US 12,669,023 B2 · Real time flow rate and rheology measurement

Abstract

A flow measurement apparatus can include a main flow passage having a flowmeter, a bypass flow passage connected in parallel with the main flow passage, the bypass flow passage having a flow restrictor, a mass flowmeter, and at least one sensor configured to measure a pressure differential across the mass flowmeter, and a control system configured to determine at least one rheological parameter of a non-Newtonian fluid based on outputs of the sensor and the mass flowmeter. A method for measuring a rheological fluid property of a non-Newtonian fluid can include measuring a volumetric flow rate through a flowmeter connected in a main flow passage, measuring a differential pressure across a mass flowmeter in a bypass flow passage, measuring a mass flow rate through the bypass flow passage, and determining the rheological fluid property from the differential pressure and the mass flow rate through the bypass flow passage.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A flow measurement apparatus, comprising:

a main flow passage having a first flowmeter;
a bypass flow passage connected in parallel with the main flow passage, the bypass flow passage having a first flow restrictor, a second flowmeter, and at least one first sensor configured to measure a first pressure differential across the second flowmeter, the second flowmeter comprising a mass flowmeter, in which the first flowmeter is connected in the main flow passage one of upstream of the bypass flow passage and downstream of the bypass flow passage;
and
a control system configured to determine at least one rheological parameter of a non-Newtonian fluid based on outputs of the at least one first sensor and the second flowmeter when a flow rate of the non-Newtonian fluid is greater than 100 gallons per minute, in which the control system is configured to determine the at least one rheological parameter of the non-Newtonian fluid based on an output of the first flowmeter when the flow rate of the non-Newtonian fluid is less than or equal to 100 gallons per minute.

1 more element

A method for measuring a rheological fluid property of a non-Newtonian fluid, comprising:

measuring a volumetric flow rate through a first flowmeter connected in a main flow passage;
measuring a first differential pressure across a second flowmeter in a bypass flow passage, the second flowmeter comprising a mass flowmeter, in which the first flowmeter is connected in the main flow passage one of upstream of the bypass flow passage and downstream of the bypass flow passage;
measuring a mass flow rate through the bypass flow passage;
determining the rheological fluid property of the non-Newtonian fluid from the first differential pressure and the mass flow rate through the bypass flow passage when a flow rate of the non-Newtonian fluid is greater than 100 gallons per minute;
and
determining the rheological fluid property of the non-Newtonian fluid from the volumetric flow rate through the first flowmeter when the flow rate of the non-Newtonian fluid is less than or equal to 100 gallons per minute.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Real time flow rate and rheology measurement

Life of this patent

Real time flow rate and rheology measurement

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20