JP6921280B2 - Compact flowmeter and related methods - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to flowmeters, particularly compact flowmeters and related methods.

For example, vibrating sensors such as vibrating densitometers and corioli flow meters are generally known and are used to measure mass flow rates and other information about materials flowing through conduits in flow meters. Representative flowmeters are all disclosed in US Pat. No. 4,109,524, US Pat. No. 4,491,025, and Reissue Patent No. 31,450 granted to JE Smith et al. These flowmeters have one or more conduits in a linear or curved shape. For example, each conduit configuration of a Coriolis mass flow meter has a series of natural vibration modes that may be of simple bending, twisting, or coupling type. Each conduit can be driven to oscillate in a preferred mode.

The material flows into the flowmeter from a pipeline connected to the inlet side of the flowmeter, is guided through a conduit, and exits the flowmeter through the outlet side of the flowmeter. The natural vibration mode of the vibration system is partially defined by the composite mass of the conduit and the material flowing through the conduit.

In the absence of flow through the flow meter, the driving force applied to the conduit causes all points along the conduit to oscillate in the same phase or with a small "zero offset", which is a time delay measured with zero flow. ..
As the material begins to flow through the flowmeter, the Coriolis force causes each point along the conduit to have a different phase. For example, the phase of the inlet end of the flow meter lags the phase of the central driver position, and the phase of the exit end precedes the phase of the central driver position. Pickoff on the conduit produces a sinusoidal signal that represents the movement of the conduit. The signal output from the pickoff is processed to determine the time delay between the pickoffs. The time delay between two or more pickoffs is proportional to the mass flow rate of the material flowing through the conduit.

The meter electronics connected to the driver generate a drive signal to activate the driver and determine the mass flow rate and / or other properties of the process material from the signal received from the pickoff. Although the driver includes one of many well-known configurations, the drive coil facing the magnet has enjoyed great success in the flowmeter industry. Alternating current is sent to the drive coil to vibrate the conduit at the desired conduit amplitude and frequency. It is also known in the art to provide the pick-off as a magnet and coil configuration that closely resembles the configuration of the drive. However, while the driver is receiving the carry-inducing current, the pickoff can use the carry given by the driver to induce voltage. The magnitude of the time delay measured by pickoff is very small and is often measured in nanoseconds. Therefore, the output of the transducer needs to be very accurate.

Conventional flowmeters generally utilize two conduits, each of which has a circular cross-sectional area. The conduit must have a specific diameter to maintain optimum flow through the conduit. However, when the conduits are placed adjacent to each other, the combined width of the two pipes is greater than the width of the inlet pipe. This makes the flowmeter wider than the pipeline.

Therefore, there is a need for methods and related devices for reducing the profile of flowmeters in the art. There is a need for methods and related equipment to maintain minimum fluid velocities so that accurate flow measurements can be obtained for a wide range of flow rates within the flow meter, yet compact. The present invention provides methods and related devices for flowmeters with conduits with D-shaped cross sections that are located closer to each other than possible for conduits with a circular cross section. Progress in the art is achieved by overcoming these and other problems.

A flow meter having a sensor assembly connected to a meter electronic device is provided according to one embodiment. The sensor assembly comprises at least one driver and at least one pickoff. The sensor assembly comprises a first D-shaped conduit configured to receive the process fluid therein and a second D-shaped conduit configured to receive the process fluid therein.

A flow conduit for the flow meter sensor assembly is provided according to one embodiment. The flow conduit comprises a first D-shaped conduit configured to receive the process fluid therein and a second D-shaped conduit configured to receive the process fluid therein.

A method of forming a flow meter is provided according to one embodiment. The method comprises the step of providing a sensor assembly with a conduit and at least one driver and at least one pickoff attached to the conduit. The conduit comprises a first D-shaped conduit configured to receive the process fluid therein and a second D-shaped conduit configured to receive the process fluid therein.

