Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01F—MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME
  • G01F1/00—Measuring the volume flow or mass flow of fluid or fluent solid material wherein the fluid passes through a meter in a continuous flow
  • G01F1/05—Measuring the volume flow or mass flow of fluid or fluent solid material wherein the fluid passes through a meter in a continuous flow by using mechanical effects
  • G01F1/34—Measuring the volume flow or mass flow of fluid or fluent solid material wherein the fluid passes through a meter in a continuous flow by using mechanical effects by measuring pressure or differential pressure
  • G01F1/36—Measuring the volume flow or mass flow of fluid or fluent solid material wherein the fluid passes through a meter in a continuous flow by using mechanical effects by measuring pressure or differential pressure the pressure or differential pressure being created by the use of flow constriction
  • G01F1/40—Details of construction of the flow constriction devices
  • G01F1/46—Pitot tubes
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F01—MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; ENGINE PLANTS IN GENERAL; STEAM ENGINES
  • F01N—GAS-FLOW SILENCERS OR EXHAUST APPARATUS FOR MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; GAS-FLOW SILENCERS OR EXHAUST APPARATUS FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES
  • F01N11/00—Monitoring or diagnostic devices for exhaust-gas treatment apparatus
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F01—MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; ENGINE PLANTS IN GENERAL; STEAM ENGINES
  • F01N—GAS-FLOW SILENCERS OR EXHAUST APPARATUS FOR MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; GAS-FLOW SILENCERS OR EXHAUST APPARATUS FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES
  • F01N13/00—Exhaust or silencing apparatus characterised by constructional features
  • F01N13/008—Mounting or arrangement of exhaust sensors in or on exhaust apparatus
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01M—TESTING STATIC OR DYNAMIC BALANCE OF MACHINES OR STRUCTURES; TESTING OF STRUCTURES OR APPARATUS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • G01M15/00—Testing of engines
  • G01M15/04—Testing internal-combustion engines
  • G01M15/10—Testing internal-combustion engines by monitoring exhaust gases or combustion flame
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F01—MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; ENGINE PLANTS IN GENERAL; STEAM ENGINES
  • F01N—GAS-FLOW SILENCERS OR EXHAUST APPARATUS FOR MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; GAS-FLOW SILENCERS OR EXHAUST APPARATUS FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES
  • F01N2560/00—Exhaust systems with means for detecting or measuring exhaust gas components or characteristics
  • F01N2560/02—Exhaust systems with means for detecting or measuring exhaust gas components or characteristics the means being an exhaust gas sensor
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F01—MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; ENGINE PLANTS IN GENERAL; STEAM ENGINES
  • F01N—GAS-FLOW SILENCERS OR EXHAUST APPARATUS FOR MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; GAS-FLOW SILENCERS OR EXHAUST APPARATUS FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES
  • F01N2560/00—Exhaust systems with means for detecting or measuring exhaust gas components or characteristics
  • F01N2560/02—Exhaust systems with means for detecting or measuring exhaust gas components or characteristics the means being an exhaust gas sensor
  • F01N2560/022—Exhaust systems with means for detecting or measuring exhaust gas components or characteristics the means being an exhaust gas sensor for measuring or detecting CO or CO2
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F01—MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; ENGINE PLANTS IN GENERAL; STEAM ENGINES
  • F01N—GAS-FLOW SILENCERS OR EXHAUST APPARATUS FOR MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; GAS-FLOW SILENCERS OR EXHAUST APPARATUS FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES
  • F01N2560/00—Exhaust systems with means for detecting or measuring exhaust gas components or characteristics
  • F01N2560/02—Exhaust systems with means for detecting or measuring exhaust gas components or characteristics the means being an exhaust gas sensor
  • F01N2560/023—Exhaust systems with means for detecting or measuring exhaust gas components or characteristics the means being an exhaust gas sensor for measuring or detecting HC
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F01—MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; ENGINE PLANTS IN GENERAL; STEAM ENGINES
