CONVECTIVE INERTIA FORCE FLOWMETER

Abstract: A mass flowmeter comprises a single conduit (1) with two extremities (2 and 3) affixed to a rigid frame (6), which conduit includes first and second sections (7 and 8) respectively extending towards one another from the two fixed extremities of the conduit in an over-hanging arrangement and connected to one another by a looped section (9) of the conduit. An electromagnetic vibrator (10) vibrates the first and second sections of the conduit relative to one another. A pair of the motion detectors (12 and 13) respectively measure the flexural vibrations of the first and second sections of the conduit. The mass flow rate of the fluid moving through the conduit is determined from the phase angle difference between the two flexural vibrations respectively measured by the two motion detectors.

Description: CONVECTIVE INERTIA FORCE FLOWMETER The flowmeter of the present invention comprises a conduit providing a flow passage fixed to a rigid frame at the two extremities that includes a loop wherein two halves of the conduit over-lap one another with a spaced relationship. An electromagnetic vibrator disposed at the over-lapping section of the conduit laterally vibrates the two halves of the conduit relative to one another and generates flexural vibration of the conduit with amplitude varying along the length of the conduit, which are zero only at the two fixed extremities of the con uit and at the nodal point located at the midsection of the conduit. The fluid moving through the conduit exerts a convective inertia force resulting from the varying amplitude of the flexural vibration of the conduit, distribution of which along the length of the conduit is symmetric about the midsection of the conduit, that generates flexural vibration of the conduit having symmetric mode about the midsection of the conduit that is superimposed on the flexural vibration of the conduit having antisymmetric mode about the midsection of the conduit that is gene- rated by the electromagnetic vibrator. The mass flow- rate of the fluid moving through the conduit is deter- mined by measuring the symmetric component of the flexu- ral vibration- of the conduit, which measurement is carried out by measuring the difference in the phase angle of the flexural vibrations between the two halves of the conduit or by measuring the amplitude of the flexural vibrations at the midsection of the conduit. A mass flowmeter operating on the same principles as described herein may comprise a generally U-shaped conduit with two halves thereof vibrated relative to one another, wherein one extremity of each of the two halves of the conduit includes a flexible coupling, or a pair of parallel conduits vibrated relative to one another, wherein one extremity of each of the pair of conduits includes a flexible- coupling. The priority of the present invention is based on the United States patent applications S.N. 07/078,206 entitled "Convective inertia force flowmeter" filed on July 27, 1987 and S.N. 07/164,541 entitled "Convective inertia force" filed on March 7, 1988. While many different versions of the mass flowmeter known by the name of "Coriolis force flowmeter" have been introduced into the industrial flow measurement fields and have received an enthusiastic welcome from many users, it is this inventor's opinion that many of these versions were invented and designed without having an indepth and accurate understanding of the operating principles thereof and, consequently, these versions have failed to utilize the physical principles and mathematical relationships dictating the perform- aαce thereof to the fullest extent. One glaring example of misunderstanding about the "Coriolis force flowmeter" is the name itself, which is a misnomer. The accelera- tion or deceleration of fluid produces inertia or dynamic reaction force associated therewith and counter-acts the action force causing the acceleration or decelera- tion. In the Eulerian description of fluid motion, the acceleration experienced by the moving fluid is classi- fied into two categories; the local acceleration and the convective accelera ion. The inertia force asso- lated with the convective acceleration is called "convective Inertia force", which is equal to the mass flow flux density times the gradient of the fluid velocity. Every mass flowmeter employing one or more vibrating conduits determines the mass flow rate of the fluid by measuring an effect of the convective inertia force, whether the mass flowmeter is called a "Coriolis force flowmeter" or some other name. The primary object of the present invention is to provide a mass flowmeter that employs the simplest form of vibrating conduits and, yet, has the most pronounced effect of convective inertia force. As a consequence, the mass flowmeter of the present invention has a great turn-down ratio and high sensitivity. Another object is to provide a mass flowmeter comprising a single conduit with two extremities fixed to a rigid frame that includes a generally 360 degree loop, wherein the two sections of the conduit respecti- vely adjacent to the two fixed extremities of the con- duit and connected to one another by the 360 degree loop overlap one another in a spaced relationship over a por- tion thereof ,where an electromagnetic vibrator vibrates the two sections of the conduit laterally relative to one another. The mass flow rate is determined from the difference in the flexural vibrations of the two sec- tions of the conduit, which are measured by two motion detectors respectively included in the two sections of the conduit, or from the flexural vibrations at the nodal section coinciding with the midsection of the conduit that is measured by a motion detector disposed at the midsection of the conduit. A further object is to provide a mass flowmeter comprising a single conduit with two extremities fixed to a rigid frame, that includes two 360 degree loops turning in two opposite directions, wherein the two sections of the conduit respectively adjacent to the fixed extremities of the conduit and connected to one another by the two 360 degree loops over-lap one another and sandwich the