Analysis of ultrasonic signals using a dynamic processing window signals for early detection of scale formation in water processing equipment

摘要

Method detection preconditions fouling occurring on inner surfaces of conduits water processing equipment, the method comprising: transmitting one or more ultrasonic signals through the wall of the duct (10); derive, in real time, data indicative of samples of spectral parameters from received ultrasonic signals or reflections thereof; calculating a moving average of a dispersion of the ultrasonic signals, over a specified time period, based on the data samples derived from the time t = 0 to time t; applying a statistical operating moving average, to provide a measure of statistical distribution; determining a dynamic window defined by: (i) an upper limit that is the moving average over at least a fraction of the metric statistical distribution and (ii) a lower limit which is the moving average unless the at least one fraction the statistical distribution metric; generating a trend line is a set of samples derived and monitor the trend line within the dynamic window to detect a crossing of the trend line in the upper or lower limit, wherein said method further comprises updating dynamically upper limit values ​​and the lower limit and the trend line in real time by adding newly derived data samples to said data samples and thus recalculating said moving average.