  • F01N—GAS-FLOW SILENCERS OR EXHAUST APPARATUS FOR MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; GAS-FLOW SILENCERS OR EXHAUST APPARATUS FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES
  • F01N2560/00—Exhaust systems with means for detecting or measuring exhaust gas components or characteristics
  • F01N2560/05—Exhaust systems with means for detecting or measuring exhaust gas components or characteristics the means being a particulate sensor
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F01—MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; ENGINE PLANTS IN GENERAL; STEAM ENGINES
  • F01N—GAS-FLOW SILENCERS OR EXHAUST APPARATUS FOR MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; GAS-FLOW SILENCERS OR EXHAUST APPARATUS FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES
  • F01N2560/00—Exhaust systems with means for detecting or measuring exhaust gas components or characteristics
  • F01N2560/07—Exhaust systems with means for detecting or measuring exhaust gas components or characteristics the means being an exhaust gas flow rate or velocity meter or sensor, intake flow meters only when exclusively used to determine exhaust gas parameters
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F01—MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; ENGINE PLANTS IN GENERAL; STEAM ENGINES
  • F01N—GAS-FLOW SILENCERS OR EXHAUST APPARATUS FOR MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; GAS-FLOW SILENCERS OR EXHAUST APPARATUS FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES
  • F01N2900/00—Details of electrical control or of the monitoring of the exhaust gas treating apparatus
  • F01N2900/06—Parameters used for exhaust control or diagnosing
  • F01N2900/08—Parameters used for exhaust control or diagnosing said parameters being related to the engine
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F01—MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; ENGINE PLANTS IN GENERAL; STEAM ENGINES
  • F01N—GAS-FLOW SILENCERS OR EXHAUST APPARATUS FOR MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; GAS-FLOW SILENCERS OR EXHAUST APPARATUS FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES
  • F01N2900/00—Details of electrical control or of the monitoring of the exhaust gas treating apparatus
  • F01N2900/06—Parameters used for exhaust control or diagnosing
  • F01N2900/10—Parameters used for exhaust control or diagnosing said parameters being related to the vehicle or its components
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F01—MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; ENGINE PLANTS IN GENERAL; STEAM ENGINES
  • F01N—GAS-FLOW SILENCERS OR EXHAUST APPARATUS FOR MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; GAS-FLOW SILENCERS OR EXHAUST APPARATUS FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES
  • F01N2900/00—Details of electrical control or of the monitoring of the exhaust gas treating apparatus
  • F01N2900/06—Parameters used for exhaust control or diagnosing
  • F01N2900/14—Parameters used for exhaust control or diagnosing said parameters being related to the exhaust gas
  • F01N2900/1411—Exhaust gas flow rate, e.g. mass flow rate or volumetric flow rate
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
  • G01N21/00—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of optical means, i.e. using sub-millimetre waves, infrared, visible or ultraviolet light
  • G01N21/17—Systems in which incident light is modified in accordance with the properties of the material investigated
  • G01N21/25—Colour; Spectral properties, i.e. comparison of effect of material on the light at two or more different wavelengths or wavelength bands
  • G01N21/31—Investigating relative effect of material at wavelengths characteristic of specific elements or molecules, e.g. atomic absorption spectrometry
  • G01N21/35—Investigating relative effect of material at wavelengths characteristic of specific elements or molecules, e.g. atomic absorption spectrometry using infrared light
  • G01N21/3504—Investigating relative effect of material at wavelengths characteristic of specific elements or molecules, e.g. atomic absorption spectrometry using infrared light for analysing gases, e.g. multi-gas analysis
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
  • G01N21/00—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of optical means, i.e. using sub-millimetre waves, infrared, visible or ultraviolet light
  • G01N21/84—Systems specially adapted for particular applications
  • G01N21/85—Investigating moving fluids or granular solids
  • G01N21/8507—Probe photometers, i.e. with optical measuring part dipped into fluid sample
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
  • G01N33/00—Investigating or analysing materials by specific methods not covered by groups G01N1/00 - G01N31/00
  • G01N33/0004—Gaseous mixtures, e.g. polluted air
