Abstract: A system (600) and method (500) for a standards traceable verification of a vibratory meter (5) is provided. The system (600) includes a storage (610) having a baseline meter verification value of the vibratory meter and a processing system (620) in communication with the storage (610). The processing system (620) being configured to obtain the baseline meter verification value from the storage (610) and determine a relationship between the baseline meter verification value and a calibration value of the vibratory meter, said calibration value being traceable to a measurement standard. The method (500) provides a traceable verification of a vibratory meter by comparing (540) a physical property of the vibratory meter, which is determined from a first calibration value, to a reference value determined from a second calibration value, said calibration values being traceable to a measurement standard.

Abstract: A method for detecting a deviation in a flow meter parameter is provided. The method includes measuring a differential pressure across at least a portion of the flow meter, calculating a friction factor based on a measured flow rate and the measured differential pressure. The method also includes comparing the calculated friction factor to an expected friction factor based on the measured flow rate and detecting a deviation in the flow meter parameter if the difference between the calculated friction factor and the expected friction factor exceeds a threshold limit.

Abstract: A method for detecting a deviation in a flow meter parameter of a flow meter that is adapted to measure a fluid flow rate is provided. The method comprises measuring a differential pressure across at least a portion of the flow meter. The method further comprises comparing the measured differential pressure to an expected differential pressure; the expected differential pressure being based on the measured flow rate. The method further comprises detecting a deviation in the flow meter parameter if the difference between the measured differential pressure and the expected differential pressure exceeds a threshold limit.

Abstract: A method for calculating a fluid parameter of a fluid flowing through a vibratory flow meter is provided. The method comprises vibrating the flow meter at one or more frequencies and receiving a vibrational response. The method further comprises generating a first fluid property and generating at least a second fluid property. The method further comprises calculating a fluid parameter based on the first fluid property and the at least second fluid property.

Abstract: A method of automatically verifying accurate operation of a flowmeter during field operation is provided that comprises providing a flowmeter having meter electronics with a storage system, and flowing a non-calibration process fluid through the flowmeter. Meter electronics are configured to perform the steps of: detecting a model of the flowmeter as well as retrieving an initial factory calibration factory zero value and a stored zero drift specification from the storage system. A zero value is measured during field operation of the flowmeter and compared with the factory zero value. An error zero value is calculated. Whether the error between the field operation zero value and the factory zero value is within the zero drift specification is determined, and the flowmeter is calibrated if the error is outside the zero drift specification.

Abstract: A method for operating a flowmeter is provided. The method includes the steps of measuring a fluid flow in the flowmeter, determining at least one fluid characteristic, determining a preferred algorithm of a plurality of algorithms based upon the fluid flow and the at least one fluid characteristic, and applying the preferred algorithm to an operating routine.

Abstract: A method for calibrating a multiple flow conduit flow meter (200) is provided according to an embodiment of the invention. The multiple flow conduit flow meter (200) includes a first flow conduit (201) conducting a first flow stream and a pair of first pickoff sensors (215, 215?) affixed to the first flow conduit (201). The multiple flow conduit flow meter (200) further includes at least one additional flow conduit (202) conducting at least one additional flow stream and at least one pair of additional pickoff sensors (216, 216?) affixed to the at least one additional flow conduit (202).

Abstract: A mass flow rate sensor system (200) is provided. The mass flow rate sensor system (200) includes a density meter (202) including a sensor assembly (204a) and a density meter electronics (204b) configured to generate a density measurement of a process fluid. The mass flow rate sensor system (200) further includes a volumetric flow meter (203) including a sensor assembly (205a) and a volumetric meter electronics (205b) configured to generate a volumetric flow rate of the process fluid and in electrical communication with the density meter electronics (204b). A remote processing system (207) is provided that is in electrical communication with only one of the density meter electronics (204b) or the volumetric meter electronics (205b).

Abstract: A vibratory flow meter (5, 300) is provided. The vibratory flow meter (5, 300) includes a flow meter assembly (10, 310) including at least two vibration sensors (170L and 170R, 303 and 305) that generate at least two vibrational signals and meter electronics (20, 320) that receives the at least two vibrational signals, generate a new time difference (?t) using multiple time difference measurements obtained for a flow material, and determine if the new time difference (?t) is within predetermined bounds of an old time difference (?t0).

Abstract: A method for calibrating a multiple flow conduit flow meter (200) is provided according to an embodiment of the invention. The multiple flow conduit flow meter (200) includes a first flow conduit (201) conducting a first flow stream and a pair of first pickoff sensors (215, 215?) affixed to the first flow conduit (201). The multiple flow conduit flow meter (200) further includes at least one additional flow conduit (202) conducting at least one additional flow stream and at least one pair of additional pickoff sensors (216, 216?) affixed to the at least one additional flow conduit (202).

Abstract: A mass flow rate sensor system (200) is provided. The mass flow rate sensor system (200) includes a density meter (202) including a sensor assembly (204a) and a density meter electronics (204b) configured to generate a density measurement of a process fluid. The mass flow rate sensor system (200) further includes a volumetric flow meter (203) including a sensor assembly (205a) and a volumetric meter electronics (205b) configured to generate a volumetric flow rate of the process fluid and in electrical communication with the density meter electronics (204b). A remote processing system (207) is provided that is in electrical communication with only one of the density meter electronics (204b) or the volumetric meter electronics (205b).

