Symmetrical Ultrasonic Transducers for Asymmetrical Flow Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing doppler type ultrasonic flow meters struggle to accurately measure volumetric flow in cases where the fluid flow is asymmetrical, curved, or converges, due to noise interference from the ultrasonic transducer and pipe wall reflections, leading to measurement inaccuracies near the pipe wall.
Innovation Solution
The use of a pair of ultrasonic transducers mounted symmetrically about the center axis of the pipe, with one transducer disposed on an extension line, allows for the exclusion of noisy regions in calculations, enabling accurate flow profile determination by alternating ultrasound transmissions and receptions to obtain flow profiles on both sides of the center axis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single ultrasonic transducer is used for measurement, then the device structure is simple, but measurement accuracy deteriorates near the pipe wall due to noise from transducer and wall reflections
Solution Approach 1:
The measurement task is divided into two segments: one transducer measures the flow profile on one side of the pipe center, while the other transducer measures the flow profile on the opposite side. This segmentation allows each transducer to operate in a region where noise from reflections is minimized, thereby improving overall measurement accuracy without significantly increasing device complexity.
2Ease of operation
If flow symmetry is assumed for calculation, then measurement is simplified, but accuracy deteriorates in cases of asymmetrical flow such as curved or converging flows
Solution Approach 1:
The invention explicitly accounts for asymmetrical flow conditions by using two transducers positioned symmetrically on opposite sides of the pipe. Each transducer captures flow profile data from its respective side, allowing the system to reconstruct the complete flow profile without assuming symmetry. This approach maintains calculation feasibility while significantly improving accuracy for curved, converging, or otherwise asymmetrical flows.
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 enhances measurement accuracy for volumetric flow even in non-symmetrical conditions, such as converging flows, by excluding noisy regions and integrating flow profiles from both sides of the pipe, resulting in more precise flow measurements.
Implementation Method 1
a doppler type ultrasonic flow meter for measuring the volumetric flow of a measurement object fluid by utilizing doppler shift of ultrasound
Implementation Method 2
The radiated ultrasound pulse is reflected by a tracer (reflector) such as air bubbles in the pipe 102. The reflected ultrasound echo is received by the ultrasonic transducer 103.
Implementation Method 3
The pulse electrical signal is converted into an ultrasound pulse by an ultrasonic transducer 103, and radiated along a measurement line ML to inside the pipe 102. The received ultrasound echo is converted into an echo electrical signal by the ultrasonic transducer 103.
Data Source
AI summary
In a doppler type ultrasonic flow meter (1) for measuring the volumetric flow of a measurement object fluid (10) using doppler shift of ultrasound, a pair of ultrasonic transducers (3a, 3b) perform transmission of ultrasound and reception of an ultrasound echo resulting from the ultrasound being reflected. The ultrasonic transducers (3a, 3b) are disposed on an extension line of a measurement line ML for performing measurement of doppler shift, symmetrical about the center axis (5) of a pipe (2) with a measurement object fluid (10) flowing through its inside, and on the outside of the pipe (2). A flow profile for the side opposite, with respect to the center axis (5) of the pipe (2), the side on which the respective ultrasonic transducer (3a, 3b) is disposed is used for the calculation of the volumetric flow of the measurement object fluid (10).