Method of compensating for erroneous reading in a mass flow meter
First Claim
1. In a system for moving particulate matter and using a flow meter for measuring the mass flow rate of particulate matter as a parameter (F) by radiating the entire flow path through a conduit portion with electromagnetic energy such that substantially all of the particulate matter contributes to the generation of backscatter energy and receiving said backscatter energy to generate an electrical signal as a parameter (E) proportional to the concentration of particulate matter flowing in said conduit a method of correcting motion sensed by said flow meter not caused by the actual flow of particulate matter being) measured to obtain a corrected flow rate comprising the steps of:
- generating data points for said flow meter showing the value of said electrical signal parameter at different values of said mass flow rate parameter of selected particulate materials between “
0”
flow rate and a selected upper limit flow rate;
determining an initial algorithm representative of at least a portion of said generated data points wherein said initial algorithm defines a flow rate parameter (F) as a function of said electrical signal parameter (F);
determining constant coefficients and exponents of said function;
installing said flow meter into its working environment;
operating said system with said installed flow meter at a known flow rate of said particulate material through said conduit and determining a corresponding electrical signal;
computing a correction factor for a selected one of said flow rate or said electrical signal from said determined corresponding electrical signal and said initial algorithm; and
subtracting said correction factor from the corresponding selected flow rate or electrical signal in said initial algorithm to obtain an adjusted algorithm representing said flow rate as a function of said electrical signal in said working environment.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method of correcting reading of a non-contact solids flow meter measuring solid particulate flow where the solid particulate product enters the flow tube at one end and flows past a sensor and then exits the flow tube. The sensor for the flow meter is very sensitive and not only can sense particulate flow, but can also pick up system machinery motion such as the rotation of a screw conveyor or other moving machinery parts as product flow and provide a system output reading in excess of the actual flow rate. In addition, if the product flow creates dust during the initial calibration process, and the dust is controlled at the actual installation, the system output reading may indicate a flow rate substantially less than the actual flow. The calibration method of this invention uses the original calibration or performance curves to accurately correct the output readings.
27 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. In a system for moving particulate matter and using a flow meter for measuring the mass flow rate of particulate matter as a parameter (F) by radiating the entire flow path through a conduit portion with electromagnetic energy such that substantially all of the particulate matter contributes to the generation of backscatter energy and receiving said backscatter energy to generate an electrical signal as a parameter (E) proportional to the concentration of particulate matter flowing in said conduit a method of correcting motion sensed by said flow meter not caused by the actual flow of particulate matter being) measured to obtain a corrected flow rate comprising the steps of:
-
generating data points for said flow meter showing the value of said electrical signal parameter at different values of said mass flow rate parameter of selected particulate materials between “
0”
flow rate and a selected upper limit flow rate;
determining an initial algorithm representative of at least a portion of said generated data points wherein said initial algorithm defines a flow rate parameter (F) as a function of said electrical signal parameter (F);
determining constant coefficients and exponents of said function;
installing said flow meter into its working environment;
operating said system with said installed flow meter at a known flow rate of said particulate material through said conduit and determining a corresponding electrical signal;
computing a correction factor for a selected one of said flow rate or said electrical signal from said determined corresponding electrical signal and said initial algorithm; and
subtracting said correction factor from the corresponding selected flow rate or electrical signal in said initial algorithm to obtain an adjusted algorithm representing said flow rate as a function of said electrical signal in said working environment. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. In a system for moving particulate matter and using a flow meter for measuring the mass flow rate of particulate matter as a parameter (F) by radiating the entire flow path through a conduit with electromagnetic energy such that substantially all of the particulate matter contributes to the generation of backscatter energy and receiving said backscatter energy to generate an electrical signal as a parameter (E) proportional to the concentration of particulate matter flowing in said conduit, a method of correcting motion sensed by said flow meter not caused by the actual flow of particulate matter being measured to obtain a corrected flow rate comprising the steps of:
-
generating an initial algorithm or performance curve for said flow meter showing the value of said electrical signals at different values of said mass flow rates of particulate materials between “
0”
flow rate and a selected upper limit flow rate;
installing said flow meter into its working environment;
operating said system at a known flow rate of said particulate material through said conduit to obtain a corresponding electrical signal;
determining from said initial algorithm or performance curve and said corresponding electrical signal a correction factor; and
subtracting said correction factor from a corresponding value in said initial algorithm to obtain an adjusted flow rate. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
-
-
18. In a system for moving particulate matter and using a flow meter for measuring the mass flow rate of particulate matter by radiating the entire flow path through a conduit with electromagnetic energy such that substantially all of the particulate matter contributes to the generation of backscatter energy and receiving said backscatter energy to generate an electrical signal proportional to the concentration of particulate matter flowing in said conduit, a method of correcting motion sensed by said flow meter not caused by the actual flow of particulate matter being measured to obtain a corrected flow rate comprising the steps of:
-
generating a performance curve showing the value of said generated electrical signals at different mass flow rates of particulate materials between “
0”
flow rate and a selected upper limit flow rate;
installing said flow meter into its working environment;
operating said system at operating conditions at a zero flow rate of said particulate material through said conduit to obtain a first generated electrical signal;
determining from said performance curve a first flow rate represented by said first generated electrical signal; and
subtracting said first flow rate from a flow rate indicated by said flow meter during actual operation for each electrical signal value to obtain an adjusted algorithm or performance curve to provide corrected flow rate values. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
-
Specification