Honeywell International Inc.

Andreas Wuchrer

Tobias Meimberg

Christian Lampe-Juergens

Norbert Flerlage

Ralf Schroeder Genannt Berghegger

Ralf Heinrich Schröder Genannt Berghegger

Christian Lampe-Jürgens

Guido Temme

August Wallmeyer

Ralf Schröder Gen Berghegger

Patrick Flacke

Norbert Flerage

Juri Singer

A method and system for determining a time-of-flight in an integrated flow meter, can include a housing including an inlet port and an outlet port, and a group of flow tubes connected in parallel to each other. Each flow tube among the group of flow tubes can include two or more transducers that can measure upstream and downstream time-of-flight. Each flow tube can further include one or more outlets connected to the outlet port of the housing via an outlet channel. A controller can be connected electronically to the transducers, wherein the controller is operable to measure the time-of-flight in a flow tube for a predetermined time using the transducers, toggle between the transducers of each flow tube to measure the remaining flow tubes within a predetermined time and determine the overall flow rate of the group of flow tubes in the integrated flow meter.

System and method for switched measuring of flow tubes of a flow meter

An ageing and dust detection system, comprising: a data collection unit configured to collect a plurality of parameters of a gas meter; and a processing unit, configured to: receive the plurality of the parameters of the gas meter; calculate a numerical value of the plurality of the parameters; compare the calculated numerical value of the plurality of the parameters with a corresponding predefined higher range of values and a predefined lower range of values for the plurality of parameters; determine a reason of a fault in the gas meter based on the compared values, wherein the reason of the fault in the gas meter is at least one of, a presence of a dust, an ageing of the gas meter, or a combination thereof.

Ageing and dust detection in a meter

A system includes a flow tube configured to receive a flow measured by an ultrasonic flow measurement, wherein a center region of the flow tube is configured to have a drop in pressure. The system also includes a heat source/hot wire and temperature sensors configured to enable a flow measured by a thermal massflow measurement. In the system, a controller is configured to compare the flow measured by the ultrasonic flow measurement to the flow measured by the thermal massflow measurement. The controller determines a ratio of the flow measured by an ultrasonic flow measurement to the flow measured on by the flow measurement based on thermal massflow. The controller also calculates a density, a thermal conductivity and an energy and/or gas content of the gas.

Ultrasound and thermal massflow in one flow channel

A static gas flowmeter for sensing a flow of gas includes an outer housing, a flow tube coupled to an outlet or an inlet, ≥1 sensor positioned for sensing gas flowing through the flow tube, and a controller including a memory including a flow calibration and flow measurement algorithm coupled to a sensor receiving a sensing signal. An integrated gas valve is connected to the inlet or outlet and/or there is an additional external valve positioned outside the housing coupled to the inlet to provide the gas flowmeter at least two state operation. Using the valve(s), the flow calibration algorithm triggers a zero-flow condition, then obtains a measured gas flow, and from the measured gas flow a flow offset is determined. If the flow offset is outside a predetermined limit, in-line calibrating is performed by adding the flow offset reflected as a correction factor to the flow measurement algorithm.

Gas flowmeter having inline calibrating

Methods and systems for flow measurement can involve calculating an absolute-time-of-flight with respect to a flow of a fluid in a flow channel by reflected signals, reflected and unreflected signals, or a pulse train, determining a delta-time-of-flight with a cross correlation of two signals with respect to the flow of the fluid in the flow channel, and calculating the flow rate of the flow of the fluid in the flow channel based on the absolute-time-of-flight and the cross correlation of the delta-time-of-flight.

Flow measurement by combining 3L echo with delta time-of-flight cross correlation

Devices, methods, and systems for operating gas meters are described herein. The systems may include a gas measuring system connectable to a gas line, where the gas measuring system may include a flow rate sensor, a pressure sensor, and a controller in communication with the flow rate sensor and the pressure sensor. The flow rate sensor and the pressure sensor may be configured to sense measures of a gas passing through the gas line. The controller may repeatedly obtain pressure measurements at set pressure measurement times. Measures from the flow sensor may be monitored and when a measure from the flow sensor measure meets a flow rate criteria, the controller may trigger an extra pressure measurement without waiting for a next pressure measurement time. The controller may initiate closing of a gas valve when a measure from the pressure sensor exceeds a threshold value.

