System of distributed configurable flowmeters

• US 20050011258A1
• Filed: 06/24/2004
• Published: 01/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cidra Corporate Services, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Cidra Corporate Services, Inc.
• Inventors: Kersey, Alan D., Gysling, Daniel L., Didden, F. Kevin
• Granted Patent: US 7,623,976 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/195
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/363 with electrical or electro-mechanical indication G01F1/37 and G01F1/38 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/662 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/7082 using acoustic detecting arrangements
• 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: G01F 15/063 using electrical means

Abstract

A system of one or more configurable flowmeters allows an individual, locally or remotely, to selectively activate one or more functions of the flowmeters. The individual is capable of selecting which parameter of the process flow that the flowmeter is to measure, thereby effectively providing latent functions that may be selectively brought on line or shut off. The system may also allow an individual, locally or remotely, to selectively activate one or more latent flowmeters in the system. The system may be a distributed control system (DCS), which receives input signals from conventional meters and devices in the process flow and provides control signals to one or more devices in the flow process. The system may also provide a method of flowmeter selection and billing.

Claims

18. A method of paying for data indicative of parameters of a flow process, the method comprising:

installing a plurality sensor heads in the flow process, each of the sensor heads comprising an array of sensors disposed axially along a pipe, and each of the sensor heads providing pressure signals representative of unsteady pressures within a fluid flowing in the pipe;

providing data to a user, the data being determined from the pressure signals from selected ones of the sensor heads; and

charging the user a fee based at least in part on the selected ones of the sensor heads.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising selecting the selected ones of the sensor heads based on a selection signal.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the data associated with the selected ones of the sensor heads is indicative of at least one parameter of the flow process, the at least one parameter being selected from a plurality of parameters determined from the pressure signals from the selected ones of the sensor heads.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the fee is based at least in part on the at least one parameter selected.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the at least one parameter includes at least one of:

density of the fluid, volumetric flow rate of the fluid, mass flow rate of the fluid, composition of the fluid, entrained air in the fluid, consistency of the fluid, size of particles in the fluid, and health of a device causing the unsteady pressures to be generated in the pipe.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein the fee is based at least in part on the number of sensor heads selected.

24. The method of claim 18, wherein the fee is based at least in part on the amount of data retrieved by the user.

25. The method of claim 18, wherein the fee is based at least in part on the length of time data is retrieved by the user.

26. A system comprising:

a plurality of sensor heads, each of the sensor heads comprising an array of sensors disposed axially along a pipe, and each of the sensor heads providing pressure signals representative of unsteady pressures within a fluid flowing in the pipe; and

at least one signal processor connected to the plurality of sensor heads, the at least one signal processor provides an output signal indicative of at least one parameter determined from the pressure signals, the at least one parameter being selected from a plurality of parameters determined from the pressure signals.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the at least one signal processor selects the at least one parameter based on a selection signal.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the status of the selection signal is determined based on whether a user desires to retrieve the output signal.

29. The system of claim 27, wherein the status of the selection signal is determined based on whether a user will pay for the output signal.

30. The system of claim 27, wherein the status of the selection signal is provided from a location remote from the at least one signal processor.

31. The system of claim 27, wherein the status of the selection signal is provided from a location remote from the at least one signal processor via a remote link.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein the remote link comprises an Internet link.

33. The system of claim 26, wherein the output signal is provided to a location remote from the at least one signal processor via a remote link.

34. The system of claim 26, wherein the at least one parameter includes at least one of:

density of the fluid, volumetric flow rate of the fluid, mass flow rate of the fluid, composition of the fluid, entrained air in the fluid, consistency of the fluid, size of particles in the fluid, and health of a device causing the unsteady pressures to be generated in the pipe.

35. The system of claim 26, wherein a user of the system is charged a fee based at least in part on the at least one parameter selected.

36. The system of claim 26, wherein a user of the system is charged a fee based at least in part on the output signal.

37. The system of claim 26, wherein the at least one signal processor includes:

at least one first signal processor connected to the sensor heads, the at least one first signal processor determines the at least one parameter; and

a second signal processor that selects the at least one parameter based on the selection signal.

38. The system of claim 37, wherein each of the sensor heads has an associated first signal processor.

39. The system of claim 37, wherein, in response to the at least one parameter, the second signal processor provides a control signal to a device through which the fluid flows.

40. A method of paying for data indicative of parameters of a flow process, the method comprising:

installing a plurality sensor heads in the flow process, each of the sensor heads comprising an array of sensors disposed axially along a pipe, and each of the sensor heads providing pressure signals representative of unsteady pressures within a fluid flowing in the pipe;

providing data to a user, the data being indicative of at least one parameter of the flow process, the at least one parameter being selected from a plurality of parameters determined from the pressure signals; and

charging the user a fee based at least in part on the at least one parameter selected.

1. A system comprising:

a plurality of sensor heads, each of the sensor heads comprising an array of sensors disposed axially along a pipe, and each of the sensor heads providing pressure signals representative of unsteady pressures within a fluid flowing in the pipe; and

at least one signal processor connected to the plurality of sensor heads, the at least one signal processor provides an output signal indicative of at least one parameter determined from the pressure signals from selected ones of the plurality of sensor heads.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one signal processor selects the selected ones of the plurality of sensor heads based on a selection signal.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the status of the selection signal is determined based on whether a user desires to retrieve the output signal.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the status of the selection signal is determined based on whether a user will pay for the output signal.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the status of the selection signal is provided from a location remote from the at least one signal processor.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein the status of the selection signal is provided from a location remote from the at least one signal processor via a remote link.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the remote link comprises an Internet link.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the output signal is provided to a location remote from the at least one signal processor via a remote link.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one parameter includes at least one of:

density of the fluid, volumetric flow rate of the fluid, mass flow rate of the fluid, composition of the fluid, entrained air in the fluid, consistency of the fluid, size of particles in the fluid, and health of a device causing the unsteady pressures to be generated in the pipe.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein a user of the system is charged a fee based at least in part on the selected ones of the plurality of sensor heads.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein a user of the system is charged a fee based at least in part on the output signal.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one parameter is selected from a plurality of parameters determined from the pressure signals from the selected ones of the plurality of sensor heads.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the at least one signal processor selects the selected ones of the plurality of sensor heads and the at least one parameter based on a selection signal.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one signal processor includes:

at least one first signal processor connected to the plurality of sensor heads, the at least one first signal processor determines the at least one parameter; and

a second signal processor that selects the selected ones of the plurality of sensor heads based on the selection signal.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein each of the sensor heads has an associated first signal processor.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein, in response to the at least one parameter, the second signal processor provides a control signal to a device through which the fluid flows.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein a user of the system is charged a fee based at least in part on the at least one parameter selected.

41. The method of claim 40, further comprising selecting the at least one parameter based on a selection signal.

42. The method of claim 40, wherein the fee is based at least in part on the amount of data retrieved by the user.

43. The method of claim 40, wherein the at least one parameter includes at least one of:

density of the fluid, volumetric flow rate of the fluid, mass flow rate of the fluid, composition of the fluid, entrained air in the fluid, consistency of the fluid, size of particles in the fluid, and health of a device causing the unsteady pressures to be generated in the pipe.

42-1. The method of claim 40, wherein the fee is based at least in part on the length of time data is retrieved by the user.