# US 2008/0184815 A1 · Meter Electronics And Methods For Rapidly Determining A Mass Fraction Of A Multi-Phase Fluid From A Coriolis Flow Meter Signal

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 2008/0184815 A1
- Document ID: US20080184815A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 11/914,810
- Filed: 2006-05-19
- Published: 2008-08-07
- Earliest claimed: 2005-05-20
- Assignees: Micro Motion, Inc.
- Inventors: Mark James Bell; Craig B. McAnally
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20080184815A1

## CPC

- G01F 1/8477: {with multiple measuring conduits}
- G01F 1/74: Devices for measuring flow of a fluid or flow of a fluent solid material in suspension in another fluid
- G01F 1/8413: {means for influencing the flowmeter's motional or vibrational behaviour, e.g., conduit support or fixing means, or conduit attachments}
- G01F 1/8436: {signal processing}
- G01F 15/024: {involving digital counting}
- G01F: MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME

## Abstract

Meter electronics (20) for determining a mass fraction of flow components in a flow material flowing is provided according to an embodiment of the invention. The meter electronics (20) include an interface (201) for receiving a frequency response of the flow material and a processing system (203). The processing system (203) receives the frequency response from the interface (201) and breaks out the frequency response into at least a gas frequency component and a fluid frequency component. The processing system (203) determines an overall density from the frequency response and determines a gas density from the gas frequency component. The processing system (203) determines the void fraction of gas from the frequency response and one or more of the gas frequency component and the fluid frequency component. The processing system (203) determines the mass fraction from the void fraction of gas multiplied by a ratio of the gas density divided by the overall density.

## Claims

### Claim 1

Meter electronics (20) for determining a mass fraction of flow components in a flow material flowing through a flow meter (5), the meter electronics (20) comprising:
an interface (201) for receiving a frequency response of the flow material; and
a processing system (203) in communication with the interface (201) and configured to receive the frequency response from the interface (201), break out the frequency response into at least a gas frequency component and a fluid frequency component, determine an overall density from the frequency response, determine a gas density from the gas frequency component, determine the void fraction of gas from the frequency response and one or more of the gas frequency component and the fluid frequency component, and determine the mass fraction from the void fraction of gas multiplied by a ratio of the gas density divided by the overall density.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The meter electronics (20) of claim 1, with the gas density comprising an inverse of the gas frequency squared and with the overall density comprising an inverse of the frequency squared.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The meter electronics (20) of claim 1, with the processing system (203) being further configured to determine a mass flow rate of the flow material from the frequency response and determine at least one of a first flow component mass and a second flow component mass using the mass fraction and the mass flow rate.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The meter electronics (20) of claim 3, with the frequency response comprising a first sensor signal and a second sensor signal and with the processing system (203) being further configured to determine a substantially instantaneous frequency and determine a substantially instantaneous phase difference, wherein the mass flow rate is determined using the frequency and the phase difference.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The meter electronics (20) of claim 3, with the frequency response comprising a first sensor signal and a second sensor signal and with the processing system (203) being further configured to determine a substantially instantaneous frequency, determine a substantially instantaneous phase difference, divide the phase difference by the frequency in order to obtain a time delay, and multiply the time delay by a constant in order to obtain the mass flow rate.

### Claim 6 (depends on 3)

The meter electronics (20) of claim 3, with the frequency response comprising a first sensor signal and a second sensor signal and with the processing system (203) being further configured to generate a first 90 degree phase shift from the first sensor signal, compute the frequency using the first 90 degree phase shift and the first sensor signal, determine a substantially instantaneous phase difference, divide the phase difference by the frequency in order to obtain a time delay, and multiply the time delay by a constant in order to obtain the mass flow rate.

### Claim 7 (depends on 3)

The meter electronics (20) of claim 3, with the frequency response comprising a first sensor signal and a second sensor signal and with the processing system (203) being further configured to generating a first 90 degree phase shift from the first sensor signal, computing the phase difference using the first 90 degree phase shift, the first sensor signal, and the second sensor signal, determining a substantially instantaneous phase difference, dividing the phase difference by the frequency in order to obtain a time delay, and multiplying the time delay by a constant in order to obtain the mass flow rate.

### Claim 8 (depends on 3)

The meter electronics (20) of claim 3, with the frequency response comprising a first sensor signal and a second sensor signal and with the processing system (203) being further configured to generating a first 90 degree phase shift from the first sensor signal, generating a second 90 degree phase shift from the second sensor signal, computing the phase difference using the first 90 degree phase shift, the second 90 degree phase shift, the first sensor signal, and the second sensor signal, determining a substantially instantaneous phase difference, dividing the phase difference by the frequency in order to obtain a time delay, and multiplying the time delay by a constant in order to obtain the mass flow rate.

### Claim 9 (depends on 3)

The meter electronics (20) of claim 3, with the frequency response comprising a first sensor signal and a second sensor signal and with the processing system (203) being further configured to generate a 90 degree phase shift from the first sensor signal, compute a frequency response using the 90 degree phase shift and the first sensor signal, compute a phase difference using at least the 90 degree phase shift, the first sensor signal, and the second sensor signal, compute a time delay using the frequency response and the phase difference, compute the mass flow rate from the time delay, determine a substantially instantaneous phase difference, divide the phase difference by the frequency in order to obtain a time delay, and multiply the time delay by a constant in order to obtain the mass flow rate.

### Claim 10

A method for determining a mass fraction of flow components in a flow material flowing through a flow meter, the method comprising:
receiving a frequency response of the flow material;
breaking out the frequency response into at least a gas frequency component and a fluid frequency component;
determining an overall density from the frequency response;
determining a gas density from the gas frequency component;
determining the void fraction of gas from the frequency response and one or more of the gas frequency component and the fluid frequency component; and
determining the mass fraction from the void fraction of gas multiplied by a ratio of the gas density divided by the overall density.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, with the gas density comprising an inverse of the gas frequency squared and with the overall density comprising an inverse of the frequency squared.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, further comprising:
determining a mass flow rate of the flow material from the frequency response; and
determining at least one of a first flow component mass and a second flow component mass using the mass fraction and the mass flow rate.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, with the determining the mass flow rate comprising:
determining a substantially instantaneous frequency; and
determining a substantially instantaneous phase difference, wherein the mass flow rate is determined using the frequency and the phase difference.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, with the frequency response comprising a first sensor signal and a second sensor signal and with the determining the mass flow rate comprising:
determining a substantially instantaneous frequency;
determining a substantially instantaneous phase difference;
dividing the phase difference by the frequency in order to obtain a time delay; and
multiplying the time delay by a constant in order to obtain the mass flow rate.

### Claim 15 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, with the frequency response comprising a first sensor signal and a second sensor signal and with the determining the mass flow rate further comprising:
generating a first 90 degree phase shift from the first sensor signal;
computing the frequency using the first 90 degree phase shift and the first sensor signal;
determining a substantially instantaneous phase difference;
dividing the phase difference by the frequency in order to obtain a time delay; and
multiplying the time delay by a constant in order to obtain the mass flow rate.

### Claim 16 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, with the frequency response comprising a first sensor signal and a second sensor signal and with the determining the mass flow rate further comprising:
generating a first 90 degree phase shift from the first sensor signal;
computing the phase difference using the first 90 degree phase shift, the first sensor signal, and the second sensor signal;
determining a substantially instantaneous phase difference;
dividing the phase difference by the frequency in order to obtain a time delay; and
multiplying the time delay by a constant in order to obtain the mass flow rate.

### Claim 17 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, with the frequency response comprising a first sensor signal and a second sensor signal and with the determining the mass flow rate further comprising:
generating a first 90 degree phase shift from the first sensor signal;
generating a second 90 degree phase shift from the second sensor signal;
computing the phase difference using the first 90 degree phase shift, the second 90 degree phase shift, the first sensor signal, and the second sensor signal;
determining a substantially instantaneous phase difference;
dividing the phase difference by the frequency in order to obtain a time delay; and
multiplying the time delay by a constant in order to obtain the mass flow rate.

### Claim 18 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, with the frequency response comprising a first sensor signal and a second sensor signal and with the determining the mass flow rate further comprising:
generating a 90 degree phase shift from the first sensor signal;
computing a frequency response using the 90 degree phase shift and the first sensor signal;
computing a phase difference using at least the 90 degree phase shift, the first sensor signal, and the second sensor signal;
computing a time delay using the frequency response and the phase difference;
computing the mass flow rate from the time delay;
determining a substantially instantaneous phase difference;
dividing the phase difference by the frequency in order to obtain a time delay; and
multiplying the time delay by a constant in order to obtain the mass flow rate.

### Claim 19

A method for determining a mass fraction of flow components in a flow material flowing through a flow meter, the method comprising:
receiving a frequency response of the flow material;
processing the frequency response with a notch filter that substantially rejects one of a gas frequency component and a fluid frequency component;
determining an overall density from the frequency response;
determining a gas density from the gas frequency component;
determining the void fraction of gas from the frequency response and one or more of the gas frequency component and the fluid frequency component; and
determining the mass fraction from the void fraction of gas multiplied by a ratio of the gas density divided by the overall density.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The method of claim 19, with the gas density comprising an inverse of the gas frequency squared and with the overall density comprising an inverse of the frequency squared.

### Claim 21 (depends on 19)

The method of claim 19, further comprising:
determining a mass flow rate of the flow material from the frequency response; and
determining at least one of a first flow component mass and a second flow component mass using the mass fraction and the mass flow rate.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

The method of claim 21, with the determining the mass flow rate comprising:
determining a substantially instantaneous frequency; and
determining a substantially instantaneous phase difference, wherein the mass flow rate is determined using the frequency and the phase difference.

### Claim 23 (depends on 21)

The method of claim 21, with the frequency response comprising a first sensor signal and a second sensor signal and with the determining the mass flow rate comprising:
determining a substantially instantaneous frequency;
determining a substantially instantaneous phase difference;
dividing the phase difference by the frequency in order to obtain a time delay; and
multiplying the time delay by a constant in order to obtain the mass flow rate.

### Claim 24 (depends on 21)

The method of claim 21, with the frequency response comprising a first sensor signal and a second sensor signal and with the determining the mass flow rate further comprising:
generating a first 90 degree phase shift from the first sensor signal;
computing the frequency using the first 90 degree phase shift and the first sensor signal;
determining a substantially instantaneous phase difference;
dividing the phase difference by the frequency in order to obtain a time delay; and
multiplying the time delay by a constant in order to obtain the mass flow rate.

### Claim 25 (depends on 21)

The method of claim 21, with the frequency response comprising a first sensor signal and a second sensor signal and with the determining the mass flow rate further comprising:
generating a first 90 degree phase shift from the first sensor signal;
computing the phase difference using the first 90 degree phase shift, the first sensor signal, and the second sensor signal;
determining a substantially instantaneous phase difference;
dividing the phase difference by the frequency in order to obtain a time delay; and
multiplying the time delay by a constant in order to obtain the mass flow rate.

### Claim 26 (depends on 21)

The method of claim 21, with the frequency response comprising a first sensor signal and a second sensor signal and with the determining the mass flow rate further comprising:
generating a first 90 degree phase shift from the first sensor signal;
generating a second 90 degree phase shift from the second sensor signal;
computing the phase difference using the first 90 degree phase shift, the second 90 degree phase shift, the first sensor signal, and the second sensor signal;
determining a substantially instantaneous phase difference;
dividing the phase difference by the frequency in order to obtain a time delay; and
multiplying the time delay by a constant in order to obtain the mass flow rate.

### Claim 27 (depends on 21)

The method of claim 21, with the frequency response comprising a first sensor signal and a second sensor signal and with the determining the mass flow rate further comprising:
generating a 90 degree phase shift from the first sensor signal;
computing a frequency response using the 90 degree phase shift and the first sensor signal;
computing a phase difference using at least the 90 degree phase shift, the first sensor signal, and the second sensor signal;
computing a time delay using the frequency response and the phase difference;
computing the mass flow rate from the time delay;
determining a substantially instantaneous phase difference;
dividing the phase difference by the frequency in order to obtain a time delay; and
multiplying the time delay by a constant in order to obtain the mass flow rate.

