A Study of Phased Array Ultrasonic Velocity Profile Monitor for Flow Rate Measurement

A new ultrasonic velocity profile measurement system with a phased array sensor was developed for accurate flow rate measurements. This measurement system employs phased array technique to reduce noise from multiple reflections which occurs in a wedge. However, phased array technique has some difficulties — one of them is about grading lobes. Thus, the array sensor was designed to reduce the grading lobes using simple calculations. Performance of the manufactured array sensor was evaluated by experimental measurements of sound pressure distribution emitted from the array sensor, and optimal parameters to control the array sensor were obtained. Hardware and software of the ultrasonic velocity profile measurement system with a phased array sensor were also developed. The software is based on ultrasonic Doppler method. Velocity profiles of horizontal pipe flow were measured using the developed system, and the availability of the system applying a phased array sensor was confirmed.