An Algorithm to Minimize the Zero-Flow Error in Transit-Time Ultrasonic Flowmeters

Willigen, Durk van; Neer, P.L.M.J. van; Massaad, Jack; Jong, Nico de; Verweij, Martin D.; Pertijs, Michiel A. P.

doi:10.1109/tim.2020.3007907

Cited by 14 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…However, an offset often occurs in actual measurements, which is mainly caused by nonreciprocity in the circuit, temperature changes across the flowmeter, etc. 44 . To compensate for the reciprocity effects, the actual measured flow value was calibrated by removing the mean value of the transit-time difference data at zero-flow conditions.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A miniaturized transit-time ultrasonic flowmeter based on ScAlN piezoelectric micromachined ultrasonic transducers for small-diameter applications

Gao

Chen

et al. 2023

Microsyst Nanoeng

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Transit-time ultrasonic flowmeters (TTUFs) are among the most widely used devices for flow measurements. However, traditional TTUFs are usually based on a bulk piezoelectric transducer, which limits their application in small-diameter channels. In this paper, we developed a miniaturized TTUF based on scandium-doped aluminum nitride (ScAlN) piezoelectric micromachined ultrasonic transducers (PMUTs). The proposed TTUF contains two PMUT-based transceivers and a π-type channel. The PMUTs contain 13 × 13 square cells with dimensions of 2.8 × 2.8 mm2. To compensate for the acoustic impedance mismatch with liquid, a layer of polyurethane is added to the surface of the PMUTs as a matching layer. The PMUT-based transceivers show good transmitting sensitivity (with 0.94 MPa/V surface pressure) and receiving sensitivity (1.79 mV/kPa) at a frequency of 1 MHz in water. Moreover, the dimensions of the π-type channel are optimized to achieve a measurement sensitivity of 82 ns/(m/s) and a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) better than 15 dB. Finally, we integrate the fabricated PMUTs into the TDC-GP30 platform. The experimental results show that the developed TTUF provides a wide range of flow measurements from 2 to 300 L/h in a channel of 4 mm diameter, which is smaller than most reported channels. The accuracy and repeatability of the TTUF are within 0.2% and 1%, respectively. The proposed TTUF shows great application potential in industrial applications such as medical and chemical applications.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A miniaturized transit-time ultrasonic flowmeter based on ScAlN piezoelectric micromachined ultrasonic transducers for small-diameter applications

Gao

Chen

et al. 2023

Microsyst Nanoeng

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show abstract

“…Figure 1. The principle of the ultrasonic time difference method for velocity measurement Before application in the real world, the ultrasonic transit-time flowmeter requires a zero-flow inspection and on-site calibration [17] . Therefore, the time delay term, τ, generally exerts so little effect on the flow measurement that it can be ignored.…”

Section: The Principle Of the Ultrasonic Time Difference Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bias error in measurement of complex flow regime with ultrasonic flowmeter

Wang

Chen

et al. 2022

J. Phys.: Conf. Ser.

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Ultrasonic flowmeters are widely used for flow measurement. We proposed a theoretical model to quantify the measurement error caused by the deviation of ultrasonic propagation trajectory in complex flow regimes. The three-dimensional ultrasonic propagation model is based on the assumption of ray acoustics. The results show that the trajectory offset of ultrasonic waves and velocity measurement errors in a three-dimensional non-uniform flow field is of the first order of the Mach number. Unlike gas flow, the Mach number of open channel flow is small, and the velocity measurement error of open channel ultrasonic flowmeter can be safely ignored.

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“…One option to increase the range of measurable flow rates is to use broadband transducers and a sophisticated signal processing algorithm in order to raise the SNR, e.g. [20]- [22]. Another option is to shrink the transducer aperture in order to get a wider beam width, which reduces the sound drift effect.…”

Section: F (Ymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A different setup using broadband transducers and a more sophisticated signal processing algorithm also has the potential to increase the range of measurable flow rates with a lower complexity by raising the SNR, e.g. with [20]- [22]. However, a more sophisticated narrowband signal processing algorithm is applicable to the phased-array method if the compensation angles are known in advance, e.g.…”

Section: B Comparison Of the Configurationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multipath Flow Metering of High-Velocity Gas Using Ultrasonic Phased-Arrays

Haugwitz

Hartmann

Allevato

et al. 2022

IEEE Open J. Ultrason., Ferroelect., Freq. Contr.

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In this work we combine a multipath ultrasonic gas flow meter (UFM) with an ultrasonic air-coupled phasedarray. This allows complementing the advantages of a multipath UFM, i.e. higher accuracy and more robustness to irregular flow, with the extended velocity measuring range due to sound drift compensation via a phased-array. We created a 3D-printed flow meter consisting of an 8 × 8 λ/2 phased-array for transmission and 14 individual receivers for seven upstream and seven downstream sound paths. Measurements were conducted in a test rig with a maximum gas flow rates of 8.3 m 3 s −1 (107 m s −1 ). A differential pressure nozzle was used as reference sensor. Three configurations were compared: Parallel sound paths with a single transmitter; parallel sound paths with the phasedarray as transmitter; and fan-shaped sound paths with the phased-array as transmitter. The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and deviation of measured flow were used as comparison criteria. In addition, we measured the optimum steering angles of the phased-array required to compensate the sound drift effect. Using the phased-array with the sound drift effect compensation enabled and disabled, the SNR increases by 10.6 dB and 4.95 dB, respectively, compared to the single transmitter setup at 83 m s −1 . Furthermore, the phased-array with compensation active, extends the velocity measuring range by 29%, from 83 m s −1 to 107 m s −1 , while maintaining a similar standard deviation of the flow measured. Besides demonstrating that a phased-array in a gas flow meter significantly extends the measurement range, our setup qualifies as versatile research platform for designing future high-velocity gas flow meters.

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An Algorithm to Minimize the Zero-Flow Error in Transit-Time Ultrasonic Flowmeters

Cited by 14 publications

References 18 publications

A miniaturized transit-time ultrasonic flowmeter based on ScAlN piezoelectric micromachined ultrasonic transducers for small-diameter applications

A miniaturized transit-time ultrasonic flowmeter based on ScAlN piezoelectric micromachined ultrasonic transducers for small-diameter applications

Bias error in measurement of complex flow regime with ultrasonic flowmeter

Multipath Flow Metering of High-Velocity Gas Using Ultrasonic Phased-Arrays

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