Detection of magnetized fluid flows
AssigneeThe Petroleum Science and Technology Institute
InventorAlwin Bayer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for determining the individual mass flow rates of a multi-component flow. Individual components of the multi-component flow have different products of longitudinal relaxation time and flow velocity. Two or more arrangements of magnets and flow sensors are arranged along a pipeline. A static magnetic field is imposed on the flow. The linear movement of the flow then generates a multi-exponential gain of magnetization. By interrogating the flow at several positions, the magnetization and velocity is measured simultaneously in different positions. The multi-exponential gain of magnetization and determination of the equilibrium magnetization of each component thermal equilibrium can then be determined. The mass flow rates in the individual components can then be determined.
Claims32
An apparatus for measuring individual mass flow rates of fluid components of a multi-component flow wherein the flow consists of at least two components each with different products of flow velocity and longitudinal relaxation time;
- said apparatus comprising a pipe of non-magnetic material;
- at least a first and a second polarizing magnet means external of said pipe for forming a magnetic field perpendicular to the flow direction along the pipe;
- at least a first and a second detection magnet means located external of said pipe with one detection magnet between two polarizing magnet means;
- at least a first and a second RF-coil placed in the filed of a detection magnet and disposed at right angles to the field direction and wound around the non-magnetic pipe;
- a magnetic resonance detection apparatus operatively connectable to each said coil, the apparatus detecting magnetization and velocity of the flowing material;
- means for selectively initiating operation of each said magnetic resonance detection apparatus;
- and
- means for measurement of, and for collecting, storing and evaluating information on velocity and magnetization of each magnetic resonance detection apparatus, thereby to compute the mass of flow on the individual components of the flow.
An apparatus for measuring individual mass flow rates of fluid components of a multi-component flow, irrespective of flow direction, and wherein the flow consists of n components each with a different product of flow velocity and longitudinal relaxation time;
- said apparatus comprising a pipe of a non-magnetic material;
- n+1 polarizing magnet means external of said pipe for forming a magnetic field perpendicular to the flow direction along the pipe;
- n detection magnet means located external of said pipe with one detection magnet means between two polarizing magnet means;
- n RF-coils each placed in the field of one detection magnet and disposed at right angles to the field direction and wound around the non-magnetic pipe;
- magnetic resonance detection apparatus operatively connectable to each said coil, the apparatus detecting magnetization and velocity of the flowing material;
- switch means for connecting periodically each RF coil to said magnetic resonance detection apparatus;
- control means for selectively triggering operation of said magnetic resonance detection apparatus means for measurement of, and for collecting, storing and evaluating information on velocity and magnetization of said magnetic resonance detection apparatus, thereby to compute the mass of flow of each of the individual components of the flow.
A method of determining an individual mass flow rate of each fluid component of a multi-component flow wherein the flow consists of at least n components each with a different product of flow velocity and longitudinal relaxation time;
- the method comprising the steps of creating a magnetic field, perpendicular to the flow direction, the field having a pre-determined substantially constant field strength;
- generating a multi-exponential gain of magnetization for any one of the components of the flow along the main flow direction of magnetizing the on-coming multi-component flow until the components of the flow are substantially saturated;
- providing n RF-coils and n detection magnets;
- providing a magnetic resonance detection apparatus periodically operatively connectable to each said coil to interrogate the multi-components flow at any one instant;
- measuring magnetization and flow velocity of n flowing elements of interest at n positions;
- the measured data of flow velocity and magnetization being dependent on the flow rates and composition of flow, whereby individual mass flow rates of individual components may be calculated.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.