Methods and Apparatus for Monitoring Deposit Formation in Gas Systems
AssigneeBaker Hughes Incorporated
InventorsVladimir Jovancicevic, Sunder Ramachandran, Paul Hammonds
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Abstract
Solids deposition in a gas environment, such as a gas transmission line or pipeline are measured using metal-coated quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) in a QCM probe within a high pressure gas chamber in the gas environment. The metal coated on the QCM may be iron, iron alloys and/or iron oxide. The weight measurements are conducted at a constant (ΔT) or controlled (T=f(t)) temperature between the high pressure gas chamber and the QCM probe. The weight gain during a CE cycle is associated with the solids formation rate.
Claims18
A method of measuring solids deposits in a gas environment comprising:
- initially measuring the weight gain due to water condensation on a metal-coated quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) in a QCM probe within a high pressure gas chamber of the gas environment;
- subsequent to the initial measuring, measuring the condensation rate and the metal oxidation rate during a condensation period of the condensation-evaporation (CE) cycle;
- finally measuring the solids deposits weight gain of the metal-coated QCM after water evaporation of the CE cycle;
- determining the final solids deposits weight gain during each CE cycle;
- continuously measuring the solids deposits weight gain of the metal-coated QCM during at least one subsequent CE cycle;
- and
- determining a cumulative solids deposits rate;
- where the weight measurements are conducted at a condition selected from the group consisting of:
- constant (ΔT) and
- a controlled variable temperature differential (ΔT=f(t)) between the high pressure gas chamber and the QCM probe.
A method of measuring black powder deposits in a gas transmission line comprising:
- initially measuring the weight gain due to water condensation on a metal-coated quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) in a QCM probe within a high pressure gas chamber of the gas transmission line;
- subsequent to the initial measuring, measuring the condensation rate and the metal oxidation rate during a condensation period of the condensation-evaporation (CE) cycle;
- finally measuring the black powder deposits weight gain of the metal-coated QCM after water evaporation of the CE cycle;
- determining the final black powder deposits weight gain during each CE cycle;
- continuously measuring the black powder deposits weight gain of the metal-coated QCM during at least one subsequent CE cycle;
- and
- determining a cumulative black powder deposits rate;
- where the weight measurements are conducted at a condition selected from the group consisting of:
- constant (ΔT) and
- a controlled variable temperature differential (ΔT=f(t)) between the high pressure gas chamber and the QCM probe.
An apparatus for measuring solids deposits in a gas environment comprising:
- a temperature-controlled high pressure gas chamber in the gas environment;
- a gas mixing and delivery system adapted to mix gases and deliver them to the high pressure gas chamber at temperatures at or above atmospheric;
- a temperature-controlled quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) probe comprising a temperature-controlled metal-coated QCM within the high pressure gas chamber in the gas environment;
- a frequency generator and data acquisition system adapted to acquire measurements comprising a solids deposits weight gain on the temperature-controlled metal-coated QCM, a dew point, a condensation rate during a condensation-evaporation (CE) cycle, a cumulative solids deposits rate, and combinations thereof;
- and
- a gas chromatograph adapted to chemically analyze the gas composition of the temperature-controlled high pressure gas chamber.
A field probe for measuring black powder deposits, the field probe comprising:
- a probe body having a tip;
- a metal-coated quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) on the tip of the probe;
- a QCM temperature measuring device on the tip of the probe, the QCM temperature measuring device at least adjacent to the QCM;
- an upstream fluid temperature measuring device on the tip of the probe, the upstream temperature measuring device spaced apart from the QCM;
- and
- a chiller for lowering the temperature of the QCM.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.