Abstract:
A pressure sensor (16) with at least one pressure sensing element (3, 4), the pressure induced changes in the optical properties of which are evaluated by illuminat ion (2) with at least one light source (1) is described. The pressure sensor is characterised in that the pressure sensor (16) comprises at least two semiconductor-based pressure sensing elements (3, 4) located in individual pressure chambers (5, 6), which sensing elements (3, 4) are located essentially adjacent to each other and which sensing elements (3, 4) are irradiated with the same light source (1), wherein the light transmitted through the sensing elements (3, 4) is detected using at least two corresponding detectors (7, 8), and wherein the differential pressure in the two pressure chambers (5, 6) is evaluated based on the output of these detectors (7, 8).
Abstract:
The invention relates to a method for operating a vibratory measuring instrument, according to which a fluid medium can flow through at least one measuring tube (1) that can be mechanically vibrated by means of a vibration generating unit (4). The vibratory behaviour varying according to the flow and/or the viscosity and/or the density of the fluid medium is detected by means of at least one vibration sensor (5a, 5b) for determining the mass flow rate and/or the viscosity and/or the density in a narrow-band frequency range, the signals then being evaluated by an electronic unit (6). The invention is characterised in that the vibratory behaviour of the measuring tube (1) is also evaluated by the electronic unit (6) in a wide-band frequency region, in order to determine physical operating parameters for increasing the measuring precision and/or to correct transversal sensitivities and/or to obtain additional information about the state of the measuring instrument.
Abstract:
A no-flow condition is detected and indicated by spectral analysis of the output signal of a vortex or swirl flow meter. In a normal, positive flow rate condition large magnitude components are, possibly apart from known interferers like the 50Hz component caused by the electrical power supply, clustered around the frequency of a maximum magnitude component related to the flow rate. In a no-flow condition the components of large magnitude are mostly caused by some motor driving a pump or the like and consist of a basic frequency, e.g., 40Hz, as caused by the motor, and its harmonics, e.g., 80Hz and 120Hz. If a set of large magnitude components comprises a component with a frequency larger than the frequency of a maximum magnitude component multiplied by 1.15 or smaller than the same divided by 1.15 this may already indicate a no-flow condition. Depending on the application, more stringent criteria like the presence of frequency quotients close to small integers like 2, 3 and their inverses or quotients can be employed.
Abstract:
A pressure sensor (18) with at least one optical sensing element (10) is disclosed, the pressure induced changes in the birefringent properties of which are read out by transmission of at least one light beam (2, 21). The pressure sensor (18) is particularly characterised in that it comprises at least one single-material transparent body (10) which is subjected to at least two different pressures (p1, p2) in at least two different regions via at least two pressure chambers (8, 9), wherein the transparent body (10) is transmitted by a parallel or minimally divergent light beam without total reflexion in said body (10) such that the pressure-induced birefringence and the corresponding differential phase shift between the linear polarisation components of this light beam (22) depends on the difference of the different pressures (p1, p2).
Abstract:
Verfahren zum Betrieb eines Messgerätes vom Vibrationstyp, bei dem mindestens ein über eine Schwingungserzeugungseinheit (4) in mechanische Schwingung versetzbares Messrohr (1 ) von einem fluiden Medium durchfließbar ist, wobei das in Abhängigkeit von dem Durchfluss und/oder der Viskosität und/oder der Dichte des fluiden Mediums sich ändernde Schwingungsverhalten durch mindestens einen Schwingungssensor (5a, 5b) zur Ermittlung des Massendurchflusses und/oder der Viskosität und/oder der Dichte in einem schmalbandigen Frequenzbereich erfasst und anschließend durch eine Elektronikeinheit (6) signaltechnisch ausgewertet wird, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Schwingungsverhalten des Messrohres (1 ) von der Elektronikeinheit (6) ergänzend in einem breitbandigen Frequenzbereich ausgewertet wird, um ergänzende physikalische Betriebsparameter zur Erhöhung der Messgenauigkeit und/oder zur Korrektur von Querempfindlichkeiten zu ermitteln und/oder um ergänzende Informationen über den Zustand des Messgerätes zu gewinnen.