CONVECTIVE ATTENUATION FLOWMETER

Abstract: A mass flowmeter comprises a first vibrating conduit (14) and second vibrating conduit (15) disposed in parallel, which combination is connected to a common inlet leg (16) and common outlet leg (17), and a combination of electromagnetic vibrator and motion sensor (20 and 21) that induces and measures the flexural vibrations of the two vibrating conduits (14 and 15). The mass flow rate is determined by comparing damping of the flexural vibrations of the first vibrating conduit (14) providing a flow passage to that of the second vibrating conduit (15) having zero net flow as it is blocked by a plug (18).

Description: CONVECTIVE ATTENUATION FLOWMETER The flowmeter of the present invention determines mass flow rate of the fluid moving through a flowmeter conduit by measuring the attenuation of the flexural vibrations of the flowmeter conduit imposed by an electromagnetic vibrator in an intermittent or conti- nuous mode. The attenuation of the imposed flexural vibrations of the flowmeter conduit is caused by two different mechanisms. Firstly, the fluid moving through the vibrating conduit absorbs the kinetic energy of the flexural vibrations from the vibrating conduit and carries away the absorbed kinetic energy, which form of energy loss by the vibrating conduit (convective energy loss) attenuates the flexural vibrations of the vibrating conduit (convective attenuation) . Secondly, the vibrating conduit also loses its kinetic energy due to the friction in the fluid, ambient air and the solid structures of the vibrating system (viscous energy loss) and, consquently, the flexural vibrations of the vibrating conduit experience another form of attenuation (viscous attenuation) . By subtracting the viscous attenuation, that is generally equal to the attenuation of the flex- ural vibrations of the vibrating conduit containing the fluid under zero net flow condition, from the total attenuation, the convective attenuation is determined and the mass flow rate of the fluid is determined therefrom, as the exponent of the convective attenuation is proportional to the mass flow rate. The priority of the present invention is based on the United States patent applications S.N. 07/071,777 entitled "Convective attenuation flowmeter" filed on July 10, 1987 and S.N. 07/163,855 entitled "Convective attenuation flowmeter" filed on March 3, 1988. The fluid moving through a vibrating conduit alters the natural mode of the flexural vibrations in two different ways. Firstly, the inertia force of the moving fluid (convective inertia force) shifts the phase of the flexural vibrations, which principles have been employed in the mass flow measurement under the name of "Coriolis force flowmeter" or "Convective inertia fo?_ce flowmeter", the latter of which names this inventor has designated to a Coriolis force flowmeter invented by him. Secondly, the moving fluid takes away the kinetic energy of the flexural vibrations from the vibrating conduit as described by the preceding paragraphs (convective attenu- ation) . At the present time, a mass flowmeter employing the prin- ciples of the convective attenuation has not been practiced. The primary object of the present invention is to provide a mass flowmeter operating on the principles of convective attenuation. Another object is to provide a convective attenuation flowmeter comprising a single vibrating conduit, wherein the convective attenu- ation is determined by substracting the viscous attenuation e piri- cally determined and stored in the data processor memory from the total attenuation measured by the vibration analyzer. A further object is to provide a convective attenuation flowmeter comprising a pair of parallel vibrating conduits wherein one of the two parallel vibrating conduits has zero net flow of the fluid and the convective attenuation is determined as the difference in the attenuation between the flexural vibrations of the two parallel vibrating conduits. Yet another object is to provide a convective attenuation flow- meter comprising two vibrating conduits disposed in series arrange- ment, wherein the convective attenuation is determined from a combination of the attenuations of the flexural vibrations of the two vibrating conduits. Yet a further object is to provide a convective attenuation flowmeter comprising a pair of parallel vibrating conduits connected to a third vibrating conduit in series arrangement, wherein the convective attenuation is determined from a combination of the attenu- ations of the flexural vibrations of at least one of the pair of parallel vibrating conduits and the third vibrating conduit. 