Showing papers on "Ultrasonic flow meter published in 2011"

Flow rate meter

Abstract: The present invention is flow rate meters which are able to accurately measure the volumetric rate of flow of a liquid through a conduit without requiring foreknowledge of the physicochemical characteristics of the liquid, e.g., for the purpose of calibration of the thermal mass flow rate. One application of the flow meters of the invention is to incorporate them in a system for measuring the flow rate of urine excreted by a catheterized patient. The invention also provides methods for using the flow rate meters.

Ultrasonic flow rate measurement device

Abstract: An ultrasonic flow rate measurement device includes a measurement channel, through which a fluid to be measured flows; and a sensor fixing casing having openings formed in the measurement channel and sensor fixing cavities communicating with the openings Moreover, the ultrasonic flow rate measurement device includes a pair of ultrasonic sensors contained in the sensor fixing cavities, for measuring the flow rate of the fluid to be measured; and a flow rate measuring unit for detecting the flow rate based on an ultrasonic wave propagation time between the pair of ultrasonic sensors Furthermore, the ultrasonic flow rate measurement device includes a suppressing member formed at each of the openings, for suppressing the fluid to be measured from intruding into each of the sensor fixing cavities, wherein the suppressing member is molded integrally with the sensor fixing casing

An integrated ultrasonic flowmeter and hydraulic valve

Abstract: The invention relates to the metering of water, being especially useful for agricultural purposes and other applications. An integrated water meter and cut-off valve with electronic controls is provided. The integrated water meter comprises a hollow body having an inlet port and an outlet port for a fluid and a passage connecting the ports; a generator of ultrasonic pulses in operational communication with the body, operationally connected to a US (ultra-sonic) transmitter transducer and a US receiver transducer, and a diaphragm valve inside the passage in fluid communication with the passage.

Ultrasonic flow meter having a port cover assembly

Abstract: An ultrasonic flow meter for measuring the flow of a fluid through a pipeline. In some embodiments, the ultrasonic flow meter includes a spool piece, a transducer assembly, and a port cover assembly. The spool piece has a throughbore and a transducer port extending between the throughbore and an outer surface of the spool piece. The transducer assembly is disposed within the transducer port and includes a transformer, a piezoelectric element, and an electrical coupling therebetween. The port cover assembly is coupled to the transducer assembly. The port cover assembly receives a cable coupled to the transducer assembly and is spring-loaded to bias the port cover assembly toward the transducer assembly to resist the cable from being electrically uncoupled from the transducer assembly.

Non-invasive tranducers for ultrasonic transit time flow meters

Abstract: An ultrasonic flow meter permitting easy insertion and removal of a tube or conduit. A partial ring transducer or partial cylinder transducer is used to permit easy insertion and removal of a flexible tube in an ultrasonic flow meter for measuring fluid flow. In another embodiment a split ring or split cylinder transducer is used to facilitate easy removal and insertion of a tube or conduit in which fluid flow is to be measured. In another embodiment a clamping system is used to securely hold and couple a tube or conduit within the ultrasonic flow meter system. The present invention is conveniently adapted to hold flexible tubes and in particular disposable flexible tubes often used in the medical industry.

Ultrasonic flow meter with transducer assembly having a rotatable receptacle and elbow connector

Abstract: An ultrasonic flow meter for measuring the flow of a fluid through a pipeline. In an embodiment, the flow meter comprises a spool piece including a throughbore and a transducer port extending to the throughbore. In addition, the flow meter comprises a transducer assembly disposed in the transducer port. The transducer assembly comprises a piezoelectric capsule including a piezoelectric element. Further, the transducer assembly comprises a transformer capsule including a transformer. The transformer capsule is coupled to the piezoelectric capsule. Still further, the transducer assembly comprises a receptacle capsule coupled to the transformer capsule. The receptacle capsule includes a receptacle housing and a receptacle coaxially disposed within the receptacle housing. The receptacle is electrically coupled to the transformer. Moreover, the receptacle is rotatable relative to the receptacle housing between a first position and a second position.

