Single path radial mode Coriolis mass flow rate meter
First Claim
1. An apparatus for measuring a mass flow rate of a fluid in a flow conduit having a flexible surface extending along only a portion of a cross-sectional perimeter of said flow conduit, comprising:
- means for inducing vibration in said flexible surface, said vibration causing a deformation of said surface, said deformation substantially confined to said flexible surface; and
means for measuring a change in said deformation.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A flow meter apparatus for measuring the mass flow rate of a fluid using the Coriolis principle. A single straight flow conduit is employed which is vibrated in a radial-mode of vibration. Coriolis forces are thereby produced along the walls of the flow conduit which deform the conduit'"'"'s cross-sectional shape as a function of mass flow rate. Additional embodiments are disclosed employing vibration of selected portions of the flow conduit walls. In addition, a method is described to determine the pressure and the density of a fluid by simultaneously vibrating a flow conduit in two modes of vibration and thereby determining pressure and density based on changes in each frequency.
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Citations
38 Claims
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1. An apparatus for measuring a mass flow rate of a fluid in a flow conduit having a flexible surface extending along only a portion of a cross-sectional perimeter of said flow conduit, comprising:
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means for inducing vibration in said flexible surface, said vibration causing a deformation of said surface, said deformation substantially confined to said flexible surface; and means for measuring a change in said deformation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of measuring a mass flow rate of a fluid in a flow conduit having a flexible surface extending along a only a portion of a cross-sectional perimeter of said flow conduit, comprising the steps of:
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inducing a vibration in a flexible surface associated with said conduit, said vibration causing a deformation of said surface, said deformation substantially confined to said flexible surface; and measuring a change in said deformation. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An apparatus for measuring a flow rate of a fluid, comprising:
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a flexible surface extending along only a portion of a cross-sectional perimeter of a flow conduit; means for inducing vibration in said flexible surface, said deformation substantially confined to said flexible surface, said vibration causing a deformation of said flexible surface; and means for measuring a change in said deformation. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A method of measuring a flow rate of a fluid, comprising the steps of:
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inducing a vibration in a flexible surface extending along only a portion of a cross-sectional perimeter of a flow conduit, said vibration causing a deformation of said surface, said deformation substantially confined to said flexible surface; and measuring a change in said deformation. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A system for processing fluids, comprising:
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means for measuring a mass flow rate of a fluid in a flow conduit having a flexible surface, comprising; means for inducing first and second radial modes of vibration causing deformation in said flexible surface; means for measuring a change in said deformation; means for measuring a difference in frequency of vibration of said first and second vibrations; and means for measuring a ratio of a frequency of said first vibration to a frequency of said second vibration; said measuring means comprising a first motion detector located at a first location along a length of said flexible surface and a second motion detector located at a second location along said length of said flexible surface, said second location being separated from said first location; said measured change being determined by measuring a change in time difference between motion sensed by said first motion detector and motion sensed by said second motion detector; said measured change further being determined by measuring a change in amplitude of motion sensed by said first and second motion detectors; a pressure-tight case, integral with said conduit, defining a pressure-tight chamber about said conduit, said chamber containing a prescribed amount of pressure; an inlet manifold affixed to an end of said conduit and defining a first wall of said pressure-tight chamber; an outlet manifold affixed to an opposite end of said conduit and defining a second wall of said pressure-tight chamber; said pressure-tight case reducing axial stress on said conduit; a first temperature sensor in thermal communication with an interior of said conduit and a second temperature sensor in thermal communication with an exterior of said conduit; means for isolating vibration associated with said flexible surface to said flexible surface; and means for controlling said system in response to data produced by said mass flow rate measuring means.
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38. A method of controlling a system for processing fluids, comprising the steps of:
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measuring a mass flow rate of a fluid in a flow conduit having a flexible surface, comprising the steps of; inducing first and second radial mode vibrations in said flexible surface, said vibrations causing deformation of said flexible surface; measuring a change in said deformation; measuring a difference in frequency of vibration of said first and second vibrations; measuring a ratio of a frequency of said first vibration to a frequency of said second vibration; detecting motion with a first motion detector located at a first location along a length of said conduit and a second motion detector located at a second location along said length of said conduit, said second motion detector location being separated from said first motion detector location; said change being determined by measuring a change in time difference between said motion sensed by said first motion detector and said motion sensed by said second motion detector; said change further being determined by measuring a change in amplitude of said motion sensed by said first and second motion detectors; sensing a first temperature of an interior of said conduit; sensing a second temperature of an exterior of said conduit; isolating vibration associated with said flexible surface to said flexible surface; applying a prescribed amount of pressure between a pressure-tight case surrounding said conduit and said conduit; and controlling said system in response to data produced by said measuring said mass flow rate.
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Specification