X-ray monitoring
First Claim
1. An apparatus for monitoring in real time the movement of a plurality of substances in a mixture, having at least one fluid layer, along an axis of flow within a tube, the apparatus comprising:
- an X-ray scanner, wherein said X-ray scanner performs a plurality of scans of the mixture over a monitoring period to produce a plurality of scans, wherein a plurality of scan data sets are derived from said scans and wherein said X-ray scanner comprisesan annular X-ray tube positioned radially outward from said tube wherein said annular X-ray tube has a plurality of X-ray sources;
an annular sensor array radially positioned between said annular X-ray tube and said tube wherein said annular sensor array comprises a plurality of sensors arranged in a plurality of rings,wherein said X-ray sources sequentially emit radiation and wherein each X-ray source directs said emitted radiation toward a portion of said sensor array positioned furthest from said X-ray source and past a portion of said sensor array positioned nearest to said X-ray source; and
control means arranged to analyze the scan data sets to identify volumes of each of the substances and to measure their movement.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus for monitoring in real time the movement of a plurality of substances in a mixture, such as oil water and air flowing through a pipe (24), comprises an X-ray scanner (8) arranged to make a plurality of scans of the mixture over a monitoring period to produce a plurality of scan data sets, and control means (26) arranged to analyse the data sets to identify volumes of each of the substances and to measure their movement. By identifying volumes of each of the substances in each of a number of layers and for each of a number of scans, real time analysis and imaging of the substance can be achieved.
62 Citations
38 Claims
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1. An apparatus for monitoring in real time the movement of a plurality of substances in a mixture, having at least one fluid layer, along an axis of flow within a tube, the apparatus comprising:
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an X-ray scanner, wherein said X-ray scanner performs a plurality of scans of the mixture over a monitoring period to produce a plurality of scans, wherein a plurality of scan data sets are derived from said scans and wherein said X-ray scanner comprises an annular X-ray tube positioned radially outward from said tube wherein said annular X-ray tube has a plurality of X-ray sources; an annular sensor array radially positioned between said annular X-ray tube and said tube wherein said annular sensor array comprises a plurality of sensors arranged in a plurality of rings, wherein said X-ray sources sequentially emit radiation and wherein each X-ray source directs said emitted radiation toward a portion of said sensor array positioned furthest from said X-ray source and past a portion of said sensor array positioned nearest to said X-ray source; and control means arranged to analyze the scan data sets to identify volumes of each of the substances and to measure their movement. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 32)
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25. A method of monitoring in real time the movement of a plurality of substances in a mixture within a tube, the method comprising:
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performing a plurality of X-ray scans of the mixture over a monitoring period to produce a plurality of scans wherein a plurality of scan data sets are derived from said scans and wherein said X-ray scans are performed using an X-ray scanner comprising an annular X-ray tube positioned radially outward from said tube wherein said annular X-ray tube has a plurality of X-ray sources; an annular sensor array radially positioned between said annular X-ray tube and said tube wherein said annular sensor array comprises a plurality of sensors arranged in a plurality of rings, wherein said X-ray sources sequentially emit radiation and wherein each X-ray source directs said emitted radiation toward a portion of said sensor array positioned furthest from said X-ray source and past a portion of said sensor array positioned nearest to said X-ray source; and analyzing the data sets to identify volumes of each of the substances and to measure their movement. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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Specification