  • G01N33/0009—General constructional details of gas analysers, e.g. portable test equipment
  • G01N33/0027—General constructional details of gas analysers, e.g. portable test equipment concerning the detector
  • G01N33/0036—General constructional details of gas analysers, e.g. portable test equipment concerning the detector specially adapted to detect a particular component
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02T—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION
  • Y02T10/00—Road transport of goods or passengers
  • Y02T10/10—Internal combustion engine [ICE] based vehicles
  • Y02T10/40—Engine management systems

Definitions

• the present invention is in the technical field of mass flow measurement of the constituent chemical species of a flowing fluid mixture. It relates to a system and a method for real-time sensing and recording of the mass flow rates of the individual components of interest of a fluid mixture flowing in a pipe or other container. More specifically, the invention relates to a multi- species mass flow rate measurement system which can be inserted in a fluid stream to provide output signals indicative of the fluid species mass flow rates and a method of determining the mass flow rates of each of the detected species of interest from the species concentration detector and bulk gas stream flow rate detector comprising the system.
• the invention has broad applicability to industrial processes and the measurement of pollutants in vehicle exhaust gas.
• the present invention teaches a mass flow measurement system for constituent gas species in a contained gas flow which eliminates all of the aforementioned drawbacks, thereby increasing the ease of use of the measurement system for the testing of vehicle emissions, as well as the accuracy in measuring fluid species mass flow rates for transient flows and the simplicity and low cost of a mass flow measurement device for high volume applications such as automobiles or numerous industrial applications.
• the present mass flowmeter invention is comprised of a concentration detector or analyzer co-located with a flow measurement detector, ideally in a single probe for insertion into a fluid flowing in a pipe or other container.
• the components including but not limited to all of the internal structures of the bulk fluid flow measurement means were conceived to be made with conventional machine tools, or optionally to be 3-D printed using additive manufacturing technologies in any suitable material or size, considering the needs dictated by the specific application.
• Co-location of the two detectors in space guarantees the synchronization of the bulk flow rate and concentration signals in time, even with highly compressible and highly transient flows, while preventing the interference of each detector means with the other.
• Calculating means continuously computes the products of the bulk flow detector, concentration detectors, and the known densities of the fluid species of interest and provides output signals proportional to the mass flow rates of the species of interest under both transient and steady flow conditions.
• Optional display means display the calculated mass flow rates of the
• the mass flowmeter serves as part of a larger measurement system, e.g. as part of an On-Board Diagnostic (OBD) system provided by a vehicle manufacturer.
• OBD On-Board Diagnostic
• the invention provides signal outputs to other input or calculating means used for other vehicle functions.
• Choice of the flow measurement principle and the concentration measurement principles depends upon the intended application. In one embodiment for improving EPA regulatory compliance testing purposes as taught by Breton, the flow measurement principle is an averaging pitot tube previously proven by Breton, and subsequently adopted by industry, to be suitable for transient exhaust gas flow measurement.
• An improved concentration measurement means for many purposes is a multi-color, multi-species laser spectroscopy probe [US 9,000,374 and US 9,068,933, henceforth referred to as Parks] located physically within the averaging pitot tube such that it does not alter the flow structure created by the averaging pitot tube in the vicinity of the pitot tube sampling ports, yet is in continuous, direct contact with the exhaust gas flow.
• a low-cost probe is comprised of an averaging pitot tube for flow measurement and a solid-state or electrochemical gas sensor for gas concentration measurement of one or more regulated pollutants related to the health or control of the engine or emissions control system.
• the flow measurement and gas concentration signals are output to the vehicle or engine control system for use in controlling the engine or emissions controls system and for the detection of undesirable operation of emission control equipment.
