Apparatus and method for determining flow characteristics of a fluid
First Claim
1. An apparatus for producing signals indicative of at least one flow characteristic of a polyphase or turbulent single-phase fluid flowing in a well, comprising:
- a first differential pressure sensor, including a differential pressure transducer and two sensitive points each responsive to local pressure variation in said fluid, for obtaining a detection signal representative of the instantaneous fluctuations of the pressure gradient in a portion of said fluid therebetween;
a second differential pressure sensor, including a differential pressure transducer and two sensitive points each responsive to local pressure variation in said fluid, for obtaining a detection signal representative of the instantaneous fluctuations of the pressure gradient in a portion of said fluid therebetween; and
an elongated support structure, adapted for displacement in the well, to which the sensitive points of said first and second sensors are fixedly connected;
in a linear arrangement substantially parallel to the direction of fluid flow and within a core portion of said fluid flow; and
at respective levels separated by consecutive intervals, a first median level being defined intermediate the respective levels of the sensitive points of said first sensor and a second median level being defined intermediate the respective levels of the sensitive points of said second sensor;
the distance between said first median level and said second median level being no less than one-third the length of one of said consecutive intervals that is no smaller than any other of said consecutive intervals; and
the distance between said first median level and said second median level being between a half-diameter and one diameter of the well.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for determining the flow rate and other flow characteristics of a polyphase fluid or a turbulent single-phase fluid flowing in a conduit are disclosed. Two differential pressure sensors are provided, each having two pressure ports sensitive to local pressure variation in the fluid. The pressure ports are maintained in a predetermined spatial relationship and in a predetermined orientation relative to the general direction of the flow. The detection signals from the respective sensors are correlated to obtain the flow rate. Additionally, a selected one of the detection signals is processed to obtain other flow characteristics. One of these other flow characteristics, the type of flow, is useful in facilitating the determination of the flow rate.
25 Citations
11 Claims
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1. An apparatus for producing signals indicative of at least one flow characteristic of a polyphase or turbulent single-phase fluid flowing in a well, comprising:
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a first differential pressure sensor, including a differential pressure transducer and two sensitive points each responsive to local pressure variation in said fluid, for obtaining a detection signal representative of the instantaneous fluctuations of the pressure gradient in a portion of said fluid therebetween; a second differential pressure sensor, including a differential pressure transducer and two sensitive points each responsive to local pressure variation in said fluid, for obtaining a detection signal representative of the instantaneous fluctuations of the pressure gradient in a portion of said fluid therebetween; and an elongated support structure, adapted for displacement in the well, to which the sensitive points of said first and second sensors are fixedly connected; in a linear arrangement substantially parallel to the direction of fluid flow and within a core portion of said fluid flow; and at respective levels separated by consecutive intervals, a first median level being defined intermediate the respective levels of the sensitive points of said first sensor and a second median level being defined intermediate the respective levels of the sensitive points of said second sensor;
the distance between said first median level and said second median level being no less than one-third the length of one of said consecutive intervals that is no smaller than any other of said consecutive intervals; and
the distance between said first median level and said second median level being between a half-diameter and one diameter of the well. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. An apparatus for producing signals indicative of at least one flow characteristic of a polyphase or turbulent single-phase fluid flowing in a well, comprising:
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a first differential pressure sensor, including a differential pressure transducer and two sensitive points each responsive to local pressure variation in said fluid, for obtaining a detection signal representative of the instantaneous fluctuations of the pressure gradient in a portion of said fluid therebetween; a second differential pressure sensor, including a differential pressure transducer and two sensitive points each responsive to local pressure variation in said fluid, for obtaining a detection signal representative of the instantaneous fluctuations of the pressure gradient in a portion of said fluid therebetween; and an elongated support structure, adapted for displacement in the well, to which the sensitive points of said first and second sensors are fixedly connected at respective levels separated by consecutive intervals;
at least one of said consecutive intervals being a heterogeneous interval no greater than one-half the distance between the two sensitive points of each of said first and second differential pressure sensors. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5)
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6. An apparatus for producing signals indicative of at least one flow characteristic of a polyphase or turbulent single-phase fluid flowing in a well, comprising:
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a first differential pressure sensor, including a differential pressure transducer and two sensitive points each responsive to local pressure variation in said fluid, for obtaining a detection signal representative of the instantaneous fluctuations of the pressure gradient in a portion of said fluid therebetween; a second differential pressure sensor, including a differential pressure transducer and two sensitive points each responsive to local pressure variation in said fluid, for obtaining a detection signal representative of the instantaneous fluctuations of the pressure gradient in a portion of said fluid therebetween; and an elongated support structure, adapted for displacement in the well, to which the sensitive points of said first and second sensors are fixedly connected; in a linear arrangement substantially parallel to the direction of fluid flow and within a core portion of said fluid flow; and at respective levels separated by consecutive intervals, a first median level being defined intermediate the respective levels of the sensitive points of said first sensor and a second median level being defined intermediate the respective levels of the sensitive points of said second sensor;
the distance between said first median level and said second median level being no less than one-third the length of one of said consecutive intervals that is no smaller than any other of said consecutive intervals;
the distance between said first median level and said second median level being between a half-diameter and one diameter of the well; and
at least one of said consecutive intervals being a heterogeneous interval no greater than one-half the distance between the two sensitive points of each of said first and second differential pressure sensors. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification