Liquid Knockout Drum for Wet Gas Venturi Meter Accuracy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Venturi meters inaccurately measure gas flow rates from mature gas wells producing wet gas due to increased liquid content, requiring expensive infrastructure modifications and frequent calibrations to correct for liquid presence.
Innovation Solution
A liquid knockout drum is installed upstream of the venturi meter to remove liquids from the gas stream, using an impingement plate and check valve to ensure only dry gas passes through the meter, with reintroduced liquids recombined downstream without additional infrastructure or compressors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple venturi meters are installed to correct for liquid cut inaccuracies, then measurement precision improves, but device complexity and infrastructure cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the liquid component from the wet gas stream by installing a liquid knockout drum upstream of the venturi meter. This separates the harmful liquid phase from the gas phase, allowing the single venturi meter to accurately measure only the gas flow without liquid interference, thereby achieving high measurement precision without requiring multiple meters or complex infrastructure modifications
Solution Approach 2:
The liquid knockout drum performs preliminary liquid removal before the gas enters the venturi meter. By pre-treating the wet gas stream to eliminate liquid content prior to measurement, the system ensures accurate gas flow measurement from the outset without needing subsequent corrections or additional measurement devices
2Ease of operation
If existing venturi meters are used without modification, then ease of operation is maintained, but measurement precision deteriorates due to liquid presence
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid knockout drum serves as an intermediary device between the wet gas source and the existing venturi meter. It automatically separates and removes liquid from the gas stream, allowing the original venturi meter to operate in its designed single-phase gas measurement mode without any modifications, thus maintaining ease of operation while restoring measurement precision
3Measurement precision
If liquid knockout infrastructure is added upstream of venturi meters, then measurement precision improves, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts liquid from the wet gas stream using a liquid knockout drum, removing the source of measurement error. This simple extraction approach restores the venturi meter's accuracy without requiring complex infrastructure modifications or multiple measurement devices
Solution Approach 2:
The liquid knockout drum changes the physical state of the gas stream by removing liquid content, transforming wet gas into dry gas. This parameter change (from wet to dry gas) allows the existing venturi meter to operate accurately without any modifications to the meter itself or complex infrastructure changes
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 method provides accurate gas flow rate measurements for wet gas wells, enhancing production and reservoir management without the need for extensive modifications, maintaining existing infrastructure and reducing maintenance costs.
Implementation Method 1
an impingement plate, where the impingement plate is disposed proximate to the natural gas feedstream, and is operable to remove liquids from the natural gas feedstream
Implementation Method 2
a check valve, where the check valve is disposed between the first portion of the liquid knockout drum and the second portion of the liquid knockout drum proximate the drum separator, and the check valve is operable to allow one way liquid fluid communication from the first portion of the liquid knockout drum to the second portion of the liquid knockout drum
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for liquid removal to increase the accuracy of gas flow meters, such as venturi meters. Systems and methods include a liquid knockout drum, an impingement plate, a drum separator, and a check valve.