Using wide band signals for obstacle path correction in acoustic scintillation flow meters

This paper deals with the challenges of water flow measurement in hydroelectric plants using acoustic scintillation. One of the drawbacks of ultrasonic signal propagation through water is that measurements require relatively clean water conditions. In water with significant amount of impurities, the level of transmitted signals may not be sufficient for an accurate flow measurement. In terms of signal processing, the effect of impurities is represented by a random loss or fading of received signals. In order to improve the measurement, the wide band signals can be used in order to improve the quality factor of the signals by adaptive filtering using a static mode reference. Results show that, in real configurations, the interference due to the obstacles can be reduced.