A Review of the Real-Time Monitoring of Fluid-Properties in Tubular Architectures for Industrial Applications

Abstract

The real-time monitoring of fluid properties in tubular systems, such as viscosity and flow rate, is essential for industries utilizing liquid mediums. Nowadays, most studies of the fluid characteristics are performed off-line using laboratory facilities that can provide accurate results, yet they do not match the demanded industrial pace. Off-line measurements are ineffective and time-consuming. The available real-time monitoring sensors for fluid properties are generally destructive methods that produce significant and persistent damage to the tubular systems during the installation process. Others use huge and bulky invasive instrument methods that generate considerable pressure reduction and energy loss in tubular systems. For these drawbacks, industries centered their attention on non-invasive and non-destructive testing (NDT) methodologies, which are installed on the outer tubular surface to avoid flow disturbance and desist shutting down systems for installations. Although these sensors showed excellent achievement for monitoring and inspecting pipe health conditions, the performance was not convincing for monitoring the properties of fluids. This review paper presents an overview of the real-time monitoring of fluid properties in tubular systems for industrial applications, particularly for pipe monitoring sensors, viscosity, and flow measurements. Additionally, the different available sensing mechanisms and their advantages, drawbacks, and potentials are discussed.

Recent Progress on Flexible Capacitive Pressure Sensors: From Design and Materials to Applications

“…When fluid flows in any pipe section, the pressure is classified as follows: [ 3 ] Static pressure is due to the stationary fluid (which is not flowing) at the bottom of the pipe (pressure at point X in Figure a). Dynamic pressure is due to fluid flow in which the moving fluid impacts any object or surface (pressure at point Y in Figure 1a).…”

Numerical Modelling of Differential Pressure Sensor System for Real-Time Viscosity Measurement

“…Recently, a flexible viscometer is presented in which the velocity is being monitored to measure viscosity in real-time and without disturbing the flow of the liquid [26], [27]. The conventional measuring instrument installation has different drawbacks such that flow disturbance, tube damage, and is more suitable for laminar flow only.…”

“…An affordable system is presented which is a fully flexible system and which is connected to the inner surface of the pipe with different diameters and curvatures. The fully flexible system consists of a Poly-(dimethyl siloxane) (PDMS) microfluidic channel with a microfluidic flowmeter [26], [27]. The flowmeter consists of three square-shaped capacitive pressure sensors to monitor pressure at three different points.…”

Characterization of Supersonic Compressible Fluid Flow Using High-Speed Interferometry

“…High-speed, high-accuracy, whole-field, non-destructive and contactless optical methods are increasingly being used in the study of fluid flow, offering the possibility for deeper insights than single-point conventional techniques such as constant-current anemometry [1], pneumatic measurements [2], thermal flow sensors (hot film sensors, calorimetric sensors, time-of-flight sensors) [3][4][5][6] and others. Moreover, contactless optical methods do not disturb the flow field.…”