Aspects According to one aspect, a flow meter is provided with a sensor assembly connected to a meter electronic device, the sensor assembly comprises at least one driver and at least one pick-off, the flow meter configured to receive process fluid therein. It comprises a first D-shaped conduit formed and a second D-shaped conduit configured to receive the process fluid therein.

Preferably, the flat portions of each D-shaped conduit are arranged in close proximity to each other and substantially parallel to each other.
Preferably, the combined width of the first and second D-shaped conduits is less than or equal to the width of the inlet pipe.
Preferably, the total width of the first and second D-shaped conduits plus the space between the two conduits is less than or equal to the width of the inlet pipe.
Preferably, the β value of the D-shaped conduit is approximately 0.8.

According to one aspect, the flow conduit for the flowmeter sensor assembly is configured to receive a process fluid in a first D-shaped conduit configured to receive the process fluid therein. It is provided with a D-shaped conduit.
Preferably, the flat portions of each D-shape are arranged in close proximity to each other and substantially parallel to each other.
Preferably, the flow conduit is configured to have a combined width of the first and second D-shaped conduits, the combined width being less than or equal to the width of the inlet pipe configured to allow the conduit and fluid to flow back and forth. Is.
Preferably, the flow conduit is such that the total width of the first and second D-shaped conduits plus the space between the two conduits is less than or equal to the width of the inlet pipe configured to allow the conduit and fluid to flow back and forth. It is configured to be.
Preferably, the β value of the D-shaped conduit is approximately 0.8.

According to one aspect, the method of forming a flow meter comprises the step of providing a sensor assembly with a conduit and at least one driver and at least one pickoff attached to the conduit, wherein the conduit is configured to receive process fluid. It comprises a first D-shaped conduit formed and a second D-shaped conduit configured to receive the process fluid therein.
Preferably, the method comprises a step of imparting a flat portion of each D-shaped conduit and a step of positioning the flat portions of each D-shape so as to be close to each other and substantially parallel to each other.
Preferably, the method comprises forming first and second D-shaped conduits such that the combined width of both conduits is less than or equal to the width of the inlet pipe.
Preferably, the method comprises forming the first and second D-shaped conduits so that the total width of both conduits plus the space between the conduits is less than or equal to the width of the inlet pipe.
Preferably, the β value of the D-shaped conduit is approximately 0.8.

FIG. 1 shows a prior art vibration sensor assembly. FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional comparison between a conventional conduit and a conduit according to an embodiment. FIG. 3 shows the outer shape of the cross section according to the embodiment. FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the conduit according to the embodiment. FIG. 5 shows a plan view of the conduit of FIG. FIG. 6 shows a side sectional view of the conduit of FIGS. 4 and 5.

FIGS. 1-6 and the following description show specific examples for teaching one of ordinary skill in the art how to make and use the best forms of the present application. For the purposes of teaching the principles of the present invention, some conventional embodiments have been simplified or omitted. Those skilled in the art will understand from these examples the variants that fall within the scope of this application. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the features described below can be combined in various ways to form multiple variants of the present application. As a result, the application is not limited to the particular examples described below, but only by the claims and their equivalents.

FIG. 1 shows an example of a prior art flowmeter 5 in the form of a Coriolis flowmeter, comprising a sensor assembly 10 and one or more meter electronic devices 20. One or more meter electronics 20 are connected to the sensor assembly 10 to measure the characteristics of the flow material, such as density, pressure, mass flow rate, volume flow rate, integrated mass flow rate, temperature, and other information. ..

