UB-Lab product family - Versatile ultrasonic profilers

UB-Lab profilers allow accurate velocity profile measurements from the laboratory flume to the industrial process.

Advantages

  • High spatial and temporal resolution
  • Large transducer choice
  • Fine frequency tuning
  • Web interface

The compact and splash-proof enclosures of the UB-Labs are adapted to harsh environments. These scientific instruments can be used within a laboratory as well as in an industrial context (see application for in-line rheometry). They break new ground by offering the user new capabilities in the fields of fluid study and control.

The devices are configured through a responsive web interface profiles can be visualized in real time. They integrate an internal logger which allows the storage of a large amount of data.

The UB-Lab UVPs work in monostatic modus, meaning the same transducer emits bursts and receives the corresponding echoes. This technology is also known as UVP (Ultrasonic Velocity Profiling) or UDV (Ultrasonic Doppler Velocimetry) and provides 1-component velocity profiles (projection on the transducer axis).

When equipped with two transducers, they can be used as a high resolution 2C ADCP.

For instantaneous 2C velocity profiles, see the UB-Lab 3C and its ADVP technology.

Depending on the version, those instruments allow measuring with up to 8 transducers in monostatic modus and are able to drive several transducers in a large frequency range (from 25 kHz to 9.4 MHz). They can therefore be adapted to many kinds of liquids and particles.

They can simultaneously measure velocity and echo amplitude profiles.

They are declined in two groups:

  • the UB-Lab P is a handheld profiler equipped with a Wifi connexion and an internal battery in a compact enclosure with two channels.
  • the UB-Lab S4 can control four channels. Possible to manufacture solutions with more channels on request.
  • the UB-Lab X2 and the UB-Lab X8 can measure with a very high time resolution (up to 100Hz). They have temperature inputs and even pressure inputs for the X8. And both integrate a raw echo signal output. Like the UB-Flow profiler, they give access to the acoustic turbidity which allows the evaluation of Suspended Sediment Concentration (SSC). They are connected through Ethernet and can behave like a DHCP server when connected directly to the computer, or they can be connected to the network and behave like a DHCP client.
  • a UB-Lab "Starter kit" is also available. It is meant for researchers to get acquainted with ultrasonic Doppler profilers, and test out the UVP technology, or for education, for practical exercises of fluid mechanics and hydraulics. It is possible to later upgrade this starter kit to a full UB-Lab S4, and then also multiply the transducers and frequencies for more applications. Two versions are available: 2C or 3C, to be used as a HR-2C-ADCP or HR-3C-ADCP.
Measurement Performances UB-Lab P UB-Lab "Starter kit" UB-Lab S4 UB-Lab X2 UB-Lab X8
Sampling range 0.005 to 4 m 0.005 to 2 m 0.005 to 4 m
Number of cells 2 to 200 2 to 30 2 to 200
Cell size 0.73 mm to 30 mm 0.36 mm to 10 cm
Velocity Range [-10 to 10] m/s (under Nyquist condition) [-2 to 2] m/s (under Nyquist condition) [-10 to 10] m/s (under Nyquist condition)
Velocity accuracy 0.2 to 1%
Velocity resolution 15 ppm of the velocity range 0.1 ppm of the velocity range
Sampling rates up to 15 Hz * up to 100 Hz *
Signal Processing Coherent Doppler with phase coding
Number of configurations 8 2 in “Starter kit 2C” or 4 in “Starter kit 3C” 9
Raw acoustic signal no 1 output channel (lemo connector for FFA.00.250)
Trigger IN/OUT yes (lemo connector for FFA.00.250) yes (BNC connector)
Temperature no 1 BNC connector for 2 wires PT100 probe 1 lemo connector for FGG.00.304 for 4 wires PT100 probe
Pressure no 2 lemo connectors for FGG.00.304 for 4 wires probes (optional)
Acoustics
Measurement modus monostatic
Number of transducer connectors 2 for transducers in emission/reception 4 for transducers in emission/reception, only 2 active in “Starter kit 2C” 2 for transducers in emission/reception 8 for transducers in emission/reception
Type of transducer connectors lemo for FFA.00.250 BNC lemo for FFA.00.250
Frequency range 0.025 to 3.6MHz 3MHz 0.025 to 3.6MHz 0.8 to 9.4MHz
Beam width 2° to 5° half angle (depending on the transducer and on the emitting frequency)
Emission voltage 50V typical 30/60V (300/450V upon request) 30/60V
Physical
Dimensions 28 x 58 x 210 mm3 174 x 116 x 56 mm3 55 x 113 x 385 mm3
Weight 0.2 kg 0.8 kg 1.5 kg
Data Management
Communication Wifi or Ethernet Ethernet, HTTP and TCP-IP protocols
Internal data logger Up to 1.2Go 3 Go (more than 20 000 profiles)
File format binary data file (.udt) ASCII CSV (compatible with Excel, Matlab …) and binary for raw data
Velocity Velocity profile data (relative to acoustic beam directions) per beam and cell
Echo Backscattered echo RMS amplitude per beam and cell
Turbidity no Acoustic turbidity data per beam and cell
Data Quality Velocity data quality indicator per beam and cell
Raw IQ no yes
Power
Input 5V 110-230V AC, 48V POE
Consumption typical: 2.5 W
max: 7.5 W during charge
autonomy : 4h30		 typical: 3.5 W Maximum 12 VA
ON/OFF LED yes with power button yes

