Patents by Inventor Dipen N. Sinha
Dipen N. Sinha has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Publication number: 20200096484Abstract: A measurement system and a method for determining steam quality (i.e. vapor mass fraction) measurements of multi-phase fluid flowing through pipes are described. An acoustic sensor device consists of an acoustic transmitter and an acoustic receiver that are designed to be attached to a pipe. The acoustic transmitter and the acoustic receiver are exposed to an interior space of the pipe through openings in a wall of the pipe. Acoustic waves generated by the transmitter and captured by the receiver traverse the multi-phase fluid flowing into the pipe. Swept-frequency acoustic interferometry (SFAI) technique is used to measure ultrasonic acoustic properties of a fluid. Machine-learning techniques based on principal component analysis, support vector machine regression and support vector machine classification are used for determining steam quality.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2018Publication date: March 26, 2020Inventors: Alessandro CATTANEO, Dipen N. Sinha, Todd Andrew JANKOWSKI, James SCHRODT
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Publication number: 20200088686Abstract: Apparatus (10) and methods for making simultaneous measurements of composition (water-cut), fluid flow, and sound attenuation in a multiphase fluid flowing (15) through a pipe (12) in real-time, using the same apparatus (10) are described. Additionally, the apparatus (10) provides real-time pipe wall thickness monitoring for observing pipe corrosion or internal deposition. Knowledge of wall thickness is necessary to correct for water-cut (oil-water composition) automatically by adjusting the liquid path length internal to the pipe (spool). The use of short duration frequency chirp excitation signals (24) enables the apparatus to provide information that can be used to extract multiple levels of information from the same measurement in multiphase fluids including the presence of a significant quantity of gas (˜60% gas volume fraction) in different flow regimes. Besides measuring steady flow, this device is useful for measurements during fast changing flows, such as for a rod-pumped well.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 20, 2018Publication date: March 19, 2020Inventors: Dipen N. Sinha, Anirban Chaudhuri
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Patent number: 10585069Abstract: Methods for detection, monitoring, and determination of location of changes in rigid structures with arbitrarily complex geometries are described. Implementations include locating acoustic transducers that generate and receive acoustic signals at multiple locations along a surface of the rigid structure, wherein longitudinal spacing between the transducer locations define measurement zones. Acoustic signals with chosen amplitude-time-frequency characteristics excite multiple vibration modes in the structure within each zone. Small mechanical changes in the inspection zones lead to scattering and attenuation of broadband acoustic signals, which are detectable as changes in received signal characteristics as part of a through-transmission technique. Additional use of short, narrowband pulse acoustic signals as part of a pulse-echo technique allows determination of the relative location of the mechanical change within each zone based on the differential delay profiles.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2018Date of Patent: March 10, 2020Assignees: Chevron U.S.A. Inc., Triad National Security, LLCInventors: Alp T. Findikoglu, Dipen N. Sinha, Daniel R. Chapman
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Patent number: 10488286Abstract: A system, method and device for interrogating a downhole environment in a borehole beneath a surface includes a source of electromagnetic energy, operable to transmit an electromagnetic signal in the borehole, a sensor module, including a passive resonating circuit including a crystal oscillator having a resonant frequency that varies with changes in the condition in the downhole environment to reflect the electromagnetic signal and to modulate the electromagnetic signal in response to a condition in the downhole environment in the borehole and a detector positionable to receive the reflected modulated electromagnetic signal.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2009Date of Patent: November 26, 2019Assignees: CHEVRON U.S.A. INC., LOS ALAMOS NATIONAL SECURITY LLCInventors: M. Clark Thompson, Dipen N. Sinha, Don M. Coates, Jacobo R. Archuletta, Manuel E. Gonzalez
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Patent number: 10473625Abstract: Methods for detecting and monitoring changes in mechanical structures and in walls of pipes, vessels and storage tanks, using muitimode acoustic signal propagation and detection, are described. Acoustic signals having chosen amplitude-time-frequency characteristics excite multiple modes in the structure under investigation, are generated and received at a small number of accessible locations, such as the ends of pipes and the tops and bottoms of vessels and storage tanks, with the inspection region between transmit and receive transducers. Small mechanical changes lead to acoustic scattering and attenuation among the various modes, which are detectable as changes in received signal intensity. Such changes may include material loss, material conversion and material addition. Once the structure is characterized in a known condition, the present method may be used to monitor the structure at a later time to determine whether changes have taken place.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 2016Date of Patent: November 12, 2019Assignees: Chevron U.S.A. Inc., Triad National Security, LLCInventors: Alp T. Findikoglu, Dipen N. Sinha, Daniel R. Chapman
