Ultrasonic Flow Measurement with Dual Non-Contact Temperature Sensors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ultrasonic measuring devices for fluid flow rate and temperature measurement in process engineering face challenges in accurately determining fluid temperature non-invasively, especially for sensitive or aggressive substances, requiring costly and time-consuming cleaning or sterilization, and suffer from inaccurate temperature measurements due to direct contact or complex designs.
Innovation Solution
An ultrasonic measuring device with two non-contact temperature sensors positioned at different distances from the fluid flow, along with a control unit to determine fluid temperature using a relationship established through experimental measurements, allowing for accurate non-invasive temperature determination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a temperature sensor is placed in direct contact with the fluid for accurate temperature measurement, then measurement accuracy is improved, but the fluid becomes contaminated and costly cleaning or sterilization processes are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the measuring tube wall as an intermediary medium to transfer thermal energy from the fluid to the temperature sensor. The sensor is positioned outside the measuring tube, and heat conducts through the tube wall material, enabling temperature measurement without direct fluid-sensor contact. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining measurement accuracy while preventing fluid contamination.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces direct mechanical contact between the temperature sensor and fluid with thermal conduction through the measuring tube wall. Instead of inserting the sensor into the fluid, the system uses the tube wall as a thermal pathway, substituting a non-invasive thermal measurement approach for direct mechanical contact.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the temperature sensor is positioned far from the fluid to avoid contamination, then fluid contamination is prevented, but temperature measurement accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the thermal parameters of the measuring tube wall, including material selection and wall thickness, to enhance heat conduction efficiency. By carefully controlling these parameters, the system achieves accurate temperature transmission from the fluid to the sensor positioned outside the tube, maintaining precision while preventing contamination.
3Productivity
If disposable parts are used to avoid cleaning processes, then productivity is improved, but device complexity increases due to need for consistent dimensions and material properties
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements disposable measuring tubes that are discarded after single use, eliminating the need for cleaning or sterilization processes. These disposable tubes are manufactured with tightly controlled dimensions and material properties to ensure consistent measurement accuracy across all units, resolving the contradiction between productivity improvement and manufacturing complexity.
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
Enables precise and non-invasive temperature measurement of fluids, improving measurement accuracy and reducing the need for costly cleaning processes by using disposable parts with consistent dimensions and material properties.
Implementation Method 1
at least two ultrasonic transducers (11, 22), which, in an operating state, can send and receive measurement signals (12, 21) to and from one another
Implementation Method 2
a first temperature sensor (61) for determining a first temperature (T1), which is arranged in such a way that it cannot be contacted by the fluid, in particular at a first position (P1)
Implementation Method 3
a second temperature sensor (62) for determining a second temperature (T2), which is arranged in such a way that it cannot be contacted by the fluid, in particular at a second position (P2)
Implementation Method 4
A relationship is stored in the control device (20), which has input variables and an output variable, wherein the input variables comprise the first temperature (T1) and the second temperature (T2), and wherein the output variable is the temperature of the fluid in the measuring tube (2)
Data Source
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AI summary
An ultrasonic measuring device is proposed for determining the flow rate of a fluid flowing in a line, comprising a measuring tube (2) having a central axis (M) that defines a flow direction (A) for the fluid, at least two ultrasonic transducers (11, 22) arranged and aligned such that they can exchange measurement signals (12, 21) with one another, a control unit (20) for controlling the ultrasonic transducers (11, 22) and for evaluating the measurement signals (12, 21), and a first temperature sensor (61) for determining a first temperature (T1), which is arranged such that it cannot be contacted by the fluid. A second temperature sensor (62) for determining a second temperature (T2) is provided, which is arranged such that it cannot be contacted by the fluid. A method for determining the temperature of a fluid in such an ultrasonic measuring device is also proposed.