Apparatus and method for acoustic monitoring of steam quality and flow

An apparatus for monitoring steam quality at a chosen location in a pipe in which steam is flowing, comprising:

• a piezoelectric transducer for detecting sound generated in the pipe by the steam flowing through the pipe at the chosen location;
• a signal processor configured for receiving the detected sound from said piezoelectric transducer, converting the detected sound into a frequency spectrum characteristic of the natural resonance vibrations of the pipe and determining at least one acoustic frequency from the natural resonance vibration frequency spectrum of the pipe;
• and
• a microprocessor for monitoring the frequency of a peak at the at least one acoustic vibration frequency from said signal processor;
• whereby changes in the steam quality are obtained from changes in the frequency of the peak at the at least one acoustic vibration frequency.

An apparatus for monitoring steam quality at a chosen location in a pipe in which steam is flowing, comprising:

• a detector spaced-apart from said pipe for detecting sound generated in the pipe by the steam flowing through the pipe at the chosen location;
• a signal processor configured for receiving the detected sound from said detector, converting the detected sound into a frequency spectrum characteristic of the natural resonance vibrations of the pipe and determining at least one acoustic frequency from the natural resonance vibration frequency spectrum of the pipe;
• and
• a microprocessor for monitoring the frequency of a peak at the at least one acoustic vibration frequency from said signal processor;
• whereby changes in the steam quality are obtained from changes in the frequency of the peak at the at least one acoustic vibration frequency.