GB2411959A - Doppler ultrasound particulate counter - Google Patents
Doppler ultrasound particulate counter Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2411959A GB2411959A GB0405673A GB0405673A GB2411959A GB 2411959 A GB2411959 A GB 2411959A GB 0405673 A GB0405673 A GB 0405673A GB 0405673 A GB0405673 A GB 0405673A GB 2411959 A GB2411959 A GB 2411959A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- signals
- fluid flow
- deflected
- particulate matter
- receiving
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
- 238000002604 ultrasonography Methods 0.000 title 1
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 17
- 239000002245 particle Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 13
- 238000001228 spectrum Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 6
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 5
- 239000013618 particulate matter Substances 0.000 claims description 12
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 claims description 2
- OKTJSMMVPCPJKN-UHFFFAOYSA-N Carbon Chemical compound [C] OKTJSMMVPCPJKN-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 abstract description 3
- 229910052799 carbon Inorganic materials 0.000 abstract description 3
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 abstract description 2
- 239000011236 particulate material Substances 0.000 abstract 1
- -1 say Substances 0.000 abstract 1
- 239000013528 metallic particle Substances 0.000 description 6
- 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 description 4
- 238000013528 artificial neural network Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000015556 catabolic process Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000011109 contamination Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000001419 dependent effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000001050 lubricating effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000002923 metal particle Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000012544 monitoring process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000010183 spectrum analysis Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000002351 wastewater Substances 0.000 description 1
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01F—MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME
- G01F1/00—Measuring the volume flow or mass flow of fluid or fluent solid material wherein the fluid passes through a meter in a continuous flow
- G01F1/66—Measuring the volume flow or mass flow of fluid or fluent solid material wherein the fluid passes through a meter in a continuous flow by measuring frequency, phase shift or propagation time of electromagnetic or other waves, e.g. using ultrasonic flowmeters
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
- G01N15/00—Investigating characteristics of particles; Investigating permeability, pore-volume or surface-area of porous materials
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
- G01N2291/00—Indexing codes associated with group G01N29/00
- G01N2291/02—Indexing codes associated with the analysed material
- G01N2291/028—Material parameters
- G01N2291/02836—Flow rate, liquid level
Landscapes
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Electromagnetism (AREA)
- Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Investigating Or Analyzing Materials By The Use Of Ultrasonic Waves (AREA)
Abstract
A pipe (10) contains a flowing fluid, say, oil. The oil includes particulate material (12) which, for example, may be metal and or carbon particles (16). A transmitter (14) fixed to the pipe exterior for the purpose of projecting ultrasonic signals through the wall of pipe (14) onto the particles (12). The signals are deflected by the particles (12) onto a receiver (18) at a reduced frequency brought about by the Doppler effect. A spectrum analyser (not shown) is utilised to count the Doppler signals which represent the quantity of particles.
Description
2411 959
SYSTEM FOR COUNTING FREE SOLIDS IN A FLUID FLOW
The present invention relates to a system that enables the assessment of, for example, the extent of wear taking place in a bearing supporting a rotating shaft, or the extent of contamination of a water supply by solids that have eluded or passed through associated filters.
It is known from published patent specification
GB.2,215,050 to count the number of metallic particles in an oil supply flowing through a pipe. The counting system disclosed therein includes a magnet that is fixed to the exterior of the pipe, for the purpose of attracting any metallic particles towards it. The metallic particles thus have a component of velocity imparted thereto which is transverse to the flow through the pipe. Non metallic particles are unaffected and continue in parallel with the flow. An external transducer directs ultrasonic signals into the flow, which signals are scattered by the particles, so as to detect the transverse component of velocity via the frequency shift it causes through Doppler effect. By this means the metallic particles are countable.
The system disclosed in GB.2,215,050 has a drawback in that it cannot count non metallic particles. The present invention thus seeks to provide an improved particle counting system.
According to the present invention, a system for counting particulate matter in a confined fluid flow comprises at least one transducer fixable to the external surface of the flow confining structure for the purpose of projecting ultrasonic energy signals of known frequency therethrough into the fluid flow, so as to collide with and be deflected by said particles, and means for receiving said deflected ultrasonic energy signals in modified form as a result of said collisions, wherein the modification comprises reduced frequency due to the Doppler effect.
Said means for receiving said deflected signals consists of said one transducer if switched to receive mode.
Alternatively, said means for receiving said deflected signal may comprise a further transducer.
A further alternative comprises a pair of spaced receiving transducers positioned to receive widely spaced signals from a single emitting transducer.
Preferably the system includes a transmitted signal and received signal mixer connected between said signal emitter and receiver and a low resolution spectrum analyser.
Alternatively, a high resolution spectrum analyser is directly connected to receive the transmitted and received signals separately.
The present invention will now be described, by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig.1 is a pictorial view of a portion of a pipe that defines a confining path for a flow of fluid.
Fig. 2 is a graph of the received signal amplitude vs. the Doppler frequency shift using a low resolution spectrometer.
Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic arrangement of a single sensor system using two transmitted tones.
Referring to Fig.1. An oil pipe 10, only an axial portion of which is shown, carries a flow of oil through it from, say a bearing (not shown) to a sump (not shown). The oil flow includes particulate matter 12 such as metal particles and carbon particles, the former from the bearing and the latter from burned oil. Bubbles also exist in the flow.
