Multiphase Flow Meter Horizontal Stratification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing multiphase flow meters face challenges in accurately measuring water holdup and flow rates in horizontal or downwardly inclined pipes due to unpredictable phase distribution and velocity slippage, leading to errors and increased installation costs.
Innovation Solution
The development of multiphase flow meters with sensors, such as electrical impedance, differential pressure, and ultrasonic sensors, aligned with the flow path, and a flow conduit with conditioning features like sloped walls and inserts to facilitate stratification of gas and liquid layers, allowing for accurate measurement of water holdup and flow rates without modifying the flow orientation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If vertical pipes are used to direct horizontal flow to vertically mounted flow meters, then measurement capability is improved, but device complexity and installation cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of mounting flow meters vertically to achieve proper phase distribution, the patent inverts the approach by mounting flow meters horizontally and using flow conditioners to create the necessary vertical phase separation within the horizontal meter body. This eliminates the need for vertical piping while maintaining measurement capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a flow conditioner as an intermediary component between the horizontal pipe and the flow meter sensors. This flow conditioner creates the necessary phase distribution and velocity profiles, allowing accurate measurement in horizontal orientation without requiring vertical pipes or complex installation modifications.
2Ease of operation
If flow meters are mounted in horizontal pipes, then installation simplicity is improved, but measurement accuracy deteriorates due to unpredictable phase distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The flow conditioner acts as an intermediary that transforms the horizontal flow into a stratified flow pattern with predictable phase distribution. This allows the flow meter to maintain high measurement accuracy while remaining installed in horizontal piping, combining the benefits of both approaches.
Solution Approach 2:
The flow conditioner modifies flow parameters such as velocity distribution and phase arrangement by creating a controlled stratified flow pattern. This parameter transformation enables accurate measurement in horizontal orientation by ensuring predictable phase distribution at the sensor location.
3Measurement precision
If multiple sensor types are combined to measure stratified flow, then measurement comprehensiveness is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple sensor types (ultrasonic, electrical impedance, differential pressure) into a single integrated flow meter assembly. This merging approach maintains comprehensive measurement capability while reducing overall system complexity by consolidating sensors into one unit rather than requiring separate measurement devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The flow meter is designed with multi-functional sensors that can measure multiple flow parameters (gas velocity, liquid velocity, phase distribution) simultaneously. This universality allows comprehensive measurement of stratified flow characteristics while avoiding the need for multiple specialized sensor systems.
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
These flow meters effectively capture data for stratified flows in horizontal or downwardly inclined configurations, improving measurement accuracy and reducing installation costs by eliminating the need for additional piping, while enhancing stratification and data analysis.
Implementation Method 1
The example apparatus includes one or more sensors coupled to the flow channel to generate data indicative of a property of the multiphase fluid
Implementation Method 2
an ultrasonic gas flow meter may be used to measure flow characteristics of the gas phase at an upper portion of a flow pipe and ultrasonic Doppler sensors may be used to measure flow characteristics of the liquid phase
Implementation Method 3
ultrasonic Doppler sensors may be used to measure flow characteristics of the liquid phase
Implementation Method 4
The example apparatus includes one or more sensors coupled to the flow channel to generate data indicative of a property of the multiphase fluid
Implementation Method 5
The flow channel has a cross-sectional shape different from a cross-sectional shape of the tubing
Data Source
AI summary
Example multiphase fluid meters and related methods are disclosed herein. An example apparatus includes a fluid conduit coupled to tubing. A multiphase fluid is to flow from the tubing into the fluid conduit. The example apparatus includes a flow channel defined in the fluid conduit. The fluid is to flow through the flow channel. The flow channel has a cross-sectional shape different from a cross-sectional shape of the tubing. The example apparatus includes one or more sensors coupled to the flow channel to generate data indicative of a property of the multiphase fluid.