Method and system for detecting deposit buildup within an ultrasonic flow meter
First Claim
1. A system comprising:
- an ultrasonic flow meter comprising;
a spool piece configured to couple within a flow of fluid; and
a first transducer pair mechanically mounted to the spool piece and configured to fluidly couple to the flow of fluid, the first transducer pair comprising an upstream transducer and a downstream transducer in operational relationship to the upstream transducer and defining a first chord there between; and
electronics electronically coupled to the first transducer pair, the electronics configured to;
determine diagnostic data based on acoustic signals transmitted between the first transducer pair, the diagnostic data comprising a speed of sound through the fluid; and
detect deposit buildup over an inner surface of the spool piece based on a trend of the speed of sound through the fluid.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and systems for detecting deposit buildup within an ultrasonic flow meter are disclosed. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are ultrasonic flow meters comprising a spool piece configured to couple within a flow of fluid, a first transducer pair mechanically mounted to the spool piece and configured to fluidly couple to the flow of fluids (wherein the first transducer pair comprises an upstream transducer and a downstream transducer in operational relationship to the upstream transducer and defines a first chord there between), and electronics electrically coupled to the first transducer pair. The electronics is configured to detect deposit buildup over an inner surface of the ultrasonic flow meter.
30 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
an ultrasonic flow meter comprising; a spool piece configured to couple within a flow of fluid; and a first transducer pair mechanically mounted to the spool piece and configured to fluidly couple to the flow of fluid, the first transducer pair comprising an upstream transducer and a downstream transducer in operational relationship to the upstream transducer and defining a first chord there between; and electronics electronically coupled to the first transducer pair, the electronics configured to; determine diagnostic data based on acoustic signals transmitted between the first transducer pair, the diagnostic data comprising a speed of sound through the fluid; and detect deposit buildup over an inner surface of the spool piece based on a trend of the speed of sound through the fluid. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method comprising:
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determining, by a processor, diagnostic data based on acoustic signals transmitted between a transducer pair of an ultrasonic flow meter, the diagnostic data comprising a speed of sound through a fluid flowing through the ultrasonic flow meter; trending, by the processor, the speed of sound through the fluid with time; and detecting, by the processor, deposit buildup over an inner surface of the ultrasonic flow meter using the trended speed of sound through the fluid. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A non-transitory computer-readable media comprising a plurality of instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:
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determine diagnostic data based on acoustic signals transmitted between a transducer pair of an ultrasonic flow meter, the diagnostic data comprising a speed of sound through a fluid flowing through the flow meter; determine a trend of the speed of sound through the fluid; and detect deposit buildup within the ultrasonic flow meter based on the trend. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification