Five research projects receive grant within KIC call: FLOW++ Break-through technologies in flow and fluid composition measurement

- EN - NL
Five promising projects have been awarded within the KIC call FLOW++. In two projects, TU Delft is the lead partner and in three projects, Prof Kofi Makinwa (EEMCS) is a co-applicant. These projects focus on breakthrough technologies that will elevate the accuracy and reliability of flow and fluid composition measurement.

The awarded projects for TU Delft are:

MOSAIC: Modular UltraSonic Flow Meters based on Transducer Arrays and Integrated Circuits

dr. ir. M.A.P. Pertijs, Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science (EEMCS)
co-applicant: dr. ir. M.D. Verweij, Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science (EEMCS)

In this project, these techniques in a flow meter will be combined with matrix transducer arrays, and quantify their advantages. Since matrix transducer arrays with hundreds of individual elements are required, this leads to a high level of complexity in the readout of these transducers, which until now requires unpractical, bulky lab equipment. In this project, an application-specific integrated circuits to reduce the cost and complexity of matrix flow meters in realistic applications will be developed. Moreover, the feasibility of scaling to smaller pipe diameters will be investigated.

A NOVEL ELECTROMAGNETIC FLOWMETER WITH A CONDUCTING WALL

ir. J. Westerweel, Mechanical Engineering (ME)
co-applicant: K. A. A. Makinwa (EEMCS), dr. ir. C. Poelma (ME) and ir. B. J. Boersma (ME)

To eliminate PFAS, we investigate suitable alternatives for a novel type of EMFM without any liner material, so that it has to work with a conducting wall. The exclusion of a liner material would also allow to apply the EMFM to fluids at elevated temperatures above 200℃. This innovation would enable the use of the EMFM to new applications. We will perform MHD simulations to consider alternative configurations, and use experiments to validate the simulation results. A prototype and digital twin will be developed that will be the basis for developing novel commercial product.

Robust, highly stable micro Coriolis mass flow sensor

ir. J.C. Lötters, University of Twente
co-applicants: K. A. A. Makinwa (EEMCS) and dr. ir. Remco Wiegerink, University of Twente

In this project, a micro Coriolis mass flow sensor will be developed with less susceptibility to fouling and water hammering effects, improved zero stability, and integrated pressure sensors and thermal sensors to measure the density, viscosity, thermal conductivity and specific heat of the fluid.

Flow and fluid composition sensing using integrated drag force flow sensors

dr. ir. R.J. Wiegerink, University of Twente
co-applicant: K.A.A. Makinwa (EEMCS)

In this project well-known thermal sensing principles for gas flow will be combined with mechanical sensors that measure the flow through the bending or displacement of a mechanical structure. In this way, it is expected that, besides mass flow, all relevant gas parameters can be measured: thermal conductivity, density, specific heat, and dynamic viscosity.

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