midsection of the conduit therebetween in a spaced relationship, which two sections are vibrat- ed laterally relative to one another by an electromagne- tic vibrator. The mass flow rate is determined from the difference In the flexural vibrations of the two sections of the conduit or from the flexural vibrations at the nodal section coinciding with the midsection of the conduit where the flexural vibration is absent when there is no fluid flow through the conduit. Yet another object is to provide a mass flowmeter comprising a single conduit with two extremities fixed to a rigid frame, that includes two sections of the conduit respectively adjacent to the two fixed extre- mities and connected to one another by. a looped section of the ' conduit, which two sections are vibrated lateral- ly relative to one another by an electromagnetic vibra- tor. The mass flow rate is determined from the dif- ference in the flexural vibrations of the two sections of the conduit, which may be measured in the form of the phase angle difference therebetween, or from the flexural vibrations at the nodal section coinciding with the midsection of the conduit where the flexural vibrat- ion is absent when there is no fluid flow through the conduit. Yet a further object is to provide a mass flowmeter comprising a single conduit with two extremities fixed to a rigid frame, that includes two sections of the conduit respectively adjacent to the two fixed extremi- ties and connected to one another by a 360 degree loop of the conduit, wherein one portion of the 360 degree loop and one of the two sections of the conduit are symmetric about a section where the two halves of the conduit overlap in a spaced relationship, and the other portion of the 360 degree loop and the other of the two sections of the conduit are also symmetric about the same section where the conduit overlap. An electromagnetic vibrator disposed at the section where the conduits overlap vibrates the two combinations of the conduit sections relative to one another. The mass flow rate is determined from the difference in the flexural vibrations of the conduit sections between the two conduit sections included in one of the two combi- nations of the conduit sections. Still another object is to provide a mass flowmeter comprising a doubl- 360 degree loops of ' conduit, where- from an inlet and outlet legs disposed in line to one another extend in two opposite directions generally perpendicular to the plane parallel to the 360 degree loops. An electromagnetic vibrator disposed at a section diametrically opposite to a section wherefrom the inlet and outlet legs extend vibrates the two 360 degree loops relative one another. The mass flow rate is determined from the difference in the relative flexu- ral vibrations between two sections respectively measur- ed at two diametrically opposite sections halfway between the section wherefrom the inlet and outlet legs extend and the section where the electromagnetic vibra- tor is disposed. Still a further object is to provide a mass flow- meter comprising a pair of conduit sections disposed parallel to one another and connected to one another in series, wherein one extremity of each of the two conduit sections includes a flexible coupling, whereby an electromagnetic vibrator vibrates the two conduit sections relative to one another-. The mass flow rate is determined from the difference in the flexural vibra- tions between the two conduit sections. Yet still another object is to provide a mass flow- meter comprising a pair of parallel conduits connected to a common inlet and outlet legs in parallel arrangement, wherein two extremities of the conduits respectively belonging to the two conduits and disposed at two oppo- site ends include flexible couplings. An electro- magnetic vibrator disposed at the midsection of the combination of the two parallel conduits generates flexural vibrations of the conduits relative to one another. The mass flow " rate is determined from .the difference in the relative flexural vibrations between the two halves of the combination of the two parallel conduits . These and other objects of the present invention ■ will become clear as the description thereof progresses. The present invention may be described with a great clarity and specificity by referring to the following figures : Figure I illustrates a perspective view of an embo- diment of the mass flowmeter of the present invention comprising a single 360 degree loop section of the conduit. Figure 2 illustrates a perspective view of another embodiment of the mass flowmeter of the present inven- tion comprising a single 360 degree loop section of the conduit. Figure 3 illustrates the mode of the first order flexural vibration generated by the electromagnetic vibrator and the mode of the second order flexural vibration generated by the convective inertia force of the fluid moving through the vibrating conduit. 1 Figure 4 illustrates a further embodiment of the 2 mass flowmeter of the present invention comprising a 3 single 360 degree loop section of the conduit. 4 Figure 5 illustrates yet another embodiment of the 5 mass flowmeter of the present invention comprising a 6 single 360 degree loop of the conduit. 7 Figure 6 illustrates an embodiment of the mass 8 flowmeter of the present invention comprising a double 9 360 degree loop section of the conduit respectively 10 turning in two opposite directions. 11 Figure 7 illustrates another embodiment of the mass 12 flowmeter of the present invention comprising a double 13. 360 degree loop section of the conduit respectively 14 turning in two opposite directions. 15 Figure 8 illustrates a further embodiment of the 16 mass flowmeter of the present invention comprising a 17 double 360 degree loop of the conduit arranged like a 18 coil spring. 19 Figure 9 illustrates an embodiment of the mass 20 flowmeter. of the present invention comprising a single 21 360 degree loop of the conduit, which are arranged simi- 22 larly to the embodiment shown in Figure 2. 