Measuring flow for liquids, gases and solids

[Gurgel]

The new meters make measurement of flows dead simple. Since I have not seen postings, here is the basic design and some notes. The meter devices will work correctly with small packages and just accumulate them. It may split some packets if small packets are used. If the meter device is set to less than the maximum packet size, it will split packets that are maximum size.

Fluids:

• Set meter to 10kg or the device will split the flow into 1kg packages and thereby limit throughput to 1kg/sec.
• Add a "passive zero" on the right to get a display in kg.
• Counter is a standard counter, the switch is for setting it to zero.

 

Gas:

• Set meter to 1kg

 

Rails:

• Set meter to 100 "units". A "unit" is 1kg for things that can be split. Rails have maximum "packet sizes" of 20kg, settings below 20kg will split packets and limit throughput.
  Note: For things that cannot be split, a "unit" is one item and that may be more or less than 1kg. (Thanks to sakura_sk for the info.)
• Add two passive zeros on the right to get a display in kg.

 

 

[sakura_sk]

23 minutes ago, Gurgel said:

A "unit" seems to be 1kg.

A "unit" is 1kg for anything that can be split like debris. A pacu egg that is 4kg doesn't split, it is a "unit" 

[Gurgel]

10 minutes ago, sakura_sk said:

A "unit" is 1kg for anything that can be split like debris. A pacu egg that is 4kg doesn't split, it is a "unit" 

That is a bit messed up. Thanks for the info. 

[Ntr1cate]

If I am reading this correctly, with the right automation this new meter works as a counter, a shutoff and pipe value all in one?

 

[Gurgel]

39 minutes ago, Zerohayven said:

If I am reading this correctly, with the right automation this new meter works as a counter, a shutoff and pipe value all in one?

Sort of, but not quite. The counter is what makes the difference, as it gives the meter a memory of what is saw since it was last reset.

• It sums up what flows through until the set limit is reached. Then it blocks and outputs "green".
  You can re-start it by giving a green to its "reset" input. You cannot tell it to block directly, you can just un-block it after it blocked itself.
• If a package coming in is larger than what remains of the set limit, it splits the package, lets the amount through that completes the set limit and blocks. Then it outputs green. 

A pipe valve, on the other hand, has no memory. It just looks at the current package, splits it if larger than the set value and puts the part above the set limit back into its input. It never blocks and it never remembers what it passed before. A shutoff also has no memory. You tell it "on", it lets everything through. You tell it "off", it blocks everything. It never blocks anything on its own initiative.

Now, if you connect output and reset of a meter together and set a value lower than the incoming packet size, you get the behavior of a pipe valve. This breaks down if you have packets smaller than the set limit, as they get summed up and hence deduced from the remaining limit and your next packet coming out will be smaller. A pipe valve would not care and just pas them as it has no memory, but a meter remembers.