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 1 illustrates an embodiment of the convective attenuation flowmeter employing a single vibrating conduit. Figure 2 illustrates typical attenuation patterns of the flexural vibrations of the vibrating conduit containing stationary fluid or fluid under zero net flow and moving fluid therein Figure 3 illustrates typical dissipation of the flexural vibra- tions of the vibrating conduit containing stationary fluid or fluid under zero net flow and moving fluid therein. Figure 4 illustrates an embodiment of the convective attenuation flowmeter comprising two parallel vibrating conduits arranged in a symmetric relationship. Figure 5 illustrates an embodiment of the convective attenuation flowmeter comprising two parallel vibrating conduits arranged in a symmetric relationship, wherein one of the two parallel vibrating conduits has zero net flow. Figure 6 illustrates another embodiment of the convective attenu- ation flowmeter comprising two parallel.vibrating conduits arranged in a symmetric relationship, wherein one of the two parallel vibrating conduits has zero net flow. Figure 7 illustrates a further embodiment of the convective attenuation flowmeter comprising two parallel vibrating conduits arranged in a symmetric relationship, wherein one of the two vibrating conduits has zero net flow. Figure 8 illustrates yet another embodiment of the convective attenuation flowmeter comprising two parallel vibrating conduits arranged in a symmetric relationship, wherein one of the two parallel vibrating conduits has zero net flow. Figure 9 illustrates yet a further embodiment of the convective attenuation flowmeter comprising two parallel vibrating conduits arranged in a symmetric relationship, wherein one of the two parallel vibrating conduits has zero net flow. Figure 10 illustrates still another embodiment of the convective attenuation flowmeter comprising two parallel vibrating conduits arranged in a symmetric relationship. Figure 11 illustrates still a further embodiment of the convec- tive attenuation flowmeter comprising two parallel vibrating conduits arranged in a symmetric relationship. Figure 12 illustrates yet still another embodiment of the convec- tive attenuation flowmeter comprising two parallel vibrating conduits arranged in a symmetric relationship. Figure 13 illustrates an embodiment of the convective attenuation flowmeter comprising two vibrating conduits arranged in series in a symmetric relationship about a plane therebetween. Figure 14 illustrates another embodiment of the convective attenuation flowmeter comprising two vibrating conduits arranged in series in a symmetric relationship about a plane therebetween. Figure 15 illustrates a further embodiment of the convective attenuation flowmeter comprising two vibrating conduits arranged in series in a symmetric relationship about a plane therebetween. Figure 16 illustrates an embodiment of the convective attenuation flowmeter comprising two vibrating conduits arranged in series in an asymmetric relationship about a plane therebetween. Figure 17 illustrates another embodiment of the convective attenuation flowmeter comprising two vibrating conduits arranged in series in an asymmetric relationship about a plane therebetween. Figure 18 illustrates an embodiment of the convective attenuation flowmeter comprising two parallel vibrating conduits arranged in an asymmetric relationship about a plane therebetween. Figure 19 illustrates another embodiment of the convective attenuation flowmeter comprising two parallel vibrating conduits arranged in an asymmetric relationship about a plane therebetween. Figure 20 illustrates a nozzle type convective attenuation flow- meter comprising a pair of parallel vibrating conduits of cantilever arrangement, wherein one of the two parallel vibrating conduits has zero net flow. Figure 21 illustrates an embodiment of the convective attenuation flowmeter comprising a pair of parallel vibrating conduits connected to a third vibrating conduit in series. Figure 22 illustrates another embodiment of the convective attenuation flowmeter comprising a pair of parallel vibrating conduits connected to a third vibrating conduit in series. In Figure 1 there is illustrated a fundamental embodiment of the convective attenuation flowmeter, which embodiment comprises a vibrating conduit 1 with one extremity 2 fixedly connected to a first port leg 3 and the other extremity 4 connected to a Y-shaped second por leg 5 in a laterally flexible arrangement by a T-shaped coupling including a pair of flexible bellow couplings 6 and 7. The extremity 2 of the vibrating conduit 1 anS the Y-shaped port leg 5 are rigidly anchored to a rigid frame 8. The vibrating means or electromagnetic vibrator 9 affixed to the frame 8 generates flexural vibrations of the vibrating conduit 1, wherein the amplitude of the flexural vibra- tions increases from the fixed extremity 2 to the flexible extremity 4. The motion detector 10 affixed to the frame 8 detects the flexural vibrations of the vibrating conduit 