Development and Validation of a Capacitive Flow Sensor for Accurate and Reliable Fluid Flow Rate Measurement

This paper presents a new capacitive flow sensor intended for industrial fluid flow measurement. The sensor has a U-tube structure and relies on the centrifugal and momentum forces that are caused by fluid flow. This sensor operates without any direct contact and reduces maintenance concerns due to contact in traditional measurement techniques. The experimental validation of the sensor under controlled laboratory conditions showed excellent sensitivity and accuracy, with a maximum accuracy of ±2.07% as the flow rates range from 2 to 18 LPM. Considering the static pressure effects and the balanced U-tube design of the system ensure not to experience complex corrections while increasing the consistency in performance. Because of its minimal deviation, the characteristic shows a repeatability error of 1.28%, which highlights its robustness and reliability in industrial settings. Though resilient to variations in fluid properties, calibration procedures specific to different fluids are recommended for optimizing accuracy under diverse operational conditions. Overall, the proposed capacitive flow sensor is a promising advancement in flow measurement technology, which promises simplicity, reliability, and superior performance for critical industrial applications.