Disclosed is a system for measuring the filling level of a container, by means of acoustic waves, the system comprising at least three transducers configured to be positioned at different vertical heights on the outer face of the cylindrical portion of the casing, each transducer being configured to emit, upon receiving a first electric signal, an incident acoustic wave at the outer face of a wall of the casing, and to emit a second electric signal upon receiving a reflected acoustic wave generated by the reflection of the incident acoustic wave on the inner face of the wall, and at least one calculation unit configured to determine, based on the electric signals and physical properties of the monophase fluids, the presence of the first monophase fluid at each vertical height of the transducers.

The fluid-level sensor has an acoustic waveguide comprising a flexible metal rod, an electroacoustic transducer coupled to one end of the acoustic waveguide and an acoustic resonator coupled to the other end of the acoustic waveguide. The flexible metal rod has two ends, one cylindrical waveguide coupled via a conical acoustic concentrator to one end of the flexible metal rod, the other cylindrical waveguide coupled via a conical concentrator to the other end of the flexible metal rod. One cylindrical waveguide is coupled to the electroacoustic transducer and the other cylindrical waveguide is coupled to the acoustic resonator. The structure provides for the enhanced functional capabilities of the sensor by using it under the conditions of high temperature, radiation, strong electromagnetic interference, intense vibrations, impacts, and other negative factors. The sensor can be installed, maintained, and repaired without hazard to servicing personnel.

Systems and methods for determining a fill level of a fluid within a fluid vessel, an identity of the fluid, and/or a condition of the vessel wall are disclosed. To determine a fluid fill level, at least one acoustic sensor is positionable substantially on an exterior sidewall of a vessel containing fluid. A computerized device is in communication with the at least one acoustic sensor. A processor of the computerized device receives a detection signal from the at least one acoustic sensor and communicates an alert of the detection signal, which can be used to identify a fill level of the fluid. The detection signal, along with other measured information, can be used to identify the material type of the fluid. A condition of the vessel wall may be determined based on an attenuation signal when two acoustic sensors are used, one being positioned angular to the vessel wall.

A liquid level monitoring system includes: a hardware unit with a tube to extend through a surface of a liquid; a processor unit generating control signals that respectively correspond to target frequencies; a sound generator unit generating, respectively based on the control signals, incident sound waves that transmit in the tube and that are reflected by the surface of the liquid to respectively form reflected sound waves; and a sensor unit for sensing the reflected sound waves to respectively generate feedback signals. The processor unit determines a maximum amplitude frequency based on the feedback signals, and calculates a level of the surface of the liquid based on the maximum amplitude frequency and a length of the tube.

A liquid level monitoring system includes: a hardware unit with a tube to extend through a surface of a liquid; a processor unit generating control signals that respectively correspond to target frequencies; a sound generator unit generating, respectively based on the control signals, incident sound waves that transmit in the tube and that are reflected by the surface of the liquid to respectively form reflected sound waves; and a sensor unit for sensing the reflected sound waves to respectively generate feedback signals. The processor unit determines a maximum amplitude frequency based on the feedback signals, and calculates a level of the surface of the liquid based on the maximum amplitude frequency and a length of the tube.

The purpose of the present invention is to propose a device for detecting refrigerant leaks in a refrigeration cycle. The device can be applied irrespective of whether a liquid-receiving tank is present, has a simple configuration, and can be installed easily and inexpensively as a retrofit. Moreover, the device is configured so as to detect the presence of leaks without stopping operation of the equipment, and is innovative and of exceptional utility such that there is no decrease in the equipment operation rate as caused by detection of leaks. Provided is a device for detecting refrigerant leaks in a refrigeration cycle, the device comprising an ultrasonic wave transmitter 1 for transmitting ultrasonic waves having a prescribed frequency, an ultrasonic wave receiver 2 for receiving the ultrasonic waves transmitted by the ultrasonic wave transmitter 1, an ultrasonic wave reception determination unit 3 for determining whether the ultrasonic wave receiver 2 has received the ultrasonic waves transmitted by the ultrasonic wave transmitter 1, and a leak reporting unit 4 for externally reporting a leak event when the ultrasonic wave reception determination unit 3 has determined that the ultrasonic wave receiver 2 has not received the ultrasonic waves transmitted by the ultrasonic wave transmitter 1.

A transducer for non-invasive measurement includes: a shear-type piezoelectric element; and a host material. The shear-type piezoelectric element is mounted to a first face of the host material. A second face of the host material is mountable to a wall of a vessel that holds a liquid. When the second face of the host material is mounted to the wall of the vessel, the transducer when activated at an activation frequency launches a Lamb wave into the wall of the vessel. The transducer is designed such that a phase velocity of the Lamb wave in the wall of the vessel is greater than a speed of sound in the liquid held by the vessel.

Systems and methods for determining a fill level of a fluid within a fluid vessel, an identity of the fluid, and/or a condition of the vessel wall are disclosed. To determine a fluid fill level, at least one acoustic sensor is positionable substantially on an exterior sidewall of a vessel containing fluid. A computerized device is in communication with the at least one acoustic sensor. A processor of the computerized device receives a detection signal from the at least one acoustic sensor and communicates an alert of the detection signal, which can be used to identify a fill level of the fluid. The detection signal, along with other measured information, can be used to identify the material type of the fluid. A condition of the vessel wall may be determined based on an attenuation signal when two acoustic sensors are used, one being positioned angular to the vessel wall.

Systems and methods for determining a fill level of a fluid within a fluid vessel, an identity of the fluid, and/or a condition of the vessel wall are disclosed. To determine a fluid fill level, at least one acoustic sensor is positionable substantially on an exterior sidewall of a vessel containing fluid. A computerized device is in communication with the at least one acoustic sensor. A processor of the computerized device receives a detection signal from the at least one acoustic sensor and communicates an alert of the detection signal, which can be used to identify a fill level of the fluid. The detection signal, along with other measured information, can be used to identify the material type of the fluid. A condition of the vessel wall may be determined based on an attenuation signal when two acoustic sensors are used, one being positioned angular to the vessel wall.

Various embodiments include a system for determining a filling level of a fluid comprising: a fluid container with a first wall, a second wall opposite the first, and a bottom; a transducer mounted outside the first wall at a predetermined distance from the bottom, the transducer transmitting an ultrasonic signal through the first side wall into the fluid container; a reflection element inside the fluid container reflecting the signal back to the transducer; and a control device for activating the transducer. The control device identifies a current fluid filling level greater than a minimum filling level if the signal received by the transducer is an ultrasonic signal reflected by the reflection element, and identifies a fluid filling level less than the minimum filling level if the transducer does not receive an ultrasonic signal or receives an ultrasonic signal reflected by the first side wall.