Process and apparatus for the detection of changes of composition in a medium with the aid of ultrasound

Claim 2

Process for detecting and locating a change of composition in a medium by means of ultrasound which comprises: positioning a medium tight tube in the medium, the tube having a mirror which reflects ultrasonic waves along the longitudinal axis of the tube perpendicularly to said axis, said mirror being displaceable to a plurality of points along said axis; positioning a reflector screen which surrounds a portion of the tube to reflect ultrasonic waves perpendicular to said axis of the tube back to the mirror in said medium a distance of 100 to 400 mm from the tube; transmitting ultrasonic waves along said axis; displacing said mirror in said tube to a plurality of said points; and determining the ultrasonic speed of the medium between the tube and the reflector screen at said plurality of points along said axis.

Claim 3

Process according to claim 1 wherein the frequency of the ultrasonic waves is in the range from 200 kHz to 5 MHz.

Claim 4

Process according to claim 2 wherein the frequency is 500 kHz to 3 MHz.

Claim 5

Process according to claim 3 wherein the frequency is 1.2 to 2.7 MHz.

Claim 6

Process according to claim 4 wherein said reflector screen is concentric with said tube and subscribes about a quarter of a circle.

Claim 7

Process according to claim 5 wherein said medium comprises a hydrocarbon and water whereby the region of water-in-hydrocarbon dispersion is detected and located.

Claim 8

Apparatus for the detection of a change in the composition of a medium in a vessel which comprises in combination, a medium tight tube extending into said medium and secured to said vessel; an ultrasound emitter-receptor disposed so as to transmit ultrasonic waves along the longitudinal axis of said tube; electronic means connected to said emitter-receptor for determining the speed of ultrasonic waves in said medium; a mirror in said tube displaceable to a plurality of points along said axis and having a reflecting surface oriented at 45° with respect to said axis; means to displace said mirror to said plurality of positions along said axis, and a reflector screen disposed in said medium to reflect ultrasonic waves back to said mirror, said reflector screen surrounding a portion of the tube surface at a distance of 100 to 400 mm therefrom.

Claim 9

Apparatus for the detection of a change in the composition of a medium in a vessel which comprises in combination, a medium tight tube extending into said medium and secured to said vessel; an ultrasound emitter-receptor disposed so as to transmit ultrasonic waves along the longitudinal axis of said tube; electronic means connected to said emitter-receptor for determining the speed of ultrasonic waves in said medium; a mirror in said tube displaceable to a plurality of points along said axis and having a reflecting surface oriented at 45° with respect to said axis; means to displace said mirror to said plurality of positions along said axis, and a reflector screen disposed in said medium to reflect ultrasonic waves back to said mirror, said reflector screen surrounding a portion of the tube surface at a distance of 100 to 400 mm therefrom.

Claim 10

Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said tube has a diameter of 30 to 100 mm.

Claim 11

Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said reflector screen is coaxial with said tube and is at a distance of 150-300 mm therefrom.

Claim 12

Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said reflector screen subscribes a quarter of a circle.

Claim 13

Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said tube is filled with a silicone oil.