METHOD FOR PUTTING A CORIOLIS FLOW METER INTO OPERATION

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a method for putting a Coriolis flow meter into operation, in particular a Coriolis flow meter for pharmaceutical bioprocess applications, the method comprising the method steps of: inserting the measuring tube arrangement into the receptacle of the carrier device; causing the measuring tube to vibrate by means of the excitation signal arriving at the vibration exciter and provided by the operating circuit; determining a measurement value of a state variable that is used as a measure for checking whether the measuring tube in the carrier device is in a steady state; and determining the mass flow rate measurement value when a difference between the measurement value of the state variable and a reference value of a reference variable lies below an upper limit value and exceeds a lower limit value.

Claims

1-20. (canceled)

21. A method for commissioning a Coriolis flow meter for operation, wherein the Coriolis flow meter is configured for pharmaceutical bioprocess applications and comprises: a measuring tube arrangement, wherein the measuring tube arrangement comprises at least one measuring tube through which a medium can flow; at least one vibration exciter comprising an excitation magnet and an excitation coil and configured to excite the measuring tube arrangement to vibrate, wherein the excitation magnet is disposed on the at least one measuring tube; at least one vibration sensor comprising a sensor magnet and a sensor coil and configured to detect vibrations of the at least one measuring tube, wherein the sensor magnet is attached to the measuring tube arrangement; a carrier device comprising a receiving device, the sensor coil of the at least one vibration sensor and the excitation coil of the at least one vibration exciter, wherein the receiving device includes a receptacle, and wherein the receiving device is configured such that the measuring tube arrangement can be arranged at least partially in the receptacle of the receiving device and can be mechanically detachably connected to the carrier device; an operating circuit configured to communicate with the at least one vibration exciter and to operate the excitation coil via at least one excitation signal, which includes an excitation current; a measuring circuit disposed in the carrier device, the measuring circuit configured to communicate with the at least one vibration sensor and to determine at least one vibration signal via the at least one vibration sensor; an evaluation circuit configured to communicate with the measuring circuit and to determine and provide mass flow rate measurement values, viscosity values and/or density measurement values, and/or values of a variable derived therefrom, based at least on the at least one vibration signal or on a variable derived from the at least one vibration signal, the method comprising: inserting the measuring tube arrangement into the receptacle of the carrier device; causing the at least one measuring tube to vibrate via the at least one excitation signal supplied to the at least one vibration exciter as provided by the operating circuit; determining a measurement value of a state variable that is used as a measure for checking whether the at least one measuring tube in the carrier device is in a steady state; and determining the mass flow rate measurement value when a difference between the measurement value of the state variable and a reference value of a reference variable is below an upper limit value and exceeds a lower limit value.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the measuring circuit is configured to determine an excitation current impressed on the excitation coil, and wherein the state variable is the excitation current or a variable dependent at least on the excitation current.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the state variable is a damping of the at least one measuring tube.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the damping of the at least one measuring tube is one of a lateral mode damping, a torsional mode damping or a variable dependent on the damping.

25. The method of claim 21, further comprising determining vibrations of the measuring tube arrangement using a voltage signal the at least one vibration signal detected at the vibration sensor, wherein the determined vibration signal has a measurement frequency and a measurement amplitude.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the state variable is the measurement frequency or a measured variable dependent on the measurement frequency.

27. The method of claim 21, wherein the state variable is a density measurement value of a medium presently conveyed through the measuring tube arrangement or a variable dependent at least on the density measurement value of the medium.

28. The method of claim 21, wherein the state variable is a dynamic viscosity measurement value of a medium presently conveyed through the measuring tube arrangement or a variable dependent at least on the viscosity measurement value of the medium.

29. The method of claim 25, wherein the state variable is dependent on a reciprocal of the measurement frequency or a square of the reciprocal of the measurement frequency or is dependent at least on a measured variable dependent on the reciprocal of the measurement frequency or the square of the reciprocal of the measurement frequency.

30. The method of claim 25, wherein the state variable is the measurement amplitude or a variable dependent on the measurement amplitude.

31. The method of claim 21, wherein: the at least one vibration exciter comprises a first vibration exciter, including a first excitation magnet; and the at least one vibration sensor comprises a first vibration sensor, which includes a first sensor magnet, and a second vibration sensor, which includes a second sensor magnet, the method further comprising: determining vibrations of the measuring tube arrangement via a first vibration signal detected at the first vibration sensor, wherein the determined first vibration signal has a first measurement frequency and a first measurement amplitude, wherein the first excitation magnet is disposed on the measuring tube arrangement; determining vibrations of the measuring tube arrangement via a second vibration signal detected at the second vibration sensor, wherein the determined second vibration signal has a second measurement frequency and a second measurement amplitude, wherein the second excitation magnet is disposed on the at least one measuring tube.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the state variable is the first vibration signal or a variable dependent at least on the first vibration signal, and/or wherein the state variable is the second vibration signal or a variable dependent at least on the second vibration signal.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein the measuring tube arrangement or the carrier device comprises at least one temperature sensor, wherein the state variable is a temperature measurement value determined by the temperature sensor.

34. The method of claim 31, wherein the measuring tube arrangement or the carrier device comprises two temperature sensors, each of which is configured to determine a temperature of the at least one measuring tube, wherein the state variable is a difference between the two temperatures determined by the two temperature sensors.

35. The method of claim 21, wherein: the measuring tube arrangement is fluidically coupled to a hose system and/or plastic tube system; the hose system and/or plastic tube system comprises an integrated sensor; the reference value is determined via the integrated sensor; and the integrated sensor is a viscosity sensor, a density meter or a temperature sensor.

36. The method of claim 21, wherein the carrier device includes a readout unit configured to read sensor information stored in the measuring tube arrangement after the measuring tube arrangement is inserted into the receptacle of the carrier device, the method further comprising reading out the sensor information stored in the measuring tube arrangement.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the sensor information comprises the reference value of the reference variable.

38. The method of claim 36, further comprising performing a plausibility comparison between the sensor information and the determined flow rate measurement value relative to an upper tolerance limit and/or a lower tolerance limit, wherein the sensor information comprises a measurement value of a mass flow rate zero point previously determined via an adjustment method.

39. The method of claim 21, comprising setting the determined mass flow rate measurement value as a mass flow rate zero point.

40. The method of claim 21, wherein determining the measurement value of the state variable is performed under the exclusive presence of a gas or a non-flowing medium.

41. The method of claim 21, further comprising initiating a comparison of a mass flow rate zero point for a flowing medium only when: the currently determined mass flow rate measurement value is less than 10% of a reference mass flow; and a currently determined density measurement value and/or a currently determined viscosity value corresponds to that of water or air.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein the comparison of the mass flow rate zero point for the flowing medium is initiated only when: the currently determined mass flow rate measurement value is less than 3% of the reference mass flow; and the currently determined density measurement value and/or the currently determined viscosity value corresponds to that of water or air.

Description

[0085] The invention is explained in greater detail with reference to the following figures. The following are shown:

[0086] FIG. 1 shows a Coriolis flow meter suitable for pharmaceutical bioprocess applications;

[0087] FIG. 2 shows a first embodiment of the method according to the invention for putting a Coriolis flow meter into operation in the form of a flow chart; and

[0088] FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of the method according to the invention for putting a Coriolis flow meter into operation in the form of a flow diagram.

