System and method for metering fluid flow
OwnerRichard Steveninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system and method for metering fluid flow is disclosed which has improved diagnostic capabilities. As well as informing a flow meter operator of the presence of a malfunction and its likely cause, the new systems and methods can also quantify an associated flow prediction bias.
Claims15
A method of metering fluid flow, comprising:
- making one or more fluid flow rate measurements;
- performing one or more objective diagnostic tests on meter performance characteristics;
- performing one or more subjective diagnostic tests on meter performance characteristics;
- identifying a specific problem based on outputs of the objective and subjective diagnostic tests on meter performance characteristics;
- selecting one or more of the one or more objective diagnostic tests on meter performance characteristics appropriate to the identified specific problem;
- relating measurements from the one or more selected objective diagnostic tests on meter performance characteristics appropriate to the identified specific problem to quantify the magnitude of the specific problem via analysis of the selected objective diagnostic tests;
- and
- predicting a quantified fluid flow rate bias based on the quantified magnitude of the specific problem.
In a fluid flow metering system, using objective and subjective diagnostic tests on meter performance characteristics in combination to identify a specific problem, and then using one or more selected objective diagnostic tests on meter performance characteristics appropriate to the identified problem to determine a quantified magnitude of the problem and to predict a quantified flow bias.
A flow metering system comprising a flow meter and a flow analyzer, the flow analyzer comprising:
- (i) a diagnostics suite configured to make one or more fluid flow rate measurements, perform one or more objective diagnostic tests on meter performance characteristics, perform one or more subjective diagnostic tests on meter performance characteristics and identify a specific problem based on outputs of the objective and subjective diagnostic tests on meter performance characteristics and select one or more of the one or more objective diagnostic tests on meter performance characteristics appropriate to the identified specific problem;
- and
- (ii) a bias prediction module comprising a computer with a program stored thereon, wherein the bias prediction module is configured to relate measurements from one or more selected objective diagnostic tests appropriate to the identified specific problem to quantify the magnitude of the specific problem, and predict a quantified fluid flow rate bias based on the quantified magnitude of the specific problem.
A computer program product comprising:
- (i) a diagnostics suite configured to make one or more fluid flow rate measurements, perform one or more objective diagnostic tests on meter performance characteristics, perform one or more subjective diagnostic tests on meter performance characteristics, and identify a specific problem based on outputs of the objective and subjective diagnostic tests on meter performance characteristics and select one or more of the one or more objective diagnostic tests on meter performance characteristics appropriate to the identified specific problem;
- and
- (ii) a bias prediction module comprising a computer with a program stored thereon, wherein the bias prediction module is configured to relate measurements from one or more selected objective diagnostic tests appropriate to the identified specific problem to quantify the magnitude of the specific problem, and predict a quantified fluid flow rate bias based on the quantified magnitude of the specific problem.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.