Gas Meter and Associated Methods

• US 20180164137A1
• Filed: 12/12/2017
• Published: 06/14/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ventbuster Holdings Inc.
• Original Assignee: Ventbusters Inc.
• Inventors: Layher, Robert Wayne, Layher, Deanne Rose, Layher, Scott Robert
• Granted Patent: US 10,684,154 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/06 Measuring temperature or pressure
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/103 using thermal measurements
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/684 Structural arrangements; Mounting of elements, e.g. in relation to fluid flow
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/6842 with means for influencing the fluid flow
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/6884 making use of temperature dependence of optical properties
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/6965 comprising means to store calibration data for flow signal calculation or correction
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/7084 using thermal detecting arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/7086 using optical detecting arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/86 Indirect mass flowmeters, e.g. measuring volume flow and density, temperature or pressure
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 15/04 of gases to be measured
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 25/15 specially adapted for gas meters G01F25/11 - G01F25/14, G01F25/17 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 7/00 Volume-flow measuring devices with two or more measuring ranges; Compound meters
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/3504 for analysing gases, e.g. multi-gas analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/0221 Portable; cableless; compact; hand-held

Abstract

A device which: optically detects the presence of, measures the flow rate of, and identifies the characteristics of venting fugitive gas emissions. Specifically the device provides a spectral analysis of emission gas constituents; selective detection of the presence of venting hydrocarbons; measurement of venting emissions flow rates, the measurement of shut-in and flowing venting system pressures and the venting system temperatures. The flow rates are corrected, relative to the detection of the gas constituents and standard temperature and pressure (STP). These devices are configured to collect such data electronically and transmit via various telemetry systems, to a secure remote data network for reporting, access, evaluation, real-time monitoring and archiving as required.

Claims

1. A gas meter comprising:

a channel comprising a modifiable channel portion with an modifiable cross-sectional area, wherein the cross-sectional area of the channel portion is modifiable to control the velocity through the modifiable channel portion for a given flow rate; and

a thermal mass flow meter positioned within the modifiable channel and which measures the mass flow rate by heating a portion of the flowing fluid and then recording how that heat is dispersed by the flow.

2. The gas meter of claim 1 wherein the channel comprises a replaceable channel module portion, wherein the replaceable channel module portion is configured to provide the modifiable channel portion with a predetermined and fixed cross-sectional area such that the cross-sectional area of the channel can be modified by replacing the replaceable channel module portion with another the replaceable channel module portion corresponding to a different predetermined and fixed cross-sectional area.

3. The gas meter of claim 1 wherein the modifiable channel comprises an adjustable obstruction, which is moveable within the channel to change the cross-sectional area of the modifiable channel portion.

4. The gas meter according to claim 3 wherein the adjustable obstruction comprises a plunger or piston.

5. The gas meter according to claim 2 wherein the gas meter is configured to control the cross-sectional area of the modifiable channel portion based on the gas flow rate such that at high flow rate the cross-sectional area of the modifiable channel portion is larger than at low flow rate.

6. The gas meter according to claim 1 wherein the dynamic range of the gas meter is greater than 20,000,000, wherein the dynamic range is defined as the ratio of the highest measureable flow rate to the lowest measureable flow rate.

7. The gas meter according to claim 1 wherein the modifiable channel portion is streamlined to promote laminar flow across the flow meter.

8. The gas meter according to claim 1 wherein the modifiable channel portion comprises multiple sub-channels in parallel, and

wherein the total cross-sectional area of the channel can be controlled by selectively obstructing one or more of the sub-channels.

9. The gas meter according to claim 1, wherein the gas meter is configured to control the cross-sectional area of the adjustable channel based on the measured mass flow rate.

10. A method for determining the flow rate of gas, the method comprising:

flowing the gas through a channel, the gas channel having a portion with a modifiable cross-sectional area;

measuring the mass flow rate through the modifiable portion by heating a portion of the flowing fluid and then recording how that heat is dispersed by the flow;

adjusting the cross-sectional area of the modifiable portion based on the measured mass flow rate; and

re-measuring the mass flow rate through the modifiable portion after the adjustment.

11. A gas meter comprising:

a flow meter configured to measure a flow of gas to provide a raw gas flow measurement;

at least one gas property sensor configured to determine one or more properties of the gas and the environment;

wherein the gas meter is configured to provide a compensated gas flow measurement by adjusting the raw gas flow measurement based on the determined one or more properties of the gas and the environment.

12. The gas meter according to claim 11 wherein the one or more determined properties of the gas comprise one or more of the temperature of the gas;

the pressure of the gas;

the ambient temperature;

the atmospheric pressure; and

the composition of the gas.

13. The gas meter according to claim 11 wherein at least one gas property sensor comprises one or more of:

an IR spectrometer;

a temperature sensor; and

a pressure sensor.

14. The gas meter according to claim 11 wherein the at least one gas property sensor comprises an IR spectrometer configured to determine one or more of:

the concentration of non-hydrocarbons within the gas;

the concentration of methane in the gas; and

the concentration of hydrocarbons within the gas.

15. The gas meter according to claim 11 wherein the gas meter comprises a flow channel and a gas property channel, wherein the gas meter is configured to determine:

the flow rate from gas flow directed through the flow channel, and

at least one gas property from gas flow directed through the gas property channel.

16. A method for determining the flow rate of gas, the method comprising:

measuring a flow of gas to provide a raw gas flow measurement;

determining one or more properties of the gas;

providing a compensated gas flow measurement by adjusting the raw gas flow measurement based on the determined one or more properties of the gas.

17. A gas meter comprising:

a pressure module, the pressure module having a sealable pressure channel configured to enable fluid connection with a gas source and a pressure sensor configured to determine the pressure within the sealable pressure channel when sealed; and

a flow module, the flow module having;

a flow channel releasably connectable to pressure module to enable fluid communication between the gas source and the flow channel via the pressure module; and

a flow sensor configured to determine the flow within the flow channel.

18. The gas meter according to claim 17 wherein when the flow module is connected to the pressure module, the flow channel is configured to connect to the pressure flow channel.

19. The gas meter according to claim 17 wherein the flow module comprises a gas property channel and a property sensor configured to determine one or more properties of the gas.

20. A pressure module for a gas meter, the pressure module comprising:

a sealable pressure channel with source connector configured to enable fluid connection with a gas source;

a pressure sensor configured to determine the pressure within the sealable pressure channel when sealed; and

a module connector configured to enable connection with a further gas module.