1, which motion detector may be an acceleration detector affixed to the vibrating conduit 1 instead of a velocity or position detector secured to the frame 8. The vibrator power supply 11 provides electric currents energizing the electro- magnetic vibrator 9 in the form of pulses or continuous alternating currents, which intermittently induces or continuously excites the flexural vibrations. The electromotive forces from the motion detec- tor 10 generated by the flexural vibrations are conditioned by a filter-amplifier 12 and processed by a data processor 13 that provides information related to the mass flow rate of media moving through the vibrating conduit 1. The combination of the vibrating conduit 1, electromagnetic vibrator 9 and the motion detector 10 may be sealed within an evacuated container as described in conjunction with Figure 4. The media entering the fixed extremity 2 of the vibrating conduit 1 has zero flexural velocity, and gains flexural velocity as it tra- vels towards the flexible extremity 4, and leaves the vibrating conduit 1 with a flexural velocity v , where v is the representa- tive value of the flexural velocity of the vibrating conduit 1. As a consequence, the media moving through the vibrating conduit 1 takes away the kinetic energy from the vibrating conduit at a time rate 2 proportional to rS U J where j? is the density of the media and U is the convective velocity of the media moving through the vibrat- ing conduit 1. The vibrating conduit 1 loses its kinetic energy due 2 to the friction in the system at a time rate proportional to v , where ./£. represents total viscosity of the vibrating system which includes the viscosity of the media moving through the vibrating conduit 1 and that of the ambient air as well as the viscosity repre- senting the friction of the solid members in the vibrating system. A differential equation representing the balance of the kinetic energy readily provides a solution of the following form : where v 0 is the initial value of v, K^ and 1C, are constant para- meters which are to be determined empirically, A is the cross section of the flow passage in the vibrating conduit, and t is the time. If the direction of the flow is reversed, the attenuation of the flexural vibrations is given by equation v = v Q exp.[-CK 1 + K_j3UA)t] , (2) where K3 is a constant parameter having numerical value different from that of K2 appearing in the equation (1) , because the time rate of convective transportation of the kinetic energy of the flexural vibration changes in magnitude depending on the direction of the media flow. The attenuation pattern of the intermittently induced flexural vibrations of the vibrating conduit 1 containing stationary media of zero velocity is illustrated in Figure 2-(a) , while Figure 2-(b) illustrates the attenuation pattern thereof containing moving media at velocity U. It is readily recognized that ]_ i n equations (1) or (2) can be determined empirically from the attenuation of flexural vibrations of the vibrating conduit containing stationary media or media under zero net flow, while ^2 or K^ is determined empirically. Once those empirically determined values of Ki and -J or K3 are substituted into equation (1) or (2), the mass flow rate 5 UA is readily determined by analyzing the measured attenu- ation of the flexural vibrations in comparison with equation (1) or (2). The time rate of loss of the kinetic energy EouT from the continuously excited flexural vibrations of the vibrating conduit can be written in the form : έ ouτ = C A ι ? UA + A 2^ v2 ' (3) where Ai and A2 are constant parameters. The electromotive force V Q UT from the motion detector 10 is proportional to the flexural velocity v and, consquently, the equation (3) can be written in the form where Bi and B 9 are constant parameters. The time rate of supply of electrical energy to the vibrating conduit 1 by the electromagnetic vibrator 9 can be expressed in the form where B3 is a constant parameter and VJN is the peak value of the alternating electromotive force consumed by the electromagnetic 1 vibrator. The rate of energy loss given by the equation (4) has to 2 be equal to the rate of energy supply given by the equation (5) . 3 which yields the following equation for the mass flow rate _ ι M C6) 7 8. where C-[ and . C2 are constant parameters. The equation (6) can 9 be written in the form 3 4 where the subscript u=0 stands for the value corresponding to the 5 stationary media or media under zero net flow. For the media moving 6 through the vibrating conduit in the opposite direction, the equation 7 (7) can be written in the form u=( C8) 1 2 where C3 is another constant parameter, having numerical value 3 different from that of C 7 appearing in the equation (7) . Once 4 the constant parameters C j _ or C3 are empirically determined, the 5 mass flow rate can be determined from the measured values of Vj- * and 6 V by using equation (7) or (8) . 