A bubble detector utilizes an ultrasonic transducer to sample bubbles as
they pass the transducer. The envelope of the return signal is analyzed to
determine the volume of each sampled bubble. If the total volume of
bubbles sampled within a certain period of time exceeds a desired maximum
volume, the bubble detector may initiate a system shut down. A bubble
detector can be evaluated or calibrated by introducing bubbles into a
conduit, detecting the bubbles introduced into the conduit using visual
inspection or a bubble detector of known resolution and comparing the
results with the examination of a bubble detector under evaluation.
