Optical multiphase flowmeter
First Claim
1. An apparatus for measuring flow of a fluid mixture in a conduit, comprising:
- at least one light source for transmitting light into the fluid mixture;
first and second optical sensors disposed along the conduit and configured to detect light interactions with the fluid mixture, wherein the first optical sensor is separated by a distance in a direction of flow through the conduit from the second optical sensor, wherein the light interactions detected by the optical sensors are a measure of reflectance of the light transmitted into the fluid mixture, and wherein the light source is on a same side of the conduit as the first and second optical sensors; and
a processor coupled to receive first and second time-varying signals of the light interactions from the first and second optical sensors, respectively, wherein the processor is configured with logic to determine phase velocity of at least one phase within the fluid mixture.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Method and apparatus enable direct measurement of at least one flow velocity for one or more phases within a multiphase fluid mixture flowing in a conduit. Some embodiments provide determination of actual individual phase flow rates for three phases (e.g., oil, water and gas) that are distinct from one another within the fluid mixture. A multiphase flowmeter according to embodiments of the invention includes at least two optical sensors spatially distributed along a length of the conduit and designed to detect light interactions with the fluid mixture unique to the phases such that detected time-varying signals can be processed via cross-correlation or an array processing algorithm to provide desired individual phase flow velocity for oil, water and/or gas phases. This flow velocity can be applied to phase fraction measurements, which can be obtained utilizing the same flowmeter or another separate device, to calculate the flow rates for the phases.
36 Citations
18 Claims
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1. An apparatus for measuring flow of a fluid mixture in a conduit, comprising:
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at least one light source for transmitting light into the fluid mixture; first and second optical sensors disposed along the conduit and configured to detect light interactions with the fluid mixture, wherein the first optical sensor is separated by a distance in a direction of flow through the conduit from the second optical sensor, wherein the light interactions detected by the optical sensors are a measure of reflectance of the light transmitted into the fluid mixture, and wherein the light source is on a same side of the conduit as the first and second optical sensors; and a processor coupled to receive first and second time-varying signals of the light interactions from the first and second optical sensors, respectively, wherein the processor is configured with logic to determine phase velocity of at least one phase within the fluid mixture. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of measuring flow of a fluid mixture in a conduit, comprising:
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transmitting light into the fluid mixture; detecting light interactions with the fluid mixture at first and second locations along the conduit, wherein the first location is separated by a distance in a direction of flow through the conduit from the second location, wherein the light is transmitted into the fluid mixture on a same side of the conduit as the first and second locations, and wherein the light interactions detected at the first and second locations are a measure of reflectance of the light transmitted into the fluid mixture; and processing first and second time-varying signals of the light interactions detected at the first and second locations, respectively, wherein the processing determines phase velocity of at least one phase within the fluid mixture. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of measuring flow of a fluid mixture in a conduit, comprising:
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transmitting light into the fluid mixture; measuring light interactions at first and second locations along the conduit to detect a time delay in interactions detected at the first location and then the second, wherein the light is transmitted into the fluid mixture on a same side of the conduit as the first and second locations and wherein the light interactions detected are a measure of reflectance of light transmitted into the fluid mixture; and calculating a velocity of flow within the fluid mixture based on the time delay. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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Specification