Measuring and testing – Volume or rate of flow – By measuring vibrations or acoustic energy
Reexamination Certificate
2001-01-03
2002-11-05
Fuller, Benjamin R. (Department: 2855)
Measuring and testing
Volume or rate of flow
By measuring vibrations or acoustic energy
Reexamination Certificate
active
06474174
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention is related to an ultrasonic flow measuring technology, and particularly, to an ultrasonic multi-channel flow measuring method for enhancing the accuracy of the flow or flow rate measurement, if pairs of ultrasonic transducers are mounted on a pipe that had been already arranged on a place.
2. Description of the Background
A general ultrasonic flow measuring method in a pipe has something in common as follows; a flow rate is obtained by measuring a flow velocity on a diametric line or a plurality of chords of a fluid flow section using an ultrasonic wave and multiplying the flow velocity by a fluid section area. For example, if the flow velocity V
D
is measured on the diametric line based on an ultrasonic one-channel flow measuring method using an ultrasonic wave, the flow rate Q is calculated as follows:
Q=K·V
D
·S
(1)
Wherein, K<1.0 is a flow coefficient and S is a fluid flow section.
The flow measuring method is available under the condition that K=constant. In other words, a straight part of a pipe must be sufficiently longer. And, it is also preferable that Reynolds number>10
4
.
On the other hand, even through the flow velocity distribution is irregular and K is not constant, an ultrasonic multi-channel flow measuring method is known as a method capable of measuring a flow rate in a high accuracy.
Typical ultrasonic multi-channel flow measuring methods and apparatuses therefor are disclosed as follows:
U.S. Pat. No. 5,531,124 granted on Jul. 2, 1996
U.S. Pat. No. 4,646,575 granted on Jul. 25, 1987
Japanese Patent No. 2676321 granted on Jul. 25, 1997
The ultrasonic multi-channel flow measuring method has features as follows; as shown in
FIG. 1
, the flow rate Q is calculated in a manner to measure a flow velocity on a plurality of chords in parallel to a diametric line of a fluid section to reproduce a flow velocity distribution curve, calculate an average flow velocity V
S
of the fluid section and then multiply the average flow velocity V
S
by the fluid section area S, or in a manner to double-integrate the section area that is changed according to the flow velocity distribution and the diameter. Therefore, the ultrasonic multi-channel flow measuring method doesn't need the flow coefficient.
Q=V
S
·S
(2)
or
Q=∫
S
∫V
(
r
)
S
(
r
)
dr·dr
(3)
For it, even if the straight portion of the pipe is relatively shorter and the flow velocity distribution is asymmetrical, the flow rate can be somewhat accurately measured. As described above, the common point of the ultrasonic flow measuring methods exists in that the flow velocity is measured using an ultrasonic wave and multiplied by the section area S to calculate the flow rate.
The ultrasonic flow meter has a greatest feature as follows; unlike another flow meter, transducers for measuring the flow rate can be mounted on a pipe that has been already arranged. In other words, in case of the ultrasonic multi-channel flow meter, the flow rate measuring can be established only by the mounting of paired transducers mounted, even through the pipe has been previously arranged. Therefore, there has been developed a technology for mounting the paired transducers on the pipe without stopping the flow of water. Especially, even in case of a pipe of a greater inner diameter, it allows a flow measuring apparatus to be installed in-site after the completing of the pipe arrangement. It means that the manufacturing of a pipe portion of a flow meter having a larger volume and weight and its transportation into a working site is not necessary. The previous welding work of a flange for mounting the flow meter also is not required.
The ultrasonic flow meter to be mounted on the previously arranged pipe pays attention to the follows; in case of the ultrasonic multi-channel flow meter, a flow measuring error can be checked in a higher reliability in site. Because the flow velocity is measured on a plurality of chords using an ultrasonic wave, a flow velocity distribution curve is to be written out. Therefore, according to a shape of the flow velocity distribution curve, a computation programming error &dgr;
sw
of a section average flow velocity V
S
can be checked.