Means and method for monitoring the flow of fluid

Abstract: The invention relates to an means and method for monitoring the flow of a fluid. The invention relates to an electromagnetic flow meter and method for measuring the axial velocity profile of a conducting fluid. The conducting fluid may be a conducting single phase fluid or a conducting continuous phase of a multiphase fluid. The conducting fluid may have a uniform flow profile or a non-uniform flow profile. The electromagnetic flow meter and method measure the axial velocity profile of a conducting fluid by dividing the flow cross section into multiple pixels and determining the axial velocity of the conducting fluid in each pixel. Having. derived the axial velocity profile, the electromagnetic flow meter and method may further derive the volumetric flow rate of the conducting fluid. The electromagnetic flow meter and method may be suitable for measuring the axial velocity profile and optionally the volumetric flow rates of each phase of a multiphase fluid.

Non-intrusive Measuring of Air-water Flow Properties in Self-aerated Stepped Spillway Flow

Abstract: For hydraulic design of stepped spillways, knowledge of flow properties as flow depth and velocity of the air-water mixture is essential. Generally, these parameters are measured on largescale models by use of an intrusive probe (i.e. double-tip conductivity or fiber-optical probe) and scaled to prototype dimensions. In this paper the capability and limitation of non-intrusive measuring devices are analysed by comparison with a large model data set measured with a double-tip conductivity probe in skimming flow regime. In fact, flow depths are measured with an ultrasonic sensor and velocity fields are determined by use of a modified high-speed PIV method (Bubble Image Velocimetry). The results indicate that non-intrusive devices may be applied for a first estimation of flow properties with sufficient accuracy. The flow field above the pseudo-bottom and within the cavity of the steps can be visualized in high resolution.

Ultrasonic flow meter

Abstract: A method and apparatus utilizing a pair of ultrasonic transducers simultaneously transmitting and receiving to measure the mean time of flight of an ultrasonic signal over a given distance, and thereby the speed of sound of a fluid in a conduit at a given temperature, independent of flow rate, and the flow rate of the fluid. A signal source simultaneously drives an upstream transducer and a downstream transducer, each of which receive the signal transmitted by the other. The difference between the upstream and downstream signals takes into account the speed of sound of the fluid. The time of flight for the upstream and downstream signals can then be used to calculate the flow rate. A phase locked loop coupled to the signal source automatically adjusts for variations of the speed of sound in the fluid in response to temperature changes.

A comparative study of flow rate characteristics of an averaging Pitot tube type flow meter according to H parameters based on two kinds of differential pressure measured at the flow meter with varying air temperature

Abstract: A new averaging Pitot tube flow meter that has a shape similar to an Annubar® type flow meter was designed and its flow rate characteristic was evaluated. The air temperature supplied to the developed flow meter was maintained at a constant by controlling electric power supply to an electric heater during the calibration. Two kinds of differential pressure measured at the flow meter were used in calculating the H parameters, which represent characteristics of the developed flow meter. One H parameter (HΔP1) which was newly proposed in this research was calculated based on the difference between upstream pressure (stagnation pressure) at the flow meter and static pressure of the measured flow. The differential pressure is equivalent to the dynamic pressure of the flow. The other H parameter (HΔP2) which is used in a typical Annubar® type flow meter was calculated based on the difference between upstream and downstream pressure at the developed flow meters. Relationship curves between the two H parameters and the mass flow rate at the developed flow meter were obtained. The curves based on the HΔP2 parameter, which uses the difference between up and down stream pressure, show different gradients for varying the controlled air temperature. However, the other curve, based on the other HΔP1 parameter, which uses the dynamic pressure, can be represented by one linear curve even with varying air temperature.

