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In-service monitoring of steam pipe systems at high temperatures

  • US 8,632,244 B2
  • Filed: 03/09/2011
  • Issued: 01/21/2014
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2010
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A steam pipe monitoring system, comprising:

  • a piezoelectric transducer configured to be operable at a temperature present at an external surface of an industrial steam pipe to be monitored, said piezoelectric transducer configured to be bonded to said external surface of said steam pipe, said piezoelectric transducer configured to emit a probe ultrasonic signal having a frequency in the range of 2.25 MegaHertz and above in response to a received activation signal, and configured to receive a reflected ultrasonic signal and to provide an electrical signal representative of said reflected ultrasonic signal;

    a signal generator configured to provide said activation signal to said piezoelectric transducer;

    an amplifier configured to receive said electrical signal representative of said reflected ultrasonic signal from said piezoelectric transducer, configured to amplify said electrical signal, and configured to provide as output an amplified electrical signal;

    a signal processing module comprising an analog-to-digital converter, a digital signal processor, and a transceiver, said signal processing module configured to receive said amplified electrical signal, configured to process said amplified electrical signal to extract data indicative of a property of water present in said steam pipe, and configured to transmit information about said property of water for use by a user; and

    a power supply configured to provide power to operate said piezoelectric transducer, said signal generator, said amplifier and said signal processing module.

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