And, if the flow velocity is measured on the chord by a transit time difference method, ultrasonic transit times t
1
and t
2
, measuring errors &dgr;
t1
and &dgr;
t2
, an error &dgr;
&Dgr;t
of a time difference &Dgr;t=t
2
−t
1
, a measuring error &dgr;
L
of a transit distance L, an error of a projective distance d=L
cos &PSgr;
on L, etc. are checked thereby to confirm a flow velocity measuring error &dgr;
V
. Like this, a flow measuring error &dgr;
Q
can be indirectly measured, and a maximum flow measuring error &dgr;
Qmax
that can be expected is as follows:
&dgr;
Qmax
=&dgr;
V
+&dgr;
SW
+&dgr;
S
(4)
Wherein, &dgr;
S
is a fluid section measuring error, and &dgr;
SW
is an error of a section average flow velocity or a double-integration of Vs and S. A transit time difference method for measuring the flow velocity well-known is as follows:
V
=
L
2
2
d
Δ
t
t
2
-
t
1
(
5
)
Therefore, &dgr;
V
is as follows:
&dgr;
V
=(2&dgr;
L
+&dgr;
d
)+{square root over (&dgr;
2
t1
+&dgr;
2
t2+
&dgr;
2
&Dgr;t
)}=(2&dgr;
L
+&dgr;
d
)+{square root over (2&dgr;
2
t1,2
+&dgr;
2
&Dgr;t
)} (6)
Wherein, &dgr;
L
and &dgr;
d
are a measuring error of interval distances L and d to be inputted into a flow velocity arithmetic logic processor or microprocessor. The symbols of L and d are not changed during the measuring of the flow velocity. But, errors &dgr;
L
and &dgr;
d
of the transit time measuring are represented as an average square error because an accidental error component is larger.
The computation programming error &dgr;
sw
can be obtained using a computer for calculating the expressions (2) and (3) according to various flow velocity distribution curve. Therefore, the measuring errors &dgr;
V
and &dgr;
SW
can be checked in a higher reliability, but if the ultrasonic flow meter is mounted in site, it is very hard to check the fluid section measuring error &dgr;
S
, exactly. For it, &dgr;
S
becomes larger, so the flow rate measuring error can be increased. The cause is as follows:
If the fluid section is an ideal circular, its section S is as follows:
S
=
π
4
×
D
2
(
7
)
Wherein, D is an inner diameter of a pipe.
But, it is not possible to measure the inner diameter of the pipe that has been already arranged, directly. A simplest method is to calculate the section area using the inner diameter of a pipe presented by a manufacturer, but the inner diameter might be different from that of the pipe already arranged. For it, it is not possible to confirm the fluid section measuring error &dgr;
S
of the section area S. Furthermore, if a corrosive resistance layer is formed on the inner surface of the pipe, its thickness can't be measured, exactly. The section of the pipe is not explicitly circular, because the pipe may be deformed in the process of the storage, transportation and its arrangement work, resulted from being oval. Under the environmental condition, a measuring error &dgr;
D
of an inner diameter D may be largely increased. The fluid section measuring error &dgr;
S
is as follows;
&dgr;
S
=2&dgr;
D
(8)
If D=600 mm and its absolute error &Dgr;
D
=8 mm,
δ
D
=
(
8
600
)
×
100
≈
1.34
%
The fluid section measuring error &dgr;
S
is as follows:
&dgr;
S
=2×1.34=2.68%
Therefore, even through the flow velocity is exactly measured, the flow rate measuring error is not reduced to less than &dgr;
S
. Particularly, in case of a pipe having a larger diameter, its section easily becomes a larger oval ness. As a result, if the ultrasonic transducer is mounted on the pipe that has already been arranged in order to measur
Fuller Benjamin R.
International Hydrosonic Co., Ltd.
Lee & Sterba, P.C.
Thompson Jewel V.
LandOfFree
Ultrasonic multi-channel flow measuring method does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Ultrasonic multi-channel flow measuring method, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Ultrasonic multi-channel flow measuring method will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2989550