• FIG. 1 is a detailed view of an exemplary embodiment of a fluid species mass flow meter for use in measuring the mass flow rate of chemical species in a bulk fluid flow.
• FIG. 2 shows an exemplary embodiment of a portable emissions
• FIG. 3 shows the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 2 installed on a vehicle.
• FIG. 4 is a view of an exemplary embodiment of a general industrial chemical species mass flow meter or a vehicle exhaust gas mass flow meter for use in a vehicle monitoring system or On-Board Diagnostics system (OBD).
• OBD On-Board Diagnostics system
• FIG. 1 A first exemplary embodiment of the present invention for measuring the mass flow rate of fluid species of interest is shown in FIG. 1.
• This embodiment is comprised of a multi species laser-based gas concentration detector 68, constructed as taught by Parks, mounted in lug 80 which has an integral fluid static pressure port (pressure transducer not shown) 81.
• the pressure sensed at the static pressure port 81 and the temperature sensed by the thermocouple 82 are used to correct the sensed flow rate to standard conditions.
• the laser-based gas concentration detector 68 and thermocouple 82 are physically mounted within the averaging pitot tube 69 with upstream pressure sensing ports 102 and downstream pressure sensing ports 101 forming a mass flow measurement assembly 110.
• the assembly 110 is semi-permanently mounted to the process pipe 103 using attachment lug 80.
• the averaging pitot tube 69 is constructed of stainless steel using machine tools in a conventional manner.
• the averaging pitot tube 69 is constructed using a 3-D printing process of stainless steel or other materials, or other additive manufacturing techniques, including the construction of all internal structures and components of the averaging pitot tube 69.
• the additive manufacturing techniques allow for greater flexibility in combining and integrating the pitot tube 69 with various other gas concentration, temperature, or pressure sensing components or improved shapes or profiles to cause an increased signal magnitude or greater sensitivity, or for compactness, improved fit, or other possible advantages.
• the detector 68 location is displaced longitudinally with respect to the upstream sensing ports 101 and the downstream sensing ports 102, along the averaging pitot tube 69 longitudinal axis to prevent the presence of the detector 68 from disturbing the flow field in the vicinity of the sensing ports 101 , 102, thereby preventing the presence of the detector 68 from causing erroneous flow rate measurements by the pitot tube 69.
• concentration detector 68 is in communication with the bulk fluid by the provided windows or openings 200 in the pitot tube 69 outer surface and provides an output signal (not shown) indicative of the concentrations X1 through Xn associated with gaseous species of interest 1 through n, which may be any chosen subset from a set of candidate species including, but not limited to, CH4, CO, C02, NO, N02, or particulate matter number to the calculating means 170.
• All supporting and associated electronics and sensors are located in an enclosure 150 physically mounted on top of the measurement probe 110 or in close proximity.
• the novel mass flow measurement probe 110 When the novel mass flow measurement probe 110 is installed in a pipe carrying a fluid mixture for an industrial or other process, or alternatively when the measurement probe 110 is installed in a permanently or temporarily attached tube or pipe connected to the exhaust system of a vehicle or engine, it creates a differential pressure which is sensed by the differential pressure transducer 120 indicative of the average exhaust flow velocity in the pipe 103.
• Flow orifices (not shown) serve to dampen noisy differential pressure signals from reaching the differential pressure transducer 120.
• Differential pressure transducer 120 outputs a signal to the calculating means 170 indicative of the average fluid flow velocity v in the pipe 103 of known diameter D.
• the time delay between the gas concentration detector 68 signal and the corresponding differential pressure transducer 120 output signal is a constant or fixed value equal to zero or nearly equal to zero for any combination of species concentrations and transient flow conditions experienced, because of the co-location of said species concentration detector 68 and averaging pitot tube 69 along the bulk fluid flow path.
• the calculating means 170 may be mounted as shown, or may be
• Calculating means 170 calculates the mass flow rates (Mdot)1 through (Mdot)n associated with fluid species of interest 1 through fluid species of interest n according to the formula and methodology taught in Breton and provides output signals corresponding to those mass flow rates for interfacing with other devices or for interfacing to a user display device.
