Multi-Phase Metering of Fluid Flows

• US 20140299210A1
• Filed: 06/05/2014
• Published: 10/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Senico Limited
• Original Assignee: Senico Limited
• Inventors: Atherton, Eric
• Granted Patent: US 9,671,793 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 137/624.27
• 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: G05D 7/06 characterised by the use of electric means G05D7/005 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 7/0635 by action on throttling means G05D7/0688, G05D7/0694 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86485 Line condition change responsive release of valve

Abstract

A multi-phase flow meter includes a flow conduit leading from an inlet to an outlet and including a variable inlet restriction, a variable outlet restriction, a pressure sensor and a volumetric flow meter, located between the variable inlet restriction and the variable outlet restriction. The flow meter further includes a controller adapted to receive data from the pressure sensor and the volumetric flow meter, and to adjust the variable inlet restriction and the variable outlet restriction in accordance with at least one program. The program causes the controller to adjust one of the variable inlet restriction and the variable outlet restriction.

Claims

1. A multi-phase flow meter having a flow conduit leading from an inlet to an outlet and comprising:

a variable inlet restriction and

a variable outlet restriction for controlling the flow of fluid from the inlet, through the inlet restriction and then through the outlet restriction and to exit the multi-phase flow meter from the outlet,

a pressure sensor and a flow meter, located between the variable inlet restriction and the variable outlet restriction,

the flow meter further comprising a controller adapted to receive data from the pressure sensor and the flow meter, and to adjust the variable inlet restriction and the variable outlet restriction in accordance with at least one program;

wherein in accordance with the at least one program the controller is arranged to adjust one of the variable inlet restriction and the variable outlet restriction such that the fluid pressure between them adopts a first pressure, then to further adjust the restriction such that the fluid pressure between the restrictions adopts a second and different pressure, and to record the first pressure, the second pressure, and the fluid flow rates at the first pressure and at the second pressure;

whilst adjusting the other of the variable inlet restriction and the variable outlet restriction so that the total flow restriction imposed by the inlet and outlet restrictions is maintained at a substantially constant level.

2. A multi-phase flow meter according to claim 1, wherein the variable inlet restriction is continuously variable between a minimum restriction and a maximum restriction.

3. A multi-phase flow meter according to claim 2, wherein the variable inlet restriction is monotonically variable between the minimum restriction and the maximum restriction.

4. A multi-phase flow meter according to claim 2, wherein the inlet restriction prevents all flow when at the maximum restriction.

5. A multi-phase flow meter according to claim 1, wherein the variable inlet restriction is variable between a plurality of discrete values.

6. A multi-phase flow meter according to claim 5, wherein the variable inlet restriction comprises an on-off valve in parallel with a bypass path containing a flow restriction.

7. A multi-phase flow meter according to claim 1, wherein the variable outlet restriction is continuously variable between a minimum restriction and a maximum restriction.

8. A multi-phase flow meter according to claim 7, wherein the variable outlet restriction is monotonically variable between the minimum restriction and the maximum restriction.

9. A multi-phase flow meter according to claim 7, wherein the outlet restriction prevents all flow when at the maximum restriction.

10. A multi-phase flow meter according to claim 1, wherein the variable outlet restriction is variable between a plurality of discrete values.

11. A multi-phase flow meter according to claim 10, wherein the variable outlet restriction comprises an on-off valve in parallel with a bypass path containing a flow restriction.

12. A multi-phase flow meter according to claim 1, wherein the flow meter is a volumetric flow meter

13. A multi-phase flow meter according to claim 12, wherein the volumetric flow meter is an ultrasonic flow meter.

14. A multi-phase flow meter according to claim 12, wherein the volumetric flow meter is a turbine flow meter.

15. A multi-phase flow meter according to claim 1, wherein the controller has a further program that causes the controller to fully close the inlet restriction or the outlet restriction and to open fully the outlet restriction or the inlet restriction, respectively, to maintain this state for a period of time, and to calibrate at least one of the pressure sensor and the flow meter at that time.

16. A multi-phase flow meter according to claim 1, further comprising:

a computing means to calculate the relative fractions of gas and liquid flowing through the flow conduit based on the measured pressures and flow rates.

17. A multi-phase flow meter according to claim 16, further comprising:

a mass flow meter located between the inlet and the outlet flow restrictions.

18. A multi-phase flow meter according to claim 17, wherein the computing means is further arranged to calculate the relative fractions of different liquids based on the measured volumetric and mass flow rates.

19. A multi-phase flow meter having an inlet and an outlet, including a flow conduit wherein is located a variable inlet restriction and a variable outlet restriction for controlling the flow of fluid from the inlet, through the inlet restriction and then through the outlet restriction and to exit the multi-phase flow meter from the outlet, and a control arrangement adapted to vary the restrictions in concert so as to maintain a set pressure in the flow conduit outside at least one of the inlet and the outlet restrictions while varying the pressure in the flow conduit between the inlet and the outlet restrictions, further comprising a pressure sensor and a flow meter located between the variable inlet restriction and the variable outlet restriction for measuring the varying pressure and the resulting flow rates.