Diagnostic flow metering using ultrasound tomography

Abstract: For an accurate flow metering without considering the influences of flow control devices such as valves and elbows in closed conduits, velocity distribution in the cross-sectional area must be integrated. However, most flow meters, including multi-path ultrasonic, electromagnetic or Coriolis mass flow meters, require assumptions on the fully-developed turbulent flows to calculate flow rates from physical quantities of their own concern. Therefore, a long straight pipe has been a necessary element for accurate flow metering because the straight pipe can reduce flow disturbances caused by flow control devices. To reduce costs due to the installation of long straight pipes, another flow metering technique is required. For example, flow rates can be estimated by integrating velocity distributions in the crosssection of conduits. In the present study, ultrasound tomography was used to find the velocity distribution in the cross-section of a closed conduit where flow was disturbed by a Coriolis mass flow meter or a butterfly valve. A commercial multi-path ultrasonic flow meter was installed in the pipeline to measure the line-averaged velocity distribution in the pipe flow. The ultrasonic flow meter was rotated 180° at intervals of 10° to construct line-averaged velocity distributions in Radon space. Flow images were reconstructed by using a backprojection algorithm (inverse Radon transform). Flow diagnostic parameters were defined by calculating statistical moments, i.e., average, standard deviation, skewness, and kurtosis, based on the normalized velocity distribution. The flow diagnostic parameters were applied to flow images to find whether the parameters could discern flow disturbances in the reconstructed velocity distribution.

Ultrasonic flow meter

Abstract: An ultrasonic flow meter includes a first ultrasonic sensor, a second ultrasonic sensor, a volume-flow operation portion, a temperature operation portion, a pressure operation portion, and a correction operation portion The ultrasonic sensors transmit and receive a plurality of ultrasonic waves of different frequencies and are disposed on opposite sides of a flow channel in which fluid flows The volume-flow operation portion calculates a volume flow of the fluid based on a propagation time difference of the ultrasonic wave The temperature operation portion analyzes signals from one of the ultrasonic sensors and calculates a temperature of the fluid The pressure operation portion analyzes signals from one of the ultrasonic sensors and calculates a pressure of the fluid The correction operation portion corrects the volume flow with the temperature and the pressure

Concentration measurement systems with stable solutions for binary gas mixtures using two flowmeters

Abstract: The previously proposed gas concentration measurement system (Yamazaki et al 2007 Meas. Sci. Technol. 18 2762–8) shows a considerable error for some combinations of gases. The error increases when the system of equations determining mole fractions becomes a mathematically ill-conditioned system. Because the parameters of the equations reflect the material properties of the gases, the current paper considers flowmeters whose flow rate indication does not involve any gas property. This paper firstly illustrates the ill condition for the combination of venturi meter and laminar flowmeters. The paper then discusses the simultaneous measurement of flow rate and mole fractions by flowmeter combinations: an ultrasonic flowmeter and a venturi meter, an ultrasonic flowmeter and a laminar flowmeter. Experiments are conducted for a mixture of argon and air. When a venturi meter and a laminar flowmeter are used, the equations to evaluate the gas mixture ratio become an ill-conditioned system, and hence the evaluated mixture ratio shows a considerable error. On the other hand, the combination of an ultrasonic flowmeter and a laminar flowmeter detects the gas mixture ratio with proper accuracy.

Ultrasonic flow meter, transducer assembly, and methods of manufacturing the same

Abstract: A transducer assembly for an ultrasonic flow meter comprises a piezoelectric capsule. In an embodiment, the piezoelectric capsule includes a housing having a central axis, a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a first inner chamber extending axially from the first end. In addition, the piezoelectric capsule includes a piezoelectric element disposed in the first inner chamber. Further, the piezoelectric element includes a plurality of spacers disposed in the first inner chamber between the piezoelectric element and the housing.

Ultrasonic flow meter with zero impedance measuring electronics

Abstract: The present invention discloses an ultrasonic flow meter comprising a generator circuit and a receiver circuit electrically separated from the generator circuit. The flow meter further comprises transducer switching means for controlled connection of ultrasonic transducers to either the generator circuit or to the receiver circuit. The output impedance of the generator circuit and the input impedance of the receiver circuit are controlled to be substantially zero.

Designing low gas flow meters based on the calometric principle of flow rate measuring

Abstract: The current assortment of sensing devices for measuring rate of fluid flow covers a wide range of requirements related to normal operation conditions. In the area of the low and very low fluid flow devices the offered assortment is being diminished sharply. Availability of the devices is very limited and costly. The aim of the article is to design a methodology for constructing a sensor for measuring the low liquid flows and the experimental verification of design. The gas flow meter is based on the calometric measurement principle so that the flow rate it assessed taking into account the known transferred amount of heat to the fluid flow and the temperature differences of the medium before and after electric coil of Thomas cylinder determined by thermocouples.

