Error analysis of an acoustic current meter

Author

Trivett, D. Andrew ; Terray, Eugene A. ; Williams, Albert J., III

Author_Institution

Dept. of Appl. Ocean Phys. & Eng., Woods Hole Oceanogr. Instn., MA, USA

Volume

16

Issue

4

fYear

1991

fDate

10/1/1991 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

329

Lastpage

337

Abstract

Accuracies of the benthic acoustic stress sensor (BASS) and the proposed modular acoustic velocity sensor (MAVS) are evaluated. A simple model of the hydrodynamic sources of error for acoustic current meters is presented and compared with the measured performance of BASS in a tow-tank and in field deployments. The sources of error addressed include those due to ideal flow around the sensor cage, wake effects from the support structure and transducers, vortex shedding from the cage, and electronic zero-point offsets. Electronic error dominates at velocities less than 5-10 cm/s, while flow disturbance dominates at higher speeds

Keywords

geophysical fluid dynamics; measurement errors; oceanographic equipment; oceanographic techniques; ultrasonic equipment; underwater sound; 0 to 1 m/s; 0 to 2.5 Hz; 50 to 100 mm/s; acoustic current meter; benthic acoustic stress sensor; current meter error analysis; electronic errors; electronic zero-point offsets; flow disturbance; flow speed measurement errors; hydrodynamic error sources; ideal flow; meter performance; modular acoustic velocity sensor; potential flow; sample aliasing; sensor cage; sound speed errors; support structure; tow speed; tow-tank measurements; transducers; vortex shedding; wake effects; zero offset bias; Acoustic applications; Acoustic measurements; Acoustic sensors; Acoustic transducers; Current measurement; Error analysis; Fluid flow measurement; Sea measurements; Stress; Velocity measurement;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Oceanic Engineering, IEEE Journal of

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0364-9059

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/48.90895

Filename

90895