Patent · US Expired

System and technique for ultrasonic characterization of settling suspensions

US7140239B2 · kind B2 · utility

18Cited by
42References
12Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 18, 2003
Grant dateNov 28, 2006
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 3, 2023

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01N2291/102
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A system for determining properties of settling suspensions includes a settling container, a mixer, and devices for ultrasonic interrogation transverse to the settling direction. A computer system controls operation of the mixer and the interrogation devices and records the response to the interrogating as a function of settling time, which is then used to determine suspension properties. Attenuation versus settling time for dilute suspensions, such as dilute wood pulp suspension, exhibits a peak at different settling times for suspensions having different properties, and the location of this peak is used as one mechanism for characterizing suspensions. Alternatively or in addition, a plurality of ultrasound receivers are arranged at different angles to a common transmitter to receive scattering responses at a variety of angles during particle settling. Angular differences in scattering as a function of settling time are also used to characterize the suspension.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.