* see FAQ - What does the announced sampling rate exactly refer to?

13/09/2024

Study of Leonardo da Vinci's water flows drawings

Using a UB-Lab X2 UVP for intrusive and non-intrusive measurements in a basin with impining jet ... read more

Outflow control of a Francis turbine by UVP measurement

The UB-Lab X2 allowed the visualisation of the velocity field around the torch in the Francis turbine ... read more

27/02/2024

Pumping system efficiency study in Italy - Results

We present results from the first pumping system efficiency study using a UB-Lab P ... read more

"Towards handheld UVP" by M. Burckbuchler and S. Fischer

A laboratory measurement campaign on a physical model of a hydraulic structure, using the UB-Lab P. ... read more

Case study for applications in the biobased industry

An interdisciplinary approach that combined multiphysics simulations, measurements with the UB-Lab and rheological measurements allowing to achieve a comprehensive system characterization that will facilitate research in the field of PEF processing. ... read more

laboratory

High resolution velocity profile in a pipe filled with sunflower oil

The UB-Lab profiler (UVP) allows accurate velocity profiles measurements on laboratory setups and physical scale models, such as high resolution velocity profiling in oil, in a food processing pipe.

In-line rheometry

In-line rheometry in food processes

In-line rheometry with UB-Lab profiler allows an advanced knowledge of the product quality, which needs to be controlled in many food processes. For example, a real-time, accurate and non-invasive viscosity measurement based on UB-Lab has been developed.

Thesis presentation in ETH Zürich, UVP technique for food production and digestion processes

The oral examination of the PhD thesis of Damien Dufour took place on the 23rd Feb 2018 and symbolized the end of a 5 years’ work at the Food Process Engineering laboratory of ETH Zurich. The thesis is entitled "Ultrasound Doppler Flow Measurement in Food Production and Digestion Processes" and experimental data has been recorded by an UB-Lab from Ubertone. ... read more

laboratory

Localized sand patterns downstream from a vertical cylinder

The UB-Lab profiler used for the results of following paper: A. Auzerais, A. Jarno, A. Ezersky and F. Marin, Formation of localized sand patterns downstream from a vertical cylinder under steady flows: Experimental and theoretical study, PHYSICAL REVIEW E 94, 052903 (2016), and referenced as a high resolution ADCP.

UB-Lab installation

You will find here how to install the UB-Lab from UBERTONE. The UB-Lab communication and powering go through a POE cable and supply.

Overall presentation - UB-Lab User Interface

You will find here how to start the graphical user interface of the UB-Lab from UBERTONE. It is an embedded web interface. And you will get an overview of this interface.

Note: it is almost the same interface for the UB-Flow.

Transducers installation examples

You will find here examples of how to install transducers for measurements with the UB-Lab UVPs or the UB-Lab 3C from UBERTONE.

Investigation of the dispersing characteristics of antral contraction wave flow in a simplified model of the distal stomach

D. Dufour, F. X. Tanner, K. A. Feigl, and E. J. Windhab; Physics of Fluids 33, 083101 (2021).

Simulations were validated with UB-Lab X2 velocity measurements in a physical model of an antrum. The characteristics of the retropulsive jet were quantified at different Reynolds numbers ... read more

Acoustic measurement on industrial liquids pipe flows

A few measurement examples of different opaque and viscous industrial liquids ... read more