Waveguide Gas Leveling for Acoustic Liquid Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for measuring liquid levels in tanks face inaccuracies due to slow adaptation to changes in gas composition and temperature, leading to non-optimal leveling of sound speed, which affects the accuracy of acoustic measurements.
Innovation Solution
A device with a waveguide that includes inlets for introducing gas from the liquid and an outlet for discharging gas, arranged closer to the inlet, allowing for quicker leveling of gas composition and temperature, utilizing passive transport methods like capillary attraction to enhance the accuracy of acoustic measurements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If gas is introduced into the waveguide through inlets and discharged through outlets to level gas composition and temperature, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional components and their arrangement
Solution Approach 1:
The waveguide is divided into multiple functional sections with separate inlets and outlets positioned at different locations. This segmentation allows independent control of gas composition and temperature in different regions of the waveguide, enabling precise acoustic measurements while maintaining a manageable structural complexity through modular design
Solution Approach 2:
Gas is introduced into the waveguide through inlets positioned upstream, allowing gas composition and temperature to be leveled before the acoustic measurement occurs. This preliminary action ensures that the measurement environment is properly conditioned in advance, improving measurement precision without requiring complex real-time control systems
2Speed
If the outlet is arranged closer to the inlet to enable quicker leveling of gas composition and temperature, then adaptation speed is improved, but acoustic signal transmission may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
The waveguide is designed with different local characteristics: the region near the inlet/outlet arrangement is optimized for rapid gas composition leveling, while the main acoustic transmission path is configured to preserve signal integrity. This local differentiation allows quick adaptation in the gas conditioning zone without compromising acoustic measurement precision in the measurement zone
Solution Approach 2:
Gas acts as an intermediary substance that is rapidly exchanged through the closely positioned inlets and outlets to level composition and temperature. This rapid gas exchange mediates between the need for quick adaptation and the requirement for stable acoustic conditions, allowing the system to quickly reach equilibrium without permanently affecting the acoustic transmission path
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 device provides more accurate and quicker adaptation to changes in gas composition and temperature, resulting in improved acoustic measurements of liquid levels by ensuring consistent sound speed throughout the waveguide.
Implementation Method 1
Such an arrangement may advantageously use passive transport of fluid into the device, such as by capillary attraction
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention provides a device for providing a gas composition and temperature compensated acoustic measurement of the level of a liquid in a tank. The device comprises a transmitter, a receiver, a processing circuitry, a waveguide for guiding acoustic signals from the transmitter to the liquid level surface and for guiding reflections of the acoustic signals back to the receiver The waveguide comprises a first end connected to the transmitter, a second end adapted to extend into the liquid, at least one inlet for introducing gas originating from the liquid in the tank into the waveguide, and an outlet for discharging gas out from the waveguide into the tank. The outlet is arranged closer to the first end than at least one of said at least one inlet.