Ultrasonic fluid densitometry and densitometer
AssigneeBattelle Memorial Institute
InventorsMargaret S. Greenwood, Jason C. Lail
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention is an ultrasonic fluid densitometer that uses a material wedge having an acoustic impedance that is near the acoustic impedance of the fluid, specifically less than a factor of 11 greater than the acoustic impedance of the fluid. The invention also includes a wedge having at least two transducers for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic signals internally reflected within the material wedge. Density of a fluid is determined by immersing the wedge into the fluid and measuring reflection of ultrasound at the wedge-fluid interface.
Claims15
An ultrasonic densitometer for measuring a density of a fluid, said ultrasonic densitometer having at least one wedge material, said at least one wedge material having at least two sides substantially parallel, a first parallel side having a first ultrasonic transducer mounted thereon and a second parallel side immersible into said fluid whereby an ultrasonic signal emanating from said first ultrasonic transducer strikes said second parallel side and reflects back to said first parallel side;
- the improvement comprising:
- (a) a first non-parallel side from which emanates a second reflected ultrasonic signal toward a second non-parallel side;
- and
- (b) a receiving ultrasonic transducer mounted on said second non-parallel side for receiving said second reflected ultrasonic signal.
A method of measuring density of a fluid ultrasonically, comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing at least one wedge material, said at least one wedge material having at least two sides substantially parallel, mounting a first ultrasonic transducer on a first parallel side and immersing a second parallel side into said fluid and emanating an ultrasonic signal from said first ultrasonic transducer, said ultrasonic signal striking said second parallel side and reflecting back to said first parallel side;
- wherein the improvement comprises:
- (b) emanating a second reflected ultrasonic signal from a first non-parallel side toward a second non-parallel side;
- and
- (c) receiving said second reflected ultrasonic signal with a receiving ultrasonic transducer on said second non-parallel side.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.