23 Figure 10 illustrates an embodiment of the mass 24 flowmeter of the present invention comprising two paral- 25 lei sections of the conduit respectively extending to 26 the inlet and outlet legs, wherein the two parallel 27 sections of the conduit are connected to one another in 28 series by a looped section of the conduit. 29 Figure 11 illustrates another embodiment of the 30 mass flowmeter of the present invention comprising two 31 parallel sections of the conduit respectively extending 32. to the inlet and outlet legs, wherein the two parallel 33 sections of the. conduit are connected to one another by a looped section of the conduit. Figure 12 illustrates an embodiment of the mass flowmeter of the .present invention comprising two sections of the conduit respectively extending to the inlet and outlet legs, herein the two sections of the conduit are connected to one another by a 360 degree loop of the conduit including two sections thereof respectively disposed in a sysmmetric arrangement to the two sections of the conduit extending to the inlet and outlet legs, respectively. Figure 13 illustrates an embodiment of the mass flowmeter of the present invention comprising a pair of parallel conduits connected to common inlet and outlet legs in a parallel arrangement ,wherein the first extremity of the one of the two parallel conduits and the other extremity of the other of the two parallel conduits Include flexible couplings. Figure 14 illustrates another embodiment of the mass flowmeter of the present invention having a cons- truction similar to the embodiment shown in Figure 13. Figure 15 illustrates a further embodiment of the mass flowmeter of the present invention comprising two parallel conduits including flexible coupling in an arrangement similar to the embodiment shown in Figure 13. Figure 16 illustrates an embodiment of the mass flowmeter of the present invention comprising two sec- tions of the conduit disposed in a parallel arrangement and connected to one another at the first extremities and respectively connected to inlet and outlet legs by two flexible couplings, respectively, at the second extremities. Figure 17 illustrates another embodiment of the mass flowmeter of the present invention comprising two sections of the conduit respectively extending from the inlet and outlet legs in a parallel arrangement and connected to one another by a flexible coupling. In Figure 1 there is illustrated a perspective view of an embodiment of the mass flowmeter that comp- rises a single conduit 1 with two extremities 2 and 3 respectively connected to the inlet leg 4 and outlet leg 5 and affixed to a rigid frame 6 , which conduit includes two generally straight sections 7 and 8 respectively extending towards one another in an over- hanging arrangement from the fixed extremities 2 and 3, and connected to one another by a looped section 9 of 360 degree or lesser loop angle. An electromagnetic vibrator 10 energized by the vibrator power supply 11, that is disposed on the middle plane between the two fixed extremities 2 and 3 of the conduit 1, vibrates the two generally straight sections of the conduit relative to one another, which flexural vibrations are generated at the resonance frequency of the vibrating system. The motion detectors 12 and 13 respectively included in the two generally straight sections 7 and 8 of the conduit and a third motion detector 14 affixed to the midsection of the looped section 9 of the conduit measure the flexural vibrations of the conduit. The signals generated by the motion detectors 12, 13 and 14 are transmitted to the filter-amplifier 15 by wires, which signals conditioned by the filter-amplifier 15 are then transmitted to the data processor 16 that ana- lyzes the signals and converts them into the information related to the mass flow rate. The filter-amplifier 15 also feeds information on the numerical value of the resonance frequency to the vibrator power supply 11. In Figure 2 there is illustrated another embodiment of the mass flowmeter comprising a single conduit 17 with two extremities 18 and 19 affixed to a rigid frame 20, which conduit includes two generally straight sections 21 and 22 respectively extending from the : fixed extremities 18 and 19 of the conduit in a parallel and over-hanging arrangement, and connected to one another by a looped section 23 of the conduit of loop angle greater than 360 degrees and less than 720 degrees. An electromagnetic vibrator 24 disposed on the middle plane between the two generally straight and parallel sections 21 and 22 of the conduit vibrates the two halves of the looped section 23 of the conduit respectively connected to the two parallel sections 21 and 22 of the conduit relative to one another in direc- tions generally perpendicular to a plane including trie looped section 23 of the conduit. Two motion detectors 25 and 26 respectively disposed at the two junctures between the two generally straight sections 21 and 22, and the looped section 23 of the conduit measure the flexural vibrations of the two halves of the conduit 17. The motion detector 27 disposed at the midsection of the conduit 17 also measures the flexural vibrations of the conduit 17. The motion detectors employed in the embo- diments shown in Figures 1 and 2 may be position or velocity or acceleration sensors, which can be induc- tive, capacitive, or strain or stress sensing sensors. The equation governing the flexural vibration of a conduit ' containing moving fluid can be written in the form 4 2 2 ~ ~ > v h v El 7 - + (m -f-^UA) ~- +^UA = 0 •, (1) W ^> ' δ ^t where v is the flexural velocity of the conduit, x is the linear coordinate desgnated following the central axis of the conduit, t is the time, E is the modulus of elasticity of the conduit wall, I is the moment of inertia of the cross section of the conduit, m is the linear density of the conduit, P is the fluid density, U is the convective velocity of the fluid, and A is the cross section area of the flow passage in the conduit. The equation (1) applies to . all sections of the conduit excluding the section where the electromagnetic vibrator exerts the vibratory force. For the sake of simplicity, it is useful to analyze a solution of the equation (1) that describes the flexural vibration of the o generally straight sections of the