Variable Mass Balance Bar for Vibratory Flow Meters
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vibratory meters with constant mass balance bars are inaccurate when measuring materials with densities outside the design density range, as they are not capable of adjusting to varying material densities.
Innovation Solution
A vibratory meter with a variable mass balance bar that adjusts its mass based on the fluid property values of the process material, ensuring resonance frequency matching between the balance bar and the measuring conduit, thereby maintaining accurate measurements across different densities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a constant mass balance bar is used in the vibratory meter, then the device structure is simple and manufacturing is easy, but measurement accuracy deteriorates when material density is outside the design density range
Solution Approach 1:
The balance bar is transformed from a static constant mass structure to a dynamic variable mass structure. The balance bar includes a balance fluid reservoir that can dynamically adjust the amount of balance fluid to change the overall mass of the balance bar, allowing it to adapt to different material densities while maintaining measurement accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The mass parameter of the balance bar is made variable through the balance fluid reservoir system. By changing the volume or density of the balance fluid, the overall mass of the balance bar can be adjusted to match different material densities, thereby maintaining measurement precision across varying conditions
2Device complexity
If the balance bar mass is fixed for a design density, then the device complexity is low, but adaptability to different material densities deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The balance bar system transitions from a fixed mass configuration to a dynamically adjustable mass configuration. The balance fluid reservoir with its control mechanism enables the balance bar mass to be varied according to the material density being measured, significantly improving adaptability while adding controlled complexity to the device
Solution Approach 2:
The balance bar is designed to serve multiple density measurement applications through the variable mass capability. The same balance bar structure can be used across different material types and density ranges by adjusting the balance fluid, making the device universally applicable rather than limited to a single design density
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
The variable mass balance bar allows for precise measurement of material properties by dynamically adjusting its mass to match the process material's density, enhancing measurement accuracy and reliability across a wide range of densities.
Implementation Method 1
An alternating current is passed to the drive coil for vibrating the measuring conduit(s) at a desired measuring conduit amplitude and frequency
Implementation Method 2
the pickoffs can use the motion provided by the driver to induce a voltage
Implementation Method 3
As material begins to flow through the vibratory meter, Coriolis forces cause each point along the measuring conduit(s) to have a different phase
Implementation Method 4
ensuring resonance frequency matching between the balance bar and the measuring conduit
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~4
Figure 5
AI summary
A variable mass balance bar (120-320, 520-820) is provided. The variable mass balance bar (120-320, 520-820) comprises a balance body (122-322b, 522-822) containing a balance fluid (124-324b, 524-824), wherein a mass of the balance fluid (124-324b, 524-824) is selected to balance a measuring conduit (110-310, 510-810) containing a process material.