Method for automatic calibration check of a measuring device

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for automatic calibration check of a measuring device in which particles to be measured are subjected to tangential acceleration in a whirling impeller (1), and the torque exerted on the vanes of the impeller (1) in reaction to the Coriolis force of accelerated particles is being measured as an indication of a mass flow rate, and wherein the flow (4) of material is fed to the central part of the impeller and thereafter by the centrifugal force thrown towards the circumference of the impeller (1) and the flow being measured by means of an electronic device (12, 14) including a microcomputer (12). When the flow (4) is absent or constant the rotational speed of the impeller is varied, the moment change thereof is measured and an integrated value of the kinetic energy is used to verify the operation of the instrument.

Description: The present invention relates to a method for measuring a mass flow, in particular bulk material or a fluid, and the invention especially relates to an automatic calibration arrangement used in a measuring device in which the mass flow rate is measured by using the Coriolis measuring principle. A prior measuring device is known from our copending European patent application No. 96850202.1, filed on 29 NoNovember 1996 and not made available to the public before the date of filing of the present patent application, describing the main principles for such a mass flow meter, and to which application herewith is referred. In such a measuring device the particles to be measured are subjected to tangential acceleration in a whirling impeller, and the torque exerted on the vanes of the impeller in reaction to the Coriolis force of accelerated particles is being measured as an indication of the mass flow rate. The object of our above European patent application was to avoid measurement errors, due to uneven distribution of the material to be measured. A prior example of a measuring device using the Coriolis principle is known from WO-A-9208958, which is intended for packing by weight. The impeller is here driven by a motor underneath the impeller, the motor including an encoder for measuring its rotational speed. A measurement of the current to the motor is considered as an indication of the torque exerted on the impeller. From these measurements the mass flow through the impeller is calculated by a signal processing device. Even though the accuracy in the measurements has been greatly improved by our previous device, it is still necessary to adjust the device eliminating/reducing measurement errors due to variations in bearing friction in the bearings supporting the impeller shaft. The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a method for automatically verifying a measuring device in which mass flow is measured by using the Cariolis measuring principle. The above object has been obtained in that the invention has been given the features stated in the independent claim 1. Preferred embodiments of the invention are defined in the dependent claims. The invention concerns a method and a device for using the change of the accumulated kinetic energy in the impeller and the other rotating parts for verifying the equipment. As the rotating parts have a constant weight and consequently a constant accumulated kinetic energy at a given rotational speed, a change in the speed between two known values constitutes an unambiguous measurement of the change in energy. For the relation between the moment M as measured and the change in speed appplies that M=J x dn/dt, wherein J is the measured moment of inertia for the rotating parts, dn is the change of rotational speed and dt is the period of time. The time integral gives the corresponding kinetic energy A=J x n 2 /2. With the help of these equations the change of energy can be calculated and the rotational parts can be given a value, corresponding to a flow of material. The value will then give a point of reference, corresponding to this material flow. The invention will now be described in the form of a non-limiting embodiment, shown on the enclosed drawings, in which Fig. 1 shows a schematic block diagram of an automatic calibration device according to the invention, Fig. 2 shows the moment of friction M 0 as a function of the rotational speed, Fig. 3 shows an example of an interval of rotational speed as function of the time, and Fig. 4 shows the moment arisen therefrom and its time integral. In Fig. 1 is shown an impeller 1 intended to be a part of a complete device for measuring a mass flow of the kind described in our copending European patent application No. 96850202.1. The other parts relating to the measuring device can have the same, but also alternative, designs as those shown in our previous application. The impeller 1 is mounted for rotation around a vertical rotatable shaft 2, driven by an electric motor 3. The material 4 to be measured is fed to the impeller 1 via an inlet device, ending with an inlet tube 5 closest to the impeller 1, the tube 5 reaching into a housing 6 enclosing the impeller 1. The housing 6 can as shown be formed as a hopper, at the bottom ending with an outlet opening 7 for the material measured. The inlet device shown comprises a controllable flap valve 8, or another type of quickly movable valve, which can stop the flow of material into the inlet tube 5 and the impeller 1. The flap valve 8 is rotatable by means of a shaft 9, journalled in bearings 10 and its rotation is controlled by a turning device 11. The turning device 11 is in its turn controlled by a control device 12, e.g. a measuring and controlling computer. The turning device can be an electric or hydraulic operated turning device. To the vertical rotatable shaft 2 a tachometer 13 is attached, for registering the rotation speed of the shaft 2, and transmitting the information to the control device 12. The torque on the electric motor 3 is monitored by a torque measuring device 14, connected to a signal processor 15, in which the output signal from the torque measuring device 14 is converted to an input signal to the control device 12, for transmitting a torque input signal to the control device 12. Further, a static frequency changer 16 is connected between the control device 12 and the electric motor 3, so that the control device 12 can control also the speed of the electric motor 3. Fig. 2 shows the idling moment M 0 as a function of the rotational speed n. Fig. 3 shows an example of how the rotational speed can be varied in an interval from a lower rotational speed n 1 to a higher rotational speed n 2 with a constant increase by time during the interval. Fig. 4 shows the moment depending on the change of rotational speed according to Fig. 3. From showing the moment M 0 at the rotational speed n 1 according to Fig. 2 the moment increases to M J + M 0 when the rotational speed starts to increase. M J is proportional to the increase in the rotational speed, dn, and is nonexistent when the rotational speed is constant. The method according to the invention used in practice is described hereinafter by the help of an example, and divided in different sequences. Before an automatic calibration can be done it is presupposed that a memorization of tare values for different rotational speeds is done if the magnitude thereof can influence the function. When an automatic calibration thereafter shall be done, this should primarily be done when the material flow is absent. The control device is then given a manual command about the calibration activity. In the example the control device is programmed to first set the rotational speed to a low value, as shown by n 1 in Fig. 3. Thereafter the rotational speed is brought to increase proportionally to time until the rotational speed n 2 is reached. According to the previously shown equation, giving the relation between the measured moment M and the change in rotational speed, is evident that if dn/dt is constant as in the present example, the moment indication will be constant and equal to M J during the time the increase of rotational speed is in progress. The idling moment M 0, however, presents an increase during the interval of rotational speed shown in Fig. 2, which also is evident from Fig. 4, showing the moment indication during the change of rotational speed. The control device is programmed to sum up M=M j +M 0 and to step by step sum up M during the change of rotational speed, whereby the sum will give a value of the kinetic energy A according to the previously shown equation. The kinetic energy A corresponds to the hatched area in Fig. 4. Accordingly the moment of acceleration M y , is obtained by substracting M 0 from the measured moment M. Independently of how the change in rotational speed varies by time it can be shown that the kinetic energy A will have the same value for a given interval of rotational speed. It is not necessary that the flow is absent as long as it is constant during the time for the change of rotational speed and will therefore give a constant acceleration of the material. Thus, an automatic calibration can be done under this condition. Correspondingly a calibration can be done at decreasing change of rotational speed, if regard is paid to the sign. After verification of the system the appropriate action can be taken, e.g. alarm, if a deviation from the correspondence with another previous calibration parameter is to hand. If desired the system can be recalibrated automatically with the obtained parameter as recalibration parameter.

