Abstract: A non-intrusive sensing system for monitoring an electrochemical device and a method of operating the non-intrusive sensing system can include multi-static ultrasonic sensors for detecting data indicative of a property of electrolytic media in an electrochemical device, an acoustic sensor for detecting and measuring a signature of electrodes associated with a health condition of the electrochemical device. A temperature sensor can be used to detect surface temperature data and correlate the surface temperature data with the signature identified and extracted by the acoustic sensor and the data indicative of the property of the electrolytic media. The data detected by the multi-static ultrasonic sensors, the signature detected by the acoustic sensor, and the surface temperature data identified can be subject to feature extraction and processing by a detection and prediction model to produce information pertaining to the safety, reliability and operating efficiency of the electrochemical device.

Abstract: A system is provided for detecting an anomaly in a monitored device having one or more internal components that are mechanically displaced during operation of the monitored device which produces pressure variations internal to the monitored device. For example, a system comprises a passive infrasound sensor mounted to an exterior wall of the monitored device to detect infrasound produced by the pressure variations and a monitoring device comprising a controller. The controller is configured to receive data from the passive infrasound sensor corresponding to the detected infrasound, compare the data received from the passive infrasound sensor to a plurality of infrasound reference signals to determine if the detected infrasound is indicative of an anomaly in at least one of the one or more internal components.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a radar level gauge system can include an antenna system comprising an imaging phased array in an isolated antenna arrangement that supports monopulse processing for radar image resolution and mapping of a surface of a material. The imaging phased array can provide a narrow-beam with beam scanning/steering and can emit a transmit beam that scans the surface of the material and forms the mapping of the surface. The mapping can comprise a 3D volumetric model that can include an image of a surface profile of the surface based on signals returned from the surface. The imaging phase array and the antenna system are protected from condensation and contamination from chemicals and viscous materials.

Abstract: Methods and systems for non-intrusive sensing and diagnostics of a turbine flowmeter can involve monitoring a turbine flowmeter with non-invasive sensors, extracting blade frequencies associated with turbine blades based on a flow rate, detecting pressure wave frequencies associated with the turbine flowmeter's internal moving parts, and employing multi-sensor fusion with respect to sensor data generated from non-invasive sensors including the extracted blade frequencies and the pressure wave frequencies to identify a health condition of the turbine flowmeter and to predict maintenance for the turbine flowmeter. The non-intrusive sensors can be installed in proximity to positions of moving parts of the turbine flowmeter such as turbine blades, bearings, rotor, and so on.

Abstract: An ultrasonic-based system includes a transmitter and receiver, an ultrasonic transducer including piezoelectric element having a matching layer thereon connected to the transmitter. A controller is coupled to the transmitter. The transmitter is for driving the piezoelectric element with a pulsed electrical signal, where the piezoelectric element transmits a transmit ultrasonic signal. A current/voltage measurement circuit is coupled to sense a current or voltage in the transmitter. The controller is for implementing an algorithm for an ultrasonic transducer monitoring method including comparing an amplitude of the pulsed signal to a predetermined limit. When the pulsed signal is determined to be outside the limit, an impedance of the piezoelectric element is determined to be abnormal. When the pulsed signal is within the limit, the amplitude of the received signal is compared to a lower limit, which when below results in determining a cleaning operation for the ultrasonic transducer is needed.

Abstract: A non-intrusive sensing system for monitoring an electrochemical device and a method of operating the non-intrusive sensing system can include multi-static ultrasonic sensors for detecting data indicative of a property of electrolytic media in an electrochemical device, an acoustic sensor for detecting and measuring a signature of electrodes associated with a health condition of the electrochemical device. A temperature sensor can be used to detect surface temperature data and correlate the surface temperature data with the signature identified and extracted by the acoustic sensor and the data indicative of the property of the electrolytic media. The data detected by the multi-static ultrasonic sensors, the signature detected by the acoustic sensor, and the surface temperature data identified can be subject to feature extraction and processing by a detection and prediction model to produce information pertaining to the safety, reliability and operating efficiency of the electrochemical device.

