Patent ID: 6513385
Filing Date: 2003-02-04
Classification: G01B,G01N

Abstract:
A method for analyzing a deposited layer on the inner surface of a fluid container wall having inner and outer surfaces, comprising:(a) transmitting an acoustic signal from a transmitter at a first distance from the outer surface of the wall; (b) receiving a first received signal A, comprising a reflection from the wall outer surface; (c) receiving a second received signal B, comprising a reflection from the wall inner surface; (d) receiving a third received signal C from the wall inner surface; (e) calculating a coefficient Rwp from A, B and C using the equation Rwp=A&CenterDot;CA&CenterDot;C-B2(f) calculating a coefficient Rpd from A, B and Rwp using the equation Rpd=BA&it;â€ƒ&it;Rwp(1-Rwp2)&it;&ee;2&it;Lp&it;Î±pâ€ƒwhere Lp is the thickness of the wall and &agr;p the attenuation of the wall; and (f) calculating the acoustic impedance of the deposited layer Zd using the equation Zd=Zw&it;1+Rwp1-Rwp&CenterDot;1+Rpd1-Rpd,â€ƒwhere Zw is the acoustic impedance of the material between the transmitter and the wall outer surface.