US3831447A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method of measuring the flow rate in a plural-flow system
Assignee: Hitachi Ltd
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Filing: 1973-02-20
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Granted: 1974-08-27
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Expires: 1993-02-20
Abstract
Abstract A plurality of measuring instruments are inserted in a flow system having a plurality of stable and continuous flow paths in such a manner as to constitute a plurality of material balance equation groups each including a multiplicity of measurement factors. In this way, whether the measurement of the flow rate in a flow path under consideration is accurate or not is determined statistically as it is related to the measurements of the flow rates in the remaining flow paths in respect of the material balance equation. Further, an estimated value which takes the place of an erroneous measurement is easily calculated.
Inventors
- 👤 S Nogita
- 👤 Y Kawamoto
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 20:15
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01F; G01F1/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
136 words
A method of measuring a flow rate of a flow system having a plurality of stable and continuous flow paths comprising the steps of measuring the value of the flow rate at each of a plurality of separated points along the system, combining the measured values at a plurality of the separated points in accordance with a plurality of material balance groups representative of each of the plural flow paths such that each material balance group includes at least one measured value common to another material balance group, and determining the accuracy of the measurement of the flow rate for a predetermined flow path by comparing the resultant combination of the measured values representative of the predetermined flow path with the resultant combination of the measured values representative of the other flow paths in material balance.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
136 words
A method of measuring a flow rate of a flow system having a plurality of stable and continuous flow paths comprising the steps of measuring the value of the flow rate at each of a plurality of separated points along the system, combining the measured values at a plurality of the separated points in accordance with a plurality of material balance groups representative of each of the plural flow paths such that each material balance group includes at least one measured value common to another material balance group, and determining the accuracy of the measurement of the flow rate for a predetermined flow path by comparing the resultant combination of the measured values representative of the predetermined flow path with the resultant combination of the measured values representative of the other flow paths in material balance.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the flow system includes at least one junction and the step of measuring includes measuring values at at least two separated points in at least one flow path on one side of the junction.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method according to claim 2, wherein the step of measuring includes measuring values at at least two separated points in two flow paths on one side of the junction.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
53 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of determining the accuracy of the flow rate for a predetermined flow path includes comparing the resultant combination of values representative of a flow path with a predetermined balance deviation value as an indication of improper flow rate measurement for the corresponding flow path.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
73 words
A method according to claim 4, wherein the exceeding of the predetermined balance deviation value by the resultant combination of values in an indication of an improper flow rate measurement for the corresponding flow path and further comprising the step of selecting an abnormal measured value as the common measured value in each resultant combination of values representative of a material balance group which resultant combination of values exceed the balance deviation value.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
94 words
A method according to claim 5, wherein each material balance group is represented by an equation in which the combination of measured values have a predetermined resultant value and further comprising the step of estimating a proper value for the abnormal measured value by representing the abnormal measured value as an unknown quantity in each of the equations having the abnormal measured value as a common value therein, and calculating the unknown quantity by solving the plural equations having the unknown quantity as a common value, the calculated unknown quantity being the estimated value.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 6, further comprising the step of utilizing the measured values and the estimated values to control the flow system.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of measuring includes generating electrical signals indicative of the measured values and the step of combining includes combining the electrical signals to form a resultant electrical signal, and the step of determining includes comparing the resultant electrical signals.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
118 words
Apparatus for measuring the flow rate of a flow system having a junction and a plurality of stable and continuous flow paths extending from the junction comprising a plurality of measuring means disposed at spaced points along the flow system so as to provide a plurality of measured value signals indicative of the flow rate for each of the flow paths, means for providing a plurality of material balance equations representative of a combination of a plurality of measured values for each flow path, and means for determining the accuracy of each resultant combination of signals for each balance equation by comparing the resultant combination of signals with a predetermined balance deviation signal value for each balance equation.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
118 words
Apparatus for measuring the flow rate of a flow system having a junction and a plurality of stable and continuous flow paths extending from the junction comprising a plurality of measuring means disposed at spaced points along the flow system so as to provide a plurality of measured value signals indicative of the flow rate for each of the flow paths, means for providing a plurality of material balance equations representative of a combination of a plurality of measured values for each flow path, and means for determining the accuracy of each resultant combination of signals for each balance equation by comparing the resultant combination of signals with a predetermined balance deviation signal value for each balance equation.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said meAns for determining includes means for selecting a common measured signal value in a plurality of equations which exceed the balance deviation value as an abnormal value.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising means for representing the abnormal detected value as an unknown quantity and calculating an estimated value for the unknown quantity by solving the plurality of balance equations having the unknown quantity therein.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-08-26 | 1978-02-25 | 1978-08-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-08-26 | 1982-02-25 | 1982-08-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-08-26 | 1986-02-25 | 1986-08-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |