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Systems, methods and apparatus for analysis of multiphase fluid mixture in pipelines

  • US 9,689,802 B2
  • Filed: 06/29/2012
  • Issued: 06/27/2017
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2012
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. An apparatus to measure water content and pH of a flowing multiphase fluid mixture of water and oil, the apparatus comprising:

  • a first enclosure and a second enclosure spaced apart with a spacer to define a flow passage, wherein each of the enclosures are sealed and include a cavity;

    a first layer of an oleophobic coating applied to external surfaces of the first enclosure, the second enclosure and the spacer;

    the flow passage having an inlet and an outlet for the continuous passage of the flowing multiphase fluid mixture in through the inlet and out through the outlet of the flow passage;

    a water content sensor comprising an infrared light source arranged in said second enclosure and at least one photodetector arranged in said first enclosure on opposite sides of the flow passage such that light from the light source is passable through the second enclosure, through the flowing multiphase mixture in the flow passage, and through said first enclosure and is detectable by the photodetector, the photodetector arranged to convert the detected light from the light source to an electrical output indicative of the water content of the multiphase fluid mixture,a pH sensor comprising;

    a wearable oleophobic coating applied to at least a portion of said first layer of said oleophobic coating in said flow passage defined by said first enclosure, wherein said wearable oleophobic coating contains halochromic pH indicator particles that exhibit a color change indicative of a pH level of the water and said first layer of said oleophobic coating does not include said pH indicator particles, wherein a portion of said pH indicator particles are exposed to water and a portion of said pH particles are fully encapsulated by said wearable oleophobic coating, the wearable oleophobic coating being in direct contact with the flowing multiphase fluid mixture, and said wearable oleophobic coating provides continuous operation of said pH sensor,a porous, polytetrafluoroethylene mesh barrier overlying the wearable oleophobic coating and in direct contact with the flowing multiphase fluid mixture, wherein said porous mesh barrier is permeable to the water and is less permeable to the crude oil than the water, andan image recording device arranged in the first enclosure to record the color change of the pH indicator.

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