### Claim 28

A method for determining a mass fraction of flow components in a flow material flowing through a flow meter, the method comprising:
receiving a frequency response of the flow material;
filtering the frequency response with a first filter that substantially rejects the gas frequency component and substantially passes the fluid frequency component, wherein the first filter outputs the fluid frequency component;
filtering the frequency response with a second filter that substantially rejects the fluid frequency component and substantially passes the gas frequency component, wherein the second filter outputs the gas frequency component;
determining an overall density from the frequency response;
determining a gas density from the gas frequency component;
determining the void fraction of gas from the frequency response and one or more of the gas frequency component and the fluid frequency component; and
determining the mass fraction from the void fraction of gas multiplied by a ratio of the gas density divided by the overall density.

### Claim 29 (depends on 28)

The method of claim 28, with the gas density comprising an inverse of the gas frequency squared and with the overall density comprising an inverse of the frequency squared.

### Claim 30 (depends on 28)

The method of claim 28, further comprising:
determining a mass flow rate of the flow material from the frequency response; and
determining at least one of a first flow component mass and a second flow component mass using the mass fraction and the mass flow rate.

### Claim 31 (depends on 30)

The method of claim 30, with the determining the mass flow rate comprising:
determining a substantially instantaneous frequency; and
determining a substantially instantaneous phase difference, wherein the mass flow rate is determined using the frequency and the phase difference.

### Claim 32 (depends on 30)

The method of claim 30, with the frequency response comprising a first sensor signal and a second sensor signal and with the determining the mass flow rate comprising:
determining a substantially instantaneous frequency;
determining a substantially instantaneous phase difference;
dividing the phase difference by the frequency in order to obtain a time delay; and
multiplying the time delay by a constant in order to obtain the mass flow rate.

### Claim 33 (depends on 30)

The method of claim 30, with the frequency response comprising a first sensor signal and a second sensor signal and with the determining the mass flow rate further comprising:
generating a first 90 degree phase shift from the first sensor signal;
computing the frequency using the first 90 degree phase shift and the first sensor signal;
determining a substantially instantaneous phase difference;
dividing the phase difference by the frequency in order to obtain a time delay; and
multiplying the time delay by a constant in order to obtain the mass flow rate.

### Claim 34 (depends on 30)

The method of claim 30, with the frequency response comprising a first sensor signal and a second sensor signal and with the determining the mass flow rate further comprising:
generating a first 90 degree phase shift from the first sensor signal;
computing the phase difference using the first 90 degree phase shift, the first sensor signal, and the second sensor signal;
determining a substantially instantaneous phase difference;
dividing the phase difference by the frequency in order to obtain a time delay; and
multiplying the time delay by a constant in order to obtain the mass flow rate.

### Claim 35 (depends on 30)

The method of claim 30, with the frequency response comprising a first sensor signal and a second sensor signal and with the determining the mass flow rate further comprising:
generating a first 90 degree phase shift from the first sensor signal;
generating a second 90 degree phase shift from the second sensor signal;
computing the phase difference using the first 90 degree phase shift, the second 90 degree phase shift, the first sensor signal, and the second sensor signal;
determining a substantially instantaneous phase difference;
dividing the phase difference by the frequency in order to obtain a time delay; and
multiplying the time delay by a constant in order to obtain the mass flow rate.

### Claim 36 (depends on 30)

The method of claim 30, with the frequency response comprising a first sensor signal and a second sensor signal and with the determining the mass flow rate further comprising:
generating a 90 degree phase shift from the first sensor signal;
computing a frequency response using the 90 degree phase shift and the first sensor signal;
computing a phase difference using at least the 90 degree phase shift, the first sensor signal, and the second sensor signal;
computing a time delay using the frequency response and the phase difference;
computing the mass flow rate from the time delay;
determining a substantially instantaneous phase difference;
dividing the phase difference by the frequency in order to obtain a time delay; and
multiplying the time delay by a constant in order to obtain the mass flow rate.