Kang, L., Feeney, A. , Su, R., Lines, D., Ramadas, S. N., Rowlands, G. and Dixon, S. (2019) Flow velocity measurement using a spatial averaging method with two-dimensional flexural ultrasonic array technology. Sensors, 19(21), 4786. (doi: 10.3390/s19214786)
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215494.pdf - Published Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution. 3MB |
Abstract
Accurate average flow velocity determination is essential for flow measurement in many industries, including automotive, chemical, and oil and gas. The ultrasonic transit-time method is common for average flow velocity measurement, but current limitations restrict measurement accuracy, including fluid dynamic effects from unavoidable phenomena such as turbulence, swirls or vortices, and systematic flow meter errors in calibration or configuration. A new spatial averaging method is proposed, based on flexural ultrasonic array transducer technology, to improve measurement accuracy and reduce the uncertainty of the measurement results. A novel two-dimensional flexural ultrasonic array transducer is developed to validate this measurement method, comprising eight individual elements, each forming distinct paths to a single ultrasonic transducer. These paths are distributed in two chordal planes, symmetric and adjacent to a diametral plane. It is demonstrated that the root-mean-square deviation of the average flow velocity, computed using the spatial averaging method with the array transducer is 2.94%, which is lower compared to that of the individual paths ranging from 3.65% to 8.87% with an average of 6.90%. This is advantageous for improving the accuracy and reducing the uncertainty of classical single-path ultrasonic flow meters, and also for conventional multi-path ultrasonic flow meters through the measurement via each flow plane with reduced uncertainty. This research will drive new developments in ultrasonic flow measurement in a wide range of industrial applications.
| Item Type: | Articles |
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| Additional Information: | This research was funded by the EU SACUT Project 612118 through the Marie Curie Industry-Academia Pathways and Partnership (IAPP) action, and EPSRC grant number EP/N025393/1. |
| Status: | Published |
| Refereed: | Yes |
| Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: | Feeney, Dr Andrew |
| Authors: | Kang, L., Feeney, A., Su, R., Lines, D., Ramadas, S. N., Rowlands, G., and Dixon, S. |
| College/School: | College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering > Systems Power and Energy |
| Journal Name: | Sensors |
| Publisher: | MDPI |
| ISSN: | 1424-8220 |
| ISSN (Online): | 1424-8220 |
| Published Online: | 04 November 2019 |
| Copyright Holders: | Copyright © 2019 The Authors |
| First Published: | First published in Sensors 19(21): 4786 |
| Publisher Policy: | Reproduced under a Creative Commons License |
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