Fluid Flow Measurement Research Articles

Acoustic field study of ultrasonic transducers for nuclear pipelines using an improved Gaussian beam method

In the one-loop pipeline of a nuclear reactor, when measuring fluid flow velocity using ultrasonic transducers based on the time-of-flight method, the acoustic wave trajectory shift leads to a time lag in the receiver’s response to the acoustic pressure signal, introducing errors in fluid velocity measurements. To enhance measurement precision, this paper integrates information on the flow and temperature fields within the one-loop pipeline, analyzing the impact of three-field coupling on ultrasonic characteristics. The acoustic field within the pipeline is simulated and modeled, and the mathematical model of the Gaussian beam method is further refined to accurately analyze the propagation trajectory of ultrasonic sound lines and the distribution of acoustic pressure in the pipeline. Finally, the applicability of the established Gaussian beam method is validated by comparing finite element method simulations with mathematical model calculations. Additionally, a comparison is made between the results of the Gaussian beam method before and after improvement when applied to flow measurements on the first loop pipe of “Hualong-1” The findings indicate a reduction of approximately 20 % in the calculation error of ray trajectory offset, about 1 % in the calculation error of flow measurements, and the error in the sound pressure calculation at the transducer axis is within 5%, and the error in the sound pressure calculation at the receiver transducer is reduced by 2 %.

A reliability-based framework for comparing ultrasonic flowmeter calibration methods

Ultrasonic flowmeters stand as sophisticated instruments employed for the precise measurement of fluid flow, utilizing cutting-edge time-of-flight technique. However, the optimal functioning of these devices is susceptible to the influence of various factors, including fluid properties and installation conditions, thereby introducing uncertainties into the measurement process. This research introduces a significant method based in structural reliability theory for comparing experimental conditions of ultrasonic flowmeters. This approach strives to offer a thorough comprehension of the factors that affect measurement reliability, actively contributing to the continuous endeavors aimed at fine-tuning the accuracy of ultrasonic flowmeters. To validate the effectiveness of the proposed method, it is applied and tested using data derived from measurements of an ultrasonic liquid flowmeter conducted by INMETRO. These results are subsequently compared against the metrological requirements outlined in OIML R 117. The results not only affirm the applicability of the proposed approach but also demonstrate its effectiveness in handling the uncertainties linked to fluid flow measurements. By enhancing the reliability of these devices, the proposed approach paves the way for advancements in the field, fostering greater precision and confidence in fluid flow measurements for various industrial applications.

Simulation of Fluid Flow through Orifice Meter

The modeling of fluid flow using an orifice meter is an engineering endeavor aimed at thoroughly investigating and optimizing fluid flow measurement in various industrial applications. Orifice meters are highly regarded for their accurate measurement of fluid flow rates as they pass through a specifically designed orifice plate, utilizing the principles of fluid dynamics. The primary objective of this project is to develop a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model capable of simulating the intricate fluid flow through an orifice meter. The simulation encompasses detailed geometric features of the orifice meter, including the precise dimensions of the orifice plate, pipe diameter, and any relevant taper angles. Additionally, the model takes into account various fluid parameters, boundary conditions, and factors such as velocity and pressure at different points within the system. The comprehensive study visualizes and quantifies key fluid properties, such as velocity profiles, pressure differentials, and flow velocities, across the entire length of the orifice meter using CFD analysis. This in-depth analysis provides crucial insights into the dynamic performance of the orifice meter. The obtained information holds significant potential to revolutionize flow rate measurement accuracy, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness in diverse industries, including water management, chemical processing, and oil and gas. The project's methodology for simulating fluid flow through orifice meters can bring about substantial improvements in the understanding and optimization of fluid flow in industrial processes.

A general Physics-Informed Neural Network approach for deriving fluid flow fields from temperature distribution

One attractive application of Physics-Informed Neural Network (PINN) is deriving fluid flow information such as velocity and pressure from temperature field. However, this requires developing a suitable loss function for a given flow condition. In this paper we implemented a general loss function in PINN to directly obtain fluid velocity and pressure from temperature information. We first validated this method through cases of natural convection in a square cavity, flow around a cylinder in a square cavity, and two-dimensional channel flow. Additionally, we examined forced convection heat transfer around a cylinder in depth. Results show that different Reynolds numbers (2, 10, 40, and 140) can all be effectively resolved using temperature data. Furthermore, super-resolution predictions of temperature, velocity and pressure are achievable even far outside the training area, suggesting that the proposed PINN method could be used to measure fluid flow within confined spaces via finite visualization windows without tracers.

