Turbulence Reduction Component for Ultrasonic Flow Measurement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional flow rate measurement devices using ultrasonic transmission films experience ultrasound attenuation, leading to decreased receiving sensitivity and inaccurate flow rate measurements due to turbulence caused by entrained flows.

Innovation Solution

A flow rate measurement device employs a turbulence reduction component with opening portions, arranged in a staggered pattern of polygonal shapes, to minimize ultrasound attenuation and turbulence, thereby enhancing receiving sensitivity and measurement accuracy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If an ultrasonic transmission film is used between ultrasonic transceivers and measurement channel, then turbulence caused by entrained flows is reduced, but ultrasound attenuation increases causing decreased receiving sensitivity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflow stabilityVSAvoidreceiving sensitivity

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the ultrasonic transmission film from the measurement path and replaces it with a turbulence reduction component that has opening portions. This extraction eliminates the source of ultrasound attenuation while maintaining turbulence reduction functionality through the specially designed opening structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The turbulence reduction component is designed with opening portions that allow ultrasound to pass through while reducing turbulence. The component acts as a porous structure that filters flow disturbances without significantly attenuating the ultrasonic waves, thus resolving the contradiction between flow stability and receiving sensitivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

2Stability of the object's composition

If ultrasonic transmission film is disposed in hole portions, then entrained flows are reduced, but ultrasound attenuation causes decrease in propagation time measurement precision

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflow uniformityVSAvoidpropagation time measurement accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the ultrasonic transmission film from the hole portions and replaces it with a turbulence reduction component having opening portions. This removes the attenuating material from the ultrasonic path while maintaining flow uniformity through the opening structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The turbulence reduction component with opening portions serves as an intermediary structure between the hole portions and measurement channel. It mediates between the need for flow uniformity and ultrasound transmission by providing a structure that reduces turbulence while allowing ultrasound to pass with minimal attenuation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Stability of the object's composition

If conventional ultrasonic transmission film is used, then turbulence is reduced, but receiving waveform cannot be acquired accurately due to low receiving sensitivity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflow stabilityVSAvoidwaveform acquisition accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the ultrasonic transmission film that was causing both turbulence reduction and ultrasound attenuation. The replacement turbulence reduction component with opening portions maintains flow stability while eliminating the attenuation that prevented accurate waveform acquisition.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The turbulence reduction component uses a porous structure with opening portions that allows ultrasound to pass through while reducing turbulence. This porous design maintains flow stability without compromising the ultrasonic signal strength needed for reliable waveform acquisition.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

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

The solution effectively reduces ultrasound attenuation and turbulence, resulting in more precise flow rate measurements by limiting the occurrence of vortices and ensuring accurate flow velocity determination.

Implementation Method 1

first ultrasonic transceiver (6) and second ultrasonic transceiver (7) disposed across the pair of hole portions (11, 12) from the measurement channel (4)... ultrasound emitted from first ultrasonic transceiver (6) passes through ultrasonic transmission film (108)... and reaches second ultrasonic transceiver (7)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectUltrasonic transmission: Ultrasound

Data Source

PatentEP3285047B1Flow rate measurement device

Publication Date: 2019.12.04 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO LTD

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AI summary

A flow rate measurement device includes a turbulence reduction component (8) having opening portions (9, 10) and disposed between a measurement channel (4) and a pair of hole portions (11, 12) across which a pair of ultrasonic transceivers (6, 7) are disposed from the measurement channel (4). The pair of opening portions (9, 10) of the turbulence reduction component (8) each have frame pieces which are substantially identical in width. This makes it possible to reduce, with small attenuation of ultrasound, the occurrence of turbulence that is attributable to entrained flows in the pair of hole portions (11, 12) and is a cause of measurement error, thereby ensuring measurement accuracy.