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Publication number: 20190242851Abstract: Methods for noninvasive determination of acoustical properties of flowing in pipes having a large ratio (>10) of pipe diameter to wall thickness, and in highly attenuating fluids are described. When vibrations are excited on the outer surface of the wall of a pipe, the resulting vibrations propagate directly through the wall In a normal direction and through the pipe wall as guided waves, appearing on the opposite side of the pipe. This dual path propagation through pipes, where guided waves take the circumferential path in the wall of the pipe and may interfere with the time of-flight measurement obtained from the direct path through the fluid, is at least In part resolved by subtracting the signal from the guided wave from the combined signal, thereby permitting improved observation of the direct path propagation through the fluid.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 20, 2017Publication date: August 8, 2019Inventors: Dipen N. Sinha, Cristian Pantea, Blake T. Sturtevant, Anirban Chaudhuri
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Patent number: 10352907Abstract: A compact, rugged and portable measurement cell design for the determination of sound speed in fluids at temperatures up to 250° C. and pressures up to 3,000 psi is described. Swept Frequency Acoustic Interferometry measurement for liquid sound speed determinations in liquids up to 250° C. is of both fundamental interest, as in the case of basic equations of state, and applied interest, such as for characterizing geothermal or petroleum down hole environments. Representative sound speeds for water, as a function of temperature and pressure, are in agreement with an internationally accepted standard for the sound speed of water.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 2014Date of Patent: July 16, 2019Assignee: Los Alamos National Security, LLCInventors: Blake T. Sturtevant, Cristian Pantea, Dipen N. Sinha
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Patent number: 10331025Abstract: The present invention is a method and an apparatus that can image objects immersed in optically opaque fluids using ultrasound in a confined space and in a harsh environment. If the fluid is not highly attenuating at frequencies above 1 MHz, where commercial ultrasound scanners are available, such scanners can be adapted for imaging in these fluids. In the case of highly attenuating fluids, such as drilling mud, then a low frequency collimated sound source is used.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2013Date of Patent: June 25, 2019Assignee: Los Alamos National Security, LLCInventors: Dipen N. Sinha, Curtis F. Osterhoudt, Cristian Pantea
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Patent number: 10309932Abstract: An apparatus and method for noninvasively monitoring steam quality and flow and in pipes or conduits bearing flowing steam, are described. By measuring the acoustic vibrations generated in steam-carrying conduits by the flowing steam either by direct contact with the pipe or remotely thereto, converting the measured acoustic vibrations into a frequency spectrum characteristic of the natural resonance vibrations of the pipe, and monitoring the amplitude and/or the frequency of one or more chosen resonance frequencies, changes in the steam quality in the pipe are determined. The steam flow rate and the steam quality are inversely related, and changes in the steam flow rate are calculated from changes in the steam quality once suitable calibration curves are obtained.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 2016Date of Patent: June 4, 2019Assignee: Los Alamos National Security, LLCInventors: Dipen N. Sinha, Cristian Pantea
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Patent number: 10124311Abstract: Apparatus and methods for using acoustic radiation forces to order particles suspended in a host liquid are described. The particles may range in size from nanometers to millimeters, and may have any shape. The suspension is placed in an acoustic resonator cavity, and acoustical energy is supplied thereto using acoustic transducers. The resulting pattern may be fixed by using a solidifiable host liquid, forming thereby a solid material. Patterns may be quickly generated; typical times ranging from a few seconds to a few minutes. In a one-dimensional arrangement, parallel layers of particles are formed. With two and three dimensional transducer arrangements, more complex particle configurations are possible since different standing-wave patterns may be generated in the resonator.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2015Date of Patent: November 13, 2018Assignee: Los Alamos National Security, LLCInventors: Naveen N. Sinha, Dipen N. Sinha, Greg R. Goddard
