Fluid sensor

• US 10,156,464 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2014
• Issued: 12/18/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: M-flow Technologies Ltd
• Original Assignee: M-flow Technologies Ltd
• Inventors: Edward, Giles, Parker, Alan, Hajek, Petr
• Primary Examiner(s): WEST, PAUL M
• Application Number:
  US14/898,255
• Publication Number:
  US 20160146743A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,632 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/56 by using electric or magnetic effects G01F1/66 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/58 by electromagnetic flowmeters
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/582 without electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/586 constructions of coils, magnetic circuits, accessories therefor G01F1/582 takes precedence; magnet; inductances; transformers; selection of materials for their magnetic properties per se H01F
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/66 by measuring frequency, phase shift or propagation time of electromagnetic or other waves, e.g. using ultrasonic flowmeters
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/74 Devices for measuring flow of a fluid or flow of a fluent solid material in suspension in another fluid
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 22/00 Investigating or analysing materials by the use of microwaves or radio waves, i.e. electromagnetic waves with a wavelength of one millimetre or more G01N3/00 - G01N17/00, G01N24/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/2823 raw oil, drilling fluid or polyphasic mixtures hydrocarbon content of earth materials G01N33/241; prospecting G01V; drilling per se E21B

Abstract

A fluid sensor includes a core defining a fluid flow path, a confinement member located externally of the core, and a patch antenna located between the fluid flow path and the confinement member. The confinement member is configured to confine an electromagnetic field which extends into the fluid flow path. The patch antenna is configured to couple an electrical signal to and/or from the electromagnetic field. The fluid sensor may be configured for measuring the composition and/or flow rate of a fluid and, in particular but not exclusively, for measuring the composition and/or flow rate of mixtures of oil, water and gas.

Claims

1. A fluid sensor measuring the composition and/or flow rate mixtures of water, oil and gas comprising:

a core defining a fluid flow path;

a confinement member located externally of the core, the core permits transmission of electromagnetic radiation at a frequency of the electromagnetic field; and

a patch antenna located between the fluid flow path and the confinement member,

wherein the confinement member confines an electromagnetic field which extends into the fluid flow path and the patch antenna couples an electrical signal to and/or from the electromagnetic field, and

the confinement member comprises a composite material having one or more electrically conductive reinforcing elements embedded within a matrix and wherein the one or more reinforcing elements comprise carbon fibres.

2. The fluid sensor according to claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic field comprises a radio frequency (RF) electromagnetic field, a microwave field or a mm-wave field.

3. The fluid sensor according to claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic field has a frequency in the range, 1 kHz to 1 THz, 10 kHz to 100 GHz, 100 kHz to 10 GHz, or 1 MHZ to 1 GHz.

4. The fluid sensor according to claim 1, comprising an electrical source for generating an electrical signal in the form of at least one of an oscillator, a frequency source, a signal generator, a gain medium, and an amplifier.

5. The fluid sensor according to claim 1, comprising an electrical detector for detecting an electrical signal.

6. The fluid sensor according to claim 1, wherein the core comprises a PEEK material.

7. The fluid sensor according to claim 1, wherein the core comprises one or more glass fibres.

8. The fluid sensor according to claim 1, wherein the confinement member comprises an electrically conductive material.

9. The fluid sensor according to claim 1, wherein the matrix comprises a PEEK material.

10. The fluid sensor according to claim 1, wherein the patch antenna is located between the core and the confinement member.

11. The fluid sensor according to claim 1, wherein the patch antenna is at least partially embedded within the core.

12. The fluid sensor according to claim 1, wherein the patch antenna comprises an electrically conductive radiating element.

13. The fluid sensor according to claim 12, wherein the radiating element comprises a non-metallic electrically conductive material or substance.

14. The fluid sensor according to claim 12, wherein the radiating element comprises least one of electrically conductive elements, particles, fibres, sheets, and nanotubes.

15. The fluid sensor according to claims 12, wherein the radiating element comprises carbon.

16. The fluid sensor according to claims 12, wherein the radiating element comprises a metallic material or substance.

17. The fluid sensor according to claim 12, wherein the patch antenna comprises an electrically insulating substrate, the radiating element is defined on a first side of the substrate, and the patch antenna comprises an electrically conductive back plane defined on a second side of the substrate opposite to the first side of the substrate.

18. The fluid sensor according to claim 17, wherein the back plane is defined by the confinement member.

19. The fluid sensor according to claim 12, wherein the radiating element comprises at least a portion having a geometry selected from at least one of a triangle, a rectangular, a square, a circle, oval, ellipse.

20. The fluid sensor according to claim 12, wherein the radiating element comprises at least a portion that defines an elongate path.

21. The fluid sensor according to claim 20, wherein the path has at least one of a spiral a convoluted configuration.

22. The fluid sensor according to claim 1, comprising a further antenna.

23. The fluid sensor according to claim 1, comprising a plurality of further antennas.

24. The fluid sensor according to claim 1, comprising at least one further patch antenna.

25. A method for manufacturing a fluid sensor measuring the composition and/or flow rate of mixtures of water, oil, and gas comprising:

providing a core defining a fluid flow path;

providing a confinement member externally of the core; and

providing a patch antenna between the fluid flow path and the confinement member,

wherein the confinement member confines an electromagnetic field which extends into the fluid flow path and the patch antenna couples an electrical signal to and/or from the electromagnetic field, and

embedding one or more electrically conductive reinforcing elements within a matrix of a composite material comprised within the confinement member, wherein the one or more reinforcing elements comprise carbon fibres.

26. The method according to claim 25, comprising forming the confinement member on or around the core.

27. The method according to claim 25, comprising forming the confinement member separately from the core and then locating the confinement member on or around the core.

28. The method according to claim 25, comprising forming the patch antenna on or around the core.

29. The method according to claim 25, comprising forming the patch antenna separately from the core and then locating the patch antenna on or around the core.

30. The method according to claim 25, comprising forming the confinement member on or around the patch antenna.

31. The method according to claim 25, comprising forming the confinement member separately from the patch antenna and then locating the confinement member on or around the patch antenna.

32. The method according to claim 25, comprising at least partially embedding the patch antenna within the core.

33. The method according to claim 25, comprising defining an electrically conductive radiating element of the patch antenna on a first side of an electrically insulating substrate of the patch antenna and defining an electrically conductive back plane of the patch antenna on a second side of the substrate opposite to the first side of the substrate.

34. The method according to claim 33, comprising:

forming the radiating element by coating, printing, painting or otherwise applying an electrically conductive substance to the substrate; and

then

forming the patch antenna around the core.

35. The method according to claim 33, comprising:

forming the radiating element by coating, printing, painting or otherwise applying an electrically conductive substance to the core; and

then

forming the substrate of the patch antenna on or around the radiating element.

36. The method according to claim 25, comprising using at least part of the core as an electrically insulating substrate of the patch antenna.

37. The method according to claim 25, comprising using the confinement member to define a back plane of the patch antenna.