P3 - Ultrasonic Waveguide for Multiphase Level Monitoring
- Event
- iCCC2026 - iCampus Cottbus Conference
2026-05-05 - 2026-05-07
Cottbus - Band
- Poster
- Chapter
- Akustik & Ultraschallsensorik
- Author(s)
- M. Piechaczek, A. Backer, T. Roß, S. Tietze, K. S. Drese - Hochschule Coburg, Coburg
- Pages
- 132 - 135
- DOI
- 10.5162/iCCC2026/P3
- ISBN
- 978-3-910600-10-2
- Price
- free
Abstract
In process industries, continuous and accurate level measurement is essential for safe and efficient operation. However, many industrial fluids are inherently heterogeneous, typically forming stratified layers in which solid particles settle at the bottom while lighter components accumulate near the top. Such multiphase conditions complicate reliable level detection, often requiring multiple sensors to quantify the individual layers. This work presents an alternative approach using a single ultrasonic waveguide to detect the overall fill level and liquid layers by exciting multiple acoustic modes. Each mode exhibits a distinct sensitivity to the surrounding medium, enabling the differentiation of layered structures and improving measurement robustness through temperature compensation. Initial investigations in oil–water mixtures show promising agreement between theoretical predictions and experimental results for two of the three targeted wave modes, demonstrating the feasibility of multimodal guided-wave sensing for complex multiphase environments.