Numerical simulation of ultrasonic heat meter by multiphysics coupling finite-element simulation software

Abstract

Objective: To increase heat calculation accuracy, the numerical simulation of the ultrasonic heat meter is explored by multiphysics coupling. Methods: The COMSOL, a multiphysics coupling finite-element simulation software, is used to build the coupling model of the sound field, structure field, and electric field. The propagation of ultrasonic waves in heat meters is simulated, and its sound field distribution in pure water is analyzed. According to the operating conditions of ultrasonic heat meters, the influence of impurities with different concentrations on ultrasonic propagation is analyzed. The end-face sound pressure levels of the incident transducer and the receiving transducer are compared to obtain the attenuation laws of ultrasonic waves in the liquid-solid two-phase flow. Results: The main lobe and multiple side lobes exist during the propagation of ultrasonic waves. The energy of the main lobe is higher than that of the side lobes. Bubbles resonate under the action of the sound field. Also, bubbles of different diameters correspond to different resonance frequencies, which have larger sound pressure than that of the incident sound field. Most of the sound waves are reflected at the liquid-solid interface, while some of them continue to propagate through the media, affecting the sound pressure distribution on the end-face of the receiving transducer, thereby affecting the measurement accuracy of the ultrasonic heat meter. Conclusion: The reliability and detection efficiency of the heat meter is improved, which is significant and theoretically valuable.