Multiphase Flowmeter Using Ultrasound and Permittivity Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flowmeters only determine the velocity of a medium containing water, oil, and gas phases, failing to distinguish between these phases or determine their properties.
Innovation Solution
The flowmeter incorporates a controller that distinguishes between water and oil using reflection energy and between gas using permittivity, with an ultrasonic transducer and permittivity sensor immersed in the medium to determine velocity, reflection energy, and permittivity, allowing phase differentiation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If only ultrasonic transducer is used to measure velocity, then the device complexity is low, but the measurement precision is insufficient for phase differentiation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines ultrasonic transducer, permittivity sensor, and temperature sensor into an integrated multi-functional measuring probe. This merging of multiple sensing functions into a single device enables phase differentiation through multiple measurement parameters (velocity, permittivity, temperature) while maintaining practical device complexity at an acceptable level.
Solution Approach 2:
The measuring probe is designed as a universal device that can simultaneously perform velocity measurement via ultrasonic transducer, permittivity measurement via permittivity sensor, and temperature measurement via temperature sensor. This multi-functionality allows the system to differentiate between water, oil, and gas phases using multiple physical properties.
2Measurement precision
If multiple sensors are added for phase differentiation, then the measurement precision improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical or chemical analysis systems with electronic sensing and signal processing. The controller uses electronic evaluation of ultrasonic signals, permittivity measurements, and temperature data to automatically differentiate phases, substituting what would otherwise require complex physical or chemical testing equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The system differentiates phases by measuring and comparing multiple physical parameters (velocity, permittivity, temperature) simultaneously. The controller evaluates combinations of these parameters to identify phase composition, using parameter changes and relationships to distinguish between water, oil, and gas phases rather than relying on a single measurement.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the measurement volume is reduced for localized measurement, then the adaptability improves, but the measurement precision deteriorates due to signal weakness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adds temporal dimension to the measurement by using pulsed ultrasonic signals and time-resolved signal evaluation. This allows the system to distinguish between signals from different depths within the measurement volume, enabling localized measurement while maintaining signal strength through time-gating techniques that isolate reflections from specific regions.
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 flowmeter effectively determines the velocity and phase of the medium by distinguishing between water, oil, and gas based on reflection energy and permittivity, enabling precise phase identification in small measurement volumes.
Implementation Method 1
The ultrasonic transducer is designed, on the one hand, for converting electrical transmitting signals into ultrasonic transmitting signals
Implementation Method 2
for receiving ultrasonic receiving signals from the measurement volume and converting the ultrasonic receiving signals into electrical receiving signals
Implementation Method 3
The controller is designed to generate the electrical transmitting signals and to determine a velocity of the medium in the measurement volume using the electrical receiving signals
Implementation Method 4
An ultrasonic transmission signal is reflected in the measurement volume at a boundary layer between two phases if these phases have different acoustic impedances
Data Source
AI summary
A flowmeter for a multi-phase medium includes an ultrasonic transducer, a permittivity sensor, and a controller. The ultrasonic transducer converts electrical transmitting signals into ultrasonic transmitting signals, radiates them into the measurement volume, receives reflected ultrasonic receiving signals from the measurement volume, and converts the ultrasonic receiving signals into electrical receiving signals. The controller determines a reflection energy of the ultrasonic receiving signals from the measurement volume using the electrical receiving signals and distinguishes between, on the one hand, the water and the oil and, on the other hand, the gas in the measurement volume using the reflection energy. The controller determines a permittivity of the medium in the measurement volume using the permittivity sensor and distinguishes between, on the one hand, the water and, on the other hand, the oil and the gas in the measurement volume using the permittivity.