[0089] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the measuring tube arrangement 4 according to the invention. The measuring tube arrangement 4 is suitable for being replaceably inserted into a measuring device. For this purpose, only individual components of the vibration exciter and of the vibration sensors, in this case the respective magnet arrangements 9.1, 9.2, are attached to the measuring tube arrangement 4. The further components are arranged in a carrier device 16, in particular in the receptacle, which is suitable and designed for receiving the measuring tube arrangement 4. The measuring tube arrangement 4 comprises two bent measuring tubes 3.1, 3.2 that run in parallel to one another and are connected to one another via a coupler arrangement 1 consisting of four coupler elements 6, and via a connecting body 5. Two coupler elements 6.1 are connected in an integrally bonded manner in an inlet, and two coupler elements 6.2 are connected in an integrally bonded manner in the outlet of the respective measuring tubes 3.1, 3.2. The measuring tubes 3.1, 3.2 are shaped such that the flow direction, represented by two arrows, in the inlet is oriented oppositely to the flow direction in an outlet. A flow divider that has a process connection for connecting to a hose system and/or plastic tube system is respectively arranged in the inlet and in the outlet. According to one embodiment, precisely one flow divider body can be provided instead of two separate flow dividers, which flow divider body is slid onto the inlet and outlet and also contributes to decoupling the measuring tube arrangement 4 from the environment after installation in the carrier device. The individual coupler elements 6 are plate-shaped and are in one or two parts. The coupler elements may respectively completely or only partially encompass the measuring tubes. The measuring tubes 3.1, 3.2 are U-shaped, i.e., they respectively have two legs that run substantially in parallel to one another and are connected via a bent partial segment. A magnet arrangement 9.1, 9.2 is arranged on each measuring tube 3.1, 3.2. In the bent partial segment, a magnet 10.1 of the magnet arrangement 9.1 is arranged and forms a component of the vibration exciter. A magnet 10.2 that forms a part of the vibration exciter is respectively attached in the respective legs. The magnets 10 are attached to attachment surfaces. In the embodiment, the attachment surfaces are located on the respective measuring tubes 3.1, 3.2.

[0090] The measuring tube arrangement 4 is partially inserted into a receptacle 23 of a carrier device 16. An arrow indicates the insertion direction. In the embodiment, the latter runs perpendicularly to a longitudinal direction of the receptacle 23. The receptacle can also be designed such that the measuring tube arrangement 4 is to be inserted in the longitudinal direction of the receptacle (not shown). The carrier device 16 has a measuring and/or operating circuit 29 that is connected to the vibration exciters and vibration sensors, in particular to the respective coil systems, and is configured to generate and/or detect a temporally alternating magnetic field. The carrier device 16 has a carrier device body 22 in which the receptacle 23 is located. The connecting body 5 of the measuring tube arrangement 4 has mounting surfaces 26 that serve to arrange the measuring tube arrangement 4 in a predetermined position in the carrier device 16. According to the depicted embodiment, the perpendicular of the mounting surface 26 points perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the measuring tube arrangement 4. According to a further advantageous embodiment, the perpendicular of the mounting surface 26 points in the direction of the longitudinal direction of the measuring tube arrangement 4. The surface of the carrier device body 22 in contact with the mounting surface 26 of the connecting body 5 is the bearing surface 27.

[0091] The carrier device 16 has two side surfaces that are oriented in parallel to one another and delimit the receptacle 23 transversely to the longitudinal direction of the receptacle. The coil devices of the vibration sensors 8.1, 8.2 and the coil device of the vibration exciter 7 are arranged in the side surfaces. The coil devices of the vibration sensors 8.1, 8.2 are arranged in the longitudinal direction of the receptacle with respect to the coil device of the vibration exciter 7. All three coil devices are located in one coil plane. Furthermore, the three coil devices are designed as a plate coil and embedded into the side surface. At the side surface, three coil devices are arranged substantially opposite the three coil devices. A respective guide that extends perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the receptacle 23 and in parallel to the coil plane is incorporated into the two side surfaces. According to the depicted embodiment, the receptacle extends over two end faces of the receptacle 23. This enables an insertion of the measuring tube arrangement 4 perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the measuring tube arrangement 4. According to a further embodiment, the receptacle extends exclusively over one end face. In this case, the measuring tube arrangement 4 is to be inserted into the carrier device 16 in the longitudinal direction of the measuring tube arrangement 4 or the carrier device 16.

