Method of determining a characteristic of a fluid
OwnerAlvin E. Browninventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of determining a characteristic of a fluid involves measuring a sonic transit time (102), along a non-perpendicular path, through the fluid. The sonic transit time is used to determine a speed of sound in the fluid (104). A measured flow rate (106) is determined from the sonic transit time. A friction factor (108) is calculated using the speed of sound and the measured flow rate. Next, a velocity profile (110) is determined using the friction factor. Finally, an adjusted flow rate is calculated (112) using the velocity profile.
Claims20
A method of determining a characteristic of a fluid flowing through a pipe, comprising the steps of:
- (a) measuring a sonic transit time, along a non-perpendicular path, through the fluid;
- (b) determining a speed of sound in the fluid from the sonic transit time;
- (c) determining a measured flow rate from the sonic transit time;
- (d) calculating a friction factor using the speed of sound in the fluid and the measured flow rate;
- (e) determining a velocity profile using the friction factor;
- and
- (f) calculating an adjusted flow rate using the velocity profile.
A method of determining a characteristic of a fluid flowing through a pipe, comprising the steps of:
- (a) measuring a sonic transit time;
- (b) calculating a sonic speed and a measured fluid speed, using the sonic transit time;
- (c) setting an assumed average velocity equal to the measured fluid speed;
- (d) calculating a Reynolds number using the assumed average velocity;
- (e) calculating a friction factor using the Reynolds number and a pipe diameter;
- (f) calculating a calculated fluid speed, using the friction factor;
- (g) comparing the calculated fluid speed to the measured fluid speed to form a ratio;
- (h) when the ratio is within a predetermined range, calculating a flow volume, using the assumed average velocity.
A computer-readable storage medium containing computer-readable information for calculating the flow volume of a fluid through a conduit that when executed by a computer performs the following steps:
- (a) fetching a flow data count of the fluid from decoding electronics for ultrasonic flow meter transducers;
- (b) fetching a sound speed data count of the fluid from decoding electronics for ultrasonic flow meter transducers;
- (c) calculating a sonic speed using the sound speed count;
- (d) calculating a measured fluid speed using the flow data count;
- (e) iteratively calculating an average fluid speed, using the measured fluid speed and the sonic speed;
- and
- (f) calculating the flow volume using the average fluid speed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.