Improving the Accuracy of Vortex Flowmeters through High-Resolution Estimation of Vortex Shedding Frequency

Authors

  • Olga L. Ibriaeva Федеральное государственное автономное образовательное учреждение высшего образования «Южно-Уральский государственный университет (национальный исследовательский университет)»
  • Artem D. Yakovenko Федеральное государственное автономное образовательное учреждение высшего образования «Южно-Уральский государственный университет (национальный исследовательский университет)»
  • Vladimir V. Sinitcin Федеральное государственное автономное образовательное учреждение высшего образования «Южно-Уральский государственный университет (национальный исследовательский университет)»
  • Aleksandr L. Shestakov Федеральное государственное автономное образовательное учреждение высшего образования «Южно-Уральский государственный университет (национальный исследовательский университет)»

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14529/cmse250303

Keywords:

vortex flowmeter, frequency estimation, matrix pencil method, high resolution, signal processing, measurement reliability, two-phase flow, parametric methods

Abstract

The paper addresses the problem of improving the accuracy of vortex flowmeters by means of high-resolution frequency estimation of vortex shedding under conditions of short observation intervals and noisy signals. Traditional methods based on the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) face fundamental resolution limitations when analyzing short data segments, which reduces their effectiveness in dynamic measurement regimes. As an alternative, a modified Matrix Pencil Method (MPM) is proposed, belonging to the class of high-resolution parametric techniques. The method models the signal as a sum of complex exponentials and provides robust frequency estimation even at low signal-to-noise ratios. A comparative analysis of MPM and FFT was carried out using both simulated and experimental signals from a vortex flowmeter. It is shown that MPM provides more stable frequency estimates, with the standard deviation reduced by an average of 1.5 times. At the same time, the computational complexity of the method is comparable to or even lower than that of FFT due to the small size of the analysis windows. The results demonstrate the potential of MPM for developing algorithms of automatic metrological reliability control. The method can serve as a basis for self-diagnostic systems and correction of measurement errors caused by flow nonstationarity, vibrations, or two-phase flow conditions.

Author Biographies

Olga L. Ibriaeva, Федеральное государственное автономное образовательное учреждение высшего образования «Южно-Уральский государственный университет (национальный исследовательский университет)»

к.ф.-м.н., старший научный сотрудник НИЛ технической самодиагностики и самоконтроля приборов и систем, Южно-Уральский государственный университет (национальный исследовательский университет)

Artem D. Yakovenko, Федеральное государственное автономное образовательное учреждение высшего образования «Южно-Уральский государственный университет (национальный исследовательский университет)»

аспирант кафедры информационно-измерительной техники, Южно-Уральский государственный университет (национальный исследовательский университет)

Vladimir V. Sinitcin, Федеральное государственное автономное образовательное учреждение высшего образования «Южно-Уральский государственный университет (национальный исследовательский университет)»

к.т.н., доцент, заместитель заведующего НИЛ технической самодиагностики и самоконтроля приборов и систем, Южно-Уральский государственный университет (национальный исследовательский университет)

Aleksandr L. Shestakov, Федеральное государственное автономное образовательное учреждение высшего образования «Южно-Уральский государственный университет (национальный исследовательский университет)»

профессор, д.т.н., президент Южно-Уральского государственного университета (национальный исследовательский университет)

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Published

2025-10-18

Issue

Vol. 14 No. 3 (2025)

Section

Informatics, Computers and Control

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