Patent ID: 8269509
Filing Date: 2012-09-18
Classification: G01B

Abstract:
1. A method for measuring thickness of refractory bricks in a gasifier using electromagnetic energy comprising the steps of: positioning at least one waveguide within the gasifier; emitting pulses of electromagnetic energy from the at least one waveguide toward the refractory bricks; receiving the pulses of electromagnetic energy reflected from the refractory bricks; and processing a signal from the received pulses of electromagnetic energy to determine a thickness of the refractory bricks, wherein the thickness of the refractory bricks is made prior to startup of the gasifier to obtain a baseline measurement of brick thickness, and wherein the thickness of the refractory bricks is made subsequent to startup of the gasifier and compared to the baseline measurement to provide a trend of the thickness of the refractory bricks as a function of time.