Flow measurement and control with bubble detection
First Claim
1. A method of measuring a flow rate of a liquid flowing in a liquid flow sensor, the liquid flow sensor including a sensor conduit and the liquid including a plurality of bubbles formed therein, the method comprising acts of:
- repeatedly sensing a flow signal indicative of the flow rate of the liquid flowing in the sensor conduit;
determining, based upon at least one parameter of the flow signal, whether at least one bubble is disposed in the liquid within the sensor conduit;
providing, in response to a determination that no bubble is disposed in the liquid within the sensor conduit, a flow rate signal indicative of the flow rate of the liquid flowing in the liquid flow sensor based upon a most recently sensed flow signal; and
providing, in response to a determination that the at least one bubble is disposed in the liquid within the sensor conduit, at least one of;
a) a flow rate signal based upon the most recently sensed flow signal and an alert signal indicative of a presence of the at least one bubble, and b) a flow rate signal indicative of the flow rate of the liquid flowing in the liquid flow sensor based upon other than the most recently sensed flow signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for liquid flow sensing and control for use with a variety of different types of liquid flow measurement and control systems. The liquid flow sensor system senses a flow signal indicative of the flow rate of the liquid flowing in a sensor conduit and analyzes the flow signal to determine, by detecting characteristic changes in the signal, whether a bubble is present in the sensor conduit. Where the system determines that a bubble is present, it may generate an alarm signal indicative of the presence of the bubble. A flow control system incorporating the flow sensor as a feedback source may respond to the detection of a bubble by temporarily freezing the flow control parameters until the bubble has exited the sensor conduit. The flow control system can implement procedures for clearing a bubble from the sensor conduit where the system detects that the bubble has become stuck.
53 Citations
47 Claims
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1. A method of measuring a flow rate of a liquid flowing in a liquid flow sensor, the liquid flow sensor including a sensor conduit and the liquid including a plurality of bubbles formed therein, the method comprising acts of:
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repeatedly sensing a flow signal indicative of the flow rate of the liquid flowing in the sensor conduit;
determining, based upon at least one parameter of the flow signal, whether at least one bubble is disposed in the liquid within the sensor conduit;
providing, in response to a determination that no bubble is disposed in the liquid within the sensor conduit, a flow rate signal indicative of the flow rate of the liquid flowing in the liquid flow sensor based upon a most recently sensed flow signal; and
providing, in response to a determination that the at least one bubble is disposed in the liquid within the sensor conduit, at least one of;
a) a flow rate signal based upon the most recently sensed flow signal and an alert signal indicative of a presence of the at least one bubble, and b) a flow rate signal indicative of the flow rate of the liquid flowing in the liquid flow sensor based upon other than the most recently sensed flow signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of controlling the flow rate of a liquid through a flow conduit coupled to a controllable valve and a liquid flow sensor, liquid flow sensor including a sensor conduit and the liquid including a plurality of bubbles formed therein, the method comprising acts of:
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repeatedly sensing a flow signal indicative of the flow rate of the liquid flowing in the sensor conduit;
determining, based upon at least one parameter of the flow signal, whether at least one bubble is disposed in the liquid within the sensor conduit;
providing, in response to a determination that no bubble is disposed in the liquid within the sensor conduit, control parameters for the controllable valve based upon the most recently sensed flow signal;
providing, in response to a determination that the at least one bubble is disposed in the liquid within the sensor conduit, control parameters for the controllable valve based upon other than the most recently sensed flow signal; and
controlling the controllable valve according to the control parameters. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A system for measuring a flow rate of a liquid flowing in a flow conduit, the liquid including a plurality of bubbles formed therein, the system comprising:
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a liquid flow sensor including a sensor conduit fluidly coupled to the flow conduit, the liquid flow sensor being configured to sense a flow rate of the liquid flowing in the sensor conduit and provide a flow signal indicative of the flow rate of the liquid flowing in the sensor conduit;
a bubble detection module, coupled to the liquid flow sensor, to receive the flow signal and determine, based upon at least one parameter of the flow signal, whether at least one bubble is disposed in the liquid within the sensor conduit, the bubble detection module being configured to;
provide, in response to a determination that no bubble is disposed in the liquid within the sensor conduit, a flow rate signal indicative of the flow rate of the liquid flowing in the liquid flow sensor based upon a most recently sensed flow signal, and provide, in response to a determination that the at least one bubble is disposed in the liquid within the sensor conduit, at least one of;
a) a flow rate signal based upon the most recently sensed flow signal and an alert signal indicative of a presence of the at least one bubble, and b) a flow rate signal indicative of the flow rate of the liquid flowing in the liquid flow sensor based upon other than the most recently sensed flow signal. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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Specification