Measurement of fluid properties of two-phase fluids using an ultrasonic meter
AssigneeChevron Research and Technology Company
InventorJoseph Shen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method is disclosed for determining the composition of a two-phase fluid, such as saturated steam. In that method, the transit times of sound are measured within the two-phase fluid, the speed of sound of the two-phase fluid is calculated from the measured transit times, and the composition of the two-phase fluid is calculated from the calculated speed of sound. From the calculated linear velocity and the calculated composition, one can calculate at least one fluid property of the two-phase fluid, such as mass flow rate or energy flow rate. All of these calculations can be performed by a microprocessor.
Claims10
A method for determining the composition of a flowing two-phase fluid that has a gaseous phase and a liquid phase comprising:
- (a) measuring transit times of sound within said two-phase fluid using a pair of acoustic transducers that alternately act as transmitters and receivers in sending and receiving pulses,
- (b) calculating the speed of sound of said two-phase fluid from said measured transit times, and
- (c) calculating the composition of said two-phase fluid from said calculated speed of sound.
A method for determining at least one fluid property of a flowing two-phase fluid comprising:
- (a) measuring transit times of sound within the two-phase fluid using a pair of acoustic transducers that alternately act as transmitters and receivers in sending and receiving pulses,
- (b) calculating both the speed of sound and the linear velocity of said two-phase fluid from said measured transit times,
- (c) calculating the composition of said two-phase fluid from said calculated speed of sound, and
- (d) calculating at least one fluid property of said two-phase fluid form said calculated linear velocity and said calculated composition.
An apparatus for determining the composition of a two-phase fluid comprising:
- (a) a pair of acoustic transducers that alternately act as transmitters and receivers in sending and receiving pulses for measuring transit times of sound within the two-phase fluid, and
- (b) means for calculating both the speed of sound of said two-phase fluid from said measured transit times and the composition of said two-phase fluid from said calculated speed of sound.
An apparatus for determining at least one fluid property of a two-phase fluid comprising:
- (a) a pair of acoustic transducers that alternately act as transmitters and receivers in sending and receiving pulses for measuring the transit times of sound within the two-phase fluid, and
- (b) a calculating means for calculating:
- (2) the speed of sound the linear velocity of said two-phase fluid from said measured transit times,
- (2) the composition of said two-phase fluid from said calculated speed of sound, and
- (3) at least one fluid property of said two-phase fluid from said calculated linear velocity and said calculated composition.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.