Methods and systems for monitoring a solid-liquid interface

Patent · 20 July 2010

OSTI ID:1012826

Stoddard, Nathan G ^[1]; Clark, Roger F ^[2]; Kary, Tim ^[3]

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1. Gettysburg, PA
2. Frederick, MD
3. Union Bridge, MD

Methods and systems are provided for monitoring a solid-liquid interface, including providing a vessel configured to contain an at least partially melted material; detecting radiation reflected from a surface of a liquid portion of the at least partially melted material that is parallel with the liquid surface; measuring a disturbance on the surface; calculating at least one frequency associated with the disturbance; and determining a thickness of the liquid portion based on the at least one frequency, wherein the thickness is calculated based on.times. ##EQU00001## where g is the gravitational constant, w is the horizontal width of the liquid, and f is the at least one frequency.

• Research Organization: BP Corporation North America Inc (Warrenville, IL)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• Assignee: BP Corporation North America Inc (Warrenville, IL)
• Patent Number(s): 7,758,696
• Application Number: 12/233,694
• OSTI ID: 1012826
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English