A Novel, Tuneable Sensitivity Target Flow Measurement Sensor For Various Water Flow Applications

Abstract

The present research work proposes the design, mathematical formulation, simulation, experimental results and validation of a novel Target Flow Measurement Sensor (TFMS). TFMS is designed and developed based on the magnetic flux experienced by the magnetic sensor, which will be employed for the evaluation of the flow rate of the water for a range of 0lt/s to 4lt/s. A novel transduction methodology is employed in the present study to transduce the water flow rate in a pipe into a translational motion of a magnet towards a magnetic sensor, which results in the form of an increase in the magnetic flux of the sensor output. Mathematical formulations are derived to simulate the response of the TFMS for varying flow rates. The simulated response of TFMS is found to be in good agreement with the experimental results obtained. Further, experimentally the evaluated flow rate response of the TFMS is compared with the flow rates evaluated from a commercial flow meter when both are mounted in-line pipe. Furthermore, the response of the TFMS is studied with varying target plate areas via experimental trials as well as simulations. Collectively, the excellent agreement between the simulation results, TFMS experimental results and commercial flowmeter measurements prove the efficacy of the developed TFMS to measure the water flow rate. Further, the design of the TFMS has the capability of tuneable sensitivity to measure flow rates of varying ranges, which has been proved with the results obtained from varying target plate area trials.

Keywords

• target flow meter
• flow sensor
• flow rate measurement
• tuneable sensitivity