Steady State Fluid Flow Verification for Sample Takeoff

A fluid pipeline sample takeoff system for substantially coincidental flow rate verification, comprising:

• a sample takeoff probe;
• a detector for detecting the presence of anomalies generated by at least one unstable flow condition of the fluid in the pipeline and generating a signal representative thereof;
• a controller receiving the signal and determining if the signal exceeds a select threshold;
• and an electro-mechanically actuated valve associated with the sample takeoff probe and in signal communication with the controller, said electro-mechanically actuated valve operational to terminate fluid sample extraction upon detection of a threshold exceeding signal and to resume fluid sample extraction from the pipeline upon receipt of a signal not exceeding the select threshold and indicative of reestablishment of a substantially steady flow state.

A method for selectively actuating fluid sample extraction by a probe from a pipeline, comprising the steps of:

• detecting flow conditions of a fluid in a pipeline;
• generating a detection signal corresponding to a detected signal generated by the flow conditions of the fluid in the pipeline;
• communicating the detection signal to a controller which determines if the signal exceeds a pre-select threshold indicative of fluid flow instability;
• and
• causing a power operated valve to terminate sample fluid extraction from the pipeline upon detection of a threshold exceeding signal and to resume sample fluid extraction upon detection of a signal less than the pre-selected threshold corresponding to substantially steady state fluid flow.