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Publication Number
US-12339252-B2
Publication Date
2025-06-24
Expiration Date
Abstract
Embodiments herein relate to systems and methods for detecting aeration properties in fluids using a vibration sensor. In an embodiment, a system for fluid aeration monitoring is included having a vibration sensor configured to be mounted along a fluid flow path, and a control circuit in signal communication with the vibration sensor. The control circuit can be configured to evaluate a signal received from the vibration sensor and calculate one or more aeration parameters based on signals from the vibration sensor. Other embodiments are also included herein.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to monitoring fluid aeration in a fluid flow path using a vibration sensor mounted along the fluid flow path to generate a vibration signal for a control circuit in signal communication with the vibration sensor. The control circuit evaluates the received vibration signal to determine frequencies of vibration and magnitudes of vibration at particular frequencies.
The control circuit calculates one or more aeration parameters based on the frequencies and magnitudes of vibration. The aeration parameters comprise at least one of an aeration amount, an aeration percentage, a size of air bubbles, and a size classification of air bubbles, and the invention includes calculating aeration parameters from vibration-signal features such as bandwidth.
The invention further supports aeration tracking and aeration-related signaling based on calculated aeration. The control circuit calculates a feature value of the vibration signal, where the feature value comprises a bandwidth of the vibration signal, and calculates an aeration percentage from the bandwidth. The invention also encompasses embodiments that evaluate signals from additional sensors such as temperature sensor signals, and that send signals regarding aeration when predetermined threshold conditions are met.
Claims Coverage
The document contains three independent claims with a common theme of deriving aeration parameters from vibration signals, and with further inventive features in specific systems and methods.
Frequency and magnitude-based aeration parameter calculation
A control circuit evaluates a signal received from a vibration sensor mounted along a fluid flow path to determine frequencies of vibration and magnitudes of vibration at particular frequencies, and calculates one or more aeration parameters based on the frequencies and magnitudes of vibration, the aeration parameters comprising at least one of an aeration amount, an aeration percentage, a size of air bubbles, and a size classification of air bubbles.
Vibration-detected aeration parameter determining method
Detecting vibrations with a vibration sensor mounted along the fluid flow path; sending signals from the vibration sensor to a control circuit; evaluating signals received at the control circuit from the vibration sensor to determine frequencies of vibration and magnitudes of vibration at particular frequencies; and calculating one or more aeration parameters based on the frequencies and magnitudes of vibration, the aeration parameters comprising at least one of an aeration amount, an aeration percentage, a size of air bubbles, and a size classification of air bubbles.
Bandwidth feature value to aeration percentage tracking
A control circuit calculates a feature value of the vibration signal, wherein the feature value comprises a bandwidth of the vibration signal, and calculates an aeration percentage from the bandwidth of the vibration signal.
Across the independent claims, aeration is determined by evaluating vibration signals from a vibration sensor mounted along a fluid flow path to obtain vibration frequencies and magnitudes and to calculate aeration parameters, including aeration amount, aeration percentage, and bubble size or size classification. A further independent claim focuses on calculating an aeration percentage from a vibration-signal feature value comprising bandwidth.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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