7 The input emf of a constant amplitude supplied to the electro¬ 8 magnetic vibrator 9 in the form of continuous alternating currents 9 is illustrated in Figure 3-(a). The output emf from the motion 0 detector 10 that varies as a function of the mass flow rate is 1 illustrated in Figure 3-(b). The mass flow rate is determined by 2 substituting the measured values of and V into the equation 3 (7) or (8) . In Figure 4 there is illustrated an embodiment of the convective attenuation flowmeter that includes means for determining the viscous attenuation or viscous damping on a real time basis, whereby the convective attenuation or convective dissipation of the flexural vibrations is determined accurately independent of the change in the fluid viscosity and friction associated with solid members in the flexural vibrating system. The convective attenuation flowmeter comprises a pair of dynamically identical vibrating conduits 14 and 15 disposed in parallel arrangement, wherein each of the two vibrating conduits has the same construction as the vibrating conduit 1 described in conjunction with,Figure 1. The pair of parallel vibrating conduits 14 and 15 are connected to a first port leg 16 in a fixed arrangement at the first extremity and to a second port leg 17 in a laterally flexible arrangement at the second extremity. The first vibrating conduit 14 provides a flow passage connecting the two port legs 16 and 17 to one another, while the second vibrating conduit 15 is blocked by a plug 18 at the extremity coupled to the port leg 17 by a flexible coupling. The electromagnetic vibrator and motion detector are integrated into a dual function vibrator- detector 20 and 21. The combination comprising the two parallel vibrating conduits 14 and 15, and the vibrator-sensor 20 and 21 may be sealed within an evacuated container 19. The flexural vibration of the first vibrating conduit 14 containing moving media provides information on the total attenuation or dissipation resulting from the convective and viscous energy dessipation, while that of the second vibrating conduit 15 containing stationary media provides information on the viscous attenuation or dissipation resulting from the viscous energy dissipation. The net convective attenuation or convective dissipation is determined by combining the attenuation data of the two vibrating conduits 14 and 15. The mass flow rate is determined from the net convective attenuation of the intermit- tently imposed flexural vibrations per equation (1) or (2) , or from the net convective dissipation of the continuously excited flexural vibrations per equation (7) or (8) . In Figure 5 there is illustrated an embodiment of the convective attenuation flowmeter comprising a pair of parallel vibrating legs 22 and 23 having identical flexural vibration characteristics disposed in a symmetric arrangement about a plane therebetween, wherein each of the two vibrating legs includes two separate and parallel conduits disposed on a plane generally perpendicular to the plane including the two vibrating legs 22 and 23 and affixed to one another. Both conduits included in the first vibrating leg 22 provide flow passages connect- ing the two port legs 24 and 25 to one another, while the two conduits included in the second vibrating leg 23 are open to one port leg 24 only as the other extremity 25 connected to the second port leg 25 is blocked by a plug 28. The two conduits included in the second vibrat- ing leg 23 are open to one another at the blocked extremity 26 and, consequently, the media circulating through the second vibrating leg 23 always has zero net flow. While this embodiment of the convective attenuation flowmeter operates on the same principles as that shown in Figure 4, it provides an advantage in view that the circulation of the media through the second vibrating leg 23 prevents the accumulation of the stale media and, consequently, the density and viscosity of the media contained in the two vibrating legs 22 and 23 are more closely matched on real time basis. In Figure 6 there is illustrated another embodiment of the conv- ective attenuation flowmeter comprising a pair of parallel vibrating legs 29 and 30, which has essentially the same construction as that shown in Figure 5 with one exception. In this embodiment,each of the two vibrating legs 29 and 30 includes a pair of conduits disposed on a plane including the two vibrating legs 29 and 30. For the brevity of illustration, the vibrator and the motion sensor are not shown in this illustration. In Figure 7 there is illustrated a further embodiment of the convective attenuation flowmeter comprising a pair of parallel vabrat- ing legs 51 and 32 having identical flexural vibration characteristics. The media entering the flowmeter flows. through