Abstract: Systems, methods, and media for detecting abnormalities in equipment that emit ultrasonic energy into a solid medium during failure are provided. In some embodiments, devices for monitoring a piece of equipment are provided, the devices comprising: a piezo microphone having a signal output; a mechanical structure acoustically coupling the piezo microphone to the piece of equipment; a hardware processor configured to: receive intensity signals based on the signal output of the piezo microphone; perform a fast Fourier transform on the received intensity signals to produce a set of output band values for each of a plurality of frequency bands; average at least some of the output band values to produce an average value; and calculate a sum of at least some of the output band values; and a transceiver that transmits the sum to a remote device.

Abstract: A method for measuring two-phase mixture quality in a fluid may include providing a densitometer with a densitometer body, a resonator tine, a drive transducer, and a pickup transducer. The method may also include exposing the resonator tine to the fluid and oscillating the resonator tine with the drive transducer. In addition, the method may include measuring the oscillation of the resonator tine with the pickup transducer, and determining a density of the fluid based on the measured oscillation of the resonator tine. The method may also include determining a two-phase mixture quality based on the determined density.

Abstract: The current disclosure relates to steam generation and supply apparati and associated control systems. Particularly, the current disclosure relates to such steam generation supply apparati and associated control systems that are used for enhanced oil recovery. Certain embodiments are provided including methods and associated control systems related to the startup as well as main steam pressure header control or maintenance of a desired steam quality for such steam generation systems during normal operation.

Abstract: The current disclosure relates to a method of steam generation. Particularly, the current disclosure relates to steam generation supply apparati and associated control systems that are used for enhanced oil recovery. Certain embodiments are provided including methods and associated control systems related to the startup as well as main steam pressure header control or maintenance of a desired steam quality for such steam generation systems during normal operation.

Abstract: A method of determining the phase compositions of a multiphase fluid flow in a fluid line, including obtaining a vibration signal from the fluid flow using a vibration sensor comprising a target disposed in the fluid flow which vibrates in response to fluid flow in the fluid line. The vibration signal is analyzed to determine a first energy parameter which is related to the energy of the vibration signal within a first frequency band, and a second energy parameter which is related to the energy of the vibration signal within a second frequency band; and a phase composition parameter, such as a dryness parameter, relating to the phase compositions of the fluid flow is determined using the first and second energy parameters. An apparatus for determining the phase compositions of a multiphase fluid flow in a fluid line.

Abstract: A system and method for continually and automatically measuring the quality of steam includes a steam dryness/superheat meter and a non-condensable gases (NCG) meter. The steam dryness meter includes a throttling calorimeter through which a steam sample enters at atmospheric pressure, sensors for sensing the pressure and temperature of the stream before and after it enters the calorimeter, a controllable heat input for supplying any additional energy necessary to superheat the steam sample, and logic for deriving the dryness from the collected data. The NCG meter includes a cooler for condensing the steam sample reservoirs into which the liquid and non-condensable gases are entrapped and measured, and logic for continuously deriving the NCG ratio from the collected data.

Abstract: Test device capable of checking the quality of the sterilizing steam in a pre-vacuum apparatus intended for sterilization, including a receptacle forming an elongate chamber closed at its distal end and open at its proximal end, in which the chamber contains a filling load, and at least one undesirable gas presence indicator arranged toward the distal closed end of the chamber. According to the invention; the undesirable gas presence indicator is an electronic temperature sensor, and the filling load comprises at least, in the operating position, one path enabling a flow by gravity of the water condensed in the chamber from the steam primarily forming the atmosphere of same, to the opening of the proximal end.

Abstract: A solution for measuring steam quality in a steam turbine is disclosed. A steam quality measurement (SQM) device and an ejector are coupled to a steam turbine through an appropriate piping configuration to draw steam emitted from the turbine through the SQM device for measurement of the steam quality, for example, continuously, during operation of the turbine.

