Multi-probe system for measuring height of fluid in pipes with steady-state and turbulent flow conditions

    公开(公告)号:US10578480B2

    公开(公告)日:2020-03-03

    申请号:US15957495

    申请日:2018-04-19

    Abstract: A multi-probe system for real-time measurement of a fluid level in a pipe with steady-state and turbulent flow conditions is presented. The multi-probe system includes a plurality of multiplexed transducers attached in a non-destructive fashion to walls of the pipe. Multiplexing of the transducers activate and deactivate the transducers in sequence to generate independent pairs of transmit and receive wave signals through the pipe. Each transmit and receive signal pair can be used to independently establish a time-of-flight from the transducer and back to the transducer as reflected by a surface of the fluid. The transducers can be arranged as longitudinal and/or circumferential arrays on the walls of the pipe. An algorithm that determines the time-of-flight eliminates received signals having an energy level lower than or equal to a predefined minimum energy level and eliminates any time-of-flight that is shorter than a minimum threshold time.

    Flow energy harvesting devices and systems

    公开(公告)号:US11316447B2

    公开(公告)日:2022-04-26

    申请号:US16087517

    申请日:2017-03-24

    Abstract: A flow energy harvesting system including a nozzle-diffuser defining a spline-shaped flow channel and a flow energy harvesting device in the spline-shaped flow channel of the nozzle-diffuser. The spline-shaped flow channel includes a converging portion, a diverging portion, and a constriction section between the converging and diverging portions. The flow energy harvesting device includes a flextensional member having a frame and a cantilever extending outward from the frame, and a stack of piezoelectric elements housed in an interior cavity defined in the frame. The cantilever is a non-piezoelectric material. The frame of the flextensional member is in the converging portion and the cantilever is in the constriction section of the spline-shaped flow channel. The frame is configured to deform and elongate the piezoelectric elements to generate a current based on the piezoelectric effect when a fluid flows through the spline-shaped flow channel and generates unbalanced forces on the cantilever due.

    FLOW ENERGY HARVESTING DEVICES AND SYSTEMS
    5.
    发明申请

    公开(公告)号:US20190097548A1

    公开(公告)日:2019-03-28

    申请号:US16087517

    申请日:2017-03-24

    Abstract: A flow energy harvesting system including a nozzle-diffuser defining a spline-shaped flow channel and a flow energy harvesting device in the spline-shaped flow channel of the nozzle-diffuser. The spline-shaped flow channel includes a converging portion, a diverging portion, and a constriction section between the converging and diverging portions. The flow energy harvesting device includes a flextensional member having a frame and a cantilever extending outward from the frame, and a stack of piezoelectric elements housed in an interior cavity defined in the frame. The cantilever is a non-piezoelectric material. The frame of the flextensional member is in the converging portion and the cantilever is in the constriction section of the spline-shaped flow channel. The frame is configured to deform and elongate the piezoelectric elements to generate a current based on the piezoelectric effect when a fluid flows through the spline-shaped flow channel and generates unbalanced forces on the cantilever due.

    Multi-stack piezo actuator
    6.
    发明授权

    公开(公告)号:US11557711B2

    公开(公告)日:2023-01-17

    申请号:US16747354

    申请日:2020-01-20

    Abstract: An ultrasonic actuator with increased radiating surface is presented. The increased radiating surface is provided by a plurality of piezoelectric stacks that are each compressed by action of a respective bolt against a common backing structure of the actuator. According to one aspect, each of the stacks includes a plurality of stacked piezoelectric rings with the respective bolt arranged through the central opening of the rings. According to another aspect, one or both of the backing structure and the horn of the actuator include tuning grooves and/or tuning slots to produce amplitude uniformity of displacement through the actuator. According to another aspect, the radiating surface has a symmetrical shape about an axial direction of the actuator with a lateral dimension that is in a range between one quarter and one half of the wavelength of operation of the actuator.

    Flow energy piezoelectric bimorph nozzle harvester
    9.
    发明授权
    Flow energy piezoelectric bimorph nozzle harvester 有权
    流动压电双压缩嘴式收割机

    公开(公告)号:US09531303B2

    公开(公告)日:2016-12-27

    申请号:US14261412

    申请日:2014-04-24

    CPC classification number: H02N2/185 H01L41/1136

    Abstract: A flow energy harvesting device having a harvester pipe includes a flow inlet that receives flow from a primary pipe, a flow outlet that returns the flow into the primary pipe, and a flow diverter within the harvester pipe having an inlet section coupled to the flow inlet, a flow constriction section coupled to the inlet section and positioned at a midpoint of the harvester pipe and having a spline shape with a substantially reduced flow opening size at a constriction point along the spline shape, and an outlet section coupled to the constriction section. The harvester pipe may further include a piezoelectric structure extending from the inlet section through the constriction section and point such that the fluid flow past the constriction point results in oscillatory pressure amplitude inducing vibrations in the piezoelectric structure sufficient to cause a direct piezoelectric effect and to generate electrical power for harvesting.

    Abstract translation: 具有收割机管道的流动能量收集装置包括:流入口,其接收来自主管的流动,将流入第一管的流出口,以及收集器管内的分流器,其具有联接到流入口的入口部 ,流动收缩部分,其联接到所述入口部分并且定位在所述收割管的中点处,并且具有在所述花键形状的收缩点处具有基本上减小的流动开口尺寸的花键形状,以及联接到所述收缩部分的出口部分。 收割管还可以包括压电结构,该压电结构从入口部分延伸通过收缩部分并且使得流体流过压缩点的振动压力振幅导致压电结构中的振动,足以产生直接的压电效应并产生 电力收割。

    FLOW ENERGY PIEZOELECTRIC BIMORPH NOZZLE HARVESTER
    10.
    发明申请
    FLOW ENERGY PIEZOELECTRIC BIMORPH NOZZLE HARVESTER 有权
    流量计压电二极管喷嘴收割机

    公开(公告)号:US20140319970A1

    公开(公告)日:2014-10-30

    申请号:US14261412

    申请日:2014-04-24

    CPC classification number: H02N2/185 H01L41/1136

    Abstract: A flow energy harvesting device having a harvester pipe includes a flow inlet that receives flow from a primary pipe, a flow outlet that returns the flow into the primary pipe, and a flow diverter within the harvester pipe having an inlet section coupled to the flow inlet, a flow constriction section coupled to the inlet section and positioned at a midpoint of the harvester pipe and having a spline shape with a substantially reduced flow opening size at a constriction point along the spline shape, and an outlet section coupled to the constriction section. The harvester pipe may further include a piezoelectric structure extending from the inlet section through the constriction section and point such that the fluid flow past the constriction point results in oscillatory pressure amplitude inducing vibrations in the piezoelectric structure sufficient to cause a direct piezoelectric effect and to generate electrical power for harvesting.

    Abstract translation: 具有收割机管道的流动能量收集装置包括:流入口,其接收来自主管的流动,将流入第一管的流出口,以及收集器管内的分流器,其具有联接到流入口的入口部 ,流动收缩部分,其联接到所述入口部分并且定位在所述收割管的中点处,并且具有在所述花键形状的收缩点处具有基本上减小的流动开口尺寸的花键形状,以及联接到所述收缩部分的出口部分。 收割管还可以包括压电结构,该压电结构从入口部分延伸通过收缩部分并且使得流体流过压缩点的振动压力振幅导致压电结构中的振动,足以产生直接的压电效应并产生 电力收割。

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