Methods, systems, and apparatuses are provided for detecting and determining conditions of and conditions within a fluid conduit.

Methods, systems, and apparatuses are provided for detecting and determining conditions of and conditions within a fluid conduit.

A measuring device has at least one ultrasonic transducer and an evaluator for evaluating a measurement signal provided by the at least one ultrasonic transducer. The evaluator is set up to determine a first comparison signal, by comparing the measurement signal with a first switching threshold, and a second comparison signal, by comparing the measurement signal with a second switching threshold which is different from the first switching threshold, and to determine a signal amplitude of the measurement signal depending on the first and second comparison signal.

A measuring device has at least one ultrasonic transducer and an evaluator for evaluating a measurement signal provided by the at least one ultrasonic transducer. The evaluator is set up to determine a first comparison signal, by comparing the measurement signal with a first switching threshold, and a second comparison signal, by comparing the measurement signal with a second switching threshold which is different from the first switching threshold, and to determine a signal amplitude of the measurement signal depending on the first and second comparison signal.

A flow meter for calculating fluid flow rate and/or volume includes a flow cell shaped to define an internal passageway through which the fluid travels, and four separate transducer assemblies independently mounted within mounts in the flow cell in fluid communication with the internal passageway. Each transducer assembly includes a transducer, a transducer stud with a recess in its front surface that is dimensioned to receive the transducer, and a sensor plate mounted onto the stud for retaining the transducer in the recess. A bore extends vertically through the transducer stud and into communication with the recess, the bore being dimensioned to receive wiring for the transducer. The separation and independent mounting of the four transducer assemblies in the flow cell minimizes the disruption of normal fluid flow through the internal passageway, thereby enabling greater accuracy of measurements to be achieved.

Described are an apparatus, computer program product, and associated methods for shaped waveform acoustic interrogation of substances and materials to determine one or more properties of the materials or substances. In some embodiments, a shaped waveform is formed by summing two or more different waveforms and an acoustic wave is generated according to the shaped waveform. The acoustic wave is transmitted by one or more transmitting transducers through the substance or material and received by one or more receiving transducers. The shaped waveform acoustic wave can have a duration or a period that is less than about 20 μs and can comprise predetermined frequency content. Characteristics of the shaped waveform acoustic wave, as received at the receiving transducer(s), including characteristics such as amplitude, frequency, time of flight, etc., can be associated with said one or more properties of the substance or material to provide for real-time monitoring of these properties.

Described are an apparatus, computer program product, and associated methods for shaped waveform acoustic interrogation of substances and materials to determine one or more properties of the materials or substances. In some embodiments, a shaped waveform is formed by summing two or more different waveforms and an acoustic wave is generated according to the shaped waveform. The acoustic wave is transmitted by one or more transmitting transducers through the substance or material and received by one or more receiving transducers. The shaped waveform acoustic wave can have a duration or a period that is less than about 20 μs and can comprise predetermined frequency content. Characteristics of the shaped waveform acoustic wave, as received at the receiving transducer(s), including characteristics such as amplitude, frequency, time of flight, etc., can be associated with said one or more properties of the substance or material to provide for real-time monitoring of these properties.

An ultrasonic flowmeter includes first and second ultrasonic transducers and a control and evaluation unit connected thereto. The first and/or second ultrasonic transducer is/are an ultrasonic transmitter and/or an ultrasonic receiver. The first and second ultrasonic transducers are arranged on a measuring tube in such a way that a signal path is formed therebetween, and such that a measuring signal emitted by the ultrasonic transmitter runs via the signal path to the ultrasonic receiver. The first and/or second ultrasonic transducer has array to of at least two active elements. At least one ultrasonic transducer with an array of at least two active elements is formed as a wedge transducer. At least two active elements of the array arranged on the first ultrasonic transducer, and/or at least two active elements of the array arranged on the second ultrasonic transducer, are separately controllable by the control and evaluation unit.

An ultrasonic flowmeter includes first and second ultrasonic transducers and a control and evaluation unit connected thereto. The first and/or second ultrasonic transducer is/are an ultrasonic transmitter and/or an ultrasonic receiver. The first and second ultrasonic transducers are arranged on a measuring tube in such a way that a signal path is formed therebetween, and such that a measuring signal emitted by the ultrasonic transmitter runs via the signal path to the ultrasonic receiver. The first and/or second ultrasonic transducer has array to of at least two active elements. At least one ultrasonic transducer with an array of at least two active elements is formed as a wedge transducer. At least two active elements of the array arranged on the first ultrasonic transducer, and/or at least two active elements of the array arranged on the second ultrasonic transducer, are separately controllable by the control and evaluation unit.

A clamp-on ultrasonic flowmeter includes pairs of ultrasonic transducers arranged on an exterior of a pipeline, and an electronic measuring/operating circuit for operating the transducers and for registering and evaluating measurement signals and for providing measured values of volume flow or flow velocity. The pairs are implemented as 1-traverse or 2-traverse pairs. One-traverse pairs are arranged on opposite sides of the pipeline, and 2-traverse pairs are arranged on a same side of the pipeline. At least three pairs are arranged on the pipeline and are distributed peripherally. Adjoining pairs of a number of pairs have an inner angle down to a minimum inner angle (MIA) between one another measured about a pipeline axis, which minimum inner angle obeys the following relationship:

MIA=360°/(T*N*F(T,N))

with T as number of traverses and F(T,N)=0.38+0.62*T+(0.048−0.01*T{circumflex over ( )}2)*(N−2){circumflex over ( )}2.