Multi-phase coriolis flowmeter

• US 8,117,921 B2
• Filed: 03/10/2010
• Issued: 02/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Schneider Electric Systems USA, Inc. (Schneider Electric SE)
• Original Assignee: Invensys Systems Incorporated (Invensys PLC)
• Inventors: Tombs, Michael S., Henry, Manus P., Duta, Mihaela D., Lansangan, Robbie, Dutton, Robert E., Mattar, Wade M.
• Primary Examiner(s): THOMPSON, JEWEL VERGIE
• Application Number:
  US12/721,200
• Publication Number:
  US 20110016988A1
• Time in Patent Office: 713 Days
• Field of Search: 738/613.55, 738/613.56, 738/613.57
• US Class Current: 73/861.356
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/74 Devices for measuring flow of a fluid or flow of a fluent solid material in suspension in another fluid
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/8431 electronic circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/8436 signal processing
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/8486 with multiple measuring conduits
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/849 having straight measuring conduits
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 15/022 using electrical means
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 15/024 involving digital counting
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 25/10 of flowmeters

Abstract

A flowmeter is disclosed. The flowmeter includes a vibratable flowtube, and a driver connected to the flowtube that is operable to impart motion to the flowtube. A sensor is connected to the flowtube and is operable to sense the motion of the flowtube and generate a sensor signal. A controller is connected to receive the sensor signal. The controller is operable to determine an individual flow rate of each phase within a multi-phase flow through the flowtube.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a liquid fraction probe configured to measure a liquid fraction of a flow of fluid that includes a first liquid, a second liquid, and a gas;

a vibratable flowtube configured to receive the flow of fluid;

a driver connected to the flowtube and operable to impart motion to the flowtube;

a sensor connected to the flowtube and operable to sense the motion of the flowtube and generate a sensor signal; and

one or more processing devices connected to access the sensor signal and to access the measured liquid fraction, the one or more processing devices being configured to determine a corrected liquid fraction based on the sensor signal and the measured liquid fraction.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the one or more processing devices are configured to determine, based on the sensor signal, a mass flow rate of the flow of fluid and a density of the fluid.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the one or more processing devices are configured to determine the corrected liquid fraction based on the mass flow rate and the density.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the mass flow rate is an apparent mass flow rate and the density is an apparent density, the one or more processing devices being configured to determine a corrected mass flow rate and a corrected density based on the corrected liquid fraction, the apparent density, and the apparent mass flow rate.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the one or more processing devices are configured to determine a gas void fraction of the flow of fluid based on the apparent density, the apparent mass flow rate, and the measured liquid fraction;

wherein the one or more processing devices are configured to determine the corrected liquid fraction based on the gas void fraction.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the liquid fraction probe is a water cut probe and the measured liquid fraction is a measured water cut, and

wherein the one or more processing devices are configured to determine a corrected water cut.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the first liquid is water and the second liquid is oil.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the one or more processing devices are configured to estimate the corrected liquid fraction based on known configurations and flow parameters.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the one or more processing devices are configured to determine the corrected liquid fraction using a neural net correction model.

10. The system of claim 1 further comprising a sensor configured to measure a temperature of the flow of fluid or a pressure of the flow of fluid;

wherein the one or more processing devices are configured to determine the corrected liquid fraction based on the measured temperature or the measured pressure.

11. A method comprising:

measuring a liquid fraction of a flow of fluid that includes a first liquid, a second liquid, and a gas;

passing the flow of fluid through a vibratable flowtube;

imparting motion to the flowtube;

generating a signal based on motion of the flowtube; and

determining a corrected liquid fraction of the flow of fluid based on the measured liquid fraction and the signal.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising determining, based on the signal, a mass flow rate of the flow of fluid and a density of the fluid.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein determining a corrected liquid fraction of the flow of fluid comprises determining the corrected liquid fraction of the flow of fluid based on the mass flow rate and the density.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the mass flow rate is an apparent mass flow rate and the density is an apparent density,

wherein the method further comprises determining a corrected mass flow rate and a corrected density based on the corrected liquid fraction, the apparent density, and the apparent mass flow rate.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising determining a gas void fraction of the flow of fluid based on the apparent density, the apparent mass flow rate, and the measured liquid fraction;

wherein determining a corrected liquid fraction of the flow of fluid comprises determining a corrected liquid fraction of the flow of fluid based on the gas void fraction.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein measuring a liquid fraction comprises measuring an apparent water cut of the flow of fluid using a water cut probe, and wherein determining a corrected liquid fraction of the flow of fluid comprises determining a corrected water cut of the flow of fluid.

17. The method of claim 11 wherein the first liquid is water and the second liquid is oil.

18. The method of claim 11 wherein determining a corrected liquid fraction of the flow of fluid comprises estimating the corrected liquid fraction based on known configurations and flow parameters.

19. The method of claim 11 wherein determining a corrected liquid fraction of the flow of fluid comprises determining the corrected liquid fraction using a neural net correction model.

20. The method of claim 11 further comprising measuring a temperature of the flow of fluid or a pressure of the flow of fluid;

wherein determining a corrected liquid fraction of the flow of fluid comprises determining the corrected liquid fraction based on the measured temperature or the measured pressure.