sensors engineering

Ultrasonic
Flow Meter

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ULTRASONIC WAVES
“inaudible sound with high frequency for
humans”
FREQUENCY: exceeds 20 kHz
Ultrasonic waves are sound waves whose
frequencies are higher than those of waves
normally audible to the human ear.
 ULTRASONIC
FLOW METERS
inferential meters
that use ultrasonic
technology
measure the velocity
of an acoustically
conductive liquid
moving through it
ADVANTAGES OF ULTRASONIC
FLOW METERS
IMPRESSIVE ACCURACY
can accurately measure water, gas, oil,
and various substances
FLEXIBLE INSTALLATION
can be installed either permanently or
temporarily
MINIMAL MAINTENANCE
causing low cost ownership
 TRANSIT TIME
ULTRASONIC FLOW
METERS

DOPPLER ULTRASONIC
FLOW METERS
uses a transducer to emit an
ultrasonic beam into the stream
send and receive ultrasonic
flowing through the pipe
waves between transducers
For the flow meter to operate,
in both the upstream and
there must be solid particles
downstream directions in
or air bubbles in the stream to
the pipe.
reflect the ultrasonic beam.
DOPPLER ULTRASONIC TRANSIT-TIME
FLOW METERS ULTRASONIC FLOW
METERS
AT NO FLOW CONDITIONS
AT NO FLOW CONDITIONS
the frequencies of
an ultrasonic wave it takes the same
transmitted into a time to travel
pipe and its upstream and
reflections from the downstream between
fluid are the same. the transducers
DOPPLER ULTRASONIC TRANSIT-TIME
FLOW METERS ULTRASONIC FLOW
METERS
AT FLOWING CONDITIONS
AT FLOWING CONDITIONS
the reflected wave’s
frequency is different the upstream wave will
because of the Doppler travel slower and take more
time than the (faster)
Effect
downstream wave
When the fluid moves
When the fluid moves
faster, the frequency faster, the difference
shift increases between the upstream and
linearly. downstream times increases.
DOPPLER ULTRASONIC TRANSIT-TIME
ULTRASONIC FLOW
FLOW METERS METERS
APPLICATIONS APPLICATIONS
Water
Raw sewage
Petroleum products
Activated sludge Chemicals, including alcohol, acids,
Ground water etc
Pulp and paper slurries HVAC, energy measurement system
Beverage, food and pharmaceutical
Chemical slurries
processors
Drainage Secondary sewage, waste treatment,
Mining recirculation etc.
Power plants,heat energy boiler feed
water.
Pipeline leak detection, inspection,
tracking and collection
DOPPLER ULTRASONIC TRANSIT-TIME
FLOW METERS ULTRASONIC FLOW
METERS
APPLICATION CAUTIONS
APPLICATION CAUTIONS
be sure that the fluid
adequately reflects ultrasonic be sure that the fluid can
waves because the flow meter adequately conduct
will not operate without a
ultrasonic waves, because
reflected ultrasonic signal
the flowmeter will not
There must be some particles
measure when the ultrasonic
large enough to cause
waves cannot penetrate the
longitudinal reflection –
particles larger than 100 flow stream between the
micron. transducers.
ADVANTAGES OF DOPPLER ULTRASONIC FLOW METERS

May be used where other meters don’t work

Obstruct less flow
Can be installed outside the pipes
The pressure drop is equal to the
equivalent length of a straight pipe
Low flow cut off
Corrosion resistant
Relative low power consumption
ADVANTAGES OF TRANSIT-TIME ULTRASONIC FLOW METERS

No Moving Parts.
External Clamp On, no need to cut into the lines or
shut the process down to install.
High Accuracy
Very sensitive to low flow measurement.
Field Programmable can be used on pipes from 1″ up
to 200″.
Digital Signals will NOT Drift.
Measures virtually ANY liquid that is sonically
conductive.
DOPPLER ULTRASONIC TRANSIT-TIME
FLOW METERS ULTRASONIC FLOW
METERS
DISADVANTAGES
DISADVANTAGES
Can’t measure the
clean liquid. Requires full pipe.
Old or corroded pipes
Unsuitable for
may impede acoustic
highly accurate
signal.
measurement Too much aeration or
applications. turbulence can destroy
signal.
Thank You!