A Detection Method for Vortex Precession Frequency Based on MEMS Three-Axis Acceleration Sensor

Swirlmeters are widely used in the wellhead metering of low permeability gas fields in China. However, the swirlmeter’s piezoelectric sensor has difficult distinguishing the vortex precession signal from fluid pulsation noise, pipeline mechanical vibration, and other interference. In this article, in order to detect the vortex precession frequency signal effectively and accurately from the interference noises, a signal detection method based on micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) three-axis acceleration sensor was proposed. According to the difference between the force direction of vortex signal and interference signals, a dual-differential technique based on three-axis measurement is proposed to eliminate interference noises. The radiated interference of electromagnetic noise was eliminated by adding a notch circuit and radio frequency interference filter to the measuring circuit. Then, the sensitivity characteristics of vortex precession with different swirl angles were investigated by numerical simulation and the performance of the method was evaluated by experiments. The results of experiments show that the method proposed in this article can improve the sensor’s capability of anti-interference and widen the measurement range. Further wet gas experimental results show that the vortex precession frequency signal detected by MEMS-three-axis acceleration sensor (TAAS) does not change its linear output law in spite of the presence of liquid phase. Finally, a correction model of the instrument coefficient of the swirlmeter for wet gas measurement was established. The relative errors of the fitting model are within ±2.0%, the mean percentage error (MPE) is 0.17%, and the mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) is 0.81%. The method proposed in this article can improve the ratio of signal to noise of swirlmeter, overcome the influence of interference noise on the precession frequency, and broaden the gas flow measurement range. It realizes the efficient and accurate measurement of the gas flow rate for wet gas flow.