Magnetostrictive Ultrasonic Transducer for Beam Drift Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ultrasonic transducers for measuring high-velocity flare gas face challenges such as beam drift due to large signal shifts, signal attenuation in low-pressure environments, and structural noise interference, which compromise accuracy and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
An ultrasonic transducer design incorporating a magnetostrictive element, coil, and noise suppression unit with multiple layers and high-density particles in a potting compound, coupled with a bias magnetization device, to achieve a wide radiation pattern, high efficiency, and reduced structural noise.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the transducer radiating area is increased to reduce beam drift, then the directivity pattern widens and beam drift is reduced, but the transducer dimensions become large compared to the wavelength
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a composite structure consisting of a magnetostrictive element (such as Terfenol-D) coupled to a piezoelectric element. This composite material approach enables the transducer to achieve wide directivity patterns with smaller dimensions by combining the high strain capability of magnetostrictive materials with the efficient electrical coupling of piezoelectric materials, thereby resolving the contradiction between radiating area and directivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operating parameters by using low-frequency ultrasonic signals (e.g., below 100 kHz) where the wavelength is sufficiently large. This parameter change allows the transducer to achieve adequate beam control with smaller dimensions, as the beam drift effect becomes less significant when the transducer size is a reasonable fraction of the wavelength.
2Area of moving object
If the transducer radiating area is decreased to maintain small dimensions, then the transducer size is reduced, but beam drift increases and signal accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The composite magnetostrictive-piezoelectric structure enables small transducer dimensions while maintaining measurement precision. The magnetostrictive element provides large dimensional changes at low frequencies, and the piezoelectric element efficiently converts these mechanical vibrations to electrical signals, ensuring accurate flow measurement even with compact transducer geometry.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses periodic ultrasonic signaling with low frequency where the wavelength is large compared to transducer dimensions. This periodic action at optimized frequency ensures that beam drift remains within acceptable limits while maintaining small transducer size, as the signal period is sufficiently long to accommodate the smaller radiating area.
3Loss of energy
If piezoelectric elements are used to achieve high efficiency, then energy conversion is improved, but the signal waveform becomes long and difficult to detect
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the signal generation process into two distinct functional elements: the magnetostrictive element generates the ultrasonic vibration with rapid decay characteristics, while the piezoelectric element converts this vibration to an electrical signal. This segmentation allows the mechanical vibration to be short-lived while maintaining high energy conversion efficiency, producing a short detectable electrical signal waveform.
Solution Approach 2:
The composite magnetostrictive-piezoelectric structure inherently produces short signal waveforms because the magnetostrictive element responds rapidly to electrical excitation and decays quickly. The piezoelectric element faithfully reproduces this short-duration mechanical vibration as an electrical signal, achieving both high efficiency and short signal duration simultaneously.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If low-frequency ultrasonic signals are used to reduce structural noise, then noise interference is reduced, but signal attenuation in low-pressure environments increases
Solution Approach 1:
The composite magnetostrictive-piezoelectric transducer achieves high energy conversion efficiency that compensates for the increased attenuation of low-frequency signals in low-pressure environments. The magnetostrictive element generates strong mechanical vibrations even at low frequencies, and the piezoelectric element converts these efficiently to electrical signals, maintaining adequate signal strength despite the frequency-related attenuation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The design effectively minimizes beam drift, enhances signal detection, and reduces noise interference, ensuring accurate and efficient ultrasonic flow measurement in challenging environments.
Implementation Method 1
The magnetostrictive element is arranged such that an alternating field of the coil generates a change in the length of the magnetostrictive element
Implementation Method 2
a change in the length of the magnetostrictive element generates a voltage in the coil, so that an electrical signal is in turn generated from an incoming ultrasonic signal
Implementation Method 3
the deformation of the at least one sound-radiating surface, which is caused by an ultrasonic signal to be received
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to an ultrasonic transducer for transmitting and/or receiving ultrasonic signals. Therefore, the object of the invention is to eliminate the disadvantages of the prior art and to provide a novel ultrasonic transducer. This object is achieved by the features listed in the claims.