Method and equipment for the characterization of suspensions
First Claim
1. A method for the detection and identification of particles in a suspension, comprising the following steps:
- a. generation of acoustic signals having the form of a beam along a predetermined axis using an acoustic source;
b. directing the acoustic signals at at least one measurement volume within the suspension, said at least one measurement volume having axial boundaries defined as boundaries in an axial direction of said axis, and lateral boundaries defined as boundaries in a direction lateral to said axis, said axial boundaries being defined with the aid of time windows;
c. reception of acoustic reflection signals produced by reflection of the acoustic signals by the particles in the at least one measurement volume;
d. conversion of the acoustic reflection signals into electrical reflection signals;
e. counting numbers of electrical reflection signals which have an amplitude value in excess of at least one predetermined threshold and conversion thereof into numbers of particles which are larger than a certain size;
wherein the method also comprises the following steps;
f. composing at least one cumulative count curve showing for each amplitude value the number of electrical reflection signals having amplitude values in excess of said each amplitude value;
g. comparison of the at least one cumulative count curve with predetermined standard cumulative count curves and deduction of at least one feature selected from the group consisting of material properties, particle concentration, particle shapes, particle size and standard deviation thereof and particle size distribution;
the standard cumulative count curves being derived with at least the following steps;
derivation of a probability density function for plural amplitude values of the electrical reflection signals within the measurement volume as a function of a given particle shape, and particle size distribution thereof, andderivation of the standard cumulative count curves from the probability density function for the plural amplitude values.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Method and equipment for the detection and identification of particles in a suspension with the aid of acoustic signals, directed at at least one measurement volume within the suspension, via reception of acoustic reflection signals, conversion of the acoustic reflection signals into electrical reflection signals, counting the number of electrical reflection signals which have an amplitude in excess of a predetermined value and converting the count into numbers of particles which are larger than a certain size, at least one curve being composed on the basis of a cumulative count of the number of reflection signals which have an amplitude in excess of a specific value as a function of the amplitude and the at least one curve being compared with predetermined standard cumulative count curves and material properties, particle concentration, particle size distribution and/or particle characteristics, such as particle shape, particle size and standard deviation thereof, are deduced from the comparison.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method for the detection and identification of particles in a suspension, comprising the following steps:
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a. generation of acoustic signals having the form of a beam along a predetermined axis using an acoustic source; b. directing the acoustic signals at at least one measurement volume within the suspension, said at least one measurement volume having axial boundaries defined as boundaries in an axial direction of said axis, and lateral boundaries defined as boundaries in a direction lateral to said axis, said axial boundaries being defined with the aid of time windows; c. reception of acoustic reflection signals produced by reflection of the acoustic signals by the particles in the at least one measurement volume; d. conversion of the acoustic reflection signals into electrical reflection signals; e. counting numbers of electrical reflection signals which have an amplitude value in excess of at least one predetermined threshold and conversion thereof into numbers of particles which are larger than a certain size;
wherein the method also comprises the following steps;f. composing at least one cumulative count curve showing for each amplitude value the number of electrical reflection signals having amplitude values in excess of said each amplitude value; g. comparison of the at least one cumulative count curve with predetermined standard cumulative count curves and deduction of at least one feature selected from the group consisting of material properties, particle concentration, particle shapes, particle size and standard deviation thereof and particle size distribution; the standard cumulative count curves being derived with at least the following steps; derivation of a probability density function for plural amplitude values of the electrical reflection signals within the measurement volume as a function of a given particle shape, and particle size distribution thereof, and derivation of the standard cumulative count curves from the probability density function for the plural amplitude values. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. Equipment for the detection and identification of particles in a suspension, comprising:
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a. an acoustic source for the generation of acoustic signals; b. means for directing the acoustic signals at at least one measurement volume within the suspension, each measurement volume having axial boundaries defined as boundaries in an axial direction of said axis, and lateral boundaries defined as boundaries in a direction lateral to said axis, said axial boundaries being defined with the aid of time windows; c. means for receiving acoustic reflection signals produced by reflection of the acoustic signals by the particles in the at least one measurement volume; d. means for converting the acoustic reflection signals into electrical reflection signals; e. means for counting numbers of electrical reflection signals which have an amplitude value in excess of at least one predetermined threshold and for converting said counted numbers into numbers of particles which are larger than a certain size; wherein the equipment also comprises; f. means for composing at least one cumulative count curve showing for each amplitude value the number of electrical reflection signals having amplitude values in excess of said each amplitude value; g. means for comparing the at least one cumulative count curve with predetermined standard cumulative count curves and for deducing at least one feature from a set of features comprising;
material properties, particle concentration, particle shapes, particle size and standard deviation thereof and particle size distribution;the standard cumulative count curves being derived with at least the following steps; derivation of a probability density function for plural amplitude values of the electrical reflection signals within the measurement volume as a function of a given particle shape, and particle size distribution thereof, and derivation of the standard cumulative count curves from a probability density function for the plural amplitude values. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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Specification