US 10,252,920 B2Granted

Flowfield sensors for monitoring liquid flow

AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation

InventorsJulia S. Baldauf, Darcy James Beurle, Matthew Downton, Stephen M. Moore, Christine Schieber, George Yiapanis

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Abstract

Data relating to fluid dynamics is obtained using a flow field sensor that measures acceleration and angular velocity of the sensor on three axes. Ballast control allows the sensor to obtain neutral buoyancy within the fluid. The sensor is effective in opaque fluids and closed containers as data is stored in a removable memory. Froth flotation systems are among the applications for the sensor. The small size, the geometry, and the center of mass of the sensor allow it to follow the flow field in a vessel without material disruption of the flow field or weight-induced angular displacement.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method comprising:

obtaining a vessel;
causing a fluid comprising a liquid to flow within the vessel;
introducing a first sensing device to the vessel, the first sensing device comprising:
a casing defining an interior space and having a maximum diameter of forty millimeters or less, the casing further including a first portion separable from a second portion to provide access to the interior space;
a three-axis gyroscope within the casing for measuring time rate of change of angular displacement of the sensing device;
an accelerometer within the casing for measuring acceleration of the sensing device;
an electronic memory within the casing;
a mainboard electrically communicating with the three-axis gyroscope and the accelerometer, the mainboard further providing an electrical interface between the electronic memory and the three-axis gyroscope and the accelerometer;
a power supply within the casing and configured for powering the three-axis gyroscope, the accelerometer, the electronic memory, and the mainboard, and
a targeted average density;
establishing an initial position for the first sensing device;
obtaining data relating to the time rate of change of angular displacement of the first sensing device and acceleration of the first sensing device within the fluid;
storing the data relating to the time rate of change of angular displacement of the first sensing device and acceleration of the first sensing device within the fluid in the electronic memory;
retrieving the first sensing device;
separating the first portion of the casing of the first sensing device from the second portion thereof to gain access to the interior space, and
downloading the electronic memory to obtain the stored data.

13 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 14/846,983Filed 7 Sep 2015
Published: US 2017/0066660 A19 Mar 2017
Granted: 9 Apr 2019
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification16 codes

C02F 1/008
Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage: control or steering systems not provided for elsewhere in subclass C02F
B01D 21/30
Separation of suspended solid particles from liquids by sedimentation: control equipment
B03D 1/028
Froth-flotation processes: control and monitoring of flotation processes; computer models therefor
C02F 1/24
Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage: by flotation