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Measuring water consumption by different users (industrial, agricultural, urban) is essential, since in many countries water royalties per consumer are differentiated by the customer's profile. Therefore, the aim of this study was to develop an alternative flow rate measurement method with low uncertainty for low sampling frequency systems using radiotracers and the Cross-Correlation function. The experimental tests were carried out on a closed water transport line built in Polyvinyl Chloride with 30 m length. The radiotracer used was Na82Br injected as a rapid pulse with volume of 3.0 ml (3 MBq) per test. Data acquisitions were made with a sampling rate ranging between 20 Hz and 1 kHz. A measurement correlator (hardware and software) was developed using special mathematical methods, such as: Savitzky-Golay filtering and Lagrange interpolation to reduce the uncertainty of the flow rate measurement. The correlator was tested in a water flow rate range of 200 L/h to 800 L/h with an uncertainty of 2.0% at a flow rate of 200 L/h. • A methodology to develop an alternative method for water flow rate measurement using low sampling frequency equipment. • Radiotracers and Cross-Correlation function with low uncertainties have been used in this study. • The Na82Br radiotracer was injected as a rapid pulse on a closed water experimental transport line built. • A measurement correlator (hardware and software) was developed using Savitzky-Golay filtering and Lagrange interpolation. • The correlator was tested in a water flow with a theoretical uncertainty of 1.0% at a flow rate of 200 L h−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A recent investigation proposed a simulated radioactive particle tracking (RPT) system using eight scintillator detectors in order to predict instantaneous positions of a radioactive particle inside a concrete mixer using an artificial neural network as a location algorithm. In the context of RPT, the aim of the present study is to propose an optimization in the number of detectors in a single-phase flow RPT system. The new detection geometry consists of an array of six NaI(Tl) detectors, a 137Cs point source with isotropic emission of gamma-rays (radioactive particle) and a polyvinyl chloride mixer filled with concrete made with Portland cement as a homogenous flow regime. Another feature of this study is the use of MCNP6 code, which is based on Monte Carlo Method. In addition, three feed-forward multilayer perceptron networks with different configuration are tested as a location algorithm. All three networks showed good statistical results and the root mean square error is 1.18 in the worst scenario. The results also showed an agreement with previous study, which indicates that this methodology reducing two detectors works satisfactorily and maintain a good accuracy in position prediction. • Optimization of the detection system reducing two detectors. • Radioactive Particle Tracking methodology developed using MCNP6 code. • An artificial neural network predicts the position of the radioactive particle. • System based on RPT to evaluate industrial agitators in a homogeneous flow regime. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The methodology presented in this study is based on a 149.5 keV X-ray beam and two planar germanium detectors for X-ray transmission and scattering measurements for prediction of volume fractions in a three-phase system. Fluid volume fractions have been modeled using the MCNP6 code for an annular flow regime. A mathematical algorithm based on an artificial neural network was used to correlate the energy spectra from both detectors with the fluids volume fractions. The pulse height distributions obtained by the detectors are used as input data of the network that outputs the volume fractions of gas and water. The mean relative error, using the procedure presented here, for all data, was below 2.5% for both phases investigated. These results show that the methodology based on an X-ray beam has the potential to be used with flow meters. • An artificial neural network was used to predict volume fraction of gas, water, and oil. • X-ray beam and two planar germanium detectors for X-ray transmission and scattering measurements for prediction of volume fractions. • Fluid volume fractions have been modeled using the MCNP6 code for an annular flow regime. • The spectra obtained by the detectors are used as input data of the network that outputs gas and water volume fractions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]