Abstract: An antenna apparatus and a method of operating the antenna apparatus can include a group of receive antenna elements and a transmit antenna array comprising transmit antenna elements, wherein the transmit antenna array is located centrally in a phased array aperture that includes the transmit array antenna and the plurality of receive antenna elements. An isolation area can isolate the transmit antenna array from the receive antenna elements in the phased array aperture, and the phased array aperture can operate with a hybrid dual mode comprising a radar mode and an active beaming steering mode. The radar mode can be a multiple input multiple output (MIMO) radar mode, and the beamforming mode can be an antenna beamforming mode.

Abstract: An antenna apparatus and a method of operating the antenna apparatus can include a group of receive antenna elements and a transmit antenna array comprising transmit antenna elements, wherein the transmit antenna array is located centrally in a phased array aperture that includes the transmit array antenna and the plurality of receive antenna elements. An isolation area can isolate the transmit antenna array from the receive antenna elements in the phased array aperture, and the phased array aperture can operate with a hybrid dual mode comprising a radar mode and an active beaming steering mode. The radar mode can be a multiple input multiple output (MIMO) radar mode, and the beamforming mode can be an antenna beamforming mode.

Abstract: An ultrasonic flowmeter and a fluid pipeline. The ultrasonic flowmeter includes: a housing, which defines a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet with a fluid passage therebetween; and at least two pairs of ultrasonic sensors, wherein each pair of the at least two pairs of ultrasonic sensors have a first ultrasonic sensor and a second ultrasonic sensor arranged opposite to each other; wherein at least some of the at least two pairs of ultrasonic sensors are arranged in grooves on an inner wall of the fluid passage, and center points of front end faces of at least some of the at least two pairs of ultrasonic sensors are located on a cylindrical curved surface defined by the inner wall of the fluid passage.

Abstract: Methods and system include power harvesting with process and device monitoring. A power management system including a solar cell can be integrated with a display panel into a common housing. A capacitor and a rechargeable battery connected to the power management system can receive power from the solar cell and provide electrical power, first from the capacitor and then second from the rechargeable battery, to electronic components including the display engaged in monitoring processes and devices deployed in isolated locations. Electronics can include a microprocessor programmed to provide collected data display on the display panel and wireless transmission to a remote monitoring station. A rotatable stem operated by a step-motor and connected to the common housing can orient the integrated display and solar cell towards sunlight according to an internal time clock synchronizing movement of the display panel via a step motor and thereby maximize harvesting of electrical energy.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a radar level gauge system can include an antenna system comprising an imaging phased array in an isolated antenna arrangement that supports monopulse processing for radar image resolution and mapping of a surface of a material. The imaging phased array can provide a narrow-beam with beam scanning/steering and can emit a transmit beam that scans the surface of the material and forms the mapping of the surface. The mapping can comprise a 3D volumetric model that can include an image of a surface profile of the surface based on signals returned from the surface. The imaging phase array and the antenna system are protected from condensation and contamination from chemicals and viscous materials.

Abstract: A system includes a first levitation magnet. The system also includes a suspension magnet configured underneath the first levitation magnet. The suspension magnet oscillates continuously. Magnetic flux cuts across electrical coil windings. Energy is generated as a result of the magnetic flux that cuts across the electrical coil windings. A second levitation magnet is positioned underneath the suspension magnet and first levitation magnet. The suspension magnet is configured to levitate between the first levitation magnet and the second levitation magnet.

Abstract: A fluid mixture parameter determination (FMPD) system for analyzing a fluid mixture while moving includes a computing system and at least one material model that includes two or more model parameters for a plurality of material compositions stored in the memory. An ultrasonic sensor and a millimeter wave (MMW) sensor are each coupled to sense the fluid mixture and are coupled to the computing system. The ultrasonic sensor is for providing ultrasonic data to the computing system including a velocity of the fluid mixture or a volumetric flow, and a velocity of sound (VoS) through the fluid mixture. The MMW sensor is for providing MMW velocity data to the computing system. The computing system is for utilizing the material model together with the ultrasonic data and the MMW velocity data for identifying parameters including a plurality of components in the fluid mixture and a concentration for the plurality of components.

