Multiple-phase flowmeter and materials analysis apparatus and method

Patent · Tue Oct 14 00:00:00 EDT 1980

OSTI ID:6858572

Johnson, S A

An apparatus and method for elemental analysis and non-invasive measurement of the mass flow rate and/or density distribution of a multiple-phase system. The apparatus includes at least two x-ray sources, transmission detectors for the x-ray sources, fluorescence detectors, and collimators all of which are suitably indexed and multiplexed to provide information corresponding to the density distribution, elemental composition, phase composition, and/or flow rate of the system. Energy selective detectors are included in the apparatus to provide selective fluorescent radiation detection for fluorescence emitted by elements excited by the x-rays as a technique for obtaining an indication of the elemental composition of the system. X-ray sources and transmitted x-ray detectors are used to detect the density of the multiple-phase system at each point in a crosssection of the system. Corresponding second x-ray sources and detectors are mounted a moderately short distance from the first x-ray source and detector combination. The total mass flow rate and density distribution of the system is the integral over the area of the conduit for a plurality of point mass transfer rates and densities. A conventional computer system is included as part of the flowmeter and materials analysis apparatus to correlate and process the readings obtained by the various detectors and obtain thereby the mass flow rate, density and elemental composition of the multiple-phase system.

• Assignee: IFI; EDB-81-049199
• Patent Number(s): US 4228353
• OSTI ID: 6858572
• Resource Relation: Patent File Date: Filed date 2 May 1978
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
COAL
HYDRAULIC TRANSPORT
FUEL SLURRIES
FLOW RATE
X-RAY FLUORESCENCE ANALYSIS
SLURRY PIPELINES
FLOWMETERS
X-RAY FLUORESCENCE ANALYZERS
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
DISPERSIONS
ENERGY SOURCES
FOSSIL FUELS
FREIGHT PIPELINES
FUELS
MATERIALS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
METERS
MIXTURES
NONDESTRUCTIVE ANALYSIS
PIPELINES
SLURRIES
SUSPENSIONS
TRANSPORT
X-RAY EMISSION ANALYSIS
013000* - Coal
Lignite
& Peat- Transport
Handling
& Storage