Hydrodynamics of cruise swimming and turning maneuvers in Euchaeta antarctica

The hydrodynamic disturbance generated by the adult copepod Euchaeta antarctica during cruise swimming is quantified. Kinematic results are compared to previous results reported for different Euchaeta species. The results reveal a linear relationship between cruise speed and prosome length across Euchaeta species, indicating a size-proportional trend that is indicative of a complicated interaction of species size and environmental factors such as fluid temperature and viscosity. The detailed fluid flow measurements using the tomographic Particle Image Velocimetry (tomo-PIV) technique provide insight into copepod cruise propulsion during turning events in comparison to straight motions. During straight swimming, E. antarctica demonstrates streamlined flow patterns and reduced vorticity in the near-body fluid shear layer, which is beneficial for sustained motion and energy conservation. In contrast, turning maneuvers are characterized by maximum flow velocities reaching 1.5 times greater values than during straight cruising with increased flow field complexity and enhanced vorticity. The viscous dissipation rate generated in the flow disturbance is also greater during turning events, with the total dissipation rate reaching 3.5-3.8×10-8\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\bf3.5-3.8\ imes 10^{-8}$$\\end{document} W compared to 2.6-2.8×10-8\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\bf2.6-2.8\ imes 10^{-8}$$\\end{document} W during straight cruising. The flow disturbance also generates a hydrodynamic cue that prey may sense in order to avoid the predator E. antarctica. For the adult E. antarctica, the hydrodynamic cue extends to a volume that is 11–13 times larger than the copepod exoskeleton volume during the straight swimming motion and 22–25 times larger during the turn events.

Nonlinear Damping as the Fourth Dimension in Optical Fiber Anemometry

AbstractIn this study, nonlinear damping is introduced as the fourth dimension in the operation of a fiber tip optomechanical anemometer. The flow sensing element, featuring a 3D rotor measuring 110 µm in diameter and fabricated through a two‐photon nanomachining process, is monolithically integrated onto the cleaved face of the optical fiber, which serves as an integrated waveguide. As the rotor encounters airflow, it spins, and mirrors on its blades reflect light across the fiber core at each pass. This setup permits precise measurement of gaseous fluid flow with minimal sensor footprint at the point of detection and accommodates a variety of optical sources and measurement apparatuses without the need for specific wavelength or broad‐spectrum capabilities. To stabilize the rotation of the rotor and facilitate consistent frequency‐domain analysis, a polydimethylsiloxane hydrocarbon stabilizing agent is infused into the gap between the rotor and stator of the sensing element via dual‐function microfluidic channels. This enhancement allows for the measurement of gaseous nitrogen flow rates from 10 to 20 liters per minute (LPM), with a consistent periodic response. Comprehensive characterizations of the fiber tip anemometer are presented with and without the stabilizing medium, demonstrating its crucial role in regulating the dynamics between the rotor and the stator.

Superb microvascular ultrasound is a promising non-invasive diagnostic tool to assess a ventriculoperitoneal shunt system function: a feasibility study

The objective of this pilot study was to assess the reliability of superb microvascular ultrasound (SMI) for the measurement of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow within VPS systems as an indirect sign for shunt dysfunction. Asymptomatic hydrocephalus patients, with a VPS system implanted between 2017 and 2021, were prospectively enrolled in the study. Using SMI, the CSF flow within the proximal and distal catheters were analysed. Before and after pumping the shunt reservoir, intraabdominal free fluid, optical nerve sheath diameter (ONSD), and papilla diameter (PD) were evaluated and correlated with the amount of valve activation. Nineteen patients were included. A flow was detectable in 100% (N = 19) patients in the proximal and in 89.5% (N = 17) in the distal catheter. The distal catheter tip was detectable in 27.7% (N = 5) patients. Free intraabdominal fluid was initially detected in 21.4% (N = 4) patients and in 57.9% (N = 11) at the end of the examination (P = 0.049). ONSD was significantly lower after pump activation (4.4 ± 0.9 mm versus 4.1 ± 0.8 mm, P = 0.049). Both peak velocity and flow volume per second were higher in proximal compared to distal catheters (32.2 ± 45.2 versus 5.6 ± 3.7 cm/sec, P = 0.015; 16.6 ± 9.5 ml/sec versus 5.1 ± 4.0 ml/sec, P = 0.001, respectively). No correlation was found between the number of pump activations and the changes in ONSD (P = 0.975) or PD (P = 0.820). SMI appears to be a very promising non-invasive diagnostic tool to assess CSF flow within the VPS systems and therefore affirm their function. Furthermore, appearance of free intraperitoneal fluid followed by repeated compression of a shunt reservoir indicates an intact functioning shunt system.

