Ultrasonic Flow Meter Reflection Path Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ultrasonic flowmeters face challenges in achieving high precision and low production costs, particularly in compensating for rotational movements of the medium and requiring multiple transducers and complex evaluation electronics in multipath systems.
Innovation Solution
An ultrasonic flowmeter design with a straight measuring tube axis, a single signal path that includes specific alignment of transmitters, receivers, and reflection surfaces, allowing for signal propagation in two directions with non-congruent planes, enabling rotational movement compensation and using a single transmitter and receiver.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple ultrasonic transducers and complex evaluation electronics are used in multipath systems, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the measuring tube into multiple sections along the acoustic signal path, with each section having reflection surfaces that create specific propagation paths. This segmentation allows a single transducer to effectively perform multiple measurement functions by receiving different acoustic signals from different path segments, thereby reducing the need for multiple transducers while maintaining measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The single ultrasonic transducer is designed to transmit and receive multiple acoustic signals along different paths within the measuring tube. By utilizing reflection surfaces at specific positions, the transducer performs multiple measurement functions (measuring different flow velocities at different radial positions) that would traditionally require multiple transducers, thus simplifying the device while maintaining precision.
2Measurement precision
If multiple ultrasonic transducers are installed in multipath systems, then measurement precision is improved, but production costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The measuring tube is segmented into multiple measurement sections with reflection surfaces positioned at specific locations. This segmentation enables a single transducer to capture flow information from multiple sections, eliminating the need for multiple transducers and reducing production costs while maintaining measurement precision through multi-path signal reception.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses acoustic signal reflection to create virtual copies of the measurement paths. Instead of installing multiple physical transducers, the system creates multiple acoustic path copies through reflection surfaces, allowing a single transducer to effectively perform measurements that would require multiple transducers, thereby reducing production costs.
3Measurement precision
If a second signal path is used for measurement, then rotational movement compensation is improved, but measurement time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the acoustic signal path into multiple sections with reflection surfaces that create different propagation directions. By carefully positioning these reflection surfaces, the system enables a single transducer to receive signals that inherently contain information about both forward and reverse flow directions, allowing rotational movement compensation without requiring a separate second signal path or additional measurement time.
4Measurement precision
If acoustic signals are reflected multiple times in the measuring tube, then measurement precision is improved, but signal loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality optimization by positioning reflection surfaces at specific locations and angles within the measuring tube. The reflection surfaces are strategically placed to minimize signal loss while maximizing the useful measurement information. The local geometry of each reflection point is optimized to maintain acoustic signal strength throughout the multiple reflections, thereby reducing overall signal loss while maintaining measurement precision.
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 design provides precise flow measurement while reducing production costs by eliminating the need for multiple transducers and complex evaluation electronics, and allows for immediate measurement results without a second signal path.
Implementation Method 1
The ultrasonic transducers usually consist of an electromechanical transducer element, e.g. a piezoelectric element
Implementation Method 2
at least one first reflection surface on which the acoustic signal is reflected at least once on the first signal path
Implementation Method 3
They allow the volume flow and/or mass flow in a pipeline to be determined in a simple manner
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
Ultrasonic flow meter comprising a measuring tube with a straight measuring tube axis, a transmitter for transmitting an acoustic signal on a first signal path, a receiver for receiving the acoustic signal on the first signal path and at least one first reflection surface on which the acoustic signal is reflected at least once on the first signal path, the acoustic signal impinging on the first reflection surface and the acoustic signal reflected on the first reflection surface in each case running along a straight sub-portion of the first signal path, the transmitter, the receiver and the first reflection surface being aligned relative to one another and arranged in or on the measuring tube such that the acoustic signal from the first transmitter to the first receiver is reflected on the first reflection surface such that the sum of all the lengths of all the sub-portions projected on the measuring tube axis, which sub-portions extend in a first plane parallel to the measuring tube axis and have a predetermined non-zero spacing relative to the measuring tube axis, has a predetermined non-zero value, and the sum of all the lengths of all the sub-portions projected on the measuring tube axis, which sub-portions extend in a second plane, different from the first plane and parallel to the measuring tube axis, and have the same predetermined spacing relative to the measuring tube axis, has the same predetermined value, the first plane extending in a first portion of the measuring tube and the second plane extending in a second portion of the measuring tube, the first portion of the measuring tube having no overlap with the second portion of the measuring tube.