Acoustic bubble detection
Acoustic foam spectrometer for measuring foam size, foam volume and porosity
overview
ABS acoustic bubble analyzer is an acoustic based bubble detection and analysis device used to measure the size distribution and porosity of bubbles in liquids.
principle
This device extracts the number of bubbles from acoustic measurements taken at several frequencies. It consists of a set of two sensors/hydrophones connected to a computer. The data acquisition board controls the signal generation and acquisition of the hydrophone. PC is also used for data analysis and utilizes Dynaflows software to provide sound velocity and attenuation as functions of frequency.
The number of bubbles can be obtained from these measurements by solving two first type Fredholm integral equations. These equations are ill posed and difficult to solve, especially when the data is noisy. In our research, we have developed a new algorithm that can accurately solve these equations using constrained optimization techniques.
This instrument can provide data in near real-time, making it suitable for process applications. The bubble distribution of the ABS acoustic bubble analyzer has been validated by comparison with microscopic photography.
advantage
Compared with optical based devices, ABS acoustic bubble analyzer is inexpensive and easy to use. In addition, acoustic technology is very sensitive to bubbles and will not be confused by the presence of particulate matter that is difficult to distinguish from optical technology.
Schematic diagram of testing device
System Schematic