Uncovering wall-shear stress dynamics from neural-network enhanced fluid flow measurements

Accurate prediction and measurement of wall-shear stress dynamics in fluid flows is crucial in domains as diverse as transportation, public utility infrastructure, energy technology and human health. However, we still lack adequate experimental methods that simultaneously capture the temporal and the spatial behaviour of the wall-shear stress. In this contribution, we present a holistic approach that derives these dynamics from particle-image velocimetry (PIV) measurements using a deep optical flow estimator with physical knowledge. While the experimental measurements resemble state-of-the-art PIV set-ups, the established particle image processing is replaced by a deep neural network specifically tailored to extract velocity and wall-shear stress information. Since this WSSflow framework operates at the original image resolution, it provides the respective flow field information at a much higher spatial resolution compared with state-of-the-art PIV processing. The results show that this per-pixel approach is essential for an accurate wall-shear stress estimation. The validity and physical correctness of the derived flow quantities are demonstrated with synthetic and real-world experimental data of a turbulent channel flow, a wavy turbulent channel flow and an elastic blood vessel flow. Where baseline data are available for comparison, the instantaneous and time-averaged wall-shear stress predictions accurately follow the ground truth data.

Quantitative noninvasive measurement of cerebrospinal fluid flow in shunted hydrocephalus.

Standard MRI protocols lack a quantitative sequence that can be used to evaluate shunt-treated patients with a history of hydrocephalus. The objective of this study was to investigate the use of phase-contrast MRI (PC-MRI), a quantitative MR sequence, to measure CSF flow through the shunt and demonstrate PC-MRI as a useful adjunct in the clinical monitoring of shunt-treated patients. The rapid (96 seconds) PC-MRI sequence was calibrated using a flow phantom with known flow rates ranging from 0 to 24 mL/hr. Following phantom calibration, 21 patients were scanned with the PC-MRI sequence. Multiple, successive proximal and distal measurements were gathered in 5 patients to test for measurement error in different portions of the shunt system and to determine intrapatient CSF flow variability. The study also includes the first in vivo validations of PC-MRI for CSF shunt flow by comparing phase-contrast-measured flow rate with CSF accumulation in a collection burette obtained in patients with externalized distal shunts. The PC-MRI sequence successfully measured CSF flow rates ranging from 6 to 54 mL/hr in 21 consecutive pediatric patients. Comparison of PC-MRI flow measurement and CSF volume collected in a bedside burette showed good agreement in a patient with an externalized distal shunt. Notably, the distal portion of the shunt demonstrated lower measurement error when compared with PC-MRI measurements acquired in the proximal catheter. The PC-MRI sequence provided accurate and reliable clinical measurements of CSF flow in shunt-treated patients. This work provides the necessary framework to include PC-MRI as an immediate addition to the clinical setting in the noninvasive evaluation of shunt function and in future clinical investigations of CSF physiology.

Unveiling the inherent physical-chemical dynamics: Direct measurements of hydrothermal fluid flow, heat, and nutrient outflow at the Tagoro submarine volcano (Canary Islands, Spain)

Tagoro is one of the few submarine volcanoes in the world that has been monitored since its early eruptive stage in 2011 to present day. After six multidisciplinary oceanographic cruises conducted between 2014 and 2023 to gather a comprehensive dataset of georeferenced video-imagery and in situ measurements of hydrothermal flow velocities and hydrothermal fluid samples, we provide a robust characterization of the ongoing hydrothermal fluid velocity, heat flux, and nutrient release, along with an accurate delimitation of the hydrothermal field area. Our results reveal that Tagoro hydrothermal system extends from the main hydrothermal crater up to the summit, covering an area of 7600 m2. This hydrothermal field comprises thousands of small individual vents, displaying diverse morphologies such as crevices and delicate chimney-like structures, irregularly scattered across the dominant diffuse venting surface. Hydrothermal fluid temperatures and velocities at the substratum level reveal a clustered spatial distribution, ranging from 21.0 to 33.3 °C and 1.6–26.8 cm min−1, respectively. Furthermore, our findings indicate a discernible correlation between hydrothermal fluid temperature and vent density, while significant differences were observed between velocities from diffuse and focused areas. Additionally, heat fluxes exceed 200 MW across the entire active region, with heat flux values ranging from 6.06 to 146.87 kW m−2 and dissolve inorganic nutrient concentrations exhibit significant enrichments, comparable to the magnitude of important nutrient sources in the area as upwelling systems or mesoscale structures.

An Orifice Flow Analysis on the Basis of Density and Viscosity Effects of Fluids

The orifice flow measurement produces errors due to highly turbulent and backflow in downstream which have to be overcome. Determine the Δp, and coefficient of discharge (Cd) for flow through the orifice CFD analysis. The input parameters vary with the variance of Reynolds number (Re), fluids with the deviation of density and viscosity, area ratio (σ). The range of Re (20000- 100000), σ (0.2- 0.6), density (ρr), and viscosity (µr) ratio vary as per the fluids considered. The various incompressible and compressible fluids are considered for the study of flow through the orifice based on the difference in density and viscosity properties. The fluids considered for studies are Air, Ammonia (NH3), Carbon dioxide (CO2), Hydrogen (H2), and Sulphur dioxide (SO2) as compressible fluid category, and water (H2O), liquid ammonia (LNH3), liquid hydrogen (LH2), liquid oxygen (LO2), liquid R12 (Dichlorodifluoromethane) as incompressible fluid category. Correlations are also proposed from the above numerical database to determine Cd as a function of Re, σ, ρr, and µr for the orifice. The correlation provides a significant contribution to the viscous fluid flow measurement with the flow through the orifice.

Fluid Flow Analysis of Neonatal Dual-Lumen Cannulas for Venovenous Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation.

Hemolysis persists as a common and serious problem for neonatal patients on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Since the cannula within the ECMO circuit is associated with hemolysis-inducing shear stresses, real-world internal fluid flow measurements are urgently needed to understand the mechanism and confirm computational estimates. This study appears to be the first experimental study of fluid flow inside commercial ECMO dual-lumen cannulas (DLCs) and first particle image velocimetry (PIV) visualization inside a complicated medical device. The internal geometries of four different opaque neonatal DLCs, both atrial and bicaval positioning geometries each sized 13 Fr and 16 Fr, were replicated by three-dimensional printing clear lumen scaled-up models, which were integrated in a circuit with appropriate ECMO flow parameters. PIV was then used to visualize two-dimensional fluid flow in a single cross section within the models. An empirical model accounting for shear stress and exposure time was used to compare the maximum expected level of hemolysis through each model. The maximum measured peak shear stress recorded was 16±2 Pa in the top arterial bicaval 13 Fr model. The atrial and 16 Fr cannula models never produced greater single-pass peak shear stress or hemolysis than the bicaval and 13 Fr models, respectively, and no difference was found in hemolysis at two different flow rates. After 5 days of flow, small DLC-induced hemolysis values for a single pass through each cannula were modeled to linearly accumulate and caused the most severe hemolysis in the bicaval 13 Fr DLC. Engineering and clinical solutions to improve cannula safety are proposed.

Assessing Surface Adsorption in Cyclic Olefin Copolymer Microfluidic Devices Using Two-Dimensional Nano Liquid Chromatography-Micro Free Flow Electrophoresis Separations.

