Ultrasonic Flow Meter Proving Without Pulse Trains
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current meter proving methods, particularly for ultrasonic flow meters, face challenges in accurately correlating batch time periods with prover time, leading to errors in flow rate measurements due to the batch nature of the meters, which complicates the conversion of flow data into pulse outputs for proving purposes.
Innovation Solution
The system establishes a closer correlation between batch time periods and prover time by using a processor in the ultrasonic flow meter to calculate flow rates based on individual ultrasonic measurements during batch time periods that align with the prover time, eliminating the need for pulse output signals and improving accuracy by directly calculating the meter volume during the prover time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If ultrasonic flow meter uses batch time periods to calculate average flow rate, then the meter can process data efficiently, but the correlation between batch time periods and prover time becomes inaccurate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the batch time period data into individual flow rate measurements that can be individually correlated with prover time. Instead of treating the batch period as a single averaged value, the system divides it into discrete measurement points that can be mapped to specific moments during the prover time, thereby maintaining both processing efficiency and measurement accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter representation from averaged batch flow rates to individual flow rate measurements with associated timestamps. This parameter transformation allows the system to maintain the efficiency of batch processing while enabling precise correlation with prover time through timestamp-based indexing, resolving the contradiction between productivity and measurement precision.
2Adaptability or versatility
If flow rate data is converted to pulse train output signals for proving, then compatibility with traditional proving methods is maintained, but errors occur due to batch operation timing misalignment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary indexing of individual flow rate measurements to prover time before generating pulse train output signals. By pre-aligning the flow rate data with prover time boundaries and creating an indexed data structure, the system ensures that when pulse signals are generated, they accurately reflect the flow conditions during the specific prover time period, eliminating timing misalignment errors while maintaining compatibility with traditional proving methods.
3Device complexity
If average flow rate over batch time period is used for proving, then data processing is simplified, but the flow rate does not correspond to actual flow during prover time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary indexed data structure that bridges batch time period data and prover time. This intermediary structure stores individual flow rate measurements with timestamps that link them to both batch periods and prover time boundaries. The indexed structure acts as a mediator that allows simple retrieval of relevant flow rate data without complex real-time calculations, thus maintaining data processing simplicity while ensuring accurate correspondence between measured flow rate and actual flow during prover time.
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 the accuracy of meter proving by ensuring that flow rate measurements during the prover time are more precisely correlated, reducing errors and providing more accurate proof data compared to traditional methods that rely on average flow rates over batch time periods.
Implementation Method 1
By ultrasonic it is meant that ultrasonic signals are sent back and forth across the fluid stream, and based on various characteristics of the ultrasonic signals a fluid flow may be calculated.
Data Source
AI summary
A meter proving method and system. At lease some of the illustrative embodiments are methods comprising establishing a prover time by a prover device, measuring a flow rate of a fluid with a flow meter that uses multiple measurements taken over a period of time to produce each individual flow rate value (the flow meter electrically coupled to the prover device), and generating a meter volume over the prover time based on the flow rate. The generating the meter volume based on the flow rate does not involve: generating a pulse train output signal by the flow meter; and generating the meter volume based on an attribute of the pulse train.