Composite Inductive-Capacitive Sensors for Phase Quantification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for analyzing multiphase production fluids, particularly in the oil and gas industry, face challenges in accurately detecting and quantifying the phases of oil, water, and gas within the fluid flow, which is crucial for efficient production and processing.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a fluidic separation chamber with vertically spaced composite sensing modules, each equipped with inductive and capacitive sensors, and a fluidic supply and analysis unit that communicates with these sensors to detect and convert the heights of water, oil, and gas phase columns into phase volume fraction and flow rate data, using wireless or wired communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional sensing methods are used for multiphase fluid analysis, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates due to inability to accurately detect and quantify oil, water, and gas phases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines inductive sensing elements and capacitive sensing elements into a single composite sensing module. The inductive elements detect conductive phases (water) while capacitive elements detect all phases (oil, water, gas), and their signals are integrated to provide comprehensive multiphase characterization. This merging approach achieves accurate phase detection without proportionally increasing device complexity.
2Measurement precision
If multiple sensing elements are used to detect different fluid phases, then measurement precision improves, but device complexity increases due to multiple sensors required
Solution Approach 1:
The capacitive sensing elements serve multiple functions: they detect the presence of all fluid phases (conductive and non-conductive), measure phase heights, and provide data for volume fraction calculations. The inductive elements specifically target conductive phases. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate specialized sensors for each phase type.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges inductive and capacitive sensing capabilities into composite modules that are vertically spaced within the separation chamber. Each composite module contains both types of sensing elements working together, allowing simultaneous detection of different phase characteristics with a unified sensor architecture rather than separate sensor systems.
3Measurement precision
If vertically spaced sensing modules are used to detect phase column heights, then measurement precision improves, but device complexity increases due to multiple vertically distributed sensors
Solution Approach 1:
The sensing system is segmented into multiple composite modules positioned at different vertical locations within the separation chamber. Each module independently measures phase heights at its specific elevation, and these measurements are integrated to provide complete phase distribution information. This segmentation allows precise height detection without requiring a single complex continuous sensing system.
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
Enables precise detection and quantification of multiphase fluid components, facilitating improved production fluid management and processing efficiency by providing accurate phase volume fraction and flow rate data.
Implementation Method 1
an inductive sensor comprising opposing inductive sensing elements displaced from one another across a vertically extending measurement portion of the fluidic separation chamber
Implementation Method 2
a capacitive sensor comprising opposing capacitive sensing elements displaced from one another across the vertically extending measurement portion of the fluidic separation chamber
Implementation Method 3
The mechanized composite sensing module comprises an inductive sensor and a capacitive sensor and is translatable along a vertically extending measurement portion of the fluidic separation chamber
Data Source
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AI summary
Systems and components thereof are provided for analyzing multiphase production fluids. The system comprises a fluidic separation chamber, a fluidic separation chamber valve, fluidic piping configured to supply multiphase production fluid to the fluidic separation chamber through the fluidic separation chamber valve, a plurality of composite sensing modules vertically spaced within the fluidic separation chamber, and a fluidic supply and analysis unit. Each of the sensing modules comprising an inductive sensor comprising opposing inductive sensing elements displaced from one another across a vertically extending measurement portion of the fluidic separation chamber, and a capacitive sensor comprising opposing capacitive sensing elements displaced from one another across the vertically extending measurement portion of the fluidic separation chamber. The capacitive sensor of each of the plurality of composite sensing modules to detect a height HO of an oil phase column in the multiphase production fluid in the fluidic separation chamber.