Measuring Wall Thickness Using a Multi-Element Ultrasonic Transducer
AssigneeSaudi Arabian Oil Company
InventorsAziz U. Rehman, Meshal M. Alalwani, Isa H. Al-Mudaibegh, Mosa A. Zahrani, Mohammad A. Almajed
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Abstract
Systems and methods for measuring wall thicknesses include an ultrasonic transducer including a cylindrical housing defining a sensing plane at an end of the cylindrical housing; and a plurality of piezoelectric crystals disposed in the cylindrical housing in a circular configuration with a face of each piezoelectric crystal coincident with the sensing plane, each piezoelectric crystal being operable to transmit and receive ultrasonic waves.
Claims20
An ultrasonic transducer comprising:
- a cylindrical housing defining a sensing plane at an end of the cylindrical housing;
- and
- a plurality of piezoelectric crystals disposed in the cylindrical housing in a circular configuration with a face of each piezoelectric crystal coincident with the sensing plane, each piezoelectric crystal being operable to transmit and receive ultrasonic waves.
A method for measuring a wall thickness of a structure, the method comprising:
- placing an ultrasonic transducer in contact with a wall of a structure, the ultrasonic transducer comprising a plurality of piezoelectric crystals configured to be in contact with the wall;
- sequentially exciting the piezoelectric crystals of the ultrasonic transducer to generate ultrasonic waves;
- receiving, by the piezoelectric crystals, reflected ultrasonic waves from the wall;
- and
- determining a thickness of the wall based on the reflected ultrasonic waves.
A system for measuring a wall thickness of a structure, the system comprising:
- an ultrasonic transducer comprising:
- a cylindrical housing defining a sensing plane at an end of the cylindrical housing;
- and
- a plurality of piezoelectric crystals disposed in the cylindrical housing in a circular configuration with a face of each piezoelectric crystal coincident with the sensing plane, each piezoelectric crystal being operable to transmit and receive ultrasonic waves;
- and
- a controller operable to cause the ultrasonic transducer to generate and receive ultrasonic waves.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.