MULTIPHASE FLOWMETER

• US 20110259120A1
• Filed: 12/17/2009
• Published: 10/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Abbon AS
• Original Assignee: Abbon AS
• Inventors: Thonstad, Hallvard
• Granted Patent: US 8,763,474 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/861.42
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/363 with electrical or electro-mechanical indication G01F1/37 and G01F1/38 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/44 Venturi tubes
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/708 Measuring the time taken to traverse a fixed distance
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/712 using auto-correlation or cross-correlation detection means
• 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

Abstract

A measuring device (100) and system for measuring physical properties of individual phases in a multiphase flow flowing through a pipe (110), wherein the measuring device (100) comprises a measuring section (120) with at least two separate and elongate chambers (130) that are formed by at least one longitudinal baffler (140), at least one of the chambers (130) comprising means for measuring the physical properties of the multiphase flow that flows through the chambers (130), and wherein the internal diameter of the pipe (110) is smaller at the location where the measuring section (120) is positioned, in that there is a constriction (220) in the inner pipe wall of the pipe (110).

Claims

1. A measuring device for measuring physical properties of individual phases in a multiphase flow flowing through a pipe, wherein

the measuring device comprises a measuring section with at least two separate and elongate chambers that are formed by at least one longitudinal barrier,

at least one of the chambers comprising means for enabling measurement of the physical properties of the multiphase flow that flows through the chambers,

the measuring device is characterized in that the internal diameter of the pipe is smaller at the location in which the measuring section is positioned, in that there is a constriction in the inner pipe wall of the pipe, and wherein

the means for measuring the physical properties of the multiphase flow comprise pressure sensors for measuring pressure differences at different locations with different cross-section in the measuring device, and electrodes for measuring electrical properties of the multiphase flow, and wherein

at least one inner electrode is provided in connection with the longitudinal barrier and electrically insulated from this barrier, whilst at least one outer counter-electrode is embedded in the inner wall of the pipe and electrically insulated from the inner wall.

3. A measuring device according to claim 1, wherein that the means for enabling measurement of the physical properties of the multiphase flow are connected to measurement-technical means for collecting measurement data from the multiphase flow, and presentation means for presenting the different physical properties of each phase in the multiphase flow.

4. A measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the longitudinal barrier comprises a longitudinal body extending along the barrier and which is positioned axially thereon, the body having an upstream portion, a central portion, and a downstream portion, and said body having a diameter that is smaller than an internal diameter of the pipe such that the multiphase flow can flow freely past the body on each side of the longitudinal barrier(s), and wherein said inner electrode(s) are provided on the central portion of the streamlined body.

5. A measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the said constriction in the inner pipe wall of the pipe is such that the pipe has a constant smaller diameter at the location of the measuring section, and a diameter that gradually increases to the original diameter of the pipe beyond the location of the measuring section.

6. A measuring device according to claim 4, wherein the longitudinal extent of the body is longer than the barrier such that the upstream portion and/or the downstream portion has an extent that exceeds the length of the longitudinal barrier.

7. A measuring device according to claim 4, wherein the longitudinal extent of the body is shorter than the barrier so that the upstream portion and/or the downstream portion has an extent that is less or equal to the length of the barrier.

8. A measuring device according to claim 4, wherein the longitudinal extent of the body is as long as the barrier.

2. (canceled)