Integrated Vibronic and Microwave Sensor for Process Variable Determination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vibronic fill-level measuring devices can only determine a limited set of process variables, such as fill level, density, and viscosity, requiring multiple devices and additional principles for comprehensive characterization of a medium, whereas the proposed apparatus combines vibronic and microwave sensor technologies to expand the range of determinable process variables and diagnostic capabilities.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus incorporates a mechanically oscillatable unit and an electromagnetically oscillatable unit, along with a control unit, active element, and evaluation unit, to produce and maintain electromagnetic oscillations, enabling the determination of various process variables like fill level, viscosity, density, permittivity, and dielectric properties through a combination of mechanical and electromagnetic measurements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple field devices based on different principles are applied in parallel to determine comprehensive process variables, then the range of determinable process variables is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines a mechanically oscillatable unit (vibronic sensor) and an electromagnetically oscillatable unit (microwave sensor) into a single integrated apparatus. The mechanically oscillatable unit determines fill level, density, and viscosity, while the electromagnetically oscillatable unit determines permittivity, permeability, and dielectric loss factor. This merging of multiple sensing principles into one device resolves the contradiction by expanding measurement capabilities without requiring multiple separate field devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated apparatus performs multiple measurement functions simultaneously using two different oscillation principles. The mechanically oscillatable unit provides mechanical sensing capabilities while the electromagnetically oscillatable unit provides electromagnetic sensing capabilities. This multi-functionality allows a single device to replace what would traditionally require multiple specialized field devices, thereby reducing system complexity while maintaining comprehensive process variable determination.
2Device complexity
If a single field device is used to simplify the system, then the device complexity is reduced, but the range of determinable process variables is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges two distinct sensing technologies - mechanical oscillation sensing and electromagnetic oscillation sensing - into a single integrated field device. This combination enables the device to determine a comprehensive set of process variables including fill level, density, viscosity, permittivity, permeability, and dielectric loss factor, thereby achieving high versatility without requiring multiple separate devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The apparatus employs a composite sensing structure that integrates both mechanically oscillatable and electromagnetically oscillatable units within a single device housing. This composite design allows the device to leverage both mechanical and electromagnetic fields for sensing, enabling it to extract multiple process variables from a single integrated platform rather than requiring multiple homogeneous sensing devices.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional vibronic sensors are used, then the manufacturing and operation are simple, but the diagnostic capabilities and detection of accretions are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines conventional vibronic sensing with microwave sensing in an integrated apparatus. The mechanically oscillatable unit maintains the simplicity and ease of manufacture of conventional vibronic sensors, while the added electromagnetically oscillatable unit provides enhanced diagnostic capabilities including detection of accretions, bridging, and other process anomalies that are not detectable by mechanical sensing alone.
Solution Approach 2:
The electromagnetically oscillatable unit acts as an intermediary sensing mechanism that complements the mechanically oscillatable unit. While the mechanical sensor provides direct contact measurement, the electromagnetic sensor provides non-contact or minimal-contact measurement capabilities that enhance diagnostic functions and enable detection of process conditions that do not affect mechanical oscillation but do affect electromagnetic properties.
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
This combination allows for a broader range of process variables to be monitored, enhancing diagnostic capabilities and enabling the detection of accretions and medium properties not accessible with conventional devices, while maintaining a compact and efficient design.
Implementation Method 1
a mechanically oscillatable unit (4), a driving/receiving unit (5) for exciting the mechanically oscillatable unit (4) to execute mechanical oscillations
Implementation Method 2
an electromagnetically oscillatable unit (7), an active element (13) for producing and/or maintaining electromagnetic oscillations in the electromagnetically oscillatable unit (7)
Implementation Method 3
The driving/receiving unit can receive the mechanical oscillations of the mechanically oscillatable unit and transduce them into an electrical, received signal
Data Source
AI summary
An Apparatus for determining and/or monitoring at least one process variable of a medium in a container, comprising: a mechanically oscillatable unit a driving/receiving unit for exciting the mechanically oscillatable unit to execute mechanical oscillations by means of an electrical, exciting signal and for receiving and transducing the mechanical oscillations into an electrical, received signal a control unit, which is embodied to produce the exciter signal starting from the received signal and to set a predeterminable phase shift between the exciter signal and the received signal, an electromagnetically oscillatable unit, an active element for producing and/or maintaining electromagnetic oscillations in the electromagnetically oscillatable unit, which active element forms together with the electromagnetically oscillatable unit an oscillator, a coupling unit, which is embodied to tap an output signal from the active element, and an evaluation unit, which evaluation unit is embodied to determine the at least one process variable from the received signal and/or from the output signal.