The sensor assembly 10 includes a pair of flanges 101 and 101', manifolds 102 and 102', and conduits 103A and 103B. Manifolds 102, 102'are fixed to both ends of the conduits 103A, 103B. Manifolds 102, 102'are multi-part assemblies. The flanges 101 and 101'of this embodiment are attached to the manifolds 102 and 102'. The manifolds 102 and 102'of this embodiment are fixed to both ends of the spacer 106. The spacer 106 maintains a spacing between manifolds 102 and 102'in this embodiment to prevent unwanted vibrations in conduits 103A and 103B. The conduits 103A and 103B extend outward in parallel from the manifolds 102 and 102'. When the sensor assembly 10 is inserted into a pipeline system that carries the flow material, the material enters the sensor assembly 10 through the flange 101 through the inlet pipe 120 and through the inlet manifold 102, where the total amount of material is conduit 103A. And 103B, flow through conduits 103A and 103B, back to the outlet manifold 102', where they exit the sensor assembly 10 through the flange 101'.

The sensor assembly 10 includes a driver 104. The driver 104 is attached to the vessels 103A and 103B at a position where the driver 104 can vibrate the vessels 103A and 103B in the drive mode. In particular, the driver 104 includes a first driver component (not shown) attached to the conduit 103A and a second driver component (not shown) attached to the conduit 103B. The driver 104 can include one of many well-known configurations, such as a magnet attached to the conduit 103A or an opposed coil attached to the conduit 103B.

In this example, the drive mode is the first out-of-phase bending mode, which provides an equilibrium system with substantially the same mass distribution, moment of inertia and elastic modulus around the bending axes WW and W'-W', respectively. As provided, conduits 103A and 103B are selected and properly attached to the inlet manifold 102 and outlet manifold 102'. In this example, when the drive mode is the first out-phase bending mode, the conduits 103A and 103B are bent by the driver 104, respectively.
It is driven in the opposite direction around W'. A drive signal in the form of alternating current is supplied by one or more meter electronics 20 via, for example, a lead 110 and can pass through a coil to vibrate both conduits 103A, 103B.

The sensor assembly 10 shown includes a pair of pickoffs 105, 105'fixed to conduits 103A, 103B. In particular, the first pick-off element (not shown) is located above the conduit 103A and the second pick-off element (not shown) is located above the conduit 103B. In the embodiments described, the pickoffs 105, 105'can be electromagnetic detectors, such as pickoff magnets and pickoff coils, that generate pickoff signals that represent the speed and position of conduits 103A, 103B. For example, pick-offs 105, 105'can supply pick-off signals to one or more meter electronics via paths 111,111'. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the movement of conduits 103A, 103B is proportional to the particular properties of the flowing material, eg, the mass flow rate and density of the material flowing through conduits 103A, 103B.

In the conventional example shown in FIG. 1, one or more meter electronic devices 20 receive pickoff signals from pickoffs 105, 105'. Path 26 provides input and output means that allow one or more meter electronics 20 to interface with the operator. One or more meter electronics 20 can be characterized by flowing materials such as phase difference, frequency, time delay, density, mass flow rate, volume flow rate, integrated mass flow rate, temperature, meter verification, pressure and other information. taking measurement. In particular, one or more meter electronics 20 include, for example, pick-offs 105, 105'and resistance temperature detectors (RTDs).
), Etc., one or more signals are received from one or more temperature sensors 107, and this information is used to measure the characteristics of the flowing material.

The current design practice of flowmeters is to have a "beta ratio" of about 0.8. This beta ratio (also referred to as the area ratio) refers to the ratio of the cross-sectional area of the conduits 103A, 103B to the cross-sectional area of the inlet pipe 120. The beta ratio β is determined as follows.
β = a / A (1)
Here, β = beta ratio A = cross-sectional area of the inlet pipe a = cross-sectional area of the conduit For example, in the case of β of 0.8, the given cross-sectional area of the conduit should be 80% of the cross-sectional area of the inlet pipe. However, it is not limited to this. This increases the velocity of the fluid in the pipe and makes the flowmeter 5 more sensitive. Β of 0.8 is just one example, and other values greater than or less than 0.8 are possible.

