Development of a water level sensor using magnetostrictive materials
In this study, an active-mode water level sensor has been developed to distinguish between the interfaces in large capacity water tanks. The sensor must be robust to withstand forces due to moving water when filling or emptying the tanks, and should be able to work when the water tank is both in mot...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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AIP Publishing LLC
2019-03-01
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| Series: | AIP Advances |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.5079508 |
| _version_ | 1818109083596619776 |
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| author | JinHyeong Yoo Nicholas J. Jones Kyle Flynn Rachel Jacobs |
| author_facet | JinHyeong Yoo Nicholas J. Jones Kyle Flynn Rachel Jacobs |
| author_sort | JinHyeong Yoo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In this study, an active-mode water level sensor has been developed to distinguish between the interfaces in large capacity water tanks. The sensor must be robust to withstand forces due to moving water when filling or emptying the tanks, and should be able to work when the water tank is both in motion and still. A Galfenol-brass unimorph beam has been constructed, with Galfenol (an Fe-Ga alloy, magnetostrictive material) as the active layer. The beam is clamped at one end, and, when it is flexed, there will be a stress concentration near the clamped region. This change in stress can be measured by a magnetic field sensor, which can detect local changes in magnetic field. Two magnetic coils are used, one for alternating current (AC) magnetic field generation and the other for measuring the magnetic field response of the beam. The resonance frequency of the beam in air is 248 Hz, and 206 Hz in water. By choosing an operating vibrational frequency of 280 Hz, we can separate the pick-up coil voltage response due to differences in the surrounding environment. The sensor was mounted vertically in a water tank and the system was tested both as the water level increased and decreased, showing a 10% increase from not submerged to fully submerged. The relative sensor response was evaluated from room temperature (25 °C) to 80 °C, showing a 9.1% linear increase in voltage response in water, and 8.2% in air. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T02:25:37Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-87c1de2dc8a54e50b01b86a101d9ca66 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2158-3226 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T02:25:37Z |
| publishDate | 2019-03-01 |
| publisher | AIP Publishing LLC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | AIP Advances |
| spelling | doaj.art-87c1de2dc8a54e50b01b86a101d9ca662022-12-22T01:23:56ZengAIP Publishing LLCAIP Advances2158-32262019-03-0193035119035119-410.1063/1.5079508035992ADVDevelopment of a water level sensor using magnetostrictive materialsJinHyeong Yoo0Nicholas J. Jones1Kyle Flynn2Rachel Jacobs3Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division, Physical Metallurgy and Fire Protection Branch, West Bethesda, Maryland 20817, USANaval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division, Physical Metallurgy and Fire Protection Branch, West Bethesda, Maryland 20817, USADepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, USANaval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division, Waste Water Management Branch, West Bethesda, Maryland 20817, USAIn this study, an active-mode water level sensor has been developed to distinguish between the interfaces in large capacity water tanks. The sensor must be robust to withstand forces due to moving water when filling or emptying the tanks, and should be able to work when the water tank is both in motion and still. A Galfenol-brass unimorph beam has been constructed, with Galfenol (an Fe-Ga alloy, magnetostrictive material) as the active layer. The beam is clamped at one end, and, when it is flexed, there will be a stress concentration near the clamped region. This change in stress can be measured by a magnetic field sensor, which can detect local changes in magnetic field. Two magnetic coils are used, one for alternating current (AC) magnetic field generation and the other for measuring the magnetic field response of the beam. The resonance frequency of the beam in air is 248 Hz, and 206 Hz in water. By choosing an operating vibrational frequency of 280 Hz, we can separate the pick-up coil voltage response due to differences in the surrounding environment. The sensor was mounted vertically in a water tank and the system was tested both as the water level increased and decreased, showing a 10% increase from not submerged to fully submerged. The relative sensor response was evaluated from room temperature (25 °C) to 80 °C, showing a 9.1% linear increase in voltage response in water, and 8.2% in air.http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.5079508 |
| spellingShingle | JinHyeong Yoo Nicholas J. Jones Kyle Flynn Rachel Jacobs Development of a water level sensor using magnetostrictive materials AIP Advances |
| title | Development of a water level sensor using magnetostrictive materials |
| title_full | Development of a water level sensor using magnetostrictive materials |
| title_fullStr | Development of a water level sensor using magnetostrictive materials |
| title_full_unstemmed | Development of a water level sensor using magnetostrictive materials |
| title_short | Development of a water level sensor using magnetostrictive materials |
| title_sort | development of a water level sensor using magnetostrictive materials |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.5079508 |
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