Passive acoustics process to monitor fluidized bed flow

• US 5,022,266 A
• Filed: 03/02/1989
• Issued: 06/11/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Company (Exxon Mobil Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Company (Exxon Mobil Corporation)
• Inventors: Baker, Charles L. Jr., Cody, George D., Elzinga, Eugene R. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams, Hezron E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Arana, Louis M.
• Application Number:
  US07/318,102
• Time in Patent Office: 831 Days
• Field of Search: 73/579, 73/602, 73/587, 73/590, 73/592, 73/584, 73/861.18, 73/861.21, 73/290 V, 201/1
• US Class Current: 73/579
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2208/00035 involving measured parameters
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 8/1809 Controlling processes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/02408 Solids in gases, e.g. particle suspensions
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/02416 Solids in liquids
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/02818 Density, viscosity
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/02836 Flow rate, liquid level
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/0421 Longitudinal waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/14 using acoustic emission techniques echo of particles G01N29/046; measuring mechanical vibrations or acoustic waves in solids in general G01H1/00

Abstract

A method for the non-intrusive determination of flow anisotropy through the cross-section of a two phase fluid bed reactor.

Claims

1. A method for the non-intrusive determination of flow anisotropy through a two phase fluid bed in a structure comprising:

(a) measuring wall vibrations of said structure and then determining the power spectrum as a function of frequency, said wall vibrations taken at several first positions circumferentially about the structure,

(b) determining the area of the power spectrum which includes a resonance peak for each of said first positions,

(c) correlating a change in said area between adjacent first positions of the power spectrum with flow anisotropy through the cross-section of said structure bounded by the circumference including said several first positions.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said structure is a fluid bed coker reactor.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said structure is a fluidized bed catalytic cracker.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of measuring wall vibrations is performed by using an accelerometer.

5. The method of claim 1 for the non-intrusive determination of flow anisotropy through a two phase fluid bed in a structure further comprising the steps of

(a) measuring wall vibrations of said structure and then determining the power spectrum as a function of frequency, said wall vibrations taken at several second positions circumferentially about the structure, said second positions spaced vertically from said first positions in said structure,

(b) determining the area of the power spectrum which includes a resonance peak for each of said second positions,

(c) comparing a change in said area of said power spectrum between adjacent first positions with the change between said area of said power spectrum between corresponding second positions and correlating difference between the changes in said area of the power spectrum with a change in bed density.