Adjustable Cone Meter with Symmetrical Sleeve for Flow Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current fluid flow meter technologies, such as differential pressure flow meters, face challenges in accurately measuring flow rates and densities of fluids in oil and gas production lines, particularly in situations with varying flow rates and complex fluid mixtures, leading to instability and inaccuracies in measurements.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a flow displacement apparatus with multiple slidable sleeves that fully encapsulate a fluid displacement member, such as a cone meter, allows for precise measurement of differential pressures at various positions, enabling the calculation of flow rates and phase fractions by using equations like Qm=C1-β4επ4(Dβ)22Δpρf and PLR=(P1-P3)(P1-P2), which stabilize fluid flow and account for changes in inner diameters and pressure ratios.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If differential pressure flow meters are used to measure fluid flow in production lines, then flow rate measurement is enabled, but measurement accuracy deteriorates under varying flow rates and complex fluid mixtures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a movable cone position mechanism where the cone can be adjusted along the flow path to different positions. This dynamic adjustment allows the meter to adapt to varying flow rates and fluid compositions, maintaining measurement accuracy across different operating conditions by optimizing the cone's position relative to the flow stream.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes geometric parameters by varying the cone angle and position within the flow path. By adjusting these parameters, the meter can accommodate different fluid mixtures and flow rates, resolving the contradiction between maintaining precise measurements and adapting to diverse flow conditions.
2Measurement precision
If a cone meter is disposed within a pipe to measure differential pressure, then fluid flow rate calculation is enabled, but flow stability deteriorates due to disturbances
Solution Approach 1:
The movable cone mechanism allows dynamic positioning to optimize flow stability. By adjusting the cone's position, the system can minimize flow disturbances while maintaining accurate differential pressure measurements, thus resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and flow stability.
3Measurement precision
If multiple measurement positions are used to calculate flow rates and phase fractions, then measurement accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The movable cone mechanism serves multiple functions: it enables differential pressure measurement, provides flow straightening, and allows positioning at multiple measurement points. This single dynamic component replaces what would otherwise require multiple separate measurement devices, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining high measurement accuracy for both flow rate and phase fraction calculations.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach provides accurate and stable measurements of fluid flow rates and densities, even in mixed-phase fluids, by minimizing disturbances and stabilizing flow regimes, thus enhancing the reliability of fluid flow monitoring in oil and gas production systems.
Implementation Method 1
a differential pressure flow meter is one type of fluid flow meter which operates based upon the Bernoulli principle, which teaches that an increase in speed of a fluid occurs concurrently with a decrease in fluid pressure
Implementation Method 2
Differential pressure flow meters, such as V-cone meters, measure the differential pressure caused in a fluid as the fluid is forced to flow around an obstacle, like a cone disposed within a pipe
Data Source
AI summary
A method for determining flow rates and phase fractions within a throughbore is disclosed. The method includes providing a mixture of one or more fluids through a fluid flow path in a throughbore at a flow rate, reducing the flow rate, slidably moving a first and second sleeve along the throughbore to a first position of a plurality of positions, measuring a first and second differential pressure at the first position, calculating a first loss pressure ratio from the first and second differential pressure. The method further includes slidably moving the first sleeve and second sleeve to each of the others of the plurality of positions in succession after the first position, measuring a plurality of differential pressures and calculating a loss pressure ratio at each of the plurality of positions, and calculating a plurality of flow rates phase fractions of the fluids flowing through the fluid flow path.