Vibrational forced mode fluid property monitor and method
First Claim
1. A method of monitoring a fluid, comprising:
- imparting multiple frequency vibration-inducing energy to a system including a conduit and fluid; and
sensing frequency signals from the system responsive to at least part of the imparted multiple frequency vibration-inducing energy and identifying a plurality of distinguishing frequencies within the sensed frequencies and measuring a characteristic of the fluid in response to the identified plurality of distinguishing frequencies, wherein the characteristic is in the group consisting of density, compressibility and viscosity.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A fluid property monitor includes a transducer assembly to impart multiple frequency energy to a conduit in one or more modes and to receive resonant frequency energy from the conduit. The resonant frequency energy is responsive to the imparted energy, the conduit and a fluid in the conduit. The fluid property monitor can also be defined as including: a frequency signal generator connected to cause multiple frequency energy to be transferred to a conduit having a fluid to be monitored; and a spectral analysis signal processor connected to receive and process electrical signals generated in response to vibrations propagated through the conduit and the fluid in the conduit in response to transferred multiple frequency energy. Particular implementations can be adapted as a densitometer, a coherent flow detector, and other particular fluid parameter detectors. A method of monitoring a fluid includes: imparting multiple frequency vibration-inducing energy to a conduit and fluid system; and sensing a plurality of frequency signals from the conduit and fluid system responsive to at least part of the imparted multiple frequency vibration-inducing energy. This method can also include determining at least one characteristic of the conduit and fluid system in response to the sensed plurality of frequency signals.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A method of monitoring a fluid, comprising:
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imparting multiple frequency vibration-inducing energy to a system including a conduit and fluid; and
sensing frequency signals from the system responsive to at least part of the imparted multiple frequency vibration-inducing energy and identifying a plurality of distinguishing frequencies within the sensed frequencies and measuring a characteristic of the fluid in response to the identified plurality of distinguishing frequencies, wherein the characteristic is in the group consisting of density, compressibility and viscosity. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
the method further comprises flowing the fluid through the conduit;
imparting multiple frequency vibration-inducing energy includes;
driving at least one of one or more transducers disposed adjacent the conduit to impart energy to the conduit to deform the conduit in a flexural mode;
driving at least one of the one or more transducers to impart energy to the conduit to deform the conduit in a radial hoop mode; and
driving at least one of the one or more transducers to impart energy to the conduit to deform the conduit in a radial oval mode; and
sensing frequency signals includes generating signals, with at least one of the one or more transducers, in response to the driving steps.
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5. A method as defined in claim 4, wherein:
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identifying a plurality of distinguishing frequencies includes identifying resonant frequencies in the generated signals for each mode; and
measuring a characteristic of the fluid occurs in response to an averaging calculation using the identified resonant frequencies.
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6. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein imparting multiple frequency vibration-inducing energy includes using a plurality of inertial transducers connected to the conduit.
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7. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein imparting multiple frequency vibration-inducing energy includes operating a plurality of transducers mechanically mounted only to the conduit.
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8. A method as defined in claim 2, wherein measuring a characteristic further includes using calibration information from a respective plurality of resonant frequency responses for each of a plurality of calibration fluids.
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9. A method as defined in claim 8, wherein imparting multiple frequency vibration-inducing energy includes driving the system at multiple frequencies in multiple modes.
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10. A fluid property monitor, comprising:
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a transducer assembly to impart multiple frequency energy to a conduit in multiple modes, and to receive resonant frequency energy from the conduit, wherein the resonant frequency energy is responsive to the imparted energy, the conduit and a fluid in the conduit;
a frequency signal generator connected to cause respective multiple frequency energy to be transferred through the transducer assembly to the conduit for each of the multiple modes; and
a spectral analysis signal processor connected to receive and process electrical signals generated in response to vibrations propagated through the conduit and the fluid in the conduit in response to transferred multiple frequency energy so that multiple distinguishing resonant frequencies are identified for each mode for determining a respective characteristic of the fluid. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
a first insulating washer adjacent the base;
a first electrode adjacent the first insulating washer;
a piezoelectric member adjacent the first electrode;
a second electrode adjacent the piezoelectric member;
a second insulating washer adjacent the second electrode; and
a Bellville spring washer adjacent the second insulating washer.
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14. A fluid property monitor as defined in claim 10, wherein the transducer assembly includes:
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a moment arm member connected to and extending radially from the conduit; and
a vibration-inducing member connected to the moment arm member at a location thereon spaced from the conduit such that vibrations generated by the vibration-inducing member are applied to the conduit through the moment arm member.
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- 15. A fluid property monitor to measure a respective characteristic of a fluid in the group consisting of a cement slurry, a stimulation fluid, and a drilling mud, comprising a transducer assembly configured to mount on the outside of a conduit, which conduit has the fluid under pressure, for imparting multiple frequency energy to the conduit so that the conduit deforms in multiple modes of vibration of cylindrical shells including at least flexural and oval modes of standing wave patterns, and for receiving resonant frequency energy from the conduit, wherein the resonant frequency energy is at a plurality of frequencies responsive to the imparted energy, the conduit and the respective characteristic of the fluid in the conduit.
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21. A method of measuring a characteristic of a fluid, comprising:
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imparting multiple frequency energy at frequencies within the range of about 100 hertz to about 20,000 hertz to a conduit and fluid system such that the conduit is deformed to vibrate in at least a flexural mode and an oval mode;
sensing a plurality of frequency signals from the conduit and fluid system responsive to at least part of the imparted multiple frequency energy; and
determining a respective characteristic of the conduit and fluid system in response to the sensed plurality of frequency signals. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A method of measuring density of a fluid, comprising:
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imparting to a system, for each of at least three vibrational modes, respective multiple frequency energy at frequencies within the range of about 100 hertz to about 20,000 hertz such that the conduit is deformed to vibrate, wherein the system includes a conduit having a fluid whose density is to be measured and wherein the fluid is in the group consisting of a cement slurry, a stimulation fluid and a drilling mud;
sensing a plurality of distinguishing resonant frequency signals from the system responsive to at least part of the imparted multiple frequency energy; and
measuring density of the fluid in response to the sensed plurality of frequency signals, including using calibration information from a respective plurality of resonant frequency responses for each of a plurality of calibration fluids and using an averaging calculation with the plurality of distinguishing resonant frequency signals.
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Specification