Wind tunnel evaluation of a rime metering device using a magnetostrictive sensor

A ground-based rime-meter developed by Hydro-Quebec was evaluated in 1992 in the icing tunnel at Université du Québec à Chicoutimi (UQAC) and this instrument is presently used in a network of stations monitoring rime and other iced precipitations in the province of Quebec (Canada). The rimemeter uses, as a sensing element, the probe of the Rosemount icing detector model 871A regulated by an improved programmable controller. The purpose of the evaluation was to characterize the frequency response of the rime-meter mounted with various probes in order to determine their dynamic sensitivity and accuracy under a variety of operating and icing conditions apt to occur in field. The tunnel investigation showed the high sensitivity of the probe to meter ice accumulation. Therefore, it appears feasible under dry conditions, with appropriate calibration, to use this ice sensor as a device for determining the liquid water content. However, its operation in freezing rain near 0°C requires further investigation in the laboratory and in the field.