Installation of dynamic calibration of pressure pulsation sensors
The dynamic calibration system addresses the limitations of existing pressure pulsation sensor calibration by enabling real-time adjustment of frequency and amplitude, achieving rapid and accurate calibration across a broad frequency range, thus simplifying the process and reducing labor costs.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- RU · RU
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- AKTSIONERNOE OBSHCHESTVO ODK AVIADVIGATEL
- Filing Date
- 2026-04-20
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-01
AI Technical Summary
Existing pressure pulsation sensor calibration methods are limited by narrow frequency ranges, complex designs, and lack of real-time adjustment capabilities, leading to inaccurate and time-consuming calibration processes.
A dynamic calibration system with a resonance tube, actuator-controlled resonator, electric pressure valve, and automated control modules allows for real-time adjustment of frequency, amplitude, and signal shape, enabling accurate amplitude-frequency and phase-frequency characteristics across a wide frequency range.
The system facilitates rapid and accurate calibration of pressure pulsation sensors, expanding their applicability and reducing calibration time by a factor of three, while ensuring precise measurements and compliance with noise standards.
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Abstract
Description
[0001] The invention relates to the field of measurement technology, to testing all types of gas turbine engines, namely to measuring parameters, such as pressure pulsations.
[0002] Measurement of parameters is important for the following reasons:
[0003] - Product protection. When the permissible pulsation level exceeds the set limit, protective systems are automatically activated, changing the operating mode of the product. This prevents damage to the compressor and the entire product.
[0004] - Condition diagnostics. Pressure pulsation analysis helps identify compressor instability, airflow disturbances, and combustion chamber problems.
[0005] - Environmental monitoring. High-frequency pressure pulsation measurements help assess the formation of harmful emissions in combustion chambers.
[0006] A device is known that contains a resonance tube with control and calibrated sensors and a pressure pulsation valve made in the form of an opening in the end of the resonance tube covered by a disk with openings, a servomotor, with the shaft of which the disk is connected, an additional servomotor with an eccentric shaft, a movable roller block, and a pressure source (USSR A.S. No. 731332, IPC G01L 27 / 00, published 04 / 30 / 1980).
[0007] The disadvantage of the device is the inability to conduct tests at elevated temperatures.
[0008] A device for dynamic calibration of acoustic pressure pulsation sensors is known (RU patent No. 2659185, IPC G01L 27 / 00, published on June 28, 2018) contains a main pumping chamber made with a nozzle opening with a diameter d a , a working chamber with a diameter of d1 with control and calibration sensors installed within it, a thin needle, and a movable piston with a rod. Compressed gas enters the main chamber from a compressed gas source.
[0009] A disadvantage of this analog is the narrow frequency range for pressure pulsation measurement. The frequency and amplitude of oscillations are controlled only by gas supply, which does not allow for modeling the sensor's operating modes. The selection of supported sensors is limited.
[0010] A device for dynamic calibration of pneumatic pressure sensors is known, selected as a prototype (RU 157068, IPC G01L 27 / 00, published 20.11.2015), containing a resonance tube and a sensor chamber, with calibrated sensors placed in it, a disk with holes connected through a nozzle to the sensor chamber, a servomotor connected to the disk through a shaft, a pressure valve and a resonator.
[0011] A drawback of the known device is its overly complex design. Each component requires precise adjustment before operation. Due to its excessive design complexity, the device is difficult to repair. The acoustic probe is located in a different cavity from the control sensor, which affects the accuracy of measurements.
[0012] The technical problem is that all companies involved in the production and certification of pressure pulsation sensors use systems operating on the principle of static measurements. This method is based on the principle of a sudden, one-time injection of air into a chamber containing the sensor. As the air is released from the chamber, amplitude oscillations are generated. This method is only suitable for obtaining a sensitivity coefficient and does not allow for evaluating and predicting sensor performance during testing on a product, nor does it allow for the adjustment of the amplitude-frequency and phase-frequency characteristics. Furthermore, systems using this operating method have a very limited list of sensors that they can support.
