Acoustic monitoring of pipeline flows: particulate slurries

This paper presents a case study of the use of a non-intrusive passive acou stic sensor for on-line monitoring of flow and related process parameters. The sensor was mounted externally on a small diameter pipeline conveying de nse slurries of fine silica particles. Origins of the acoustic emissions in the pipeline are discussed, particularly, with reference to interactions w ith flow parameters of interest in process control. The statistical and spe ctral characteristics of the collected acoustic signal for different experi mental conditions were utilized to build quantitative models to infer param eters such as solid concentration, volume flowrate and mass flowrate. The r esults indicate that passive acoustic signals can be a viable tool for on-l ine monitoring of slurry flows. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights r eserved.