the first conduit in- eluded in the first vibrating leg 51 and doubles back through the second conduit included in the first vibrating leg 31 after flowing through a 180 degree turn loop 33. The media entering the second vibrating leg 32 flows through both of the two conduits included in the second vibrating leg 32 and exits through the Y-shaped port leg 34. According to the equations (1) and (2), the attenuation of the flexural vibrations of the two vibrating legs 31 and 32 are respec- tively given by equations f- CK j + K 2 ^ UA) tl Once the constant parameters 2 and K are determined empirically, the constant parameter K- is eliminated between the aforementioned two equations and the mass flow rate is determined therefrom. If K 2 is equal to K3, the operating principles of the convective attenu- ation flowmeter shown in Figure 7 reduces to those of the embodiments shown in Figures 4, 5 and 6. In Figure 8 there is illustrated yet another embodiment of the convective attenuation flowmeter comprising a pair of parallel vibrat- ing legs 35 and 36 having identical flexural vibration characteristics, each of which includes a pair of conduits, wherein the vibrating leg 36 has zero net mass flow. This convective attenuation flowmeter operates on the same principles as those described in conjunction with Figure 4. In Figure 9 there is illustrated yet a further embodiment of the convective attenuation flowmeter comprising a pair of vibrating legs 37 and 38, each of which includes a pair of conduits, wherein the vibrating leg 37 has zero net flow. This convective attenuation flowmeter operates on the same principles as those described in conjunction with Figure 4. In Figure 10, 11 and 12, there are illustrated various embo- diments of the convective attenuation flowmeter comprising a pair of parallel vibrating legs having identical flexural vibration characteristics, which embodiments employ flexible couplings dif- ferent from the simple bellow couplings. In the embodiment shown in Figure 10, one extremity of the vibrating, leg coiled into a helical spring 39 provides the laterally flexible coupling connecting one extremity of the vibrating conduit to a port leg. In the embodiment shown in Figure 11, the S-shaped section 40 included in one extremity of the vibrating leg, that is disposed on a plane perpendicular to the direction of the flexural vibrations, provides the laterally flexible coupling. In the embodiment shown in Figure 12, the flexural coupling is provided by one extremity of the vibrating conduit formed into a flexible coil spring 41. Each of the pair of vibrating legs included in the convective attenuation flowmeter shown in Figures 10, 11 and 12 may inlcude a single conduit and assembled into an embodiment similar to that shown in Figure 4, or may include double conduits and assembled into an embodiment similar to that shown in Figure 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9. In Figure 13 there is illustrated an embodiment of the convective attenuation flowmeter comprising a pair of vibrating conduits 42 and 43 having identical flexural vibration characteristics, which are disposed symmetrically about a plane therebetween and connected to one another in series by a U-shaped conduit section 44, wherein the extremities of the two vibrating conduits 42 and 43 are respecti- vely connected to two port legs 45 and 46 by two flexible couplings 47 and 48, respectively. The attenuation of the intermittently induced flexural vibrations and the dissipation of the continuously excited flexural vibrations of the two vibrating conduits 42 and 43 are respectively given by the equations (1) and (2) , and the equations (7) and (8) , wherefrom the mass flow rate is determined after eliminating the viscous attenuation between the equations (1) and (2) , or by eliminating the viscous dissipation between the equations (7) and (8). In Figure 14 there is illustrated another embodiment of the convective attenuation flowmeter comprising a pair of identical vibrating conduits 49 and 50 connected to one another into a symmetric arrangement by a coupling conduit 51 including a pair of flexible couplings at the two extremities thereof, which embodiment operates on the same principles as those described in conjunction with Figure 13. In Figure 15 there is illustrated a further embodiment of the convective attenuation flowmeter comprising a pair of identical vibrating conduits 52 and 53 connected to one another into a symmetric arrangement by a conduit section formed into a coil 54, which e bodi- ment operates on the same principles as those described in conjunction with Figure 13. It should be mentioned that the flexible coupling employed in the embodiment shown in Figure 13 may be replaced with a coiled conduit section as shown in Figure 15. In Figure 16 there is illustrated an embodiment of the convective