Acoustic flow sensor using a passive bell transducer
File(s)
Author(s)
Yang, Samuel KE
Kiziroglou, Michail E
Yeatman, Eric M
Holmes, Andrew S
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Sensing based on a passive transducer that is wirelessly linked to a nearby data collection node can offer an attractive solution for use in remote, inaccessible, or harsh environments. Here we report a pipe flow sensor based on this principle. A transducer mounted inside the pipe generates an acoustic signal that is picked up by an external microphone. The passive transducer comprises a cavity with a trapped ball that can oscillate in response to flow. Its collisions generate an acoustic signal correlated to the flow speed. The transducer is implemented on a 6 mm diameter probe and characterized as a water flow meter. The time - average microphone voltage output is calculated by an analogue circuit, without any further signal processing. With the microphone mounted on the probe, and for flow rates in the range 0.35 m/s to 6.5 m/s, correlation between the sensor voltage output and flow rate data from a commercial flow meter is demonstrated with a worst-case accuracy of 2%. This was achieved by simple averaging of the acoustic pulse train over a 5-second time interval. Consistent correlation with the microphone mounted on the pipe wall at distances up to 150 mm from the probe location is also reported. These results demonstrate the viability of remote acoustic flow sensing using passive structures and offer a simple and minimally invasive flow monitoring method.
Date Issued
2023-09-15
Date Acceptance
2023-03-13
Citation
IEEE Sensors Journal, 2023, 23 (18), pp.20553-20560
ISSN
1530-437X
Publisher
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
Start Page
20553
End Page
20560
Journal / Book Title
IEEE Sensors Journal
Volume
23
Issue
18
Copyright Statement
Copyright © 2023 IEEE. Personal use of this material is permitted. Permission from IEEE must be obtained for all other uses, in any current or future media, including reprinting/republishing this material for advertising or promotional purposes, creating new collective works, for resale or redistribution to servers or lists, or reuse of any copyrighted component of this work in other works.
Identifier
http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/jsen.2023.3258501
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2023-03-22