Abstract: Test device capable of checking the quality of the sterilizing steam in a pre-vacuum apparatus intended for sterilization, including a receptacle (1) forming an elongate chamber (5) closed at its distal end (11) and open at its proximal end (12), in which said chamber (5) contains a filling load (3), and at least one undesirable gas presence indicator (2) arranged toward the distal closed end (11) of the chamber (5). According to the invention: the undesirable gas presence indicator (2) is an electronic temperature sensor, the filling load (3) comprises at least, in the operating position, one path enabling a flow by gravity of the water condensed in the chamber (5) from the steam primarily forming the atmosphere of same, to the opening of the proximal end (12).

Abstract: A solution for measuring steam quality in a steam turbine is disclosed. A steam quality measurement (SQM) device and an ejector are coupled to a steam turbine through an appropriate piping configuration to draw steam emitted from the turbine through the SQM device for measurement of the steam quality, for example, continuously, during operation of the turbine.

Abstract: A thermal flow detecting apparatus is provided for detecting fluid flow in a flow passage. The thermal flow detecting apparatus includes a bypass passage portion defining therein a bypass passage through which fluid bypasses the flow passage. The thermal flow detecting apparatus further includes a detecting element that is provided in the bypass passage portion. The detecting element is arranged at a location eccentrically displaced from a center of a cross section of the bypass passage portion. The thermal flow detecting apparatus further includes a throttle portion provided upstream of the detecting element in the bypass passage portion for throttling the cross section partially on a side of the detecting element.

Abstract: Process and device for controlling the temperature of an outbound secondary flow in a secondary circuit from a heat exchanger by a primary flow in a primary circuit, via a member that regulates the primary flow, influenced by a control unit. The enthalpy difference between inbound and outbound primary flow to and from the heat exchanger and the secondary flow are determined. The flow in the primary circuit is determined, and the parameters are supplied to the control unit for controlling the member, whereby the primary flow is controlled in dependence of the secondary flow, so that power supplied to the heat exchanger substantially equals the sum of the power needed to raise the temperature of the secondary flow from the initial temperature to the desired outbound temperature; the assumed power requirement for compensating for energy stored in the heat exchanger; and the assumed leak power from the heat exchanger.

Abstract: A printer is provided with a buffer to receive document data. Document data is read from the buffer by a control system and information is printed by one or more printhead assemblies in accordance with document data read by the control system from the buffer. The printer operates to print a first set of document data whilst simultaneously receiving second document data. Thus different documents may be printed without pausing.

Abstract: An apparatus to determine if a temperature of an electronic device is equal to or exceeds a predetermined threshold. In response to detecting the temperature of the electronic device has at least reached the predetermined threshold, determining a target throttling point for a processor, the target throttling point including a target operating frequency and target operating voltage. Thereafter, dynamically changing a current operating point for the electronic device including a current operating frequency and a current operating voltage by non-contemporaneously changing the current operating frequency to the target operating frequency and the current operating voltage to the target operating voltage. During the changing of the current operating voltage the device is in an active state.

Abstract: A method for monitoring a feed-water supply to a continuous-flow or once-through steam generator, wherein steam temperature of evaporated feedwater is employed for determining a feedwater supply rate in the method, includes indicating an actual value of the steam temperature jointly with a setpoint value thereof obtained from operationally induced parameters, and a device for performing the method.

Abstract: A measuring device used in a four parameter measuring system for measuring simultaneously temperature, pressure, flow rate and steam quality of steam injection profiles during heavy oil recovery by steam injection, comprising: a cable cap, arranged at the top of the device; a measuring section, connected with the cable cap and comprising a metal case, three first pressure sensors and a thermoelectric couple; the first pressure sensors and the thermoelectric couple being longitudinally arranged in the case; a thermal protection section used for safe transmission of the data measured by the sensors and the couple; a thermal isolating section connected to the lower part of the section and a data acquisition, conversion and storage system under the control of the single-chip processor.

Abstract: Steam quality in flow lines equipped with orifice meters may be determined by injecting a predetermined quantity of water into the flow line and measuring the orifice pressure differential with and without water injection. An approximation of the James correlation, which relates the orifice differential pressure, the total fluid mass flow rate and steam quality raised to the 1.5 power, may be used for conditions both before and during water injection together with an energy balance for conditions both before and during water injection to determine steam quality before water injection. A portable water injection unit may be temporarily connected to each flow line at a tap installed in the flow line upstream of the orifice. The effect of water injection for each flow condition may be prior confirmed by injecting a predetermined quantity of water downstream of the orifice based on an initial estimate of dry steam flow in the line.

Abstract: A method of controlling a heat exchanger wherein the enthalpy flow into the heat exchanger serves as a correcting variable. The robust and versatile control method is particularly suitable for use in endothermic reactions and for distillation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for determining steam quality wherein heat is added to or removed from a sample flow of steam to reach a point of superheating or subcooling. The amount of energy required to superheat or subcool the sample is factored in with other parameters such as steam flow rate, temperature and pressure to determine the quality of the steam. The steam quality sensor has many applications in equipment such as turbines, heat exchangers, condensers and the like.

Abstract: An improved monitoring of the quality and heat value of a flow of condensable vapor. A small side stream of representative vapor sample is tapped from the flow in the vapor main by utilizing the difference between the dynamic pressure of the vapor at a sample intake point and the suction pressure of the vapor at a sample return point. The sample stream passes through a superheater-calorimeter to completely vaporize any liquid entrained in the sample stream and superheat the vaporized sample, and then through a mass flowmeter before being returned to the vapor main. The quality and the heat value of the sample stream are determined by a heat balance around the superheater-calorimeter using correlations relating thermodynamic properties of the vapor to pressures and temperatures. The invention also monitors the enthalpy and the mass-flow rate of said vapor flow.

Abstract: A system of the present invention monitors the quality of steam flowing in a pipeline includes a test cell which is connected inline into the pipeline and has the steam flowing through it. A plurality of electrodes are located within the test cell and cooperate with the test cell to provide capacitance signals corresponding to capacitances of the steam passing between the electrodes and the test cell. The electrodes have different spacings between them and an interior wall of the test cell. A sensor senses the temperature of the steam flowing through the test cell and provides a temperature signal corresponding to the sensed temperature. Another sensor senses the pressure of the steam and provides a pressure signal corresponding to the sensed pressure. Circuitry connected to the test cell, to all the electrodes, to the temperature sensor and to the pressure sensor measures the quality of the steam in accordance with the temperature signal, the pressure signal and one of the capacitance signals.

Abstract: Steam quality measuring and monitoring apparatus and methods which measures the quality of steam flowing in a steam pipe includes a test cell connected in line with the steam pipe so that the steam flows through the test cell. The capacitance, the dielectric constant, the temperature and the density of the steam flowing through the test cell are measured and monitored and the quality of the steam is derived in accordance with the steam density and temperature.

Abstract: A device and associated method comprising a probe (18) for drawing throttled two-phase steam into a tank (26) which has been evacuated and which can be closed when the pressure of the sample steam in the tank equals the pressure of the source steam mixture (14). The throttling tank operates on the basic thermodynamic principle that a two-phase mixture when throttled into a closed tank becomes superheated. The state of the superheated mixture is determined by temperature and pressure measurements (42, 36). The initial state of the source mixture can then be determined by application of the First Law of Thermodynamics, which is considerably simplified as a result of the way in which the sample is drawn.

Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus and method which monitors the quality of steam flowing in a pipe. A steam sensor located in the pipe provides a steam signal which is frequency related to the quality of the steam flowing in the pipe. A network connected to the sensor provides a high frequency signal and a low frequency signal in accordance with the steam signal. The steam quality is the in accordance with the high frequency signal and the low frequency signal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for directly measuring steam quality in-line. A variable frequency capacitance cell receives a hybrid stream (one having both liquid and vapor phases). The resultant frequency of the electrical circuit of which the capacitance cell is an element, varies with the dielectric constant of the capacitance cell (i.e., the water vapor concentration in the cell). The resultant frequency of the cell is preferably beat with a reference frequency that is within about 15 MHz from the resultant frequency to facilitate measurement.

Abstract: A meter measures the quality of steam flowing in a conduit. The steam comprises a liquid and a vapor. The meter includes a mixer in the conduit for mixing the steam in the conduit to produce a mixture which has a density representative of the liquid and the vapor. A density sensor, or desitometer, senses the density of the mixture. The densitomer produces an improved output due to the mixing. A pressure sensor senses pressure in the steam line. A calculating means, such as a microprocessor system, calculates the steam quality as a function of the sensed density and pressure.

