Detection of wave movements

Abstract: The aim of the thesis has been to study methods to minimize the slosh when moving liquid-filled packages in packaging machines. An automatic method for generation of the movement of a package in a packaging machine is of growing importance. The main reason is that reduced slosh leads to increased production rate. Progress within measurement technology creates possibilities for new solutions. One purpose has been to find methods and equipment to detect the height of the wave, perhaps at several places or alternatively the entire liquid surface shape. When suitable equipment for detection of the wave movements was found, collected measurements were analyzed and criteria for describing improvements of the slosh properties have been formulated. Initially a sensor specification was written in order to simplify the search for suitable equipment. Sources of information have mainly been catalogues and Internet. The search resulted in that a number of sensors were borrowed for tests. The results of the tests supported the choice of the most suitable sensor, in this case a laser sensor. The main reason is that the sensors detection ability is good compared to its price. An analysis of the sensors most important properties confirmed the choice of the laser sensor. To be able to compare waves, criteria for what is considered to be good wave properties have been formulated and evaluated. The work has confirmed that it is difficult to find a simple and cheap solution for wave detection given that the solution should have good detection ability. It has also been difficult to formulate simple but working criteria for wave performance, and this has led to a compromise between the complexity of the criterion functions and the result of the wave score. Ideas about how an automatic method, based on the chosen sensor and the criterion functions, can be implemented, have been introduced. During the work, some interesting discoveries have been made. These have led to better understanding of how some parameters should be chosen, to better understanding of wave movements and to better choice of future work.