[0092] FIG. 2 shows a first embodiment of the method according to the invention for putting a Coriolis flow meter into operation in the form of a flow chart. In a first method step, the part of the Coriolis flow meter forming the disposable article – the measuring tube arrangement – is inserted into and fixed in the receptacle of the carrier device. The measuring tube arrangement comprises at least one measuring tube. In order to determine whether a steady state is present in the at least one measuring tube, the measuring tube is excited into vibration. For this purpose, an excitation signal is applied to the vibration exciter. The vibration exciter generates a temporally variable magnetic field that interacts with the magnetic field generated by the excitation magnet attached to the measuring tube and thus exerts a force on the at least one measuring tube. This force causes the at least one measuring tube to vibrate. After the excitation of the measuring tube, a measurement value of a state variable is determined, which measurement value serves as a measure for checking whether there is a steady state in the measuring tube in the carrier device. The state variable can be an excitation current that flows through the excitation coil in order to generate the temporally variable magnetic field or a variable dependent on the excitation current. Alternatively, the state variable can be the damping of the measuring tube that affects the vibration or a variable dependent on the damping. According to an advantageous embodiment, the state variable is a density measurement value of the present medium or a variable dependent on the density measurement value. The state variable can also be a dynamic viscosity or a variable dependent on the dynamic viscosity of the medium present in the measuring tube. Alternatively, the state variable can be a measurement frequency ƒ.sub.M, a measurement amplitude A.sub.M or a reciprocal or square of the reciprocal of the measurement frequency f.sub.M of the determined vibration signal. If the Coriolis flow meter has two vibration sensors, the two vibration signals respectively determined on the two vibration sensors, in particular the respective measurement frequencies and measurement amplitudes, can be taken into account for determining the presence of a steady state. If the Coriolis flow meter comprises two measuring tubes, each of which is coupled to two vibration sensors, the four vibration signals are included in the check with the respective measurement frequencies and/or measurement amplitudes.

[0093] In the next step, a check is performed as to whether a steady state is present. For this purpose, a deviation between the determined measurement value of the state variable and a reference value is determined. The reference value can be determined and made available by a further sensor or provided at the factory. The sensor can thus be integrated in a hose system and/or plastic tube system with which the measuring tube arrangement is also fluidically coupled. The reference value can be a maximum or minimum excitation current, the density of water or air, the viscosity of water or air, a reference frequency, a reference amplitude, a minimum or maximum damping and/or a variable dependent thereon.

[0094] If no steady state is present even after a defined time interval, the Coriolis flow meter assumes its operation and the mass flow rate is determined as a function of the factory-provided mass flow rate zero point. Alternatively, the operating circuit can be configured to carry out an automatic comparison if a steady state is present at a later point in time.

[0095] If a steady state is present, a current mass flow rate measurement value is determined and set as a new mass flow rate zero point. The subsequent mass flow rate measurement values are determined while taking into account the new mass flow rate zero point.

[0096] FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of the method according to the invention for putting a Coriolis flow meter into operation in the form of a flow chart. The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the determination of the measurement value of the state variable is not carried out using the vibration sensor or vibration sensors, but by means of further sensors that are not based on the Coriolis principle. This can be a temperature sensor, for example, that is arranged on the measuring tube. The consideration of measurement values, for example, absolute temperature or temperature difference, of at least two temperature sensors attached to the measuring tube arrangement would be more advantageous.

LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS

[0097] Coupler arrangement 1 [0098] Coriolis flow meter 2 [0099] Measuring tube 3 [0100] Measuring tube arrangement 4 [0101] Connecting body 5 [0102] Coupler element 6 [0103] Vibration exciter 7 [0104] Vibration sensor 8 [0105] Magnet arrangement 9 [0106] Magnet 10 [0107] Measuring tube body 13 [0108] Carrier device 16 [0109] Carrier device body 22 [0110] Receptacle 23 [0111] Mounting surface 26 [0112] Bearing surface 27 [0113] Measuring and/or operating circuit 29