# US 8,739,637 B2 · Applications for real-time mass ratio, mass flow and particle size measurement of particle laden flows > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,739,637 B2 - Document ID: US8739637B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/146,598 - Filed: 2010-02-01 - Published: 2012-01-26 - Granted: 2014-06-03 - Earliest claimed: 2009-01-30 - Assignees: Cidra Corporate Services Inc. - Applicants: Douglas H. Loose; Daniel L. Gysling; Alex Van Der Spek - Inventors: Douglas H. Loose; Daniel L. Gysling; Alex Van Der Spek - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8739637B2 ## CPC - G01F 1/363: {with electrical or electro-mechanical indication (G01F1/37 and G01F1/38 take precedence)} - G01F 1/74: Devices for measuring flow of a fluid or flow of a fluent solid material in suspension in another fluid - G01F 1/80: operating by measuring pressure, force, momentum, or frequency of a fluid flow to which a rotational movement has been imparted - 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 29/032: by measuring attenuation of acoustic waves - 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 29/42: by frequency filtering {or by tuning to resonant frequency} - G01N 2015/0046: {in gas, e.g. smoke} - G01N 2015/0668: {Comparing properties of sample and carrier fluid, e.g. oil in water} - G01N 2291/0215: Mixtures of three or more gases, e.g. air - G01N 2291/02408: Solids in gases, e.g. particle suspensions - G01F: MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME - 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 Techniques are provided for monitoring particle laden flows in a pipe, that include receiving signalling containing information about a parameter related to a particle laden flow in a pipe, the parameter including either (a) a sound level propagating through the particle laden flow in the pipe, or (b) a static pressure due to an acceleration of the particle laden flow in the pipe; and determining a measurement of a particle size and either a mass flow rate, or a particle-to-air mass ratio, or both the mass flow rate and the particle-to-air mass ratio, associated with the particle laden flow, based at least partly on a change in the parameter. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A signal processor comprising: one or more modules configured to: receive signalling containing information about a parameter related to a particle laden flow in a pipe, the parameter including either (a) a sound level propagating through the particle laden flow in the pipe, or (b) a static pressure due to an acceleration of the particle laden flow in the pipe; and determine a measurement of a particle size and either a mass flow rate, or a particle-to-air mass ratio, or both the mass flow rate and the particle-to-air mass ratio, associated with the particle laden flow, based at least partly on a change in the parameter. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A signal processor according to claim 1, wherein the change is based at least partly on an acoustic attenuation coefficient that varies with the frequency of the sound level propagating through the particle laden flow in the pipe. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A signal processor according to claim 1, wherein the change is based at least partly on an attenuation of the sound propagated through the particle laden flow in the pipe at different frequencies, including two different frequencies. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) A signal processor according to claim 2, wherein the one or more modules is configured to determine the particle size based on the change in the acoustic attenuation coefficient. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) A signal processor according to claim 4, wherein the one or more modules is configured to determine the particle-to-air mass ratio based on the particle size and an absolute value of the acoustic attenuation coefficient. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) A signal processor according to claim 5, wherein the one or more modules is configured to determine a mass flow rate based on the particle-to-air mass ratio and an air velocity as determined by a velocity meter, including a sonar velocity meter. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) A signal processor according to claim 2, wherein the one or more modules is configured to measure the acoustic attenuation coefficient at multiple frequencies, and to determine the particle size and the particle-to-air mass ratio simultaneously by fitting measured data to an analytical model using an optimization routine, including a least squares fit. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A signal processor according to claim 1, wherein the one or more modules is configured to receive the signalling from a sound source and a measurement device of sound levels arranged at at least two locations on the pipe. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) A signal processor according to claim 8, wherein the sound source includes existing equipment arranged in relation to the pipe, including a fan, a blower, an orifice plate or a coal pulverizer. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A signal processor according to claim 1, wherein the one or more modules is configured to provide corresponding signalling containing information about the measurement for monitoring the particle laden flow in the pipe. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A signal processor according to claim 1, wherein the particle laden flow includes air and coal. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A signal processor according to claim 1, wherein the change is based at least partly on a static pressure change due to the acceleration of the particle laden flow caused by a flow area reduction or a flow direction change in the pipe. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) A signal processor according to claim 1, wherein the change is associated with a reduction of static pressure of the particle laden flow in two different lengths of the pipe having different cross-sectionals areas. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) A signal processor according to claim 12, wherein the static pressure is reduced in an extended length of the pipe having a reduced cross-sectional area. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) A signal processor according to claim 14, wherein the one or more modules is configured to determine a mixture density of the particle laden flow in the pipe by measuring both a velocity and static pressure change across the reduced cross-sectional area. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) A signal processor according to claim 15, wherein the one or more modules is configured to determine the mass flow of the fluid and the particle size based at least partly on the mixture density, flow velocity and the density of the fluid. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) A signal processor according to claim 16, wherein the one or more modules is configured to determine the mass flow of the fluid and the particle size based at least partly on the density of the fluid and particles for flows where the volume of the fluid is not significantly greater than the volume of particles. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) A signal processor according to claim 1, wherein the one or more modules is configured to determine the particle size by measuring the change in the static pressure in an extended length of the pipe having a reduced cross-sectional area, when a material density of particles in the particle laden flow is known. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) A signal processor according to claim 1, wherein the particle laden flow in the pipe includes a pneumatically conveyed activated carbon powder. ### Claim 20 A system configured to be arranged in relation to a pipe providing a particle laden flow, comprising: a data gathering module configured to respond to the particle laden flow in the pipe, and provide signalling containing information about a parameter related to the particle laden flow, the parameter including either (a) a sound level propagating through the particle laden flow in the pipe, or (b) a static pressure due to an acceleration of the particle laden flow in the pipe; and a signal processor having one or more modules configured to receive the signalling containing information about the parameter related to the particle laden flow, and to determine a measurement of a particle size and either a mass flow rate, or a particle-to-air mass ratio, or both the mass flow rate and the particle-to-air mass ratio, associated with the particle laden flow based at least partly on a change in the parameter. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) A system according to claim 20, wherein the change is based at least partly on an acoustic attenuation coefficient that varies with the frequency of the sound level propagating through the particle laden flow in the pipe. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) A system according to claim 20, wherein the change is based at least partly on an attenuation of the sound propagated through the particle laden flow in the pipe at different frequencies, including two different frequencies. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) A system according to claim 21, wherein the one or more modules is configured to determine the particle size based on the change in the acoustic attenuation coefficient. ### Claim 24 (depends on 20) A system according to claim 20, wherein the change is based at least partly on a static pressure change due to the acceleration of the particle laden flow caused by a flow area reduction or a flow direction change in the pipe. ### Claim 25 (depends on 20) A system according to claim 20, wherein the change is associated with a reduction of static pressure of the particle laden flow in two different lengths of the pipe having different cross-sectionals areas. ### Claim 26 (depends on 20) A system according to claim 20, wherein the static pressure is reduced in an extended length of the pipe having a reduced cross-sectional area, or having a turn in the pipe, including an elbow. ### Claim 27 A method comprising: receiving signalling containing information about a parameter related to a particle laden flow in a pipe, the parameter including either (a) a sound level propagating through the particle laden flow in the pipe, or (b) a static pressure due to an acceleration of the particle laden flow in the pipe; and determining a measurement of a particle size and either a mass flow rate, or a particle-to-air mass ratio, or both the mass flow rate and the particle-to-air mass ratio, associated with the particle laden flow, based at least partly on a change in the parameter. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) A method according to claim 27, wherein the change is based at least partly on an acoustic attenuation coefficient that varies with the frequency of the sound level propagating through the particle laden flow in the pipe. ### Claim 29 (depends on 27) A method according to claim 27, wherein the change is based at least partly on an attenuation of the sound propagated through the particle laden flow in the pipe at different frequencies, including two different frequencies. ### Claim 30 (depends on 28) A method according to claim 28, wherein the method comprises determining the particle size based on the change in the acoustic attenuation coefficient. ### Claim 31 (depends on 27) A method according to claim 27, wherein the change is based at least partly on a static pressure change due to the acceleration of the particle laden flow caused by a flow area reduction in the pipe. ### Claim 32 (depends on 27) A method according to claim 27, wherein the change is associated with a reduction of static pressure of the particle laden flow in two different lengths of the pipe having different cross-sectionals areas, or having a turn in the pipe, including an elbow. ### Claim 33 (depends on 27) A method according to claim 27, wherein the method comprises reducing the static pressure in an extended length of the pipe having a reduced cross-sectional area. ### Claim 34 A signal processor comprising: one or more modules configured to: receive signalling containing information about a parameter related to a particle laden flow in a pipe, the parameter including either (a) a sound level propagating through the particle laden flow in the pipe, or (b) a static pressure due to an acceleration of the particle laden flow in the pipe; and determine a measurement of a particle size and either a mass flow rate, or a particle-to-air mass ratio, or both the mass flow rate and the particle-to-air mass ratio, associated with the particle laden flow being based at least partly on an attenuation or reduction of the parameter. ### Claim 35 (depends on 34) A signal processor according to claim 34, wherein the attenuation or reduction is related to either the sound level propagating through the particle laden flow in the pipe, or to the static pressure due to the acceleration of the particle laden flow in the pipe. ### Claim 36 Apparatus comprising: means for receiving signalling containing information about a parameter related to a particle laden flow in a pipe, the parameter including either (a) a sound level propagating through the particle laden flow in the pipe, or (b) a static pressure due to an acceleration of the particle laden flow in the pipe; and means for determining a measurement of a particle size and either a mass flow rate, or a particle-to-air mass ratio, or both the mass flow rate and the particle-to-air mass ratio, associated with the particle laden flow, based at least partly on a change in the parameter. ### Claim 37 (depends on 36) Apparatus according to claim 36, wherein the change is based at least partly on an acoustic attenuation coefficient that varies with the frequency of the sound level propagating through the particle laden flow in the pipe. ### Claim 38 (depends on 36) Apparatus according to claim 36, wherein the change is based at least partly on an attenuation of the sound propagated through the particle laden flow in the pipe at different frequencies, including two different frequencies. ### Claim 39 (depends on 37) Apparatus according to claim 37, wherein the particle size is determined based on the change in the acoustic attenuation coefficient. ### Claim 40 (depends on 36) Apparatus according to claim 36, wherein the change is based at least partly on a static pressure change due to the acceleration of the particle laden flow caused by a flow area reduction in the pipe. ### Claim 41 (depends on 36) Apparatus according to claim 36, wherein the change is associated with a reduction of static pressure of the particle laden flow in two different lengths of the pipe having different cross-sectionals areas, or having a turn in the pipe, including an elbow. ### Claim 42 (depends on 36) Apparatus according to claim 36, wherein the static pressure is reduced in an extended length of the pipe having a reduced cross-sectional area.