Patent classifications
G01P5/245
Beam shaping acoustic signal travel time flow meter
A method and corresponding device are provided for determining a flow speed in a fluid conduit. The fluid conduit is provided with first, second and third ultrasonic transducers, wherein respective connection lines between transducers extend outside of a symmetry axis of the fluid conduit. First and second measuring signals are applied to the first ultrasonic transducer and received at the second and the third ultrasonic transducer, respectively. The measuring signals comprise a respective reversed signal portion with respect to time of a response signal. Respective first and second response signals are measured and the flow speed is derived from at least one of the first and second response signals.
ACOUSTIC AIRSPEED SENSORS
An acoustic airspeed sensor system can include at least one acoustic transmitter configured to provide an acoustic pulse, a plurality of acoustic receivers including at least a first acoustic receiver positioned at a first radial distance from the at least one acoustic transmitter and a second acoustic receiver positioned at a second radial distance from the at least one acoustic transmitter. The first acoustic receiver is configured to receive the acoustic pulse at a first time and output a first receiver signal. The second acoustic receiver is configured to receive the acoustic pulse at a second time and output a second receiver signal. The sensor system can include an air data module operatively connected to the first acoustic receiver and the second acoustic receiver. The air data module is configured to determine true air speed (TAS) based upon a first signal delay, a second signal delay, and a wind angle.
Ultrasonic transducers using adaptive multi-frequency hopping and coding
An ultrasonic flow meter (UFM) includes a first and second ultrasonic transducer for attaching to a pipe, and a transceiver coupled to the transducers by a multiplexer. A controller having an associated memory runs an adaptive multi-frequency hopping and coding algorithm that selects 1 frequency to be hopped within the measured transducer impedance spectrum using a threshold level that selects at least a peak for the phase or a valley for the magnitude, and selects a coding scheme for the chosen frequency to provide a coded frequency sequence. A received signal generated responsive to an ultrasonic signal with the coded frequency sequence into the fluid is decoded, and peak detection is performed on the decoded received signal. The travel time is calculated from the decoded signal, and a speed of the fluid is then determined from the travel time.
Signal travel time flow meter
A method for determining a flow speed of a liquid in a fluid conduit is provided. During a signal-generating phase, an impulse signal is applied to a first ultrasonic transducer. A response signal is then received at a second ultrasonic transducer. A measuring signal is later derived from the response signal, wherein the derivation comprises reversing a signal portion with respect to time. During a measurement phase, a liquid moves with respect to the fluid conduit. The measuring signal is then applied to one of the two transducers and a response signal of the measuring signal is measured at the other transducer. A flow speed is derived from the response signal of the measuring signal.
Acoustic structural reflection interference mitigation systems, methods, and devices
Methods, systems, and devices for acoustic structural reflection interference mitigation are provided in accordance with various embodiments. For example, some embodiments may provide for structural reflection interference mitigation for compact three-dimensional ultrasonic anemometers. Some embodiments include a method that may include transmitting a first acoustic signal from a first acoustic transmitter. At least a first portion of the first acoustic signal from the first acoustic transmitter may be hindered from being received at a first acoustic receiver. At least a second portion of the first acoustic signal from the first acoustic transmitter may be received at the first acoustic receiver along an acoustic propagation path. In some embodiments, the first acoustic transmitter may include a wide-beam transmitter. Some embodiments may utilize four wide-beam transducers positioned at apices of a tetrahedron.
APPARATUS, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS FOR NON-INVASIVE MEASUREMENT OF FLOW IN A HIGH TEMPERATURE PIPE
A method, apparatus, and system according to which first and second transducers are connected to first and second waveguides, respectively, the first and second waveguides are connected to a pipe, and ultrasonic wave signals are exchanged between the first and second transducers, said ultrasonic wave signals passing through the first and second waveguides, the pipe, and a fluid in the pipe. A temperature of the fluid flowing in the pipe may exceed about 600 C. The first and second waveguides insulate the first and second transducers from the pipe and propagate the ultrasonic wave signals between the pipe and the first and second transducers, respectively, so that the ability of the first and second transducers to exchange the ultrasonic wave signals is not adversely affected by the temperature of the fluid in the pipe. The first and second waveguides may be made of a calcium silicate technical ceramic.
LOW PROFILE AIR DATA SYSTEM ARCHITECTURE
A system and method for an aircraft includes a low profile pneumatic sensing system and an acoustic sensing system. The low profile pneumatic sensing system includes a pneumatic sensor positioned to sense first sensed data of an airflow about an exterior of the aircraft and does not extend beyond a boundary layer of the aircraft. The first sensed data is used to determine first air data parameters. The acoustic sensing system is configured to emit acoustic signals about the exterior of the aircraft and sense the acoustic signals as second sensed data. The second sensed data is used to determine second air data parameters.
ULTRASONIC METER AND METHOD FOR SENSING A FLOW VARIABLE
An ultrasonic meter for recording a flow quantity dependent on a flow of a fluid, has a control device, a measuring tube having a plurality of side walls, mutually adjacent side walls being at an angle to one another, and through which the fluid can flow in a longitudinal direction of the measuring tube, and first and second ultrasound transducers which are arranged at a distance from one another in the longitudinal direction on the measuring tube. The first and second ultrasound transducers respectively contain one transducer element or a predetermined arrangement of a plurality of transducer elements. The ultrasound transducer can be driven by the control device in order to excite an acoustic wave conducted in a side wall of the measuring tube, and conducted through the fluid to the other ultrasound transducer and recorded there by the control device to determine a signal time of flight.
DEVICE FOR MEASURING WIND ON A POWER KITE
Described is a device for measuring wind conditions during power kite activities. The device comprises an electronic processing unit, an anemometer, and a means of attachment to a power kite. The data from the anemometer is processed by the processing unit and stored locally or transmitted wirelessly to a secondary device (e.g. a smart phone or smart watch). The anemometer directly measures the apparent wind at the kite. In certain embodiments inclusion of an inertial measurement unit and a GPS unit provides a means of calculating the true wind by accounting for induced wind from kite and kiter motion respectively.
MULTI-FUNCTION PROBE AIR DATA SYSTEM ARCHITECTURE INCLUDING ACOUSTIC SENSORS
An air data system for an aircraft includes a multi-function probe (MFP) and an acoustic sensor system. The MFP is positioned to sense pressure of an airflow about an exterior of the aircraft. The pressure is used to generate first air data parameters for the aircraft. The acoustic sensor system is configured to emit acoustic signals about the exterior of the aircraft and sense the acoustic signals as sensed data, which is used to generate second air data parameters.