For a given maximum flow rate, a given minimum cross-sectional area of the conduit is required for optimal performance of the flow meter. A single conduit allows for the smallest flowmeter width, but a flowmeter 5 with only a single conduit is unbalanced and has not been very successful in the industry. A double tube flowmeter is used to generate the flowmeter balance. However, by arranging the two circular conduits adjacent to each other, the dimensions of the flowmeter will be larger than the dimensions of a single conduit meter, even if the two conduits are small. This is illustrated in FIG.

FIG. 2 shows three cross sections of the conduit of the flow meter 5. Section 200 of the top-level represents a circular inlet pipe 120 having an inner diameter phi _1. Section 202 is a central pair represents a pair of circular conduits 103A each having an inner diameter phi _2, the 103B. Finally, the lowest cross section 204 represents a pair of D-shaped conduits 400A, 400B (see FIGS. 4-FIG. 6) according to one embodiment. D-shaped conduit 400A, 400B may have a cross section phi ₃ as measured along the flat portions 206. To illustrate the advantages of the D-shaped conduits 400A, 400B, hypothetical values are applied to cross sections 200, 202, 204. In this embodiment, it is assumed that _{φ 1 of the inlet pipe is 1.0 inch.} It is assumed that φ _{2 of the two standard double vessel configurations is 0.632 inches each and φ 3} of the D-shaped vessels 400A and 400B according to one embodiment is 0.894 inches each. Therefore, according to equation (1) for a standard double conduit cross section 202, a = 0.63 and A = 0.78, and thus β = 0.8. For a cross section 204 of the D-shaped conduit, a = 0.63 and A = 0.78, thus β = 0.8. It is clear that the β value of a standard double vessel and the β value of a D-shaped vessel are the same. Consider now the spacing S ₂ of the standard double spacing S ₁ and D-shaped conduit duct are equal. In this example, S ₁ and S ₂ are equal to 0.106 inches. Therefore,
The overall width W ₁ of the standard double conduit is 1.37 inches, which is 0.37 inches larger than the inlet pipe 120. Advantageously, the overall width W ₂ of the D-shaped conduit is 1.0 inch, which is the same as the width of the inlet pipe 120. This corresponds to a approximately 27% reduction in the expected flowmeter thickness. In fact, flowmeters with conduits with a D-shaped cross section are close enough to give the compactness of a single tube flowmeter without sacrificing the balance of the double-conduit flowmeter. It can have an arranged conduit.

Looking at FIG. 3, it should be understood that the D-shape of the flow tube can have some variation in cross-sectional shape in different embodiments. For example, a strict semicircular shape 300 can be considered. However, a D-shape 302 with a flat main edge 206 with two substantially vertical small edges 304 connected using a curved portion 305 such as the traditional letter "D" is also conceivable. A trapezoidal quadrilateral 306 is also conceivable. A trapezoidal cross section 308 having a curved portion 309 is also conceivable. In all embodiments, the corner 310 is at an angle, right angle, radius, chamfer, etc. Combinations of the shapes of the corners 310 are also conceivable within a single cross-sectional shape.

4 to 6 show a D-shaped conduit 400 according to one embodiment. In the flowmeter 5, these D-shaped conduits 400 (first conduit 400A and second conduit 400B) replace the round conduits 103A, 103B of the prior art flowmeters as shown in FIG. These figures show a curved D-shaped conduit 400, but a straight D-shaped conduit 400 is also conceivable. 4 is a perspective view, FIG. 5 is a plan view, and FIG. 6 is a rear sectional view of a D-shaped conduit 400. In order to minimize the outer shape of the flow meter 5, the width W ₂ of the pair of D-shaped conduits 400 is the D-shaped conduits 400A and 400B, respectively.
The flat portions 206 are minimized by arranging them adjacent to each other, and the flat portions 206 are substantially parallel to each other, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4-6.

