Multi-function flow monitoring apparatus with area velocity sensor capability
First Claim
1. A fluid velocity measurement device, comprising:
- means for transmitting an ultrasonic signal throughout a channel in which fluid flows;
means for receiving a reflection of said ultrasonic signal, said reflected signal including signals which are shifted in frequency from said transmitted ultrasonic signal;
means for generating an electrical signal from said reflected ultrasonic signal;
first mixing means for mixing said reflected electrical signal with a signal having a frequency which is proportional to a frequency of said transmitted signal;
first filtering means for filtering an output of said first mixing means so as to pass an audio band signal representative of said frequency shifted signal;
means responsive to an output signal of said first filtering means, for substantially sequentially extracting energy levels therefrom at preselected frequencies within said audio band;
means for computing an average fluid velocity value from said extracted energy levels;
means for calculating a maximum velocity of fluid flow from said output signal of said first filtering means;
means for verifying said computed average fluid velocity value based upon said maximum fluid velocity calculation; and
means for reporting a value representing average fluid velocity in said channel based upon an output of said verifying means.
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Abstract
A multi-function fluid flow monitoring apparatus capable of measuring fluid flow-related variables of fluid in a channel on the basis of signals from any one or more of a plurality of different types of flow sensors. Such different types of flow sensors may include, for example, a bubbler-type pressure sensor, a submerged pressure transducer, an ultrasonic transducer, and/or a velocity sensor forming part of an area-velocity sensor system, each of which sensors may be selectively connected to the apparatus as needed to accommodate various monitoring conditions. The apparatus is further capable of monitoring various conditions of fluid in the channel, such as pH level, ORP, temperature, solution conductivity, dissolved oxygen, and the like. In addition, the apparatus may be selectively linked with one of a variety of operational devices, such as an automatic sampling apparatus, a rain gauge, or a pump, so as to selectively initiate desired actions by such external device(s) or to otherwise operably cooperate with such external device(s). The integral operating unit includes a computer control system including a microprocessor, program memory, and data memory. External connectors are provided for selective connection to one or more different flow sensors, fluid condition sensors, and/or external devices. The apparatus further includes a display screen, controlled by the computer control system, which selectively displays data in either text or graphics formats. Data including flow-related data, fluid condition data, as well as data from external devices, may be transferred from the data memory of the apparatus to an external computer, printer, or the like by use of a hand-held data transfer unit or a modem integrally provided in the apparatus. The apparatus includes a liquid velocity measurement unit based upon Doppler technology, comprising a spectrum analyzer for calculating average fluid velocity, a mechanism for calculating maximum fluid velocity, and a means for verifying the calculated average fluid velocity based upon the calculated maximum fluid velocity value.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A fluid velocity measurement device, comprising:
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means for transmitting an ultrasonic signal throughout a channel in which fluid flows; means for receiving a reflection of said ultrasonic signal, said reflected signal including signals which are shifted in frequency from said transmitted ultrasonic signal; means for generating an electrical signal from said reflected ultrasonic signal; first mixing means for mixing said reflected electrical signal with a signal having a frequency which is proportional to a frequency of said transmitted signal; first filtering means for filtering an output of said first mixing means so as to pass an audio band signal representative of said frequency shifted signal; means responsive to an output signal of said first filtering means, for substantially sequentially extracting energy levels therefrom at preselected frequencies within said audio band; means for computing an average fluid velocity value from said extracted energy levels; means for calculating a maximum velocity of fluid flow from said output signal of said first filtering means; means for verifying said computed average fluid velocity value based upon said maximum fluid velocity calculation; and means for reporting a value representing average fluid velocity in said channel based upon an output of said verifying means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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13. An apparatus for monitoring at least one variable related to fluid in a channel, comprising:
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an integral operating unit provided in a unitary case, said integral operating unit including computer means for controlling said apparatus and input means for receiving detected signals related to said fluid variable in said channel; said input means being selectively connectable to any selected one or more of a plurality of different types of fluid-sensing means for producing signals related to said fluid variable in said channel; said integral operating unit further including means for processing said signals from each of said plurality of different types of fluid sensing means, for input to said computer means; said computer means comprising a microprocessor, program memory, and data memory, wherein; said data memory stores user-selected input parameters including at least one fluid-related parameter; and said microprocessor receives said signals related to said fluid from said processing means and calculates values of said fluid-related variable based on said signals and said user-input fluid-related parameter; means for automatically sampling fluid from said channel and for storing said collected samples; said user-selected input parameters include a predetermined value of said fluid-related variable; said microprocessor generates control signals to initiate sampling operations by said automatic sampling means on the basis of said user-input predetermined value of said fluid-related variable or on the basis of a preselected time interval; and means for storing a fluid sample which is substantially isolated from other collected fluid samples. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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27. A fluid velocity measurement device, comprising:
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means for transmitting a signal throughout a channel in which fluid flows; means for receiving a reflection of said signal, said reflected signal including signals which are shifted in frequency from said transmitted signal; means for generating an electrical signal from said reflected signal; first mixing means for mixing said electrical signal; first filtering means for filtering an output of said first mixing means; means responsive to an output signal of said first filtering means, for calculating energy levels thereof at selected frequencies; means for computing an average fluid velocity value from said calculated energy levels; and means for calculating a maximum velocity of fluid flow from said output signal of said first filtering means.
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Specification