Gao, Yuan
(2025)
The Wireless Inductive Coupling and Linear Variable Differential Transformer: Analysis, Experiment, and Design.
Doctoral Dissertation, University of Pittsburgh.
(Unpublished)
Abstract
Wireless inductive coupling can offer significant advantages for in-reactor applications. The technology can avoid electrical feedthroughs penetrating fuel cladding or other metal barriers in fuel performance testing to improve the experiment safety and simplify the design. To alleviate the coupling attenuation caused by metal barriers, coaxially coupled solenoid coils working at low frequencies are used. The linear variable differential transformer (LVDT) is integrated into the technology because it has been successfully demonstrated in reactor applications and can be used to measure various parameters. However, research on wireless inductive coupling with metal layers in between coaxial solenoid coils is limited. At high temperatures, current LVDT analytical models can't predict the LVDT performance accurately because these models ignore the magnetic flux in the air.
The truncated region eigenfunction expansion method based on the magnetic vector potential is adopted to build analytical models for LVDT and coaxial solenoid coil with metal layers. Experiments are performed to validate finite element method (FEM) simulation and analytical models. FEM results are used to help analytical models' validation in a broader scope. High temperature wireless coupling experiments are conducted to explore the influence of temperature. Based on Kirchhoff's voltage law, wireless coupling for LVDT sensor experiments is performed to test the feasibility of the technology.
These models agree with experimental results. The LVDT model is a useful tool to explore the LVDT performance at high temperatures. Compared with FEM, the LVDT model is faster and more adaptable for different LVDT structures. Solutions for wireless inductive coupling coils with metal layers can help to investigate the coupling under different conditions. A higher temperature will enhance the coupling because the conductivity of the metal is reduced. Wireless inductive coupling for LVDT has been demonstrated to be feasible. The non-linearity caused by the wireless coupling for the LVDT sensor is limited. This work can benefit irradiation experiments and LVDT application in high temperatures. Wireless inductive coupling with metal layers is better understood, facilitating its design and optimization for different applications.
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Details
| Item Type: |
University of Pittsburgh ETD
|
| Status: |
Unpublished |
| Creators/Authors: |
|
| ETD Committee: |
|
| Date: |
7 January 2025 |
| Date Type: |
Publication |
| Defense Date: |
28 August 2024 |
| Approval Date: |
7 January 2025 |
| Submission Date: |
10 July 2024 |
| Access Restriction: |
No restriction; Release the ETD for access worldwide immediately. |
| Number of Pages: |
151 |
| Institution: |
University of Pittsburgh |
| Schools and Programs: |
Swanson School of Engineering > Mechanical Engineering |
| Degree: |
PhD - Doctor of Philosophy |
| Thesis Type: |
Doctoral Dissertation |
| Refereed: |
Yes |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: |
Inductive Coupling, Linear Variable Differential Transformer, Magnetic Vector Potential, Truncated Region Eigenfunction Expansion |
| Date Deposited: |
07 Jan 2025 20:55 |
| Last Modified: |
07 Jan 2025 20:55 |
| URI: |
http://d-scholarship.pitt.edu/id/eprint/46666 |
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