Adjustable Venturi Flowmeter With Variable-GOR Throat Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Selecting an optimal throat size for a Venturi flowmeter in wellbore applications is challenging due to varying fluid compositions with high or low Gas-Oil ratios, leading to inaccurate differential pressure measurements.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable Venturi flowmeter with a mechanism that allows for dynamic adjustment of the throat diameter using movable walls and adjustment beams, controlled by a hand wheel or actuator, to maintain accurate flow rate measurements across varying fluid compositions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stress or pressure
If an undersized throat size is selected for high GOR fluids, then the flow restriction is sufficient, but the differential pressure exceeds the maximum operational pressure envelope
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by replacing the fixed throat size with an adjustable mechanism that allows the throat diameter to be dynamically changed. The flowmeter includes a mechanism with movable walls that can adjust the throat diameter based on the actual GOR of the fluid being measured, enabling the device to adapt to varying pressure requirements for different fluid compositions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements parameter changes by allowing the throat diameter parameter to be modified based on the fluid's GOR. The adjustment mechanism enables changing the geometric parameter (throat diameter) to optimize the differential pressure reading for different fluid compositions, thereby resolving the contradiction between pressure management and adaptability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If an oversized throat size is selected for low GOR fluids, then the flow restriction is minimal, but the differential pressure falls below the operational pressure range
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustable mechanism allows the throat diameter to be dynamically modified to match the specific GOR conditions. For low GOR fluids, the throat can be reduced in size to generate sufficient differential pressure within the operational range, ensuring accurate measurements while maintaining adaptability to different fluid compositions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the throat diameter parameter based on the fluid properties. By adjusting this geometric parameter, the system optimizes the differential pressure generation for low GOR fluids, ensuring measurements remain within the operational pressure range and maintain precision.
3Device complexity
If a fixed throat size is used, then the device structure is simple, but accurate measurements cannot be obtained when fluid composition changes over time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a dynamic adjustment mechanism that allows the throat diameter to be changed based on fluid composition variations. This dynamic capability enables accurate flow rate measurements across different GOR conditions, accepting increased structural complexity as necessary to maintain measurement precision over time.
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustable mechanism provides multi-functionality, allowing the same flowmeter to accurately measure different fluid compositions by modifying the throat diameter. This universal design enables a single device to handle varying GOR conditions that would otherwise require multiple fixed-size flowmeters.
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
The adjustable mechanism ensures accurate flow rate measurements by dynamically adjusting the throat diameter to match the current fluid composition, thereby maintaining optimal pressure differentials for precise flow rate determination.
Implementation Method 1
each movable wall defining a threaded section on a first lateral end thereof, a plurality of adjustment beams, each adjustment beam being rotatably supported on a second lateral end of a respective one of the movable walls, and each adjustment beam including threads thereon engaged with the threaded section of an adjacent one of the plurality of movable walls
Implementation Method 2
A Venturi flowmeter generally includes an inlet, an outlet and a chamber defining a flow path between the inlet and the outlet. A converging throat is defined in the chamber that restricts flow and thereby increases a velocity of the flow through the chamber. One or more sensors measure a pressure difference between the restricted and unrestricted flow
Data Source
AI summary
A flowmeter includes an inlet for receiving a wellbore fluid therein, an outlet for discharging the wellbore fluid and a stationary interior wall extending between the inlet and the outlet. A plurality of movable walls within the stationary interior wall defines a flow path therethrough. Each movable wall defines a threaded section on a first lateral end and rotatably supports an adjustment beam on a second lateral end. The adjustment beams include threads engaged with the threaded section of an adjacent movable wall. An actuator is operably coupled to an adjustment beam to rotate the adjustment beam and thereby drive the second lateral sides of the movable walls along the threaded sections of adjacent movable walls and adjust a diameter of the flow path. A sensor is operable to detect a parameter indicative of the pressures of the wellbore fluid from which a flowrate of the wellbore fluid may be determined.