Investigation of swirl meter performance

Abstract: The performance of vane- and impulse-type swirl meters was investigated, and a direct calibration method for swirl meters was developed. The zero-swirl bias of the meters was tested by installing an axially aligned tube on the swirl meter. Both the vane- and impulse-type meters showed insignificant zero-swirl bias. A known swirl was provided to the swirl meters using an offset, inclined tube arrangement. The angular momentum flux deliv- ered by this system was found to depend linearly on the product of the offset distance and cosine of the inclination angle. Both the impulse- and vane-type meters were found to give measurements below the known swirl value, but both meters gave results that were linearly dependent on the angular momentum flux, which allows characterization of the meter's effi- ciency with a single parameter. The efficiency of the impulse-type meter varied from 0.7 to 0.93, was a moderate function of the flow straightener aspect ratio, and depended slightly on the meter size. The vane-type meter's efficiency was 0.32-0.45 for the conditions tested, was insensitive to the paddle wheel flow straightener aspect ratio, and depended significantly on the meter size. The vane-type meter measurements were also found to depend on the paddle- to-bore-diameter ratio; values slightly exceeding unity should be used. The swirl meter effi- ciency can be used to correct measurements to an absolute basis. Based on these findings, a universal correction factor does not exist, and a given measuring device will need to be cali- brated using the methodology described.

Conditioner, Apparatus and Method

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a flow conditioner for displacing and mixing fluid flow to minimize the effects of thermal gradients on the accuracy of a transit time ultrasonic flowmeter and defines an envelope in a cross sectional direction in a pipe having a first ramp adapted to be disposed in the pipe and extending from the outside of the envelope inward toward the center of the pipe in a downstream direction with respect to the fluid flow and forming an angle between 0° and 90° relative to the pipe's inner surface. The conditioner has a second ramp adapted to be disposed in the pipe and in juxtaposition with the first ramp, the second ramp extending from the outside of the envelope inward toward the center of the pipe in an upstream direction with respect to the fluid flow and forming an angle between 0° and 90° relative to the pipe's inner surface. An apparatus for determining fluid flow in a pipe having ultrasonic transducer sites. A method for determining fluid flow in a pipe. A method for affecting fluid flow in a pipe.

Ultrasonic flow measurement unit and ultrasonic flowmeter using same

Abstract: Disclosed is an ultrasonic flow measurement unit (50) provided with a measurement flow path (7) through which a fluid to be measured (16) flows, a pair of ultrasonic vibrators (1, 9) disposed upstream and downstream of the measurement flow path (7) and capable of transmitting and receiving an ultrasonic signal, and an ultrasonic vibrator mounting part (8) provided to the measurement flow path (7). The ultrasonic vibrators (1, 9) each comprise a piezoelectric element (4), a terminal (12) for applying voltage to the piezoelectric element (4), and an acoustic matching layer (5) bonded to the transmission-side surface of the terminal (12). The ultrasonic vibrators (1, 9) are affixed to the ultrasonic vibrator mounting part (8) by a coating material (13) having elasticity.

Ultrasonic flow rate measuring device and ultrasonic flow rate measuring method

Abstract: Provided are an ultrasonic flow rate measuring device used for measuring the flow rate of a fluid flowing through a pipe and a highly accurate ultrasonic flow rate measuring method for the ultrasonic flow rate measuring device, the ultrasonic flow rate measuring device being easy to be attached to the pipe body. The ultrasonic flow rate measuring device measures the flow rate of a medium flowing through a pipe body in such a way that: when one of a plurality of ultrasonic vibration sending and receiving means functions as a vibration sending means and sends an ultrasonic vibration, another one functions as a vibration receiving means and receives the ultrasonic vibration; and when the another one functions as the vibration sending means and sends an ultrasonic vibration, the one functions as the vibration receiving means and receives the ultrasonic vibration. An ultrasonic propagation control means for controlling the propagation of ultrasonic waves is equipped between the ultrasonic vibration sending and receiving means functioning as the vibration sending means and the vibration receiving means. The ultrasonic flow rate measuring device can also be easily attached to a pipe body.

