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US4580444A
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Ultrasonic determination of component concentrations in multi-component fluids
Assignee: MICO PURE SYSTENS Inc A RI CORP
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Filing: 1984-02-10
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Granted: 1986-04-08
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Expires: 2004-02-10
Abstract
Abstract A method of and apparatus for determining the concentration of oil in a recirculating fluid flow for an oil recovery system by detecting the forward-scattering of ultrasonic energy from oil droplets in the flow and comparing the detected information with forward-scattering measurements for flows with known concentrations of oil.
Inventors
- 👤 Leigh R. Abts
- 👤 Peter H. Dahl
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 08:52
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N33/00; G01N33/26; G01N33/28; G01N33/2823; E; E21; E21B; E21B47/00; E21B47/10; E21B47/107; G01N29/00; G01N29/02; G01N29/032; G01N2291/00; G01N2291/02; G01N2291/028; G01N2291/02836
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
82 words
A method of identifying and determining the concentration of droplets in a fluid flow comprising: sending ultrasonic pulses into the flow, detecting and counting the resulting pulses of forward-scattered energy which occur when one of the ultrasonic pulses sent into the flow strikes a droplet in the flow, and comparing the number of forward-scattered energy pulses counted per unit volume of the flow with the number of forward-scattered energy pulses counted for known concentration levels of droplets for the same unit volume.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
82 words
A method of identifying and determining the concentration of droplets in a fluid flow comprising: sending ultrasonic pulses into the flow, detecting and counting the resulting pulses of forward-scattered energy which occur when one of the ultrasonic pulses sent into the flow strikes a droplet in the flow, and comparing the number of forward-scattered energy pulses counted per unit volume of the flow with the number of forward-scattered energy pulses counted for known concentration levels of droplets for the same unit volume.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said droplets are oil droplets, and the flow is a recirculating water flow for a secondary oil recovery system.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said detecting includes detecting the pulses of forward-scattered energy at an angle equal to or greater than 90° from the direction at which said ultrasonic pulses are sent into the flow.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
10 words
The method of claim 3 wherein said angle is 90°.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
10 words
The method of claim 3 wherein said angle is 120°.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said pulses are sent transversely across the flow.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
71 words
A method of identifying and determining the concentration of droplets in a fluid flow comprising: sending ultrasonic pulses into the flow, detecting the amplitude of forward scattered energy which results when an ultrasonic pulse sent into the flow strikes a droplet in the flow, and comparing the detected amplitude with known applitudes to determine the concentration of droplets based on the amount of gain in the amplitude due to the forward-scattering.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
71 words
A method of identifying and determining the concentration of droplets in a fluid flow comprising: sending ultrasonic pulses into the flow, detecting the amplitude of forward scattered energy which results when an ultrasonic pulse sent into the flow strikes a droplet in the flow, and comparing the detected amplitude with known applitudes to determine the concentration of droplets based on the amount of gain in the amplitude due to the forward-scattering.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 7 wherein said droplets are oil droplets, and the flow is a recirculating water flow for a secondary oil recovery system.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 7 wherein said detecting includes detecting the pulses of forward-scattered energy at an angle equal to or greater than 90° from the direction at which said ultrasonic pulses are sent into the flow.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
10 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said angle is 90°.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
10 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said angle is 120°.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 7 wherein said pulses are sent transversely across the flow.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
83 words
An apparatus for identifying and determining the concentration of droplets in a fluid flow comprising; means for transmitting ultrasonic pulses into the flow, means for detecting and counting the discrete pulses of forward-scattered energy which results when an ultrasonic pulse from said means for transmitting strikes a droplet in the flow, and means for comparing the number of forward-scattered pulses counted per unit volume of flow with the number of forward-scattered pulses for known concentration levels of droplets for the same unit volume.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
83 words
An apparatus for identifying and determining the concentration of droplets in a fluid flow comprising; means for transmitting ultrasonic pulses into the flow, means for detecting and counting the discrete pulses of forward-scattered energy which results when an ultrasonic pulse from said means for transmitting strikes a droplet in the flow, and means for comparing the number of forward-scattered pulses counted per unit volume of flow with the number of forward-scattered pulses for known concentration levels of droplets for the same unit volume.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said means for detecting comprises a transducer disposed at an angle of at least 90° from the direction at which said ultrasonic pulses are sent into the flow.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the droplets are oil and the fluid is a secondary oil recovery system.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
75 words
An apparatus for identifying and determining the concentration of droplets in a fluid flow comprising: means for transmitting ultrasonic pulses into the flow, means for detecting the amplitude of forward-scattered energy which results when an ultrasonic pulse sent into the flow strikes a droplet in the flow, and means for comparaing the detected amplitude with known amplitudes to determine the concentration of droplets based upon the amount of gain in the amplitude due to forward-scattering.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
75 words
An apparatus for identifying and determining the concentration of droplets in a fluid flow comprising: means for transmitting ultrasonic pulses into the flow, means for detecting the amplitude of forward-scattered energy which results when an ultrasonic pulse sent into the flow strikes a droplet in the flow, and means for comparaing the detected amplitude with known amplitudes to determine the concentration of droplets based upon the amount of gain in the amplitude due to forward-scattering.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said means for detecting comprises a transducer disposed at an angle of at least 90° from the direction at which said ultrasonic pulses are sent into the flow.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the droplets are oil and the fluid flow is a secondary oil recovery system.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-04-07 | 1989-10-07 | 1990-04-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-04-07 | 1993-10-07 | 1994-04-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-04-07 | 1997-10-07 | 1998-04-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |