On line, Real-Time Densimeter-Theory and Optimization

The speed of a torsional stress wave transmitted in a solid waveguide, that has a non-circular cross-section and is submerged in a liquid, is inversely proportional to the density of the liquid. Thus, by measuring the speed of the torsional stress wave, one can obtain information about the liquid's density or density-related characteristics such as liquid level and the mass composition of bi-phase mixtures. A predictive theory is developed to correlate the speed of the wave with the liquid's density and the shape of the waveguide's crosssection. The theory is used to optimize the waveguide's geometry so as to increase the sensor's sensitivity. The theoretical results are compared and found to favorably agree with experimental observations. Disciplines Engineering | Mechanical Engineering Comments Suggested Citation: Kim, Jin O. and Haim H. Bau. (1989) On line, real-time densimeter-theory and optimization. Journal of the Acoustical Society of America. Vol. 85(1) p. 432-439. Copyright 1989 American Institute of Physics. This article may be downloaded for personal use only. Any other use requires prior permission of the author and the American Institute of Physics. The following article appeared in Journal of the Acoustical Society of America and may be found at http://scitation.aip.org/getpdf/servlet/ GetPDFServlet?filetype=pdf&id=JASMAN000085000001000432000001&idtype=cvips&prog=normal This journal article is available at ScholarlyCommons: http://repository.upenn.edu/meam_papers/204 On line, real-time densimeter--Theory and optimization Jin O. Kim and Haim H. Bau a) Department of Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics. University of Pennsyloania. Philadelphia. Pennsyloania 19104-6315 (Received 27 May 1988; accepted for publication 27 September 1988 ) The speed of a torsional stress wave transmitted in a solid waveguide, which has a noncircular cross section and is submerged in a liquid, is inversely proportional to the density of the liquid. Thus, by measuring the speed of the torsional stress wave, information can be obtained about the density of the liquid or density-related characteristics uch as liquid level and the mass composition of biphase mixtures. A predictive theory is developed to correlate the speed of the wave with the density of the liquid and the shape of the waveguide's cross section. The theory is used to optimize the waveguide's geometry so as to increase sensor sensitivity. The theoretical results are compared and found to favorably agree with experimental observations. PACS numbers: 43.85.Dj, 43.88.Ct, 06.30.Dr