• the mass flow rate Mi(t) of a fluid species of interest i is calculated by the calculating means 170 by using the measured bulk fluid volumetric flow rate Q(t) and the measured concentrations Xi(t) of the species of interest i using the known relationships:
• c is a constant which is determined by calibrating with a known bulk fluid flow rate at standard conditions
• FAA is a thermal expansion factor to correct for flow area change of the pipe due to varying bulk fluid temperatures as measured by the thermocouple 82
• h w is the pressure difference measured by the differential pressure sensor 120
• P is the absolute fluid pressure measured using the pressure port 81
• T is the fluid bulk temperature as measured by the thermocouple 82
• Mi(t) is the mass flow rate of chemical species I
• k is a constant dependent on the physical units used
• p is the know density of the species i
• Xi is the measured concentration of chemical species i
• Q(t) is given above.
• FIG. 2 shows an exemplary embodiment of the present invention
• This embodiment measures exhaust gas pollutant mass flow rates and has the other advantages taught by Breton, including the optional merging of emissions data with other diagnostic data from other systems and data sources, e.g. scan tools, GPS systems, etc.
• a straight pipe section 11 serves as a housing for the flow measurement probe 110 with integral thermocouple and a static pressure detector (not shown) using the static pressure port 81.
• Straight pipe section 11 also serves to provide the requisite straight pipe runs upstream and
• FIG. 3 shows the flow meter module 10 illustrated in more detail in FIG. 2 mounted on the rear of a passenger vehicle 100.
• An example of the connection means for connecting the module 10 of the present invention to the exhaust pipe 4 of vehicle 100 is shown as the elastomeric boot 90 which is connected to the upstream end of elbow 17 of module 10 and to the exhaust pipe 4 by hose clamps 91 and 92.
• the elastomeric boot may be a high temperature resistant silicone rubber tube of the type used to connect a vehicle exhaust pipe to a conventional (stationary) test stand used in emissions testing. Supporting the flow meter module 10 has already been taught by Breton.
• a conduit 99 carries communication means whenever the flow meter module 10 is used as a larger system and needs to communicate with other instruments.
• wireless communication means can be employed.
• another exemplary embodiment 150 employs a solid state or electrochemical concentration detector 140 substituted for the laser-based detector 68 specified in the earlier exemplary embodiment 110.
• the solid state or electrochemical concentration detector 140 is in direct communication with the surrounding fluid.
• This embodiment may be more suitable for applications where cleaning or servicing of the sensor is not possible or for low-cost, high production volume applications of the invention, for example as an original equipment component included on new vehicles or engines for the purpose of On-Board Diagnostics (OBD) sensing and reporting on vehicles, feedback or other control of engine emissions controls, or exhaust emissions compliance reporting which may be desired or contemplated in future government regulations, including but not limited to transponder-based reporting from operating vehicles to remote data collection locations.
• OBD On-Board Diagnostics
• the calculating means optionally provides output signals to the display (not shown) for the purpose of displaying the mass flow rates of said fluid species of interest.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
• Analytical Chemistry (AREA)
• Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
• Measuring Volume Flow (AREA)
• Sampling And Sample Adjustment (AREA)
• Testing Of Engines (AREA)
• Mathematical Physics (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Biochemistry (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Immunology (AREA)
• Pathology (AREA)
• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Spectroscopy & Molecular Physics (AREA)
• Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)

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Citations (10)

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• 2017
  • 2017-02-12 WO PCT/US2017/017579 patent/WO2017139719A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 2017-02-12 EP EP17750930.4A patent/EP3414545B1/en active Active
  • 2017-02-12 US US15/430,492 patent/US10578468B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2017-02-12 JP JP2018542722A patent/JP6791512B2/ja not_active Expired - Fee Related

Patent Citations (11)

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