Electromagnetic Sensing of Fluid Acceleration in Conduits Using Single Electrical Coil

Abstract

This work suggests a simple new principle/sensor for instantaneous measurement of fluid acceleration in conduits. The sensor is an electrical coil wrapped on a conduit and supplied by a constant current source. The fluid acceleration can be obtained by measuring the time derivative of the voltage across the coil which is linearly proportional to fluid acceleration. The sensor can be used without calibration for any type of fluid even without needing to know the type of fluid flowing inside the conduit. In addition, the sensor can be used for all ranges of acceleration or speed from low to hypersonic speed and for any shape of conduits. Moreover, the sensor and can also detect the direction of acceleration (acceleration, deceleration, or steady flow) of the flowing fluid. The sensor was validated on water using simple experiments and found to be accurate. The accuracy increased as the magnitude of acceleration, conduit equivalent diameter, coil number of turns, and the magnitude of current source are increased. The sensor is exactly independent of temperature, pressure, and all other variables of the fluid and is only sensitive to acceleration. This work also includes a suggestion for the interfacing circuit of the sensor.