Industrial process monitoring and imaging

• US 9,829,368 B2
• Filed: 04/30/2015
• Issued: 11/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Chevron USA Incorporated (Chevron Corp.), Silixa Limited
• Original Assignee: Chevron USA Incorporated (Chevron Corp.), Silixa Limited
• Inventors: Kutlik, Roy, Finfer, Daniel, Parker, Tom Richard, Luo, Huping, Farhadiroushan, Mahmoud
• Primary Examiner(s): Hellner, Mark
• Application Number:
  US14/700,285
• Publication Number:
  US 20150247751A1
• Time in Patent Office: 943 Days
• Field of Search: 73587
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/2961 for discrete levels G01F23/2962 - G01F23/2968 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/2962 Measuring transit time of reflected waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01H 3/125 for representing acoustic field distribution using optical means G01H9/002; sonar systems for imaging G01S7/56, G01S15/89; acoustic holography G03H3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01H 9/00 Measuring mechanical vibrations or ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves by using radiation-sensitive means, e.g. optical means
• CPC Class Codes: G01H 9/004 using fibre optic sensors light guides per se G02B6/00, acousto-optical devices specially adapted for gating or modulating in optical wave guides G02F1/125
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/18 using ultrasonic, sonic, or infrasonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 42/06 using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments include an apparatus for imaging a volume of material contained inside a vessel. The apparatus includes a plurality of synchronized acoustic sensors positioned at a periphery of an inner volume of the vessel. A processor combines the outputs of the acoustic sensors to identify at least one ambient noise source of the industrial process generating a noise field that illuminates an internal volume of the vessel and to provide an image of the material by temporal and spatial coherent processing of the transmission and reflection of the noise field generated by the noise source.

Claims

1. A method of level detection in an enclosure, comprising:

detecting characteristic acoustic signals of an industrial process through a plurality of time-synchronized sensors disposed about an axis of the enclosure to monitor at least one ambient noise source generating a noise field that illuminates an inner volume of the enclosure;

measuring a time of flight of one of the detected acoustic signals at each one of the plurality of sensors; and

analyzing the time of flight of the measured acoustic signals corresponding to the at least one ambient noise source detected at each one of the plurality of sensors to determine a fluid level in the enclosure.

2. A method of detecting an object in an enclosure, comprising:

detecting characteristic acoustic signals of an industrial process acting on a material within the enclosure through a plurality of time-synchronized sensors disposed about a periphery of an inner volume of the enclosure to monitor at least one ambient noise source generating a noise field that illuminates an inner volume of the enclosure;

measuring a time of flight of one of the detected acoustic signals at each one of the plurality of sensors; and

analyzing the time of flight of the measured acoustic signals corresponding to the at least one ambient noise source detected at each of the plurality of sensors to determine a size and location of an object in the material acted on by the industrial process in the enclosure.