Design and implementation of an air flow measurement extension for a wood pellet water heater
Khvorostin, Ivan (2020)
Khvorostin, Ivan
2020
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-202002252720
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-202002252720
Tiivistelmä
The goal of the thesis project was to design and implement an airflow measurement solution for the VEneCT project. Computer simulation and mathematical modelling of the process were used to determine the best flow properties which were verified by experiment. Another goal was approving the hypothesis that smaller cost-efficient sensors are suitable for measuring the airflow in bigger size pipes using the bypass configuration.
The following activities were accomplished during the thesis project work:
Fundamental theoretical research of airflow principles and airflow measurements with cost-efficient MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems).
Flow measurement extensions were designed as addition to the existing air flow system with Autodesk Invertor software and the expected air flow was simulated in the CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) simulation software, Autodesk CFD.
Testing the simulated results was conducted on the prototype modelling and creating a mathematical model based on the test results using the nonlinear regression analysis method to find the connection between the sensor’s output and the real flow in the main channel. As a conclusion a verification of the interactions between the simulating results, experimental results and mathematical model.
Simulation with the modern CFD software is an effective and cost-efficient method for designing an optimal model for flow measurement. The use of the CFD significantly reduces the prototyping stage of a research project and saves on resources. A mathematically determined function based on both simulating data and experimental results provides an accurate concept of the flow process and was implemented to the flow control software of VEneCT. The measurement is possible with only 7 % error. Properly calibrated MEMS is a reliable method to measure an airflow when used in bypass configuration and tested to match the desired measurement environment.
The following activities were accomplished during the thesis project work:
Fundamental theoretical research of airflow principles and airflow measurements with cost-efficient MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems).
Flow measurement extensions were designed as addition to the existing air flow system with Autodesk Invertor software and the expected air flow was simulated in the CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) simulation software, Autodesk CFD.
Testing the simulated results was conducted on the prototype modelling and creating a mathematical model based on the test results using the nonlinear regression analysis method to find the connection between the sensor’s output and the real flow in the main channel. As a conclusion a verification of the interactions between the simulating results, experimental results and mathematical model.
Simulation with the modern CFD software is an effective and cost-efficient method for designing an optimal model for flow measurement. The use of the CFD significantly reduces the prototyping stage of a research project and saves on resources. A mathematically determined function based on both simulating data and experimental results provides an accurate concept of the flow process and was implemented to the flow control software of VEneCT. The measurement is possible with only 7 % error. Properly calibrated MEMS is a reliable method to measure an airflow when used in bypass configuration and tested to match the desired measurement environment.