Abstract: A multiple flow conduit flow meter (200) is provided according to an embodiment of the invention. The multiple flow conduit flow meter (200) includes a first flow conduit (201) conducting a first flow stream and a pair of first pickoff sensors (215, 215?) affixed to the first flow conduit (201). The multiple flow conduit flow meter (200) further includes at least one additional flow conduit (202) conducting at least one additional flow stream and at least one pair of additional pickoff sensors (216, 216?) affixed to the at least one additional flow conduit (202). The at least one additional flow stream is independent of the first flow stream. The multiple flow conduit flow meter (200) further includes a common driver (220) configured to vibrate both the first flow conduit (201) and the at least one additional flow conduit (202) in order to generate a first vibrational response and at least one additional vibrational response.

Abstract: A vibratory flow meter (5, 300) is provided. The vibratory flow meter (5, 300) includes a flow meter assembly (10, 310) including at least two vibration sensors (170L and 170R, 303 and 305) that generate at least two vibrational signals and meter electronics (20, 320) that receives the at least two vibrational signals, generate a new time difference (?t) using multiple time difference measurements obtained for a flow material, and determine if the new time difference (?t) is within predetermined bounds of an old time difference (?t0).

Abstract: A flow meter (200) is provided that comprises a curved flow tube (203) and a balance member (250). The balance member (250) is positioned such that a centerline (341) of the balance member (250) lies on a plane of a centerline (340) of the curved flow tube (203). The flow meter (200) also includes a driver (104) including a first driver component (104a) and a second driver component (104b). The first driver component (104a) is coupled to the curved flow tube (203) while the second driver component (104b) is coupled to the balance member (250) proximate the first driver component (104a). The flow meter (200) also includes at least a first pick-off sensor (105). The first pick-off sensor (105) includes a first pick-off component (105a) and a second pick-off component (105b). The first pick-off component (105a) is coupled to the curved flow tube (203) while the second pick-off component (105b) is coupled to the balance member (250) proximate the first pick-off component (105a).

Abstract: A vibratory flow meter (5) for measuring flow characteristics of a three phase flow is provided according to the invention. The vibratory flow meter (5) includes a meter assembly (10) including pickoff sensors (105, 105?) and meter electronics (20) coupled to the pickoff sensors (105, 105?). The meter electronics (20) is configured to receive a vibrational response from the pickoff sensors (105, 105), generate a first density measurement of the three phase flow using a first frequency component of the vibrational response, and generate at least a second density measurement of the three phase flow using at least a second frequency component of the vibrational response. The at least second frequency component is a different frequency than the first frequency component. The meter electronics (20) is further configured to determine one or more flow characteristics from the first density measurement and the at least second density measurement.

Abstract: Meter electronics (20) for a flow meter (5) is provided according to an embodiment of the invention. The meter electronics (20) includes an interface (201) for receiving a vibrational response from the flow meter (5) and a processing system (203) in communication with the interface (201). The vibrational response is a response to a vibration of the flow meter (5) at a substantially resonant frequency. The processing system (203) is configured to receive the vibrational response from the interface (201), determine a frequency (?0) of the vibrational response, determine a response voltage (V) and a drive current (I) of the vibrational response, measure a decay characteristic (?) of the flow meter (5), and determine the stiffness parameter (K) from the frequency (?0), the response voltage (V), the drive current (I), and the decay characteristic (?).

Abstract: A flow meter (200) is provided that comprises a curved flow tube (203) and a balance member (250). The balance member (250) is positioned such that a centerline (341) of the balance member (250) lies on a plane of a centerline (340) of the curved flow tube (203). The flow meter (200) also includes a driver (104) including a first driver component (104a) and a second driver component (104b). The first driver component (104a) is coupled to the curved flow tube (203) while the second driver component (104b) is coupled to the balance member (250) proximate the first driver component (104a). The flow meter (200) also includes at least a first pick-off sensor (105). The first pick-off sensor (105) includes a first pick-off component (105a) and a second pick-off component (105b). The first pick-off component (105a) is coupled to the curved flow tube (203) while the second pick-off component (105b) is coupled to the balance member (250) proximate the first pick-off component (105a).

Abstract: A method for calculating a fluid parameter of a fluid flowing through a vibratory flow meter is provided. The method comprises vibrating the flow meter at one or more frequencies and receiving a vibrational response. The method further comprises generating a first fluid property and generating at least a second fluid property. The method further comprises calculating a fluid parameter based on the first fluid property and the at least second fluid property.

Abstract: Meter electronics (20) for a flow meter (5) is provided according to an embodiment of the invention. The meter electronics (20) includes an interface (201) for receiving a vibrational response from the flow meter (5) and a processing system (203) in communication with the interface (201). The vibrational response is a response to a vibration of the flow meter (5) at a substantially resonant frequency. The processing system (203) is configured to receive the vibrational response from the interface (201), determine a frequency (?0) of the vibrational response, determine a response voltage (V) and a drive current (I) of the vibrational response, measure a decay characteristic (?) of the flow meter (5), and determine the stiffness parameter (K) from the frequency (?0), the response voltage (V), the drive current (I), and the decay characteristic (?).

Abstract: Meter electronics (20) for determining a liquid flow fraction in a gas flow material flowing through a flow meter (5) is provided according to an embodiment of the invention. The meter electronics (20) includes an interface (201) for receiving a first sensor signal and a second sensor signal from the flow meter (5) and a processing system (203) in communication with the interface (201). The processing system (203) is configured to receive the first and second sensor signals from the interface (201), determine a substantially instantaneous flow stream density of the gas flow material using the first sensor signal and the second sensor signal, compare the substantially instantaneous flow stream density to at least one of a predetermined gas density that is representative of a gas flow fraction of the gas flow material and a predetermined liquid density that is representative of a liquid flow fraction, and determine the liquid flow fraction from the comparison.