Movable Orifice Sleeve for Wide-Range Flow Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional flow meters in the oil and gas industry face challenges in accurately measuring fluid flow rates across a wide range due to their limited calibration range, requiring component replacement and pipeline pressure bleeds, which is time-consuming, costly, and poses safety risks, and struggle with accurately monitoring the position of orifice sleeves, leading to inaccurate flow rate calculations.
Innovation Solution
A flow measurement apparatus with a movable annular sleeve that adjusts its position within the fluid flow path to change the beta ratio, allowing for accurate measurement of varying flow rates without the need to remove and replace components, using a mechanism with a rack section and gear pinion for axial movement and sensors for precise position feedback, enabling real-time beta ratio calculation and accurate flow rate determination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If component replacement is used to change flow rate measurement range, then measurement range adaptability is improved, but system downtime and safety risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a movable orifice plate mechanism that can dynamically adjust the beta ratio by translating the orifice plate axially between multiple positions. This dynamic adjustment allows the flow meter to adapt to different flow rate ranges without requiring component replacement or system shutdown, directly resolving the contradiction between measurement range adaptability and system downtime.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system automatically selects and adjusts the appropriate beta ratio based on real-time flow conditions, eliminating the need for manual intervention or system shutdown. The system serves itself by autonomously adapting to varying flow rate requirements, thus avoiding downtime and maintaining continuous operation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If component replacement is used to change flow rate measurement range, then measurement range adaptability is improved, but safety risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The dynamic orifice plate mechanism allows continuous adjustment of the beta ratio while the system remains pressurized and operational. This eliminates the need to bleed off pipeline pressure or release flammable and toxic fluids, directly addressing the safety risks associated with component replacement in live pipelines.
3Device complexity
If orifice sleeve position is not monitored, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates position sensors (such as LVDTs or magnetic sensors) that provide real-time feedback on the orifice plate position to the control system. This feedback mechanism ensures accurate knowledge of the beta ratio at all times, enabling precise flow rate measurements while maintaining a relatively simple overall system architecture through automated control.
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 robust, reliable, and efficient measurement of fluid flow rates across a wide range without the need for pipeline pressure bleeds, improving accuracy and reducing downtime and safety risks by allowing quick adjustment of the beta ratio and precise position monitoring of the sleeve.
Implementation Method 1
One particular type of flow meter is a differential pressure flow meter which relies on the Bernoulli principle. The Bernoulli principle states that an increase in the speed of a fluid occurs simultaneously with a decrease in the pressure of the fluid.
Implementation Method 2
The annular sleeve comprises a rack section and the meter body comprises a gear pinion configured to engage the rack section to move the annular sleeve axially within the fluid flow path
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2A~2C
Figure 2D~2F
AI summary
The invention provides an apparatus and method for measuring fluid flow rates. The apparatus comprises a meter body comprising a throughbore with a fluid flow path and a flow displacement member. The apparatus also provides a sleeve slidably mounted within the fluid flow path. The sleeve is configured to be movable between at least two axial positions within the fluid flow path to select a predetermined flow rate measurement range for the flow measurement apparatus.