Fluid control measuring device

• US 10,444,771 B2
• Filed: 07/14/2014
• Issued: 10/15/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: John C. Karamanos
• Original Assignee: John C. Karamanos
• Inventors: Karamanos, John C., Lynn, Michael F., Wilke, Jr., Herbert L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Thomas C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dang, Hung H
• Application Number:
  US14/330,941
• Publication Number:
  US 20150019022A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,919 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/30 for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/56 Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/62 characterised by the type of control or by internal processing, e.g. using fuzzy logic, adaptive control or estimation of values
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/63 Electronic processing
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/64 using pre-stored data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/75 for maintaining constant air flow rate or air velocity
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/79 for controlling the direction of the supplied air
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/30 Velocity
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/40 Pressure, e.g. wind pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2140/40 Damper positions, e.g. open or closed
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/363 with electrical or electro-mechanical indication G01F1/37 and G01F1/38 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/42 Orifices or nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/46 Pitot tubes
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 15/003 using electromagnetic, electric or electronic means G01F15/002, G01F15/02 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 17/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2614 HVAC, heating, ventillation, climate control
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/36249 Generate automatically a balance program for workpiece, dynamic balance
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/40573 Isee integrated sensor, end effector, camera, proximity, gas, temperature, force
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 7/0635 by action on throttling means G05D7/0688, G05D7/0694 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 7/0647 the plurality of throttling means being arranged in series
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 7/0676 : by action on flow sources G05D7/0688, G05D7/0694 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 30/70 : Efficient control or regulation technologies, e.g. for control of refrigerant flow, motor or heating

Abstract

Systems and methods for measuring and controlling fluid flow include an orifice plate defining a variable opening. The orifice plate includes an outer assembly comprising a central opening and an inner assembly extending through the central opening. The flow device regulates high and very low volumes of fluid with precision, inexpensively, with superior acoustics, reduced energy, and simpler design. The high turndown device permits use at lower velocities, thereby reducing noise generation and eliminating need for sound-attenuating liners. The high rangeability device combines several part numbers into fewer parts, thereby streamlining product portfolios. In some cases, cost benefits associated with the flow device allow equipment to be scaled back 100:1 rather than 10:1, providing energy savings, fewer product variations, simple and more robust applications. The device meets new and old building fresh air, comfort and energy codes. The flow device can be engineered, selected, and sized without sophisticated software programs.

Claims

1. A flow device for a fluid flow along a flow pathway extending at least in part along a flow axis parallel to disposed within an inward facing wall, comprising:

A. an orifice plate positioned within the flow pathway and defining a variable opening for receiving fluid flow along the flow pathway, wherein the orifice plate comprises;

i. an outer damper assembly comprising an outer damper plate extending about an outer plate central axis to an outer plate perimeter with at least a portion matching in shape a corresponding portion of the inward facing wall, and including an outer plate opening passing therethrough, wherein the outer damper plate is adapted for pivotal motion at angle ϕ

about an outer damper axis that extends across the outer damper plate and transverse to the flow pathway from a closed position wherein ϕ

=0 whereby the matching portions of the outer plate perimeter and inward facing wall are adjacent, thereby blocking fluid flow past a periphery of the outer damper plate along the flow pathway, to an open position angularly offset therefrom; and

ii. an inner damper assembly comprising an inner damper plate extending about an inner plate central axis to an inner plate perimeter with at least a portion matching in shape to a corresponding portion of the outer plate opening and coupled to the outer damper plate at the outer plate opening, wherein the inner damper plate is adapted for pivotal motion at angle θ

with respect to the outer damper plate about an inner damper axis that extends across the inner damper plate and transverse to the flow pathway from a closed position wherein θ

=0 whereby the matching portions of the inner plate perimeter and outer plate opening are adjacent, thereby blocking fluid flow between the inner damper plate and the outer damper plate, to an open position angularly offset therefrom;

B. an actuator assembly operatively connected with the orifice plate, including;

i. a first actuator coupled to the outer damper plate and adapted to effect direct actuator-driven pivotal motion of the outer damper plate, and

ii. a second actuator coupled to the inner damper plate and adapted to effect direct actuator-driven pivotal motion of the inner damper plate,

wherein the actuator assembly is adapted to effect independent pivotal motion of the inner damper plate and pivotal motion of the outer damper plate thereby effecting independent control of ϕ and

θ

over all ϕ and

θ

, and

C. a controller in operative communication with the orifice plate, wherein the controller comprises;

i. a processor; and

ii. a memory communicatively coupled with and readable by the processor and having stored therein processor-readable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to;

a. determine a pressure differential in the flow pathway across the orifice plate;

b. determine a position of the outer damper plate and the inner damper plate based on a position feedback received from the actuator assembly; and

c. regulate the variable opening based on the determined pressure differential and the position of the outer damper plate and the inner damper plate;

whereby, when starting from θ

=0 and ϕ

=0 and initially increasing θ

followed by increasing ϕ

, a coefficient for fluid flow past the outer damper plate and the inner damper plate, is a function of sin θ and

1−

cos ϕ

, and

wherein the processor is responsive to the position feedback and the pressure differential, to regulate the variable opening over time in a closed loop manner whereby a set point is attained.

2. The flow device of claim 1, wherein the inner damper plate and the outer plate opening of the outer damper plate are offset with respect to the central axis.

3. The flow device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the inner damper plate and the outer damper plate defines a shape selected from a group consisting of a circle, a half circle, a triangle, a diamond, a trapezoid, a rectangle, an ellipse, a sphere, a half sphere, and a quarter sphere.

4. The flow device of claim 1, further comprising a gasket disposed on a duct and configured to compress and seal against the outer damper plate.

5. The flow device of claim 1, wherein the inner damper plate and the outer damper plate overlap to define an overlap region, and wherein the overlap region comprises a compressible gasket embedded on at least one of the inner damper plate and the outer damper plate.

6. The flow device of claim 1, further comprising a gasket that provides a positive pressure seal of at least two members from a group consisting of an air valve stop, the inner damper plate, and the outer damper plate.

7. The flow device of claim 1, further including a regain section defined by a tear drop nacelle defining at least a portion of the flow pathway downstream of the orifice plate, wherein the tear drop nacelle reduces losses from increased velocity venturi or Bernoulli effects imparted on the fluid flow upstream of the tear drop nacelle.

8. The flow device of claim 1, further comprising a hollow outer shaft extending from the outer damper plate and an inner shaft extending from the inner damper plate through the hollow outer shaft, wherein the inner shaft and the outer shaft are operatively connected with the actuator assembly.

9. The flow device of claim 8, wherein the actuator assembly comprises a first actuator operatively coupled to the hollow outer shaft and a second actuator operatively coupled to the inner shaft.

10. The flow device of claim 9, wherein the first actuator and the second actuator are collinear and ganged together to enable measurability and controllability over a defined flow range.

11. The flow device of claim 9, wherein the first actuator and the second actuator are mounted in parallel.

12. The flow device of claim 8, wherein the actuator assembly comprises an actuator having a gearing with dual concentric output to pivot the inner damper plate and the outer damper plate relative to one another, and wherein the gearing comprises an inner track operatively coupled with the inner shaft and an outer track operatively coupled with the hollow outer shaft.

13. The flow device of claim 1,

A. wherein the outer damper plate is adapted for pivotal motion between a first position and a second position angularly displaced from the first position, and wherein in the first position, the outer damper plate extends across and forms a fluidic seal with a duct, and

B. wherein the inner damper plate is adapted for pivotal motion between a third position and a fourth position angularly displaced from the third position, and wherein in the third position the inner damper plate extends across the outer plate opening and forms a fluidic seal with the outer damper plate.

