Self-tuning ultrasonic meter
First Claim
1. A method to correct for errors in transit time measurements for ultrasonic signals, comprising:
- a) measuring times of flight for ultrasonic signals in a pipeline containing a fluid flow;
b) calculating at least one diagnostic for said ultrasonic signals;
c) comparing said at least one diagnostic to a set of respective expected values to determine whether values for said at least one diagnostic is less than, equal to, or greater than the respective expected values;
d) determining whether one or more errors exist in said measurements for said times of flight dependent upon said comparing step;
e) correcting for said one or more errors if said one or more errors includes misidentification of ultrasonic signal arrival time in at least one measurement for said ultrasonic signals.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and related ultrasonic meter identify and correct for transit time errors such as peak switch errors. The method includes calculating values for a set of diagnostics from measurements of the fluid flow, including transit time measurements. Based on the values for the diagnostics, and whether and how they fall outside of their respective ranges, the meter can identify a variety of problems with the meter or fluid flow, such as whether there has been an intermittent peak switch, a permanent peak switch, or the presence of noise, velocity pulsation in the fluid flow, temperature stratification, of other problem. In the event there is a problem with the meter, the meter self-tunes in order to minimize the chances of the problem happening again.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method to correct for errors in transit time measurements for ultrasonic signals, comprising:
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a) measuring times of flight for ultrasonic signals in a pipeline containing a fluid flow;
b) calculating at least one diagnostic for said ultrasonic signals;
c) comparing said at least one diagnostic to a set of respective expected values to determine whether values for said at least one diagnostic is less than, equal to, or greater than the respective expected values;
d) determining whether one or more errors exist in said measurements for said times of flight dependent upon said comparing step;
e) correcting for said one or more errors if said one or more errors includes misidentification of ultrasonic signal arrival time in at least one measurement for said ultrasonic signals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A self-tuning ultrasonic meter, comprising:
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a spoolpiece through which travels a flow of fluid;
a first transducer to generate first ultrasonic signals generally against said flow of fluid and to receive second ultrasonic signals generally with said flow of fluid;
a second transducer to generate said second ultrasonic signals and to receive said first ultrasonic signals;
electronics to calculate arrival times for said first ultrasonic signals and said second ultrasonic signals and to determine the presence of errors in said calculations of arrival times by comparing a set of diagnostics to a set of values to establish the presence of deviation by said set of diagnostics from said set of values, said electronics correcting for said errors if they exist. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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Specification