Acoustic illumination for flow-monitoring
US9896929B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 1, 2013 |
| Grant date | Feb 20, 2018 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 1, 2034 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N2291/106
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Externally generated noise can be coupled into a fluid carrying structure such as a pipe, well, or borehole so as to artificially acoustically “illuminate” the pipe, well, or borehole, and allow fluid flow in the structure or structural integrity to be determined. In the disclosed system, externally generated noise is coupled into the structure being monitored at the same time as data logging required to undertake the monitoring is performed. This has three effects. First, the externally generated sound is coupled into the structure so as to “illuminate” acoustically the structure to allow data to be collected from which fluid flow may be determined, and secondly the amount of data that need be collected is reduced, as there is no need to log data when the structure is not being illuminated. Thirdly, there are signal processing advantages in having the data logging being undertaken only when the acoustic illumination occurs.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.