conduit A-C and G-E shown in the embodiment of Figure 1 or 2, wherein the extremities A and G are assumed to be simply supported rather than fixedly supported. It can be easily shown that such a solution can be written in the form 2 v x QUAωL x. —= sinhλ— sinαJt zr ' xsinhλ— cosωt , (2) V 0 L " 4Elλ 2 L where v Q is the maximum amplitude of the flexural 'vel- ocity, . the coordinate x is measured from the secured end of each of the two sections of the conduit A-C and G-E, L is the length of the conduit section A-C or G-E, and CO is the circular frequency of the flexural vibr- ation. The plus or minus sign appearing before the second term on the right hand side of the equation (2) respectively applies to the conduit sections A-C and G-E. It is useful to notice that the positive direction of the coordinate x is the same as the direction of 1 the flow U for the first conduit section A-C, while 2 the two are opposite to one another for the second 3 conduit section G-E. The parameter y satisfies the 4 characteristic equation 5 8 9 The sum and difference of the two flexural vibratory 10 motions respectively measured by the two motion detec- 11 tors 12 and 13 shown in Figure 1 or 25 and 26 shown in 12 Figure 2 are given by equations 13 14 _v . _. = 2sInh —-sinu->t , (4) l v Q L 16 17 Δ 'UAϋJL 2 # £sinhλ—cosωt , (5) 19 20 Λ 21 where X is the value of the x coordinate at the 22 section where the motion detectors are located. It 23 should be noticed that the sum of the outputs from the 24 two motion detectors given by the equation (4) repre- 26 sents the flexural vibration of the conduit sections 27 containing stationary fluid, while the difference of the 28 outputs from the two motion detectors given by the equa- 29 tion (5) represents the effect of the convective inertia 30 force of the fluid flow that is proportional to the mass 31 flow rate (_ UA) . Differential combination of the 32 equations (4) and (5) yields the relationship 33 where The magnitude of the term in the square bracket on the right hand side of the equation (7) is gene ally very small and, consequently, the equation (7) can be appro¬ ximated by equation The equations (7) and (8) clearly indicate that the mass flow rate (^OA) through the conduit can be determined from the phase angle defined by equation (6) . In actual calibration of a mass flowmeter, the relationship bet¬ ween the mass flow rate ( UA) and the phase angle ® should be determined empirically. In Figure 3 there is illustrated the mode of de¬ flection of the conduit over the entire length thereof, wherein y n corresponding to the first term on the right hand side of the equation (2) .represents the deflection of the condui containing stationary fluid, while y Λ corresponding to the second term on the right hand side of the equation (2) represents the additional deflection of the conduit resulting from the convective inertia force of the moving fluid through the conduit. It is important to notice that the Q solely generated by the electromagnetic vibrator is antisymmetric about the midsection or nodal section D of the conduit, while y generated by the convective inertia force of the moving fluid is symmetric about the midsection or nodal section D. It should be noticed that the vibrating conduit in- eluded in the mass flow meter of the present invention is automatically vibrated at the natural frequency of the second harmonics instead of the first harmonics, which contrasts the existing versions of mass flowmeter using the natural frequency of the first harmonic. In general, the natural frequency of the second harmonics is twice as great as that of the first harmonics. Addording to the equations (7) or (8) , the sensitivity of the mass flowmeter is directly proportional to the natural frequency whereat the conduit is vibrated. As a consequence, the mass ' flowmeter of the present inven- tion provides a drastically higher sensitivity compared with the existing versions of the mass flowmeter. It is noticed that YQ generated solely by the electromagne-r tic vibrator vanishes at the nodal section or midsection D of the conduit, while Υ-i generated by the convective inertia force of the moving fluid becomes maximum at the nodal section D. Therefore, the mass flow rate can also be determined from the amplitude of the outputs from the motion detector 14 shown in Figure I or the motion detec- tor 27 shown in Figure 2, as the amplitude of the flexu^ ral vibration at the nodal section D is proportional to the mass flow rate. It should also be mentioned that the mass flow rate can be determined from the difference in amplitude between the two flexural vibrations respec- tively measured by the two motion detectors 12 and 13 shown in Figure 1 or the two motion detectors 25 and 26 shown in Figure 2. ' Alternatively, the mass flow rate 1 may be determined by combining all three different out- puts from three different motion detectors 12, 13 and 14, or 25, 26 and 27. In Figure 4 there is illustrated another embodi- ment of the mass flowmeter having generally the same construction and operating on the same principles as the embodiment shown in Figure 1. In this embodiment, the relative flexural vibrations of the two generally straight sections 28 and 29 of the conduit are generated by a pair of electromagnetic vibrators 30 and 31 res- pectively disposed on two opposite sides of the middle plane between the two fixed extremities of the conduit. The flexural vibrations of the two generally straight sections 28 and 29 of the conduit are respectively mea- _ sured by the motion detectors 32 and 33, while the flexural■ vibrations at ' the nodal section or midsection of the conduit are measured by the motion detector 34. In this and other illustrations of the mass flowmeters which follow, the wires extending from the motion detec- tors are not shown for the brevity of the illustration. In figure 5 there is illustrated a further embodi- ent of the mass flowmeter having essentially the same construction as the embodiment shown in Figure 1 with one exception, that is the pair of motion detectors 35 and 36 of accelerometer type which respectively measure the absolute velocities of the flexural