Method and Device for Determining the Instantaneous Mass Flow of Pulsating Flows

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This invention relates to a method and device for accurately and quickly determining the instantaneous mass flow rate of periodically pulsating fluid flows, such as those found in pipes or injection systems. The method measures the pressure gradient during a flow cycle, processes this data using Fourier transformation and dimensionless analysis, and then utilizes a pre-calculated table ('look-up table') to determine the mass flow and phase information. This can be continuously repeated at a high temporal resolution, and the device can also adapt to changes in fluid viscosity or temperature, ensuring robust and precise measurements.

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• Real-time monitoring and control of fuel injection systems in automotive engines to optimize combustion.
• Mass flow measurement and control in pulsating flows within chemical processing or pharmaceutical manufacturing.
• Diagnostics and tuning of pulsating fluid delivery systems, such as industrial dosing or metering pumps.
• Accurate flow measurement in medical devices or respiratory machines with oscillating air or fluid delivery.
• Optimization of turbines, burners, or other dynamic fluid-handling equipment.

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Provides high time-resolution, real-time measurement of mass flow in pulsating systems, enabling better control and diagnostics.
• Avoids the complexity, cost, and sensitivity to external disruptions found in traditional optical flow measurement methods such as Laser Doppler Anemometry.
• Robust against disturbances and can be implemented with cost-effective sensor technologies.
• Adaptable to various fluids and changing fluid properties (viscosity, temperature), increasing versatility in industrial or automotive applications.
• Facilitates continuous flow measurement, which is essential for precision systems such as multi-stage fuel injection, improving efficiency and reducing emissions.
• The use of data tables (look-up tables) allows for fast, low-latency computation that can be implemented with modern process control hardware.

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Patent Abstract

The invention relates to a method for determining the instantaneous rate of the mass flow of a flow of a fluid pulsating periodically at a frequency f, said method comprising the following steps: a) a pressure gradient in the flow over a certain period (P) is determined, b) the harmonic amplitude of the pressure gradient is calculated by means of Fourier transformation, c) the frequency f and the time t are converted into dimensionless numbers F, t and d) the rate of the mass flow is determined using a table from which at least one corresponding value describing the mass flow rate and/or a phase difference can be deduced for each dimensionless number F of the frequency f.