Ultrasonic method and apparatus for determining water level in a closed vessel
AssigneeThe Babcock & Wilcox Company
InventorsJohn R. Bower, Thomas Powers, Hubert L. Whaley
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Abstract
An ultrasonic method and apparatus for measuring liquid level in a vessel employing an acoustic waveguide (16) connected to an ultrasonic transducer (14) and the vessel (18). Guiding means (24) situated inside a vessel (18) directs the acoustic energy pulse to a surface (22) of the liquid. The acoustic energy pulse is reflected from the surface (22) and returned along the guiding means (24) to the acoustic waveguide (16). A pulser/receiver (10) connected thereto measures the reflected acoustic energy pulse for determining liquid level from the transit time.
Claims10
An apparatus for acoustically measuring liquid level in a vessel, comprising:
- an acoustic waveguide attached at a predetermined location to a wall of the vessel;
- transducer means connected to said acoustic waveguide at a predetermined distance from the vessel for directing an acoustic energy pulse along said acoustic waveguide, said acoustic waveguide coupling the acoustic energy pulse through the wall into the vessel;
- a tube situated inside the vessel for guiding the acoustic energy pulse to a surface of the liquid to be measured, said tube including apertures therein for allowing the liquid within said tube to adjust to a similar level as that in the vessel, said tube further including a conical section at one end axially aligned with said acoustic waveguide, the acoustic energy pulse being reflected from the surface of the liquid and returned along said tube;
- and
- detected means connected to said acoustic waveguide for measuring the reflected acoustic energy pulse to determine liquid level therefrom.
A method for acoustically measuring liquid level in a vessel, comprising the steps of:
- attaching an acoustic waveguide to a wall of a vessel;
- directing an acoustic energy pulse along the acoustic waveguide with a transducer connected to the acoustic waveguide and positioned at a predetermined distance from the vessel;
- coupling the acoustic energy pulse with the acoustic waveguide through the wall into the vessel;
- directing the acoustic energy pulse inside the vessel with a tube to guide the acoustic energy pulse to a surface of the liquid;
- providing apertures in the tube for allowing the liquid within the tube to adjust to a similar level as that in the vessel;
- aligning axially a conical section at one end of the tube with the attached acoustic waveguide;
- reflecting the acoustic energy pulse from the surface of the liquid, the reflected pulse returning along the tube;
- and
- measuring the reflected acoustic energy pulse for determining liquid level in the vessel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.