vibrations of the two generally straight sections 37 and 38 of the conduit. The motion detectors 12 and 13 shown in Figure 1, the motion detectors 25 and 26 shown in Figure 2, and the motion detectors 32 and 33 shown in Figure 4 measure the velocities of the flexural vibrations of the general- ly straight sections of the conduit relative to the fixed extremities thereof or relative to the looped section of the conduit. The flexural vibration at the nodal section or midsection of the conduit is always measured by a motion detector of accelerometer type, that Is the case for the motion detector 39 as well as the motion detectors 14 and 27 respectively Included in the embodi- ments shown in Figures 1 and 2. In Figure 6 there is illustrated an embodiment of the mass flowmeter comprising a single conduit 40 with two extremities 41 and 42 affixed to a rigid frame 43, which conduit Includes two generally straight sections 44 and 45 respectively extending from the two fixed extremities 41 and 42 of the conduit in an over-hanging arrangement and connected ,to one another by a looped section 46 of the conduit that has two loops of loop angle less than 360 degrees respectively turning in two opposite directions. The midsection of the 'looped. section 44 of the conduit passes through the space bet- ween the two generally straight sections 44 and 45 of the conduit. An electromagnetic vibrator 47 disposed on the middle plane between the two fixed extremities 41 and 42 of the conduit vibrates the two generally straight sections 44 and 45 of the conduit. A pair of motion detectors 48 and 49 respectively measure the flexural vibrations of the two generally straight sections 44 and 45. In another embodiment of the mass flowmeter comprising the conduit of the particular geo- etry shown in Figure 9, the elements 48 and 49 can be a pair of electromagnetic vibrators instead of the motion detectors, and the element 47 can be a motion detector that measures the flexural vibration of the conduits at the nodal section or midsection of the conduit. Both versions of the embodiment shown in Figure 6 operate on the same principles as those described in conjunction with Figures 1, 2 and 3. In Figure 7 there is illustrated an embodiment of the mass flowmeter comprising a single conduit 50 with two extremities 51 and 52 affixed to a rigid frame, that includes two generally straight sections 53 and 54 res- pectively extending from the two fixed extremities 51 and 52 of the conduit in an over-hanging arrangement and connected to one another by a looped section 55 of the conduit having two 360 degree loops respectively turn- ing in two opposite directions. An electromagnetic vibrator 56 disposed on the middle plane between the two fixed extremities 51 and 52 vibrates the two generally straight sections 53 and 54 of the. conduit relative to one another. A pair of otion detectors 57 and 58 res- pectively measure the flexural vibrations of the two generally straight sections 53 and 54 of the conduit 50. The mass flow rate is determined from the difference in the two fle'xural vibrations respectively measured by the two motion detectors 57 and 58, which difference may be the phase angle difference or the difference in the amplitude. It should be noticed that the two generally straight sections of the conduit included in the e bodi- ments shown in Figures 1, 4, 5 and 6 are disposed on a plane generally perpendicular to the looped section of the conduit and the ralative flexural vibrations thereof take place on that plane, while the two generally straight sections of the conduit in the embodiment shown in Figure 7 are disposed on a plane generally parallel to the looped section of he conduit and vibrat- ed relative to one another thereon. In Figure 8 there is illustrated an embodiment of the mass flowmeter comprising a single conduit 59 with two extremities 60 and 6i disposed in line to one another and affixed to a rigid frame, which conduit includes two 360 degrees loops 62 and 63 coaxially disposed about an axis generally parallel to the inlet and outlet legs 60 and 61 respectively extending from the two coils in an in-line arrangement. An electro- magnetic vibrator 64 disposed at a position diametri- cally opposite to the inlet and outlet legs 60 and 61 vibrates the two 360 degrees loops 62 and 63 of conduit relative to one another. A pair of motion detectors 65 and 66 disposed at the two diametrically opposite posi- tions on a plane generally perpendicular to the plane including the inlet and outlet legs 60 and 61 and the electromagnetic vibrator 64 measure the relative flexu- ral vibrations between the two 360 degrees loops at -the two diametrically opposite positions. A third motion detector 67 disposed at the nodal section or mid- section of the conduit 59 measures the flexural vibra- tions of the conduit at the nodal point. The mass flow- meter shown in Figure 64 operates on the same principles as those described in conjunction with Figures 1, 2 and 3. In Figure 9 there is illustrated an embodiment of the mass flowmeter having essentially the same construc- tion and operating on the same principles as the e bodi- ment shown in Figure 2 with one exception. In this particular embodiment, the pair of motion detectors 68 and 69 respectively measuring the flexural vibrations of the two generally straight and parallel sections 70 and 71 of the conduit, as well as the motion detector 72 measuring the flexural vibrations of the conduit at the nodal section are of the accelerometer type instead of the inductive or capacitive type motion detectors 25 and 26 employed in the embodiment shown in Figure 2. In Figure 10 there is illustrated an embodiment of the mass flowmeter comprising a single conduit with two extremities 74 and 75 affixed to a rigid frame, which conduit includes two generally straight and parallel sections 76 and 77 respectively extending from the two fixed extremities 74 and 75 of the conduit in an over- hanging arrangement and connected to one another by a looped section 78 of the conduit having a 360 degree loop angle. An electromagnetic vibrator 79 disposed at the over-hanging extremities of the two generally straight