Acoustic leak detection system for flare stack pipework

摘要

Acoustic transceivers are positioned in a pipe to send acoustic signals in both the upstream and the downstream directions towards each other. The transit times between the transceivers are detected. The acoustic signal control unit and the detector are driven so that transit times are measured with a frequency of more than 10 times per sec. An analyser determines the sound velocity in the fluid in the pipe and the fluid flow velocity as a function of time. A device is pref. provided to determine the mean molecular weight of the fluid as a function of time.