Apparatus and method for measuring parameters of a mixture having liquid droplets suspended in a vapor flowing in a pipe
US7032432B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 26, 2003 |
| Grant date | Apr 25, 2006 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 26, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N2291/02872
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An apparatus 10,70 and method is provided that includes a spatial array of unsteady pressure sensors 15–18 placed at predetermined axial locations x1–xN disposed axially along a pipe 14 for measuring at least one parameter of a saturated vapor/liquid mixture 12, such as steam, flowing in the pipe 14. The pressure sensors 15–18 provide acoustic pressure signals P1(t)–PN(t) to a signal processing unit 30 which determines the speed of sound amix propagating through of the saturated vapor/liquid mixture 12 in the pipe 14 using acoustic spatial array signal processing techniques. The primary parameters to be measured include vapor/liquid concentration (i.e., steam wetness or steam quality), vapor/liquid mixture volumetric flow, mass flow, enthalpy, density and liquid droplet size. Frequency based sound speed is determined utilizing a dispersion model to determine the parameters of interest.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.