sections 76 and 77 of the conduit vibrates those sections of the conduit relati v e to one another. A pair of motion detectors 80 and 81 respectively mea- sure the flexural vibrations of the two generally straight sections 76 and 77 of the conduit in absolute manner or in a manner relative to the nodal section or midsection of the conduit where the third motion detec- tor 82 is disposed. Of course, the motion detector 82 measures the flexural vibrations of the conduit at the nodal section, where the amplitude of the flexural vib- ration is proportional to the mass flow rate of the fluid moving through the conduit . It should be noticed that the pair of generally straight and parallel sec- tions 76 and 77 of the conduit 73 are disposed on a plane generally perpendicular to the looped section 78 of the conduit and vibrated thereon relative to one another. This embodiment of the mass flowmeter operates on the same principles as those described in conjunction with Figures 1, 2 and 3. In Figure 11 there is illustrated another embodi- ment of the mass flowmeter comprising two generally straight parallel sections 83 and 84 of the conduit 85 respectively extending from the two affixed extremities 86 and 87 of the conduit in an over-hanging arrangement, which are connected to one another by a looped section 83 of the conduit having a loop angle close to 360 degrees. An electromagnetic vibrator 89 disposed at the extremities of the two generally straight sections 83 and 84 of the conduit vibrates them relative to one another. A pair of motion detectors 90 and 91 respec- tively measure the flexural vibrations of the two generally straight sections 83 and 84 in an absolute manner or in a manner relative to the looped section 88 of the conduit. It should be noticed that the two gene- rally straight sections 83 and 84 of the conduit are disposed on a plane generally parallel to the looped section 88 of the conduit, whereon they are vibrated relative to one another. This embodiment of the mass flowmeter operates on the same principles as those des- cribed in conjunction with Figures 1, 2 and 3. In Figure 12 there is illustrated an embodiment of the mass flowmeter comprising a single conduit with two extremities 92 and 93 affixed to a rigid frame, which conduit includes two generally straight sections 94 and 95 respectively extending from the two fixed extremities of the conduit towards one another in an over-hanging arrangement and connected to one another by a looped section 96 of the conduit. The two halves of the looped section 96 of the conduit include two generally straight sections 97 and 98 which are respectively symmetric to the two generally straight sections 94 and 95 of the conduit about planes including the point of over-lap between the two halves of the conduit. An electromag- netic vibrator 99 disposed at the point of over-lap vibrates the two halves of the conduit relative to one another. Four motion detectors 101, 102, 103 and 104 respectively included in the four generally straight sections 94, 97, 98 and 95 of the conduit measure the flexural vibrations of the four generally straight sections of the conduit. The over-hanging extremities of the two generally straight sections 97 and 98 adjacent to the midsection of the conduit may be affix- ed to the rigid frame 104. The mass flow rate is deter- mined from the difference between the two flexural vib- rations respectively measured by any two motion detec- tors, i.e. , 100 and 101, 102 and 103, 101 and 103 or 100 and 102, or by averaging that difference over two or more pairs of the motion detectors. In Figure 13 there is illustrated an embodiment of the mass flowmeter comprising a pair of parallel con- duits 105 and 106 respectively connected to the inlet and outlet legs 107 and 108 in a parallel connection. The first extremities 109 and 110 of the two donduits 105 and 106 located at opposite ends to one another are fixedly secured to a rigid frame 111, while the second extremities 112 and 113 respectively include loop sec- tions 114 and 115 which enhance flexural deflections of the two conduits at those extremities. An eleetromagne- tic vibrator 116 disposed at the midsections of the two conduits vibrates them relative to one another. A pair of motion detectors 117 and 118 disposed symmetrically about the midsections of the two conduits respectively measure the relative vibrations between the two halves of the two parallel conduits. The mass flow rate is determined from the difference between the two relative flexural vibrations respectively measured by the two motion detectors .117 and 118, which may be the phase angle difference or the difference in the amplitude of the flexural vibrations. In Figure 14 there is illustrated another e bodi- ment of the mass flowmeter having essentially the same construction and operating on the same principles as the embodiment shown in Figure 13 with one exception, which is the S-shaped conduit sections 119 and 120 dis- posed on a plane perpendicular to the plane including the two parallel conduits replacing the looped sections 114 and 115 in the embodiment shown in Figure 13. In place of the S-shaped sections 119 and 120, a U-shaped over-hanging section disposed on a plane generally per¬ pendicular to the plane including the two parallel con- conduits may be employed. ■ In Figure 15 there is illustrated a further embodi- ment of the mass flowmeter having essentially the same construction and operating on the same principles as the embodiment shown in Figure 13 with one exception being that the bellow coupling ' s or flexible couplings 120 and 121 replace the looped sections 114 and 115 in the embo- diment shown in Figure 13. In Figure 16 there is illustrated an embodiment of the mass flowmeter comprising a single conduit 123, which conduit includes two generally straight sections 124 and 125 extending respectively from the inlet and outlet legs 126 and 127 in a parallel over-hanging arrangement and connected to one another by a curved section 128 of the conduit. The two generally straight ■ sections 124 and 125 are respectively connected to the inlet and outlet legs 126 and 127 by the bellow coupl- ings