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Publication number: 20180292356Abstract: Methods for detection, monitoring, and determination of location of changes in rigid structures with arbitrarily complex geometries are described. Implementations include locating acoustic transducers that generate and receive acoustic signals at multiple locations along a surface of the rigid structure, wherein longitudinal spacing between the transducer locations define measurement zones. Acoustic signals with chosen amplitude-time-frequency characteristics excite multiple vibration modes in the structure within each zone. Small mechanical changes in the inspection zones lead to scattering and attenuation of broadband acoustic signals, which are detectable as changes in received signal characteristics as part of a through-transmission technique. Additional use of short, narrowband pulse acoustic signals as part of a pulse-echo technique allows determination of the relative location of the mechanical change within each zone based on the differential delay profiles.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 27, 2018Publication date: October 11, 2018Inventors: Alp T. Findikoglu, Dipen N. Sinha, Daniel R. Chapman
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Patent number: 10088590Abstract: Methods for real-time, continuous measurements of the composition and other properties of individual phases of petroleum, water and gas mixtures during the oil production process, without requiring test separators, test lines, with associated valving and instrumentation, are described. Embodiments of the present invention direct ultrasonic sound transmission through a flowing multiphase fluid in three frequency ranges: low frequencies, gas bubble resonance frequencies, and high frequencies, wherein certain sound propagation measurements, including sound speed, sound attenuation and sound scattering, are made in one or more of the three separate frequency regions, from which the multiphase composition and other properties are extracted without having to separate the multiphase fluid or the gas from the flowing stream.Type: GrantFiled: April 4, 2014Date of Patent: October 2, 2018Assignee: Los Alamos National Security, LLCInventors: Dipen N. Sinha, Anirban Chaudhuri, Cristian Pantea
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Patent number: 10054676Abstract: Apparatus for generating accurate 3-dimensional images of objects immersed in liquids including optically opaque liquids which may also have significant sound attenuation, is described. Sound pulses are caused to impinge on the object, and the time-of-flight of the reflected sound is used to create a 3-dimensional image of the object in almost real-time. The apparatus is capable of creating images of objects immersed in fluids that are optically opaque and have high sound attenuation at resolutions less than about 1 mm. The apparatus may include a piezoelectric transducer for generating the acoustic pulses; a high-density polyethylene compound acoustic lens, a 2-dimensional segmented piezoelectric detecting array positioned behind the lens for receiving acoustic pulses reflected by the object, the electric output of which is directed to digital signal processing electronics for generating the image.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2013Date of Patent: August 21, 2018Assignee: Los Alamos National Security, LLCInventors: Dipen N. Sinha, John F. Brady
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Publication number: 20180231501Abstract: Methods for detecting and monitoring changes in mechanical structures and in walls of pipes, vessels and storage tanks, using muitimode acoustic signal propagation and detection, are described. Acoustic signals having chosen amplitude-time-frequency characteristics excite multiple modes in the structure under investigation, are generated and received at a small number of accessible locations, such as the ends of pipes and the tops and bottoms of vessels and storage tanks, with the inspection region between transmit and receive transducers. Small mechanical changes lead to acoustic scattering and attenuation among the various modes, which are detectable as changes in received signal intensity. Such changes may include material loss, material conversion and material addition. Once the structure is characterized in a known condition, the present method may be used to monitor the structure at a later time to determine whether changes have taken place.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 12, 2016Publication date: August 16, 2018Applicants: Los Alamos National Security, LLC, Chevron U.S.A. Inc.Inventors: Alp T. Findikoglu, Dipen N. Sinha, Daniel R. Chapman
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Publication number: 20180120269Abstract: Apparatus and methods for the measurement of gas volume fraction of produced oil are described. A first method measures the response of a pipe containing the produced oil excited by a source of vibration in the form of an acoustic frequency chirp containing a linearly varying range of frequencies in the tens of kilohertz range encompassing at least one resonant mode of the pipe. As the gas volume fraction increases, the location of the peak maximum of the measured frequency spectrum responsive to the excitation increases in frequency, and the height of the peak maximum increases, thereby permitting a linear calibration curve to be obtained. A second method measures the response of a pipe containing the produced oil to excitation by a continuous source of vibration having a chosen frequency above those which excite flexural vibrations in the pipe and simultaneously excite acoustic waves in the fluid contained in the pipe, known as the coincidence frequency.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 4, 2016Publication date: May 3, 2018Applicant: Los Alamos National Security, LLCInventors: Dipen N. Sinha, Anirban Chaudhuri, Cristian Pantea
