Sound velocity measurements in fluids using echo signals from scattering particles

A novel approach for measuring the speed of sound in fluids with scattering particles is presented. Potential fields of application for sound velocity measurements in fluids are process control, environmental measurement technology and medicine, where sound velocity can be used as an indicator of temperature, concentration or mass density. Similar to the pulsed Doppler application, the method also works non-invasively and uses the echo signals from scattering particles suspended in the fluid. The basic idea is that the ultrasonic time of flight to the focus position z depends on the speed of sound c in a well-defined way. The time of flight to the focus can be extracted from the echo signals, because the stray echo is strongest for the scattering particles being located in the sound focus and can thus be used to determine the speed of sound. Results are shown for different homogeneous fluids with sound velocities between 1116 m/s (ethanol, 50 °C) and 2740 m/s (eutectic GaInSn). Measurements have shown that a statistical measurement uncertainty of about 0,1 % was achieved with the underlying set-up. Further results of recent measurements in water having a temperature gradient show that the method is even capable of measuring the sound velocity with local resolution.