attenuation flowmeter comprising a pair of identical vibrating conduits 55 and 56 asymmetrically disposed in series, wherein the first port leg 57 is connected to the first vibrating conduit 55, which is con- nected to the second vibrating conduit 56 by a coil section of the conduit 58, and -the second vibrating conduit 56 is connected to the second port leg 59 by another coil section of the conduit 60. In this embodiment, attenuation or dissipation of the flexural vibrations of the two vibrating conduits 55 and 56 differ from one another because the second vibrating conduit 56 picks up a portion of the energy lost by the first vibrating conduit 55. The mass flow rate is determined by combining the attenuations of the intermittently induced flexural vibrations of the two vibrating conduits or the dissipations of the continuously excited flexural vibrations thereof in such a way that the viscosity effect is eliminated therebetween. In Figure 17 there is illustrated another embodiment of the convective attenuation flowmeter comprising a pair of identical vibrating conduits 61 and 62 asymmetrically disposed in series, which has essentially the same construction as the embodiment shown in Figure 16 with one exception that is the use of the flexible bellow couplings 63 and 64 in place of the coil sections of conduit. In Figure 18 there is illustrated an embodiment of the convective attenuation flowmeter comprising a pair of parallel vibrating conduits 65 and 66 having identical flexural vibration characteristics, wherein the first vibrating conduit 65 is connected fixedly to a first port leg 67 at one extremity and flexibly to a second port leg 68 at the other extremity, while the second vibrating conduit 66 is connected flexibly to the first port leg 67 at one extremity and fixedly to the *_ second port leg 68 at the other extremity. The mass flow rate is determined from the equations (1) and (2) or from the equations (7) and (8) after substituting \ U for U appearing therein. In Figure 19 there is illustrated another embodiment of the convective attenuation flowmeter comprising a pair of parallel vibra- ting conduits 69 and 70, which are tapered in two opposite directions. This embodiment operates on the same principles as those described in conjunction with Figure 18. In Figure 20 there is illustrated a nozzle type convective attenuation flowmeter comprising a pair of parallel vibrating legs 71 and 72 disposed in cantilever arrangement, wherein one of the two vibrating legs has zero net flow. In the particular illustrated embodiment, the media is curculated through the vibrating leg having zero net flow. It is readily recognized that a nozzle type convective attenuation flowmeter may comprise a pair of parallel vibrating canti- lever conduits wherein one is open and the other has a plugged end as suggested by the embodiment shown in Figure 4. The nozzle type convective attenuation flowmeter operates on the same principles as those described in conjunction with Figure 4. In Figure 21 there Is illustrated an embodiment of the convective attenuation flowmeter comprising a first vibrating conduit 73 con- nected in series to a pair of parallel vibrating conduits 74 and 75, wherein the three vibrating conduits have identical flexural vibration characteristics. When the equation (1) is applied to the flexural vibrations of the three vibrating conduits and K^ is eliminated between the three equations resulting therefrom, the following equation is obtained : v ι v m eXp . C- 1 K. ff UAt) , where the subscript 1, 2 and 3 respectively stand for the first, second and thrid vibrating conduits 73, 74 and 75. Once K 2 is determined empirically,the mass flow rate is determined from the measured values of v 1 , v„ and v by using the aforementioned equation. If the media flow bifurcates equally into the two parallel vibrating conduits 74 and 75, may be replaced by 2 or v 3 - and v 2Q v 30 by v 2Q or v_ Q . In Figure 22 there is illustrated another embodiment of the convective attenuation flowmeter comprising a first vibrating conduit 76 connected in series to a pair of parallel vibrating conduits 77 and 78, which embodiment has a construction similar to and operates on the same principles as that of figure 21. While the principles of the present invention have now been made clear by the illustrative embodiments, there will be many obvious modifications of the structures, arrangements, proportions, elements and materials which are particularly adapted to the specific working environments and operating conditions in the practice of the invention without departing from those principles. It is not desired to limit the inventions to the particular illustrated embodiments shown and, accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to falling within the scope of the inventions as defined by the claims which follow.