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Publication number: 20180088083Abstract: An apparatus and method for the separation of an oil-water mixture into its components are described. An acoustic radiation force moves oil droplets to the nodes of an acoustic standing wave generated in a vertical column containing the oil-water mixture. Once the droplets are sufficiently close together, attractive forces become dominant and the droplets may coalesce to form larger droplets, which have greater buoyancy, and separation of the mixture into a layer of oil and a layer of water occurs, not possible by simple gravitational separation. Acoustically-driven oil-water separation may be used for water-cut measurements in oil production wells, since separation of the oil from the water permits accurate sound speed measurements to be made for both the oil and the water, thereby allowing frequent in situ calibrations of the apparatus to determine whether sound speed measurements on the mixture are accurate in the event that one or both of the mixture constituents is changing.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 1, 2016Publication date: March 29, 2018Applicant: Los Alamos National Security, LLCInventors: Dipen N. Sinha, Cristian Pantea
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Patent number: 9843400Abstract: A passive, linear arrangement of a sonic crystal-based apparatus and method including a 1D sonic crystal, a nonlinear medium, and an acoustic low-pass filter, for permitting unidirectional broadband ultrasound propagation as a collimated beam for underwater, air or other fluid communication, are described. The signal to be transmitted is first used to modulate a high-frequency ultrasonic carrier wave which is directed into the sonic crystal side of the apparatus. The apparatus processes the modulated signal, whereby the original low-frequency signal exits the apparatus as a collimated beam on the side of the apparatus opposite the sonic crystal. The sonic crystal provides a bandpass acoustic filter through which the modulated high-frequency ultrasonic signal passes, and the nonlinear medium demodulates the modulated signal and recovers the low-frequency sound beam. The low-pass filter removes remaining high-frequency components, and contributes to the unidirectional property of the apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2015Date of Patent: December 12, 2017Assignee: U.S. Department of EnergyInventors: Dipen N. Sinha, Cristian Pantea
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Publication number: 20170108471Abstract: A compact, rugged and portable measurement cell design for the determination of sound speed in fluids at temperatures up to 250° C. and pressures up to 3,000 psi is described. Swept Frequency Acoustic Interferometry measurement for liquid sound speed determinations in liquids up to 250° C. is of both fundamental interest, as in the case of basic equations of state, and applied interest, such as for characterizing geothermal or petroleum down hole environments. Representative sound speeds for water, as a function of temperature and pressure, are in agreement with an internationally accepted standard for the sound speed of water.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 26, 2014Publication date: April 20, 2017Applicant: Los Alamos National Security, LLCInventors: Blake T. Sturtevant, Cristian Pantea, Dipen N. Sinha
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Publication number: 20160356744Abstract: An apparatus and method for noninvasively monitoring steam quality and flow and in pipes or conduits bearing flowing steam, are described. By measuring the acoustic vibrations generated in steam-carrying conduits by the flowing steam either by direct contact with the pipe or remotely thereto, converting the measured acoustic vibrations into a frequency spectrum characteristic of the natural resonance vibrations of the pipe, and monitoring the amplitude and/or the frequency of one or more chosen resonance frequencies, changes in the steam quality in the pipe are determined. The steam flow rate and the steam quality are inversely related, and changes in the steam flow rate are calculated from changes in the steam quality once suitable calibration curves are obtained.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 15, 2016Publication date: December 8, 2016Applicant: Los Alamos National Security, LLCInventors: Dipen N. Sinha, Cristian Pantea
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Patent number: 9442094Abstract: An apparatus and method for noninvasively monitoring steam quality and flow and in pipes or conduits bearing flowing steam, are described. By measuring the acoustic vibrations generated in steam-carrying conduits by the flowing steam either by direct contact with the pipe or remotely thereto, converting the measured acoustic vibrations into a frequency spectrum characteristic of the natural resonance vibrations of the pipe, and monitoring the amplitude and/or the frequency of one or more chosen resonance frequencies, changes in the steam quality in the pipe are determined. The steam flow rate and the steam quality are inversely related, and changes in the steam flow rate are calculated from changes in the steam quality once suitable calibration curves are obtained.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2012Date of Patent: September 13, 2016Assignee: Los Alamos National Security, LLCInventors: Dipen N. Sinha, Cristian Pantea