Sonic detection of flow state change for measurement stations
First Claim
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1. A method for audibly detecting a fluid flow state change in a flow meter pipeline comprising:
- placing at least one acoustic sensor in the pipeline coupled to the flow meter;
collecting audible data from a flowing fluid in the pipeline using the acoustic sensor;
detecting a flow state change in the flowing fluid by comparing audible data from a first flowing fluid pattern to audible data from a second flowing fluid pattern;
indicating the flow state change between the first flowing fluid pattern and the second flowing fluid pattern using a computer to correct the measurement of the flow meter based on the flow state change.
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Abstract
A method for audibly detecting a fluid flow state change in a flow meter pipeline. The flow state change may be identified as an upset in the normal flow state. The upset may be corrected to improve the accuracy of the flow meter. A system includes acoustic sensors mounted in the flow meter pipeline, and a computer to collect audible data from the acoustic sensors and compare the audible data to a baseline to detect an upset in the normal fluid flow state.
31 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method for audibly detecting a fluid flow state change in a flow meter pipeline comprising:
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placing at least one acoustic sensor in the pipeline coupled to the flow meter; collecting audible data from a flowing fluid in the pipeline using the acoustic sensor; detecting a flow state change in the flowing fluid by comparing audible data from a first flowing fluid pattern to audible data from a second flowing fluid pattern; indicating the flow state change between the first flowing fluid pattern and the second flowing fluid pattern using a computer to correct the measurement of the flow meter based on the flow state change. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for audibly detecting a fluid flow state change in a flow meter measurement station comprising:
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placing at least one acoustic sensor in a pipeline of the flow meter measurement station; recording a baseline audible pattern of a flowing fluid with the acoustic sensor by flowing a controlled fluid through the flow meter measurement station under ideal conditions; recording a real time audible pattern of the flowing fluid with the acoustic sensor by flowing a fluid through the flow meter measurement station under normal conditions; comparing the baseline audible pattern to the real time audible pattern; detecting a difference between the baseline audible pattern and the real time audible pattern to identify a flow state change; indicating the flow state change of the flowing fluid using a computer to correct the measurement of the flow meter based on the flow state change. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A system for improving the accuracy of a flow meter by audibly detecting a flow state change comprising:
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at least one acoustic sensor mounted on a flow meter skid; and a computer coupled to the acoustic sensor and adapted to collect audible fluid flow data from the acoustic sensor and compare the audible fluid flow data to a pre-determined baseline to detect the flow state change; wherein the computer is further adapted to correct a measurement of the flow meter using the flow state change. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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Specification