Vibronic Sensor Verification Branch for Malfunction Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vibronic sensors lack a comprehensive solution to detect and classify malfunctions in both the mechanically oscillatable unit and the excitation/reception unit simultaneously, requiring multiple specific technical solutions that are costly and complex to implement, and may introduce additional failure points.
Innovation Solution
A device with a control/evaluation unit and a verification branch that applies a continuously changing frequency signal to the excitation/reception unit, allowing for the detection of multiple malfunctions by analyzing the amplitude and phase spectrum, using a frequency/time function that runs through various modes of the oscillating system, enabling simultaneous detection and classification of malfunctions in both units.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple specific technical solutions are used to detect malfunctions in different parts of the sensor, then the detection capability is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
A single verification branch is designed to perform multiple malfunction detection functions by analyzing different parameters (amplitude, frequency, phase) of the oscillating unit's vibrations. This universal approach allows detection of malfunctions in both the mechanically oscillatable unit and the excitation/reception unit without requiring separate dedicated verification branches for each malfunction type, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining comprehensive detection capability
2Reliability
If multiple specific technical solutions are implemented to monitor different malfunctions, then the functional safety is improved, but the cost and structural complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The verification branch is designed as a multi-functional monitoring system that uses a single structural implementation to detect multiple types of malfunctions (deposits, build-up, cable breaks, piezo element failures) by evaluating different characteristics of the oscillating unit's vibrations. This approach ensures high functional safety through comprehensive malfunction detection while avoiding the need for multiple separate monitoring systems, thereby reducing manufacturing cost and structural complexity
3Device complexity
If a single verification branch is used to detect multiple malfunctions, then the device complexity is reduced, but the difficulty of detecting and classifying different malfunctions increases
Solution Approach 1:
The verification branch segments the malfunction detection task by analyzing different parameters (amplitude, frequency, phase) of the oscillating unit's vibrations to identify and classify different malfunction types. This parameter-based segmentation allows a single verification branch to effectively distinguish between various malfunctions (deposits, build-up, cable breaks, piezo element failures) without requiring multiple separate verification branches, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining accurate malfunction classification
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 approach allows for the reliable and efficient detection of multiple malfunctions in vibronic sensors, reducing complexity and cost by using a single technical solution, enabling clear identification and differentiation of malfunctions from process variable changes, thus enhancing functional safety.
Implementation Method 1
an electromechanical converter unit, which in turn can be a piezoelectric drive
Implementation Method 2
the excitation/reception unit can receive the mechanical vibrations of the mechanically oscillatable unit and convert them into an electrical reception signal
Implementation Method 3
this is excited to mechanical oscillations by means of an excitation/reception unit
Implementation Method 4
At least one process variable is then determined or determined and/or monitored from the received vibrations of the mechanically oscillatable unit (natural frequency, resonant frequency, phase in relation to excitation, amplitude and/or changes thereof)
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to an apparatus for determining and/or monitoring the viscosity, the density and/or a predetermined filling level, having an excitation/receiving unit (1) which excites a mechanically vibratable unit (2) to vibrate, wherein a control/evaluation unit (3) which is connected to the excitation/receiving unit (1) and has a measuring branch (31) and a checking branch (32) separate from the latter is provided. The checking branch (32) is configured to apply an excitation signal to the excitation/receiving unit (1), to receive the vibrations of the mechanically vibratable unit (2) and to determine at least a first malfunction and a second different malfunction (F1, F2,...) of the mechanically vibratable unit (2) and/or of the excitation/receiving unit (1) from the received vibrations, wherein the excitation signal of the checking branch (32) has a continuous changing frequency which is described by a frequency/time function and passes through a plurality of modes (M1, M2,...) of the mechanically vibratable unit (2).