US 12,474,302 B1
Fermentation product monitoring systems and associated methods
Eric Sean Davis, Los Alamos, NM (US); Cristian Pantea, Los Alamos, NM (US); and Vamshi Krishna Chillara, Los Alamos, NM (US)
Assigned to Triad National Security, LLC, Los Alamos, NM (US)
Filed by Triad National Security, LLC, Los Alamos, NM (US)
Filed on Apr. 5, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/296,341.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/328,079, filed on Apr. 6, 2022.
Int. Cl. G01N 29/032 (2006.01); G01N 29/44 (2006.01)
CPC G01N 29/032 (2013.01) [G01N 29/4427 (2013.01); G01N 2291/011 (2013.01); G01N 2291/015 (2013.01); G01N 2291/02809 (2013.01); G01N 2291/02836 (2013.01); G01N 2291/048 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A fermentation product monitoring system, comprising:
an ultrasonic transmitter configured to be operatively coupled to a fluid conduit containing a volume of a fluid and to transmit a transmitted ultrasonic signal through the fluid at least partially along a primary ultrasonic signal path;
an ultrasonic receiver configured to be operatively coupled to the fluid conduit and to receive a received ultrasonic signal that is based, at least in part, on the transmitted ultrasonic signal;
an automated valve configured to regulate a flow of the fluid through the fluid conduit; and
a signal generation and analysis assembly configured to generate and transmit a transmitted electrical signal to the ultrasonic transmitter and to receive a received electrical signal from the ultrasonic receiver; and
wherein the signal generation and analysis assembly is configured to generate and transmit a valve actuation signal to actuate the automated valve to a closed position based, at least in part, on the received electrical signal representing a transition of the fluid from a first fluid that comprises a slurry to a second fluid that comprises a non-slurry.