Slurry Density Meter Using Force and Acceleration Sensors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing density meters for slurry, particularly in dredging and mining, face challenges due to the use of radioactive radiation, which requires strict handling and training, and are slow in determining slurry density, especially when used on moving vessels where weight measurements become unreliable.
Innovation Solution
A density meter with a pipe part connected via flexible couplings to feed and discharge pipes, equipped with a force sensor and accelerometer, allowing for calculations of slurry density based on volume, force, and acceleration, enabling measurements regardless of vessel movements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a density meter uses radioactive radiation to measure slurry density, then density measurement can be obtained, but strict handling requirements and training are needed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the radioactive source from the measurement system and replaces it with a mechanical weighing system. The pipe section is suspended on weighing cells that directly measure the weight of the slurry, eliminating all radioactive handling requirements while maintaining density measurement capability through the relationship between weight, volume, and density.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the radioactive measurement system with a mechanical weighing system. Instead of using radiation to infer density, the system directly measures the mechanical weight of the slurry in a known volume, substituting a simple mechanical measurement for a complex radioactive measurement system.
2Measurement precision
If a density meter uses radioactive radiation, then density indication is obtained, but the determination speed is slow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the radioactive source and associated slow measurement process, replacing it with instantaneous mechanical weight measurement. The weighing cells provide immediate weight readings that can be quickly converted to density values, dramatically increasing determination speed while maintaining measurement accuracy.
3Measurement precision
If a density meter measures weight of pipe part on a moving vessel, then density calculation is attempted, but vessel movements cause measurement variations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent compensates for the pipe section's own weight by suspending it in a balanced manner on the weighing cells. The system measures the net weight contribution of the slurry by counterbalancing the pipe structure, ensuring that vessel movements affect both the pipe and counterweight equally, thus maintaining measurement reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designs the suspension system to dynamically adapt to vessel movements. The flexible cables and balanced suspension allow the pipe section to move with the vessel while maintaining measurement accuracy, converting a static measurement system into one that dynamically compensates for motion.
4Reliability
If filtering is applied to remove weight variations, then measurement stability is improved, but density determination becomes slower
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a dynamically balanced suspension system that inherently compensates for movements through its mechanical design. The balanced suspension and flexible connections allow the system to naturally filter out movement-induced variations in real-time, providing stable measurements without requiring post-processing filtering that would delay results.
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 solution allows for rapid and accurate determination of slurry density, improving process control in dredging and mining by eliminating the need for strict handling and training and compensating for vessel movements.
Implementation Method 1
a force sensor for measuring a force in the direction of the at least one degree of freedom between the pipe part and a fixed point
Implementation Method 2
an accelerometer arranged on the pipe part for measuring the accelerations of the pipe part in the direction of the at least one degree of freedom
Data Source
AI summary
A density meter for slurry which is transported through a pipe, the density meter including: a pipe part; flexible pipe couplings arranged on either end of the pipe part; a force sensor for measuring a force in the direction of the at least one degree of freedom between the pipe part and a fixed point; an accelerometer arranged on the pipe part for measuring the accelerations of the pipe part in the direction of the at least one degree of freedom; and computing means for computing the density of the slurry in the pipe part on the basis of the volume of the pipe part, the force measured by the force sensor and the acceleration measured by the accelerometer.