Contrapropagating Ultrasonic Flowmeter Using Clad Buffer Rods for High Temperature Measurements

Abstract: This work proposes clad buffer rods driven by shear transducers as the main building block of contrapropagating ultrasonic flowmeters for high temperature application. It is demonstrated that the superior signal-to-noise ratio exhibited by clad buffer rods (compared with the reported nonclad counterparts) improves precision in transit time measurements, leading to more accurate flow speed determination. In addition, it is shown that clad buffer rods generate specific ultrasonic signals for temperature calibration of flowmeters, allowing temperature variation while still measuring accurately the flow speed. On the basis of these experimental results, a contrapropagating ultrasonic flowmeter was designed and installed in a heater machine for flow speed measurements of hot oil at temperatures near 130°C. For a temperature variation of 3°C, the difference between upstream and downstream ultrasonic transit times, which is proportional to the flow speed at a given temperature, was measured within 1 ns accuracy.

Ultrasonic flow rate measurement unit

Abstract: The ultrasonic flaw-rate measurement unit of the invention includes a flow measurement path inside which fluid to be measured flows through and to which a case accommodating a pair of ultrasonic transducers is installed, a pair of ultrasonic transducers disposed in the flow measurement path, a measuring circuit substrate incorporating a propagation time measuring part measuring a propagation time between the ultrasonic transducer transmitter and receiver and a flow-rate calculating part calculating a flow rate of the fluid to be measured based on the propagation time measured by the propagation time measuring part, and a damping material filling an interior space of the case and covering the pair of ultrasonic transducers.

Ultrasonic flow meter with transducers adhered to flow channel

Abstract: The invention discloses an ultrasonic flow meter 1 arranged to measure a flow rate of a fluid. The piezoelectric transducers are adhered to the outer surface of the flow channel 3, and the control circuit 5 is electrically connected to the transducers by flexible connectors 6 being connected to at least one of the transducer and the control circuit by means of a contact pressure arising from the mount of the control circuit onto the flow channel.

Maintainable container-rectifying anti-clogging small-pressure damage basic meter of ultrasonic flowmeter

Abstract: The utility model discloses a maintainable container-rectifying anti-clogging small-pressure damage basic meter of an ultrasonic flowmeter, wherein transducers are respectively mounted above the tops of two ends of a pipe section housing, a reflector rack is vertically mounted under each transducer, the pipe section housing at the position of the reflector rack is increased in internal space and correspondingly in dimension, the enlarged internal space of the housing can serve as a container to eliminate the turbulent flow and ripple caused by an unstable water field and the blocking of the reflector rack on a water current to rectify and stabilize the flow of a monitored flow field, thus, the linear sewage contained in a flowing medium is prevented from being hung, clamped or wound on the reflector rack, and consequentially the monitored flow field is protected against from the interference from the linear sewage therein; besides, the reflector rack is easy to maintain, and operating cost is lowered. When a circulating medium flows through the maintainable container-rectifying anti-clogging small-pressure damage basic meter of the ultrasonic flowmeter, the flow velocity of the fluid is reflected by measuring the time difference between a flow and a reverse flow with an ultrasonic pulse signal given off by the transducer, and consequentially, the flux and the quality of the flow are measured.

Ultrasonic flow meter with a liquid drainage system

Abstract: An ultrasonic flow meter for measuring the flow of a fluid through a pipeline comprises a spool piece including a throughbore and a transducer port. The transducer port extends along a central axis from an open end at the throughbore to a closed end distal the throughbore. In addition, the flow meter comprises an acoustic transducer disposed in the transducer port. The transducer includes a piezoelectric element. Further, the flow meter comprises a drain port in fluid communication with the transducer port. The drain port is axially positioned between the open end and the closed end of the transducer port. Still further, the flow meter comprises a drain conduit having an inlet end coupled to the drain port and an outlet end opposite the inlet end. The drain port is configured to drain a liquid from the transducer port into the inlet end of the drain conduit.