Ultrasonic Flow Sensor Resolving Parameter Inaccuracies
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ultrasonic flow sensors face practicality issues due to inaccuracies in input parameters, leading to discontinuous fluctuations in calculated flow rates, even when the actual flow rate remains constant, as different measurement methods are sensitive to variations in parameters like sonic velocity and pipe diameter.
Innovation Solution
The ultrasonic flow sensor employs a combination of propagation time difference and pulse-Doppler measurement methods, using multiple ultrasonic elements to calculate flow rates based on propagation time and frequency shift, with a calculation formula that reduces the influence of user-input parameters, ensuring consistency between measurement methods.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple measurement methods (transmission and reflection) are used to measure flow rate, then measurement versatility is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to parameter inaccuracies causing discontinuous fluctuations in calculated flow rates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter used for flow rate calculation from user-input sonic velocity to measured propagation time. By measuring propagation time directly and using it to calculate sonic velocity (c = L/T), the system eliminates errors from inaccurate parameter input. This parameter change ensures that both transmission and reflection methods use consistent, accurately measured values, resolving the discontinuous fluctuations in flow rate calculations.
2Ease of operation
If user-input parameters (sonic velocity, pipe diameter) are used in calculation formulas, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to parameter inaccuracies causing large differences in calculated flow rates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-measurement of propagation time automatically without requiring users to manually input sonic velocity or other parameters. The ultrasonic elements measure propagation time directly, and the system automatically calculates sonic velocity from this measurement. This self-service approach eliminates user input errors while maintaining operational simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses measured propagation time as feedback to dynamically calculate sonic velocity, which is then used in the flow rate calculation formula. This feedback mechanism ensures that the calculation always uses the most accurate, up-to-date measured values rather than static user-input parameters, improving reliability while maintaining ease of operation.
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 practicality of the ultrasonic flow sensor by minimizing discrepancies in calculated flow rates and improving accuracy, even when the density of microbubbles in the fluid is high, and allows for accurate flow rate measurement and switching signals.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of ultrasonic elements 15 that perform at least one of transmission and reception of an ultrasonic signal
Implementation Method 2
a second measurement unit 135 that measures a frequency shift of the ultrasonic signal when one ultrasonic element or a pair of ultrasonic elements among the plurality of ultrasonic elements transmits the ultrasonic signal toward the fluid in the pipe and receives the ultrasonic signal reflected in the fluid
Implementation Method 3
a first measurement unit 132 that measures a propagation time of the ultrasonic signal and a propagation time difference of the ultrasonic signal when the ultrasonic signal transmitted through a fluid in a pipe is transmitted and received between a pair of ultrasonic elements among the plurality of ultrasonic elements
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an ultrasonic flow sensor with improved practicality. An ultrasonic wave is transmitted and received by an ultrasonic element. A first flow rate value of a fluid in a pipe is calculated based on a propagation time difference of an ultrasonic signal, a measurement value corresponding to an ultrasonic velocity, and a parameter for identifying an inner diameter of the pipe. A second flow rate value of the fluid in the pipe is calculated based on a frequency shift of the ultrasonic signal and the parameter. The first flow rate value is calculated using a propagation time of the ultrasonic signal as the measurement value in accordance with a correspondence relationship among a distance of a path through which the ultrasonic wave propagates through the fluid in the pipe, a time for which the ultrasonic signal propagates in the path, and the ultrasonic velocity.