Modeling and Simulations of Liquid for Precise Level Measurements

Abstract

Precise liquid level measurement is one of the critical research area. A variety of level sensors are available in the market for different applications. They are classified into point, continuous, contact, non-contact, liquid, solid, electromagnetic or electromechanical etc. These sensors show inaccuracy in liquid level measurement and that result due to several dynamic environmental factors like sloshing, temperature variations, noise, salinity, density, dust, dielectric medium constant, pressure, mechanical shock, tank size and shape. All of above mentioned factors limit the performance of level sensors in any vibrant environment. We have addressed sloshing of liquid factor in our research work. Sloshing phenomena refers to the dynamic movement of any liquid inside a container. It is the result of all kinds of external excitation.

First, we have formulated a Boundary Value Problem (BVP) of liquid in a specified container whose height, width, length is 10 m, 6 m and 10 m respectively for particularly our work. The final solution is closed form expression of mathematical model of surface wave motion that leads us to the velocity potential. It is implemented in MATLAB for three different waves that are dispersive wave, circular wave, and sinusoidal wave. We have analyzed the resonance frequencies of sloshing of these three types of waves that lies in range 0.5-7 Hz. Measurement of these resonant frequencies helps us to minimize the effect of sloshing in a liquid by using a low pass jilter.