Influence of Solid Particle Parameters on the Sound Speed and Attenuation of Pulses in ADM
Publication: Journal of Hydrologic Engineering
Volume 17, Issue 10
Abstract
Acoustic discharge measurement devices (ADM) based on transit time measurements are widely used to measure water flow rates in channels and closed conduits for hydropower applications. In addition to making velocity and discharge measurements, the ADM simultaneously records the speed of sound and the attenuation of the acoustic pulse through the water-sediment mixture. This information can be used to estimate characteristics of the suspension such as the volume fraction of the sediment. Such information is crucial in hydropower plants because of the negative effects solid particles can have on the equipment. In this work, the Atkinson-Kytömaa model for monodisperse particles is applied to analyze the effect of solid particles and other operating parameters on the sound speed and attenuation in water suspensions. This model has been selected because it is suitable for the interested range of applications. The model has been validated by measurements with different particle material (glass, quartz, calcium carbonate), size, size distribution, shape, and concentration. Moreover, the sensitivity of the model to the particle parameters has been investigated and the critical parameters for monitoring applications have been identified.
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Acknowledgments
The financial support of the Swiss Commission for Technology and Innovation (KTI; Project No. 7947.2) in Berne, Switzerland, is gratefully acknowledged. The writers also thank Prof. M. Morbidelli from the Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering at the Swiss Federal Inst. of Technology, ETH Zürich, Switzerland, and Mr. A. Borer from Rittmeyer in Baar, Switzerland, for useful discussions and encouragement. Finally, thanks are also due to Mr. M. Duss for his excellent mechanical work and assistance during the experiments.
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Published In
Journal of Hydrologic Engineering
Volume 17 • Issue 10 • October 2012
Pages: 1084 - 1092
Copyright
© 2012 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Aug 2, 2010
Accepted: Dec 12, 2011
Published online: Dec 14, 2011
Published in print: Oct 1, 2012
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