Sensor detection of the presence of an air core in a fluid conductor, and the flow rate of the fluid in the conductor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10830623-B2
Application number	US-201615541839-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 5, 2016
Priority date	Feb 5, 2015
Publication date	Nov 10, 2020
Grant date	Nov 10, 2020

Abstract

Apparatus features a signal processor or signal processing module configured to: receive signaling containing information about a central air-core of an overflow pipe of a hydrocyclone where fluid flow is concentrated in an outer annular region of the overflow pipe that is against an inner wall of the overflow pipe during a normal operation of the hydrocyclone; and determine corresponding signaling containing information about a collapse of the central air-core of the overflow pipe of the hydrocyclone during an abnormal operation of the hydrocyclone, based upon the signaling received. The signaling contains information about a fluid flow rate of the fluid flow by detecting a change in the magnitude of a force and/or a moment on the probe.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus comprising:
a signal processor configured to:
receive signaling containing information about a central air-core of an overflow pipe of a hydrocyclone where fluid flow is concentrated in an outer annular region of the overflow pipe that is against an inner wall of the overflow pipe during a normal operation of the hydrocyclone, the signaling being sensed by a probe that is inserted radially through the inner wall of the overflow pipe of the hydrocyclone so as to contact the fluid flow and central air-core, and that has one or more separate detection areas located along an axis of the probe that experience different acoustic signals depending on the presence or absence of the central air core and formed by creating acoustically isolated areas along the axis of the probe by using an acoustically isolating material, the signaling containing information about different acoustic signals experienced by the one or more separate detection areas depending on the presence or absence of the central air core; and
determine corresponding signaling containing information about a collapse of the central air-core of the overflow pipe of the hydrocyclone during an abnormal operation of the hydrocyclone, based upon the signaling received.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the signal processor is configured to provide the corresponding signaling, including where the corresponding signaling contains information about the collapse of the central air-core of the overflow pipe of the hydrocyclone during the abnormal operation of the hydrocyclone.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the probe includes multiple sensing areas for sensing a presence or an absence of the fluid flow and central air-core.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the signal processor is configured to determine a fluid flow rate of the fluid flow by detecting a change in the magnitude of a force, or a moment on the probe, or both.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the corresponding signaling contains information about the fluid flow rate determined.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the signaling contains information about measurements by strain gauges that detect a bending moment on the probe produced by the fluid flow impact.

7. Apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the signaling contains information about an acoustic frequency spectrum that will be different depending on the presence or absence of the central air-core.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the probe comprises, or takes the form of, an acoustic sensor that responds to the fluid flow and provides the signaling containing information about the acoustic frequency spectrum.

9. Apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the signaling contains information about whether or not there is fluid or slurry impacting the one or more separate detection areas.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the acoustically isolating material includes rubber between metallic detection areas.

11. Apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more separate detection areas include both metal material and isolating material.

12. Apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more separate detection areas are coupled to individual transducers via separate wave guides that are configured or designed into the probe, including where the separate wave guides are concentric cylinders with acoustic isolation arranged inbetween.

13. Apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the signal processor is configured to determine a fluid flow rate of the fluid flow by detecting a change in the magnitude of a force, or a moment on the probe, or both.

14. Apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the corresponding signaling contains information about the fluid flow rate determined.

15. A method comprising:
receiving in a signal processor signaling containing information about a central air-core of an overflow pipe of a hydrocyclone where fluid flow is concentrated in an outer annular region of the overflow pipe that is against an inner wall of the overflow pipe during a normal operation of the hydrocyclone, the signaling being sensed by a probe inserted radially through the inner wall of the overflow pipe of the hydrocyclone so as to contact the fluid flow and central air-core; and
determining in the signal processor or signal processing module corresponding signaling containing information about a collapse of the central air-core of the overflow pipe of the hydrocyclone during an abnormal operation of the hydrocyclone, based upon the signaling received;
the signaling containing information about one or more separate detection areas located along an axis of the probe that experience different acoustic signals depending on the presence or absence of the central air core; and
the one or more separate detection areas being formed by creating acoustically isolated cylindrical areas along a cylindrical axis of the probe by using an acoustically isolating material.

16. A method according to claim 15 , wherein the method comprises providing with the signal processor the corresponding signaling, including where the corresponding signaling contains information about the collapse of the central air-core of the overflow pipe of the hydrocyclone during the abnormal operation of the hydrocyclone.

17. A method according to claim 15 , wherein the method comprises sensing a presence or an absence of the fluid flow and central air-core with multiple sensing areas of the probe.

18. A method according to claim 15 , wherein the signaling contains information about measurements by strain gauges that detect a bending moment on the probe produced by the fluid flow impact.

19. A method according to claim 15 , wherein the signaling contains information about an acoustic frequency spectrum that will be different depending on the presence or absence of the central air-core.

20. A method according to claim 19 , wherein the method comprises using for the probe an acoustic sensor that responds to the fluid flow and provides the signaling containing information about the acoustic frequency spectrum.

21. A method according to claim 15 , wherein the signaling contains information about whether or not there is fluid or slurry impacting the one or more separate detection areas.

22. A method according to claim 21 , wherein the acoustically isolating material includes rubber between metallic detection areas.

23. A method according to claim 15 , wherein the one or more separate detection areas include both metal material and isolating material.

24. A method according to claim 15 , wherein the one or more separate detection areas are coupled to individual transducers via separate wave guides that are configured or designed into the probe, including where the separate wave guides are concentric cylinders with acoustic isolation arranged inbetween.

25. A method according to claim 15 , wherein the method comprises configuring the signal processor and the probe to exchange the signaling.

26. Apparatus, including a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable components, configured to perform the steps of the method recited in claim 15 .

27. A mineral extraction processing system comprising:
a hydrocyclone having an overflow pipe with an inner wall, and being configured to process a fluid flow concentrated in an outer annular re

Assignees

• Cidra Corporate Services Inc

Inventors

• Maron Robert J
• Medina Juan F
• Cirulis Dylan
• Mercuri Joseph

Classifications

• G01F1/7082 Primary

  using acoustic detecting arrangements · CPC title

• B04C11/00

  Accessories, e.g. safety or control devices, not otherwise provided for {, e.g. regulators, valves in inlet or overflow ducting}(with electrostatic precipitating arrangements B03C3/14) · CPC title

• G01F23/18

  Indicating, recording or alarm devices actuated electrically · CPC title

• G01F1/28

  by drag-force, e.g. vane type or impact flowmeter · CPC title

• G01F1/20

  by detection of dynamic effects of the flow · CPC title