Abstract: In a steam flow line that is delivering reduced quality steam, there is a method and/or system for determining the quality. It includes the steps of flowing quality steam through a first flow restriction, and mixing a measured quantity of water with the steam, downstream from the restriction. It also includes flowing the mixture through a second flow restriction. Then, by measuring pressures and temperatures, the quality of the steam at the second flow restriction may be calculated. Where the pressure drop across the second flow restriction is very small compared to the supply line pressure, the quality of the steam downstream is essentially the same, and thus determined.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring steam quality of wet or two-phase flowing steam includes a flow-through densitometer comprised of two parallel tubes connected to two common nodes, a vibrator for causing the tubes to vibrate, and a transducer for detecting the frequency and amplitude of the vibrations. A temperature probe detects the temperature of the steam, and a computer is used to monitor the vibrations and temperature and to calculate steam quality. The computer can also be used to control the vibrator. An intake sampler is positioned in a flowing steam line to divert a representative sample of the wet steam into the densitometer. The bulk density of the steam is determined as a function of the fundamental frequency of the densitometer with the steam flowing therethrough, and the steam quality is determined as a function of the bulk density and vapor density, which is a function of temperature.

Abstract: A partially collimated beam of thermal/epithermal neutrons is transmitted through a small bore pipe in which wet steam flows under a high pressure. A thermal neutron detector measures the transmission of the thermal/epithermal neutrons by the wet steam and generates a signal indicative of the density and steam quality of the wet steam.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for determining the quality of typical steam used in steam flooding for secondary recovery of petroleum, using a modification of the conventional throttling calorimeter based on thermodynamic properties of the steam. Automatic continuous operation with heat added thereto is also disclosed.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for obtaining a sample of the liquid component of steam and determining the quality of steam in a vessel or the like, such as steam flowing in a line used for steam injection in an oil well. The steam quality is determined by the known method of comparing the concentrations of dissolved solids in the liquid sample and the feedwater. A sample of the liquid phase of steam is trapped in a liquid vapor separator maintained at steam line temperature and pressure conditions. In this way errors due to condensation in the separator and its connecting lines are avoided. The sample is withdrawn from the separator into a collection chamber at a controlled rate which avoids reducing the pressure within the separator and thereby avoids the introduction of error because of erroneous concentration of dissolved solids within the separator sample.

Abstract: A method for determining the quality of steam flowing in a line used for steam injection, e.g. in an oil well. It has a vertical loop in the line, with an orifice in the up-flow side. The pressure, temperature and pressure drop at the orifice are measured before and after injecting a stream of water upstream from the orifice. The water stream is injected at a constant flow rate, and its temperature and pressure are measured. Using the measurements before and after the introduction of the water stream, simultaneous equations are developed related to the mass flow rate and to the heat flow rate, so that the steam quality may be determined.

Abstract: The system includes a central fluid heater or cooler and an electrically driven centrifugal pump which pumps fluid therefrom to a supply main from which individual lines lead to each unit supplied. Return lines from each unit bring the used fluid back to the heater or cooler. The supply main is provided with a single digital flow meter or equivalent measuring device and digital thermometer. Each supply line has a control valve and means to signal the opening and closing of that valve. Each return line includes a digital thermometer. The signals from the above-mentioned apparatus are supplied to a microprocessor. The quantity of energy used by each unit is proportional to the volume of fluid received, which is metered by the change in flow when the unit valve is opened and the change in the opposite direction when the valve is closed, multiplied by the temperature difference between the received and the returned water.

Abstract: A meter measures the quality of steam flowing in a conduit. The steam comprises a liquid and a vapor. The meter includes a mixer in the conduit for mixing the steam in the conduit to produce a mixture which has a density representative of the liquid and the vapor. A density sensor, or desitometer, senses the density of the mixture. The densitomer produces an improved output due to the mixing. A pressure sensor senses pressure in the steam line. A calculating means, such as a microprocessor system, calculates the steam quality as a function of the sensed density and pressure.