Smart Distributed Sensor Fields: Algorithms for Tactical Sensors

Key pre-distribution is an important area of research in Distributed Sensor Networks (DSN). Two sensor nodes are considered connected for secure communication if they share one or more common secret key(s). It is important to analyse the largest subset of nodes in a DSN where each node is connected to every other node in that subset (i.e., the largest clique). This parameter (largest clique size) is important in terms of resiliency and capability towards efficient distributed computing in a DSN. In this paper, we concentrate on the schemes where the key pre-distribution strategies are based on transversal design and study the largest clique sizes. We show that merging of blocks to construct a node provides larger clique sizes than considering a block itself as a node in a transversal design.

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Estimation of the Filling Distribution and Height Levels Inside an Insulated Pressure Vessel by Guided Elastic Wave Attenuation Tomography

Sensors ◽

10.3390/s21010179 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

pp. 179

Author(s):

Robert Neubeck ◽

Mareike Stephan ◽

Tobias Gaul ◽

Bianca Weihnacht ◽

Lars Schubert ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Guided Waves ◽

Oil And Gas ◽

Wave Attenuation ◽

Oil And Gas Industry ◽

Pressure Vessels ◽

Prototype System ◽

Gas Industry ◽

Distributed Sensor ◽

Conversion Rates ◽

Scale Experiment

The operation efficiency and safety of pressure vessels in the oil and gas industry profits from an accurate knowledge about the inner filling distribution. However, an accurate and reliable estimation of the multi-phase height levels in such objects is a challenging task, especially when considering the high demands in practicability, robustness in harsh environments and safety regulations. Most common systems rely on impractical instrumentation, lack the ability to measure solid phases or require additional safety precautions due to their working principle. In this work, another possibility to determine height levels by attenuation tomography with guided elastic waves is proposed. The method uses a complete instrumentation on the outer vessel shell and is based on the energy conversion rates along the travel path of the guided waves. Noisy data and multiple measurements from sparsely distributed sensor networks are translated into filling levels with accuracies in the centimeter range by solving a constrained optimization problem. It was possible to simultaneously determine sand, water, and oil phases on a mock-up scale experiment, even for artificially created sand slopes. The accuracy was validated by artificial benchmarking for a horizontal vessel, giving references for constructing an affordable prototype system.

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