Method and system for timely detecting gas pressure irregularities using a gas meter in a power efficient manner

Devices, methods, and systems for operating gas meters are described herein. The systems may include a gas meter connectable to a gas line, where the gas meter may have a metrology unit in communication with a flow of gas through the gas line and an index unit in communication with and releasably coupled to the metrology unit. The metrology unit may be configured to generate flow rate data of the flow through the gas line based on outputs from a flow rate sensor, generate gas temperature data based on outputs from a temperature sensor, compensate the flow rate data based on the temperature data, generate an average flow rate, and output the average flow rate data to the index unit. The index unit may generate gas volume data based on flow rate data received from the metrology unit.

Gas meter architecture

A multifunctional dust trap for reducing an acoustic noise and dust filtering comprising: an inlet connected to a gas inlet of a gas meter; a chamber, connected to the inlet, to receive a flow of a gas, comprises: a first wall to deflect the flow of the gas in a first direction, wherein the first wall directs the flow of the gas into a cross sectional area of the chamber, which reduces a velocity of the deflected gas such that a centrifugal force guides a plurality of dust particles towards a base of the chamber; and a second wall to deflect the flow of the gas in a second direction; and an outlet, attached to the chamber, to enable an exit of a clean flow of the gas away from one or more flow inlets of a flow tube installed within the gas meter.

Multifunctional dust trap

A method and system for measuring a time of flight can involve correlating a signal comprising a reflected signal from a first transducer to a second transducer, or a subsequent reflected signal at the first transducer or the second transducer, with a previously received signal to produce a correlation for a measurement of a time of flight. The signal(s) can include one or more of a pulse train, acoustic sound; ultrasonic sound; or light, and the previously received signal can be a signal that has been reflected one or more times.

Measurement of absolute time of flight in an ultrasonic meter using received and reflected waves

The system can include installing a gas meter in a gas supply net. The system may also include determining, by the gas meter, a level of pressure within the gas meter. The system may also include determining, by the gas meter, a flow rate level within the gas meter. The gas meter determines where a leak exists based on the flow rate level and the level of pressure. The system may also include determining, by the gas meter, a location of the leak, and whether the leak is upstream or downstream from the gas meter. The location of the leak is determined by the level of the pressure and the flow rate level. The system can also include a head end configured at a set position. The gas meter can inform the head end of the location of the leak.

Leak detection system and method

A valve without position indicating switches. Positions of the valve are detected from current magnitude measurements and current profile analytics. The current profile may be learned initially and relearned and adapted at each operation. The valve may be opened and closed by a driver that is actuated by an electrical current to control the opening and closing of the valve. The current may be regulated by a controller to open and close the valve appropriately.

Switchless valve position detection system

Disclosed is an ultrasonic flow tube comprising: a flow chamber for accepting an inflow of a gas, comprising a center pipe and a plurality of outer pipes surrounding the center pipe, connected between an inlet wall and an outlet wall of the flow chamber such that a velocity of the gas within the center pipe and the plurality of outer pipes is numerically same; and a first transducer attached near the inlet wall and a second transducer attached near the outlet wall, wherein a first acoustic wave package generated by the first transducer and a second acoustic wave package generated by the second transducer is transmitted into the flow chamber such that the center pipe receives a majority of the first and the second acoustic wave package, and the plurality of outer pipes receives a minority of the first acoustic wave package and the second acoustic wave package.

Ultrasonic flow tube having a plurality of outer pipes surrounding a center pipe positioned between an inlet wall and an outlet wall having transducers therein

An apparatus for energy and data transfer, can include a first inductor and a second inductor, wherein the first inductor can be magnetically coupled to the second inductor, and a gap configured between the first inductor and second inductor, wherein the first inductor and the second inductor can transfer energy and data between a white meter and an electronic index. The white meter may be implemented as a flow meter. The electronic index can include an electronic display unit that can be attached to the white meter. The electronic display can include one or more of a display unit, a communications unit, or a combination of a display unit and the communications unit.

Wireless energy and data transfer in a gas meter

Embodiments relate to a system including a gas meter, regulator, and head end system. The system can include installing a regulator in a gas supply grid. The system may also include installing a gas meter in a gas supply grid, wherein the gas meter is installed to diagnose a grid pressure over flow rate of the regulator. In addition, the system may include determining, by the gas meter, an initial fingerprint of the regulator, wherein the initial fingerprint indicates an initial pressure and flow rate profile over a time period after the gas meter was installed. Further, the system can include comparing, by the gas meter, continuous pressure readings of the regulator with the initial fingerprint, wherein the gas meter determines if the continuous pressure readings correspond to the initial fingerprint. The system may also include notifying, by the gas meter, a head end system of the continuous pressure readings.

Growing community of inventors

Georgsmarienhuette, Germany

Andreas Wuchrer