Correcting for two-phase flow in a digital flowmeter
First Claim
1. A flow measurement system comprising:
- an input module operable to receive an analog sensor signal from a sensor connected to a vibratable flowtube, the analog sensor signal related to a process fluid through the flowtube, wherein the process fluid includes a liquid medium and a gas;
a signal processing system operable to determine sensor signal characteristics from a digitized version of the sensor signal, and further operable to determine drive signal characteristics for a drive signal to be applied to the flowtube such that a drive phase of the drive signal substantially matches a sensor phase of the analog sensor signal;
a measurement system operable to determine a property of the process fluid, based on the sensor signal characteristics;
an output module operable to output the drive signal to the flowtube to maintain an oscillation of the flowtube while the process fluid is contained therein; and
a correction system that is operable to receive the property from the measurement system and determine a corrected property that takes into account an adverse effect of the gas in the determining of the property by the measurement system.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A flowmeter is disclosed. The flowmeter includes a vibratable conduit, and a driver connected to the conduit that is operable to impart motion to the conduit. A sensor is connected to the conduit and is operable to sense the motion of the conduit and generate a sensor signal. A controller is connected to receive the sensor signal. The controller is operable to detect a single-phase flow condition and process the sensor signal using a first process during the single-phase flow condition to generate a validated mass-flow measurement. The controller is also operable to detect a two-phase flow condition and process the sensor signal using a second process during the two-phase flow condition to generate the validated mass-flow measurement.
127 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A flow measurement system comprising:
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an input module operable to receive an analog sensor signal from a sensor connected to a vibratable flowtube, the analog sensor signal related to a process fluid through the flowtube, wherein the process fluid includes a liquid medium and a gas;
a signal processing system operable to determine sensor signal characteristics from a digitized version of the sensor signal, and further operable to determine drive signal characteristics for a drive signal to be applied to the flowtube such that a drive phase of the drive signal substantially matches a sensor phase of the analog sensor signal;
a measurement system operable to determine a property of the process fluid, based on the sensor signal characteristics;
an output module operable to output the drive signal to the flowtube to maintain an oscillation of the flowtube while the process fluid is contained therein; and
a correction system that is operable to receive the property from the measurement system and determine a corrected property that takes into account an adverse effect of the gas in the determining of the property by the measurement system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method comprising:
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receiving a sensor signal from a sensor that is connected to an oscillating flowtube, the flowtube containing a fluid flow, the fluid flow including at least a first fluid phase and a second fluid phase;
determining an apparent property of the fluid flow, based on the sensor signal;
determining a drive phase of a drive signal such that the drive phase is substantially equivalent to a sensor phase of the sensor signal, to thereby account for a phase delay associated with digital components that are associated with processing of the sensor signal or the drive signal;
maintaining oscillation of the flowtube containing the fluid flow by applying the drive signal to the flowtube;
receiving the apparent property at an error correction system; and
correcting the apparent property to obtain a corrected property. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A system for measuring properties of a fluid flow, comprising:
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a vibratable conduit containing a fluid flow, the fluid flow including a multi-phase flow that includes a liquid medium and a gas;
a driver connected to the conduit and operable to output a drive signal to the conduit to thereby impart motion to the conduit;
a sensor connected to the conduit and operable to sense a motion of the conduit and output an analog sensor signal, a flowmeter controller operable to analyze a digital sensor signal obtained from the analog sensor signal to determine an apparent flow condition of the multi-phase flow, and further operable to adjust a drive phase of the drive signal to substantially match a phase of the analog sensor signal, wherein the flowmeter controller is operable to control the driver to output the drive signal having the drive phase to the conduit, to thereby maintain an oscillation of the conduit during the multi-phase flow; and
an error correction module that is operable to receive the apparent flow condition and generate a corrected flow condition. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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Specification