beam-forming ultrasonic transducer array with a beam-forming driver circuit and acoustic mirrors mounted inside the pipe, allowing directional control of ultrasonic beams to measure fluid flow velocity by subtracting contributions from non-measurement path segments, thereby calculating fluid flow velocities and volumes from measurement path segments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple ultrasonic transducers are used to measure fluid flow velocity, then measurement accuracy is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The single transducer is divided into multiple independent elements that can be selectively activated. By controlling different elements to emit ultrasonic waves in different directions, the system achieves functionality equivalent to multiple transducers while using a single physical unit, thereby reducing device complexity and installation requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
A single transducer array performs multiple functions: it can emit ultrasonic waves in different directions, receive waves from different paths, and measure both upstream and downstream velocity components. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate transducers for different measurement paths, reducing overall system complexity.
2Measurement precision
If traditional two-transducer method is used, then fluid flow velocity can be measured, but upstream and downstream velocity contributions are not separately accounted for
Solution Approach 1:
The measurement process is segmented into separate upstream and downstream path measurements. By selectively activating different transducer elements and controlling beam directions, the system can independently measure velocity contributions along different path segments, allowing separate accounting of upstream and downstream effects.
Solution Approach 2:
The system adds a temporal dimension to the measurement by using pulse-echo techniques with different element activation sequences. This allows the same physical path to be measured in different directions (upstream vs downstream) by changing which elements transmit and receive at different times, thereby capturing velocity contributions that would otherwise be lost.
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 reduces costs by using a single transducer unit, simplifies installation and calibration, and accurately measures fluid flow velocities and volumes by isolating and subtracting non-measurement path segment contributions, providing comprehensive fluid flow data.
Implementation Method 1
comparing the time-of-flight (TOF) of ultrasonic pulses sent through the fluid to detect downstream and upstream fluid velocity contributions to the TOF
Implementation Method 2
A first ultrasonic transducer 110 is located at a wall 115 of a pipe 120 upstream from a second ultrasonic transducer 125
Implementation Method 3
A single beam-forming ultrasonic transducer array with a beam-forming driver circuit and acoustic mirrors mounted inside the pipe, allowing directional control of ultrasonic beams
Implementation Method 4
The resulting ultrasonic beams are directed back to the single ultrasonic array by a series of acoustic mirrors mounted to or fabricated at known locations at an inside surface of the pipe
Data Source
AI summary
Elements of a single beam-forming array of ultrasonic transducer elements are selectively activated to direct two or more ultrasonic beams to a series of acoustic mirrors mounted to or fabricated at known locations at an inside surface of the pipe. The ultrasonic beams traverse measurement path segments at known angles through a fluid flowing through the pipe before being received back at the single transducer array. Fluid flow velocity along the fluid flow path is calculated as a function of a difference in time-of-flight (TOF) along first and second ultrasonic beam paths after subtracting TOF components contributed by known-length non-measurement path segments. The difference in TOF results from an additive downstream fluid flow velocity vector component along a first measurement path segment and a subtractive upstream fluid flow velocity vector component along a second measurement path segment.