It is important to monitor the quantity of particulate matter in the oil flow, so that early warning of potential breakdown of whatever machinery the oil flow is lubricating is received. In the present example, the monitoring is performed as follows. A transmitter 14 is fixed to the exterior surface of pipe 10, and is caused to emit ultrasonic signals at a known frequency. The signals pass through the wall of the pipe 10 in scattered manner, as indicated by the arrows 16, and collide with the particulate matter 12 as it is carried by the oil flow through pipe 10.
The signals are thus deflected from their original paths on to a receiver 18 that is fixed to the exterior of pipe 10, in opposition to transmitter 14.
Referring to Fig.2. The distance between the signal source and each particle is constantly changing, by virtue of the particles moving in parallel with the axis of pipe 10, and the signals crossing the pipe bore at angles that differ with respect to each other. A Doppler effect results, which can be detected by a high resolution spectrometer.
However, typically the transmitter 14 will use a signal frequency of 1 MHz, and the Doppler shift will give frequencies in the range 0.999 MHz to 1.001. MHz. Spectral analysis of the individual signal by a high resolution spectrometer will therefor have to be resolved around lOHZ bands around the lMHz signal i.e. 1 part in 100,000.
An alternative, and preferred mode of detecting the Doppler shift, is to mix the transmitted and received signals, which for subsequent processing, will result in the bandwidth being substantially reduced. Thus, if the received signal is mixed with the 1 MHz transmitted signal, the mixer output will be in the range 0 to lOOOHz, and the low resolution spectrometer needs to resolve only 1 part in 100, as is illustrated in Fig.2.
The amplitude of the Doppler shifted component of the mixed signal depends upon the velocity of the particulate matter relative to the transmitter and receiver, the number, shape, size and composition of both particulate matter and fluid in pipe 10.
Calibration of the system allows specific changes to be detected. Thus, a neural network would be used to find a correlation between the shape of the Doppler shifted spectrum and the solids content of the fluid e.g. which Doppler shift represents metal, and which Doppler shift represents carbon (where the fluid is bearing oil).
For some applications, where it is necessary to correct for two or more variable parameters in addition to counting the solids content, additional information can be obtained by using two widely separated transmitted frequencies. The particle size component of the scattering of sound is strongly frequency dependent. By including information collected at two widely separated frequencies, information relating to particle size or number can be separated from changes occurring in the fluid or in the fluid/pipe interface. Such a facility would provide a system that is insensitive to the collection of fatty deposits on waste water pipes, and is illustrated in Fig.3, wherein a single sensor receives two transmitted signals.
Claims (6)
1. A system for counting particulate matter in a confined fluid flow, comprising at least one transducer fixable to the external surface of the flow confining structure for the purpose of projecting ultrasonic energy signals of known frequency therethrough into the fluid flow, so as to collide with and be deflected by said particles, and means for receiving said deflected ultrasonic energy signals in modified form as a result of said collisions, wherein the modification comprises reduced frequency due to the Doppler effect.
2. A system for counting particulate matter in a confined fluid flow as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for receiving said deflected signals consists of said one transducer if switched to receive mode.
3. A system for counting particulate matter in a confined fluid flow as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for receiving said deflected signals comprises a further transducer.
4. A system for counting particulate matter in a confined fluid flow as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for receiving said deflected signals comprises a pair of spaced receiving transducers positioned to receive widely spaced deflected signals from a single emitting transducer.
5. A system for counting particulate matter in a confined fluid flow as claimed in any previous claim, and including a transmitted signal and received signal mixer connected between said signal emitter and receiver, and a low resolution spectrum analyser.
6. A system for counting particulate matter in a confined fluid flow as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4, and including a high resolution spectrum analyser directly connected to receive separately transmitted and received signals.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB0405673A GB2411959A (en) | 2004-03-12 | 2004-03-12 | Doppler ultrasound particulate counter |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB0405673A GB2411959A (en) | 2004-03-12 | 2004-03-12 | Doppler ultrasound particulate counter |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB0405673D0 GB0405673D0 (en) | 2004-04-21 |
| GB2411959A true GB2411959A (en) | 2005-09-14 |
Family
ID=32117611
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB0405673A Withdrawn GB2411959A (en) | 2004-03-12 | 2004-03-12 | Doppler ultrasound particulate counter |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2411959A (en) |
Citations (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4542644A (en) * | 1983-09-26 | 1985-09-24 | The United States Of America As Represented By The United States Department Of Energy | Void/particulate detector |
| GB2215050A (en) * | 1988-02-03 | 1989-09-13 | Schlumberger Ind Ltd | Ultrasonic doppler system for detecting magnetic particles in fluids |
| DE19653001A1 (en) * | 1996-12-19 | 1998-06-25 | Wagner & Schaerfl Mess Und Dat | System to determine concentration of solid particles in suspension or detect air bubbles |
-
2004
- 2004-03-12 GB GB0405673A patent/GB2411959A/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4542644A (en) * | 1983-09-26 | 1985-09-24 | The United States Of America As Represented By The United States Department Of Energy | Void/particulate detector |
| GB2215050A (en) * | 1988-02-03 | 1989-09-13 | Schlumberger Ind Ltd | Ultrasonic doppler system for detecting magnetic particles in fluids |
| DE19653001A1 (en) * | 1996-12-19 | 1998-06-25 | Wagner & Schaerfl Mess Und Dat | System to determine concentration of solid particles in suspension or detect air bubbles |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB0405673D0 (en) | 2004-04-21 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| WAP | Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1) |