Flow-velocity measurement for bulk granular solids in pneumatic conveyor pipes using random-data correlator architecture

This paper discusses a correlative-measurement technique for the evaluation of the flow velocity of bulk granular solids moving through the pneumatic conveyor pipes in both the dense and dilute phases. Flow velocities are recovered from the cross-correlation functions between the pairs of signals produced by the noninvasive capacitive sensors placed in circular layers at a given distance on the conveyor pipe. A random-data correlator architecture is discussed as a cost-effective solution for the real-time computation of the multiple correlation functions used for the estimation of the cross-sectional tomographic model of the flow-velocity profile in the dilute phase