Paper: Recent Developments In Sonic Pipeline Interface Detectors

A sound velocity sensor is described as a means for detecting interfaces between different hydrocarbons in products and crude oil pipelines. Temperature and pressure influences are described as systematic error sources that are amenable to automatic compensation by a microprocessor. The utility of the sonic technique is assessed for detecting difficult interfaces between hydrocarbons of similar API gravities and for those interfaces where substantially different gravities prevail. A new development involving a combination sonic interface detector and sonic flowmeter is also discussed.