[0013] The technical objective of the proposed invention is to enable real-time setting of various frequency and amplitude values, as well as signal shape correction. The resulting more accurate amplitude-frequency response (AFR) helps simulate measurements before testing on products, significantly reducing the time required for calibration and obtaining the AFR. Overall, the invention simplifies the device design, expands its scope of application, and reduces labor costs associated with calibrating pressure pulsation sensors.
[0014] The technical problem is solved due to the fact that in the installation of dynamic calibration of pressure pulsation sensors, including a resonance tube and a sensor chamber, with a calibrated and a reference sensor placed in it, a disk with holes, connected through a nozzle to the sensor chamber, a servomotor connected to the disk through a shaft, a pressure valve and a resonator, according to the invention, the resonator is made with an actuator, and is located parallel to it, while the resonator is implemented with automatic control, in addition, the holes on the disk are made in at least three rows with a bevel towards the center of the disk, in addition, the pressure valve is made with an electric drive, an air preparation unit, a muffler and a main filter are additionally installed, connected to the pressure valve, as well as a three-axis positioner attached to the sensor chamber, and control modules are additionally installed, namely an interface converter and a servomotor frequency converter.
[0015] The resonator is designed to correct the signal shape. By decreasing and increasing the size of the resonator chamber, a sinusoidal signal shape is maintained across the entire operating frequency range. The resonator is automatically controlled using an actuator.
[0016] An actuator mounted parallel to the resonator is designed to move a piston within the resonator. The piston's movement changes the size of the resonator chamber. The actuator is controlled using a control program.
[0017] The disk's design, with holes at three diameters and a bevel toward the center, generates pulsations in the sensor chamber by periodically blocking the airflow. Each row of holes corresponds to a specific frequency range; the more holes in a row, the higher the operating frequency of the system. The bevel toward the center of the holes is aligned with the disk diameter. This is necessary to ensure that the airflow exiting the sensor chamber nozzle accurately enters the disk holes. The lack of a bevel negatively impacts the air pressure in the system and the shape of the signal received by the sensors.
[0018] The three-axis positioner allows you to adjust the gap between the sensor chamber nozzle outlet and the orifice disk, as well as select a row of orifices on the disk. The minimal distance between the nozzle and the orifice disk reduces air pressure loss. A window is provided in the orifice disk housing to monitor the nozzle position.
[0019] A pressure valve with an electric drive automatically regulates changes in air pressure in the sensor chamber. Measuring the air pressure in the system affects the amplitude readings recorded by the sensors.
[0020] The main filter is designed to clean the air flow from condensate.
[0021] The muffler reduces the noise level of the air at the outlet of the system, which ensures compliance with noise requirements and standards.
[0022] The air preparation unit maintains and regulates the overall air pressure in the unit.
[0023] With the help of the interface converter, signals from the installation units are converted and their control is transferred to the control program on the personal computer (PC).
[0024] Using a servo motor frequency converter can increase the frequency range to 5000Hz and ensure stable pulsation frequency readings in this range.
[0025] The technical problem of dynamic calibration of pressure pulsation sensors is solved by developing a design and operating principle. The unit's operating principle is based on supplying the sensor with sinusoidal air pressure pulsations with a frequency range of 50...5000 Hz and double the air pressure oscillation amplitude. Air from the air network passes through a main filter and air preparation unit, an electric pressure valve, and through holes in a piston in a resonator into a chamber with a nozzle. Rotating a disk with holes in the chamber creates pulsating air pressure. A reference sensor and a calibrated dynamic pressure sensor are installed in the chamber. The pulsation frequency is adjusted by varying the disk rotation speed using a servomotor. The sinusoidal oscillation shape is selected by changing the piston position in the resonator. The air oscillation amplitude is varied using an electric pressure valve.
[0026] The technical task of reducing the time required for calibration is solved by automating and transferring control of all installation components to a PC.
