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Title: Methods and systems for monitoring a solid-liquid interface

Patent ·
OSTI ID:1029275

Methods and systems are provided for monitoring a solid-liquid interface, including providing a vessel configured to contain an at least partially melted material; detecting radiation reflected from a surface of a liquid portion of the at least partially melted material; providing sound energy to the surface; measuring a disturbance on the surface; calculating at least one frequency associated with the disturbance; and determining a thickness of the liquid portion based on the at least one frequency, wherein the thickness is calculated based on L=(2m-1)v.sub.s/4f, where f is the frequency where the disturbance has an amplitude maximum, v.sub.s is the speed of sound in the material, and m is a positive integer (1, 2, 3, . . . ).

Research Organization:
National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
DOE Contract Number:
AC36-98GO10337
Assignee:
BP Corporation North America Inc. (Naperville, IL)
Patent Number(s):
8,030,633
Application Number:
US patent applicaiton 12/233,989
OSTI ID:
1029275
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

References (5)

A theoretical analysis of the laser melt-level monitoring system for the Czochralski crystal growing furnaces journal June 1997
Laser ultrasonic sensing of the melting and solidification of cadmium telluride journal May 2001
Application of pulse-echo ultrasonics to locate the solid/liquid interface during solidification and melting journal December 1986
Ultrasonic evaluation of semi-solid metals during processing journal October 2000
Localization of the Solid/Liquid Interface during Directional Solidification of Silicon by a Pulse-Echo Ultrasonic Technique book January 1991