Three Pickoff Sensor Flow Meter for Dual Fuel Streams
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing Coriolis mass flow meters require two separate units to measure two independent flow streams, leading to increased cost, size, and power consumption when used in dual-meter fuel dispensers for alternative fuels, as they need to account for different flow rates and densities of various fuels.
Innovation Solution
A three pickoff sensor flow meter design that uses a common driver to vibrate two flow conduits, with a shared pickoff sensor and two independent pickoff sensors to measure the vibrational responses of each conduit independently, allowing for simultaneous measurement of two flow streams with different properties without the need for duplicate components or power sources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If two separate flow meters are installed to measure two independent flow streams, then accurate flow measurement for both streams is achieved, but device complexity, cost, size, and power consumption double
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines two separate flow measurement functions into a single flow meter device by using one vibrating conduit that can measure both flow streams simultaneously. The single conduit is vibrated and instrumented to detect vibrations from both streams, eliminating the need for duplicate meter devices while maintaining accurate measurement of both independent flow streams.
Solution Approach 2:
The single flow meter device is designed with universal capability to measure both flow streams through one conduit. The conduit serves multiple functions by accommodating both streams and providing vibration signals for both, allowing one device to perform the work of two separate meters.
2Measurement precision
If two separate flow meters are used, then both flow streams can be measured independently, but the size and space required in the fuel dispenser doubles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges two flow measurement systems into one compact device. By using a single vibrating conduit that can detect both flow streams, the physical footprint is reduced to that of one meter device rather than two, freeing up space in the fuel dispenser while maintaining the ability to measure both streams independently.
3Measurement precision
If two separate flow meters are installed, then dual flow measurement is achieved, but electrical power consumption doubles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the power consumption of two separate flow meters into a single device. One vibrating conduit with a single actuator and sensor system replaces two separate actuator-sensor systems, reducing the total electrical power required while maintaining the capability to measure both flow streams.
4Measurement precision
If two separate flow meters are used, then accurate measurement of different fuels is possible, but the number of dispenser components and piping required doubles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple dispenser components into a single integrated flow meter unit. By using one vibrating conduit that can handle different fuels with different densities, the need for separate meters, valves, regulators, and piping for each fuel stream is eliminated, reducing the overall number of components while maintaining accurate measurement capability for different fuels.
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 cost-effective, compact, and efficient measurement of two independent flow streams by reducing the number of required components and power consumption, while maintaining accurate flow rate and density measurements, thus enhancing the competitiveness of fuel dispensers in the alternative fuels market.
Implementation Method 1
Each conduit may be viewed as having a set of natural vibration modes including, for example, simple bending, torsional, radial, and coupled modes. In a typical Coriolis mass flow measurement application, a conduit is excited in one or more vibration modes as a material flows through the conduit, and motion of the conduit is measured at points spaced along the conduit.
Implementation Method 2
Vibrating conduit sensors, such as Coriolis mass flow meters and vibrating densitometers, typically operate by detecting motion of a vibrating conduit that contains a flowing material. Properties associated with the material in the conduit, such as mass flow, density and the like, can be determined by processing measurement signals received from motion transducers associated with the conduit.
Data Source
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AI summary
A three pickoff sensor flow meter (200) is provided according to the invention. The three pickoff sensor flow meter (200) includes a first flow conduit (210a) conducting a first flow stream, a second flow conduit (210b) that is independent of the first flow stream, and a common driver (216) configured to vibrate the first flow conduit (210a) and the second flow conduit (210b). The three pickoff sensor flow meter (200) further includes three pickoff sensors (218, 219a, 219b) configured to provide first and second time delay values (Δt1 ) and (Δt2) for the first flow conduit (210a) and the second flow conduit (210b).