Metal Particles Velocity Measurement Based on Capacitance Sensor With Double Triangular-Shaped Electrodes

How to measure the flow velocity of metal particles flowing in the pipeline is a urgent problem in mechanical manufacturing industry due to the complex flow state of metal particles. A novel capacitance sensor with double triangular-shaped electrodes (CSDTE) is presented for measuring the average velocity of metal particles flowing within a small-diameter pipeline. Firstly, the operating principle of CSDTE for measuring metal particles is theoretically deduced. Then the 3D simulation model of CSDTE is built by COMSOL software, and its axial sensitivity distribution is analyzed. On this basis, a quantitative mathematical relationship for velocity measurement is derived by analyzing spatial filtering effect of CSDTE. Finally, a CSDTE-based metal particles velocity measurement system is further developed and a gravity-fed particle flow experimental rig is designed to verify the measurement method. Experimental results indicate that the measurement method is feasible, and its repeatability error is less than 7% over the range of 2.44-5.34 m/s.