or flexible couplings 129 and 130. An electro- magnetic vibrator 131 disposed near the extremities of the two generally straight sections 124 and 125 con- nected to the inlet and outlet legs 126 and 127 vibrates the two generally straight sections 124 and 125 relative to one another. A pair of motion detectors 132 and 133 respectively included in the two generally straight sections 124 and 125 of the conduit measure the flexu- ral vibrations thereof respectively. The mass flow rate is determined from the difference between the two flexural vibrations respectively measured by the two motion detectors 132 and 133 which difference may be the phase angle difference or the difference in the amplitude of the flexural vibrations. In Figure 17 there is illustrated another embodi- ment of the mass flowmeter comprising a single conduit 134 with two extremities 135 and 136 affixed to a rigid frame, which conduit includes two generally straight sections 137 and 138 respectively extending from the t.. : o fixed extremities 135 and 136 of the conduit in a parallel over-hanging arrangement and connected to one another by a curved sectio 139 of the conduit including a bellow coupling or flexible coupling 140 at the mid- section thereof. An electromagnetic vibrator 141 dis- posed near the curved section 139 of the conduit vib- rates the two generally straight sections 137 and 138 of the conduit relative to one another. A pair of the motion detectors 142 and 143 respectively included in the two generally straight sections 137 and 138 measure the flexural vibrations thereof, respectively. This embodiment of the mass flowmeter operates on the same principles as those embodiments shown in Figures 10, 11 and 16. It should be mentioned that the flexural vibra- tions at the nodal section is generated by the convec- tive inertia force of the moving fluid through the vib- rating conduit as well as by the noises associated with pipe line vibrations. Therefore, in determining the mass flow rate from the amplitude ratio of the flexu- ral vibration at the nodal section to that at the con- duit section Including the electromagnetic vibrator, it is necessary to substract the noises from the total signals detected by the motion detector disposed at the nodal section, which noises can be measured by another motion detector disposed at a strategically selected section of the vibrating conduit. In determining the mass flow rate, it is generally preferred to use the phase angle difference between the two flexural vibra- tions respectively measured b} 7 the two motion detectors respectively disposed on two opposite sides about the section where the electromagnetic vibrator is disposed. While the principles of the present inventions have now been made clear by the illustrative embodiments, it will be immediately obvious to those skilled in the art that many modifications of structures, arrangements, proportions, elements and materials which are parti- cularly adapted to the specific working environments and operating conditions in the practice of the inven- tions can be made without departing from those prin- ciples. It is not desired to limit the inventions to the particular illustrated embodiments shown and described and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to falling within the scope of the inventions as defined b3 τ the claims which follow.

Claims: The embodiments of the inventions in which an exclusive property or privHedge is claimed, are defined as follows : 1. An apparatus for measuring mass flow rate comprising in combination : a) at least one conduit with two extremities secured to a rigid frame, said conduit including a first and second sections respectively extending from the two secured extremities of the conduit in an over-hanging arrangement in a spaced relationship, therebetween and connected to one another by a curved section of the conduit, wherein at least a portion of the first section and at least a portion of the second section over-lap one another in a spaced relationship; wherein two halves of the conduit with unsupported midsection are respectively supported by the t o secured extremities of the conduit in a cantilever- like arrangement; b) means for exerting vibratory forces on the over-lapping portions of the first and second sections of the conduit, said vibratory forces inducing relative flexural vibrations between the two halves of the conduit; and c) means for measuring difference in the flexu- ral vibrations between the two halves of the conduit as a easure of ass flo rate of media moving through the conduit. 2. The combination as set forth in Claim 1 wherein the mass flow rate is determined from phase angle dif- ference in the flexural vibrations between the two halves of the conduit. 3. The combination as set forth in Claim 1 wherein the mass flow rate is determined from amplitude difference in the flexural vibrations between the two halves of the conduit. 4. The combination as set forth in Claim 1 where- in the mass flow rate is determined from the amplitude of the flexural vibrations of the conduit measured at a nodal section generally coinciding with the midsection of the conduit where the flexural vibration vanishes when the media contained in the conduit is stationary. 5. The combination as set forth in Claim 1 wherein said means for measuring difference in the flexural vib- rations includes at least two motion detectors respecti- vely measuring the flexur ' al vibrations of the two halves of the conduit. 6. The combination as set forth in Claim 1 wherein said means for measuring difference in the flexural vib- rations includes at least one motion detector measuring the flexural vibrations of the conduit at a nodal sec- tion generally coinciding with the midsection of the conduit where the flexural vibration vanishes when the media contained in the conduit is stationary. 7. The combination as set forth in Claim 1 wherein the first and second sections of the conduit are disposed on a plane generally perpendicular to a plane generally including the curved section of the conduit. 8. The combination as set forth in Claim 7 wherein the curved section of the conduit has a loop angle gene- rally equal to or less than 360 degrees. 