Constant volume temperature to pressure transducer for use with retrievable pressure sensor assemblies
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsBjørn Erik Seeberg, Christopher Grinde
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A temperature sensor for measuring a temperature within a subsea installation includes a fixture portion coupled to the subsea installation and a retrievable portion that is selectively operable to couple to the fixture portion. The fixture portion includes a constant volume of a fluid disposed at a measurement point within the subsea installation. The retrievable portion includes a pressure sensing element operable to measure a pressure associated with the constant volume of fluid such that a temperature at the measurement point is determinable.
Claims18
A temperature sensor assembly for monitoring a temperature at a measurement point within a subsea installation, the temperature sensor assembly comprising:
- a fixture portion operable to be installed within the subsea installation, the fixture portion comprising:
- a constant volume container operable to be positioned at the measurement point, the constant volume container filled with a fixed volume of a temperature responsive fluid such that an increase in a temperature at the measurement point induces an increase in a pressure of the temperature responsive fluid;
- and
- a fixture connector operable to be positioned at an accessible location on the subsea installation, the fixture connector including a fixture connector reservoir bounded by a first ambient diaphragm and a first seating surface, the fixture connector reservoir hydraulically coupled to the constant volume container such that an increase in a pressure of the temperature responsive fluid urges the first ambient diaphragm away from the first seating surface;
- and
- a retrievable portion operable to selectively couple to the fixture portion, the retrievable portion comprising:
- a retrievable connector operable to couple the retrievable portion to the fixture portion, the retrievable connector including a retrievable connector reservoir bounded by a second ambient diaphragm, the second ambient diaphragm operably engaged with the first ambient diaphragm such that the second ambient diaphragm is urged away from the first seating surface by the first ambient diaphragm when the first ambient diaphragm is urged away from the first seating surface by an increase in the pressure of the temperature responsive fluid, and wherein a pressure within the retrievable connector reservoir increases in response to movement of the second ambient diaphragm away from the first seating surface;
- and
- a pressure sensor operable to detect and measure the pressure within the retrievable connector reservoir.
A temperature sensor assembly for monitoring a temperature at a measurement point within a subsea installation, the temperature sensor assembly comprising:
- a retrievable connector including a retrievable connector reservoir bounded by an ambient diaphragm and a seating surface, wherein the ambient diaphragm is urged into contact with the seating surface by an exterior pressure;
- a pressure sensor operable to detect and measure a pressure within the retrievable connector reservoir;
- and
- an actuator that is selectively operable to urge the ambient diaphragm away from the seating surface to thereby hydraulically couple the retrievable connector reservoir to a constant volume container that is disposed at the measurement point and is filled with a fixed volume of a temperature responsive fluid that increases in pressure in response to an increase in temperature at the measurement point.
A method of measuring a temperature at a measurement point within a subsea installation, the method comprising:
- installing a constant volume container at the measurement point, the constant volume container filled with a fixed volume of a temperature responsive fluid such that an increase in a temperature at the measurement point induces an increase in a pressure of the temperature responsive fluid;
- installing a fixture connector at an accessible location on the subsea installation, the fixture connector including a fixture connector reservoir bounded by a first ambient diaphragm and a first seating surface, the fixture connector reservoir hydraulically coupled to the constant volume container such that an increase in the pressure of the temperature responsive fluid urges the first ambient diaphragm away from the first seating surface;
- coupling a retrievable connector to the fixture connector, the retrievable connector including a retrievable connector reservoir bounded by a second ambient diaphragm and a second seating surface;
- actuating the second ambient diaphragm to engage the second ambient diaphragm with the first ambient diaphragm to thereby hydraulically couple the retrievable connector reservoir to the constant volume container;, and
- measuring a pressure within the retrievable connector reservoir from which the temperature at the measurement point is determinable.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.