Ultrasonic Fluid Meter With Pressure Backup Across Valve Closure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ultrasonic fluid meters face challenges in measuring and regulating fluid flow rates when the valve is partially or fully closed, as ultrasonic signals cannot travel effectively, preventing accurate flow rate measurement and regulation.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a valve with a movable member and position sensors, along with pressure sensors upstream and downstream of the valve, allowing the processing circuit to evaluate flow rates using ultrasonic measurements when possible and pressure differences when ultrasonic measurements are not feasible, enabling flow rate measurement and regulation regardless of valve position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a valve is positioned between the two transducers to regulate flow rate, then the ability to control and limit fluid flow is improved, but the ultrasonic signals cannot travel normally through the conduit when the valve is not fully open, making flow rate measurement impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces pressure sensors as intermediary devices that indirectly measure flow rate by detecting pressure differences across the valve. When the valve position blocks ultrasonic signal transmission, the pressure sensors serve as alternative mediators to infer flow conditions without requiring direct ultrasonic penetration through the valve structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system switches measurement parameters based on valve position. When the valve is fully open, ultrasonic time-of-flight measurements are used. When the valve is partially closed and blocks ultrasonic signals, the system transitions to using pressure differential measurements. This parameter switching allows continuous flow monitoring across all valve positions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the valve is positioned in the flow measurement area between the two transducers, then flow rate can be regulated on demand, but the ultrasonic measuring device cannot function when the valve restricts flow
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adapts its measurement method based on real-time valve position. The processing circuit continuously monitors valve position and automatically switches between ultrasonic measurement mode (when valve is open) and pressure-based measurement mode (when valve is partially closed). This dynamic adaptation ensures reliable measurements across all operating conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent pre-positions pressure sensors upstream and downstream of the valve to be ready for immediate use. These sensors are installed in advance and remain dormant during normal ultrasonic measurement, but are immediately activated when the valve position indicates blocked ultrasonic transmission, providing a cushioning backup measurement system.
3Adaptability or versatility
If pressure sensors are added to measure pressure upstream and downstream of the valve, then flow rate can be evaluated when ultrasonic measurement is not possible, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure sensors serve multiple functions: they measure static pressure for flow calculation when the valve is closed, they provide backup measurement when ultrasonic transmission is blocked, and they can potentially provide additional diagnostic information about system conditions. This multi-functionality justifies the added complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces the mechanical/physical constraint of requiring unobstructed ultrasonic paths with a computational approach using pressure measurements. Instead of modifying the ultrasonic hardware to penetrate valves, the system substitutes an alternative physical measurement principle (pressure differential) that works regardless of valve position.
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 continuous measurement and regulation of fluid flow rates across all valve states, ensuring accurate billing and flow control without relying solely on ultrasonic signals.
Implementation Method 1
a first pressure sensor arranged to measure a first pressure of the fluid in the conduit upstream of the valve
Implementation Method 2
a second pressure sensor arranged to measure a second pressure of the fluid in the conduit downstream of the valve
Implementation Method 3
evaluate the current flow as a function of the current position of the movable part and a pressure value representative of a difference between the second pressure and the first pressure
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
Ultrasonic fluid meter comprising a conduit (4) in which a fluid can flow, an ultrasonic measuring device (6) for evaluating a current flow rate of the fluid, a valve (12) comprising a movable member (14) for controlling the current flow rate of the fluid, a position sensor (15) for measuring a current position of the movable member (14), a first pressure sensor (16) for measuring a first pressure of the fluid upstream of the valve (12) and a second pressure sensor (17) for measuring a second pressure of the fluid downstream of the valve (12), a processing circuit (5) for, if the current flow rate cannot be measured by the ultrasonic measuring device (6), evaluating the current flow rate as a function of the current position of the movable member (14) and a pressure value representative of a difference between the second pressure and the first pressure.