Flow meter performance monitoring system
First Claim
1. A system for continuously monitoring performance of a fluid flow measurement device, the system comprising:
- a differential pressure (dP) sensor to measure a differential pressure across a gas flow meter of a rotary type, the differential pressure sensor having a first input port to be in continuous uninterruptible fluid communication with an inlet of the gas flow meter and a second input port to be in continuous uninterruptible fluid communication with an outlet of the gas flow meter;
a first plurality of memory locations containing baseline dP characteristic information for the gas flow meter; and
a second plurality of memory locations containing instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations to;
(a) determine a flow rate of a fluid through the gas flow meter when the differential pressure was measured;
(b) determine whether the measured differential pressure exceeds a threshold differential pressure above the baseline dP characteristic information at the determined flow rate; and
(c) generate an electronic message to communicate a condition of the gas flow meter based upon a result of the operation (b).
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus and associated systems, methods and computer program products relate to monitoring the performance of an operating gas meter by automatic and substantially continuous differential pressure (dP) measurement. Measured dP may be compared against a baseline dP characteristic to determine if the measured dP exceeds a threshold value above a baseline dP characteristic. If the threshold is exceeded, then the system may generate a signal to request repair or replacement of the meter. After installation, some embodiments collect dP data over time and/or over a range of flow rates to automatically learn a baseline dP characteristic under installation conditions. A system may switch from a default baseline dP characteristic to a learned baseline dP characteristic. Some embodiments may further correct volume or flow rate signals for line pressure and/or temperature. Further embodiments provide a passive apparatus to protect a dP sensor against transients in line pressure and/or differential pressure.
29 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A system for continuously monitoring performance of a fluid flow measurement device, the system comprising:
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a differential pressure (dP) sensor to measure a differential pressure across a gas flow meter of a rotary type, the differential pressure sensor having a first input port to be in continuous uninterruptible fluid communication with an inlet of the gas flow meter and a second input port to be in continuous uninterruptible fluid communication with an outlet of the gas flow meter; a first plurality of memory locations containing baseline dP characteristic information for the gas flow meter; and a second plurality of memory locations containing instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations to; (a) determine a flow rate of a fluid through the gas flow meter when the differential pressure was measured; (b) determine whether the measured differential pressure exceeds a threshold differential pressure above the baseline dP characteristic information at the determined flow rate; and (c) generate an electronic message to communicate a condition of the gas flow meter based upon a result of the operation (b). - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification