Patent ID: 7290450
Filing Date: 2007-11-06
Classification: G01F,G01N

Abstract:
1. A diagnostic device for detecting fouling and corrosion in process equipment comprising: at least one detector for measuring a frequency response coupled to the process equipment wherein the frequency response is related to fouling or corrosion of the process equipment; a transducer coupled to a process element and adapted to excite the process element into resonance; and a diagnostic circuit coupled to the at least one detector and the transducer, the diagnostic circuit adapted to trigger the process element into resonance via a command sent to the transducer and to process the measured frequency response from the at least one detector, the diagnostic circuit adapted to compare the measured frequency response to a stored reference frequency response and to produce a diagnostic signal indicative of health of the process equipment indicative of fouling or corrosion of the process equipment based on a deviation of the measured frequency response from the stored frequency response.