Claims: A method for automatic calibration check of a measuring device in which particles to be measured are subjected to tangential acceleration in a whirling impeller (1), and the torque exerted on the vanes of the impeller (1) in reaction to the Coriolis force of accelerated particles is being measured as an indication of a mass flow rate, and wherein the flow (4) of material is fed to the central part of the impeller and thereafter by the centrifugal force thrown towards the circumference of the impeller (1) and the flow being measured, by means of an electronic device (12, 14) including a control device (12), characterised in that a control signal from said control device (12) is varied for varying the rotational speed of the impeller within a defined interval (n1 - n2) when the flow is absent or alternatively constant, that the moment change (M) thereof is measured to obtain a value of the moment of acceleration (M J ), that a corrected value is integrated over time (A) for the interval of rotational speed (n1 - n2), and that said integrated value (A) is used to verify the operation of the instrument system. A method according to claim 1, characterised in that a valve (8) is arranged to close the inlet to the impeller (1) during a time corresponding to a chosen number of revolutions of the impeller and thereafter caused to open the flow (4) of material. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the calculated value (A) is used for recalibration of the system. Method according to any preceding claim, characterised in that when the flow is absent this is automatically detected, thereby allowing for an automatic calibration procedure. Method according to any preceding claim, characterised in that a memorized value for the tare moment (M 0 ) within the interval is subtracted from the value of the moment change (M) to obtain the value of the moment of acceleration (M J ).

Inventors: SOEDERHOLM ARNE, SOEDERHOLM OLLE, SOEDERHOLM, ARNE, SOEDERHOLM, OLLE, Söderholm, Arne, Söderholm, Olle
Applicants: SEG MEKANIK AB, S.E.G. MEKANIK AB
Application year: 1997
Main classification: G01F1
IPC codes: G01F25, G01F1