The method comprising the following steps: a) Providing a first bath of a liquid metal (1) comprising aluminium with a content X and magnesium with a content Y, the magnesium content Y being different to zero, b) Immersing at least partially a sonotrode (3) formed from a material inert to liquid aluminium, in the first bath of liquid metal (1), and c) Applying power ultrasounds to the sonotrode (3) so as to excite the liquid metal (1) until wetting (5) of the sonotrode (3) by the liquid metal (1) is obtained. d) Cooling the first liquid metal (1) of the first bath until solidification of the first liquid metal (1) around the sonotrode (3) is obtained, generating an intimate bond (6) between the sonotrode (3) and the solidified first liquid metal (1) having a bonding strength substantially equal to that of brazing between two metals. e) Machining the solidified first metal (1) in the form of a flange (7) configured for the attachment of a mechanical amplifier and/or of a transducer (4).

Systems and methods for testing steam traps or other similar devices in a hot water or steam system are described. A tester includes a wand that is handheld that can communicate with a handheld electronic device which in turn can communicate with a central monitor for storing and compiling readings as historical profile data. The wand includes a probe to physically contact the device to acoustically sense the performance of the device. The probe includes a probe tip and a stack of acoustic elements, an electrode, a stack mass, and a head to covert the acoustic signal into an electrical signal. The handheld device includes circuitry to process the information, interact with the user, and transmit information to and from the handheld electronic device and/or the central monitor.

A method for testing solid acid hydrolysis in a formation. The method includes introducing a test sample into a test cell, where the test sample includes an upper structure, a lower structure, and a solid acid disposed between the upper and lower structures. The pressure and temperature of the test cell are increased to simulate downhole conditions. A velocity of an acoustic p-wave and/or acoustic s-wave is through the test sample is measured while the temperature is increasing from an initial temperature to a final temperature. A temperature of onset of solid acid hydrolysis based on the measured velocity is determined.

Described is a method for estimating a material property of an object by means of a laser ultrasonic (LUS) measurement equipment comprising a generation laser, a detection laser and a detector. The method includes providing a laser pulse onto a surface of the object by the generation laser such that an ultrasonic pulse is generated in the object and such that an ultrasonic vibration is immediately generated on the surface, measuring at least a first subsequent ultrasonic echo from the object by use of the detection laser and the detector, which ultrasonic echo is an echo from the ultrasonic pulse generated in the object, measuring the ultrasonic vibration which is immediately generated on the surface, by use of the detection laser and the detector, and estimating the material property by use of an ultrasonic attenuation parameter based on the measured at least first subsequent ultrasonic echo, whereby the material property is estimated by using the measured ultrasonic vibration which is immediately generated on the surface as reference to the measured at least first subsequent ultrasonic echo.

An ultrasonic probe assembly includes an ultrasonic probe having a housing, an ultrasonic sensor, at least one magnet, and rotatable joint portions. The housing extends along a longitudinal axis between first and second ends and includes a base surface. The sensor is secured adjacent a housing base surface configured to emit ultrasonic signals and receive ultrasonic echoes reflected from a target. The magnet is secured within the housing and configured to apply a magnetic force urging the base surface into contact with a surface of the target. The magnetic force frictionally maintains the housing at a stationary position with respect to the target surface. A first rotatable joint portion is positioned on a first lateral side of the housing. A second rotatable joint portion is positioned on a second lateral side of the housing, opposite the first lateral side.

An ultrasonic device, the device comprising at least one flexible ultrasonic transducer; and a clamp configured to mount the at least one transducer to a test object. Optionally, the clamp may comprise one or more bands and wherein the one or more bands can optionally be metal or at least part of the one or more bands may be formed of a conformable material such that the one or more bands comprises a conformable band or band portion.

The present invention discloses ultrasonic nondestructive methods for pipe wall thickness measurement at high or low temperatures. An ultrasonic detection device comprises a first and a second ultrasonic waveguide. The waveguide length is selected according to the surface temperature of a pipe under inspection. A first piezoelectric plate causes generation of a plurality of ultrasonic excitation signals which is transmitted to the pipe through the first ultrasonic waveguide. The plurality of ultrasonic excitation signals has different group speeds when traveling along the first ultrasonic waveguide. The reflected ultrasonic wave signals are collected and transmitted to a second piezoelectric plate by the second ultrasonic waveguide. The pipe wall thickness is calculated using an ultrasonic wave signal which has the highest group speed. The first and second waveguides are arranged parallel and side by side. An isolation plate is disposed such that the first and second waveguides go through the plate perpendicularly.

Systems and methods for testing steam traps or other similar devices in a hot water or steam system are described. A tester includes a wand that is handheld that can communicate with a handheld electronic device which in turn can communicate with a central monitor for storing and compiling readings as historical profile data. The wand includes a probe to physically contact the device to acoustically sense the performance of the device. The probe includes a probe tip and a stack of acoustic elements, an electrode, a stack mass, and a head to covert the acoustic signal into an electrical signal. The handheld device includes circuitry to process the information, interact with the user, and transmit information to and from the handheld electronic device and/or the central monitor.

Systems and methods for testing steam traps or other similar devices in a hot water or steam system are described. A tester includes a wand that is handheld that can communicate with a handheld electronic device which in turn can communicate with a central monitor for storing and compiling readings as historical profile data. The wand includes a probe to physically contact the device to acoustically sense the performance of the device. The probe includes a probe tip and a stack of acoustic elements, an electrode, a stack mass, and a head to covert the acoustic signal into an electrical signal. The handheld device includes circuitry to process the information, interact with the user, and transmit information to and from the handheld electronic device and/or the central monitor.

Techniques for non-invasive diagnosis and/or monitoring of corrosion in high temperature systems using specialized sensors that produce multi-mode acoustic signals in situ for accurate determination of wall loss and/or physical property changes for a vessel in contact with a high temperature, highly corrosive substance are disclosed. Sensitivity of a few microns (or about 0.1%) of wall loss, detection of changes in physical properties of vessel contents (e.g., approximately 1%), or both, at temperatures of 500° C., 600° C., or higher may be realized. Corrosion may be identified and/or monitored using time domain, frequency domain, or mixed time domain and frequency domain analysis of signal characteristics, signal delay, or both, for relatively short circumferential acoustic wave propagation (e.g., a few inches), as well as relatively long axial acoustic wave propagation (e.g., tens of feet).