Ultrasonic hydrometer. [Specific gravity of electrolyte]

Patent · Tue Mar 09 04:00:00 EST 1982

OSTI ID:6590189

Swoboda, C A

The disclosed ultrasonic hydrometer determines the specific gravity (density) of the electrolyte of a wet battery, such as a lead-acid battery. The hydrometer utilizes a transducer that when excited emits an ultrasonic impulse that traverses through the electrolyte back and forth between spaced sonic surfaces. The transducer detects the returning impulse, and means measures the time t between the initial and returning impulses. Considering the distance d between the spaced sonic surfaces and the measured time t, the sonic velocity V is calculated with the equation V = 2d/t. The hydrometer also utilizes a thermocouple to measure the electrolyte temperature. A hydrometer database correlates three variable parameters including sonic velocity in and temperature and specific gravity of the electrolyte, for temperature values between 0 and 40/sup 0/C and for specific gravity values between 1.05 and 1.30. Upon knowing two parameters (the calculated sonic velocity and the measured temperature), the third parameter (specific gravity) can be uniquely found in the database. The hydrometer utilizes a microprocessor for data storage and manipulation.

• DOE Contract Number: W-31109-ENG-38
• Assignee: ERA-08-017983; EDB-83-049886
• Patent Number(s): None
• Application Number: ON: DE83006858
• OSTI ID: 6590189
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

25 ENERGY STORAGE
250903* -- Energy Storage-- Batteries-- Materials
Components
& Auxiliaries
COMPUTERS
DENSITY
ELECTRIC BATTERIES
ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS
ELECTROLYTES
ELECTRONIC CIRCUITS
LEAD-ACID BATTERIES
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
MICROELECTRONIC CIRCUITS
MICROPROCESSORS
MONITORING
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
SOUND WAVES
TEMPERATURE MONITORING
THERMOCOUPLES
ULTRASONIC WAVES
VELOCITY