Patent ID: 8676543
Filing Date: 2014-03-18
Classification: G01D,G01H,G01N

Abstract:
1. A method for determining resonance parameters, resonance frequency f and quality factor Q, for a mechanical oscillator in a service fluid environment in the presence of noise produced by the service fluid comprising: a) estimating the resonance parameters for a mechanical oscillator in a service fluid environment based on an excitation of the mechanical oscillator by a flow of the service fluid, the estimate of the resonance parameters being determined from the steps of determining a fast Fourier transform of amplitude as a function of frequency, wherein said estimate of the resonance parameters is determined from averaging the fast Fourier transform run multiple times; b) exciting the mechanical oscillator in the service fluid environment using a signal generator at one or more excitation frequencies selected based on the estimated resonance parameters, the service fluid environment producing noise that causes an excitation; c) determining a response to said exciting of the mechanical oscillator at the one or more excitation frequencies; and d) determining f and Q, using a computer, from the response with multiple measurements and curve fitting and averaging.