9. The combination as set forth in Claim 7 wherein the curved section of the conduit has two loops turning in two opposit directions. 1 10. The combination as set forth in Claim 1 where- 2 in the first and second sections of the conduit are dis- 3 posed on a plane generally parallel to a plane generally 4 including the curved section of the conduit. 5 11. The. combination as set forth in Claim 10 6 wherein the curved section of the conduit has a loop 7 angle generally equal to or less than 360 degrees. 8 12. The combination as set forth in Claim 10 9 wherein the curved section of the conduit has two loops 10 turning in two opposite directions. 11 13. The combination as set forth in Claim 1 wherein 12. each of the two halves of the conduit includes a 360 13 degree loop wherein the two 360 degree loops are dis- 14 posed in a coaxially superimposed arrangement in a 15 spaced relationship therebetween, wherein an inlet and " 16 outlet legs respectively extend from two extremities of 17 the combinatio ' n of the two 360 degree loops, and said 18 means for exerting vibratory forces is disposed at a 19 section diametrically opposite to a section wherefrom 20 the inlet and outlet legs extend. 21 14. The combinatio as set forth in Claim 13 22 wherein said means for measuring the difference in the 23 flexural vibrations comprises at least two motion detec- 24 tors respectively disposed on two o osite sides of a 25 plane including the central axis of the two 360 degree 26 loops and said means for exerting vibratory forces, 27 wherein the two motion detectors measure relative flexu- 28 ral vibrations between said two 360 degree loops. 29 - 15. The combination as set forth in Claim 13 30 wherein said means for measuring the differe ce in the 31 flexural vibrations comprises at least one motion detec- 32 tor disposed at a nodal section generally coinciding 33 with the midsection of the conduit where the flexural vibration vanishes when the media contained in the conduit is stationary. 16. The combination as set forth in Claim 1 where- in the first and second sections of the conduit over-lap one another at the midsections thereof in a spaced rela- tionship, wherein said means for exerting vibratory forces is disposed at said midsections, and said means for measuring difference in the flexural vibrations comprises at least two motion detectors respectively included in one half of each of the first and second sections of the conduit, which half is connected to said curved section of the conduit connecting the first and second sections of the conduit to one another. 17. The combination as set forth in Claim 16 wherein the extremity of each of the first and second sections of the conduit connected to said curved section of the conduit is secured to the rigid frame. 18. The combination as set forth in Claim 17 wherein said means for measuring difference in the flexural vibrations further comprises another pair of motion detectors respectively included in the other half of each of the first and second sections of the conduit opposite to said one half, wherein the mass flow rate is determined from averaged difference in the flexural vibrations between said two motion detec- tors and between said another pair of motion detectors. 19. An apparatus for measuring mass flow rate comprising in combination ' : a) at least one conduit with two extremities secured to a rigid frame, said conduit including a first and second sections respectively extending from the two secured extremities of the conduit in a generally parallel and over-hanging arrangement in a spaced relationship therebetween and connec- ted to one another by a curved section of the conduit, wherein one of the two extremities of each of the first and second sections of the conduit, which extremities of the first and second sections of the conduit are dis- posed in a side by side arrangement, includes a flexible coupling allowing an enhanced flexural deflections at that extremity, and the other extremity of each of the first and second sections of the conduit pposite to said one extremity is rigidly cou led to ad- " jacent section of the conduit : b) means for e erting vibratory forces on the first and second sections of the conduit, said vibratory forces inducing relative ' flexural vibrations between the first and second sections of the conduit; and c) means for measuring difference in the flexu- ral vibrations between the first and second sections of the conduit as a measure of mass flow rate of media moving through the conduit. 20. The combination as set forth in Claim 19 wherein said means for measuring difference in the flexural vibrations comprises at least two motion detec- tors respectively measuring the flexural vibrations of the first and second sections of the conduit. 21. An apparatus for measuring mass flow rate comprising in combination : - a) a first conduit with one extremity fixedly connected to a first port leg and the other extremity resiliently connected to a second port leg, and a second conduit disposed generally parallel to the first conduit having one extremity resiliently connected to the first port leg and the other extremi- ty fixedly connected to the second port leg; b) means for exerting vibratory forces on the midsections of the first and second conduits, said vibratory forces inducing relative flexural vibrations between the first and second conduits; and c) means for measuring difference in the rela- tive flexural vibrations between the first and second halves of the combination of the first and second conduits as a measure of mass flow rate of media moving through the . first and second conduits. 22. The combination as set forth in Claim 21 wherein said means for measuring difference in the flexural vibrations comprises at least two motion detectors respectively disposed on two opposite sides of the midsections of the first and second conduits for measuring the relative flexural vibrations between the first and second conduits.

Inventors: LEW HYOK SANG, LEW, HYOK, SANG
Applicants: LEW HYOK S, LEW, HYOK, SANG
Application year: 1988
Main classification: G01F1
IPC codes: G01F1