Enhanced Time-of-Flight Estimation via Type-I Discrete Cosine Transform in Ultrasonic Flow Measurement
Received: 4 March 2025 | Revised: 3 April 2025 | Accepted: 12 April 2025 | Online: 4 June 2025
Corresponding author: Nursin Catak
Abstract
This study investigated the possibility of using the Discrete Cosine Transform (DCT) method for Time-of-Flight (ToF) estimation in ultrasonic water flow measurements, as an improvement over traditional correlation-based techniques. A DN-20 ultrasonic water flow meter was employed to collect data across 13 distinct flow rates, calculating the travel time of signals through the medium. The average flow readings were compared against reference values obtained from an electromagnetic flow meter. The DCT method demonstrated superior performance, consistently yielding lower error percentages than the correlation method. At low flow rates, such as 16 L/h, the DCT method achieved an error of 4.62%, compared to the 4.75% obtained with the correlation method, while at higher flow rates, such as 4000 L/h and 5000 L/h, the DCT method maintained minimal errors of 0.02% and 0.06%, respectively, versus the 0.05% and 0.07% attained with the correlation method. The DCT method's computational efficiency, derived from its frequency domain analysis, significantly reduced the required computational resources, as well as its robustness to noise, ensuring more accurate ToF estimates in noisy environments. Overall, the DCT method offered a more accurate, efficient, and robust alternative for ToF estimation in ultrasonic flow measurements. These findings suggest potential improvements in various applications requiring precise flow measurement, with future research focusing on integrating the DCT method into embedded systems and extending its applicability to other types of flow measurements.
Keywords:
correlation, time of flight, DCT, flow meterDownloads
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