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US 12,332,097 B2Granted
Axial LiDAR doppler analyzer
AssigneeDefiant Engineering, LLC
InventorsLawrence Gene Griffin, Cullen Craig Keyes
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A measurement device, including a doppler LiDAR unit that includes an optical transmitter operable to transmit a signal, and which further includes an optical receiver operable to receive a backscatter signal that includes a portion of the signal, and the measurement device also includes a processor operable to determine a doppler shift as between the signal and the backscatter signal, and use the doppler shift to determine a volumetric flow rate of a fluid to which the signal is directed, and from which the backscatter signal is received.
Claims39
A measurement device, comprising:
- a doppler LiDAR unit comprising an optical transmitter operable to transmit a signal, and further comprising an optical receiver operable to receive a backscatter signal that comprises a portion of the signal;
- a window through which the signal and the backscatter signal are able to pass, and the window is configured and arranged for contact with a fluid when the measurement device is connected into a fluid system that holds the fluid;
- and
- a processor operable to:
- determine a doppler shift as between the signal and the backscatter signal;
- and
- use the doppler shift to determine a volumetric flow rate of a fluid to which the signal is directed, and from which the backscatter signal is received,
- and regardless of whether the signal is transmitted with, or against, a direction of flow of the fluid, the doppler LiDAR unit and processor are collectively operable to determine the volumetric flow rate, and a volume of the fluid.
5 more elements
A system comprising:
- a measurement device comprising;
- a doppler LiDAR unit comprising an optical transmitter operable to transmit a signal, and further comprising an optical receiver operable to receive a backscatter signal that comprises a portion of the signal;
- and
- a processor operable to:
- determine a doppler shift as between the signal and the backscatter signal;
- and
- use the doppler shift to determine a volumetric flow rate of a fluid to which the signal is directed, and from which the backscatter signal is received,
- and regardless of whether the signal is transmitted with, or against, a direction of flow of the fluid, the doppler LiDAR unit and processor are collectively operable to determine the volumetric flow rate, and a volume of the fluid;
- and
- system components, one of which is in fluid communication, at one or more times, with the measurement device, and the system components comprise any one or more of:
- a flare stack;
- a knockout;
- a vapor recovery unit;
- a valve;
- a well;
- and, a treater/separator.
13 more elements
A system comprising:
- a measurement device comprising;
- a doppler LiDAR unit comprising an optical transmitter operable to transmit a signal, and further comprising an optical receiver operable to receive a backscatter signal that comprises a portion of the signal;
- and
- a processor operable to:
- determine a doppler shift as between the signal and the backscatter signal;
- and
- use the doppler shift to determine a volumetric flow rate of a fluid to which the signal is directed, and from which the backscatter signal is received,
- and regardless of whether the signal is transmitted with, or against, a direction of flow of the fluid, the doppler LiDAR unit and processor are collectively operable to determine the volumetric flow rate, and a volume of the fluid;
- and
- system components, one of which is in fluid communication, at one or more times, with the measurement device, and the system components comprise one or more components and/or lines of a natural gas system.
7 more elements
A system comprising:
- a measurement device comprising;
- a doppler LiDAR unit comprising an optical transmitter operable to transmit a signal, and further comprising an optical receiver operable to receive a backscatter signal that comprises a portion of the signal;
- and
- a processor operable to:
- determine a doppler shift as between the signal and the backscatter signal;
- and
- use the doppler shift to determine a volumetric flow rate of a fluid to which the signal is directed, and from which the backscatter signal is received,
- and regardless of whether the signal is transmitted with, or against, a direction of flow of the fluid, the doppler LiDAR unit and processor are collectively operable to determine the volumetric flow rate, and a volume of the fluid;
- and
- system components, one of which is in fluid communication, at one or more times, with the measurement device, and the system components comprise one or more components and/or lines of a wellsite.
7 more elements
A system comprising:
- a measurement device comprising;
- a doppler LiDAR unit comprising an optical transmitter operable to transmit a signal, and further comprising an optical receiver operable to receive a backscatter signal that comprises a portion of the signal;
- and
- a processor operable to:
- determine a doppler shift as between the signal and the backscatter signal;
- and
- use the doppler shift to determine a volumetric flow rate of a fluid to which the signal is directed, and from which the backscatter signal is received,
- and regardless of whether the signal is transmitted with, or against, a direction of flow of the fluid, the doppler LiDAR unit and processor are collectively operable to determine the volumetric flow rate, and a volume of the fluid;
- and
- system components, one of which is in fluid communication, at one or more times, with the measurement device, and the system components comprise one or more components and/or lines of a power plant.
7 more elements
A method, comprising:
- transmitting, with a doppler LiDAR unit located inline in a piping system, a signal into a flow of fluid in the piping system, and the signal is either transmitted in a direction that is offset 10 degrees or less with respect to a direction of the flow of the fluid, or the signal is transmitted in a direction that is offset more than 10 degrees with respect to the direction of the flow of the fluid and is then reflected into the direction that is offset 10 degrees or less with respect to the direction of the flow of the fluid;
- receiving a backscatter signal generated as a result of impingement of the signal on the fluid;
- detecting a doppler shift as between the signal and the backscatter signal;
- and
- determining, using the doppler shift, a velocity and/or a volumetric flow rate of the fluid.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.