Vibronic Coriolis Flow Meter Circuit Segmentation for Fault Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing Coriolis mass flow meters have complex and costly measuring and operating electronics that require simultaneous evaluation of multiple vibration channels, leading to high marginal costs and system failure upon any single channel malfunction.
Innovation Solution
A Coriolis mass flow meter with separate excitation and evaluation circuits for pairs of tubes, allowing independent vibration excitation and signal processing, reducing complexity and cost while maintaining functionality even if one channel fails.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single complex measuring and operating electronics system is used to evaluate multiple vibration channels simultaneously, then measurement functionality is achieved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the measuring and operating electronics into separate evaluation circuits, with each circuit dedicated to evaluating vibration signals from a specific pair of tubes. This segmentation reduces the complexity of each individual circuit while maintaining overall system functionality, and isolates potential failure points to prevent single-point failures from causing complete system failure.
2Reliability
If separate excitation and evaluation circuits are used for each pair of tubes, then system reliability improves through fault isolation, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the excitation and evaluation functions into integrated units where each pair of tubes has its own excitation circuit and evaluation circuit that work together. This merging approach allows for standardized modular design that reduces overall complexity compared to completely separate systems, while still maintaining the reliability benefits of separation.
3Ease of manufacture
If multiple vibration channels are evaluated simultaneously by a single electronics system, then complete flow measurement is achieved, but manufacturing cost increases due to high component count
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the evaluation system into multiple independent evaluation circuits, each handling a specific pair of tubes. This segmentation reduces the component count within each individual circuit, making them simpler and less expensive to manufacture, while the modular nature allows for efficient production and assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses identical or similar evaluation circuits for different pairs of tubes, allowing for standardized manufacturing processes. This copying approach reduces development costs and enables efficient mass production of the modular evaluation circuits, lowering overall manufacturing costs despite handling multiple channels.
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 solution simplifies the electronics structure, reduces costs, and ensures system reliability by enabling separate evaluation of vibration signals, preventing total system failure from individual component faults.
Implementation Method 1
two electrodynamic vibration exciters, of which a first vibration exciter is mechanically connected to both the first tube and the second tube... Each of the first and second vibration exciters is further configured to convert electrical power into mechanical power
Implementation Method 2
which are suitable for causing Coriolis forces in the medium flowing through the first and second tubes, which are dependent on the mass flow
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
The measuring system according to the invention comprises a measuring transducer (MW) comprising a pipe assembly for conducting a flowing fluid, an exciter assembly for converting electric power into mechanical power which can be used to excite and maintain forced mechanical vibrations of the pipe assembly, and a sensor assembly for detecting mechanical vibrations of the pipe assembly; and an electronic measuring and operating system (ME) which is electrically coupled to the measurement transducer (MW), namely both to the exciter assembly as well as to the sensor assembly thereof, and which comprises two driver circuits (Exc1, Exc2) for providing electric power for the exciter assembly and two measurement transformer circuits (DSV1, DSV2) for processing vibration measurement signals of the sensor assembly and for actuating a respective driver circuit of the driver circuits (Exc1, Exc2). The pipe assembly has two flow dividers (21, 22), each of which comprises four flow openings and four pipes (111, 112, 121, 122) that are identically designed solely in pairs, each pipe being connected to the flow dividers (21, 22) and being designed such that the substance to be measured flows through the pipe while the pipe is being vibrated at the same time. The exciter assembly has a vibration exciter (31) which is mechanically connected to the pipes (111, 121) and is electrically connected to the driver circuit (Exc1) and a vibration exciter (32), which is mechanically connected to the other pipes (121, 122) and is electrically connected to the driver circuit (Exc2). The sensor assembly has two vibration sensors (51, 52), each of which is mechanically connected to the pipes (111, 112) and each of which is electrically connected to the measurement transformer circuit (DSV1), and two additional vibration sensors (53, 54), each of which is mechanically connected to the other pipes (121, 122) and each of which is electrically connected to the measurement transformer circuit (DSV2). The measurement transformer circuit (DSV1) is designed to receive and process vibration measurement signals from the vibration sensors (51, 52), namely ascertain partial mass flow measurement values (Xm1) which represent the mass flow of the substance to be measured flowing through the pipes (111, 112) and output same to the measurement transformer circuit (DSV2), and the measurement transformer circuit (DSV2) is designed to receive and process vibration measurement signals from the vibration sensors (53, 54) as well as partial mass flow measurement values (Xm1), namely ascertain total throughflow measurement values (Xm) which represent the total mass flow of the substance to be measured flowing through the pipes (111, 112, 121, 122).