Apparatus and method for acoustic monitoring of steam quality and flow
An apparatus and method for noninvasively monitoring steam quality and flow and in pipes or conduits bearing flowing steam, are described. By measuring the acoustic vibrations generated in steam-carrying conduits by the flowing steam either by direct contact with the pipe or remotely thereto, converting the measured acoustic vibrations into a frequency spectrum characteristic of the natural resonance vibrations of the pipe, and monitoring the amplitude and/or the frequency of one or more chosen resonance frequencies, changes in the steam quality in the pipe are determined. The steam flow rate and the steam quality are inversely related, and changes in the steam flow rate are calculated from changes in the steam quality once suitable calibration curves are obtained.
- Research Organization:
- Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC52-06NA25396
- Assignee:
- Los Alamos National Security, LLC (Los Alamos, NM)
- Patent Number(s):
- 9,442,094
- Application Number:
- 13/414,457
- OSTI ID:
- 1324676
- Resource Relation:
- Patent File Date: 2012 May 07
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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