IoT-Enabled Dual-Modality Sensor Network for Multiphase Flow Monitoring

This paper introduces an IoT-enabled distributed dual-modality impedance sensor system to monitor multiphase flow by collecting data from multiple locations along a pipeline. By measuring conductive and/or capacitive electrical properties, it is possible to monitor a broader spectrum of multiphase mixtures. The distributed architecture, supported by IoT connectivity, allows synchronized monitoring across different points in the pipeline, capturing local variations and providing real-time insights into transient phenomena. The system was evaluated in a flushing process experiment, where saline water was displaced by tap water in 10 m and 20 m horizontal pipelines. The sensors tracked the displacement front and provided real-time concentration data. CFD simulations of the process were also performed with good agreement with experimental data. Thus, developed sensor system shows potential for providing data to improve the understanding of flow dynamics and validation of CFD predictions. As for the sensors, they show scalability for industrial applications.