Kh. Esbensen et al., Acoustic chemometrics for fluid flow quantifications - II: A small constriction will go a long way, J CHEMOMETR, 13(3-4), 1999, pp. 209-236
A new approach for non-invasive quantitative measurement of volume flow rar
e, multicomponent mixture concentrations as well as density and other physi
co-chemical intensive parameters of liquid mixtures flowing in pipelines is
presented, based on novel application extensions of the well-known orifice
plate principle (extensively used for flow measurement in pipes). By delib
erately transgressing the conventional usage limits, the orifice plate conf
iguration may now also be used for a range of new measurement types, all ba
sed on acoustic sensor technology. R&D has been carried out since 1987 by S
ensorteknikk A/S and since 1994 in collaboration with ACRG.
The acoustic chemometrics concept is characterized by easy 'clamp-on' deplo
yment of acoustic sensors (primarily accelerometers), followed by an essent
ial, integrated signal analysis/multivariate calibration data modelling, we
ll known from chemometrics. The signal analysis step in this endeavour is o
ften critical although rarely outside conventional electrical engineering s
copes. We present three fluid/fluid or fluid/solid mixture application type
cases: (1) trace oil-in-water determination (representing one-analyte syst
ems); (2) jet-fuel/ glycol mixture determination (representing two-analyte
systems); (3) paper-pulp constituent(s) determination (representing analyte
-interferents systems). We also describe extension studies of these first q
uantitative acoustic chemometrics forays, e.g. for alternative measurement
of(conventional) flow velocities of both fluid/fluid and fluid/solid (slurr
ies) systems (average volume flow rate of heterogeneous multiphase systems)
, for flow regime characterization and for measurement of the effective in-
line density of (fluid/fluid and fluid/solid) mixtures. There would appear
to be a vast potential for technological and industrial applications of thi
s new type of acoustic chemometric process and product characterization/mon
itering. Copyright (C) 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.