Tubular Adapter with Flow Straightener for Ventilation Measurement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing measuring devices for volume flow in building ventilation systems often produce significant measurement errors due to turbulence, requiring the removal of outlets, which is time-consuming and inefficient.

Innovation Solution

A tubular adapter piece with a flow straightener is inserted between the measuring funnel and anemometer, allowing for turbulence reduction and enabling accurate volume flow measurements without interfering with the measurement process, and can be easily integrated with existing devices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a measuring funnel with anemometer is used to measure volume flow in building ventilation systems, then volume flow measurement is enabled, but significant measurement errors occur due to turbulence

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevolume flow measurement accuracyVSAvoidturbulence
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A tubular adapter piece is introduced as an intermediary component between the measuring funnel and the anemometer. This adapter piece contains a flow straightener that rectifies turbulent flow before it reaches the anemometer, thereby eliminating measurement errors caused by turbulence while maintaining the functionality of the measuring funnel and anemometer combination.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If outlets are removed to achieve correct measurement, then measurement accuracy improves, but measurement process becomes time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevolume flow measurement accuracyVSAvoidoutlet removal time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The tubular adapter piece with flow straightener serves as a mediator that enables accurate measurements without requiring outlet removal. The adapter attaches to the existing outlet and provides flow rectification internally, allowing measurements to be taken on installed outlets while maintaining accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The flow straightener performs preliminary flow rectification before the air reaches the anemometer. By pre-conditioning the flow within the adapter piece, the system eliminates the need for time-consuming outlet removal and reinstallation procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Object-affected harmful factors

If flow straightener is fixedly arranged between hood and anemometer, then turbulence is reduced, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveturbulenceVSAvoidmeasuring device structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The flow straightener is merged with the tubular adapter piece, combining two functions (flow rectification and adapter connection) into a single integrated component. This reduces overall device complexity compared to having separate flow straightener and adapter components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The tubular adapter piece serves multiple functions: it acts as a connector between the measuring funnel and anemometer, provides flow rectification through the integrated flow straightener, and maintains proper alignment. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 adapter piece effectively reduces turbulence, allowing for precise volume flow measurements by rectifying the flow before it reaches the anemometer, eliminating the need for outlet removal and ensuring accurate readings regardless of flow conditions.

Implementation Method 1

In order to reduce turbulence within the volume flow, the tubular adapter piece (6) with the flow straightener (8) is arranged in its tube interior (7)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTurbulence reduction: Turbulence

Data Source

PatentEP2618116B1Method for measuring a volume flow, tubular adapter piece and measuring device for measuring a volume flow
Publication Date: 2017.11.01 TESTO SE & CO KGAA
  • EP2618116B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2618116B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method is used to measure a volume flow rate through an air supply or exhaust opening of a building ventilation system by means of a measuring device (1) and a tubular adapter (6). The volume flow rate is introduced into an inlet opening (2) of a measuring funnel (4) of the measuring device (1) and fed to an anemometer (5). To reduce turbulence within the volume flow rate, the tubular adapter (6) with a flow straightener (8) in its interior (7) is arranged between an outlet opening (3) of the measuring funnel (4) and the anemometer (5). The volume flow rate is passed through this adapter (6) and the flow straightener (8), straightened and/or laminarized by the flow straightener (8), and then fed as a straightened volume flow rate through an outlet opening (12) of the tubular adapter (6) to the anemometer (5) for measurement. (Fig. 2)