Claims: CLAIMS: - 16 - The methods and embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or previledge is claimed, are as follow : 1. A method for determining mass flow rate of media flowing through a conduit from attenuation data of flexural vibration of the conduit, said method comprising : a) intermittently inducing flexural vibrations of the con- duit, wherein the amplitude of the flexural vibrations varies in the lengthwise direction of the conduit; b) measuring attenuation of the flexural vibrations of the conduit containing flowing media; c) determining attenuation of the flexural vibrations of the conduit containing media under zero net flow condition; and d) determining mass flow rate of media flowing through the conduit from convective portion of the attenuation obtained by comparing the attenuation of the flexural vibrations of the conduit containing flowing media to the attenuation of the flexural vibrations of the conduit containing media under zero net flow condition. 2. The method as set forth in Claim 1 wherein determining the attenuation of the flexural vibrations of the conduit containing media under zero net flow condition comprises measuring attenuation of the flexural vibrations of another conduit dynamically matched to the conduit containing flowing media and containing media under zero net flow condition. 3. A method for determining mass flow rate of media flowing through a conduit from dissipation data of flexural vibrations of the conduit, said method comprising a) continuously inducing flexural vibrations of the conduit with energy input rate of known amount, wherein amplitude of the flexural vibration varies in the lengthwise direc- tion of the conduit; b) measuring kinetic energy level of the flexural vibrations of the conduit containing flowing media; c) determining kinetic energy level of the flexural vibrations of the conduit containing media under zero net flow condition; and d) determining mass flow rate of media flowing through the conduit from convective portion of kinetic energy dissi- pation obtained by comparing the kinetic energy level of the flexural vibrations of the conduit containing flowing media to the kinetic energy level of the flexural vibra- tions of the conduit containing media under zero net flow condition. 4. The method as set forth in Claim 3 wherein determining the kinetic energy level of the flexural vibrations of the conduit con- taining media under zero net flow condition comprises measuring kine- tic energy level of the flexural vibrations of another conduit dynamically matched to the conduit containing flowing media and containing media under zero net flow condition. 5. An apparatus for measuring mass flow rate comprising : a) at least one conduit subject to flexural vibrations with amplitude varying in a lengthwise direction of the conduit; b) means for intermittently inducing flexural vibrations of said one conduit; c) means for measuring attenuation of the flexural vibrations of said one conduit containing flowing media; d) means for determining attenuation of the flexural vibra- tions of said one conduit containing media under zero net flow condition; and e) means for determining mass flow rate of media flowing through said one conduit from convective portion of the attenuation of the flexural vibrations obtained by compar- ing the attenuation of the flexural vibrations of said one conduit containing flowing media to the attenuation of the flexural vibrations of said one conduit containing media under zero net flow condition. 6. The combination as set forth in Claim 5 wherein said means for determining attenuation of the flexural vibrations of said one conduit containing media under zero net flow condition comprises : a) another conduit dynamically matched to said at least one conduit and having zero net flow therethrough; b) means for intermittently inducing flexural vibrations of said another conduit; and c) means for measuring attenuation of flexural vibrations of said another conduit; wherein mass flow rate flowing through said one conduit is deter- mine from convective portion of the attenuation of the flexural vibrations obtained by comparing attenuations of the flexural vibrations of .said one and another conduit to one another. 7. An apparatus for mesuring mass flow rate comprising : a) first conduit subject to flexural vibrations with ampli- tude varying in a lengthwise direction of the first conduit; b) a second conduit dynamically matched to said first conduit; c means for intermittently inducing flexural vibrations of said first and second conduit; d) means for measuring attenuations of the flexural vibra- tions of said first and second conduit; and e) means for determining mass flow rate of media flowing through said first and second conduit from convective portion of the attenuation of the flexural vibrations obtained by comparing the attenuations of the flexural vibrations of said first and second conduit to one another. 