Universal Flow Measurement Platform Spool Reduces Installation Complexity
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Solution Overview
Problem
The installation of flow measurement systems in industrial processes is costly and time-consuming due to the need for significant customization based on various factors such as piping configuration, fluid properties, and expected flow rates, which can introduce delays and increase costs during plant construction.
Innovation Solution
A universal flow measurement platform featuring a spool conduit with a meter body that can accommodate standardized flow measurement components, allowing for flexible selection and swapping of technologies like orifice plates, pitot tubes, magnetic, vortex, coriolis, ultrasonic, thermal mass, and venturi sensors, reducing the need for extensive customization and enabling easy updates or changes in measurement technologies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If flow measurement systems are customized based on piping configuration, fluid properties, and expected flow rates, then measurement accuracy is improved, but installation cost and time increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The flow measurement system is divided into separate modular components: a standardized spool body with standardized flow measurement component opening, and interchangeable flow measurement components (orifice plates, pitot tubes, magnetic flow tubes, vortex shedding bars, coriolis meters, ultrasonic transducers, thermal mass sensors, wedge, venturi tube). This segmentation allows the spool body to remain standardized while only the measurement component needs to be selected and replaced based on specific measurement requirements, reducing installation complexity while maintaining measurement accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The spool body is designed with universal standardized openings and mounting features that can accommodate multiple types of flow measurement components. The standardized flow measurement component opening, carrier assembly, and flange connections create a universal platform that can be used across different piping configurations and measurement requirements, eliminating the need for custom-designed spool bodies for each application while still achieving accurate measurements through appropriate component selection.
2Productivity
If standardized flow measurement components are used in a universal platform, then installation cost and time are reduced, but adaptability to different measurement requirements decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables dynamic adaptation by allowing the flow measurement component to be easily swapped within the standardized spool body. The carrier assembly with removable flow measurement components and the sealable opening design facilitate quick replacement of measurement technology based on changing process requirements, fluid properties, or measurement accuracy needs, providing both installation efficiency and long-term adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The standardized platform supports parameter changes by allowing substitution of different flow measurement components optimized for specific measurement ranges, fluid types, and accuracy requirements. The universal spool body maintains consistent physical parameters (opening size, mounting geometry) while the interchangeable components provide varying measurement parameters (measurement principle, range, accuracy) to match different process conditions.
3Manufacturing precision
If customization is performed during plant construction, then initial installation accuracy is improved, but construction delays and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The spool body with standardized flow measurement component opening is pre-fabricated and ready to receive any type of flow measurement component. This preliminary preparation of the standardized platform during plant construction eliminates the need for custom fabrication work at the measurement location, allowing quick installation of the appropriate measurement component while ensuring manufacturing precision through standardized machining of the spool body opening and mounting features.
Data Source
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Figure 3A~3D
AI summary
An apparatus (102) for measuring flow of a process fluid includes an elongate spool (110) providing a spool conduit therethrough adapted to be coupled in line with process piping (104) to receive the flow of process fluid. A meter body (112) is carried by the elongate spool and receives the spool conduit therethrough. The meter body (112) includes a flow measurement component opening (144) which extends from the spool conduit to outside of the meter body (112). A flow component (170) is configured for placement in the flow measurement component opening (144) of the meter body (1 12). A carrier (150) is configured to removably mount to the meter body (112) and couple the flow measurement component (170) to the spool conduit through the flow measurement component opening (144). A flow measurement transmitter (116) couples to the flow measurement component (170) to measure the flow of process fluid based upon an interaction between the process fluid and the flow measurement component (170).