Flow cell assembly including a fluid swirl chamber and ultrasonic agitation device

An assembly for measuring a property of a multiphase fluid sample, the assembly comprising:

• an analytical device comprising a measurement surface for receiving a fluid to be measured;
• and
• a flow cell connected to the analytical device, the flow cell comprising:
• a housing;
• a fluid chamber provided in the housing, the fluid chamber comprising sidewalls defining an internal volume for receiving a multiphase fluid and an opening, wherein the fluid chamber is a swirl chamber having a central axis;
• and
• an agitation device comprising an ultrasonic sound-wave generator adapted to agitate the multiphase fluid within the internal volume of the fluid chamber, wherein the flow cell further comprises a barrier wall, and wherein the ultrasonic sound-wave generator is separated from the internal volume by the barrier wall and is adapted to cause the multiphase fluid to flow around the central axis of the swirl chamber,
• wherein the opening is located so as to fluidly connect the fluid chamber and the measurement surface and wherein the flow cell is adapted such that the agitation device causes movement of the fluid through or within the opening.

A method for measuring a property of a multiphase fluid, the method comprising:

• providing an assembly that comprises an analytical device comprising a measurement surface for receiving a fluid to be measured, and a flow cell connected to the analytical device, wherein the flow cell comprises a housing, a fluid chamber provided in the housing, the fluid chamber comprising sidewalls defining an internal volume for receiving a multiphase fluid and an opening, wherein the fluid chamber is a swirl chamber having a central axis, and an agitation device comprising an ultrasonic sound-wave generator adapted to agitate the multiphase fluid within the internal volume of the fluid chamber, wherein the flow cell further comprises a barrier wall, and wherein the ultrasonic sound-wave generator is separated from the internal volume by the barrier wall and is adapted to cause the multiphase fluid to flow around the central axis of the swirl chamber, wherein the opening is located so as to fluidly connect the fluid chamber and the measurement surface and wherein the flow cell is adapted such that the agitation device causes movement of the fluid through or within the opening;
• providing the multiphase fluid to the fluid chamber of the flow cell;
• agitating the multiphase fluid within the fluid chamber to flow the multiphase fluid sample across the measurement surface;
• and
• measuring a property of the multiphase fluid on the measurement surface.