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Title: Locating interfaces in vertically-layered materials and determining concentrations in mixed materials utilizing acoustic-impedance measurements. [Patent application]

Abstract

Measurement of the relative and actual value of acoustic characteristic impedances of an unknown substance, location of the interfaces of vertically-layered materials, and the determination of the concentration of a first material mixed in a second material are presented. A highly damped ultrasonic pulse is transmitted into one side of a reference plate, such as a tank wall, where the other side of the reference plate is in physical contact with the medium to be measured. The amplitude of a return signal, which is the reflection of the transmitted pulse from the interface between the other side of the reference plate and the medium, is measured. The amplitude value indicates the acoustic characteristic impedance of the substance relative to that of the reference plate or relative to that of other tested materials. Discontinuities in amplitude with repeated measurements for various heights indicate the location of interfaces in vertically-layered materials. Standardization techniques permit the relative acoustic characteristic impedance of a substance to be converted to an actual value. Calibration techniques for mixtures permit the amplitude to be converted to the concentration of a first material mixed in a second material.

Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
5218420
Application Number:
ON: DE82011757
Assignee:
Dept. of Energy
DOE Contract Number:  
AC06-77RL01030
Resource Type:
Patent
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION; INTERFACES; ACOUSTIC MEASUREMENTS; ULTRASONIC TESTING; MATERIALS; AMPLIFIERS; AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS; CALIBRATION; ELECTROLYTES; GATING CIRCUITS; HOISTS; IMPEDANCE; LAYERS; MIXTURES; PULSE GENERATORS; QUANTITY RATIO; RADIOACTIVE WASTES; SWITCHING CIRCUITS; TANKS; TRANSDUCERS; ACOUSTIC TESTING; CONTAINERS; DISPERSIONS; ELECTRONIC CIRCUITS; ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT; FUNCTION GENERATORS; MATERIALS HANDLING EQUIPMENT; MATERIALS TESTING; NONDESTRUCTIVE TESTING; RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS; SOLUTIONS; TESTING; WASTES; 440300* - Miscellaneous Instruments- (-1989)

Citation Formats

. Locating interfaces in vertically-layered materials and determining concentrations in mixed materials utilizing acoustic-impedance measurements. [Patent application]. United States: N. p., 1981. Web.
. Locating interfaces in vertically-layered materials and determining concentrations in mixed materials utilizing acoustic-impedance measurements. [Patent application]. United States.
. 1981. "Locating interfaces in vertically-layered materials and determining concentrations in mixed materials utilizing acoustic-impedance measurements. [Patent application]". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/5218420.
@article{osti_5218420,
title = {Locating interfaces in vertically-layered materials and determining concentrations in mixed materials utilizing acoustic-impedance measurements. [Patent application]},
author = {},
abstractNote = {Measurement of the relative and actual value of acoustic characteristic impedances of an unknown substance, location of the interfaces of vertically-layered materials, and the determination of the concentration of a first material mixed in a second material are presented. A highly damped ultrasonic pulse is transmitted into one side of a reference plate, such as a tank wall, where the other side of the reference plate is in physical contact with the medium to be measured. The amplitude of a return signal, which is the reflection of the transmitted pulse from the interface between the other side of the reference plate and the medium, is measured. The amplitude value indicates the acoustic characteristic impedance of the substance relative to that of the reference plate or relative to that of other tested materials. Discontinuities in amplitude with repeated measurements for various heights indicate the location of interfaces in vertically-layered materials. Standardization techniques permit the relative acoustic characteristic impedance of a substance to be converted to an actual value. Calibration techniques for mixtures permit the amplitude to be converted to the concentration of a first material mixed in a second material.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/5218420}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Wed Jun 10 00:00:00 EDT 1981},
month = {Wed Jun 10 00:00:00 EDT 1981}
}