Surface interactions are a concern in microscale separations, where analyte adsorption can decrease the speed, sensitivity, and resolution otherwise achieved by miniaturization. Here, we functionally characterize the surface adsorption of hot-embossed cyclic olefin copolymer (COC) micro free-flow electrophoresis (μFFE) devices using two-dimensional nLC × μFFE separations, which introduce a 3- to 5 s plug of analyte into the device and measure temporal broadening that arises from surface interactions. COC is an attractive material for microfluidic devices, but little is known about its potential for surface adsorption in applications with continuous fluid flow and temporal measurements. Adsorption was minimal for three small molecule dyes: positively charged rhodamine 123, negatively charged fluorescein, and neutral rhodamine 110. Temporal peak widths for the three dyes ranged from 3 to 7 s and did not change significantly with increasing transit distance. Moderate adsorption was observed for Chromeo P503-labeled myoglobin and cytochrome c with temporal peak widths around 20 s. Overall, the COC surface adsorption was low compared to traditional glass devices, where peak widths are on the order of minutes. Improvements in durability, long-term performance, and ease of fabrication, combined with low overall adsorption, make the COC μFFE devices a practical choice for applications involving time-resolved continuous detection.

A study of kinematic viscosity approach with air as a gas medium for turbine flowmeter calibration

Calibrating a gas flowmeter requires a suitable working medium that represent its use in the real operating condition. However, factors like installation conditions, costs, and safety considerations may necessitate to utilize a different medium for calibration. The accuracy of measuring fluid flow by a flowmeter is greatly influenced by the kinematic viscosity property of the gas medium. In this particular study, a turbine flowmeter for compressed natural gas (CNG) application was calibrated using air as a substitute with an approach that simulated the kinematic viscosity property of CNG. Here, the pressure and temperature of the air were calculated to achieve the same kinematic viscosity value as CNG during the calibration process, which was accomplished by adjusting the setting of a regulating instrument in the calibration installation. Furthermore, argon (Ar) was also used for comparison with air, with a modification in working pressure to attain similar kinematic viscosity properties for both gases. The calculation results showed that the working pressure setting for the air used was 4.5 bars, while for argon was 3.38 bars to achieve similar kinematic viscosity. By utilizing air instead of CNG, a minimum and maximum volume flowrate difference of −0.0242 m3/h and 0.0016 m3/h, respectively, was observed, with an absolute average of 0.0086 m3/h or 0.8 %. This study reveals the effectiveness of the kinematic viscosity approach in calibrating a turbine flowmeter under working pressure of up to 4.5 barg. This process results in uncertainty measurement of under 1 % when calibrating gas flowmeters, using air as the medium.

Mapping advancements in oil flow measurement technologies by means of a technology roadmap from 1999 to 2022: A Brazilian case study

The first version of the Brazilian Technical Regulation for the Measurement of Oil and Natural Gas (RTM) was elaborated in 2000, and it was a regulatory framework for the Brazilian oil industry. To meet the technical requirements imposed by the RTM concerning the flow meters, companies in the national and international market needed to be aligned with the Pattern Approval of Measurement Instruments (PAM) and international standards. The evolution of fluid flow measurement technologies is of great importance because based on them the volumes of oil and gas are measured and subsequently billed by the operators. Concomitantly, there was a development of studies on the technological advance of flow meters due to operational needs. In this context, the role of technological prospecting was to investigate scientific and technological progress by means of data collection from journal articles and patent data. This study aimed to evaluate the Brazilian evolution of fluid flow measurement technologies through a technology roadmap, based on the growth of patent and journal deposits from 1999 to 2022. The results indicated that the ultrasonic flow meters were the ones that presented the most technological development due to the number of patents deposited within the sample period. As for the periodicals related to ultrasonic flow meters, it was noticed that the lines of study are focused on custody transfer measurements and fiscal measurements meeting with the established requirements. Thus, based the patents and related periodicals, it was observed that the ultrasonic flow meters were highlighted. Finally, the implementation of the RTM, based on international standards, consolidated Brazil worldwide in meeting the metrological rigor rules for flow measurement crude oil measurement system; however, this study cannot guarantee that the technological advancement of meters did not occur solely and exclusively due to the advent of the RTM enforcement.

Genetic reporter for live tracing fluid flow forces during cell fate segregation in mouse blastocyst development.

Mechanical forces are known to be important in mammalian blastocyst formation; however, due to limited tools, specific force inputs and how they relay to first cell fate control of inner cell mass (ICM) and/or trophectoderm (TE) remain elusive. Combining in toto live imaging and various perturbation experiments, we demonstrate and measure fluid flow forces existing in the mouse blastocyst cavity and identify Klf2(Krüppel-like factor 2) as a fluid force reporter with force-responsive enhancers. Long-term live imaging and lineage reconstructions reveal that blastomeres subject to higher fluid flow forces adopt ICM cell fates. These are reinforced by internal ferrofluid-induced flow force assays. We also utilize exvivo fluid flow force mimicking and pharmacological perturbations to confirm mechanosensing specificity. Together, we report a genetically encoded reporter for continuously monitoring fluid flow forces and cell fate decisions and provide a live imaging framework to infer force information enriched lineage landscape during development. VIDEO ABSTRACT.

