Ultrasonic Flowmeter Measuring Insert for High-Pressure Accuracy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ultrasonic flowmeters face challenges in achieving high accuracy and reproducibility due to flow turbulence caused by reflectors and holders, and require significant installation space, making them unsuitable for high-pressure applications in industries like oil and gas where precision is critical.
Innovation Solution
An ultrasonic flowmeter design featuring a support housing with ultrasonic transducers arranged in a measuring insert that fits into a circular cylindrical receptacle perpendicular to the conduit, allowing for multiple intersecting measuring paths and a flangeless configuration that minimizes installation space and supports high pressures, using an O-ring for sealing and rotational symmetry for force transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If reflectors and holders are used to guide ultrasonic signals, then measurement function is achieved, but flow turbulence increases and measurement accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the harmful reflectors and holders from the flow path. Instead of using separate components to guide ultrasonic signals, the transducers are directly mounted on the support housing wall, eliminating the sources of flow turbulence while maintaining the measurement function.
Solution Approach 2:
The support housing wall itself serves as the mounting medium for the ultrasonic transducers, replacing the need for separate holders and reflectors. This intermediary structure provides both mechanical support and optimal positioning without interfering with fluid flow.
2Strength
If T-piece design with flanges is used for mounting, then structural stability is achieved, but installation space requirement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the mounting structure with the support housing itself. The threaded holes are directly formed in the support housing wall, eliminating the need for separate T-piece flanges and reducing the overall installation space while maintaining structural stability through direct threading into the housing.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of extending the mounting structure along the conduit axis (requiring flanges and T-piece design), the invention transitions to a radial mounting approach with threaded holes perpendicular to the flow direction, significantly reducing the axial installation space requirement.
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 enhances measurement accuracy by reducing turbulence and installation space, enabling precise flow rate measurements while maintaining structural integrity under high pressures, thus being more versatile and cost-effective for industrial use.
Implementation Method 1
the flow rate measured by the two ultrasonic transducers has a transit time difference dependent on the flow velocity and/or the flow rate of a fluid flowing in the conduit
Data Source
AI summary
An ultrasonic flowmeter comprising a conduit in a support housing and at least two ultrasonic transducers in a measuring insert which can be inserted into the support housing and the conduit perpendicularly to the conduit. The conduit comprises a circular cylindrical receptacle with a diameter larger than the inside diameter of the conduit and a depth encompassing the inside of the conduit, for inserting the measuring insert into the conduit perpendicular to the flow direction. Four ultrasonic transducers are provided in a wall of the measuring insert, the transducers define at least two measuring paths which cross each other in top view. The transducers are arranged in the measuring insert wall such that ultrasonic signals emitted and received by the ultrasonic transducers on the measuring paths have a transit time difference th−tr dependent on the flow velocity v and/or the flow rate Q of a fluid flowing in the conduit.