Abstract: An acoustic generator including a piezoelectric crystal, an impedance matching layer directly bonded to the crystal with Van der Waals forces.

Abstract: Acoustic impedance matching devices and related methods are disclosed. An acoustic impedance matching device includes a first face for facing an acoustic transducer, a second face opposite the first face, and a lattice structure between the first face and the second face. The second is face curved to at least substantially conformally engage an inner surface of a tubing. An effective acoustic impedance of the lattice structure substantially matches a transducer acoustic impedance of the acoustic transducer to a tubing acoustic impedance of the tubing. A material acoustic impedance of a material of the lattice structure is greater than the effective acoustic impedance.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a piezoelectric transducer includes depositing a layer of a piezoelectric material on a base using a depositor and applying an electric field to the layer of deposited piezoelectric material in defined locations using an electrode to sinter and pole the deposited piezoelectric material at those defined locations to form a layer of the piezoelectric transducer in a selected shape and with a selected dipole direction.

Abstract: An acoustic matching material for gas measurement including a matrix material having an acoustic impedance and an acoustic impedance reduction material, having an acoustic impedance lower than the acoustic impedance of the matrix material, the acoustic impedance reduction material being dispersed in the matrix material to create an acoustic impedance graduation through a thickness of the matching material.

Abstract: A method of forming a high temperature sensor includes preparing a substrate having a surface from an electrically insulative material having a first coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE), preparing an electrical conductor from a metal material having a second CTE that is different from the first CTE, and creating an interface between the electrical conductor and the substrate with a CTE blending medium that is provided between the substrate and the electrical conductor. The CTE blending medium accommodates differing thermal expansion rates of the substrate and the electrical conductor at temperatures of at least 700° C.

Abstract: A sensor system, including: a dielectric material on a part body; and a sensor on the dielectric material, the sensor configured to provide impedance, capacitance, and resistance values and to alter one or more of the impedance, capacitance and resistance values responsive to a stress applied to the part body. Also disclosed is a method of making and a method of using the sensor system.

Abstract: A method of additive manufacturing may include disposing a layer of a powder material on a surface of a build platform of an additive manufacturing apparatus. The method may also include placing a compaction platform comprising one or more transducers in contact with an upper surface of the layer of the powder material. The method may additionally include activating at least one transducer of one or more transducers of the compaction platform of the compactor to densify a portion of the layer of the powder material below the at least one transducer while at least the weight of the compaction platform applies a normal force to the layer of the powder material. Related systems for densifying additively manufactured components are also described.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a piezoelectric transducer includes depositing a layer of a piezoelectric material on a base using a depositor and applying an electric field to the layer of deposited piezoelectric material in defined locations using an electrode to sinter and pole the deposited piezoelectric material at those defined locations to form a layer of the piezoelectric transducer in a selected shape and with a selected dipole direction.

Abstract: A self-powered sensing system. The sensing system may include a power generator at least partially disposed in a diamond composite heat sink configured to harvest energy from a hazardous environment. The sensing system may further include an energy storage device operatively coupled to the power generator. The sensing system may also include at least one sensor operatively coupled to the energy storage device and a sensor antenna operatively coupled to the at least one sensor. The sensor antenna may be configured to transmit information collected from the at least one sensor to an operation system. The at least one sensor may include a resonance tube having a three-dimensional lattice structure.

Abstract: An enclosure for a thermoelectric generator may include bonded particles of an allotrope of carbon, such as diamond particles, graphene particles, and/or carbon nanotube particles. A thermoelectric generator system may include one or more thermoelectric generators positioned at least partially within the enclosure. The enclosure may be manufactured using an additive manufacturing process which may include providing particles of an allotrope of carbon, and selectively binding a portion of the particles with a binder material. The bound particles may then be sintered to form the enclosure.

Abstract: An electrically conductive ceramic composite conductor configured for downhole operations includes a first portion formed from an electrically non-conductive ceramic material having a first coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE). The first portion includes an outer surface. A second portion is disposed radially inwardly of the outer surface. The second portion is formed from an electrically conductive ceramic material having a second CTE that is substantially similar to the first CTE.

Abstract: A method of designing and forming at least one element of an acoustic transducer. The method includes receiving one or more required operating parameters of the at least one element of the acoustic transducer for an application, iteratively modeling and simulating performance of one or more materials to utilize within the at least one element of the acoustic transducer, iteratively modeling and simulating performance of one or more structures to utilize within the at least one element of the acoustic transducer, identifying at least one material and at least one structure that exhibit predicted performance that at least achieves the one or more required operating parameters of the at least one element of the acoustic transducer for the application, outputting a design of the at least one element of the acoustic transducer, and forming the at least one element of the acoustic transducer via one or more additive manufacturing processes.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a piezoelectric transducer includes depositing a layer of a piezoelectric material on a base using a depositor and applying an electric field to the layer of deposited piezoelectric material in defined locations using an electrode to sinter and pole the deposited piezoelectric material at those defined locations to form a layer of the piezoelectric transducer in a selected shape and with a selected dipole direction.