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t1 = L/(c – V) and t2 = L/(c + V). (1 & 1a) The characteristic acoustic impedance Z = ρc where ρ =
gas density and c = sound speed in the gas. Why is Z
The reciprocals of these transit times, when multiplied important? Because it determines the fraction of available
by the axial projection of the axial interaction path L, are ultrasonic energy from the transducer transmitted into
the gas, and vice versa. Figure 1(a) plots gases, liquids
L/t1 = c – V and L/t2 = c + V. (2 & 2a) and solids as a function of their ρ and c. As this is a log-
log plot, lines having a slope of –1 are lines of constant
Accordingly, Z. The Z for most solids, say steel, is orders of magnitude
greater than for methane or any other gas at ordinary
∆t
V=
L
2 [ 1
t2 ] [ ]
1 = L
t1 2 t1t2
(3)
conditions of temperature T and pressure P. Solids are
in the >10 megarayl range. Gases are in the 0.1 to 1
kilorayl range. [Plots for gases only are given in Figs.
and 1(b-d). When c yields average MW (molecular weight) or
density, mass flowrate MF is not far behind.]
c=
L
2 [ 1
t2 ] [ ]
1 = L
t1 2
t
t1t2
(4)
Entering a gas on such a chart requires that the gas’
sound speed and density are known. Entries are usually
associated with STP (0˚ C, 760 mm Hg). The locus for
The upstream-downstream time difference can be methane, if examined carefully, reveals a slight increase
obtained from Equation (1) as ∆t = 2LV/(c2-V2). This can in c as P increases, as well as the expected nearly
be expressed in terms of the Mach number MN=V/c for proportionate increase in density ρ as P increases.
MN << 1:
One might say the low Z of a gas is mostly due to its low One Nozzle. Insertion probes can go in oblique or
density, compared to steel or other elastic solids. We can normal. Some ultrasonic solutions use an intrusive
also ask, are there special consequences of the low c of a reflector but the transducers themselves are flush to the
gas, say methane, compared to steel? One consequence ID or recessed by up to a foot (300 mm) or so if the gas
is, in clamp-on, the angle of the sound beam refracted is hot. The advantages of the one-port compared to >1
into the gas is small, say 5 to 8 deg, according to a port are economy and ease of installation. Drawbacks
calculation using Snell’s Law of Refraction. This implies, are accuracy, to the extent the profile is uncertain. The
a V measurement along a path only a few degrees off one-port samples only a small chord segment. If the
normal, is going to be very sensitive to crossflow. If reflector is located about 60% of the radius in from the
crossflow is significant, crossed clamp-on paths as shown wall, and to the extent the profile obeys a Nikuradse
in Figure 3(f) may be necessary. A second consequence power law, then the flow averaged from the wall to that
of low c and small refracted angle is that paths off the reflector nearly equals VAVG. However, the length of the
diameter (as seen in the end view) are not reachable with chord segment, in the end view, is only 0.3D where
today’s technology. This means a clamp-on quadrature D = pipe inside diameter. This small sample may be
is out of reach. Exception: hybrid [Figure 4(g)]. contrasted with multipath sampling for a 12-nozzle
spoolpiece referred to at the end of this section. One-
The “good” news associated with low c is the time ports are shown in [15].
difference ∆t between upstream and downstream
interrogations is larger, typically in the many (tens of) Two Nozzles. Examples from the “flare gas world” are
microseconds range, compared to liquids, where ∆t may given in [10 & 15]. The bias 90 arrangement samples a
be just a few microsences and must be resolved to 1 ns short chord segment but seems to provide adequate
or less. On the other hand, the attenuation coefficient in accuracy. It is probably the most common hot-tap
gases is usually much higher than in liquids, and along geometry for flare gas flow measurements.
with impedance mismatch, constrains the ultrasonic
frequency to be < 1 MHz for gases, whereas for liquids ƒ Twelve Nozzles. Custody transfer spoolpieces shown
> 1 MHz is common. in Figure 4(d) use crossed paths (hence four transducers
per plane) in each of three parallel planes (hence 12
How long have we waited for a practical clamp-on transducers total).
ultrasonic flowmeter for gases to become available
commercially? One answer is thirty-nine years. This Accuracies (by which we mean uncertainties) are 0.5%
answer is based on (a) the GC868 announcement in [9], or better, 0.3% in some tests. By using transducers
and on (b) the last paragraph in [14]. That 1966 patent is shown in Figure 4(e), tests can be run in air at atmospheric
one of the earliest (perhaps the earliest) clamp-on U.S. pressure. Air calibration allows relatively economical
patents for liquid flow, and claims a Japanese priority testing under various disturbed-flow conditions such as
date of 1962. upstream elbows, diameter changes, partly open valve,
FIGURE 1. Some basic acoustic ideas and facts for gases. (a) Impedance nomogram for gases, liquids and solids. (b) In
this ρc plot for gases, the c’s range from ~100 to 1300 ms-1, the MW’s from 2 to 240, but γ, the ratio of specific heats, lies
between 1 and 1.67. The effect of gas absolute temperature T is shown on cAr when argon is heated at constant density,
drawn assuming cAr increases in proportion to T1/2. (c) Flare gas: empirical relation between c at 38C˚ and average molecular
weight (MW) for 2 ≤ MW ≤ 58. (d) ①Air density ρ vs temperature T. ② Sound speed c vs T. ➂ ρ vs c.
(P = 760 mm for graphs ①-➂.) Note that even if RH (relative humidity) is not known, between 0˚C and 60˚C, c yields with
small uncertainty. For details see Matson, J., Mariano, C. F., Khrakovsky, O., and Lynnworth, L. C., Ultrasonic Mass
Flowmeters Using Clamp-On or Wetted Transducers Proc of the 5th International Symposium on Fluid Flow Measurement
(April 7-10, 2002) or refer to the website of the authors’ firm, where Ultrasonic Report UR-240 may be posted.
© 2002 Panametrics.
Schematic
FIGURE 6. FIGURE 7.
Short, thick-walled N-path spoolpiece whose OD matches Hybrid example: “cow” = clamp-on + wetted
flange raised face dimensions. The “flanged transducer” transducers.
is the T7 air transducer [ 8(c)] shown in Figure 2(a).
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The work reported here includes important contributions UR-273 and -274.www. Saul Jacobson, Toan Nguyen,
from Shirley Ao, Jim Hill, and their and the authors’ David Hesketh, Jed Matson, Paul Ceglia and others at
colleagues. The authors acknowledge Panametrics’ Panametrics and Hans J. Kastner, Andreas Weber and
permission to reproduce passages, tables and others at RMG contributed to the equipment in Figure 4(d).
illustrations from its copyrighted reports including The manuscript was prepared by Lin L. Leeming.