Vortex flowmeter with reduced process intrusion
AssigneeMicro Motion, Inc.
InventorsVladimir Bogdanov, Alexander Konyukov, Alexey Krivonogov, Vladmir Repyevsky, Jeffry Foster
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Abstract
A vortex flowmeter includes a flow tube having a first end and a second end. A shedder bar is disposed within the flow tube between the first end and the second end. The shedder bar is configured to generate vortices in fluid flowing through the flow tube. At least one sensor is operably coupled to an external surface of the flow tube and is configured to detect individual deformations of the flow tube resulting from vortices inside the flow tube.
Claims21
A vortex flowmeter comprising:
- a flow tube having a first end and a second end;
- a shedder bar disposed within the flow tube between the first end and the second end, the shedder bar being configured to generate vortices in fluid flowing through the flow tube;
- and
- at least one sensor operably coupled to an external surface of the flow tube and configured to detect individual deformations of the flow tube resulting from vortices inside the flow tube.
A method of detecting a flow rate of a fluid, the method comprising:
- providing a flow tube to receive the flow of fluid;
- providing a fixed structure that generates vortices as the fluid flows by the fixed structure;
- detecting deformations of an external surface of the flow tube based on physical interactions between the vortices and the flow tube;
- using the detected deformations to determine vortex frequency;
- and
- providing a flow rate output based on the vortex frequency.
A vortex flowmeter comprising:
- flowmeter electronics configured to determine a vortex frequency and provide a fluid flow rate output;
- a flow tube having a first end and a second end;
- a shedder bar disposed within the flow tube to generate vortices in fluid flowing through the flow tube;
- and
- a plurality of piezoelectric film sensors, each being coupled to the flowmeter electronics and mounted to an external surface of the flow tube, the plurality of piezoelectric film sensors being configured to detect deformation of the flow tube resulting from vortices impinging the flow tube.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.