Vibronic Multisensor Pressure Detection Unit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vibronic sensors face challenges in comprehensive process monitoring and control due to varying measurement accuracies and drift/aging effects, as well as the difficulty in detecting conditions of individual field devices during ongoing operations.
Innovation Solution
A device and method that integrate a sensor unit with a mechanically oscillatable unit, multiple piezoelectric elements, and a pressure detecting unit to execute mechanical oscillations and transmit signals, allowing for the evaluation of multiple process variables, including pressure, temperature, and conductivity, thereby enhancing measurement accuracy and application range.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple separate field devices are integrated to achieve comprehensive process monitoring, then measurement accuracy and application range are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate field devices (vibronic sensor, ultrasonic sensor, pressure sensor, temperature sensor) into a single integrated sensor unit with a common evaluation unit. This merging approach maintains the measurement accuracy of individual sensors while reducing overall system complexity by consolidating housing, power supply, and data processing functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor unit is designed as a multi-functional device that can simultaneously perform vibronic measurements, ultrasonic measurements, pressure measurements, and temperature measurements. The evaluation unit processes multiple types of signals from different sensing principles, enabling comprehensive process monitoring with a single universal device rather than multiple specialized devices.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate field devices are used for comprehensive process monitoring, then application range is expanded, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
By integrating multiple sensing functions into a single sensor unit with unified housing and power supply, the system improves ease of operation. Users deal with one device instead of multiple separate field devices, simplifying installation, positioning, and maintenance while maintaining the expanded application range through multi-functional sensing capabilities.
3Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If individual field devices are monitored separately, then detection of specific conditions is simplified, but loss of information increases
Solution Approach 1:
The evaluation unit continuously processes signals from all sensors and provides feedback on the operational status of each sensing element. This feedback mechanism enables detection of accretion, drift, or aging conditions by monitoring changes in signal characteristics across different sensing principles, preventing information loss through comprehensive condition monitoring and predictive maintenance capabilities.
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 enables the determination of multiple process variables independently, improving measurement accuracy and expanding the application domain of vibronic sensors, allowing for comprehensive process monitoring and condition detection, including the detection of accretion, drift, or aging, which enhances predictive maintenance.
Implementation Method 1
at least a first piezoelectric element are embodied to excite the mechanically oscillatable unit by means of an excitation signal, such that mechanical oscillations are executed
Implementation Method 2
to receive mechanical oscillations of the oscillatable unit and to convert them into a first received signal
Implementation Method 3
excite the mechanically oscillatable unit by means of an excitation signal, such that mechanical oscillations are executed
Data Source
AI summary
A device and a method for determining and/or monitoring at least one process variable of a medium include a sensor unit having a mechanically oscillatable unit, at least a first piezoelectric element, a pressure detection unit for determining and/or monitoring a pressure, and an electronics unit. The device is embodied to excite the mechanically oscillatable unit using an excitation signal such that mechanical oscillations are executed, to receive mechanical oscillations of the oscillatable unit, to convert them into a first received signal, to transmit a transmitted signal and to receive a second received signal. The electronics unit is embodied, based on the first and/or second received signal, to determine the at least one process variable of the medium.