8. The combination as set forth in Claim 7 wherein said first and second conduit are connected in parallel to a first common port leg at first extremities and to a second common port leg at second extremities thereof. 9. The combination as set forth in Claim 8 wherein said second conduit has zero net flow. 10. The combination as set forth in Claim 7 wherein said first and second conduit are connected to one another in series, wherein the combination of said first and second conduit is connected to a first port leg at one extremity and to a second port leg at the other extremity thereof. 11. The combination as set forth in Claim 7 wherein said first and second conduit are connected in parallel to a third conduit dyanmically matched to each of said first and second conduit, said combination further including means for intermittently inducing flexural vibrations of the third conduit and means for measuring *-» attenuation of the flexural vibrations of the third conduit, wherein mass flow rate of media flowing through the third conduit is deter- mined from convective portion of the attenuation of the flexural vibrations obtained by comparing the attenuations of the flexural vibrations of at least one of said first and second conduit and that of the third conduit to one another. 12. An apparatus for measuring mass flow rate comprising : a) at least one conduit subject to flexural vibrations with amplitude varying in a lengthwise direction of the conduit; b) means for continuously exciting flexural vibrations of said one conduit with an energy input rate of known amount; c) means for measuring kinetic energy level of the flexural vibrations of said one conduit; d) means for determining kinetic energy level of the flexural vibrations of said one conduit containing media under zero net flow condition; and e) means for detremining mass flow rate of media flowing through said one conduit from convective portion of kinetic energy dissipation obtained by comparing the kinetic energy level of the flexural vibrations of said one conduit con- taining flowing media to the kinetic energy level of the flexural vibrations of said one conduit containing media under zero net flow condition. 13. The combination as set forth in Claim 12 wherein said means for determining kinetic energy level of the flexural vibration of said one conduit containing media under zero net flow condition comprises : a) another conduit dynamically matched to said at least one conduit and having zero net flow therethrough; b) means for continuously exciting flexural vibrations of said another conduit with an energy input rate of known amount; c) means for measuring kinetic energy level of flexural vibrations of said another condiut; wherein mass flow rate of media flowing through said one conduit is determined from convective portion of kinetic energy dissipation obtained by comparing kinetic energy levels of the flexural vibrations of said one and another conduit to one another. 14, An apparatus for measuring mass flow rate comprising : a) a first conduit subject to flexural vibrations with amplitude varying in a lengthwise direction of the first conduit; b) a second conduit dynamically matched to said first conduit; c) means for continuously exciting flexural vibrations of said first and second conduit with an energy input rate of known amount; d) means for measuring kinetic energy levels of the flexural vibrations of said first and second conduit; e) means for determining mass flow rate of media flowing through said first and second conduit from convective portion of kinetic energy dissipation obtained by compar- ing the kinetic energy levels of the flexural vibrations of said first and second conduit to one another. 15. The combination as set forth in Claim 14 wherein said first and second conduit are connected in parallel to a first common port leg at first extremities and to a second common port leg at second extremities thereof . 16. The combination as set forth in Claim 15 wherein said second conduit has zero net flow. 17. The combination as set forth in Claim 14 wherein said first and second conduit are connected to one another in series, wherein the combination of said first and second conduit is connected to a first port leg at one extremity and to a second port leg at the other extremity thereof. 18. The combination as set forth in Claim 14 wherein said first and second conduit are connected in parallel to a third conduit dyna- mically matched to each of said, first and second conduit, said co bi- nation further including means for continuously exciting flexural vibrations of the third conduit with an energy input rate of known amount and means for measuring kinetic energy level of the flexural vibrations of the third conduit, wherein mass flow rate through the third conduit is determined from convective portion of kinetic energy dissipation obtained by comparing the kinetic energy levels of the flexural vibrations of at least one of said first and second conduit and that of the third conduit to one another.

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