Abstract: Methods and system include power harvesting with process and device monitoring. A power management system including a solar cell can be integrated with a display panel into a common housing. A capacitor and a rechargeable battery connected to the power management system can receive power from the solar cell and provide electrical power, first from the capacitor and then second from the rechargeable battery, to electronic components including the display engaged in monitoring processes and devices deployed in isolated locations. Electronics can include a microprocessor programmed to provide collected data display on the display panel and wireless transmission to a remote monitoring station. A rotatable stem operated by a step-motor and connected to the common housing can orient the integrated display and solar cell towards sunlight according to an internal time clock synchronizing movement of the display panel via a step motor and thereby maximize harvesting of electrical energy.

Abstract: A system includes a first levitation magnet. The system also includes a suspension magnet configured underneath the first levitation magnet. The suspension magnet oscillates continuously. Magnetic flux cuts across electrical coil windings. Energy is generated as a result of the magnetic flux that cuts across the electrical coil windings. A second levitation magnet is positioned underneath the suspension magnet and first levitation magnet. The suspension magnet is configured to levitate between the first levitation magnet and the second levitation magnet.

Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus for reducing ringing effects associated with a transducer comprises a transducer body, a transducer cap, a piezoelectric element formed in the cap, and a damping material formed around the piezoelectric element wherein the damping material suppresses a ringing effect associated with the transducer, while an O-ring is used together with damping material to support high pressure applications up to 230 bars.

Abstract: An ultrasonic flowmeter (USM) includes a meter body including a pipe section for flowing a fluid therethrough including a first and second ultrasonic transducer, top-works including a housing and a PCB, a controller coupled to the ultrasonic transducers through a transmitter and/or receiver, and an accelerometer and/or an acoustic sensor for sensing a vibration on the pipe section and for providing an output signal coupled to the controller. The electronics are communicatively coupled to the meter body and the housing is mechanically coupled to the meter body. The controller analyzes the output signal to identify ?1 vibration frequency and compares the vibration frequency to a predetermined sensitive frequency range for the USM. When the vibration frequency is determined to be within the predetermined frequency range, the controller implements an anti-vibration operating mode by increasing a measurement time when measuring the fluid flow and/or adding additional data processing task(s).

Abstract: An ultrasonic flowmeter (USM) includes a meter body including a pipe section for flowing a fluid therethrough including a first and second ultrasonic transducer, top-works including a housing and a PCB, a controller coupled to the ultrasonic transducers through a transmitter and/or receiver, and an accelerometer and/or an acoustic sensor for sensing a vibration on the pipe section and for providing an output signal coupled to the controller. The electronics are communicatively coupled to the meter body and the housing is mechanically coupled to the meter body. The controller analyzes the output signal to identify ?1 vibration frequency and compares the vibration frequency to a predetermined sensitive frequency range for the USM. When the vibration frequency is determined to be within the predetermined frequency range, the controller implements an anti-vibration operating mode by increasing a measurement time when measuring the fluid flow and/or adding additional data processing task(s).

Abstract: An ultrasonic-based system includes a transmitter and receiver, an ultrasonic transducer including ?1 piezoelectric element having a matching layer thereon connected to the transmitter. A controller is coupled to the transmitter. The transmitter is for driving the piezoelectric element with a pulsed electrical signal, where the piezoelectric element transmits a transmit ultrasonic signal. A current/voltage measurement circuit is coupled to sense a current or voltage in the transmitter. The controller is for implementing an algorithm for an ultrasonic transducer monitoring method including comparing an amplitude of the pulsed signal to a predetermined limit. When the pulsed signal is determined to be outside the limit, an impedance of the piezoelectric element is determined to be abnormal. When the pulsed signal is within the limit, the amplitude of the received signal is compared to a lower limit, which when below results in determining a cleaning operation for the ultrasonic transducer is needed.

Abstract: A fluid mixture parameter determination (FMPD) system for analyzing a fluid mixture while moving includes a computing system and at least one material model that includes two or more model parameters for a plurality of material compositions stored in the memory. An ultrasonic sensor and a millimeter wave (MMW) sensor are each coupled to sense the fluid mixture and are coupled to the computing system. The ultrasonic sensor is for providing ultrasonic data to the computing system including a velocity of the fluid mixture or a volumetric flow, and a velocity of sound (VoS) through the fluid mixture. The MMW sensor is for providing MMW velocity data to the computing system. The computing system is for utilizing the material model together with the ultrasonic data and the MMW velocity data for identifying parameters including a plurality of components in the fluid mixture and a concentration for the plurality of components.