Integral Vane Flow Conditioner for Pipeline Measurement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing flow conditioners in oil and gas pipelines face challenges in maintaining accurate and repeatable fluid flow measurements due to distorted flow profiles caused by piping features like elbows and tees, leading to vane failure under extreme forces.

Innovation Solution

A flow conditioner with integral vanes machined from the same material as the conditioner, which follow the hole layout and reduce fluid swirl without separate attachment, ensuring stability and compatibility with existing piping.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If vanes are welded onto a flow conditioner plate, then the flow conditioner can be assembled, but the vanes fail under extreme pipeline forces and may damage the pipeline and downstream flow meter

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of assemblyVSAvoidvane durability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The vane and flow conditioner plate are merged into a single integral structure, eliminating the welded joint between separate components. This integration ensures that the vane becomes an inherent part of the plate, capable of withstanding extreme pipeline forces without detachment or failure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Measurement precision

If long lengths of straight pipe are used upstream of the meter, then a fully developed flow profile forms naturally, but this is impractical and cost prohibitive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflow measurement accuracyVSAvoidpipe length

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The flow conditioner with integral vanes is installed upstream of the flow meter to preliminarily condition the flow profile before measurement. The vanes actively redistribute the fluid flow and eliminate swirl, creating a fully developed flow profile in a compact space, thus achieving accurate measurement conditions without requiring long straight pipe sections.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Measurement precision

If flow conditioners with separate vanes are used, then flow profile correction is achieved, but the vanes are significantly damaged or broken into pieces under extreme forces

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflow measurement accuracyVSAvoidvane structural strength

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 solution achieves stable, fully developed flow profiles, enhancing measurement accuracy and durability by integrating vanes within the conditioner, preventing damage from pipeline forces.

Implementation Method 1

The perforations or holes in the flow conditioner cause the fluid flow to be redistributed such that it forms a fully developed flow profile.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluid flow redistribution:

Implementation Method 2

The at least one integral vane reduces fluid swirl entering and/or leaving the flow conditioner

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluid swirl reduction:

Data Source

PatentUS9334886B2Flow conditioner with integral vanes

Publication Date: 2016.05.10 CANADA PIPELINE ACCESSORIES

AI summary

A flow conditioner includes a single disk comprising an array of holes and at least one integral vane, for example a plurality of integral vanes. The at least one integral vane is machined out of the same material as the flow conditioner and is not attached to the flow conditioner via a weld connection or adhesive.