1
|
Massaad J, van Neer PLMJ, van Willigen DM, de Jong N, Pertijs MAP, Verweij MD. Exploiting nonlinear wave propagation to improve the precision of ultrasonic flow meters. Ultrasonics 2021; 116:106476. [PMID: 34098419 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultras.2021.106476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2020] [Revised: 04/16/2021] [Accepted: 05/23/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Acoustic wave propagation in ultrasonic flow measurements is typically assumed to be linear and reciprocal. However, if the transmitting transducer generates a sufficiently high pressure, nonlinear wave propagation effects become significant. In flow measurements, this would translate into more information to estimate the flow and therefore a higher precision relative to the linear case. In this work, we investigate how the generated harmonics can be used to measure flow. Measurements in a custom-made flow loop and simulations using the Khokhlov-Zabolotskaya-Kuznetsov (KZK) equation will show that the second harmonic component provides similar transit time differences to those obtained from the fundamental component, their linear combination results in more precise flow measurements compared to the estimations with the fundamental component alone.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jack Massaad
- Delft University of Technology, Department of Imaging Physics, Laboratory of Medical Imaging, Lorentzweg 1, 2628CJ, Delft, The Netherlands.
| | - Paul L M J van Neer
- Delft University of Technology, Department of Imaging Physics, Laboratory of Medical Imaging, Lorentzweg 1, 2628CJ, Delft, The Netherlands; TNO, Department of Acoustics and Sonar, Oude Waalsdorperweg 63, 2597AK, The Hague, The Netherlands
| | - Douwe M van Willigen
- Delft University of Technology, Department of Microelectronics, Electronic Instrumentation Laboratory, Mekelweg 4, 2628CD, Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Nicolaas de Jong
- Delft University of Technology, Department of Imaging Physics, Laboratory of Medical Imaging, Lorentzweg 1, 2628CJ, Delft, The Netherlands; Erasmus MC, Thorax Center, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Doctor Molewaterplein 40, 3015GD, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Michiel A P Pertijs
- Delft University of Technology, Department of Microelectronics, Electronic Instrumentation Laboratory, Mekelweg 4, 2628CD, Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Martin D Verweij
- Delft University of Technology, Department of Imaging Physics, Laboratory of Medical Imaging, Lorentzweg 1, 2628CJ, Delft, The Netherlands; Erasmus MC, Thorax Center, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Doctor Molewaterplein 40, 3015GD, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Joshi SG. Ultrasonic flow meter using mode coupling transducers. Ultrasonics 2021; 116:106497. [PMID: 34146866 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultras.2021.106497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2020] [Revised: 05/15/2021] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
This paper describes the development of an ultrasonic flow meter using a new type of transducer called the mode coupling transducer (MCT). The mode coupling transducer consists of a thin plate of a suitable piezoelectric material on which an interdigital transducer (IDT) is deposited for the generation and detection of plate acoustic waves. The flow meter consists of two such transducers mounted on opposite walls of a pipe through which the fluid is flowing. The transducers used in this work were fabricated on 0.5 mm thick plates of lithium niobate and had a center frequency of 1 MHz. The prototype device developed here can measure flow rates over a range from less than 0.2 lpm (liters per minute) to greater than 100 lpm.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shrinivas G Joshi
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI 53233, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Li X, Xiao X, Cao L. Excitation condition analysis of guided wave on PFA tubes for ultrasonic flow meter. Ultrasonics 2016; 72:134-142. [PMID: 27529137 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultras.2016.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2016] [Revised: 08/03/2016] [Accepted: 08/04/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Impurity accumulation, which decreases the accuracy of flow measurement, is a critical problem when applying Z-shaped or U-shaped ultrasonic flow meters on straight PFA tubes. It can be expected that the guided wave can be used to implement flow measurement on straight PFA tubes. In this paper, the propagation of guided wave is explained by finite element simulations for the flow meter design. Conditions of guided wave generation, including the excitation frequency and the wedge structure, are studied in the simulations. The wedge is designed as a cone which is friendly to be manufactured and installed. The cone angle, the piezoelectric wafer's resonant frequency and the vibration directions are studied in the simulations. The simulations shows that the propagation of guided wave in thin PFA tubes is influenced by the piezoelectric wafers' resonant frequency and the vibration direction when the mode is on the 'water line'. Based on the results of the simulations, an experiment is conducted to verify the principles of excitation conditions, which performs flow measurement on a straight PFA tube well.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xuan Li
- Department of Automation, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, PR China.
| | - Xufeng Xiao
- Department of Automation, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, PR China.
| | - Li Cao
- Department of Automation, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, PR China.
| |
Collapse
|