Acoustic transducer
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An acoustic transducer for measuring a property of a fluid, the acoustic transducer comprising:
- an acoustic pulse generator;
an impedance matching layer between the pulse generator and the fluid, the matching layer being formed of a low thermal conductivity material; and
a thermal management system mounted to the matching layer to transfer heat from the matching layer, wherein the thermal management system is formed of a high thermal conductivity material relative to the matching layer and is arranged along the matching layer such that substantial heat is transferred to the environment from the thermal management system without excessive temperature increase at the pulse generator.
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Abstract
An acoustic transducer includes an acoustic pulse generator, an impedance matching layer, and a thermal management system. The thermal management system is mounted to the matching layer to transfer heat from the matching layer, and is formed of a high thermal conductivity material relative to the matching layer. The thermal management system is arranged along the matching layer such that substantial heat is transferred to the environment from the thermal management system without excessive temperature increase at the pulse generator.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. An acoustic transducer for measuring a property of a fluid, the acoustic transducer comprising:
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an acoustic pulse generator;
an impedance matching layer between the pulse generator and the fluid, the matching layer being formed of a low thermal conductivity material; and
a thermal management system mounted to the matching layer to transfer heat from the matching layer, wherein the thermal management system is formed of a high thermal conductivity material relative to the matching layer and is arranged along the matching layer such that substantial heat is transferred to the environment from the thermal management system without excessive temperature increase at the pulse generator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An acoustic transducer for measuring a property of a fluid, the acoustic transducer comprising:
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an acoustic pulse generator;
an impedance matching layer between the pulse generator and the fluid, the matching layer being formed of a material with a thermal conductivity less than 1 W/(m·
K); and
a thermal management system including a sleeve over the matching layer to transfer heat from the matching layer, wherein the thermal management system is formed of a high thermal conductivity material relative to the matching layer and is arranged along the matching layer such that substantial heat is transferred to the environment from the thermal management system without excessive temperature increase at the pulse generator. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. In combination with an apparatus including a conduit through which a fluid flows, the improvement comprising:
an acoustic transducer for measuring a property of a fluid, the acoustic transducer including an acoustic pulse generator, an impedance matching layer, and a thermal management system, the impedance matching layer being between the pulse generator and the fluid, the matching layer being formed of a low thermal conductivity material, and the thermal management system being mounted to the matching layer to transfer heat from the matching layer, wherein the thermal management system is formed of a high thermal conductivity material relative to the matching layer and is arranged along the matching layer such that substantial heat is transferred to the environment from the thermal management system without excessive temperature increase at the pulse generator.
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24. A sampling system comprising:
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a fluid inlet for receiving a fluid;
a dilution inlet for receiving a dilution gas;
a mixing section for mixing at least a portion of the fluid with the dilution gas;
a collection section for collecting a sample of the mixture; and
a flow meter for measuring a flow related to the sampling system, the flow meter including an acoustic transducer for measuring the flow, the acoustic transducer including an acoustic pulse generator, an impedance matching layer, and a thermal management system, the impedance matching layer being between the pulse generator and the fluid, the matching layer being formed of a low thermal conductivity material, and the thermal management system being mounted to the matching layer to transfer heat from the matching layer, wherein the thermal management system is formed of a high thermal conductivity material relative to the matching layer and is arranged along the matching layer such that substantial heat is transferred to the environment from the thermal management system without excessive temperature increase at the pulse generator. - View Dependent Claims (25, 27)
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26. A sampling system comprising:
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a sample line for sampling a fluid from a main conduit;
a flow meter for measuring a flow of the fluid through the main conduit, the flow meter including an acoustic transducer for measuring the flow, the acoustic transducer including an acoustic pulse generator, an impedance matching layer, and a thermal management system, the impedance matching layer being between the pulse generator and the fluid, the matching layer being formed of a low thermal conductivity material, and the thermal management system being mounted to the matching layer to transfer heat from the matching layer, wherein the thermal management system is formed of a high thermal conductivity material relative to the matching layer and is arranged along the matching layer such that substantial heat is transferred to the environment from the thermal management system without excessive temperature increase at the pulse generator;
a dilution inlet for receiving a dilution gas;
a mixing section for mixing the fluid flow from the sample line with the dilution gas at a generally fixed ratio;
a collection section for sampling the mixture, the mixture being sampled at a rate generally proportional to the flow of the fluid through the main conduit
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Specification