Ultrasonic Flow Meter Dynamic Measurement Adaptation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Flow-rate measurement devices face challenges in accurately measuring fluid flow rates due to pulsation phenomena, leading to increased power consumption and reduced measurement accuracy, especially in applications like household gas meters where power efficiency is crucial.
Innovation Solution
A flow-rate measurement device that employs a dual-mode operation, switching between an exploratory measurement step with fewer repetitions and a precise measurement step with more repetitions, allowing for efficient detection of fluid flow and reducing power consumption by optimizing the number of measurements based on flow rate fluctuations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the number of repetitions of ultrasonic wave transmission/reception is increased to improve measurement accuracy, then measurement precision is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the number of ultrasonic wave transmission/reception repetitions variable rather than fixed. The control unit dynamically adjusts the number of repetitions based on flow rate conditions: using fewer repetitions (M1) when flow rate is low to conserve power, and more repetitions (M2) when flow rate is high to ensure measurement accuracy. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction between measurement precision and power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of repetition number based on flow rate conditions. By setting different repetition numbers (first number M1 for low flow, second number M2 for high flow) according to the measured flow rate, the system optimizes the balance between measurement accuracy and power consumption. This parameter change strategy directly addresses the technical contradiction.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the number of repetitions is reduced to decrease power consumption, then power consumption is reduced, but measurement accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the number of repetitions based on actual flow rate conditions. When flow rate is determined to be high, the control unit increases the number of repetitions to M2 to ensure accurate measurement. When flow rate is low, it reduces repetitions to M1 to save power. This dynamic adjustment ensures that measurement accuracy is maintained only when necessary, resolving the contradiction between power consumption and measurement accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements parameter changes by setting the repetition number as a variable that depends on flow rate. The control unit changes the repetition parameter from M1 to M2 or vice versa based on flow rate thresholds, ensuring that measurement accuracy is preserved during high flow conditions while reducing power consumption during low flow conditions.
3Reliability
If measurements are continuously performed to maintain measurement accuracy under pulsation conditions, then measurement reliability is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action by performing ultrasonic measurements at specific intervals rather than continuously. The control unit determines flow rate at predetermined time intervals, which reduces the frequency of measurements and thereby reduces power consumption while still maintaining adequate measurement reliability to detect pulsation conditions. This periodic measurement approach resolves the contradiction between reliability and power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts measurement frequency based on detected flow rate patterns. When pulsation is detected through flow rate variations, the system can increase measurement frequency to maintain reliability. When flow is stable and low, it reduces measurement frequency to conserve power. This dynamic measurement strategy balances reliability and power consumption under pulsation conditions.
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 effectively reduces power consumption by minimizing unnecessary measurements when no fluid flow is detected and ensures high accuracy when fluid flow is present, effectively managing limited power resources.
Implementation Method 1
first transducer 2 and second transducer 3 which are provided in fluid flow path 1 to transmit and receive an ultrasonic signal
Implementation Method 2
timer unit 12 which measures a propagation time of the ultrasonic signal propagating between the first transducer and the second transducer
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
A flow-rate measurement device includes a first transducer and a second transducer which are provided in a fluid flow path to transmit and receive an ultrasonic signal, a timer unit which measures a propagation time of the ultrasonic signal propagating between the first transducer and the second transducer, and a flow-rate calculation unit which executes a unit measurement step a predetermined number of times and calculates a flow rate of a fluid flowing in the fluid flow path on the basis of the propagation times measured the predetermined number of times, the unit measurement step being an operation in which a direction of transmission to reception between the first transducer and the second transducer is switched and the timer unit measures the propagation times of the ultrasonic signal in both directions. The flow-rate calculation unit measures a flow rate value of the fluid by a precise measurement step in which the unit measurement step is executed a plural number of times to calculate the flow-rate and an exploratory measurement step in which the unit measurement step is executed a smaller number of times than the number of executions in the precise measurement step to calculate the flow rate.