Development and investigation of a four-channel ultrasonic flowmeter with equal signal paths

Abstract

The paper proposes a new model of a four-channel ultrasonic flowmeter. The measuring device operates, unlike the classical one, with two groups of ultrasonic beams, and at the same time they have equal signal path lengths. Such a design makes it possible to reduce the measurement error, since it does not require taking into account the difference in the lengths of acoustic paths, as in traditional schemes, which arises as a result of pipe curvature. To confirm the operation of the flowmeter, its mathematical model is presented. The results were compared with the mathematical model of a classical four-channel flowmeter and showed higher accuracy indicators. In classical schemes, errors associated with geometry accumulate for each beam. In the proposed configuration, the errors have a common nature and are partially compensated, and therefore the overall measurement uncertainty is reduced. The total flow measurement error is estimated, which is 10–15% lower compared to classical flowmeters. The obtained results are also confirmed by modeling of flowmeters in the SOLIDWORKS Flow Simulation environment.