Ultrasonic contaminant detection system
Inventors
BEERS, DAVID F. • Strong, Michael R. • SEVICK, JOHN R. • MULLEN, MICHAEL E.
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-10260466-B2
Publication Date
2019-04-16
Expiration Date
Abstract
The invention generally provides a system and method for detecting, measuring, and/or classifying particulate and/or water contaminants in a fluid supply line, storage tank, or sump. Embodiments of the invention provide a contaminant detection apparatus with a detection chamber and a detection module. The detection chamber includes a housing with an internal fluid conduit and one or more acoustic transducers disposed in the housing. Alarms and/or automatic signaling may be included to shut off valves or pumps when contaminants are detected.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a contaminant detection apparatus that includes a detection chamber with a housing and an internal fluid conduit, and with a primary acoustic transducer and a secondary acoustic transducer disposed in the housing such that a focal beam of the primary acoustic transducer and a focal beam of the secondary acoustic transducer intersect in the internal fluid conduit. The secondary acoustic transducer is disposed at an angle greater than 0 degrees and less than 180 degrees with respect to the primary acoustic transducer. A detection module is coupled to the primary acoustic transducer and the secondary acoustic transducer to output a primary transmission (Primary Tx) signal and to receive a primary reflected (Primary Rx) signal and a secondary reflected (Secondary Rx) signal for detection of a contaminant in a fluid contained in the internal fluid conduit.
The detection module causes the primary acoustic transducer to output a pulse stream in response to the Primary Tx signal, receives the Primary Rx signal and the Secondary Rx signal in response to the pulse stream, and filters the Primary Rx signal and the Secondary Rx signal. The detection module calculates an average power/pulse in the Primary Rx signal and a primary channel power based on the average power/pulse for a predetermined period of time, and similarly calculates an average power/pulse in the Secondary Rx signal and a secondary channel power based on the average power/pulse for the predetermined period of time. The detection module divides the primary channel power by the secondary channel power to calculate a classification ratio (CR) and classifies the contaminant based on predetermined lower and upper CR thresholds.
If the CR is less than a predetermined lower threshold, the contaminant is classified as particulate; if the CR is greater than a predetermined upper threshold, the contaminant is classified as water; and if the CR is not less than the predetermined lower threshold and not greater than the predetermined upper threshold, the contaminant is classified as a mix of particulate and water. In the signature-based variant, the detection module detects a contaminant signature in the Primary Rx signal and determines whether the contaminant signature in the Primary Rx signal is in phase with the Primary Tx signal, and it classifies the contaminant as air when the contaminant signature in the Primary Rx signal is not in phase with the Primary Tx signal. The detection module also detects a contaminant signature in the Secondary Rx signal and determines whether the contaminant signature in the Secondary Rx signal correlates with the contaminant signature in the Primary Rx signal, and when correlation is determined a secondary channel power is calculated for the CR used for classifying particulate and water.
Claims Coverage
The partial content provides three independent claim sets relevant to the invention, each with distinct inventive-feature emphasis, for classification using a classification ratio (CR) and, in one independent claim, additional signature/phase/correlation logic. Across the independent claims, the inventive features include the intersecting focal beam geometry and the primary/secondary signal processing that computes a CR for classifying particulate, water, and mixes, and optionally air.
Intersecting primary and secondary focal beams in an internal fluid conduit
A detection chamber with a housing and an internal fluid conduit includes a primary acoustic transducer and a secondary acoustic transducer disposed such that a focal beam of the primary acoustic transducer and a focal beam of the secondary acoustic transducer intersect in the internal fluid conduit, with the secondary acoustic transducer disposed at an angle greater than 0 degrees and less than 180 degrees with respect to the primary acoustic transducer.
Primary/secondary transmission and reflected-signal based contaminant detection
A detection module coupled to the primary acoustic transducer and the secondary acoustic transducer outputs a primary transmission (Primary Tx) signal to the primary acoustic transducer and receives a primary reflected (Primary Rx) signal and a secondary reflected (Secondary Rx) signal, and detects a contaminant in the fluid based on the Primary Rx signal and the Secondary Rx signal.
Classification ratio from primary and secondary channel powers with threshold-based contaminant type selection
The detection module causes the primary acoustic transducer to output a pulse stream, filters the Primary Rx signal and the Secondary Rx signal, calculates an average power/pulse and a primary channel power for a predetermined period of time, calculates an average power/pulse and a secondary channel power for the predetermined period of time, divides the primary channel power by the secondary channel power to calculate a classification ratio (CR), and classifies the contaminant as particulate when the CR is less than a predetermined lower threshold, as water when the CR is greater than a predetermined upper threshold, and as a mix of particulate and water otherwise.
Phase determination of a contaminant signature relative to the Primary Tx
The detection module calculates a primary channel power based on the Primary Rx signal, detects a contaminant signature in the Primary Rx signal, determines whether the contaminant signature in the Primary Rx signal is in phase with the Primary Tx signal, and classifies the contaminant as air when the contaminant signature in the Primary Rx signal is not in phase with the Primary Tx signal.
Cross-signature correlation for Secondary Rx signature validation
When the contaminant signature in the Primary Rx signal is in phase with the Primary Tx signal, the detection module detects a contaminant signature in the Secondary Rx signal, determines whether the contaminant signature in the Secondary Rx signal correlates with the contaminant signature in the Primary Rx signal, and if the signatures correlate calculates a secondary channel power based on the Secondary Rx signal for forming the CR used for particulate and water classification.
Across the independent claims, the core claim coverage centers on intersecting focal beams of primary and secondary acoustic transducers within an internal fluid conduit and processing Primary Rx and Secondary Rx signals to compute a classification ratio (CR) from primary and secondary channel powers, with threshold-based classification into particulate, water, or a mix; one independent claim further adds phase checking of a contaminant signature and correlation between primary and secondary contaminant signatures.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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