14. The flow device of claim 1 further comprising a fluid flow pathway section that splits a single fluid stream of the flow pathway into multiple fluid stream pathways.

15. The flow device of claim 1, further comprising a gasket disposed on at least one of the inner damper plate and the outer damper plate at a region where the inner damper plate and the outer damper plate overlap when the inner damper plate is in the first position.

16. The flow device of claim 1, further comprising a gasket disposed at an outer peripheral edge of the outer damper plate.

17. The flow device of claim 1, further comprising:

A. a first pressure sensor in communication with the flow pathway upstream of the orifice plate; and

B. a second pressure sensor in communication with the flow pathway downstream of the orifice plate.

18. The flow device of claim 1, further comprising a total pressure (TP) upstream sensor disposed along the flow pathway upstream of the orifice plate and a static pressure (SP) downstream sensor disposed along the flow pathway downstream of the orifice plate,

wherein the TP upstream sensor is adapted to provide, for a fluid passing along the flow pathway, a signal TP_upstream representative of the total pressure of the fluid at the TP upstream sensor, and

wherein the SP downstream sensor is adapted to provide, for a fluid passing along the flow pathway, a signal SP_downstream representative of the static pressure of the fluid at the SP downstream sensor, and

wherein the processor is operatively coupled to the TP upstream sensor and the SP downstream sensor to determine the pressure differential, and wherein the coefficient is a flow coefficient C_F.

19. The flow device of claim 18, wherein the processor is further operative to determine C_F in accordance with C_F=A_c/A_o wherein A_c is a total cross-section area normal to fluid flow of vena contractae of a fluid passing through the variable opening, and A_o is the representative of a total cross-section area normal to fluid flow through the variable opening.

20. The flow device of claim 19, wherein A_d is the cross section area normal to fluid flow of the entire flow pathway, and A_c/A_o=0.61/[1−

0.39(A_o/A_d)²].

21. The flow device of claim 18, wherein the processor is further operative to determine a flow rate Q of a fluid passing through the variable opening.

22. The flow device of claim 21 wherein the processor is further operative to determine Q in accordance with Q=C_FA_o√

[2(TP_upstream−

SP_downstream)/ρ

], wherein ρ

is representative of density of the fluid.

23. The flow device of claim 1, further comprising

a static pressure (SP) upstream sensor disposed along the flow pathway upstream of the orifice plate and a static pressure (SP) downstream sensor disposed along the flow pathway downstream of the orifice plate,

wherein the SP upstream sensor is adapted to provide, for a fluid passing along the flow pathway, a signal SP_upstream representative of the static pressure of the fluid at the SP upstream sensor, and

wherein the SP downstream sensor is adapted to provide, for a fluid passing along the flow pathway, a signal SP_downstream representative of the static pressure of the fluid at the SP downstream sensor, and

wherein the processor is operatively coupled to the SP upstream sensor and the SP downstream sensor to determine the pressure differential, and wherein the coefficient is a discharge coefficient C_D.

24. The flow device of claim 23, wherein the processor is further operative to determine a flow rate Q of a fluid passing through the variable opening.

25. The flow device of claim 24, wherein the processor is further operative to determine C_D in accordance with C_D=c/√

[1−

(1−

c)²(A_o/A_d)²] wherein c=0.61, A_o is representative of a total cross-section area normal to fluid flow through the variable opening, and A_d is representative of a cross-section area normal to fluid flow through the entire flow pathway.

26. The flow device of claim 25 wherein the processor is further operative to determine Q in accordance with Q=C_D A_o√

[2(SP_upstream−

SP_downstream)/ρ

/√

[1−

(A_o/A_d)²], wherein A_o is representative of a total cross-section area normal to fluid flow through the variable opening, and ρ

is representative of density of the fluid.

27. The flow device of claim 1, wherein the first actuator and the second actuator are operatively coupled to the outer damper plate and inner damper plate respectively throughout the operative ranges of motion of the first damper plate and the second damper plate.