Method and device for determining and/or monitoring a volume and/or mass flow

• US 20060259260A1
• Filed: 11/17/2003
• Published: 11/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Endress+Hauser Flowtec AG (Endress+Hauser AG)
• Original Assignee: Endress+Hauser Flowtec AG (Endress+Hauser AG)
• Inventors: Frohlich, Thomas, Fleury, Aurèle, Stocker, Harald
• Granted Patent: US 7,236,912 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/100
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/66 by measuring frequency, phase shift or propagation time of electromagnetic or other waves, e.g. using ultrasonic flowmeters
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/662 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/667 Arrangements of transducers for ultrasonic flowmeters; Circuits for operating ultrasonic flowmeters
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 25/10 of flowmeters
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/02836 Flow rate, liquid level

Abstract

A method and a device for determining and/or monitoring the volume flow rate and/or mass flow rate of a medium flowing through a container. In the case of the device, such is an ultrasonic flow measuring device, which works on the basis of the travel-time-difference principle. Additionally, a technique is presented whereby, on the basis of the results of measurement, also information is provided concerning change in some other system and/or process variable. To this end, the currently measured, actual measuring signals, or the corresponding actual measuring data, is compared with corresponding, stored set measuring signals, or set measuring data; a report is output, when a deviation arises between the set measuring signals, or set measuring data, and the actual measuring signals, or actual measuring data.

Claims

1. Method for determining and/or monitoring the volume flow rate of a medium flowing in a containment, wherein, from an ultrasonic transducer placed in a first position on the containment, measuring signals are emitted and wherein the measuring signals are received by an ultrasonic transducer placed in a second position on the containment, and wherein, on the basis of the measuring signals, or on the basis of measuring data obtained from the measuring signals, information is provided concerning the volume flow rate of the medium located in the containment,

characterized in that

the currently measured, actual measuring signals, or the corresponding actual measuring data, are compared with corresponding, stored, set measuring signals, or set measuring data, and

a report is issued, when a deviation arises between the set measuring signals, or set measuring data, and the actual measuring signals, or actual measuring data.

2. Method as claimed in claim 1,

characterized in that

signatures are derived from the actual measuring signals, or actual measuring data, and from the set measuring signals, or set measuring data, wherein the signatures describe each of the measuring signals sufficiently accurately.

3. Method as claimed in claim 1 or 2,

characterized in that

the set measuring signals are determined for not-filled containment (7) and/or for filled containment (7).

4. Method as claimed in claim 1 or 2,

characterized in that

the actual measuring signals, or set measuring signals, and/or the corresponding signatures are digitized and stored,

the actual measuring signals/actual measuring data, or the signature determined from the actual measuring signals/actual measuring data, are/is compared with the corresponding set measuring signals/set measuring data or the corresponding signature of the set measuring signals/measuring data, and

a report is issued, when a deviation arises between the actual and set measuring signals/measuring data, or between the actual and set signatures, which lies outside of a predetermined tolerance value.

5. Method as claimed in claim 4,

characterized in that,

on the basis of the comparison of the actual measuring signals/actual measuring data, or on the basis of the comparison of the signatures of the actual measuring signals/actual measuring data, with the set measuring signals/set measuring data, or the corresponding signatures of the set measuring signals/set measuring data, a statement is made as to which defective system and/or process variable is causing the deviation.

6. Method as claimed in claim 1 or 5,

characterized in that,

on the basis of the deviation, it is recognized

whether the containment (7) is not filled with the medium (10), and/or

whether the coupling of the ultrasonic transducers (3, 4) to the containment (7) is defective, and/or

whether the damping of the measuring signals by the medium (10) located in the containment (7) exceeds a predetermined maximum value, and/or

whether an air gap between the containment (7) and a liner (13) on the inner surface of the containment (7) is present, and/or

whether the damping of the measuring signals in the wall (8) of the containment (7) exceeds a maximum, predetermined amount.

7. Device for determining and/or monitoring the volume flow rate of a medium in a containment with at least two ultrasonic transducers, wherein a first ultrasonic transducer is provided in a first position on the containment and wherein a second ultrasonic transducer is provided in a second position on the containment, and wherein a control/evaluation unit is provided, which determines the volume flow rate of the medium located in the containment on the basis of measuring signals delivered by the ultrasonic transducers, or on the basis of the corresponding measuring data,

characterized in that

the control/evaluation unit (9) compares the currently measured, actual measuring signals, or the corresponding actual measuring data, with corresponding, stored set measuring signals, or set measuring data, and the control/evaluation unit (9) outputs a deviation between the set measuring signals, or set measuring data, and the actual measuring signals, or actual measuring data.

8. Device as claimed in claim 7,

characterized in that

the control/evaluation unit (9) provides information concerning which defective system, and/or process, variable is causing the deviation.

9. Device as claimed in claim 7,

characterized in that

the arrangement of the ultrasonic transducers (3, 4) is a one-transverse arrangement (1) or a multi-traverse arrangement.

10. Device as claimed in claim 7 or 9,

characterized in that

at least the two ultrasonic transducers (3, 4) having the greatest separation from one another work alternatingly in emitting and receiving operation.

11. Device as claimed in claim 7, 9 or 10,

characterized in that

the ultrasonic transducers (3, 4) are mounted on the containment according to the clamp-on method.