Apparatus and method for measuring settlement of solids in a multiphase flow
First Claim
1. An apparatus for measuring a parameter of a flow passing through a pipe, the apparatus comprising:
- a first spatial array of at least two sensors disposed at different axial locations along the pipe, each of the sensors in the first array providing a first signal indicative of unsteady pressure created by coherent structures convecting with a portion of the flow passing through a first portion of the pipe;
a second spatial array of at least two sensors disposed at different axial locations along the pipe, each of the sensors in the second array providing a second signal indicative of unsteady pressure created by coherent structures convecting with a portion of the flow passing through a second portion of the pipe, the first portion of the pipe being located above the second portion of the pipe; and
at least one signal processor configured to;
determine a first velocity of the flow passing through the first portion of the pipe using the first signals, determine a second velocity of the flow passing through the second portion of the pipe using the second signals, and compare the first and second velocities to determine the parameter of the flow.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for measuring a parameter of a flow passing through a pipe is provided, wherein the apparatus includes at least two spatial array of sensors disposed at different axial locations along the pipe, wherein each of the sensors provide a signal indicative of unsteady pressure created by coherent structures convecting with the flow within the pipe at a corresponding axial location of the pipe. The apparatus also includes a signal processor configured to determine the flow rate at the circumference location of each sensor array in response to the respective measured unsteady pressures. The signal processor compares the velocity of the flow at each respective location and provides a signal indicative the presence of solids settled at the bottom of the pipe and/or the level of the settled solids in the pipe, in response to an uncharacteristic increase in the velocity of a lower portion of the flow in comparison to the velocity measured above the lower portion of the flow.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. An apparatus for measuring a parameter of a flow passing through a pipe, the apparatus comprising:
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a first spatial array of at least two sensors disposed at different axial locations along the pipe, each of the sensors in the first array providing a first signal indicative of unsteady pressure created by coherent structures convecting with a portion of the flow passing through a first portion of the pipe;
a second spatial array of at least two sensors disposed at different axial locations along the pipe, each of the sensors in the second array providing a second signal indicative of unsteady pressure created by coherent structures convecting with a portion of the flow passing through a second portion of the pipe, the first portion of the pipe being located above the second portion of the pipe; and
at least one signal processor configured to;
determine a first velocity of the flow passing through the first portion of the pipe using the first signals, determine a second velocity of the flow passing through the second portion of the pipe using the second signals, and compare the first and second velocities to determine the parameter of the flow. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An apparatus for measuring a parameter of a flow passing through a pipe, the apparatus comprising:
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at least one spatial array of sensors disposed at different axial locations along the pipe, wherein each of the sensors provide a signal indicative of unsteady pressure created by coherent structures convecting with the flow within the pipe at a corresponding axial location of the pipe; and
a signal processor configured to identify a greater convection velocity and a location of the greater convection velocity, wherein the greater convection velocity is indicative of stratification of the flow and wherein the location of the greater convection velocity is indicative of a level of the stratification of the flow.
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18. A method for measuring a parameter of a flow passing through a pipe using an apparatus comprising a first spatial array of at least two sensors disposed at different axial locations along the pipe, each of the sensors in the first array providing a first signal indicative of unsteady pressure created by coherent structures convecting with a portion of the flow passing through a first portion of the pipe, a second spatial array of at least two sensors disposed at different axial locations along the pipe, each of the sensors in the second array providing a second signal indicative of unsteady pressure created by coherent structures convecting with a portion of the flow passing through a second portion of the pipe, the first portion of the pipe being located above the second portion of the pipe and at least one signal processor, wherein the method comprises:
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determining a first velocity of the flow passing through the first portion of the pipe using the first signals, determining a second velocity of the flow passing through the second portion of the pipe using the second signals, and comparing the first and second velocities to determine the parameter of the flow. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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Specification