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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Acoustic emission leak source location

Patent ·
OSTI ID:5304495
This patent describes a method of locating a leak which produces a continuous acoustic emission having background noise and spikes. The method comprising: continuously acoustic emissions from at least two spaced locations using detectors at the spaced locations to form at least two continuous signals having background noise and spikes of the acoustic emission. The spikes in the signals of the detectors being offset from each other in time by an amount corresponding to the difference in travel time for an acoustic emission to each of the spaced locations; adjusting a detection threshold value for each detector to remove the background noise from the spikes in each signal, the detection threshold value being adjusted in a floating manner so as to correspond to an average level for the signals; and measuring the offset in time between the spikes of the signals, in real time, to determine the relative position of the acoustic emission with respect to the spaced locations.
Assignee:
Babcock and Wilcox Co., New Orleans, LA
Patent Number(s):
US 4858462
Application Number:
PPN: US 7300408A
OSTI ID:
5304495
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English