An ultrasonic instrument to measure the density of a liquid or slurry through a stainless steel pipeline wall is described. By using multiple reflections of the ultrasound within the stainless steel wall, the acoustic impedance (defined as the product of the density of the liquid and the velocity of sound in the liquid) is determined. Thus, the wall is part of the measurement system. The density is obtained by coupling the acoustic impedance measurement with a velocity of sound measurement. By basing the measurement on multiple reflections, instrument sensitivity is increased by the power of the reflection coefficient. The measurement method is self-calibrating because the measurement of the acoustic impedance is independent of changes in the pulser voltage. Data are presented over a range of pulser voltages for two wall thicknesses. These results can be applied to develop an ultrasonic sensor that (1) can be attached permanently to a pipeline wall, possibly as a spool piece inserted into the line or (2) can clamp onto an existing pipeline wall and be movable to another location. The self-calibrating feature is very important because the signal strength is sensitive to the pressure on the clamp-on sensor. A sensor for immersion into a tank could also be developed.
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March 2004
Technical Papers
Self-Calibrating Sensor for Measuring Density Through Stainless Steel Pipeline Wall
Margaret S. Greenwood,
Margaret S. Greenwood
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, P.O. Box 999, Richland, Washington 99352
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Judith A. Bamberger
Judith A. Bamberger
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, P.O. Box 999, Richland, Washington 99352
Search for other works by this author on:
Margaret S. Greenwood
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, P.O. Box 999, Richland, Washington 99352
Judith A. Bamberger
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, P.O. Box 999, Richland, Washington 99352
Contributed by the Fluids Engineering Division for publication in the JOURNAL OF FLUIDS ENGINEERING. Manuscript received by the Fluids Engineering Division November 1, 2002; revised manuscript received June 4, 2003. Associate Editor: D. Siginer.
J. Fluids Eng. Mar 2004, 126(2): 189-192 (4 pages)
Published Online: May 3, 2004
Article history
Received:
November 1, 2002
Revised:
June 4, 2003
Online:
May 3, 2004
Citation
Greenwood , M. S., and Bamberger, J. A. (May 3, 2004). "Self-Calibrating Sensor for Measuring Density Through Stainless Steel Pipeline Wall ." ASME. J. Fluids Eng. March 2004; 126(2): 189–192. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.1677462
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