Fiber-optic vector acoustic receiver based on adaptive holographic interferometer

A mobile scalar–vector acoustic receiver is proposed, experimentally implemented and investigated. The key components of the receiver are (a) the six-channel fiber-optic coil-type sensor configured as to detect three projections of acoustic intensity vector, (b) the six-channel optical phase demodulator based on six-channel adaptive holographic interferometer configured with use of dynamic holograms multiplexed in a photorefractive crystal of cadmium telluride and (c) the signals recording ADC-based system combined with software package for data processing. Field tests of the developed receiver applied for obtaining scalar and vector parameters of acoustic waves generated by a stationary and moving acoustic source in open air and water area are carried out. Experimental results show perceptiveness of use of the fiber-optical adaptive interferometry system for bearing of weak acoustic sources in real conditions.

Case study: Experimental characterization of noise and vibration sources in a refrigerator

The sources of noise and vibration of a refrigerator are characterized by means of laboratory measurements. Three different elements are considered: compressor, evaporator fan, and condenser fan. Both the radiated acoustic energy and the mechanical power injected to the refrigerator structure are measured. Acoustic intensity maps on the refrigerator faces at different frequencies are also provided They are helpful in visualizing the more problematic zones in terms of noise emis- sion. The devices are tested in vacuo or working inside the refrigerator. The provided information can be used as input data for vibroacoustic simulation models such as statistical energy analysis. It is also of interest in order to improve the refrigerator acoustic design.

Analysis of Predistortion Techniques on Fresnel Zone Plates in Ultrasound Applications

In this work, we analyze the effect of predistortion techniques on the focusing profile of Fresnel Zone Plates (FZPs) in ultrasound applications. This novel predistortion method is based on either increasing or decreasing the width of some of the FZP Fresnel rings by a certain amount. We investigate how the magnitude of the predistortion, as well as the number and location of the predistorted rings, influences the lens focusing profile. This focusing profile can be affected in different ways depending on the area of the lens where the predistortion is applied. It is shown that when the inner area of the lens, closer to its center, is predistorted, this technique allows the control of the focal depth at the main focus. However, when the predistortion is applied to an area farther from the center of the lens, the acoustic intensity distribution among the main focus and the closest adjacent secondary foci can be tailored at a certain degree. This predistortion technique shows great potential and can be used to control, modify and shape the FZP focusing profile in both industrial and therapeutic applications.

Ultrasound-assisted dewatering of crude oil from Kumkol oilfield

Reducing the water content of crude oil is a necessary step in preparing oil for transportation and processing. This task is complicated by the presence of stable water-in-oil emulsions. The most widely used approach to oil demulsification is exploring chemical demulsifiers. However, the high cost and impossibility of regenerating the latter require the search for new ways to destroy water-oil emulsions. One of the promising areas is the use of ultrasound. This paper presents the results of studies on the ultrasonic treatment of four samples of emulsions with different water content (8.74; 15; 25 and 30 vol.%) based on oil from the Kumkol oilfield (Kazakhstan). Samples of emulsions were subjected to ultrasonic action at a frequency of 40 kHz for 5-60 min at a temperature of 70±1°C, followed by settling for 40 min at the indicated temperature. The influence of the initial water content in the emulsion, the acoustic intensity, as well as the duration of ultrasonic treatment on the dewatering ratio was investigated. It was found that the residual water content in the oil was 5.04- 7.82 vol.%. Ultrasonic treatment of crude oil from the Kumkol oilfield can be used for preliminary dewatering, to subsequently reduce the consumption of chemical demulsifiers.

Effects of Stimulus Intensity and Frequency on the Force and Timing of Sensorimotor Synchronisation

We report an experiment to investigate possible vestibular effects on finger tapping to an auditory anapaest rhythm. In a sample of 10 subjects, index finger acceleration and tapping force were recorded along with extensor/flexor activity and the associated electroencephalographic activity measured at central and cerebellar surface electrodes. In a prior session with a standard short air-conducted 500-Hz pip, vestibular evoked myogenic potential thresholds were measured and subsequently used to set the acoustic intensity. During the main experiment subjects were asked to synchronise tapping to the pips arranged in the anapaest at two different frequencies, 500 Hz vs 5 kHz, so that only the low-frequency high-intensity condition was a vestibular, as well as an auditory stimulus. We hypothesised that a vestibular effect would manifest in an interaction between the frequency and intensity factors for a range of dependent measures of tapping performance. No clear evidence was found for vestibular effects, but this was likely due to the confounding effects of an independent effect of intensity and the relative weakness of the acoustic vestibular stimulus. However, the data did show novel evidence for two distinct timing processes for the flexion and extension stages of a tap cycle and two distinct timing strategies, which we refer to as ‘staccato’ and ‘legato’, characterised by different profiles of force and extension.

Passive Source Localization Using Acoustic Intensity in Multipath-Dominant Shallow-Water Waveguide

The array invariant technique has been recently proposed for passive source localization in the ocean. It has successfully estimated the source–receiver horizontal range in multipath-dominant shallow-water waveguides. However, it requires a relatively large-scale hydrophone array. This study proposes an array invariant method that uses acoustic intensity, which is a vector quantity that has the same direction as the sound wave propagating through a water medium. This method can be used to estimate not only the source–receiver horizontal range, but also the azimuth to an acoustic source. The feasibility of using a vector quantity for the array invariant method is examined through a simulation and an acoustic experiment in which particle velocity signals are obtained using a finite difference approximation of the pressure signals at two adjacent points. The source localization results estimated using acoustic intensity are compared with those obtained from beamforming of the acoustic signals acquired by the vertical line array.