Abstract: A system and method for determining fluid quality or change in quality by training machine learning algorithms using ultrasound Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) signatures. The system includes one or more ultrasonic transducers embedded inside or outside of a pipe, piping, or vessel that allows a fluid to flow past or between the ultrasound transducers. The transducer's acoustic energy creates ultrasound pressure waves and localized heat due to acoustic cavitation. The cavitation creates bubbles that collapse creating ultrasound sonic energy in the time domain. Unique sonic time-domain signatures, distinctively associated with the characteristics of the fluids, are converted to FFTs to produce unique, well-defined frequency response signatures. Machine learning algorithms are used to identify, measure, and classify the unique frequency response signatures associated with a wide range of fluids.

Abstract: A transducer mounting apparatus can be used to remotely monitor the integrity of pipes or pipelines, which ordinarily are difficult to access due to environmental factors. The transducer mounting apparatus can include one or more transducer blocks, each adapted for receiving a transducer. A UT couplant and threaded transducer are positioned in an opening in the transducer block. A gear wheel adjusts the transducer up and down against the UT couplant to optimize the positioning relative to the pipe being monitored. A series of transducer blocks are connected by a tension block and or more wire ropes extending through the tension block and the transducer blocks. The length of the wire rope is adjusted with a set screw extending from the tension block to a transducer block, thereby allowing the transducer block assembly to accommodate different pipe diameters or mechanical structures of varying dimensions that are not necessarily round.

Abstract: Ultrasonic transducers are imbedded into sacrificial metal coupons which are located in the vicinity of underground or aboveground structures, such as a pipe or tank, which allow for the measurement of the effectiveness of impressed current cathodic protection systems and can be used to determine the corrosion rate of the structure that is being protected. When excited by a pulser-receiver excitation pulse, the ultrasonic transducers can be used to determine the thickness of the coupon and its rate of change over time. The sacrificial metal coupon ultrasonic transducer assembly can be located in the vicinity of underground piping, under or inside of a tank, underground or underwater, or inserted into structures where absolute material loss values or material loss rate of change is being monitored.

Abstract: A sacrificial metal coupon is provided with one or more ultrasonic transducers which, when excited by a pulser-receiver excitation pulse, determines the thickness of the coupon and its rate of change over time. The sacrificial metal coupon ultrasonic transducer assembly can be inserted into the liquid stream of a pipe, under or inside of a tank, underground or underwater, or inserted into structures where absolute material loss values or material loss rate of change is being monitored.

Abstract: Ultrasonic transducers are imbedded into sacrificial metal coupons which are located in the vicinity of underground or aboveground structures, such as a pipe or tank, which allow for the measurement of the effectiveness of impressed current cathodic protection systems and can be used to determine the corrosion rate of the structure that is being protected. When excited by a pulser-receiver excitation pulse, the ultrasonic transducers can be used to determine the thickness of the coupon and its rate of change over time. The sacrificial metal coupon ultrasonic transducer assembly can be located in the vicinity of underground piping, under or inside of a tank, underground or underwater, or inserted into structures where absolute material loss values or material loss rate of change is being monitored.

Abstract: A transducer mounting apparatus can be used to remotely monitor the integrity of pipes or pipelines, which ordinarily are difficult to access due to environmental factors. The transducer mounting apparatus can include one or more transducer blocks, each adapted for receiving a transducer. A UT couplant and threaded transducer are positioned in an opening in the transducer block. A gear wheel adjusts the transducer up and down against the UT couplant to optimize the positioning relative to the pipe being monitored. A series of transducer blocks are connected by a tension block and or more wire ropes extending through the tension block and the transducer blocks. The length of the wire rope is adjusted with a set screw extending from the tension block to a transducer block, thereby allowing the transducer block assembly to accommodate different pipe diameters or mechanical structures of varying dimensions that are not necessarily round.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for inspecting a wall of a mechanical structure including obtaining an infinite response from a sample material having a front face, a thickness, and a back wall, by transmitting into a sample material an ultrasonic wave having a frequency and duration and being generated by one or more transducers, wherein the thickness of the sample material is sufficiently great that only a wave corresponding to the front face of the sample is received back; transmitting an ultrasonic wave generated by one or more transducers into the wall of a mechanical structure to be inspected at a time (T), wherein the ultrasonic wave has the same frequency and duration as the ultrasonic wave transmitted into the sample material; receiving a response signal back from the wall to be inspected; and correlating the response signal to the infinite response, thereby creating correlated data.

Abstract: A robotic ultrasonic inspection vehicle is provided with one or more transducers which are driven by a long, broadband excitation pulse for insonifying a sample subject to inspection. The long, broadband excitation pulse can be chirped. The robotic vehicle also can include a drive circuit for coupling the excitation pulse to the transducer. Data associated with the excitation pulse is used to gate off the drive circuitry at an appropriate time. The robotic vehicle may traverse a combustion prone region and therefore electrical parameters may be limited to intrinsically safe levels. However electrical parameters may safely be converted to higher levels so long as the conversion is inhibited to occur only after the vehicle has left a combustion prone region and entered a region of minimal risk of combustion.