Ultrasonic Flow Meter with Tunable Beam Angle
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing clamp-on ultrasonic flow meters face challenges in accurately measuring flow velocity and volume flow in pipes with unknown diameters, as they require manual adjustment and can suffer from measurement errors due to varying pipe dimensions and flow rates, leading to a high installation effort and potential operational failures.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus employs a pair of ultrasonic transducers with wedge-shaped elements and a control unit that adjusts the ultrasonic beam angle by tuning the frequency, allowing for precise focusing and measurement of flow velocity, volume flow, and filling height without prior knowledge of pipe dimensions, using Lamb waves and electronic gratings to adapt to different conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If transducers are manually adjusted on-site to achieve precise focusing, then measurement accuracy is improved, but installation effort and time are significantly increased
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically determines optimal transducer positioning and beam angles by measuring pipe dimensions and flow conditions, eliminating the need for manual on-site adjustment. The control unit processes sensor data and autonomously configures the measurement parameters to achieve precise focusing.
Solution Approach 2:
Pipe dimensions and characteristics are measured and stored in advance during the installation phase. This preliminary data collection enables the system to pre-calculate optimal transducer angles and positioning before actual flow measurement begins, reducing on-site adjustment time.
2Ease of manufacture
If transducers are fixed during production, then manufacturing complexity is reduced, but adaptability to different pipe dimensions is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from fixed transducer positioning to dynamic, adjustable positioning. Transducers can be moved and angled to optimal positions based on measured pipe dimensions, allowing the same device to adapt to various pipe sizes and configurations while maintaining manufacturing simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters (transducer angles, positioning distances, beam frequencies) based on measured pipe characteristics. This allows a single standardized device design to accommodate different pipe dimensions by adjusting measurement parameters rather than requiring custom manufacturing for each pipe size.
3Loss of energy
If ultrasonic beam is focused precisely onto the second transducer, then signal strength is improved, but positioning accuracy requirements are increased
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback from measured pipe dimensions and initial signal measurements to automatically adjust transducer positioning and beam angles. This closed-loop approach compensates for positioning tolerances and ensures optimal signal focusing without requiring extremely precise manual positioning during installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces mechanical precision positioning with electronic beam steering and signal processing. By using electronically controllable beam angles and post-processing signal enhancement, the system achieves strong signal focus without requiring high mechanical positioning accuracy during installation.
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 enables non-intrusive, accurate measurement of flow velocity and volume flow in pipes with unknown diameters, reducing installation effort and minimizing measurement errors, while being flexible for use on various pipe configurations.
Implementation Method 1
emitting and receiving ultrasonic signals
Implementation Method 2
measuring the flow velocity of a fluid in a pipe... ultrasonic pulses which are emitted and received by said first transducer... calculating the speed of the fluid
Implementation Method 3
tuning said first transducer to generate lamb waves within the wall material of said pipe
Implementation Method 4
measuring the flight time of ultrasonic pulses travelling from said first transducer to said second transducer and the flight time of ultrasonic pulses travelling from said second transducer to said first transducer
Data Source
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AI summary
An Apparatus (1) for measuring the flow velocity (Vmed) of a fluid (5) in a pipe (2), comprises a housing (3) in which a first ultrasonic transducer (TD1) and a second ultrasonic transducer (TD2) are arranged at a predefined distance (L) to each other, wherein said first ultrasonic transducer (TD1) includes a first sound transmitting element (4a) and a transmitter/receiver unit (6a) mounted thereto which are adapted to emit first ultrasonic pulses (P1) at different angles and said second ultrasonic transducer (TD2) is adapted to receive said first ultrasonic pulses (P1) and generate a first electronic output signal, and wherein the second ultrasonic transducer (TD2) includes a second sound transmitting element (4b) and a transmitter/receiver unit (6b) mounted thereto which are adapted to emit second ultrasonic pulses (P2) at different angles, and wherein said first ultrasonic transducer (TD1) is adapted to receive said second ultrasonic pulses (P2) and generate a second electronic output signal, a control and evaluation unit (8) electrically coupled to said first and second transducers (TD1, TD2). The control and evaluation unit (8) is adapted to tune the first transducer (TD1) to generate a first electronic output signal of a maximum amplitude, and tune the second transducer (TD2) to generate a second electronic output signal of a maximum amplitude, and is adapted to measure the flight time (T1) of the first ultrasonic pulses (P1) and the time of flight (T2) of the second ultrasonic pulses (P2) travelling between the first and second transducer (TD1, TD2). The invention is further related to a method for measuring different parameters of a medium and the pipe by means of the apparatus (1).