Laser ultrasonic furnace tube coke monitor. Quarterly technical progress report, February 1, 1999--May 1, 1999: Report number 4

This report summarizes the technical progress achieved during the fourth quarter of the EPRI project. The focus of work during this reporting period was the construction of an electronic control module for the coke detector probe. The electronic control module supervises the actuation and data collection functions of the probe sensor. Basic operation of the probe controller was confirmed. The overall aim of the project is to demonstrate the performance and practical use of a probe for measuring the thickness of coke deposits located within the high temperature tubes of a thermal cracking furnace. This aim will be met by constructing a probe that will be tested using simulated coke deposits that are positioned inside of a bench-scale furnace. Successful development of the coke detector will provide industry with the only available method for on-line measurement of coke deposits