Vibrating Meter Static Pressure Control for Outgassing Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vibrating meters, particularly Coriolis flow meters, face challenges in accurately measuring fluid flow in custody transfer situations due to outgassing or flashing of liquids when the fluid pressure falls below its saturation pressure, especially in systems with reduced cross-sectional areas, leading to measurement difficulties.
Innovation Solution
A fluid flow system that includes a pipeline with a pressure sensor and a vibrating meter, where a system controller determines the static pressure of the fluid based on pressure and flow characteristics, adjusting the fluid flow rate if the pressure falls below the saturation pressure to maintain it above the fluid's saturation pressure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the fluid pressure is reduced below saturation pressure to enable flow measurement, then flow measurement capability is improved, but outgassing and flashing occur causing measurement inaccuracies
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of fluid static pressure using a pressure sensor before flow measurement occurs. By detecting the pressure condition in advance, the system can identify when pressure approaches saturation pressure and take preventive actions to avoid outgassing and flashing during measurement.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors fluid static pressure and provides feedback to the control system. When the pressure is detected to be at or near saturation pressure, the feedback mechanism triggers corrective actions such as adjusting flow rate or pressure control valves to maintain pressure above saturation level, thereby preventing outgassing while enabling accurate flow measurement.
2Productivity
If the fluid flow rate is increased to improve productivity, then measurement throughput is improved, but static pressure drops below saturation pressure causing phase change
Solution Approach 1:
Before increasing flow rate for higher productivity, the system preliminarily detects the current static pressure using the pressure sensor. This advance detection allows the system to calculate the safe maximum flow rate that will maintain pressure above saturation pressure, preventing phase change while maximizing measurement throughput.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors static pressure and provides real-time feedback during flow measurement. When pressure approaches saturation pressure during high-rate measurement, the feedback mechanism automatically adjusts the flow rate or pressure control to maintain phase stability, enabling sustained high productivity without causing outgassing.
3Measurement precision
If a pressure sensor is installed in the pipeline to monitor pressure, then pressure detection capability is improved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure sensor serves multiple functions within the system: it detects fluid static pressure for outgassing prevention, provides data for flow rate calculation, enables saturation pressure determination, and supports both flow measurement and phase stability monitoring. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the pressure detection function with the existing flow measurement system by integrating the pressure sensor into the same measurement apparatus. The pressure sensor data is merged with flow rate data from the vibrating meter to jointly determine fluid characteristics and prevent outgassing, reducing overall system complexity compared to separate independent 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
This system ensures accurate fluid flow measurement by maintaining the fluid above its saturation pressure, preventing outgassing and flashing, thereby improving measurement reliability and accuracy in custody transfer situations.
Implementation Method 1
a first pressure sensor located within the pipeline and determining a first pressure within the pipeline
Implementation Method 2
a vibrating meter including: a sensor assembly located within the pipeline proximate to and in fluid communication with the first pressure sensor; and a meter electronics in electrical communication with the sensor assembly and configured to receive one or more sensor signals and measure one or more flow characteristics
Implementation Method 3
determine a static pressure of the fluid based on the pressure of the fluid within the pipeline and the one or more flow characteristics
Data Source
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AI summary
A method for operating a fluid flow system (300) is provided. The fluid flow system (300) includes a fluid flowing through a pipeline (301), a first pressure sensor (303) located within the pipeline (301), and a vibrating meter (5). The vibrating meter (5) includes a sensor assembly (10) in fluid communication with the first pressure sensor (303). The method includes steps of measuring a pressure of the fluid within the pipeline (301) using the first pressure sensor (303) and measuring one or more flow characteristics of the fluid using the vibrating meter (5). The method further includes a step of determining a static pressure of the fluid based on the pressure of the fluid within the pipeline (301) and the one or more flow characteristics. The method further includes a step of determining if the fluid contains at least some gas based on the static pressure of the fluid.