The invention described above provides various systems and methods associated with variously regulated flow conduits. Although the various embodiments described above are directed to a flow meter, especially a Koriori flow meter, the present invention should not be limited to a Koriori flow meter, and the methods described herein are of the Koriori flow meter. It should be understood that it can be used with other types of flow meters, or other vibration sensors, that lack some of their measuring capabilities.

The detailed description of the above embodiments is a non-comprehensive description of all embodiments intended by the inventors, which should be within the scope of the present application. In fact, one of ordinary skill in the art can combine or eliminate certain elements of the embodiments described above in various ways to create further embodiments, such additional embodiments being the scope and teachings of the present application. It will be recognized to go inside. It will also be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the embodiments described above can be combined in whole or in part to create additional embodiments within the scope and teachings of the present invention.
As described above, specific embodiments or examples of the present invention have been described for illustrative purposes, but as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, various modifications can be made within the technical scope of the present invention. The teachings described herein are applicable to other vibration sensors and are not limited to the embodiments described above and the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. Therefore, the scope of the present invention should be determined from the appended claims.

Claims (6)

A flow meter (5) having a sensor assembly (10) connected to a meter electronic device (20).
The sensor assembly (10) comprises at least one driver (104) and at least one pickoff (105).
A first cross-section D-shaped conduit (400A) configured to receive the process fluid in it,
It comprises a second cross-section D-shaped conduit (400B) configured to receive the process fluid.
The total width of the first and second cross-section D-shaped conduits (400A, 400B) _{plus the space (S 2} ) between the two conduits is less than the width of the inlet pipe (120), and the cross section D β value-shaped conduit (400A, 400B) is Ri approximately 0.8 der,
The β value is a value of the ratio of the cross-sectional area of the conduit to the cross-sectional area of the inlet pipe (120), which is a flow meter (5). The flow meter (5) according to claim 1, wherein the flat portions (206) of the D-shaped conduits (400A, 400B) are arranged in close proximity to each other and substantially parallel to each other. Flow conduit (400) for flowmeter (5) sensor assembly (10)
A first D-shaped vessel (400A) configured to receive the process fluid in it,
It has a second D-shaped conduit (400B) configured to receive the process fluid in it.
The flow conduit (400) has the total width of the first and second D-shaped conduits (400A, 400B) _{plus the space (S 2} ) between the two conduits, allowing the conduit and fluid to move back and forth. is configured such that the width less than the configured inlet pipe (120), beta values of cross-sectional D-shape of the conduit (400A, 400B) is approximately 0.8 der is, the beta value is the cross-sectional area of the conduit Flow conduit (400), which is the ratio of the cross-sectional areas of the inlet pipe (120). The flow conduit (400) according to claim 3, wherein the flat portions (206) of each D-shaped conduit (400A, 400B) are arranged in close proximity to each other and substantially parallel to each other. A method of forming a flow meter
A step of providing a sensor assembly with a conduit and at least one driver and at least one pickoff attached to the conduit.
The conduit comprises a first D-section D-shaped conduit configured to receive the process fluid therein and a second D-section D-shaped conduit configured to receive the process fluid therein.
The conduit (400) is configured to have a width obtained by adding _{the space (S 2} ) between both conduits to the total width of the first and second D-shaped cross-section conduits (400A, 400B). Is less than or equal to the width of the inlet pipe (120) configured to allow fluid to flow, and the β value of the D-shaped cross-section conduits (400A, 400B) is approximately 0.8, and the β value is the disconnection of the conduit. A method that is the value of the ratio of the area to the cross-sectional area of the inlet pipe (120). A step of imparting a flat portion of a conduit having a D-shaped cross section,
A step of positioning the flat portions having a D-shaped cross section so as to be arranged close to each other and substantially parallel to each other.
5. The fifth aspect of the present invention comprises a step of forming the first and second D-shaped cross-section conduits so that the total width of both conduits plus the space between the two conduits is less than the width of the inlet pipe. The method described.

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