Enhancement of dimethyl sulphide separation during wort boiling by a single spinning cone evaporator

Wort boiling is the most energy intensive stage in the brewing process. Novel wort boiling systems have been explored to reduce primary energy consumption and improve wort quality and beer flavor stability. Low thermal stress boiling is proposed for wort boiling, but the content of dimethyl sulphide (DMS) in the wort may exceed the required product threshold. A single spinning cone evaporator (SCE) is proposed to enhance the separation of DMS and minimise the energy consumption for wortboiling. The performance of a SCE was evaluated by measurement of fluid flow, ratio of DMS removal, wort self-evaporation ratio based on sensible heat, and thermal efficiency. The results show that use of a spinning cone evaporator, reduced DMS by up to 90% with 2.1% wort self evaporation ratio with less primary heat consumption. The SCE operation exceeds the evaporation of a gravity film cone. Under reduced pressure, the spinning cone evaporator was less effective in DMS removal.

An experimental facility for detailed studies on energy absorbing components subjected to blast loading

AbstractDeformable components such as sandwich structures possess promising properties for use in protection systems. Detailed studies on energy absorption and fluid–structure interaction effects are necessary for the application of deformable sandwich structures in blast resistant design. In this paper, an existing shock tube facility has been extended with a transparent section to observe and measure fluid flow and the structural response of deformable components during transient dynamic loading. The extension was instrumented with pressure sensors and load cells to measure the pressure and force transmitted through the component during testing. The transparent design allows the use of optical measurement techniques. Here, high‐speed cameras were used both for digital image correlation and background‐oriented schlieren imaging. Tests with free‐standing plates and sandwich components were performed. A strong dependency was observed between the plate mass, and thus the velocity of the plates, and the pressure measured upstream and downstream of the components. The tests were simulated with a one‐dimensional numerical model for compressible shock flow with fluid–structure interaction. The numerical model accurately reproduced the shock flow and component displacements measured experimentally. Overall, the experimental set‐up presented in this study proved to be suitable for the detailed examination of deformable components subjected to airblast loading.

Pleobot: a modular robotic solution for metachronal swimming

Metachronal propulsion is widespread in aquatic swarming organisms to achieve performance and maneuverability at intermediate Reynolds numbers. Studying only live organisms limits our understanding of the mechanisms driving these abilities. Thus, we present the design, manufacture, and validation of the Pleobot—a unique krill-inspired robotic swimming appendage constituting the first platform to study metachronal propulsion comprehensively. We combine a multi-link 3D printed mechanism with active and passive actuation of the joints to generate natural kinematics. Using force and fluid flow measurements in parallel with biological data, we show the link between the flow around the appendage and thrust. Further, we provide the first account of a leading-edge suction effect contributing to lift during the power stroke. The repeatability and modularity of the Pleobot enable the independent manipulation of particular motions and traits to test hypotheses central to understanding the relationship between form and function. Lastly, we outline future directions for the Pleobot, including adapting morphological features. We foresee a broad appeal to a wide array of scientific disciplines, from fundamental studies in ecology, biology, and engineering, to developing new bio-inspired platforms for studying oceans across the solar system.

Simultaneous Measurement of Fluid Level and Flow in Gravity Tanks using Ultrasonic Sensors

Modern instruments for level measurement are becoming more sophisticated making them too expensive to some simpler applications. In order for the procurement of these instruments become more cost effective, we need to utilize their added features to other possible applications. This study presents the results of an experimental investigation involving the use of an existing ultrasonic level sensor for simultaneous level and flow measurements in gravity tanks. The experiment utilizes the data logging feature of the ultrasonic level sensor to log the instantaneous tank level and a sample discharge fitting as the variable head flow meter. The results showed that the values of coefficient of discharge (Cd) corresponding to the sample discharge fitting used can be determined accurately using an open tank draining model as proven by Torricelli’s Law. Instantaneous values of coefficient of discharge (Cd) are then used to determine the discharge of the tank.