Apparatus for sensing fluid in a pipe
AssigneeWeatherford/Lamb, Inc.
InventorsAllen R. Davis, Daniel L. Gysling, Charles R. Winston, John M. Faustino, Rebecca S. McGuinn
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for non-intrusively sensing fluid flow within a pipe is provided. The apparatus includes a first sensing array for sensing acoustic signals traveling at the speed of sound through fluid flow within the pipe, a second sensing array for sensing local pressure variations traveling with the fluid flow, and a housing attached to the pipe for enclosing the sensing arrays. The first sensing array includes a plurality of first optical pressure sensors and the second sensing array includes a plurality of second optical pressure sensors.
Claims37
An apparatus for sensing fluid flow within a pipe comprising:
- an acoustic sensing device for providing an acoustic signal indicative of the speed of sound in the fluid flowing within the pipe, wherein the acoustic sensing device is attached to the outside wall of the pipe;
- and
- a flow velocity sensing device coupled to the acoustic device comprising an array of sensors for providing signals indicative of pressure variations in the fluid that travel at approximately a same velocity as the fluid, wherein the flow velocity sensing device is attached to the outside wall of the pipe.
The apparatus of claim 15, wherein each sensor comprises at least one coil of optical fiber wrapped around the circumference of the pipe.
An apparatus for sensing fluid flow comprising:
- a housing;
- an acoustic sensing device within the housing to sense acoustic pressure variations traveling at the speed of sound in fluid flowing through the housing, the acoustic sensing device providing an optical signal indicative of the speed of sound in the fluid;
- and
- a flow velocity sensing device within the housing comprising an array of sensors to provide signals indicative of local pressure variations in the fluid that travel with the fluid.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.