Abstract: A device and a method are described in which a flow detection service is provided. The service may include use of a piezoelectric flexural element. The piezoelectric flexural element may be disposed in an inlet, an outlet, or a passageway via which a resource may flow. The piezoelectric flexural element may output a signal responsive to a transition from a zero-flow rate to a greater than zero flow rate of the resource traversing the inlet, the passageway, and the outlet. The flow detection service may be implemented in a meter. The flow detection service may enable significant reduction of battery usage and at a low cost.

Abstract: A metering system uses an electronics assembly with a single transducer to determine flow rate. The meter assembly emits an ultrasonic beam from the transducer and splits the ultrasonic beam into a first partial beam and a second partial beam. The first partial beam is transmitted over a first path that returns to the electronics assembly, and the second partial beam is transmitted over a second path that returns to the electronics assembly. The first path goes over a first net distance of a measuring channel. The second path goes over a second net distance of the measuring channel. The meter assembly detects the return of the first partial beam and the second partial beam, measures a time difference between the return times, and determines a measurement of a fluid flow through the measuring channel based on the time difference.

Abstract: A device, a method, and a non-transitory storage medium are described in which a transducer validation service is provided. The service may include stimulating a piezoelectric transducer. The service may include measuring a signal output, which is responsive to the stimulus, from the piezoelectric transducer. The service may include evaluating the measured signal output to a reference voltage and determining whether the piezoelectric transducer is reverse-poled or not based on the evaluation. The service may further include determining a response to the determination when the piezoelectric transducer is reverse-poled.

Abstract: A single critically damped acoustic stack yields a wide frequency range as an acoustic transmitter or as an acoustic transducer having particular use in well integrity determination. The critically damped present acoustic stack utilizes a plurality of stacked acoustic elements such as piezoelectric ceramics that are energized in two manners, providing different center frequencies, each producing a respective center frequency of 100% bandwidth to yield an acoustic stack having a total bandwidth exceeding the bandwidth of an acoustic element or the bandwidth of the plurality of acoustic elements. One manner of energizing is to pulse only one of the acoustic elements. The other manner is to pulse a first acoustic element then pulse a second acoustic element after a delay equal to the amount of time it takes for the first pulse to reach the face of the second acoustic element. The acoustic stack is primarily used in pulse-echo analysis of metal casing wall thickness and cement bond quality detection of wells.

Abstract: A single critically damped acoustic stack yields a wide frequency range as an acoustic transmitter or as an acoustic transducer having particular use in well integrity determination. The critically damped present acoustic stack utilizes a plurality of stacked acoustic elements such as piezoelectric ceramics that are energized in two manners, providing different center frequencies, each producing a respective center frequency of 100% bandwidth to yield an acoustic stack having a total bandwidth exceeding the bandwidth of an acoustic element or the bandwidth of the plurality of acoustic elements. One manner of energizing is to pulse only one of the acoustic elements. The other manner is to pulse a first acoustic element then pulse a second acoustic element after a delay equal to the amount of time it takes for the first pulse to reach the face of the second acoustic element. The acoustic stack is primarily used in pulse-echo analysis of metal casing wall thickness and cement bond quality detection of wells.

Abstract: Low frequency pulse-echo ultrasonic transducers are provided especially suited for use in downhole cement bond evaluation, but usable for various applications. One frequency pulse-echo ultrasonic transducer comprises a transducer stack having alternating layers of a piezoceramic element and an ultrasonic attenuating element that is preferably acoustic impedance matched to the piezoceramic elements in order to reduce the Q of the transducer stack. Another low frequency pulse-echo ultrasonic transducer comprises an assembly having the present transducer stack disposed on an acoustic attenuating backing and a front face. Yet another low frequency pulse-echo ultrasonic transducer comprises a transducer composite made from a lead metaniobate. Still another frequency pulse-echo ultrasonic transducer comprises a composite stack. A further low frequency pulse-echo ultrasonic transducer comprises a composite stack, wherein multiple drive elements allow driving individual elements at different times.

Abstract: A single critically damped acoustic stack yields a wide frequency range as an acoustic transmitter or as an acoustic transducer having particular use in well integrity determination. The critically damped present acoustic stack utilizes a plurality of stacked acoustic elements such as piezoelectric ceramics that are energized in two manners, providing different center frequencies; each producing a respective center frequency of 100% bandwidth to yield an acoustic stack having a total bandwidth exceeding the bandwidth of an acoustic element or the bandwidth of the plurality of acoustic elements. One manner of energizing is to pulse only one of the acoustic elements. The other manner is to pulse a first acoustic element the pulse a second acoustic element after a delay equal to the amount of time it takes for the first pulse to reach the face of the second acoustic element. The acoustic elements are bonded together and onto a critically damped backing of tungsten.

Abstract: A piezoceramic pulse-echo acoustic transducer includes protection layers for the piezoceramic that are tuned to the piezoceramic so as to optimize pulse-echo signal response (i.e. greater output signal bandwidth and increased return signal sensitivity). The protection layers are tuned to the piezoceramic via material selection and thickness. The acoustic transducer has a backing, a piezoceramic adjacent the backing, an intermediate protection layer adjacent the piezoceramic, and a front protection layer adjacent the intermediate protection layer and opposite the piezoceramic. The front and intermediate protection layers are tuned to the piezoceramic via their acoustic impedance such that the acoustic impedance of the intermediate layer is greater than the acoustic impedance of the piezoceramic and of the front protection layer. The acoustic impedance of the front protection layer is less than the acoustic impedance of the piezoceramic.

Abstract: A piezoceramic pulse-echo acoustic transducer includes protection layers for the piezoceramic that are tuned to the piezoceramic so as to optimize pulse-echo signal response (i.e. greater output signal bandwidth and increased return signal sensitivity). The protection layers are tuned to the piezoceramic via material selection and thickness. The acoustic transducer has a backing, a piezoceramic adjacent the backing, an intermediate protection layer adjacent the piezoceramic, and a front protection layer adjacent the intermediate protection layer and opposite the piezoceramic. The front and intermediate protection layers are tuned to the piezoceramic via their acoustic impedance such that the acoustic impedance of the intermediate layer is greater than the acoustic impedance of the piezoceramic and of the front protection layer. The acoustic impedance of the front protection layer is less than the acoustic impedance of the piezoceramic.

Abstract: Low frequency pulse-echo ultrasonic transducers are provided especially suited for use in downhole cement bond evaluation, but usable for various applications. One frequency pulse-echo ultrasonic transducer comprises a transducer stack having alternating layers of a piezoceramic element and an ultrasonic attenuating element that is preferably acoustic impedance matched to the piezoceramic elements in order to reduce the Q of the transducer stack. Another low frequency pulse-echo ultrasonic transducer comprises an assembly having the present transducer stack disposed on an acoustic attenuating backing and a front face. Yet another low frequency pulse-echo ultrasonic transducer comprises a transducer composite made from a lead metaniobate. Still another frequency pulse-echo ultrasonic transducer comprises a composite stack. A further low frequency pulse-echo ultrasonic transducer comprises a composite stack, wherein multiple drive elements allow driving individual elements at different times.

Abstract: A single critically damped acoustic stack yields a wide frequency range as an acoustic transmitter or as an acoustic transducer having particular use in well integrity determination. The critically damped present acoustic stack utilizes a plurality of stacked acoustic elements such as piezoelectric ceramics that are energized in two manners, providing different center frequencies; each producing a respective center frequency of 100% bandwidth to yield an acoustic stack having a total bandwidth exceeding the bandwidth of an acoustic element or the bandwidth of the plurality of acoustic elements. One manner of energizing is to pulse only one of the acoustic elements. The other manner is to pulse a first acoustic element the pulse a second acoustic element after a delay equal to the amount of time it takes for the first pulse to reach the face of the second acoustic element. The acoustic elements are bonded together and onto a critically damped backing of tungsten.