# US 10,309,887 B2 ยท Acoustic impact particle size measurement > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server โ€” see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,309,887 B2 - Document ID: US10309887B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/762,223 - Filed: 2014-01-22 - Published: 2015-12-17 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-22 - Assignees: Cidra Corporate Services Inc. - Applicants: CiDRA Corporate Services Inc. - Inventors: David V. Newton; Mark R. Fernald - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10309887B2 ## CPC - G01N 15/02: Investigating particle size or size distribution (by measuring osmotic pressure G01N7/10; investigating sedimentation of particle suspensions G01N15/04; investigating individual particles G01N15/10) - G01N 29/046: {using the echo of particles imparting on a surface; using acoustic emission of particles (investigating concentration of particle suspensions G01N15/06; devices for measuring flow of solids in suspension G01F1/74)} - G01N 29/09: by measuring mechanical or acoustic impedance - G01N 29/14: using acoustic emission techniques {(echo of particles G01N29/046; measuring mechanical vibrations or acoustic waves in solids in general G01H1/00)} - G01N 29/222: {Constructional or flow details for analysing fluids (optoacoustic fluid cells G01N29/2425)} - G01N 29/46: by spectral analysis, e.g. Fourier analysis {or wavelet analysis (spectral signal processing per se G06F17/14)} - G01N 2015/0053: {in liquids, e.g. trouble} - G01N 2291/02408: Solids in gases, e.g. particle suspensions - G01N 2291/02416: Solids in liquids - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) ## Abstract Apparatus features a signal processor or processing module configured at least to: receive signaling containing information about acoustic emissions resulting from particles impacting a solid sensor element configured in a process pipe having a process fluid flowing therein, including a slurry; and determine particle sizes of solids in the process fluid, based at least partly on the signaling received. The signal processor module may also be configured to provide corresponding signaling containing information about the particle sizes of solids in the process fluid. ## Claims ### Claim 1 Apparatus comprising: a solid sensor element configured in a process pipe having a process fluid flowing therein, the solid sensor element having an impact body configured to extend into the process pipe, the solid sensor element being configured to a pipe wall in a double threaded sleeve that is made from a material that has a different acoustic impedance than the impact body, the double threaded sleeve having a combination of a first threaded isolation material and a second threaded isolation material, the first threaded isolation material being threaded to the solid sensor element, the second threaded isolation material having two sides, each side having respective threads, a first side of the second threaded isolation material being threaded to the first threaded isolation material, and a second side of the second threaded isolation material being threaded to a rubber liner of the process pipe; and a signal processor or signal processing module configured at least to: receive signaling containing information about acoustic emissions resulting from particles impacting the solid sensor element configured in the process pipe having the process fluid flowing therein, including a slurry; and determine corresponding signaling containing information about particle sizes of solids in the process fluid, based at least partly on the signaling received. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the signal processor or signal processing module is configured to provide the corresponding signaling containing information about the particle sizes of solids in the process fluid. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the signal processor or signal processing module is configured to determine a particle size distribution of the solids in the process fluid, based at least partly on the signaling received. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the signaling contains information about particle impacts that generate acoustic impulses in the solid sensor element, which acts like a waveguide that transmits acoustic impulse energy to a transducer, including an ultrasonic transducer, in the solid sensor element. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises the solid sensor element configured with the impact body and a transducer, including an ultrasonic transducer, so that particle impacts generate acoustic impulses in the impact body, which acts like a waveguide that transmits acoustic impulse energy to the transducer. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the frequency content of the acoustic impulse energy is a function of a particle size distribution. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the shape and amplitude of an acoustic signal power spectral density at ultrasonic frequencies greater than 20 kHz will depend on a distribution of the particles in the process fluid. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein low frequency acoustic energy less than 10 kHz, which is dependent on environmental noise and not particle size, is isolated from an ultrasonic transducer by mechanical and electronic filtering. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the signaling is acoustic impulse signaling; and the signal processor or signal processing module is configured to convert the acoustic impulse signaling to a particle size distribution using a signal processing algorithm based at least partly on the Hertz theory of impact between solid bodies, including where contact time of the solid bodies and impulse amplitude is dependent on the diameter of the solid bodies. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the signal processor or signal processing module is configured to make the determination by converting from a time domain to a frequency domain, where the Hertz theory indicates that a frequency content and amplitude of an acoustic impact signal will change based on a particle diameter. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the signal processor or signal processing module is configured to determine a particle size distribution of impacting particles, based at least partly on the shape of a power spectral density spectrum being dependent on a size distribution of impacting particles. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the solid sensor element is configured with an ultra-hard, high wear coating in order to withstand the process fluid, including a tungsten carbide plasma coating. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the acoustic impedance of the solid sensor element substantially matches a base material of the impact body so that the solid sensor element does not act as a barrier to acoustic signaling. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the double threaded sleeve is configured with a threaded interface having an angle that acts to disperse unwanted acoustic noise. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the signaling contains information about the acoustic emissions in a series of snapshots, each having a predetermined time duration, and each snapshot in time containing information about acoustic energy generated by impacts from particles of all sizes in the process fluid. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) Apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the signal processor or signal processing module is configured to calculate for each waveform collected and received a spectral density using a Discrete Fast Fourier Transform (DFFT). ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) Apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the signal processor or signal processing module is configured to smooth a frequency spectrum for each waveform using a โ…“ octave filter. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) Apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the signal processor or signal processing module is configured to average the series of snapshots in order to smooth out variations caused by outliers. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) Apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the signal processor or signal processing module is configured to interpret the โ…“ octave power spectrum in order to determine a particle size distribution. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) Apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the signal processor or signal processing module is configured to determine the particle size distribution, based at least partly on some combination of a change in either: the slope of an acoustic impact signal, or the amplitude in particular frequency bins which changes with a mean particle size. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the signal processor or signal processing module is configured with at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code, and the at least one memory and computer program code is configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus at least to receive the signaling and determine the corresponding signaling containing information about the particle sizes of the solids in the process fluid, based at least partly on the signaling received. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the process pipe includes a pipe wall and a rubber liner. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) Apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the second threaded isolation material is threaded to the rubber liner using a threaded arrangement. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) Apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the second threaded isolation material includes threads, the rubber liner includes corresponding threads, and the threaded arrangement includes the threads and corresponding threads coupled together. ### Claim 25 (depends on 1) Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first threaded isolation material has two sides, each side having respective threads, and a first side of the first threaded isolation material being threaded to the solid sensor element, and a second side of the first threaded isolation material being threaded to the second threaded isolation material. ### Claim 26 (depends on 1) Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is an acoustic impact particle measurement device. ### Claim 27 A method comprising: configuring a solid sensor element in a process pipe having a process fluid flowing therein, the solid sensor element having an impact body configured to extend into the process pipe, the solid sensor element being configured to a pipe wall in a double threaded sleeve that is made from a material that has a different acoustic impedance than the impact body, the double threaded sleeve having a combination of a first threaded isolation material and a second threaded isolation material, the first threaded isolation material being threaded to the solid sensor element, the second threaded isolation material having two sides, each side having respective threads, a first side of the second threaded isolation material being threaded to the first threaded isolation material, and a second side of the second threaded isolation material being threaded to a rubber liner of the process pipe; and receiving in a signal processor or signal processing module signaling containing information about acoustic emissions resulting from particles impacting the solid sensor element configured in the process pipe having the process fluid flowing therein, including a slurry; and determining in the signal processor or signal processing module corresponding signaling containing information about particle sizes of solids in the process fluid, based at least partly on the signaling received. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) A method according to claim 27, wherein the method comprises providing with the signal processor or signal processing module the corresponding signaling containing information about the particle sizes of solids in the process fluid. ### Claim 29 (depends on 27) A method according to claim 27, wherein the method comprises determining in the signal processor or signal processing module a particle size distribution of the solids in the process fluid, based at least partly on the signaling received. ### Claim 30 (depends on 27) A method according to claim 27, wherein the signaling contains information about particle impacts that generate acoustic impulses in the solid sensor element, which acts like a waveguide that transmits acoustic impulse energy to a transducer, including an ultrasonic transducer, in the solid sensor element. ### Claim 31 (depends on 27) A method according to claim 27, wherein the method comprises configuring the solid sensor element with the impact body and a transducer, including an ultrasonic transducer, so that particle impacts generate acoustic impulses in the impact body, which acts like a waveguide that transmits acoustic impulse energy to the transducer. ### Claim 32 Apparatus comprising: means for configuring a solid sensor element in a process pipe having a process fluid flowing therein, the solid sensor element having an impact body configured to extend into the process pipe, the means for configuring comprising a double threaded sleeve that is made from a material that has a different acoustic impedance than the impact body, the double threaded sleeve having a combination of a first threaded isolation material and a second threaded isolation material, the first threaded isolation material being threaded to the solid sensor element, the second threaded isolation material having two sides, each side having respective threads, a first side of the second threaded isolation material being threaded to the first threaded isolation material, and a second side of the second threaded isolation material being threaded to a rubber liner of the process pipe; and means for receiving signaling containing information about acoustic emissions resulting from particles impacting the solid sensor element configured in a process pipe having a process fluid flowing therein, including a slurry; and means for determining corresponding signaling containing information about particle sizes of solids in the process fluid, based at least partly on the signaling received. ### Claim 33 (depends on 32) Apparatus according to claim 32, wherein the apparatus further comprises means for providing the corresponding signaling containing information about the particle sizes of solids in the process fluid. ### Claim 34 (depends on 32) Apparatus according to claim 32, wherein the means for determining particle sizes of solids in the process fluid includes determining a particle size distribution of the solids in the process fluid.