A Novel Technique to Reduce Measurement Errors due to Flow–Sensor Interactions in Multi-‎Sensor Conductivity Probes

Multi-sensor conductivity probes rely on multiple sensors intruding into the flow field for the measurement
of conductivity variations. This may cause sensors to deflect due to flow-sensor and flow-body interactions.
Since this deflection relocates the sensor tips causing inaccuracy in the flow property measurements, many
techniques have been used to overcome this issue [1-6]; such as increasing the sensors diameter and
reducing the sensors length. However, most of these methods increase the bubble-sensor interactions. In the
present work, a novel technique has been developed with the aid of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)
and Finite Element Analysis (FEA) based solvers to reduce the errors that may arise because of the sensor’s
and probes body’s deflections. The developed technique compensates for the errors within the signal
processing stage. The CFD model has been validated against experimental data obtained from the literature.
Different variables have been investigated to quantify the sensor tip relocation process as a function of pipe
diameter, flow velocity and radial probe locations. The results have been presented in the form of
mathematical equations using multiple variable regression analyses, and thereafter embedded into the signal
processing code.