Disclosed is a TDR measuring apparatus for determining the dielectric constant and material properties derived therefrom of a medium flowing through a pipeline. The apparatus includes signal generation electronics which generate TDR measurement signals, transmitting and receiving electronics, a coupling-in/coupling-out apparatus which couples the TDR measurement signals into and out of an electrically conductive measuring probe of a predefined length, and control/evaluation electronics which use the propagation time of the TDR measurement signals to determine the dielectric constant. The measuring probe is arranged in an electrically insulated manner outside of the pipeline. Alternately, the measuring probe is placed in the pipeline such that the outer surface of the measuring probe facing the medium terminates flush with the inner surface of the pipeline and is configured such that the propagation time and the amplitude of the measurement signals on the measuring probe are dependent on the dielectric constant of the medium.

Various examples are provided related to anisotropic constitutive parameters (ACPs) that can be used to launch Zenneck surface waves. In one example, among others, an ACP system includes an array of ACP elements distributed over a medium such as, e.g., a terrestrial medium. The array of ACP elements can include one or more horizontal layers of radial resistive artificial anisotropic dielectric (RRAAD) elements positioned in one or more orientations over the terrestrial medium. The ACP system can include vertical lossless artificial anisotropic dielectric (VLAAD) elements distributed over the terrestrial medium in a third orientation perpendicular to the horizontal layer or layers. The ACP system can also include horizontal artificial anisotropic magnetic permeability (HAAMP) elements distributed over the terrestrial medium. The array of ACP elements can be distributed about a launching structure, which can excite the ACP system with an electromagnetic field to launch a Zenneck surface wave.

An electrical probe structure includes a conductive cylinder, a first electrical connecting port and a probe assembly. The conductive cylinder for being fixed to the base plate has thereinside a sliding tunnel. The first electrical connecting port is electrically connected to the conductive cylinder. The at least one flexible conductive tube is furnished inside the sliding tunnel. The at least one probe assembly includes a first needle cylinder and a first probe. The first needle cylinder, slidably penetrating the conductive cylinder, electrically contacts the at least one flexible conductive tube so as to have the first needle cylinder to electrically connect the first electrical connecting port via the at least one flexible conductive tube and the conductive cylinder. The first probe is mounted and electrically connected to the first needle cylinder.

A method and apparatus for measuring multiple parameters of drilling fluid using electric field perturbation, permittivity curves, time domain analysis and frequency domain analysis to identify constituents of drilling fluid and ratios of the drilling fluid constituents on a real time basis and to measure volumes and densities of the constituents on a real time basis.

An electrical probe structure includes a conductive cylinder, a first electrical connecting port and a probe assembly. The conductive cylinder for being fixed to the base plate has thereinside a sliding tunnel. The first electrical connecting port is electrically connected to the conductive cylinder. The at least one flexible conductive tube is furnished inside the sliding tunnel. The at least one probe assembly includes a first needle cylinder and a first probe. The first needle cylinder, slidably penetrating the conductive cylinder, electrically contacts the at least one flexible conductive tube so as to have the first needle cylinder to electrically connect the first electrical connecting port via the at least one flexible conductive tube and the conductive cylinder. The first probe is mounted and electrically connected to the first needle cylinder.

A radar level gauge system comprising: a transceiver arrangement; a first probe to guide a first transmit signal through a surrounding medium towards a product in the tank, and to return a first surface echo signal, the first probe being configured to guide the first transmit signal with a first propagation velocity exhibiting a first dependence on a dielectric constant of the surrounding medium; a second probe to guide a second transmit signal through the surrounding medium towards the product, and to return a second surface echo signal, the second probe being configured to guide the second transmit signal with a second propagation velocity exhibiting a second dependence, different from the first dependence, on the dielectric constant of the surrounding medium; and processing circuitry for determining the filling level based on the first surface echo signal, the second surface echo signal, and a known relation between the first dependence and the second dependence.

A method for determining the composition of a two-phase (solid-liquid) slurry that includes determining the dielectric constant of the slurry at various known compositions, correlating the dielectric constant of the slurry with the known compositions and then determining the dielectric constant of an unknown slurry composition and calculating the composition of the slurry based on the relationship between the dielectric constant and the composition of the slurry.

An inspection device and method suppressing measurement time and power consumption. A detection device according to the present disclosure includes a first probe with a first antenna unit for transmission, a second probe with a second antenna unit for reception, the second probe being opposed to the first probe at a predetermined distance, a measurement unit that measures a measurement signal including a propagation characteristic of an electromagnetic wave in a medium between the first and second antenna units, and a calculation unit that calculates characteristics information of the medium based on the measurement signal. In a first mode, the measurement unit measures the measurement signal in a first frequency band for the electromagnetic wave propagating in the medium, and in a second mode, the measurement unit measures the measurement signal in a second frequency band, which is a part of the first frequency band for the electromagnetic wave.

A radar level gauge system comprising: a transceiver arrangement; a first probe to guide a first transmit signal through a surrounding medium towards a product in the tank, and to return a first surface echo signal, the first probe being configured to guide the first transmit signal with a first propagation velocity exhibiting a first dependence on a dielectric constant of the surrounding medium; a second probe to guide a second transmit signal through the surrounding medium towards the product, and to return a second surface echo signal, the second probe being configured to guide the second transmit signal with a second propagation velocity exhibiting a second dependence, different from the first dependence, on the dielectric constant of the surrounding medium; and processing circuitry for determining the filling level based on the first surface echo signal, the second surface echo signal, and a known relation between the first dependence and the second dependence.

The present invention relates generally to devices, methods and systems for acquiring plant data. Disclosed is a field-deployable sensor attachable to plants for acquisition of plant-related data comprising: a probe including; a probe body with at least one aperture therethrough which locates the placement and spacing of one or more thermally conductive pins within the tissue of a plant; the one or more thermally conductive pins having distal and proximal ends, said distal end traversing through said aperture in the probe body and insertable into the tissue of the plant, and said proximal end located within the deployable sensor; such that when inserted into the tissue the pin approaches thermal equilibrium with the temperature of the region of the tissue in which the pin is located; and, a temperature sensor (T-sensor) enclosed within the deployable sensor located adjacent the proximal end of the pin to acquire the temperature of the proximal end of the pin; such that the T-sensor through the thermal equilibration of the pin with the plant tissue acquires plant tissue temperature data.