Ultrasonics¶
Industrial and scientific ultrasonic solutions for diverse applications beyond traditional sonar.
Overview¶
Ultrasonic technology extends far beyond underwater applications. We provide expertise in ultrasonic systems for industrial processing, measurement, testing, and scientific research.
Ultrasonic Applications¶
Non-Destructive Testing (NDT)¶
Quality assurance and material inspection:
- Flaw Detection - Cracks, voids, and discontinuities
- Thickness Measurement - Material thickness gauging
- Composite Inspection - Delamination and porosity detection
- Weld Inspection - Weld quality assessment
- Corrosion Monitoring - Material degradation tracking
Flow Measurement¶
Precision fluid flow monitoring:
- Transit-Time Flow Meters - Liquid flow measurement
- Doppler Flow Meters - Velocity profile measurement
- Clamp-On Sensors - Non-invasive installation
- Gas Flow Measurement - Specialized gas applications
- Open Channel Flow - Environmental monitoring
Level & Distance Measurement¶
Precise position and level sensing:
- Tank Level Monitoring - Liquid level measurement
- Distance Sensors - Proximity detection
- Object Detection - Presence/absence sensing
- Displacement Measurement - Position tracking
Processing Applications¶
Industrial ultrasonic processing:
- Ultrasonic Cleaning - Precision parts cleaning
- Welding & Bonding - Plastics and metals joining
- Cutting & Machining - Material processing
- Sonochemistry - Chemical reaction enhancement
- Emulsification - Liquid mixing and homogenization
Technology Fundamentals¶
Frequency Ranges¶
Different applications require different frequencies:
- Applications: Cleaning, processing, welding
- Characteristics: High power, deep penetration
- Typical Uses: Industrial cleaning, plastic welding
- Applications: Flow measurement, NDT
- Characteristics: Balanced resolution and penetration
- Typical Uses: Thickness gauging, flow meters
- Applications: High-resolution imaging, microscopy
- Characteristics: Excellent resolution, limited penetration
- Typical Uses: Material characterization, microscopy
Operating Modes¶
Different modes for different needs:
Pulse-Echo
Transducer acts as both transmitter and receiver. Used for NDT, thickness measurement.
Through-Transmission
Separate transmitter and receiver. Used for attenuation measurement, material characterization.
Pitch-Catch
Angled beam transmission and reception. Used for flaw detection, guided wave testing.
Continuous Wave
Constant frequency transmission. Used for Doppler measurement, processing applications.
NDT Techniques¶
Conventional Ultrasonic Testing¶
Standard inspection methods:
- Straight Beam - Perpendicular wave propagation
- Angle Beam - Oblique wave propagation for weld inspection
- Immersion Testing - Water-coupled inspection
- Contact Testing - Direct coupling with gel/oil
Advanced Techniques¶
Modern NDT methods:
- Phased Array - Electronic beam steering and focusing
- TOFD (Time of Flight Diffraction) - Precise flaw sizing
- Guided Waves - Long-range pipe inspection
- Full Matrix Capture - Complete data acquisition for imaging
Automated Inspection¶
Robotic and automated systems:
- Automated Scanning - Repeatable, high-speed inspection
- In-Line Inspection - Production monitoring
- Robotic Systems - Complex geometry inspection
- Data Analysis - Automated defect detection
Flow Measurement Technology¶
Transit-Time Principles¶
Measuring time difference of upstream/downstream propagation:
- Single Path - Basic measurement
- Multi-Path - Improved accuracy with flow profile compensation
- Clamp-On - Non-invasive mounting
- Wetted Sensors - Direct fluid contact for demanding applications
Doppler Principles¶
Measuring frequency shift from moving particles:
- Continuous Wave - Simple, cost-effective
- Pulsed Doppler - Range-gated measurement
- Profile Measurement - Velocity profile across pipe
- Two-Phase Flow - Gas-liquid measurement
System Design Considerations¶
Transducer Selection¶
Choosing the right transducer:
- Frequency requirements
- Beam characteristics
- Environmental conditions
- Coupling method
- Physical constraints
Signal Processing¶
Extracting useful information:
- Filtering - Noise reduction
- Averaging - Signal improvement
- Feature Extraction - Defect characterization
- Pattern Recognition - Automated analysis
Calibration & Standards¶
Ensuring accuracy:
- Reference Standards - Traceable calibration
- Test Blocks - System verification
- Periodic Calibration - Maintaining accuracy
- Documentation - Quality assurance records
Industrial Applications¶
Manufacturing
Quality control, process monitoring, automated inspection
Oil & Gas
Pipeline inspection, flow measurement, tank gauging
Energy
Turbine blade inspection, power plant monitoring
Aerospace
Composite inspection, bond testing, critical component analysis
Consulting Services¶
We provide comprehensive ultrasonic consulting:
System Design¶
- Application analysis
- Transducer selection
- System architecture
- Integration planning
Performance Optimization¶
- Signal improvement
- Measurement accuracy enhancement
- System calibration
- Troubleshooting
Training & Support¶
- Operator training
- Technical workshops
- Documentation
- Ongoing support
Research & Development¶
Supporting innovation:
- Novel Techniques - Exploring new methods
- Advanced Materials - Testing emerging materials
- Algorithm Development - Improved signal processing
- Custom Solutions - Unique application requirements
Quality & Standards¶
We adhere to industry standards:
- ISO 9001 - Quality management
- ASME - Pressure vessel inspection codes
- AWS - Welding inspection standards
- ASTM - Material testing standards
- API - Oil and gas industry standards
Get Started¶
Discuss your ultrasonic application needs:
Ultrasonic solutions for precision measurement and testing.