[0027] The dynamic calibration unit for dynamic pressure sensors is designed for dynamic calibration of pulsation sensors, obtaining amplitude-frequency characteristics (AFC) and phase-frequency characteristics (PFC) of pulsation sensors in the operating frequency range.
[0028] The unit generates a sinusoidal signal at a given frequency and allows real-time adjustment of the conditions for creating pulsating air pressure in a chamber with an installed pulsation sensor.
[0029] This invention is explained by the following drawings.
[0030] Fig. 1 shows a front view
[0031] Fig. 2 shows a side view
[0032] Fig. 3 shows the installation of dynamic calibration of dynamic pressure sensors.
[0033] Operating principle of the unit
[0034] The unit's operating principle is based on supplying a sinusoidal air pressure pulsation signal with a frequency range of 50 to 5000 Hz and a double-amplitude air pressure oscillation to the sensor. Air from the air network, through the main filter and air preparation unit, an electric pressure valve, and through the resonator through holes in the piston into the chamber containing the nozzle. Rotating the perforated disk in the sensor chamber creates pulsating air pressure. A reference sensor and a calibrated dynamic pressure sensor are installed in the chamber. The pulsation frequency is adjusted by varying the disk's rotation speed using a servomotor. The sinusoidal oscillation signal is selected by adjusting the piston's position in the resonator. The air oscillation amplitude is adjusted using an electric pressure valve. All system components are controlled by a PC-based control program.
[0035] The unit operates as follows: air from the air network (not shown) passes through the main filter 8 and the air preparation unit 12, the pressure valve with an electric drive 7, through the resonator 4 through the holes in the piston and enters the sensor chamber 5. When the disk with holes 2 rotates, pulsating air pressure is created in the sensor chamber 5. A reference sensor (not shown) and a calibrated sensor (not shown) of dynamic pressure are installed in chamber 5. The pulsation frequency is regulated by changing the rotation speed of the disk 2 using a servomotor 1 with a frequency converter 10. A sinusoidal oscillation shape is selected by changing the position of the piston in the resonator 4 with an actuator 3. The amplitude of the air oscillations is changed using the pressure valve with an electric drive 7.Sensor chamber 5 is mounted on three-axis positioner 6. Adjusting positioner 6 allows the nozzle of sensor chamber 5 to be positioned as close as possible to disk with holes 2, minimizing air pressure loss when supplying air through the disk holes. Air passing through the unit is directed to the outlet, which is fitted with muffler 11, which reduces air noise at the system outlet. All system components are controlled from a single PC-based control program using interface converter 9.
[0036] Thus, the proposed invention, with its aforementioned distinctive features, enables real-time setting of various frequency and amplitude values, as well as signal shape correction. The resulting more accurate frequency response helps simulate measurements before testing on products, understand the frequencies at which resonances occur, and opens up greater flexibility in selecting sensor installation locations. The choice of installation location and receiver for the dynamic pressure sensor is one of the most important factors determining the accuracy of pulsation measurements. Thanks to the pre-determined frequency response, we can guarantee the accuracy of measurements. This design allows the use of any dynamic pressure sensor model. The development of a dynamic pressure sensor calibration system has significantly reduced the time required for calibration and frequency response acquisition, with the average calibration time for the sensors reduced by a factor of three.Automation has simplified the work with dynamic pressure sensors, allowing for faster training of workers in operating the system.
Claims
A dynamic calibration unit for pressure pulsation sensors, comprising a resonance tube and a sensor chamber with calibrated and reference sensors placed therein, a disk with holes connected through a nozzle to the sensor chamber, a servomotor connected to the disk through a shaft, a pressure valve and a resonator, characterized in that the resonator is made with an actuator and is located parallel to it, wherein the resonator is implemented with automatic control, additionally the holes on the disk are made in at least three rows with a bevel towards the center of the disk, in addition, the pressure valve is implemented with an electric drive, additionally an air preparation unit, a muffler and a main filter connected to the pressure valve are installed, as well as a three-axis positioner attached to the sensor chamber, in addition to this, control modules are additionally installed, namely an interface converter and a servomotor frequency converter.