# Design of a New Supersonic Shock Wave Generator and Application in Power Generation
## 3 Supersonic Shock Wave Monitoring  
### Monitoring System Architecture  
To verify the function and efficiency of the new shock wave generator, a supersonic shock wave monitoring system was developed in this study to monitor the speed and pressure of the generated shock waves. Figure 5 shows the shock wave monitoring system architecture. The black line represents the gas, the red dotted line represents the signal, and the blue line represents the fluid. The functions of all components in the system architecture are described as follows:  
1. Shock wave generator: this is a device used to generate supersonic shock waves.
2. Activation control valve: this is controlled by the monitoring host and is used to activate the shock wave generator to generate supersonic shock waves.
3. Shock tube: this is a cylindrical steel tube, with water as the carrier, and the shock waves generated enter the steel tube to be moved and reflected quickly.
4. High-pressure gas supply unit: this is used to generate high-pressure gases and provide gases to the shock wave generator to generate shock waves. It can be an air compressor or a high-pressure gas cylinder.
5. Inlet valve: this is used to control high-pressure gases entering the gas storage tank of the shock wave generator.
6. Input pressure gauge: this is used to monitor the pressure of the gases entering the gas storage tank of the shock wave generator.
7. Output pressure gauge: this is a mechanical pressure gauge with residual pressure used to monitor and display the maximum pressure in the shock tube.
8. Front-end pressure sensor: this is a high-pressure and high-speed pressure sensor installed at the front end of the shock tube.
9. Rear-end pressure sensor: this is also a high-pressure and high-speed pressure sensor installed at the rear end of the shock tube.
10. Water inlet valve: this is used to assess and control whether to input water into the shock tube and is installed below the shock tube.
11. Water source: this provides water for the shock tube and is used as a water bucket or tap.
12. Exhaust drainage valve: this is a control valve installed at the top of the shock tube for exhaust or drainage, so the shock tube is filled with water when water flows out of the valve.
13. Drainage tank: this is used to receive water or gases from the exhaust drainage valve.
14. Drainage valve: this is a control valve for removing residual water from the shock tube.
15. Signal transformation unit: This is a data acquisition and control card for acquiring pressure signals measured by the front-end and rear-end pressure sensors and then transmitting them to the monitoring host for processing. It also transmits the command of the monitoring host to the activation control valve to activate the shock wave generator to generate supersonic shock waves.
16. Monitoring host: This is a personal computer that executes monitoring software developed with LabVIEW 2014 SPI. Through the signal transformation unit, the monitoring host commands the activation control valve to activate the shock wave generator to generate supersonic shock waves. Additionally, it synchronously acquires the pressure signals measured by the front-end and rear-end pressure sensors. It then calculates and analyzes supersonic shock waves' movement speed and output pressure in the shock tube.