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Noninvasive characterization of a flowing multiphase fluid using ultrasonic interferometry

Patent ·
OSTI ID:1174570

An apparatus for noninvasively monitoring the flow and/or the composition of a flowing liquid using ultrasound is described. The position of the resonance peaks for a fluid excited by a swept-frequency ultrasonic signal have been found to change frequency both in response to a change in composition and in response to a change in the flow velocity thereof. Additionally, the distance between successive resonance peaks does not change as a function of flow, but rather in response to a change in composition. Thus, a measurement of both parameters (resonance position and resonance spacing), once calibrated, permits the simultaneous determination of flow rate and composition using the apparatus and method of the present invention.

Research Organization:
The Regents of the University of California, Los Alamos, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
DOE Contract Number:
W-7405-ENG-36
Assignee:
The Regents of the University of California (Los Alamos, NM)
Patent Number(s):
6,644,119
Application Number:
10/187,024
OSTI ID:
1174570
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

References (4)

Ultrasonic relaxation spectroscopy in liquids journal June 1976
Wave velocities in hydrocarbon‐saturated rocks: Experimental results journal June 1990
Ultrasonic velocities in pure hydrocarbons and mixtures journal June 1991
8. Noninvasive determination of sound speed and attenuation in liquids book January 2001