Abstract: A method for identifying a fluid interface in a conduit through which at least a first fluid and a second fluid are configured to pass, includes transmitting, via an ultrasonic flow meter coupled to the conduit, an acoustic signal into the conduit. A reflected acoustic signal is received in the ultrasonic flow meter and the amplitude of the reflected acoustic signal is determined. The average and standard deviation of the amplitude are calculated and, if the standard deviation exceeds a predetermined threshold, the fluid interface is identified as being present in the conduit.

Abstract: An ultrasonic defect detection system includes a steered beam transmitter for directing an ultrasonic beam through the front face to the back face of a specimen; a sensor device for sensing the location on the front face of the near shadow of a defect from the beam reflected from the back face before the defect and the far shadow of the defect from the beam reflected from the back face after the defect; and an arithmetic circuit responsive to the location of the shadows on the front face for determining the distance between the transmitter and the near and far boundary of the near shadow and at least the near boundary of the far shadow for calculating the location and/or the size and/or the orientation of the defect.